Screenwriting

Today I also learned about screenwriting. Overall I learned:

Show it - don't tell it
Screenwriting is rewriting

The screenwriting process

Premise
Outline/treatment
Step outline
First draft
Rewrites

What are the essential parts to a good screenplay?

Strong theme (Messages and values)
Characters (Protagonist and antagonist) keep number of characters to a minimum
Genre
Conflict
Plot
Setting/location
Time period/frame
Structure/form

A short film tells a story over a short duration

Every moment counts. Everything in the film has to add to the story

You need:

A compelling story that engages an audience emotionally
Simple enough to be told over a short duration
Has to primarily be told through visuals
Something meaningful has to happen so protagonist changes from beginning to end (Audience need to identify with this)

Only focus on one event in the life of the protagonist, that event need to be one of the following:

First kiss
First argument in a relationship
First encounter with death
First day in school
New music and emotional links to songs
Challenging religion
Breakup
Overcoming prejudice

When coming up with an idea first think
Who is the protagonist?
What do they want?
What do they need to get it?
Who is stopping them?
What is at stake?

My strengths have never been in scriptwriting however after looking at it this way I feel confident enough to be able to write a script of my own. I also feel as though it will make me more understanding of the role of the scriptwriter which should reflect in my work as a cinematographer.