Hello,
Im currently trying to work on a screenplay for a 5-10 minute short film about 5 middle school kids waiting for the school bus at a bus stop. I want this film to be funny not dramatic and appeal to adults more than kids but keeping the language clean.
After I was done writing it I was going to shoot it but before that I need to of course write it and have no idea what theese kids could be doing or saying.
So far I have a boy geek, girl with headgear, a smart allic (think David Spade from Tommy Boy), the fat stinky kid, and this bizarre creepy strange insane girl. Those are my characters so far, but I need help giving them life!
Please and Thanks in advanced for the help!

Welcome Garret

My best advice would be to avoid the most common clichés if you can; try to keep away from any characters or lines which are TOO corny. Try to think of some twists, and unexpected outcomes. Good luck!

Thank you for the welcome,
Any ideas/Suggestions for something? I was thinking for an ending, all the students would get on the bus, you would see the bus pull away and then pan over back to the bus stop and see some kid running into frame going "Wait, stop!!" and runs after it and then we fade out.
So, so far that is all I got done.

Yes. I lvoe this story. SO simple, but you can do so much with it. I've actually thought about doing it myself at times.

I would suggest some unique things happening while they are standing there.

Some simple ideas: One kids lunch falls out of the bottom of his lunch bag and his sandwhich falls in the dirt...Maybe have one of the guys hitting on one of the girls...Maybe have some jahova witness (did I spell that right?) lady walking by and trying to sell something to the little kids...

Jsut some ideas for you to build on. Good luck.

as far as dialogue goes, try this:
don't write the actual lines, write the intention of the line. instead of a kid named john saying "hey, what's up jane" write "john greets jane". that way the actor can improvise the line and make it sound more natural. if you want a specific line, like a witty comment or something, then write it. but for extra stuff keep it realistic.

I like the setup. Try doing a detailed character background for each kid ending up with how they left the house that morning, upset with parents, fighting with siblings, finishing up homework, shooting heroin between their toes (yipe!) Anything that will give you a lead in to their state of mind as they arrive at the bus stop. Plus you'll need a reason for them to interact. What came to mind for me was maybe a fellow student just died and this is the first day he or she is not at the bus stop so each of the characters are adjusting to the reality of the death. But don't think gimmick to gimmick, like this happens and then that happens, you need a cohesive reason why they are forced to interact and from here your theme will emerge such as 5 kids at a bus stop dealing with the reality of loss. He he not quite a comedy huh! But you could use comedy to approach the subject especially with the smart alic kid making jokes as his only way to deal with the issue.

Just an idea, good luck!!!!

Thanks everyone for the help so far, please keep it coming it is very usefull.
Right now Im going to watch some South Park DVD's and watch the scenes when there at the bus stop and what happens to them while they're there.
Thanks so much