Anyone have some advice on how exactly most scripts should flow? Like from beginning to end, with a climax at some point? Some sort of actual guide or tips on pacing

The particular script I'm currently writing, isn't particularly unique in form (hoping to nail the execution), so some suggestions would be good. Because I simply think that I don't have good pacing with my current script. IE: It's an action/horror film yet the first 50 Minutes don't feature any horror for the most part, yet every scene has some relation to the story and builds up to the second half of the film which is just about all action, and thrilling.

A simple three-act structure would be a good place to start.

No offense but if you are 50 minutes/pages into your story and you have little or no horror than you have a bad script. I think you should stop and go back and refine the pages you have done and see where changes can be made. One rule for screewriting is that the first ten pages are crucial. If nothing happens to attract the interest of the reader than you will lose them. And think how that translates to people viewing your movie. Think about how many movies you have watched and decided within the first ten or fifteen minutes whether or not you like it. I agree that the three act structure is the best way to go. Hollywood uses it religiously.

Mike

Well, the typical three act structure is 25/50/25. With the first 30 pages building up to the first turning point and the beginning of Act II. The next 60 pages are Act II, and the last 30 are Act III. The acts are described as: get your character up a tree; throw stones at him; bring him down again, if that helps at all.

A really sweet book to check out is The Writer's Guide to Writing Your Screenplay

Ok here's some info from a screenwriting site I thought might help you. Granted screenwriting isn't math and there is no formula for success but understanding the status quo structure will help you bend or break the rules on purpose.

From http://www.screenwriting-on-the-net.com/screenplay-structure.html

Page 1. Have you set up the setting/the location/the tone? Do we know exactly what is going on? Have you introduced the Hero?

Page 3. Do we know the Hero’s goal? What is his overriding desire?

Page 10. Has the inciting incident occurred by now? Most important point of Screenplay-structure. Master screenwriting now.

Page 12. Have we met the Opponent? Do we understand his desire line? Do we know the problem the Hero has to solve?

Pages 25-30. Have you established the event or sequence of events that will set up the second act. The Plot point, or turning Point.


Page 30. Does the end of the first act find you Hero entering a new and even more difficult arena of challenge? How does he feel about this?

Page 45. Has the Hero overcome some challenges and beaten back a few obstacles? Has he been tested a little, but not destroyed,

Page 60. The Midpoint. Is your Hero feeling defeated or confident?He must not give up now and continues onwards. This is his point of no return. He must go on. Screenplay-structure point, One most people miss.


Page 75-76. The Hero hits rock bottom. All looks hopeless and irreversible. There seems to be no way out. He must now discover a new strength, a new way of dealing with his predicament and rebuild his hope in his ability to get the goal, achieve his desire.

Pages 85-90. The build up towards the Second major plot point. What starts to set it all up? Name the events. Why these?

Page 90. The start of Act Three Plot point Two. Show how the Hero has changed. Show the growth he has made to begin the next part of the journey. Show don’t Tell. Moving Pictures! Ready for the final challenge. Nervous, afraid, insecure... but he will feel the fear and do it anyway.

Page 115. The climax. This is it. The showdown. The battle with the Opponent. The big one. Pull no punches and make sure the Hero is the one doing it. He defeats the Opponent and comes to terms with his own true self. The absolutely most important Screenplay-structure point.

Page 120. The resolution. Normal life will be resumed now. He has survived the ordeal. They are now irreversibly changed.

Hope this helps!!!!

My film teacher last semester said that no matter who you are or what your writing style is, to be a decent screenwriter your scenes MUST have some sort of flow or progression from one scene to the next. There must be vision as to where you want your script to go; subtlety, character development, a steady narrative...these things are key. The trap that the typical amateur screenwriter falls into is focusing on one scene at a time, with no clear direction as to where the script should be going; the amateur screenwriter simply tries to make each scene a little creative capsule of its own, and that essentially kills your script.

I hope this helps...because I definetley agree with my film teacher on this one, and I most definetley know what he's talking about.

quote:

No offense but if you are 50 minutes/pages into your story and you have little or no horror than you have a bad script. I think you should stop and go back and refine the pages you have done and see where changes can be made.

It's not a bad script, just has a big blank part that helps setup the tension in the film. Last night got it worked out though I think, took about 20 Minutes of the film that were fairly unimportant, and cut or moved them elsewehere to really pick up the pace of things.

Still fairly peaceful at the beginning so that will have to change.

Thanks for the advice Dan on each scene being less unique and more a progression into the rest of the film, that's basically what I have going on now actually so that's cool. I actually wrote a lot of the story in sequence, as if I where the characters so most of it is logical and uninterrupted.

Okay I worked it out and ironically without using much of the formulas above it still ended up like 25-50-25 :P

I realized the main "flaw" with the script, was how I was approaching it. While it's a film involving horror, its actually more of a film about several things including coming of age, and such. And many of those elements show up in the first couple minutes, so thats fine. And the horror is more of a tool to move the overall theme along.