Writing Short Films

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS = ⅶ INTRODUCTION = ⅸ PART ONE: The Fundamentals 1: STARTING OUT—WHAT'S IT ABOUT? = 3 The Characteristics of a Good Short Film = 4 Where To Begin? = 13 From Idea to Story = 17 Entertainment & Inspiration = 21 Exercises = 22 2: CHARACTER & EMOTION—WHO DOES WHAT AND WHY? = 23 The Relationship Between Character and Plot = 24 The Short Film vs. The Feature = 25 Defining the Character = 30 Emotions, Attitudes & Actions = 35 Transformation = 42 Unity of Opposites = 44 The Important Characters = 45 Exercises = 49 3: THE THREE-PART NATURE OF FILM STRUCTURE = 51 The Setup = 52 The Climax & Resolution = 63 Exercises = 65 4: PLOTTING—THE TWISTS & TURNS = 67 Story & Plot = 68 The Role of Conflict = 69 The Principles of Action = 73 Exercises = 81 PART TWO: Intermediate Steps 5: FADE IN: OPENINGS & THE MAIN EXPOSITION = 85 The Problem = 86 The Main Exposition = 86 Narration = 87 Visual Dramatization = 92 Opening the Movie = 95 Exercises = 101 6: THE MIDDLE—KEEPING THE STORY ALIVE = 103 Suspense = 104 The Antagonist = 105 The Dreadful Alternative = 105 Suspense Killers = 106 Surprise = 107 The Pseudo Solution = 111 Exercises = 113 7: FADE OUT: REVELATION, CLIMAX & RESOLUTION = 115 Story Revelation—Character Revelation = 116 The Climax = 123 The Resolution = 128 Exercises = 129 PART THREE: The Structure Of Scenes 8: CONSTRUCTING THE SCENE = 133 Units of Action = 134 The Principles of Construction = 136 Techniques for Construction = 142 Exercises = 149 9: DIALOGUE: THE SEARCH FOR THE PERFECT LINE = 151 The Function of Dialogue = 152 The Characteristics of Good Dialogue = 154 Techniques & Tips = 159 Exercises = 163 10: THE SUBTEXT OF MEANING = 167 The Role of Subtext = 168 The Emotion Beneath the Lines = 171 Revealing The Subtext = 173 Exercises = 178 PART FOUR: Keeping Focused 11: KEEPING FOCUSED: WHAT DOES MY PROTAGONIST REALLY WANT? = 183 Keeping on Track = 184 Conclusion = 187 APPENDIX A: Screenplay Format = 189 APPENDIX B: Referenced Films on Video = 201 APPENDIX C: General Film Index = 205 APPENDIX D: Writers Reference = 207 APPENDIX E: "Ray's Male Heterosexual Dance Hall" = 211 BIBLIOGRAPHY = 239 INDEX = 241 ABOUT THE AUTHOR = 256

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