A look at the basics of writing a script, be it for a film, television, or for the stage.
The craft of scriptwriting can seem like a mystery at times... when done correctly it seems as though the actors have no script at all, yet when it's done poorly every mistake seems to scream from the page. So what's the secret? Why do so many scripts come from really good ideas and end up so much the worse for wear? Some people would blame a lack of talent from the writer, but sometimes it's nothing more than a lack of knowledge.
The first thing that you need to remember about scriptwriting is that a script is more than just the dialogue and interactions between the characters. A good script has to have all of the directions for the characters included in clear, concise steps... if a character named Bob is supposed to be wearing a certain color of coat, you need to be able to tell it from the script. The same goes for any actions, emotions, and sometimes even the looks of the characters... while not everything needs to be accounted for within the script, anyone who reads the script needs to be able to get a feel for what the work will look like without actually having to see the work.
A scriptwriter needs to be careful, however, not to put too much information in the script. After all, the character is going to be portrayed by a live person (except in the cases of animation or puppetry, but even in those cases there are people involved somewhere)... it's that person's job to truly bring the character to life. If the script dictates every single move that they make, then they have little or no chance to doing a successful job. Capture every important detail in the script, outline the setting and the look of everything at the beginning of the scene, and trust in the actors to be able to interpret the characters on their own.
Another consideration that must be kept in mind is the format of the script. Many beginning scriptwriters think that they can get noticed by doing their own thing, creating their own format as they go along. Unfortunately, they're right in a way... actors, directors, and script readers do tend to notice scripts that ignore standard formatting procedures. The problem is that they notice that the scripts are different than what they're used to working with, so unless the content is exceptionally good then they're likely to pass on the script without even really looking at it in depth. Even if they accept the script, it's likely that they'll get a rewrite of the script before proceeding too far with it.
The best advice for a beginning scriptwriter is to get ahold of a few scripts and read through them... get a feel for how much information is good and how much it too much. Buy a copy of a book on script formats, and maybe some scriptwriting software to help you to write your script. Most importantly, though, stick with your ideas and your dreams... after all, only you can truly make them come to life.
