Screenplay Structure

8.  Screenwriter William Goldman, a two-time Academy Award winner, has long preached that “screenplays are structure.” What is he talking about? 
A) If he’s referring to a particular story-telling model, describe that in detail.
B) If there are multiple models, what are the most influential ones and how do they differ?
C) And how has [...]

Suspense in Terminator script

Suspense in Terminator
    
 
The story structure creates the backbone of the suspense in this film because the stakes are as high as possible. Not only are the protagonists unprepared and unbelieved, but they also have to kill an invincible killing machine. The Terminator is extremely well armed, inside and out, and the more damage he [...]

Indiana Jones 4 opening scene – as it should have been

              Indiana Jones IV

 
FADE IN:
Int. desert cave—DAY
 
A figure resembling INDIANA JONES walks down a long hallway with two guides flanking him holding flashlights and looking nervous.  They have been walking for a while and the passage is becoming more dusty and full of cobwebs.
 
One of the guides ARI stops to take a rock out of [...]

Jim and Ed

                 
 

VIDEO

AUDIO

FADE UP TO MS: Jim, sitting in a car reading a magazine.

Stereo:  Bob Marley “Lion in Zion”
 

CUT TO LS: Ed, getting in the car
 

Ed: Hey whatsup man

CUT TO LS: Car drives off
CUT TO CU, POV backseat: Jim changes the song and yawns.
                                  

 
 
 
Ed: so you gonna finish that story man?
 

CU, POV backseat: Jim rubs [...]

Drunk Biking PSA

                                                WZBC
                             PSA: BIKES AND BOOZE—30 SECOND
Begin with testimony:  SO I SHOULDN’T EVEN HAVE BEEN WALKING BUT I NEVER HEARD OF A DUI FOR BIKES, PLUS I WASN’T EVEN GOING THAT FAST…..BUT YEAH I RAN RIGHT INTO A CURB AND LANDED ON MY FACE.
“Sound of bicycle skidding”
EVERYONE HAS BEEN TOLD HUNDREDS OF TIMES NOT [...]

Ad for student cleaners

:60 second radio spot, Student Solutions
 MUSIC “LOVE AND MARRIAGE” UP AND UNDER 
VOICE ONE               Hey everybody this is your house speaking and I’m sorry to say I
 
 have a few complaints, First of all my gutters have too many leaves in them, second my
 
front hall has a stain on the carpet….(VOICE FADEOUT)
 
VOICE TWO              Does your house [...]

Ad for the MBTA

:60 second Radio spot,  The MBTA
 SFX TRAFFIC, CAR HORNS, SCREECHING, PEOPLE YELLING 
SARAH           This traffic makes me want to buy a bulldozer and go through this
 
gridlock like a bowling ball.
 
JEN                 That’s not a bad idea (PAUSE) we would probably get to work on time.
 
SARAH           Oh no!  We ARE going to be late and I was [...]

Dr. Death by Jonathan Kellerman–Treatment and selected scenes

Dr. Death could be made into a feature length film but the story and the number of characters make the book more suitable for a crime drama episode.               The main characters are Alex the narrator and his friend and colleague on the homicide squad, Milo. Alex is a physiologist who does consulting work with [...]

Manhunt

Manhunt
A small time drug dealer accidentally kills a cop and makes a run for the border to avoid arrest.
 
            A drug dealer is making a deal when he decides to rob the person he is selling drugs to. There is a short struggle during this altercation and the buyer is killed unintentionally by falling on [...]