Post 2: How to write a good short film script?

WEBSITE - The notes below with correspond to the numbered sections of the website.

1. Remember the essentials!
2. Care about the subject of the film, don't write about something you'll lose interest in.
   WHAT TO THINK ABOUT:
   - What is a story?
   - Is your story compelling to an audience?
   - Is it coherent?
   - Is it a recognisable genre?
   - Fresh perspective to old stories?
   - What emotions are you trying to provoke?
   - Is the tone and genre of the film consistent throughout?
3. Think about your story! Where you want to go with it. As our short film is limited to up to 5 minutes long, how will we structure the plot to fit within the time? Make sure it's coherent and formatted in a way that can be read and understood.
4. How to improve a script, focus on: Structure, dialogue, formatting and script writing.
   To write a great character:
   - Look at the world through their POV.
   - Make them distinct, different from other people/characters.
   - Make the character fit into the genre of the film, comedy would generally make the character happy.
   - Have a character going on a journey, either literal or metaphorical.
5. PLAN BEFORE WRITING!
   Do something significant that'll keep the audience interested.
   Don't get 'bogged down' with back story, nor try too hard to get a story going.
   Make sure you're aware of where you want the story to go!
6. Remember to surprise and engage the audience, don't drift the story off into a boring one.
   Figure out the most appropriate way for your character to get through conflict/ a journey, and make it fit the GENRE.
7. REMEMBER THE AUDIENCE!
   Conclude the story without letting it fizzle out without resolution.
   Figure out what kind of effect you want the ending to have on the audience.
8. 'Ask yourself these questions of every scene you plan to write:
   1. What effect does this scene have on the character within the moment?
   2. What effect does it have on the subsequent events of the story?
   3. What impact does i have on the world of the story?
   4. What else is going on below the surface and beyond the text?' (Taken from the website)
   Juxtaposition is crucial.
   Shows conflict and tension
   Shows dilemmas and decisions
   Each scene has a unique role in the story and each are different.
9. Dialogue is not just what characters say, it's about how they express it - Also what is not said is just as important.
   No two character's dialogues will be the same, each character will have their own way of speaking.
   Can effect the consequences of a film.
10. KEEP RE-WRITING, YOU'LL ALWAYS FINE SOMETHING YOU CAN CHANGE!
    But don't do it within a short time span, leave it for a while so you come back with a fresh mind.
    Scripts need to be ready to be read, all scripts will change during the actual filming, improv by actors, director changes etc.