最佳途径脚本撰写指南最佳途径脚本撰写指南脚本撰写指南If you love movies and have dreamed about penning one of your own, the proliferation of screenwriting resources and software makes it easy to get started. In addition, the accessibility of Hollywood via the Internet and screenplay contests means that you don't even have to move to Los Angeles to shop your projects to prospective agents and producers. 如果你爱看电影,并一直梦想自己写一部电影,遍地开花的编剧资源和软件可以让你轻松的开始.另外,通过互联网和编剧比赛,你根本不用搬到洛杉矶就能向未来的经纪公司和出品人兜售你的杰作,进军好莱坞.Wanted: Compelling Concepts你需要:令人信服的概念One of the biggest myths about screenwriting is that producers are looking for great writers. The reality is that they're more interested in fresh ideas and unique spins on old ideas. For a screenplay to hook a producer's attention, it needs to have the following elements: (1) a clearly defined demographic, (2) a storyline that is character-driven (as opposed to plot driven), (3) strong roles that actors will want to play, (4) adherence to three-act structure, (5) a sustainable conflict, and (6) dynamic visuals. While scripts with low budgets are more approachable for smaller studios, even major companies assess whether a plot justifies a high price tag, specifically insofar as recouping its investment at the box office and generating a profit. 编剧创作最大的迷思之一就是出品人在寻找伟大的作家.而现实是,他们其实对奇思妙想和建立在旧想法上的独特创意更感兴趣.一部剧要想抓住出品人的眼球,它必须满足以下几个条件:(1)一个清晰的人口统计,(2) 一个以人物为主线的故事(相对的是以情结为主线),(3)能吸引演员的魅力角色,(4)拥护三幕剧,(5)剧中存在长期冲突,(6)动态的视觉.低预算的剧本容易被小制作室接纳,而大公司更趋向成本较高的故事情节,尤其是当投入可以通过票房弥补并从中产生利润时.The First 10 Pages头 10 页Audiences have short attention spans; therefore, a story needs to hit the ground running. The first 10 pages of a script translate to the first 10 minutes of film. In that first 10 minutes, the screenwriter needs to identify whose point of view will prevail (usually the protagonist), the genre of the movie (comedy, drama, romance, thriller), what the core conflict is, and who or what represents the opposition. Although there are almost always subplots in a movie, these not only take a backseat to the core conflict but also work toward resolving it or creating obstacles. The genre must stay consistent from start to finish. 观众的注意力持续时间很短.所以要快马加鞭的展开一个故事.剧本的头 10 页相当于是电影的头 10 分钟.在这头十分钟里,剧作者得明确故事从谁的角度讲述(一般情况下是主角),电影的风格(喜剧,故事片,浪漫片,惊悚片),关键冲突,还有某人或某物所代表的立场.电影中通常还有分支剧情,这些剧情不光不应逊色于关键冲突,还应该有化解冲突或者制造障碍的作用.整个电影的风格从头至尾都必须一致.Formatting格式Unlike novels, short stories and poetry, screenwriting follows a precise set of rules regarding fonts, margins and placement of elements such as master scenes, dialogue, actions and transitions. To understand what screenplays look like, download free copies from websites such as Simply Scripts and Drew's Script-O-Rama. Type your screenplays in Courier 12 point font and have 1-inch margins on all sides. Master scenes and action lines are typed at the left margin, transitions are typed at the right margin, and dialogue blocks occupy the center third of the page. Screenplays embrace minimalism in descriptions, and writers should strive for as much white space on the page as possible. 和长短篇小说和诗歌不同的是,剧本的撰写在字体,页边距,主场景,对白,动作和过渡等元素的替换上,都有明确的规定.要想知道剧本到底长什么样,可以从类似 Simply Script, Drew's Script-O-Rama 这类的网站上下载免费剧本范例.用 12 磅的 Courier 字体输入你的剧本,四周页边距设为 1 英尺.主场景和动作段落向左对齐,过渡段向右对齐,对话部分页面居中.电影剧本采取极简描述手法,作者应该努力使页面上有尽可能多的空白.Characters Wanted所需角色For a protagonist to win the empathy of an audience, she must either be an ordinary person who has been thrust into an extraordinary situation or an individual with extraordinary talents who is forced to function in an ordinary setting. Her objective in the story must be predicated on reward, revenge, escape or a combination of these three, and the more strongly her actions are directed toward the good of others rather than solely her own interests, the more likable she will be. As for the story's villain, he needs to be introduced as early as possible and have motivations that are as strong and focused as the hero's. 如果想主角讨观众喜欢,她必须是能适应非同寻常情况的普通人,或者是被迫适应日常生活的有着非同寻常才能的人.能预知她在故事中的目标是某个奖励,复仇,逃离,或者这三者的结合,她的行动是越为了他人而非自己的利益,就越容易赢得好感.至于故事里的坏人,他得尽早的出现在影片中,并且有着和英雄的一样清晰而有说服力的动机.Structure结构The average length of a feature screenplay is 120 pages. If formatted correctly, this equals a two-hour film. Screenplays adhere to a three-act structure that is commonly described as: “Chase the hero up a tree, throw rocks at the tree, and set the tree on fire.“ Even in a comedy, the stakes must be escalated at every turn and force the protagonist to take bigger risks to achieve his quest. Any foreshadowing that's going to occur needs to be introduced within the first 15 minutes of the story. As for endings, audiences hate contrivances. If, for example, the hero is going to be miraculously saved by the cavalry at zero hour, the cavalry can't just happen to be passing through.一部影片剧本一般有 120 页.如果格式正确的话,这刚好是一部 2 个小时的电影.电影剧本一般都遵循三幕剧结构,也就是“把英雄赶上树,用石头砸树,然后把树点着.“即使是喜剧,这个架子也要在每个转折点逐步增加,让主角为了达成目的而冒越来越大的风险.任何未来事件的预兆都应在开场的头 15 分钟内发生.至于结局嘛,观众讨厌发明创造.如果,比如当一个英雄奇迹般被装甲部队在危急时刻解救的话,这个装甲部队绝对不能是偶然路过的.。