123ArticleOnline Logo
Welcome to 123ArticleOnline.com!
ALL >> Education >> View Article

Tips To Fine Tune Your Screenplay

Profile Picture
By Author: Gary Jones
Total Articles: 35
Comment this article
Facebook ShareTwitter ShareGoogle+ ShareTwitter Share

Before submitting your screenplay to a contest or literary agent, be sure to clean up common screenwriting errors. If left unaddressed, these errors will switch festival judges to sleep mode. Although these errors may seem minor in comparison to the story content of your screenplay, they will quickly add up to carve a negative impression on festival judges, agents and any reader who has to evaluate your script. Basic errors that are overlooked can dampen the overall quality of your screenplay. You want to leave the judges with good marks, not bad marks.
Furthermore, agents and producers will not take you seriously if you hand them a screenplay that is peppered with misuse of voice overs. Make no mistake that voice over is used when the character is narrating a scene. Voice over is commonly used when the protagonist is telling his story in flashbacks. An example would be a scene where the lead character, a veteran, narrates his war stories. We see images of the lead character fighting in combat in his younger years, but we hear his older voice narrating the flashback scenes. That is one of the many instances you can properly ...
... use V.O. and not O.S. in your screenplay.
As for O.S. (off screen), it is commonly used in scenes where Character A is present in a scene, while Character B is nearby but not in the same scene. An example would be Character A watching TV in the living room, and you hear Character B yelling off screen to Character A, "Dinner is ready!" So remember, do not let V.O. and O.S. trip your readers.
Last but not least, the most dreaded mistakes found in screenplays are explicit camera directions. As a screenwriter, try not to get confused between a screenwriter's script and a director's shooting script. When you write your screenplay, write as a writer and avoid the temptation to direct in your screenplay. Do not include camera directions such as "Angle On," "Close Up on" or "Tight Shot of." Leave the directing to the director.
A shooting script will include various scene breakdowns and camera directions, but this version of the script is used by the director only when a project is slated for production. The shooting script enables the director to organize and plan the way scenes will be shot on the set. Therefore, be mindful when prepping your screenplay for submission to screenwriting competitions. Any screenwriting mistakes that you can avoid making or repeating will bring you closer to reaching your goal as a professional screenwriter.

thesis writing service

Total Views: 178Word Count: 425See All articles From Author

Add Comment

Education Articles

1. Best Servicenow Training In Ameerpet | Hyderabad
Author: krishna

2. Mern Stack Online Training | Best Mern Stack Course
Author: Hari

3. Salesforce Crm Online Training | Salesforce Crm Training
Author: himaram

4. Oracle Fusion Financials Online Training At Rainbow Training Institute
Author: Rainbow Training Institute

5. Microsoft Fabric Certification Course | Microsoft Azure Fabric
Author: visualpath

6. Microsoft Dynamics Ax Training Online | Microsoft Ax Training
Author: Pravin

7. Aws Data Engineering Training Institute In Hyderabad
Author: SIVA

8. Top Skills Employers Seek In International Business Management Professionals
Author: jann

9. Unlock The Power Of Integration With Oracle Integration Cloud Training At Rainbow Training Institute
Author: Rainbow Training Institute

10. Emerging Trends In Salesforce Devops For 2025 And Beyond:
Author: Eshwar

11. How Digital Evidence Is Secured And Managed By Iso 27037 Consultants?
Author: Danis

12. Patient Reported Outcomes Clinical Research – A New Era 2024
Author: Aakash jha

13. Transform Your Home: 7 Must-have Dyslexia Support Resources Every Parent Should Get!
Author: Bradly Franklin

14. The Key To Your Pet’s Health And Happiness
Author: Sumit

15. How To Streamline Administrative Processes In Schools: A Comprehensive Guide
Author: Revamp

Login To Account
Login Email:
Password:
Forgot Password?
New User?
Sign Up Newsletter
Email Address: