short script structure?

Randall_Oelerich

Randall_Oelerich

Veteran
How do you all structure your short scripts? Do you use the same turning points as with a feature script, or do you eliminate some of those plot points? I know how to structure a feature, and have written several shorts, but because of the highly condensed nature of a short, the fact that a protagonist arc is pretty much absent, and only one issue is addressed, I am just curious how you all structure shorts. Then again, I think I recently read how the 30 second commercial for Mr. Clean or something like that (Ivory dish soap?) had all the plot points in those 30 seconds, so, go figure.
 
I think you summarized it pretty well. Focus is the key; it's a stripped down feature without secondary stories. But it depends on the short. That's why writing them is so interesting, there's a lot of variety. While your story has to have more focus, you get to decide which parts you focus on.
 
A nice book dedicated to THE SHORT SCREENPLAY... what to do... what not to do.

The Short Screenplay by Dan Gurkis.

Shorts are different animals. They OFTEN do not follow the same structure as features. Dan goes into this stuff in great detail. Gives excellent examples of short films that you can find online or through various other sources.
 
Thanks Kyle! Off to Amazon as usual.
EDIT: Ordered it. On its way my poker shack in the swamp. Once it arrives I can open up a can of writing and work on a short!
R
 
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I have both a Kindle and an iPad, so I've been ordering books like a mad-man on indie filmmaking in general, just because I think it's fun to see what's out there and what nuggets of wisdom can be gained. I have to admit that by this point I don't expect to learn too much from any of the books, but I figure if I pick up a few things here and there, it was not in vain. It's all part of the process.

Shorts are really weird like that, though, it's so tough to figure out how to structure one because there are a lot of correct ways to go about it, in my opinion. Whereas with features I'm a big fan of a traditional structure and hitting all of the plot points you should. It's not at all restricting, it's just good drama and makes for a nicely flowing, well paced story. I think a lot of people confuse that with "formulaic," when it's really not at all, because I can say once you actually finish a screenplay and are working on improving it, you never notice this stuff anymore. I haven't even looked at any of those plot points in at least 8 drafts now. They are still there, but it's something you don't pay any attention to once you write the thing, like building the foundation of a house and putting up the structure -- once you build out the house you're too busy focusing on details like putting in a nice kitchen sink to be thinking about how good your foundation was poured, haha.
 
One safe approach, for a story of any length, is to use TRUBY'S 7 steps (the bare bones version of his 22 steps). Just creatively define these for your story/character.

NEED
DESIRE
OPPONENT
PLAN
BATTLE
SELF-REVELATION
NEW EQUILIBRIUM

If you cover these 7 elements, your audience will understand the short film--whether it's 20 seconds or 20 minutes.
 
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For the past month and a half or so I've been trying to make sure I write at least five 2-10 page scripts a week, just for practice (so far I've kept up with it, we'll see though). I think the only thing I really think about plot wise is conflict and resolution. I always felt like the stripped down Hollywood standard structure for longer scripts was:

Introduction to world/characters
Introduction of conflict
Minor or false resolution of conflict
Conflict rears it's ugly head again
Major resolution of conflict

So the structure I try to use for shorter scripts is:

Introduction to world/characters
Introduction of conflict
Resolution of conflict

There's probably some step between 2 and 3, like "movement towards resolution," but I feel like that part comes fairly naturally.

Keep in mind I'm more or less totally unqualified to offer advice as I'm new and have never made a cent off writing. Just my current take on things. Also those Truby guidelines are interesting, I think I'll try following them for a script or two and see how it feels.

-Case
 
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