SCREENPLAY FOR SHORT FILM

AISHA DEVI GUMULYA PUTRI

CV-6
LBPP LIA SURAKARTA
2016
 SCREENPLAY FOR SHORT FILM

A short film is any film not long enough and most simple and most complex.
Technically short film has a running time of less than 40 minute. Short film and any other
film even a documentary need a screenplay or as known as scenario. Person who made
screenplay is also called as screenwriter. Screenwriter could be the best job in the world.
Beside we can unburden our imagination, build creativity, and gain knowledge, the
production house willing to pay a screenwriter with high salary. There is no need a degree or
formal studied to become a screenwriter. To be a screenwriter what we really need to know is
how to make a screenplay. A screenplay is a story told with pictures, in dialogue and
description, and placed within context of dramatic structure of what happens in a film and
will be heard and seen by the audiences. A screenwriter must capable to transform sentences
in screenplay into visualization imagination pictures that will be limited by the theater format
screen. The main function of screenplay is work guidance in filmmaking.
There are two general steps to make a screenplay:
A. Process Part :
1. Ideation
‘Ideation’ is the process of understanding and develops initial ideas and then
implementing it. In this process a screenwriter already has a view of plot, main character, and
the selection of the setting in the story.
2. Synopsis
Make the summary of the story in details. Generally a synopsis are written well as
interesting as possible to make a reader tempted and want to know more. Long of the
scenario synopsis is a half page until two pages.
3. Character
In a scenario we need to describe the character into details for the necessary of
actress and actor who will play as the character.
4. Plot
Preparation of the plot is indispensable in scenario as writing a novel and short
stories. Structure of the plot typically has three stages:
• Beginning : Set Up (Beginning of the conflict)
• Middle : Confrontation (Complication of the conflict)
• End : Resolution (Conflict solving)
5. Outline
 The arrangement sequence of scenes per scene in more details.
Examples of Outline:
• 1. In the mountain:
• 1.1. Josh painting a view of tea field in front of him,
• 1.2. Josh stopped painting when he look a girl standing in the edge of the cliff
and prepared to jump,
• 1.3. Josh panicked and shout to the girl for not jumping,
• 1.4. Etc.
6. Scene
Scene are used to provide information. Scene usually consists of number of scene,
INT (Interior) and EXT (Exterior), location, and time, for instance:

1. EXT. IN MOUNTAIN-MORNING

7. Action
Explanation about the event of the scene that is a translation of the outline made
previous, for instance:

1. EXT. IN MOUNTAIN–MORNING Josh painting a view of tea field in

front of him.

8. Dialogue & Parenthetical

Dialogue are the words spoken by actress and actors while Parenthetical are the
expressions and the emotions acted by actor during the dialogue, for example crying, sad,
smiling, laughing, etc.
As for the dialogue that accompanies the scene by conscience or the voice of the
mind without a character recite dialogue termed VO (Voice Over) and dialogue without
showing a character of the scene was used to know as OS (Off Screen).
e.x.:

8. INT. CABIN – MORNING

Aaron approached and watched a painting of a girl hanging on a living room. He

looked at the painting very long and details. Along with this scene Aaron sound
appeared:
 AARON

(V.O)

Does he just see my painting or he admired the girl inside the paint? Wait, what
I think about? I should not worry about that. If Josh admired this girl there is no
problem, I did admire her, although I just saw her in a moment before she gone.

B. Physical Part :
 Tips to make a story:
1. Think about the storyline, like to invite the audience to experience riding a roller
coaster.
2. Decide who will be the “villain” and the “hero”.
3. Not every character has to be likeable just make sure they’re interesting.
4. Write memorable characters.

SOURCE:
http://masick-love.blogspot.co.ic/20/10/11/langkah-langkah-untuk-membuat-
skenario.html?m=1
http://adnanscript.blogspot.co.id/2008/07/teknik-penulisan-skenario-film.html?m=1
Short film Wikipedia
Materi Kuliah Jurusan Broadcasting UNS; mata kuliah Penulisan Naskah