Screenplay success

In scriptwriting class we learnt the foundations of making a good script/screenplay, something of which I always wondered how the professionals go about, and we were taught to do it in a few simple steps that anyone could use; and with luck and much practise, will help me create a good screenplay.

In class we learnt to come up with an idea starting at the start (obviously) coming up with a series of ideas branching them out to see which one helps the story flow.

Then if you like you can start the ending so you have a beginning and an end you know you must get to and then work out the details of the middle last.

When working on your script you need to keep these in mind:

1. Cause & Effect - in which an action or event will produce a certain response to the action in the form of another event.
2. Conflict & Resolution - what happens in the script/screenplay, why it happens and how does it get resolved. This is so something happens in the story and the main character/characters progress and grow and end up differently than how they started.
3. Emotional wave - does it have ups in downs for the character to keep the audience interested in the film?
4. Authenticity - Is it authentic, does it happen in real life? You need some sort of experience in the subject matter to write about it. "Write what you know"
5. Imagination - It needs to have the right mix of authenticity and imagination to keep viewers interested, if it has too much authenticity it's boring and basically a documentary. If it has too much imagination then it's unrealistic.

So with these steps you should be able to make a great screenplay.
Try it yourself and enjoy!!!