Screenwriting: Basics

Short: A screenplay is the written blueprint for a film, recording dialogue, settings, and basic camera directions in a standardized format. The typical three-act structure forms the backbone of most feature films.

In more detail: A screenplay page roughly corresponds to one minute of screen time, which helps screenwriters estimate total runtime.

In detail

• Three-act structure: Setup, confrontation, and resolution divide the story into clearly recognizable sections, each with its own dramatic function.
• Protagonist and goal: A clearly defined main character with a recognizable desire or goal drives the plot forward and creates identification.
• Conflict as engine: Without obstacles or resistance, a story remains unexciting, which is why conflict matters at every narrative level.
• Show, don’t tell: Visual storytelling through action and image is preferred over explanatory dialogue, since film is a visual medium.
• Scene headings: Standardized indications of location, time of day, and interior/exterior help production plan shooting days.
• Dialogue economy: Realistic but concise dialogue avoids unnecessary explanation and leaves room for subtext between the lines.
• Revision as process: Successful screenplays almost never emerge from the first draft, but through multiple, targeted rounds of revision (kamera-einstellungen-und-schnitt-im-film, bildkomposition-goldener-schnitt).