Contents -- Introduction -- Chapter 1 Shorts -- Key Concepts -- The Fundamentals -- Keep your screenplay focused. -- Limit the time frame of the action. -- Limit the number of characters. -- Visualize. -- Say more with less. -- Make it new. -- What to Avoid -- The extensive use of special or visual effects -- Multiple subplots -- Resolution through death (either murder or suicide) -- Weapons -- Serial killing -- Parodies and mockumentaries -- Dreams and fantasies -- Characters who are obviously walking contradictions -- Film and Theater -- The Writer's Goals -- The Script -- Film and Television -- Chapter One, Take Two-Chapter Review -- Chapter 2 Character -- Key Concepts -- Character and Characterization -- Why Are Character Choices Active and External? -- Putting Your Characters in Charge of the Action -- Objective and Need -- Adding Depth to Your Characters -- Outlook is the way a character views the world. -- Attitude is the way the world views a character. -- Arc is the growth or the change that a character undergoes during the course of the film's action. -- Types of Characters -- Secondary Characters -- Chapter Two, Take Two-Chapter Review -- Chapter 3 Narrative -- Key Concepts -- Character vs. Character -- Character vs. Self -- Character vs. Society -- Character vs. Nature -- Character vs. Fate -- The Three-Part Nature of the Screenplay -- Setting -- Backdrop -- Tone -- Protagonist -- A hint of the conflict to come -- The direction of the plot -- The inciting incident -- Rising Action -- Some Additional Devices -- Condition lock -- Plant and payoff -- Red herring -- Climax -- Resolution -- Scenes -- Scene-protagonist vs. Scene-antagonist -- Creating the Scene -- What is the dramatic point of the scene? -- What is the major beat in the scene? -- Which characters do I need to make the scene work? -- Who is the scene-protagonist?.

What does the scene-protagonist want in the scene? -- What is the form of the conflict in the scene? -- What is the subtext for the scene? -- Where will the scene play? -- At what time of day will the scene play? -- Chapter Three, Take Two-Chapter Review -- Chapter 4 Dialogue -- Key Concepts -- The Goals of Film Dialogue -- Move the plot forward. -- Reveal character. -- Provide story information. -- Establish tone. -- Convey theme. -- Add to the backdrop of the story. -- The Characteristics of Film Dialogue -- Writing Effective Dialogue -- Write dialogue that's dynamic and progressive. -- Be concise. -- Keep lines simple. -- Keep speeches short. -- Take care in the way that you represent a dialect or an accent on the page. -- Don't turn every beat through the dialogue. -- Don't write "on the nose." -- Avoid filler phrases. -- Avoid stammering or stuttering except when the dramatic situation absolutely demands it. -- Don't be inflexible (unless you enjoy extreme frustration). -- Making Every Word Count -- Keeping Dialogue Concise: A Case in Point -- Chapter Four, Take Two-Chapter Review -- Chapter 5 Development -- Key Concepts -- Where Do Film Ideas Come From? -- Character -- Plot -- Setting -- Theme -- Development -- The Stages of Development -- Premise -- Concept -- Title -- Character interview -- Synopsis -- Step outline -- Scene outline -- Sequence outline -- Treatment -- First draft -- Revisions -- Common problems in the setup -- Common problems in the rising action -- Common problems in the resolution -- Principles of rewriting -- Chapter Five, Take Two-Chapter Review -- Chapter 6 Production -- Key Concepts -- Pitfalls and Money Pits -- Too Many Roles -- Critters -- Kids -- Stunts -- Nudity -- "Scenery Chewing" -- Locations (too many) -- Locations (too public) -- Vehicles -- Weapons -- Weather -- Clearances -- Working with Others.

Locking the Pages of a Script -- A Brief Word about Rehearsal -- Chapter Six, Take Two-Chapter Review -- Chapter 7 Format -- Key Concepts -- Scene Headings -- Scene Directions -- Character Cues -- Dialogue -- Parenthetical Directions -- Transitions -- The Standard Industry Format (Traditional) -- The Standard Industry Format (Updated) -- The Title Page -- Special Situations -- Some Simple but Essential Rules of Punctuation -- Chapter Seven, Take Two-Chapter Review -- Appendix A: Genres -- Appendix B: Glossary -- A -- B -- C -- D -- E -- F -- G -- H -- I -- J -- L -- M -- N -- O -- P -- R -- S -- T -- U -- V -- W -- Z -- Appendix C: Sample Screenplay: Early Draft -- Appendix D: Sample Screenplay: Shooting Script -- Appendix E: A Filmmaker's Dozen: Thirteen Short Films Every Filmmaker Should See -- Index -- A -- B -- C -- D -- E -- F -- G -- H -- I -- J -- K -- L -- M -- N -- O -- P -- Q -- R -- S -- T -- U -- V -- W -- Z.