The Script:

Marilyn Milgrom, script consultant

Why am I making this film:

Why are some directors driven to write their own scripts?
Out of frustration and desire to get on with making
something.
You shouldnt make an intense character study if you are
scared of what?
Actors.
What should you be careful of if you only have 5k to make
your film?
To not develop an action story that will require stunts, car
chases and special effects.

What is a short film:

If a feature film might be described as a novella, how might a short be
described?
Like having an idea for a novella and then deciding to tell it as a haiku.
What are the length boundaries different film festivals stipulate in their
shorts sections?
Most festivals accept anything under 30 minutes, but many curators
and programmers find it difficult to place longer short films (over 20
minutes). The majority of UK funding accommodates sub 10 min
projects.
If the function of your short is to make your audience laugh, how long
should it be?
2-3 minutes max.

Finding the story:

What are the three basic elements any kind of dramatic story
requires?
A world, a character, a problem.
What do most short films focus on?
One moment or event in the life of one main character.
What do a lot of the most successful short films have in
common?
Play out more or less in real time.

The world:
Why can it be useful to set your film around a familiar
event/ritual?
You can take for granted the audiences familiarity with the
situation and have immediately placed your characters into a
story world full of barely supressed emotions which can
create dramatic tension and story events.
Why can a literal journey be a good setting for a short film?
So that the story inevitably takes the character on a
metaphorical journey.

The character & the problem:

What are the 5 most important questions to ask when you begin to develop
your story?
Who is the main character?
What is their problem?
How will the audience recognise the problem?
Are the stakes high enough?
Am I telling the story from the best point of view?
One of three things must drive your character through the story. What are
they?
A want, a need, an obligation.
What crucially must accompany this element?
Something that is making it hard for the character to pursue their want,
need or obligation.
Why are a lot of short films about children and teenagers?
Because of their age and lack of experience of the adult world provide a
rich source of universally recognisable problems.

Making problems manifest to the

audience:
What is one of the most important ways that you can
demonstrate your skill as a filmmaker and nit just as a storyteller?
How you turn a characters inner problem into the heart of the
film an ensure the audience see it.

Are the stakes high enough:

What does ensuring that something is at stake in the story
mean the audience can do?
It means that the audience can see what the character has
to lose if they dont solve their problem.

The best point of view:

How can a different POV change a story?
It can alter the meaning of the story.
Why do many short film scripts fall down?
They fall down because the character's journey does not
synchronise with what the writer is trying to say.

What does my story mean:

Why does an awareness of the meaning inherent in your story
matter?
It will help you to make vital choices and help the
development process of your script.

The tone of the film:

What is tone intimately connected to and what are the
implications of this?
It is connected to genre which implies clues for the audience.
How does tone emerge in a film?
It emerges in a film by backing up the underlying meaning.

Developing your story:

What is a common flaw of most short scripts submitted for
funding?
They havent had enough development work done on them.
What is the ten point plan to test the spine of your story?
Title
Genre/tone;
Setting(time&place);
Main character;
Want/need/obligation;
Opposition;
Catalyst for change;
Climax;
Resolution;and
The audience feels.(theme)

Unity:
What point does Marilyn Milgrom make about unity?
Every scene needs to be able to reveal something new about
the main character to the audience.

Causality:
How can we make sure that what happens in the end could not
have happened earlier?
Every scene needs to be able to move the story onwards.

The step outline:

What is the step outline and what does it ensure?
It gets rid of everything that isnt necessary for it to be there.
One sentence that summarises what happens
What is revealed that is significant to the plot?
What is revealed that is significant to the audiences understanding of the characters?
Is there an indication of significant themes?
Every scene of significant action should deliver something on at least two out of three
possible fronts. What are these fronts?
Plot
Character
theme.
What is signified by the order in which to tell the story?
Whether the story is told in a forward, continuous, way or backwards, or with flashbacks
Whether it is told in a linear or non-linear way.
What do audiences instinctively know?
When something is dishonest.
As a writer what is a crucial thing you are looking to ensure?
That the audiences stays engaged and the telling of the story adds meaning.

Remember its a film:

How do we establish the world and the character?
With maximum speed and minimal dialogue.
What advice is given for making the film CINEMATIC once you have a
good story?
Establish the world and character
Remember to use sound and visuals
Keep a consistent tone once established
Make sure that the main character is always active
Always show a change in a character through action rather then
dialogue
Use cinematic devices (parallel action, montage)
Make sure that everything is significant and engages the audiences in
the most visual way possible.

The final words:

What final advice is given for ensuring that a short is more
cinematic, less televisual in feel?
Try not to use too much dialogue and always write it last.

The audience for the script:

Who is the first audience of your film?
The reader of the script
How can you help the reader to SEE the film you are intending
and not get irritated?
Follow screenwriting conventions
Read other scripts
Avoid writing technical directions
Why is SIMPLE a useful descriptor for your short?
A very small story can make a very big impact