Students will be asked to write a first draft of their synopsis. The final draft will not be written until the screen play, itself, is completed. I intend to have students write the first draft of their synopsis at this stage so that they will have an opportunity to get a clear idea as to the direction they want their screen play to take. At the very least consider where they want to start. I have found that such an exercise, often helps those students who have no clue as to what they’re going to write about develop a story line.
The synopsis should have a top sheet that contains the following elements: title, author, form (i.e. screenplay) # of pages, type (mystery, comedy), time (period in which the movie is set i.e. Ancient Greece), and lastly readers (one student from each department that will be partners in this project). The draft should be double spaced and written in the present tense. A description of the theme should be the first thing addressed in a synopsis. This description can be as short as one sentence long (see sample on pg. 86 of Blacker’s
Elements of Screenwriting: A Guide for Filmmaking and Television Writing)
. It should never exceed more than a paragraph. The description should contain only the pith of the story (i.e. The rise and fall of a mercenary soldier.”
The first time a character is mentioned, the name should appear in CAPS and [they] should be clearly identified. This is necessary so the person reading the synopsis will not have to refer back to the initial ‘introduction’ when the character is mentioned later in the synopsis. When writing a synopsis it is a good idea to suggest that students select the key characters and explain their role in the story.
Once students complete the screenplay they will be instructed to proofread their synopsis and make any additions, adjustments or changes that they feel are necessary. The final copy should be single spaced.