The Melbourne International Film Festival (MIFF) is back and will be lighting up some of the city’s most cherished cinemas, with a program of films from all corners of the planet, each with a unique story to tell.
Be captivated by bold narratives and unforgettable characters that will switch on the amateur film critic in you.
To be a real critic, you need to understand films from the inside out. And screenwriting is at the heart of great filmmaking.
At the CAE, we’re fortunate to have a professional screenwriter Rocky Rose leading our ‘Introduction to Screenwriting’ short course, which takes you on a journey through feature film development.
So, what makes a winning screenplay? We asked Rocky to share his expert tips on what sets mediocrity and movie magic apart.
Over six three-hour workshops, Rocky teaches students how to solidify their premise, find a theme, create dynamic characters, write a first draft, and ultimately, pitch their project.
Before you join his next short course, we asked Rocky to help you prepare some of his top tips for a winning screenplay.
Bring a unique perspective
In Rocky’s experience, being a good screenwriter takes more than strong writing skills. There’s an innate quality that all successful screenwriters share:
“Put simply, good screenwriters have something to say about the world.” Rocky explained.
You could have a great plot outline for an action thriller or charming romcom, but what will make or break your script is the perspective you share with the world.
“In my experience, the best screenwriters are never the best at spelling and grammar but are people who have a unique perspective on a particular aspect of life and are interested in showcasing that perspective in a creative way.”
Know your ‘theme’
The perspective you bring to the table will also inform the theme of your screenplay, which Rocky calls a writer’s “north star.” Your theme is a guiding light that you follow throughout your writing.
“Your theme is the most important aspect of your screenplay… [it’s] a statement that exemplifies the writer’s particular point of view about an aspect of life or humanity.”
“Everything else flows on from that theme.”
Rocky says that the protagonist’s journey demonstrates this theme. The genre heightens it. Setting strengthens it.
“Everything in a screenplay is designed to help demonstrate the writer’s underlying, thematic statement. It answers the question; ‘what’s your story really about?’”
Genre elevates the story
At this year’s Melbourne International Film Festival (MIFF), there’s a film for everyone; from Japanese satirical psychological thriller Cloud to the sweet British comedy The Ballad of Wallis Island.
Like these films, Rocky says having a clear, defined genre is an easy way to make your story more entertaining and reinforce your perspective.
“Genre can further demonstrate your theme. Think of Jordan Peele’s Get Out – demonstrating racism in America through the psychological thriller/horror genre. This elevated the underlying theme but also created a super entertaining film, which, after all, is the name of the game!”
“Who doesn’t love a good action flick? Rom-com? Western? If it’s both really entertaining and helps bring out your strong theme, that’s the double-whammy we’re after.”
Writing great dialogue
It’s one thing to write a witty one-liner, or snarky exchange between two enemies. But Rocky says what really makes dialogue have an impact is the nuance of its characters:
“What helps make dialogue entertaining is when characters have depth, or are dynamic in some way, a juxtaposition, so they’re interesting to both watch and listen to.”
He points to the characters in the Coen Brothers’ film Fargo as an example:
“They have that unique, upbeat, almost comedic Minnesota accent, but what they say and do is often dark and quite horrific.”
That juxtaposition extends beyond the audio and visual as well:
“Generally, dialogue that works best is when characters have strong goals and desires and other characters strongly oppose this. This is conflict and this is drama and this is why we love The Real Housewives of… wherever.”
Master your ‘elevator pitch’
Introduction to Screenwriting doesn’t stop at what you put on paper – Rocky will also share his expert tips on pitching your screenplay to producers.
“A pitch is important because someone, at some point, wants to hear you talk about your idea. This is the selling aspect of screenwriting and is just as important as writing the piece itself. A strong pitch is essentially any aspect that makes your idea pop.”
It can be anything from a catchy premise – a lawyer can’t lie for a day (Liar, Liar) – a provocative question – how do you live after making an unthinkable choice? (Sophie’s Choice) – or even the writer’s personal connection to the story – Taylor Sheridan of Yellowstone fame has written many films/TV shows connected to his experiences growing up as a rancher in Texas.
Enjoyed Rocky’s tips on screenwriting? That’s just the preview! Dive deeper into creating your own movie magic by joining him in ‘Introduction to Screenwriting’.