60 Second Screenwriter: What makes a great beginning of a script?

A video series addressing key screenwriting concerns in sixty seconds.

Some time ago, I proposed an idea to my DePaul University School of Cinematic Arts colleagues: What if we produced a lively, informative series of videos called 60 Second Screenwriter? The concept was simple: Aggregate questions relevant to anyone interested in the craft of screenwriting, then use DePaul students and faculty to produce the series?

And we did it! There are 14 videos, each about one minute long.

Today: What makes a great beginning to a script?

The insights provided in the video are spot on:

• A great beginning starts on Page 1. Not 5 pages. 10 pages. The very first page of your script should grab a reader’s attention.
• How to do that? Use an incident which catches the imagination of the reader right away.
• A great story starts with a great character, so be sure to open your script with an interesting character involved in a compelling situation.
• Zero in on the Protagonist and what their struggles are: Who are they? What is their problem in life? What is the ‘nail’ in their forehead?

Get our attention. Entertain us. But above all, a great beginning to a script makes us care about the central characters — especially the Protagonist.

I had a great time producing the 60 Second Screenwriter series working with my fellow faculty members and a terrific group of undergraduate and graduate students. Here is the production team:

Director: Penny Penniston
Producer: Scott Myers
Cinematography: Shannon Kuncé
Production Audio Mixer: Eagle Liao
Editor & Colorist: Ana Christian
Post Audio: Joey DeFabio

You may see more videos in the series at our YouTube channel.