At first, I had zero idea on how to write a script. I didn’t think that it was gonna be complicated, as it will simply be similar to story writing. Well I was wrong.

A script has a format, with a few parts such as: scene heading, action, character, dialogue, transition, shot, etc. A friend from studio helped a little by explaining how each works, although the parts/titles commonly used are action, character and dialogue. 

Action is to describe the situation of a scene, this might be how a place might look or a character’s action. Character is simply the name of the character speaking. Dialogue is also just what the character says. Scene Heading portrays the location and time of a scene with the format of ([INT <interior>/ EXT. <exterior>] [location] – [time of day]). Transition is how a scene transition from one scene to another, usually either fade in or fade out.

I also found some script examples online as guidance. Most of the parts are pretty straightforward, like character names, scene heading and transition. For action however, I had some difficulties as I don’t really know how to put my what I envision into words. At first, I did a lot of telling in my writings, but then after researching, I wasn’t supposed to do that, instead i need to write what the viewers need to see (show don’t tell). Ben also helped explain a little on that, how I should just write as simple as possible.

The action part is where I want the audience to ask themselves what is happening. So I basically visualises Elena being in the moment in a mysterious way.

Now with the action part done, it’s time for dialogues. Writing dialogues is really tricky, because they have to flow nicely between one lines to another. We also don’t want the dialogues to be what BBC termed, ‘on the nose’. This means that it’s not a good idea to expose too much through dialogue, rather we want to keep some things mysterious and make realisation of a secret difficult. Through my dialogues were the narrative of the film itself, I want them to reveal things to the viewers but at the same time not just giving them away.

The lines for Rachel and Elena are pretty contrast. Elena is in a state of anger and disappointment thus her lines are longer. Rachel on the other hand has shorter lines, as she was mainly taking Elena’s anger and was apologetic. However, near the end of the conversation, Rachel will burst out and have a long line, which will give the conversation a nice twist.

Since my outline was pretty rough, it take me quite a while to finish the script. From the rough script to the finalised script, I rewrote it quite a lot of times until I was satisfied with it. I think what’s important is that the viewers will be able to follow the story while at the same time are curious and full of questions.

Then I was done.

Below is my script. I hope you like it.