Moving Images, Understanding Media

Chapter 7 From Page to Screen 267

Th is selection represents the foundation of what Anita Loos describes as “a

story suitable to motion picture production.” Th e fi rst step commonly used by

early screenwriters was to write a story from the form of a synopsis, which is

a clear summary of the plot in about a page (which would be a paragraph or

two for a short fi lm). Th e transferring of the story to a “photoplay” format was

known as putting it into “continuity.” Today, there are a number of approaches

of screenwriters in the generation of material, including the writing of a

treatment or a step outline, or the direct composition of a screenplay.

Figure 7-15 Can you imagine a story from this series

of visuals? Scripts bring alive the characters, settings,

actions, relationships, and outcomes fi rst envisioned by

the writer. (Courtesy Kendelyn Ouellette)

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