discussing the script
Once you have your ideas together you need to get them down on paper. These are the main stages you might go through:
Synopsis
Is the short pitch to sell your idea. It conveys the dramatic throughline of the narrative without character intricacies or sub-plots. It is probably only one or two lines long (called a Log line in the US)
The log line is the miniaturization of the idea - Lynda Obst in her book Hello He Lied
treatments & outlines
Outlines and treatments are descriptions of the film you want to make - they are both summaries of the project (usually in the industry for securing money) that help you convey what your film is about, before you produce a script or storyboard.
For a feature an treatment is usually less than a page, and a outline is usually a few sides.
script
Check out Scottish Screen's excellent first writes pages for details on script & screenwriting. Celtx is a fantastic piece of software to help you write, however you can't rely on it to do everything for you, so download this pdf on screenplay formatting to guide you
Writing is easy, its just a matter of staring at a blank page until your forehead bleeds - Gene Fowler
shooting script
A shooting script is the locked down script, which helps everyone (literally) be on the same page.
A good film script should be able to do completely without dialogue - David Mamet
storyboards
A storyboard shows each shot in sequence, like a comic strip. It helps you think about how things are going to look and it saves time as everyone can foresee what is going to happen on the day.
I'm fascinated, he does an immense amount of homework, he comes with his storyboards and his sequences totally worked out - Attenborough on Speilberg
As well as the picture a storyboard should have:
- Shot/Scene number
- Shot size (mcu, ms, ecu)
- Note on what the action is
- Shot duration
- Information about the audio
Good storyboarding has nothing to do with beautiful artwork