The key information the first ten pages of your screenplay must contain

The first ten pages of your screenplay must give these information;

1. what the antagonism is
2. who is being antagonized
3. a hint on who the villain is
4. a hint on who may eliminate the villain

All you need is your reader to continue reading your script.
These first ten pages are what the chemists call "the rate determining step". They determine whether a reader can go on reading your script or not.
They tell the reader if it is the particular script he longs to read or not. They determine how good you are when it comes to the art of screen writing.
They tell if the other pages, down to the last will be wonderful or not.

These first ten pages are very important because they inform the reader what he should expect if he continues to read. They inform him the genre of the screenplay.
The reader will quickly know the pace at which he will read the rest of the pages. He may need to calm his nerves and read it gently or not.

The first ten pages of your screenplay are very crucial. There is need to spell out every information in it clearly, without mixing them up.
Your first ten pages must give these information;

1. what the antagonism is
2. who is being antagonized
3. a hint on who the villain is
4. a hint on who may eliminate the villain

(1) what the antagonism is:
This is the conflict, the dispute, the issue at stake, the debate, the problem, the abnormality, the contention, the insurgence, the contest, the competition, the test and the disturbance which needs to be put in place. It is the trouble the people, whom are the characters, are facing. It is that which needs to be solved by these people. It is the reason why these people are disturbed. It is the reason they are not living the way they should. It is what gives them fears. It is their terror, worry, and discomfort. It is their nightmare. It is what they fight to put an end to. It is what they pray they conquer. It is what makes them weep, cry, mourn or die. It is their pain. It is the danger they face. It is the reason they gnash their teeth. It is the reason they curse their existence.
You have to describe the antagonism. You will state clearly what it's all about. You will also show the method by which it exerts its effect on the people.
You may not point out the real cause of the antagonism (as this is usually reserved for the last part of the story). All you have to do is to show its existence and mechanism.

(2) who is being antagonized
The people being antagonized are the characters who are directly or indirectly affected by the operations of the antagonism.
You must describe the various undesirable conditions these people are passing through. You have to show their pains, their tears, and their little efforts to find comfort and solace. You may also hint on their usual state of living before the antagonism struck.

(3) a hint on who the villain is
This gives the reader a very faint picture of the conspirator of the antagonism.
This is just a hint. You may not bother telling who he is actually (it is usually reserved for later part of the screenplay).
You can give the hint through your character's dialogues.

(4) a hint on who may eliminate the villain;
This also like the third information.
You may also show who he is. But sometimes it is reserved to allow for suspense.

Well, I'm not sure you would want your reader to lose his patience in reading your script. You have to be very careful in writing your first ten pages.


Written by: Winny Greazy 

Follow on twitter: https://twitter.com/winny_greazy 
Facebook: https://facebook.com/winny.greazy

Click on the HOME bar to read other important updates.