Cold Screenplays: Any screenplay that can't thrill the audience is a Cold screenplay

Cold screenplays are those screenplays whose elements are not sensitive and responsive enough to represent and build up the screenplays. They are screenplays which begin in a dull sequence, continue in a moody sequence, and then end in a despicable sequence.
A lot of things characterize cold screenplays; starting from their story structure and theme, to their actions and character build up.

Stories in cold screenplays are not caused by a strong desire for them.
Think of a screenplay which the story starts from a character's story telling. Not that something strong elicited his telling the story, but just because he feels like telling it; or just because some kids ask him to tell them a story. He sits down and relaxes. Then the kids will gather and sit around him. He then clears his throat and starts telling the story. Now this story forms the bulk of the screenplay.
Nothing is wrong with storytelling, but one thing about it is that it doesn't break the activation complex which a screenplay needs to push its content to the minds of its readers. It makes the reader tend to be waiting so much for the main thrilling part of the whole story. This makes the reader loose his interest on the script; this is an example of a cold screenplay.

A good screenplay should be situated on a rolling story line and actions; and not on a static one.
A screenplay structure is like a stone rolling down from a hill. Everything about a screenplay's story line and actions is on-going; it's on transit. Writing a screenplay story is like writing from the middle of an exciting story full of suspense. Something had caused the present scenes; something very strong, something disturbing, thrilling, overwhelming or embarrassing.

Actions in cold screenplays are not spontaneous. They do not happen on their own. They do wait until they are talked about by the characters, and afterwards permitted to occur.

Normally, actions are a drive for a screenplay. They are the reason a screenplay moves unto the next scene. As a result, an action is a scene of its own which brings about another scene which is still an action. Action is the skeleton of a screenplay and a screenplay cannot stand without its support. The support the action gives runs throughout the course of the screenplay without being permitted to do so.

Cold screenplays sometimes forget they need actions upon actions for them to forge ahead in a thrilling sequence. Well, that's why it is a cold screenplay; don't blame it.

The characters in cold screenplays do often seem not concerned. They look not committed in making the whole screenplay sequence look real.
Their dialogues tend to be weak and do not create strong emotional attachments.
They do not look original to the proceedings of the screenplay. They always seem to be apart trying to voice the actions instead of allowing the actions to voice them.

Anyway, it's clear that writing a screenplay that shines is not that too easy, but it's better to struggle hard, spend many days and then achieve it than writing a cold screenplay after a lesser effort.


Written by: Winston 'Winny Greazy' Oge

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