Chapter :      1           INTRODUCTION                                                               

With the ever increasing popularity of the media like film and television, the opportunities for talented artistes and technicians is on the increase.  Many people however think that the demand is more for actors/actresses and technicians like director, cameraman, editors etc., as they are the personnel who hog the limelight and are credited with the success of the film or TV programme and are considered to be responsible for the success of the film/TV programme, by the ordinary people because of the publicity, they get. But the truth is that there are more number of other artistes and technicians whose contribution is of great value to the final product, be it a film or TV programme.  One such is the screen play writer.  Ask anyone in the medium connected with the production of the film, they will accept as  fact that the screen play writer is the one, who contributes the maximum, but unfortunately is the last one to be given the due credit for the success.

It is an accepted fact the world over, among the professionals that the foundation for a good film is a good screen play.  All the best films are definitely the result of the best screen plays.  It is also true that some others also connected with the production of a film, like the director can mess up and make a bad film, even from the best of the screen plays, but even that will be better than a film made by an excellent director from a bad or mediocre screen play. Unfortunately not even the best director of the world can make a good film from a bad screen play.  Screen play writing, therefore, is now being given the due importance that should have been done long ago. Of course screen play writers in Hollywood have been enjoying a position of honour, as not one but two Oscar awards are being awarded to the screen play writers, one for the best original screen play and another for the best screen play based on a published novel or staged play.

While the number of films produced in India is the highest in the world, recently the industry is reported to be worried about the failure of a vast majority of the films produced.  The reason is not far to seek and it is only because there are very few good screen plays, which is the result of the lack of talented screen play writers or inability of the film industry to spot the talented ones and utilise their services properly. As regards TV, the medium is growing by leaps and bounds in India and all of it had happened so suddenly that the industry is not able to scout for and get the best of the screen play writers and so obviously they take the second best option and  rely on some few known writers. They do need some good screen play writers. This means that the scope and opportunities for talented and good screen play writer is on the increase. The question then is ’ How does one become a good screen play writer?’

This question leads to a series of other questions like ‘What is a screen play?’  ‘Is it an art or craft?, ‘Can it be taught?, ‘Apart from being good at writing what should I have knowledge of, to become a good screen play writer? You have to ask all these questions, if you desire to make the best use of the opportunities available. Well all these questions will be answered and you will train yourself to be a good screen play writer at the end of this course, as you go through these lessons carefully and follow the hints and practice this art of screen play writing. Well in simple terms, it is a condition to be fulfilled by you to attain your desired goal.                               

You are advised to go through all the chapters, with care, even though at times you may feel that what is explained is not very relevant to screen play writing.  There are chapters on various steps of film making and it is necessary that you learn these well before you think of going straight to screen play writing.  This is because you aspire to be a screen play writer and not just a writer.  Writing for screen, be it big or small ( film or TV) demands a good knowledge of the medium, through which your work will be exposed to the viewers.

It is similar to learning the grammar of a language, before venturing to write anything in that language.  If the grammar is wrong, there cannot be any great work of literature in any language and film and TV are no exceptions to this.
You are also advised to watch as many films or TV programmes to observe what you have learnt.  You don't have to go far for this.  Now TV gives you all the facilities you need for this.  When you see a good film, try and analyse what makes it good and when it is a bad film analyse why it is bad.  Also try and write a screen play for the film, you have seen to see for yourself whether you can introduce any changes.  Initially you may find it difficult, but as you go through these lessons, you will be able to do it better. 

 Best of lucks for your new adventure