Coming up with a captivating video script screenplay should be the target of every screenwriter, especially if your aim is to pitch the script in the hope of selling it at the end of the day, and to get that right you need to incorporate certain elements that will make your screenplay have all it takes to become the best.

Therefore, in this article, I am going to work you through the 4 key elements you must use when writing your next video script or screenplay, especially if you want it to turn out the best win.

But before we get started, let us first and foremost get to understand the meaning of an element in a screenplay.

 

What is an element in a screenplay?

An element in a screenplay are those vital information that helps you to vividly describe what your audience are expected to see from the characters you have created for your story.

However, this vital information can only begin when you have a message you are trying to pass across with your screenplay.

So without waste of time, let us move on to see those 4 must have elements for a winning screenplay.

4 key elements for a winning video script or screenplay.

The 4 4 key elements for a winning video script or screenplay are:

1. Theme.
2. Characters.
3. Conflict.
4. Resolution.

1. Theme.

Basically, the very first key element of a video script or screenplay is the theme; which is referred to as the genre, topic, main idea or simply the message you are trying to pass across in your screenplay.

There are so many themes you can adopt for your screenplay, and the most outstanding of them all is the theme of love also known as romance.

Now picking a love story as the theme for your winning screenplay might come in several aspects like a story about a love gone sour or a story of how two lovers remain faithful to each other, no matter the odds they are facing.

But if you ask me how to blend a love story that will keep your audience at the edge of their seats, I will advise you write a love story about an heartbreak because this is what majority odf people are going through in their real lives. And once these kinds stumble on your story, they will definitely watch it in the hope of getting the inspiration or confidence they need to fight theirs through.

2. Characters.

Characters is another key element you must use in order to write a winning video script or screenplay.

When you watch western movies, you will realize that they all seem to incorporate two opposing characters which we normally refer to as the protagonist and antagonist.

Now the protagonist is always the center or focus of the story and he  usually has a goal which he is trying to achieve, but the antagonist will be on the other side creating conflicts that will make it almost impossible for the protagonist to achieve his goals.

Nollywood movies also has these kind of stories in their thousands, but one common thing that stands out in them all is the ability of the protagonist to defy all the odds and become victorious in the end.

Often times we see the antagonist paying dearly with their lives, and in Nollywood films some of them will confess all their evil deeds before this occurs.

Now the most important thing about using these element in your screenplay is how to introduce your characters, and I often advice you start this step in your film treatment.

The most important advice I would like to give here about creating your screenplay character is giving them a name and occupation or hobby. This means that your characters must have something they are doing as a source of livelihood or even for pleasure.

3. Conflict.

Conflict is another key element you can use when you are trying to write a winning video script or screenplay.

It is not necessarily important that your main character has an adversary or antagonist, as we observed above, who is creating the conflict that is meant to stop him from achieving his set goals; because sometimes this conflict might come from the perils of his own designs.

In life, human beings at one time or another always indulge in activities or make wrong moves that will come back to hunt them mercilessly.

That is why you can use this element to teach people that sometimes they can be their own worst enemy.

For example, a chain smoker who ignores the warning on the cigarettes pack about smokers inability to live long because of how the cigarettes damages their liver ends up having cancer of the lungs which causes him to realize his mistakes and starts to fight for his dear live.

4. Resolution.

At this stage your character discovers his mistakes or makes the final decision to withstand his opponents, and the outcome of the whole event is what we refer to as the resolution.

I would like to state here that I have seen so many movies where the storyline was so damn good until the resolution comes around and fucks it all up.

Let me quickly add that I’ve also watched many movies where there is no resolution at all, even though it has no continuation.

Thus, when you are attempting to write a winning video script or screenplay, make sure you’ve already envisioned what is going to become of your characters.

As a matter of fact, this is the very point where you will have the opportunity to twist events and end the video script or screenplay in a way the viewers never expected, and with that you will create another important element of a video script or screenplay called suspense.

Sorry, we did not think it wise to add it here because we were kind of like focusing on these 4 that are of utmost importance.

Finally, once you are able to use suspense to arrive at your resolution, you will be able to keep your audiebce at the edge of their seats.

Good luck.