Synopsis Completed

I knew it was going to be difficult, but things are never as they seem. For my latest screenplay, I had written a logline and a fairly detailed 30+ page treatment before I even started writing the screenplay. After several rewrites, it came to the point where I needed to write a one-page synopsis.

I had the urge to keep as much detail in as possible, but with a synopsis you just can’t do that. I wrote the synopsis based on the script, and as I feared it is was way too long. I rewrote it, again and again. I actually started to get a little pissed off with the process. Writing the actual screenplay seemed effortless in comparison.

However, it was interesting that with each iteration, it became easier to cut chunks out to get the the bare storyline. In the end I compressed a 120 page screenplay into a one page 400-word synopsis that I am pretty pleased with.

Anyone out there with a screenplay and not a synopsis should write one. It is a great exercise, and you’ll need the synopsis anyway.

Posted by Lee Gabel - Jan 11, 05:58 PM post this at del.icio.uspost this at Diggpost this at Yahoo! my webpost this at Google Bookmarkspost this on Facebook
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Journal Archives
 

All archived journal entries can be found below.

July 2010 [-]

22-07-10 2010 Nicholl Fellowships

May 2010 [-]

21-05-10 My script "Vermin" passed the test!

21-05-10 Forget Dramatica

20-05-10 Masters of Screenwriting Interview: Tom Mankiewicz

April 2010 [-]

27-04-10 A screenwriter's income

26-04-10 Finished rewrite #3

21-04-10 Rewrite #3 heading into home stretch

20-04-10 Avoid clichés like the plague

16-04-10 Subconscious writing

15-04-10 So you finish that brilliant script...

15-04-10 Rewrite #3...

14-04-10 Rewrite #3 update

14-04-10 Yes, it's expository but...

13-04-10 Rewrite #3 continues

12-04-10 Rewrite #3 begins

01-04-10 The tradeoff

March 2010 [-]

30-03-10 Francis-Ford Coppola's Notebook

23-03-10 Sage advice from David Mamet

23-03-10 Screenplay analysis

17-03-10 What's in a one sheet?

16-03-10 New Vermin draft done

15-03-10 To outline or not to outline...

15-03-10 Spec Script Sales 2009

12-03-10 Breath of fresh air

11-03-10 2010 Super Catalyst Emerging Screenwriter Award winners

11-03-10 Vermin page count from 120 to 104

04-03-10 Merging two characters into one

03-03-10 The Grey by Joe Carnahan and Ian Mackenzie Jeffers

03-03-10 Killing all my darlings

02-03-10 John Hughes scripts

02-03-10 Great notes from a pro writer/producer

February 2010 [-]

23-02-10 Abduction by Shawn Christensen

22-02-10 ATM by Chris Sparling

18-02-10 2009 demo reel

16-02-10 Hollywood Anonymous

12-02-10 Interview with Terry Rossio

11-02-10 27 golden rules of writing

03-02-10 Do you use index cards?

January 2010 [-]

31-01-10 Joe Eszterhas

28-01-10 To Write a Screenplay On Spec or Not?

28-01-10 The research continues

28-01-10 Superchannel Super Catalyst Update

25-01-10 Buried (the script)

25-01-10 The Darjeeling Limited

24-01-10 Buried (starring Ryan Reynolds)

18-01-10 Golden Globes 2010

18-01-10 Tales from the Script

15-01-10 Superchannel Super Catalyst

11-01-10 Synopsis Completed

08-01-10 New giant rat species discovered

04-01-10 Scriptapalooza 2010

03-01-10 First screenplay's the charm for Single Man writer

December 2009 [-]

31-12-09 Secrets for Creative Professionals

13-12-09 Air Buddies shot

11-12-09 US Copyright registered

11-12-09 WGA West registered

10-12-09 Back into the research

02-12-09 Black Hole Remake

November 2009 [-]

30-11-09 How to get a development deal

05-11-09 Windows XP - Low on Registry Space

August 2009 [-]

31-08-09 Just when I thought I was out...

20-08-09 Second draft is done

20-08-09 Righteous Kill

June 2009 [-]

30-06-09 Been a long lonely, lonely time.

15-06-09 Some great screenwriting books to read

May 2009 [-]

10-05-09 The perils of success

March 2009 [-]

28-03-09 Heading into the rewrite

26-03-09 More possible work. Speak of the devil...

26-03-09 I'm finally done... the reading that is

February 2009 [-]

13-02-09 Contests contested

January 2009 [-]

28-01-09 Going to read a few books

16-01-09 Time off for good behaviour

16-01-09 Good intentions be damned

December 2008 [-]

23-12-08 I'm done the first draft

20-12-08 I'm going long

16-12-08 Page 62

07-12-08 The Number 23

03-12-08 Se7en

02-12-08 The actual writing

November 2008 [-]

27-11-08 The outline, err... treatment is complete

26-11-08 The outline is getting close

05-11-08 Way to go, America!

October 2008 [-]

23-10-08 It's a sad day

01-10-08 Convert Adobe Illustrator CS3 to generic EPS

September 2008 [-]

30-09-08 Slamdance and the outline

24-09-08 Work on the outline continues

16-09-08 Progress on the outline

15-09-08 Slam Dance 2008 Screenplay Competition, part 2

14-09-08 The outline is taking form

09-09-08 Simple straightforward advice

06-09-08 The 2008 Page International Screenwriting Awards Finals

06-09-08 Sheldon Turner, Scott Rosenberg on Screenwriting

05-09-08 Slam Dance 2008 Screenplay Competition

04-09-08 Austin Film Festival Screenplay Competition

03-09-08 Heading home

August 2008 [-]

30-08-08 The index card outline is done!

29-08-08 Making progress

28-08-08 Day two on the wet west coast

27-08-08 Time for a getaway...

12-08-08 A good day

12-08-08 William Goldman on Structure

09-08-08 Damn, what a week

04-08-08 Scriptapalooza Semifinals

01-08-08 2008 PAGE International Screenwriting Awards Semifinalists

July 2008 [-]

31-07-08 Screenplay #2, update

31-07-08 Nicholl Fellowships 2008, Part 2

30-07-08 Nicholl Fellowships 2008 Update

30-07-08 Scriptapalooza 2008 Quarterfinalist

29-07-08 And so I begin...