6 min read Mathew Wahome

Scriptwriting and Film Production

From idea to screen

A film starts with an idea, becomes a script, and passes through planning, shooting and editing. Kenyan films such as Nairobi Half Life, Supa Modo and Rafiki show how local stories reach audiences at home and abroad.

Story basics

Premise: one-sentence idea.
Logline: premise with hero, goal and obstacle.
Three-act structure: Setup, Confrontation, Resolution.
Characters: protagonist, antagonist, supporting characters.
Conflict: person vs person, self, society, nature.

Script format

A screenplay uses standard layout:

Scene heading (slugline): INT. KIOSK - NIGHT
Action: what we see, in present tense.
Character name in capitals before dialogue.
Dialogue: speech.
Parenthetical: tone, e.g. (whispering).
Transitions: CUT TO, FADE OUT.

One page of script is about one minute of screen time.

Example: INT. CLASSROOM - DAY Achieng stares at an empty desk. TEACHER: Where is Otieno?

Storyboarding

Sketch each shot with notes on camera angle, movement, dialogue and sound. It saves time and budget on set.

Camera language

Shot sizes: extreme long, long, medium, close-up, extreme close-up. Angles: eye-level, high angle (makes subject small), low angle (makes subject powerful), Dutch angle (tension). Movements: pan (left-right), tilt (up-down), dolly, zoom, handheld. Composition: rule of thirds, framing, depth.

Sound and light

Dialogue, sound effects, music, ambient sound.
Three-point lighting: key, fill and back lights.
Use natural light and reflectors to reduce cost.

Production stages

Pre-production: script, budget, casting, location scouting, permits, scheduling (call sheet).
Production: shooting scenes, directing actors, recording sound.
Post-production: editing, colour correction, sound mixing, titles.
Distribution: festivals, TV, cinemas, YouTube, Showmax and Netflix.

Crew roles

Producer, director, screenwriter, cinematographer, sound recordist, editor, art director, costume and make-up, actors and production assistants.

Budget example

Short film: equipment hire KES 15,000, transport KES 5,000, meals KES 8,000, props and costumes KES 6,000, editing KES 10,000. Total KES 44,000.

Ethics and law

Obtain permissions for locations and music, get actors' consent, respect culture, and follow the Kenya Film Classification Board (KFCB) regulations. Copyright protects your work.

Theatre link

Stage and screen share acting, directing and design but film uses the camera and editing to control what the audience sees.

Try it

Write a logline for a film on water shortage in your village.
Draw a six-frame storyboard for a chase scene.
Shoot a one-minute film on a phone using three different shot sizes.