To make it in Hollywood, you need to dream big.
If you’re a screenwriter, it makes sense to fantasize about crafting the next Oscar-winning screenplay that attracts A-list talent and brings in millions at the box office. But dreams this big don’t happen overnight, so it might make sense to start with a slightly smaller dream: writing a short screenplay.
While a feature-length screenplay is typically 90-120 pages, a short screenplay is usually under 20 pages, has limited characters and locations. A short screenplay can be dramatic, comedic or toe the line between genres. Typically, a short screenplay will focus on one main event that has a strong emotional or comedic impact or one lead character that goes through an emotional or comedic experience. A short screenplay can be grounded in reality or take place in a fantasy or sci-fi world, there really are no hard and fast rules. Like a short story, a short screenplay is an opportunity to be transported into a world that may be unfamiliar or surprising.
Writing a short screenplay forces you to be concise and focused with your storytelling. You have to establish characters, build tension, and deliver a satisfying conclusion – all in 20 pages or less.
As a character exercise, it’s a great way to learn how to show who your character is without relying on a lot of dialogue. Most short screenplays have a three-act structure, just like a feature screenplay, but in a short screenplay you have an opportunity to bend the rules and experiment with alternative structures.
A well-crafted short screenplay can serve as a stepping stone to bigger opportunities. Many directors and producers look at short films as proof of a writer’s talent, storytelling skills, and ability to engage an audience in a limited amount of time. It’s also much easier to find collaborators like directors and actors to work on project that’s less of a time and financial commitment. Many short films are shot over a single weekend.
A short screenplay can also function as a proof of concept for a much bigger story, especially if you can get the screenplay made into a short film. Movies like Saw (2004), Whiplash (2014), Pixels (2015), and Marcel the Shell with Shoes On (2022), all started as short films and went on to be box office successes. Even if you’ve already written the feature-length version of your story, it’s still beneficial to write the short version, especially if the story relies heavily on actors to execute the story. Movies like Napoleon Dynamite (2004), and The Peanut Butter Falcon (2019), both relied on actors who played characters that weren’t in the mainstream. Sometimes, it’s much easier to see a talented actor bring the character to life visually than imagine it while reading the screenplay.
Producing a short film is a great opportunity to see your work come to life considering it’s a lot more manageable in terms of budget, time, and resources compared to a feature-length screenplay. Modern technology allows almost anyone to shoot a film – even on their phone – and edit it themselves with software like iMovie. Actually making a short film can really help a writer take control of their creative life and not rely on others for that big break.
So you’ve written a short screenplay – now what? Consider entering it in the Final Draft Big Break Screenwriting Competition which is open from March 10 to June 30, 2025. The Short Screenplay category is now in its second year and has garnered a lot of interest with emerging writers. Prizes include $1,000 for the winner, Final Draft 13 software and feedback on a verbal pitch or pitch deck, plus a 1-hour feedback session with Seed & Spark, a popular crowdfunding resource for filmmakers. Short Screenplay finalists receive one-on-one consultation with Seed & Spark to get advice on crowdfunding, producing and distribution.
As mentioned earlier, a short script can be about anything in any genre, but remember that a short script is a great place to take risks. Create a character you might be intimidated to put into a feature script or create an offbeat world that you might only see in a short film. You have a limited number of pages so why not explore something that pushes your storytelling boundaries? Even though you have up to 20 pages, sometimes limiting your story to six, eight or 10 pages can really help you focus on what’s important. A short screenplay will usually take place all in one day and the story should begin at the last moment possible and end as soon as possible. It’s your world so have fun!