The first three pages of your screenplay are the "first date" of your story. Learn how to write a Setup to make your audience want more.
Tony is going on a first date. He showers, shaves, and clips his nose hair. He drowns himself in Aqua Velva and pops some orange Tic Tacs. He looks and smells (cough, cough) like a winner.
See, Tony understands the purpose of a first date. It is an introduction used to generate future interest and anticipation in a potential relationship. If it works, Tony’s date will want to see him again. However, if Tony trips over a crack in the sidewalk, forgets his deodorant, or is suddenly stricken with “broccoli teeth” at dinner, chances are his lady fair is going to write him off.
Screenwriting has a “first date” too. It is called the setup.
The setup is simply this: the situation, person, entity, institution, or event that gives a hint about what the protagonist will ultimately have to contend with at the climax and/or the story's resolution.
Take for instance, The Lost Boys. It is during the setup we meet the teenage vampires and witness them murdering people. We know from this point on that the heroes will have to reckon with these vampires at the climax.
Before we get too deep into the setup, let’s talk about structure, in particular the Three- Act Structure. I can hear the Anti-Structure enthusiasts now:
“Structure hogties creativity! Ban strict adherence to structure!”
The thing about structure is that following it is like walking a tightrope. Over-plotting will stagnate your creativity and spontaneity, while lack of structure results in chaos. Find the middle ground. Use structure and its plot points as a guide, not law.
With that said, the setup generally occurs during the first three minutes or three percent of a script. In most mainstream movies, it will happen at page three (three minutes into the movie).
The setup will allow the audience to get their bearings as they develop a feel for the tone, setting, and pace of the story. It occurs in many forms, but some common ones are:
- Backstory – think John Carpenter’s The Fog
- Present Life Problem – Inner or Outer conflict. For example, the abusive husband in Sleeping With The Enemy
- A hook – intense, dynamic action or situation
- Theme – The pimp’s opening monologue in Hustle and Flow
- Impending Danger – War Of The Worlds, Arachnophobia
- A question to be answered/mystery to be solved
Like a first date, the setup will get you through the door with your audience. Intrigue them enough and they will stick around…for a bit. Like the props used in a first date, the setup will get you through the door, but a good story will keep you there.
The outcome? You can go from first date to commitment with your audience. They’ll be buying you that engagement ring through the form of ticket sales in no time.
