How to Write a Story with Filmscript Composer

2025-01-10•Filmara Team

How to Write a Story with Filmscript Composer

Whether you're a first-time screenwriter or a seasoned professional, Filmscript Composer makes it easy to bring your story to life. This guide will take you from a blank page to your first completed scene.

Getting Started in 5 Minutes

1. Create Your Project

Open Filmscript Composer and click New Project. Your screenplay opens instantly - no setup required.

2. Start with a Scene Heading

Type your first scene location. The app automatically detects it's a scene heading:

INT. COFFEE SHOP - DAY

Press Enter to continue writing.

3. Add Action

Describe what we see. This is your visual canvas:

A busy coffee shop. CUSTOMERS tap on laptops. Steam rises from espresso machines.

4. Introduce a Character

Type a character name in ALL CAPS. The app knows it's a character:

SARAH

Then write their dialogue on the next line:

I've been waiting for this moment my whole life.

That's it! You've written your first scene.

Understanding Story Structure

Great screenplays follow a proven structure. Here's the framework:

Act 1: Setup (First 25%)

  • Introduce your protagonist
  • Establish the ordinary world
  • Present the inciting incident (the event that starts the story)

Act 2: Confrontation (Middle 50%)

  • Your hero pursues their goal
  • Obstacles increase in difficulty
  • The midpoint changes everything

Act 3: Resolution (Final 25%)

  • The climax: biggest challenge
  • Resolution: how it all ends
  • New normal: what's changed

Key Features That Help You Write

Auto-Detect Elements

Start typing and Filmscript Composer recognizes what you're writing:

  • Scene headings: Start with INT. or EXT.
  • Characters: Type in ALL CAPS
  • Dialogue: Follows a character name
  • Action: Everything else

AI Writing Assistant

Stuck? Click the Writer agent for:

  • Scene suggestions
  • Dialogue polish
  • Pacing advice

Visual Planning

Use the Shots tab to plan your visual storytelling:

  • Break scenes into shots
  • Add camera notes
  • Generate storyboard images with AI

Your First Complete Scene

Here's a template to get you started:

INT. APARTMENT - MORNING

Sunlight streams through dusty blinds. A phone BUZZES on the nightstand.

ALEX (30s, disheveled) reaches for it without opening their eyes.

ALEX
(groggy)
This better be important.

They look at the screen. Their eyes go wide.

ALEX
Oh no. Oh no no no.

Alex leaps out of bed, nearly tripping over a pile of laundry.

Tips for Better Writing

  1. Show, don't tell - Describe what we see and hear
  2. Keep it visual - Film is a visual medium
  3. Less is more - Trim unnecessary words
  4. Read it aloud - Dialogue should sound natural
  5. Write every day - Consistency beats inspiration

Next Steps

Now that you know the basics:

  1. Explore the Community - Read published scripts for inspiration
  2. Try AI features - Let the Writer agent help with your next scene
  3. Share your work - Publish to the Community when you're ready

Happy writing!

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