The Five W's of Screenwriting

"I have an idea…

I hear this all the time. It could be an idea for a television series or a film. And it may be a wonderful idea with a fascinating logline. There’s one problem with an idea, however. It needs to be fleshed out. As Shakespeare might put it: Ay, there’s the rub.

The truth is, execution is far more important than simply an idea when it comes to film and television. An idea is a seed, not a mature, fruit-bearing plant. But just as it is difficult to successfully cultivate a garden, creating all the elements necessary to bring an idea to fruition also is a challenge.

I have an idea for a movie.

Okay, what is it?

A UFO lands in somebody’s yard.

Right. And then what?

No response. Just a blank stare.

When asked to elaborate on an idea enthusiastically and earnestly offered (with a great flourish and intensity and waving of hands for emphasis) most people are suddenly deflated and stunned into silence. Either that or they babble forth with a disjointed string of non sequiturs that make little sense in terms of story.

So how do you turn your idea into something coherent and ready for primetime?

The Five Ws.

Anyone who has ever written for a newspaper knows the Five Ws well. Editors use the Five Ws as a mantra. Readers can inherently sense it if the Five Ws are missing.

Not a clue what the Five Ws are? Don’t worry. You’re about to find out.

While working as a journalist early in my career I often was forced to deal with the Five Ws — five questions that serve as the universal basis for a good news article.

Who? What? When? Where? Why?"

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