The Importance of Capturing the Audience Quickly With the Opening of a Screenplay

Movies and television shows need to captivate viewers much more quickly than a novel needs to draw in readers, says writer and producer Craig Miller. Most people will read a couple chapters of a book before deciding whether or not to invest more time, Miller explains. But if someone is switching through TV channels, he or she will only spend a few seconds viewing a show or movie before deciding it’s not worth the time. Miller suggests that the first scene should make people curious. Viewers should...