Another opportunity to make money in the film industry becomes a script reader. The script reader reads the script, provides a synopsis and a recommendation about the script, and whether or not the script should continue to be considered by a literary agency.

Once a screenplay is completed, compressing it to a brief synopsis may seem redundant. But the script synopsis is an important marketing tool that you will use to sell your script. Agents, producers, and studio executives need to understand whether a script’s plot will intrigue them before they take the time to read the script in its entirety. Writing an effective one-page synopsis is a way to convince readers that your script is worth their valuable time.

What is a movie synopsis and what does it do?

According to the rules of screenwriting, a film synopsis is a summary of the basic concept of a completed screenplay, the main plot points, and the main character storylines. The screenwriter primarily writes the script synopsis as a sales tool to convince the top management of the film industry to read the script in its entirety. A film synopsis is also called a “one-page” synopsis because ideally it is one page.

Why write a film synopsis?

Agents, managers, producers, and studio executives read film excerpts to decide if a script is worth reading. An experienced writer can read his or her script without a synopsis, but entry-level screenwriters who send out query letters via e-mail usually have to include a synopsis to pique the recipient’s interest. Writing your own script synopsis also gives you control over the reception of your script. The film synopsis is your first chance to convey the main idea of your story and demonstrate your writing skills.

How do I write a synopsis?

Before delving into the content of a synopsis, it’s helpful to review general guidelines for formatting a synopsis:

• Title. At the top of the synopsis, include the title of the script, your name, and contact information. So that the recipient can contact you in case they receive the synopsis from someone else.
• Logline. Include a logline before the first paragraph so the reader understands where the story is going.
• Short description. Write in the third person in the present tense (e.g., “Sarah jumps out of an airplane”). If your script follows the traditional three-act structure, dividing your synopsis into three paragraphs – one for each action – will be an easy way to summarize your story. This is not a firm rule, so if one paragraph is significantly longer than the others, feel free to split it up.
• Brevity. A one-page synopsis is standard for a medium-length screenplay. It only takes a few minutes to read one page, and that’s enough time for the reader to tell if the material has hit him or her.

The difference between a synopsis, a logline, and a treatment:

Loglines and treatments are easily confused with film summaries. Although these are all similar terms, a synopsis is a one-page summary of a script, a logline is a one-sentence summary of a script, and a treatment is a longer, step-by-step breakdown of the film’s plot that screenwriters use to present the film.