By Orestes Matacena — Cuban-Born Actor & Filmmaker

Every great movie begins with a blank page. All you have to do is sit down and start writing. As someone who writes, produces, directs and acts, I’ve learned that a strong story with unique characters is the important driving force of writing the screenplay, which is the heartbeat of every film. When I wrote and later directed for example, Tainted, SexGunsMoney@20, and In Plain View, the process reinforced that structure and character drive everything on screen. Below are the helpful tips that I want to share with you that made those stories — and every project — come to life.

Start with a Powerful Idea

Explain your story in a sentence, and as you think about it write the story in a paragraph. You can even expand it to a page and add more details and think about a great ending that helps you sum up your message. Then dive in and start writing a scene. Once you start writing, new ideas will form, and you can adjust your story. Let the story be fluid so you have the freedom to take it in any direction. For Tainted, the entire plot grew from a question about choices and moral compromise; once that was clear, every scene had direction, and I could build the characters. Clarity at the concept level keeps the entire screenplay focused.

Characters Drive the Plot

Your protagonist should want something intensely. Conflict is born when something stands in a character’s way — that’s where drama lives. While developing Tainted, SexGunsMoney@20 and In Plain View, I built the scenes around what the main character was experiencing and feared; that emotional compass guided both writing and performance.

Make It Visual

Film is a story told through images. When writing I also thought about how I would direct the scenes. I visualize each beat as if it were already framed. Ask yourself: if the dialogue vanished, would the audience still understand what’s happening? Strong visual storytelling turns pages into pictures. If I can see it, so can the audience.

Structure Is a Roadmap

Whether you follow the classic three-act structure or something unconventional, structure gives rhythm to emotion. For example, in both Tainted and Two de Force (another film I wrote, produced and directed), I outlined major turning points early, which freed me later to focus on performance and pacing. Even with structure, I still give myself freedom to change things, so I don’t get stuck and too regimented.

Rewrite from a Filmmaker’s Eye

I mentioned this part a little earlier, but it’s important to note that when you revisit your script, imagine the camera. Does this scene move the story emotionally or visually? If not, change it or cut it. Directing my own scripts taught me that rewriting with the lens in mind saves hours on set and keeps the storytelling focused too.

Final Thought

The only way to get a screenplay finished is to sit down and start writing and don’t overthink it! Write one scene, and then another, and keep building scene by scene until you get the final product, the screenplay. Start small, think visually, and give yourself freedom to refine. Instead of making it a chore, play with it, and it will turn out great!
Explore more of my work on IMDb for additional credits and filmography and at www.OrestesMatacena.com.