Purpose. What is the story I want to dramatize in the film, and why do I want to tell it?

Audience. How would I describe my intended viewers? Whom do I want to see my film? Why should/will my story matter to my viewers? What do I want them to get out of it? And how will I reach them?

Rhetorical appeals. How will I use ethos, pathos, and logos to tell my story and reach my audience? How will I establish my authority as a screenwriter? To what extent will I appeal to my audience’s emotions? What role, if any, will logic play in my story?

Modes & media. How can I use visuals to benefit my story? How about audio?

Elements of the genre. How will I structure my plot? Who are my characters? What is going to happen to them? What is my story’s setting? Who will tell my story, and how? What is the central conflict of my story?

Style. How will my camera shots emphasize the story’s conflict? How will I weave action in with dialogue to advance my story—and emphasize emotion?

Design. How will I use camera angles to tell my story? What kinds of sound will I use? How will I use music in my scenes? What props will I use to emphasize the story and setting?

Sources. What source, if any, will I draw on for my film? Will I base my screenplay on an existing work of fiction? Will I base it on a work of nonfiction, such as a memoir? In what ways will my film depart from any source I might use?