What is Theme — 5 Ways to Layer Theme into a Screenplay

Summary by Krater

This video explains what a theme is in screenwriting, how it differs from a plot, moral, and thesis, and how writers can establish themes using characters, dialogue, setting, motifs, and symbols.

From the video

Answers: What is a theme in screenwriting and how do you write one?

• screenwriting themes
• controlling ideas in storytelling
• character webs
• cinematic settings
• motifs and symbols in film

What it concludes

• The theme is the central and unifying idea or principle in a story, representing what the story is ultimately about at its core.
• While related, the theme and the moral of a story are not the same thing.
• The controlling idea shapes the writer's strategic choices regarding plot, characters, and dialogue.
• Theme can be communicated through characters and dialogue using a character web to connect oppositional perspectives.
• Setting acts as the stage for themes to be played out, utilizing space and environment to reflect character status or ideological divides.
• Motifs and symbols are recurring elements and objects that echo and support a film's theme.