A great article from Creative Screenwriting that takes you from nothing more than an idea in your head to a first and finished first draft. Helpful steps on outlining, character development, and structure.
In this article, Jim Mercurio reviews the screenwriting gurus whose seminars, classes, and books promise to show you new and powerful insights into writing your script.
This article (reprinted with permission) is the Introduction to The Truman Show - a title in the Shooting Script Series. Written by Peter Weir, the film's director, it is an excellent example of the importance of developing a character's background and rich history before the film is made.