This reflection analyzes the writer's scriptwriting process and script. It discusses using Syd Field's three-act structure model for narrative structure. The writer aimed to have a beginning, middle, and end but some acts were longer than needed. Feedback from lectures and texts helped the writer improve character development and dialogue by showing rather than telling. In conclusion, the writer learned from mistakes and can improve future scripts by focusing the story and picking the most relevant scenes.

1. Reflection
Thisessaywill criticallyreflect onmyscript andwill analyse myprocessand knowledgegainedfrom
scriptwritingtheorylecturesandacademictextsrelatedtoscriptwriting.Iwill alsoreflecton
differentkeyelementsonmyscriptand explain myprocessforeachelementandwhatI didto
furthermyknowledge it. The genre of mynarrative isa horror thrillerandisclearat firstwhen
readingthe scriptbut I thinkalsodivertsfromhorrora little inthe dialogue andstorystructure.
“Storytellingisanindispensable humanpreoccupation,as importanttousall almost as breathing”
(Yorke,2013: 11). The storythat I’m tellingisaboutagroup of scientiststrying tosurvive amonster
inAntarctica.
Furthermore,the structure isa seriesof eventsformedinaconstructive flow thatdetermines the
plot,characters,settingandconflicts.The structure Iusedfor myscript wasSyd Field’sthree-act
structure model.Where the “firstactis concernedwithsetup,the secondactwithconfrontation,
and the thirdact withresolution”(Dancyger,Rush,2013:17). I learnedthismodel andbuiltthe basis
of narrative structure fromit.I had a beginningmiddleandendfor my story,as statedbyDancyger
and Rush “all dramas have a beginning,middle and anend,andthese partsare in some proportion
to one another.”(2013:17). I definitelyhadthose partsbutsome acts were longerthan it needed to
be. Firstdraft was longerthan 15 minutes,becauseof that inthe nextdraftI shortened itby picking
the most relevantandimportantscenesadjustingthemslightlyso thatithas the core root of the
storyand that “each majorscene mustpushthe storytowardthe plotpoint”(Dancyger,Rush,
2013:32). Althoughisstill thinkit feltrushedandcrammedwithalotof differentscenesand
unnecessarydialogue.Insteadof tryingtocram my longnarrative inshortstructure I could have
dissectedapart of my storysuch as the climax of escapingthe monsterat the endas the complete
short film. Iknownowmymistake of tryingto create narrative toobig fora shortfilm format, asI
needtoonlyput the core partsto keepthe audience attention. Ifurtheredmyknowledgebyusing
resourcesonMoodle and lookingatacademictextstounderstandmore aboutstructure of a
screenplay. Ilookedatthe film TheThing (1982) to findmore inspirationformyscriptas it’svery
similartomy story.I noticeditfollowedthe same storystructure byfield.The filmwasbasedonthe
novellaWho GoesThere? (1938) whichinspiredthe name of myscript payinghomage. I also
researchedanothernarrative structure by TzvetanTodorov where he believesthere’s five stepson
creatingthe structure.Equilibrium,disruption,realisation,repairandrestoredequilibrium. Similar
to Fieldhisfive stepscanalsoseparate storyintothree dramaticactsof a narrative. My scriptdoes
followthis asthe endof story equilibriumisrestored withAntarcticabeingemptyagain.
Additionally,characteris an importantaspectto a screenplay.Ispentalotof time decidingwhatmy
characters rolesare goingto be and how I’m goingto introduce.Istruggledoncreatingmy
characters.I learneddifferentexercisesinlecturestogetmy characters more fullyformed, by

2. Reflection
speakingin firstpersonas George askingquestionstomyself onmylife andhow George wouldreact
to differentsituations.Thishelpedme understandmycharacters more;Ialso furtheredmyresearch
by creatingmini-biosforeachcharacter.By doing this, Iformed differentmotivations,backstoryand
flawsthathelpelevate mynarrative more.Alsoafterknowingwhatmyentire plotisgoingto be,I
followedeachcharacterthroughthe whole storyto see whatindividual storyarctheywentthrough
seeingthe upsanddownsof theirarc. Writer KurtVonnegutshowedadiagramthatthe main
character couldbe graphedto reveal the story shape. Thistaughtme that a character’sjourneycan
shape the overall plotandthat there’s differentshapesinculture andsocietythatpeopleenjoy
more.I thinkmyscript dida good jobof makingthree of the characters come through withdifferent
mannerismbutEdwinwasnotentirely necessarytothe story and mightas well notbe there,ashe
adds nothingtothe overall storyor develops himselforanyone else. The maincharacterisportrayed
againstsecondaryonestoshowthat onlythe protagonistscanovercome obstaclesposedwithinthe
story.“This promotesthe notionof a singularherosetagainstthe world.”(Dancyger,Rush,
2013:241). George my maincharacter isn’tmuch of protagonist besides the endingit’snotentirely
clearif George was the centre of the storyand didnot act like a protagonist throughsome scenes.
His role wasa little obsolete not doingimportantactionstodrive the scenesbutdoespropel the
storyforward at timessuchas himfindingthe cave.
In termsof dialogue, Ilearned alotfromthe lecturesanddifferenttexts.Bythistime,Iwould
alreadyhave a draftof my scriptand myprocessof rewritingwasmore enjoyable andeasier than
the firstdraft.I had the problemof writingoverfifteenpagesasstatedbyField“if yourscreenplayis
too long,lookforwaysto bridge the time andaction.”(2003:339). I triedto do thisbyshowing
actionthan sayingit.It washard to come upwiththe theme,narrative structures andcharacters but
the rewritingstage iswhenyou can addall the detailsand changesthatimprove the script.I did
learnthe golden rule of showdon’ttell that“a screenplayisastory toldwithpictures,indialogue
and description andplacedwiththe contextof dramaticstructure”(Field, 2003:10). So showing
somethingratherthansayingitmakesitmore dynamicand interestinganddoingbothinsultsthe
viewerandmakesit somewhatcheesy.Rewritingmy script, Isaw that I didtell ratherthan show,
rewritingthose partsnaturallymakesmynarrative bettermakingothervisual, anddialogue aspects
fall intoplace.My scriptis setinearly the 1900s and mycharacters are fromthe eastcoast of
Americatheyall spoke interminologyappropriatetotheirtime-periodandage.Idid extensive
researchon continuity aspectsof myscriptsuchas their vocabulary so throughoutthe scriptthey
sometimes use slangwordstoexpresstheiractions. Unfortunately, Ithinksome of these slang
wordsand speechpatternsare too noticeable andmighttake yououtof the story. Especially if you

3. Reflection
are fromEnglandand hearing, anunfamiliarslangmakesthe scriptcliché fromcharacterspeakingin
anachronisticlanguage.
The theme of a storyis importantit’sthe universal ideaormessage thatstretchesthroughthe story.
There can be more thanone theme ina story and message thateveryone cansee,forexample, the
theme of myscript issurvival inwhichthe maincharactersmust overcome countlessoddsjustto
live anotherday. Aswell assome hintsof man vsnature and the subjectline beingmanshouldnot
disturbor meddle withnature. The theme,dialogue,genre,characterare elements “expressed
dramatically withinadefinite structure withabeginning,middle,andend”(Field, 2003:4) though
not necessarilyinthatorder.
In conclusion,Ithinkmyscriptwas an okstart beingmyfirstscript butdoeshave some issues
makingthe story generic,which wasmyintentiontomake a simple story.Itcan be betterfrom
learningvariousaspectfromtextsandvideos.My experiencedoingthisunitwasgoodI learnedalot
aboutscreenwriting andjuststorytellingingeneral thatwouldbenefitme inthe future asa film
student. Iknowthe industrybetterintermsas a writer’s perspective andwilltake thisforwardwith
me. I have learnedfromthe mistakesImade frommy script and if I were todo thisagainin know
have a betterideaonhow to create a script andwhat elements Ineedtomake duringthe process of
writinga script.
Bibliography:
Campbell,J. (1938) ‘Who Goes There?’ Shasta Publishers
Dancyger,K, Rush,J.(2013). ‘AlternativeScriptwriting:Beyond theHollywood Formula’.Focal press
Field,S. (2003). ‘The Definitive Guide to Screenwriting’.EburyPress
Kafka,F. (1915) ‘TheMetamorphosis’. KurtWolff.
Yorke,J. (2013) ‘Into theWoods:A Five-ActJourney Into Story’.PenguinBooks
Filmography:
The Thing (1982) DirectedbyJohn Carpenter [Online]Available throughNetflix.[Accessedon14th
March 2019]
The Twilight Zone(1958). CBS, 24 November.[Online] Available through Netflix.[Accessedon14th
March 2019]

4. Reflection
1979 foundation of screenwriting
These elements are expressed dramaticallywithin a structure That hasa definitebeginning,
middle,andend,thoughnotnecessarilyinthatorder.
it isa story toldinpictures,in2 —SCREENPLAY—Dialogueanddescription,andplacedwithinthe
contextof dramaticstructure
200 wordintroprovidinggeneral infoandexplainingwhatthe reflectionaimstodo(Whatconcepts
will yoube focusingonduring the essay?Whatreadingwill youmake use of?Brief general infoon
your script- butrememberIwill have readthe scriptsoyou do notneedto summarise everything
aboutit.)
3 x 200 wordparagraphs analysingyourscriptinrelationtovariousaspectsof scriptwriting.
(Structure mustbe one of these aspects)
200 wordconclusionsummarisingthe essayandreflectingonwhatyouhave learnedandhow you
mightbe able to take thisforwardwithyou.
Para 1- Introduction,genre andsomethingsare keyelementandpartto wrtinga script.Say what
thisessaywill be andw
Para 2- story structure (quotes,myexperiences)
Para 3- character (quotes)
Para 4- dialogue visuallstoryteleing ()
Para 5- theme ()
Para 6- conclusion.Overall thoughtsonyourscriptand how it couldbe better. ()Ileanredfrommy
mistakesIf Iwere to do again,experiances
-What youlearnedinlecturesandwhatresearchIdidto furthermy knowledgeonwhatIlearned.
AlsohowdidI use what I learnedintoscript
-Critical,badpartsabout myscript

5. Reflection
Reflection- more of aprotagonistandstory notgood as shortbut as longhour movie.Doesntfitwell
has bestscneswouldof made itlonmgersoi had pickedthe mostrelaventandimportantscnesthat
have core narrative andpushesitalonginsteadlongcharacterdelvementfor4 charcertrs.Insteadof
tryingto cram everythingmaybe i shouldtookapart fromthe longsotry and made that part the
short suchas the actual escapingof the monsterat the endof mystory. Plotchange onlyernest
knowsaboutthe monstersbutis alsocrazy leadignthe veiwerandcharacterto questionif itreal or
not,gettingridof the wallace backstroymaybe makingitflow more naturel.
Quotes:
“A screenplayisastory toldwithpictures,indialogueandesscriptionmandplacedwiththe context
of dramaticstructure” 2003:10 The Definitive GuideToScreenwriting EburyPress
The basic linearstructure isthe formof the screenplay:itholdsall the elementsof the storyline in
place.
Three act form isderivedfromaristoleesboradnotionthatall dramashave a beggingin,middleand
an end,and these partsare in some proportiontoone another.
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