This document provides information about scriptwriting conventions for different media, including films, radio, and video games. It discusses the use of slug lines and action text in film scripts to describe locations, times, and character appearances. It explains how radio scripts differ from filmscripts in being fully audio-based and uses conventions like "OFF" and "voiceover." It also notes that video game scripts like those for GTA 5 can have branching narratives with optional elements to allow for player choice and agency.

1. Scriptwriting fact sheet
The Terminator (1984)
The use of slug lines is helpful because they are placed before most script and
go to dialog. Slug lines help with understanding where the character is shot by giving us the
information about the location. Also, for the script reader or just anyone in general the slug
line help them imagine the scene for example if its exterior or interior and what point in

2. time and also the time of the day that’s been shot that’s only if its required in the story line.
For this script we can see the its outside the location and the time.
Action/Text He Stands slowly, the man is in his thirties tall and powerfully build moving with
graceful precision. The action next is used to show people what the character looks like this
kind of helps them see the build and introduced character. This text can be usually found
under the slug lines and it also describes the action of characters not just their appearance.
Like I said they could use mise en scene which shows what they are wearing from top what
they drive if the certain character has a gun and all the props used etc. to tell the desired
story across the script.
Character’s: Before any sort of dialog has been said the character that about to speak needs
to be identified which is showcased to the audience with the apocopate time line. For being
a script and scripts are usually on paper written extremely the name of the character needs
to be in black capital letters and then followed by their speech. This also helps us identify if
the character is speaking on screen or off screen and if they’re re using a voice over or not.
Dialogue: Dialog is one of the most important things in a screen play it can be either shown
as a single dialog or spoken by two person which makes it dual. They are usually cantered
underneath the character’s name in the middle.
Parentheticals are used to give extra information about the dialog for example the weather,
character talking to another character and etc.
One of the most iconic moment’s in the terminator is I’ll be back that became so iconic the
writer has added the same dialog in all the instalments. The scene in the first movie showed
Arnold being denied entry into a police station. The actor then says Ill be back and drives a

3. car through the front door and kills the crew in the station.
Shooting script has some particularities that the standard master scene script has not,
usually the screenwriter doesn’t work on the shooting script unless he wants part with
assisting the director or unless the screenwriter is also the director himself.
The shooting script it’s crucially helpful for the director of the photography and the
cinematographer because it has a similar function of a storyboard, because it helps to
decide what kind of camera angles, zooms and movement that during the production are
going to be done or made.

4. Example if a radio script that I have chosen. Almost all radio is scripted before broadcast I
have personally been on the radio and I have seen what is like everything is scripted even if

5. its sounds conversational. Due to the wide variety of radio types of script writing. Each type
of script has its own way of conventions linking to its purpose.
A link being scripted ensures that everything is covered and fits to the current timeslot.
Regarding of writing numbers for example instead of writing 10000 you would write out the
words hundred thousand this is because people might stumble while reading out numbers
and it wont sound good this also helps keeping the flow of the script going.
A script that uses more formal language would be more targeted at older and more
educated audience Less formal colloquialisms are only used in conversational or informal
language. Considering how fast people talk and their style of talking. Usually scripts would
be written for an average of 3 words a second. A link of around 90 words would take about
30 seconds.
Making the overall feel of a link or news piece appropriate for the context. For example a
news story about the world war 2 wouldn’t sound light hearted however a funny morning
breakfast show wouldn’t be too bad.
Radio scripts differ from filmscripts as none of the narrative can be told visually due to the
radio format being all sound on air.
OFF Indicates that the actor should speak away from the microphone.
Voiceover indicates a character who is narrating over sound, music or dialog
Distort indicates a character who is speaking via a mechanical device like a telephone or
radio
Game script (GTA 5)
Dr. Isiah Friedlander: Your son, James. He's a good kid?
Michael De Santa: He's a good kid? A good kid? Why? Does he help the fucking poor? No. He
sits on his ass all day, smoking dope and jerking off while he plays that fucking game. If that's
our standard for goodness... then no wonder this country's screwed.
Dr. Isiah Friedlander: And what about you?
Michael De Santa: What about me? Hey... I didn't have the advantages that kid has. By the time
I was his age, I'd already been in prison twice. I robbed banks. I ran whores. I smuggled dope.
Dr. Isiah Friedlander: And you consider them achievements?
Michael De Santa: These were the opportunities Ihad. At least I took 'em.
Dr. Isiah Friedlander: And where did these opportunities get you, Michael?
Michael De Santa: They got me right... fucking here! The end of the road! With a big house and
a useless kid and I'm stuck talking to you because no one else gives a shit. Oh I'm living the
dream, baby, and that dream is fucked! It is... fucking fucked!
Dr. Isiah Friedlander: Let it all out.
Michael De Santa: I think I just did.
Dr. Isiah Friedlander: Oh, well I, think that's all we have time for... Same time next week?
Michael De Santa: I guess...

6. Now Video game scripts are different to both films and radio, in multi they often exist within
interactive worlds with multiple options. Scripts are often branching this means that some
elements are optional, and some are not GTA V script has a lot of different outcome
different parts you can take as a player different paths can be explored. Anything that does
not make sense should be rewritten. Making sure that the important plot points are
repeated throughout the game. Many audience members will drop a game halfway and not
come back for it for moths this is because the writer for the script could write a very
complex script and its easy for players to miss on certain details which could resolve into
frustration and abandoning the story. The writer should be asking himself if he himself
would play the game that he’s writing the script for. Gaming scripts should be engaging and
fun so players can carry with the story and enjoy it.