1. • Read through the script in front of you, quietly
to yourself.
• Record, on the mini-whiteboards, anything that
you have noticed about the layout.
The Curse of the Black Pearl
2. • Annotate and analyse a script (2-3 pages
of the film opening) for a film of which
the genre should be the same as what you
are interested in producing yourself.
• Write up the features of a script onto
your blog IN YOUR OWN WORDS. You
can use your script analysis from class to
support you.
Homework
due Tuesday 14th October
3. Level 1: 0–7 marks
• Planning and research evidence will be incomplete;
• There is minimal research into similar products and a potential target audience;
• There is minimal organisation of actors, locations, costumes or props;
• There is minimal work on shotlists, layouts, drafting, scripting or storyboarding;
• There is minimal care in the presentation of the research and planning;
• Time management may be very poor.
Level 2: 8–11 marks
• Planning and research evidence may be partially incomplete;
• There is basic research into similar products and a potential target audience;
• There is basic organisation of actors, locations, costumes or props;
• There is basic work on shotlists, layouts, drafting, scripting or storyboarding;
• There is a basic level of care in the presentation of the research and planning;
• Time management may not be good.
Level 3: 12–15 marks
• Planning and research evidence will be complete;
• There is proficient research into similar products and a potential target audience;
• There is proficient organisation of actors, locations, costumes or props;
• There is proficient work on shotlists, layouts, drafting, scripting or storyboarding
There is a good level of care in the presentation of the research and planning;
• Time management is good.
Level 4: 16–20 marks
• Planning and research evidence will be complete and detailed;
• There is excellent research into similar products and a potential target audience;
• There is excellent organisation of actors, locations, costumes or props;
• There is excellent work on shotlists, layouts, drafting, scripting or storyboarding;
• There is an excellent level of care in the presentation of the research and planning;
• Time management is excellent.
Researching and Planning:
Assessment Criteria
4. We will continue to work on;
• Research into similar products and a potential
target audience.
In order to make sure we are ready to produce;
• Work on shotlists, layouts, drafting, scripting or
storyboarding.
Researching and Planning:
Assessment Criteria
5. “If a script is not correctly formatted, even with
the best will in the world, I’m reading it very
negatively from the start because I’m thinking; this
person is unprofessional, they haven’t even
bothered to take the time to find out how it should
be laid out. It doesn’t have to be glossy, just easily
readable.”
Paul Marcus, Producer: Prime Suspect 2, White Boyz, Kwik Stop
The Wider World…
6. Monday 6th November 2014
Scripts
LO:
To identify the features of a professional script.
To explore and analyse how genre signifiers are shown within
a script.
To create a correctly laid out, genre specific, script.
7. FADE IN:
EXT. CARIBBEAN SEA - DAY
A grey, impenetrable wall of fog. From somewhere
comes the FAINT SOUND of a LITTLE GIRL'S
VOICE, singing, slow tempo, almost under her breath.
YOUNG ELIZABETH (O.S.)
Yo, ho, yo, ho, a pirate's life for me,
Yo, ho, yo, ho, it's a pirate's life for
me...
Layout: Feedback
8. The scene heading tells us where
the scene takes place.
EXT. MILLY’S HOUSE, BACK DOOR - DAY
Scene Heading
9. EXT. MILLY’S HOUSE, BACK DOOR - DAY
INT. ANSLOW FARMHOUSE, KITCHEN – CONTINUING
INT./EXT. CONNER AEROSPACE, CONNER’S OFFICE -
NIGHT
Scene Heading
10. EXT. MILLY’S HOUSE, BACK DOOR - DAY
INT. ANSLOW FARMHOUSE, KITCHEN – CONTINUING
INT./EXT. CONNER AEROSPACE, CONNER’S OFFICE -
NIGHT
Scene Heading
11. EXT. MILLY’S HOUSE, BACK DOOR - DAY
INT. ANSLOW FARMHOUSE, KITCHEN – CONTINUING
INT./EXT. CONNER AEROSPACE, CONNER’S OFFICE -
NIGHT
Scene Heading
12. EXT. MILLY’S HOUSE, BACK DOOR - DAY
INT. ANSLOW FARMHOUSE, KITCHEN – CONTINUING
INT./EXT. CONNER AEROSPACE, CONNER’S OFFICE -
NIGHT
Scene Heading
13. EXT. MILLY’S HOUSE, BACK DOOR - DAY
INT. ANSLOW FARMHOUSE, KITCHEN – CONTINUING
INT./EXT. CONNER AEROSPACE, CONNER’S OFFICE -
NIGHT
Scene Heading
14. Write down some scene headings either
for your normal day, or made up (it’s up
to you!)
Scene Heading
15. • CUT TO:
• PAN TO:
• FADE OUT:
• WIPE TO:
• DISSOLVE TO:
• PULL BACK TO REVEAL:
Transitions
16. Action is also called
"business" or
"description." It's what
we see on the screen
or stage. It describes,
in the most visual way
it can, what happens.
Action
17. Example 1
Mark walks down the hall.
He looks in the bedroom
and, seeing nothing,
scratches his head. He
continues down the hall
with a curious expression
on his face
Action
Example 2
Mark walks down the hall.
He thinks there might be
something in the bedroom,
so he looks in. He wonders
why he doesn't see
anything and scratches his
head. "Hmmm," he thinks
and then continues down
the hall.
18. A parenthetical is a
direction to the Actor
about how to read the
dialogue.
Parenthetical
BOB
(sarcastic)
Of course I love you.
MARTHA
(trying not to explode)
Can’t you be serious for
once?
(a beat, then)
Wait, who are you?
19. Example 1
Zeke
I don’t think you should stay
(he cocks his shotgun)
We don’t want you here.
Parenthetical
Example 2
Zeke
I don’t think you should
stay.
He cocks his shotgun.
Zeke
(continuing)
We don’t want you here.
20. DR. WATSON (O.S.)
Help! I’m trapped in here!
JOHN (V.O.)
I didn’t want him to know I was here.
Extension
21. This is a technical indication about the character’s
dialogue, placed to the right of the Character Name.
(o.s.): Off screen / (O.C.): Off camera
(v.o.): Voice over / (M.O.S.): without sound
What example can you find in the script?
Extension
23. Any sounds that are crucial to your script (and not made or
caused by the actor) must be included in the Business in
capitals, for example:
A police car siren SHRIEKS through the streets.
Norma’s fist CRASHES through the window.
Sound
24. • Read through your script.
• Decide what genre you think the film is.
• Pick out (highlight) features which tell you
what the genre of the script is and
explain WHY.
You will be delivering feedback to the class, ALL
of you will be expected to make notes on how
genre is shown.
Script genre analysis
25. A man locks his car and runs towards
an empty, dark supermarket…
What happens next?
Caitlin & Naomi: Comedy
Brad & Keira: Romantic-Comedy
Sam & Tayla: Science-Fiction
Ed & Laila: Horror
Peer assessment activity coming right up!
Scripting Activity
26. • What Went Well:
• Even Better If:
• I can/I need:
Self-Assessment
Editor's Notes
5mins
http://www.weeklyscript.com/Pirates%20Of%20The%20Caribbean.txt
What have you noticed about the Character names is the script?
How is dialogue presented?
Any initial thoughts about the layout of the script?
Initial thoughts?
Scene Headings always appear in UPPERCASE
You want to keep your scene headings to one line if possible.
At first they may look similar, but notice the sections of the scene headings and they start to feel the same.
What have you noticed?
What can you guess by the headings?
INT.- interior
EXT. – exterior
INT./EXT. (scene starts outside- moves inside)
You don’t have to do it this way, you could just change the headline when appropriate.
What does the next part tell us?
The next part of the scene heading tells you where you are, generally.
You want to keep these consistent, so you always refer to the place names in the same terms- this is so the reader will easily know where they are placed, and if you had to film you would know what sets/props you needed.
The specific area of the setting which is being used.
Sometimes you won’t need this part if it doesn’t matter about the specific location.
10mins
What does this next part mean?
Day and Night are most common,
Sunset and Sunrise, Dusk and Dawn (awkward)
The indicator ‘continuing’
2 mins writing
3 mins sharing
5mins
Another word for these?
Why might you use a lot of these in your scripts?
What might happen if you use too many in your script?
Edits
There are so many of these… but the important thing to remember is DON’T USE THEM!
It you start a new scene, then you will know that it has ‘CUT TO:’
Not your job to direct, but to tell a story
Which one would be in a script? Why?
The difference? The first one shows it, the second one tells it. We can't see a character thinking. But we know that characters who are thinking will behave in a certain way. Describe the behaviour, not the unseeable mental process.
In Action, you have more room to make your writing creative than you do in other elements, but I recommend you use your creativity to tell the story well, not to show off your vocabulary or prose technique. You want the reader to be impressed with and immersed in the story, not hung up on you.
5mins
2mins writing own
2mins sharing
Which is the correct one? Why do you think this?
Notice the ‘continuing’ parenthetical, this is used when a character’s dialogue is split by action.
Write your own version.
What is the extension?
What are they telling the reader?
5 mins
2 mins sharing
Write me an example of a voice over being used. If you want to write actions then remember to follow the ACTION rules.
