The document provides guidelines for developing ideas and writing scripts for audio/video projects. It lists several methods for coming up with story ideas such as looking at personal memories, events in the news, dreams, or the lives of strangers. Once an idea is chosen, the document advises planning the narrative and formatting it into an industry-standard script with guidelines for layout, scene directions, character names, and dialogue. Writing the script formally is said to help develop the story, identify continuity issues, and plan shooting schedules.

1. AUDIO & VIDEO TECHNOLOGY
WEEK 5

2. What is the purpose of
scriptwriting?

3. Getting Idea

4. Methods of Getting an Idea?
 Look around you. Do you see anything with a story behind it? Like
that necklace grandma gave you, or the blue ribbon for the soccer
tournament? Put that story down on paper!
 Look online for a list or writing topics. You can find plenty of topics
that you would have never thought of!
 Think about movies and books you've enjoyed and what made
you enjoy them. Was it a certain type of character or a setting? Try
incorporating similar elements into your own story.
 Watch random people walk down the street and write a pretend
life story for them. It may seem strange, but you never know.

5.  Think of an event that has happened in your life recently,
or maybe something that happened a long time ago. How
did it affect you? Did it have a lasting impression, or even
impact? Jot down your thoughts and try crafting a story from
that.
 Write about the dream you had last night. The plotlines for
numerous famous stories and novels were hatched in the dreams
of their author's. It may seem unlikely, but your dream could
become a bestseller someday!
Methods of Getting an Idea?

6.  Tips
Don't be discouraged if you are having a hard time. The
ideas will flow - it just takes patience, and a little effort.
 Warnings
Do not base your story off another book or movie's ideas.
This is called plagiarism and it IS illegal. Even if you're not
caught, someone will notice.
Methods of Getting an Idea?

7. Writing the script

8. Initial Planning
Once we were decided on our narrative, we formalised it
into a script that was would be easy and straight
forward to understand. We have done various research
into how to arrange a script, such as the BBC drama
‘Life On Mars’. Looking at this example has really
helped me understand the layout and presentation
expected from an industry standard script, enabling
me to assemble my own.

9. Example Script
Simple
location
directions.
Accurate and
straight
forward
Speech in the
middle to
make it clearer
Screen directions
are simple and un
detailed so that it
easy to read on set

10. Constructing the script
Arranging our initial narrative ideas into the formality of
a script, has really helped to develop the storyline, and
also highlight any continuity issues within the plot. It
has ensured that the story makes sense and has
required us to think about appropriate locations, time
of day and the mis-en-scene, bringing the overall
picture of our narrative to life. Writing the script also
helps us organise shooting schedules giving us a more
realistic indication of the time needed to film each
scene.

11. Our Script
Follows
conventions by
including direct
location
instructions
Speaker
in bold so
it is clear
to read
Clear indication of
the scene

12. Guidelines for Writing a Film
Industry Standard Script

13. Measurements
Dialogue – 3” inches in from the left hand margin
Scene Description – 1 ½” from the left margin and 1”
from the right margin
Character Names – 4” in from the left margin
Parenthetical Directions 3 ½” in from left margin