SCRIPTS INDEPENDENT STUDY CHELSEA W THE IDEA Study

SCRIPTS INDEPENDENT STUDY CHELSEA W

THE IDEA • Study how to adapt a story into different types of scripts with correct formatting • Different scripts included: • Screenplay • Live theater production • Research the different organization and content that would be in a stage manager or director’s script (a working script) in comparison to the original proposal script

THE WORK • I took a short story and adapted it fully to a stage script • I took that script and began turning it into a working script from a directorial or stage management’s perspective • I focused more on the formatting than the structure in the sense that the short story I adapted would not work well on stage or screen without a lot more content added and the scenes in my stage script would not be that short as a scene that is only two or three minuets long would not please the audience. • I edited the story so that it could be adapted to stage or screen • I edited the story in order to display as many examples of how to format different aspects that tend to occur in screen or stage plays • I adapted my short story of eight pages into a one act play of eighteen

THINGS I HAD TO LEARN • First, I had to learn the difference in the different types of scripts • I then had to learn the differences in formatting • I had to learn how to use the newest Microsoft Word that I had on my computer in comparison to the version the school uses • I learned how to use the ruler or Word to make pre-sets for my formatting in order to make formatting quicker and easier

SCREEN PLAY • We had already worked on scenes from a movie in screen play formatting in class • I decided to elaborate on that and do a complete live theatre version rather then a partial live script and another partial screen play

STAGE PLAY FORMATTING • Character names are indented by four inches if not in a description • Character names are all capitals when indicating a line or action that the actor must be aware of • Dialogue is the only text that will run from one side of the page to the next • Description or directions should be in brackets 2. 75 inches from the left of the page, running no longer then 2. 5 inches. • Internal directions are single spaced within the dialogue • Simultaneous dialogue is written side by side in column-like formatting • External are double spaced outside of dialogue • Blackouts should be reserved for the end of the play while brownouts can be used at the end of scenes. • Margin sizes are particular to each different page • Page numbering should not be on the title or character page and should be on the right of the header displayed in act(numerals)- scene(number)-page(number). Note that the page number does not reset with the change of scene • Act number followed by scene number, setting and at rise should be included at the beginning of each new scene. • Blackout/ brownout followed by end scene or end scene and end act should be at the end of each scene

WORKING SCRIPT • A working script includes many more details added by the director or stage manager for the actual production of the script. • A working script includes: • Numbered lines • Back stage directions and cues • Sound cues • Lighting cues • Actor directions • Penciled in changes that the director makes in the rehearsals

WHY THIS PROJECT? • Though a screen play is still a type of script writing, live theater is the area I am interested in. • I am interested in becoming a director and/or stage manager and one of the most important parts of theatre is the script. • I am also interested in writing so knowing how to properly format a script is something I should know if I am going into theatre. • I will be attending university in fall for theatre ands script writing will be a part of my education and since I am focusing on live over film theatre, knowing how to write screen plays won’t be as beneficial as knowing how to write scripts. • The organization skills I learnt about while researching a working script will also be beneficial to and future stage management that I do.

SOURCES THAT WERE MOST HELPFUL • Two of the best website resources I used: • The standard stage play format - http: //www. gordonstate. edu/PT_Faculty/lking/CPF_play_formatting 2. pdf • • Writer’s Store – www. writersstore. com/how-to-write-a-screenplay • • Step-by-step instructions on formatting a screen play with examples and solutions to common issues This site had instructions on how to properly format screen and stage plays along with a few examples Stage Managing the Arts in Canada, S. M. Arts Guidelines – Morgan, Winston. S. M. Arts guidelines: stage managing the arts in Canada. Toronto: S. M. Arts, 2000. Print. • This book had excellent tips on stage management but also contained detailed ways of organizing a working script and what a working script should look like

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