WRITING A SCENE v The scene is the

WRITING A SCENE v. The scene is the basic building block of the screenplay. v. A scene is a piece of the story action that takes places in one place at one time. Ø Any change in place OR time requires a new scene. v. Each scene is preceded by a heading. © 2010 Darcy Faylor

The Basic Format: The Scene Heading The three parts of the scene heading: v. INT. or EXT. v. Location Ø Get specific if necessary (i. e. , using many rooms in a single house). v. Time of day Ø Get specific ONLY if necessary. © 2010 Darcy Faylor

The Basic Format: The Scene There are two basic parts to the scene: v. Action Ø Primary means of storytelling for the filmmaker. Ø Character’s physical actions. Ø Location descriptions. Ø Character descriptions. v. Dialogue Ø Dialogue enhances the scene, gives insight into character, and exposes theme. © 2010 Darcy Faylor

The Basic Format: Action v. Write vertically. v. Write in the present tense. v. Write actively. v. Choose words carefully. v. DON’T write the characters thoughts. v. DON’T include camera angles or moves. © 2010 Darcy Faylor

© 2010 Darcy Faylor

© 2010 Darcy Faylor

© 2010 Darcy Faylor

© 2010 Darcy Faylor

© 2010 Darcy Faylor

© 2010 Darcy Faylor

Hooking the Reader A Guide to Writing Effective Leads

Why Leads are Vital… Don Frey, noted writing teacher, puts it well: The lead to a story “grabs the reader, informs the reader, and teaches the reader how to read the rest of the story. ” Author John Mc. Phee says the lead is the “flashlight that shines into a story. ”

Types of Leads There are two primary types of leads: direct (hard)-timely, summarize events (5 W’s and an H) indirect (soft)-delayed, feature, storytelling

Direct Lead v. More than 160 tech-savvy teens and 40 adult educators from 28 states gathered at the University of Maryland July 8 -12 for the first-ever National 4 -H Technology Conference. Their goal: to "slam shut" the digital divide.

Direct Lead Dallas, Nov. 22— A sniper armed with a high-powered rifle assassinated President Kennedy today. Barely two hours after Mr. Kennedy’s death, Vice President Johnson took the oath of office as the thirty-sixth President of the United States. (The Associated Press)

Direct Lead Washington, D. C. — Richard Milhous Nixon announced his resignation last night as President of the United States, the first chief executive to resign in the Republic’s 198 -year history. (San Francisco Chronicle)

Indirect Leads There are several types of indirect leads: v. Question v. Quote v. One-word v. Observation v. Snapshot v. Anecdote/Slice of Life

Question “What does it take to be a good parent? ” “Am I ready to be a father yet? ” “Can I financially support a child? ” A 4 -H paternity education program called Dads Make a Difference is helping Maryland teens explore the answers to these and other related questions.

Quote "Everybody impacts water quality, " says Georgia Eacker, founder of Extension's Baywise education program in Howard County. “Even if we do not live directly next to a body of water, our gardening behavior can still affect the quality of water in storm drains, streams, and rivers that run into the Chesapeake Bay. This means that we need to learn--and use--safe environmental practices. ”

One-word The word was whispered and hurled at Thawra Youssef in school when she was 5 years old. Even back then, she sensed it was an insult. Slave. "The way they said it, smiling and shouting, I knew they used it to make fun of me, " said Youssef, recounting the childhood story from her living room couch. "I used to get upset and ask, 'Why do you call me this? I don't serve you, ' " Youssef said. v By Theola Labbé, Washington Post Staff Writer, January 11, 2004

Observation Marylanders love horses. From one or two horses on small farms to large herds at large boarding and training operations —horses are big business. Maryland’s horse industry is one of the largest agricultural components in the state and contributes more than $1. 6 billion annually to its economy.

Snapshot The home farm of a dairy cow infected with mad cow disease is eerily empty. The cattle pens have been abandoned, the red barns are vacant, and a rusty gate creaks in the cold wind. But the farm—located outside this town 25 miles southwest of Edmonton, the provincial capital—is the focus of lingering concern for owners Wayne Forsberg, 65, and his wife Shirley, 63. The Forsbergs retired, sold their herd and shut down dairy operations in 2001.

Anecdote/Slice of Life While working as a lawyer in Vietnam, Kimthi Bui never imagined she would someday teach nutrition and food safety skills to Asian immigrants in Maryland. But since 1983, that’s just what she has done. Bui is one of 29 fulltime nutrition assistants -- and one of three who are bilingual -- who educate the diverse clients enrolled in Maryland Cooperative Extension’s Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP).

General Tips for Writing a Lead v. Be honest. Don't hype the lead, promising more than you deliver. v. Keep it short. (more than 35 words=too many) v. Use active voice and strong verbs. v. Avoid unfamiliar names and long lists in a lead.