M1 script formatting

 Rules:

We are writing a shooting script- because of this is the most appropriate as we are including some specific technical intrusions for the director and the producers. A spec script is to secure the money whereas the shooting script goes onto the set and is used as a production document. 

The set standard script for the industry says that it has to include the slug line, action blocks, dialogue, the character's names have to be written in CAPITALS and all of the action blocks have to be in present tense. 

If the speech needs to be said in a certain way, parentheticals are used (between the speech and character name). The industry standard is a courier size 12 font as this makes 1 page equilivant to one minute of screen time so 20 pages is approximately 20 minutes.

Formatting: 

As shown in the diagram (see below), there are different industry standards for different things. One of these things is known as indentation which is all to do with alignment and where things have to be located on a page. 

1. Action blocks and Scene Headings are aligned furthest to the left (Scene headings must be all in capitals)

2. Dialogue is indented further in towards the middle and text is directly under it towards the middle left of the page.

3. Transitions are indented to the far right hand side. 

Type: TV episodic drama

Genre: Crime, supernatural

Angle of the Article: Written from a 3rd person perspective but follows the character Connor around. Occasionally, there are POVs from him. 

Non-linear: Sporadically there are flashbacks.

Single-stranded: Follows one person completing a single task. 

I have done this layout in my script as you can see below:

P4 Script first draft

 

My Script (1st draft)

 

                                                       My Script FEEDBACK (1st draft)

P3 Script Planning

 

P2 Developed Ideas

My first idea is when Connor swaps into the body of Keiran, one of the guys who initially broke into his house- he is forced to relive the burglary but he is the one orchestrating it this time. I took this idea forward as it would expand on the world I'm creating and would hopefully hook the audience (who's into crime shows) to continue watching. Additionally, choosing this would help me set the tone for my show- that it is has dark themes and doesn't shy away from showing violence in a realistic way. 

My second idea is the first body swap where Connor, after the first burglary occurs, wakes up in the body of his mother and finds out that he's reliving the same day over and over. Although I will have to write some build up beforehand so the pay off makes sense, this is an obvious choice as it sets up the entire theme for my show and hopefully expresses it in an interesting way so people will want to continue watching my show.

 

22.7 P2 Initial Ideas

How long? Purpose of product? Target Audience, script type, spec or shooting script, set up or cliffhanger?

I have to make a 10-15 minute long sequence of our tv show that would gather interest from the possible audience so they would be more intrigued and might end up watching it when it's broadcast (as the purpose as told in the brief is to promote my show). The main target audience of my TV show is teenagers and young adults (specifically 15-21yr olds) with a secondary audience of this age group who are interested in crime dramas with supernatural elements. For me, I think cliffhangers would be a good way to hook an audience as in my show, there are plenty of tense moments I could end on. The script I'll produce will be a spec script. It needs to be made to secure funding for the full production of the show by the BBC and also I will think about which aspects of the story are interesting so the audience gets hooked on characters and the world. (Not boring, filler scenes.)

22.6 P2 Scriptwriting Top Tips!

4 Golden Rules of Screenwriting

1. Sections
2. Present Tense
3. Show not Tell
4. Characters

Sections

• Slug Lines
• Actions
• Dialogue

Slug Lines = e.g INT. KITCHEN - DAY 

Shows the location, interior or exterior and night or day.

Actions = Basically whatever the viewer sees has to be written into the script in the forms of action blocks. E.g 'Umar enters the kitchen, opens the fridge and removes a CARTON OF ORANGE JUICE.'

Dialogue: What is spoken on screen, laid out with the characters name with the speech directly under it.

HENDRIX

Are we going to go now?

Present Tense

All text in scripts (excluding dialogue) has to be in present tense. This means that there shouldn't be any 'is' in the actions blocks. E.g Sundus is walking should turn into Sundus walks.

This is an example from a show called, my left nut. The left is the corrected one, the right is the original!

Show don't tell
Instead of telling the audience that a character (for example) likes scooters, you should show them.

Showing: Darren enters the kitchen, sees a scooter and makes a gagging gesture. 
Telling: 

AJ

So I heard Darren doesn't like scooters!

Another example of this would be like this: 

INT. BAKERY - DAY

KARLA stands in the middle of the bakery, waiting for her order to be called out. She looks over and sees a lone BAGEL on a chair which makes her shudder and bat it onto the floor.

Characters
When a character is first introduced, their name is in all caps and there should be a brief description of what they look like and who they are so that casting and costume design will be able to use the script.

INT. SCHOOL CORRIDOR - DAY
ALEXIA, 17, struts down the hallway, waving. She wears a bright, perfectly fitting, green cheerleading outfit with red hair that reaches her shoulders.

Micro script tasks

1. A relationship between two characters
2. A woman telling a man she's pregnant

INT. LIVINGROOM - NIGHT

SHANE, 37, gets off the sofa with a huff, tossing the remote uncaringly behind him and trudges over to the dinner table. He watches the same tv show as before on his phone as food is brought to him. His partner, JAMIE, tidies up the table, rapidly scooping up different letters and papers which he sorts into two different piles, then brings Shane through a lager. 

JAMIE 

Did you manage to get your script done today?

SHANE (not looking away from phone)

These things take time, just stop pressuring me and I'll probably make some progress, I just can't with you always in my ear about this and that!

INT. STARBUCKS - DAY

BEATRIZ sits in the middle of starbucks with MARVIN, who is opposite. She looks highly uncomfortable, fiddling with the lid of her drink.

MARVIN

If you've got something to say, spit it out. 

There's silence. MARVIN sighs, goes to stand but BEATRIZ grabs his arm.

BEATRIZ (wearily)

I'm pregnant.

MARVIN holds eye contact with him for a second then yanks his wrist back and storms off.

Unit 22 P1 Task

Unit 22 P1