1. Script Writing English II

2. Why do we even need to learn how to write a script? I want to be a doctor, not a writer!

3. Differences in writing ScriptsOther Kinds of Fiction -Often have more dialogue than other stories. -Have short descriptions of settings, props, and action (what the characters are doing). -Are divided into scenes. -Don’t use quotations around the dialogue. -Are formatted differently (not in paragraph form). -Only include what someone can see or hear. -Have a lot of description of what people are doing, feeling, thinking. -Have a lot of description of the settings in the story. -Are divided into chapters. -Dialogue is formatted using quotation marks and dialogue tags. -Are written in paragraph form. -Have many more words on a page.

4. Toy Story Script Check it out!

5. What are some things that you noticed?

6. Pros and Cons Stage PROS: -You get to perform with your friends. -Other people can perform it many times and bring it a new life each time. -Having fewer scenes means less to keep track of. CONS: -You can’t jump through time and space very well. -You can’t have very many settings. -You can’t have thousands of characters on a tiny stage. -Special effects for the stage are difficult/dange rous to pull off. Movie Screenplay PROS: -You can jump through time and space quickly. -You can create crazy places and characters using animation. -You can have lots of people in one scene. -If other people make the movie, they're the ones who will worry about the details. CONS: – You have to keep track of a lot of different characters and settings. – Having more scenes means you have to write a lot of action and description. – Very few scripts get made into movies, and making one yourself is difficult.

7. THE DETAILS Acts and Scenes Plays are often broken into acts, which are large chunks of the play often containing multiple scenes. A full-length play can have 1 to 5 acts. Act breaks are dictated by plot like our beginning, middle, and end. Scene breaks are usually dictated by production (change of location, time elapses, etc.). Act and scene designations should only appear at the top, centered in ALL CAPS on the first page of each act or scene, like this: ACT I SCENE 2 Acts are usually designated with Roman numerals or spelled out: Act II, Act Three. Numeric designations are used for scenes: Scene 2, Scene 3, etc. Each scene should start on a new page. Acts often have page dividers.

8. Dialogue Character Tags -Character tags are indented at about 4". You can center them, but most writers find it easier to set a single tab for the Character Tag. The dialogue itself is flush left. -Use all capital letters to identify the character speaking. You can use their full name or a shorter version such as a first name or last name as long as it's unique within your draft, like so: WADE You have coffee on? DORA Coffee? Aren't you a little young for coffee? I can make you some hot cocoa. WADE Hot cocoa's for old ladies. DORA And mouthy teenagers.

9. So, what are you all going to do? Write a script!

10. Starting Your Play If you've ever glanced at the text of a play, you'll see that it's pretty much all dialogue. But before you groan and think, "I can't write that much talking!" just remember that dialogue can be really exciting—there can be really meaty, action-packed sections where your characters battle each other with words (and swords). Examples of good (and bad) dialogue are all around you! Oh, and if people tell you all the time that you talk too much, you’ll have no problems with this assignment!

11. This assignment is ongoing; you will not complete this in one night or in a few nights. Be prepared for a process. (As is all writing.)

12. Some steps that will be accomplished before you get started:

13. -Cast your characters -Create conflict -Collaborate with group members -Follow ALL directions -RUBRIC