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 2.5inches. 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 - Step-by-step instructions on formatting a screen play with examples and solutions to common issues Writer’s Store – 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, 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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