1. The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street
Screenplay by
Rod Serling

2. Screenplay/ Teleplay
Play written for television. Written to be filmed by a camera and not acted on stage.
Screenplays deliver ideas through dialogue and stage directions.
Audience hears dialogue (actors speaking to each other).

3. Stage Directions Written for actors, directors, and crew members
Describe characters, setting, costumes, mood & atmosphere
Tells actors, camera crew and other crew members what to do

4. Stage Direction Terms
Pan- turn the camera to follow a person or object Cut- switch camera from one scene to another Close-up – camera moves in for a “zoomed in” shot Long shot- camera films from long distance

5. Rod Serling (1924- 1975) Became serious about writing in college
Loved radio drama and won 2nd place in a national script contest.
Began his career writing for radio drama.
Wrote more than 200 television scripts during his career.
Won 6 Emmy Awards (Highest honor in the television industry.)

6. Serling was creator of the Twilight Zone television series.
Science fiction genre
Twilight Zone ran from 1959 – 1964.
One of the most popular shows in television history.
His writing became know for surprising twist endings and thought provoking social commentary

7. Social Commentary
Serling wanted to write teleplays about important social issues such as prejudice and intolerance.
In the 1950’s and 1960’s television censors banned scripts that questioned American society.
Television executives thought his topics were too controversial, but Serling had more freedom because his teleplays were not realistic (i.e., he used the science fiction genre to his advantage).

8. Background & Setting
The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street aired March 4th, It was written during the Cold War (1946 – 1989), a period when the U.S. & Soviet Union were engaged in a nuclear arms race.
Fear led to suspicion and people were often accused of being Communist spies. There was a lot of anti-communist sentiment in the U.S.
Many prominent Hollywood actors and directors were interrogated about involvement with the Communist party. Some were even “blacklisted” for alleged involvement with the Communist Party.

9. America in the 1960’s No cordless phones No cell phones
“Regular” phones did not use electricity.
Phone calls often still went through an operator.
No ipods or CD players.
“Portable” radios were battery operated.
No remote starters for cars.