SCRIPTSINDEPENDENT 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 - http://www.gordonstate.edu/PT_Faculty/lking/CPF_play_formatting2.pdf

• Step-by-step instructions on formatting a screen play with examples and solutions to common issues

• Writer’s Store – www.writersstore.com/how-to-write-a-screenplay

• 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, 2000. 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

THE END