I'm taking part in this competition where i have 2 hrs to write a script 2500-2750 words long, and i have no clue how to do that. How is a play divided- i mean into scenes and acts? Is it necessary to list the characters? What's the format like?? Oh pleeeeaase help me out. And wish me luck. I have soooo got to win!
2006-07-21 02:50:08 · 5 answers · asked by Anonymous in Arts & Humanities ➔ Theater & Acting
i'm one of the best writers in the 8th grade and have been FORCED to take part in a script writing competition. The prob; is that i have no idea how to write a script. Any tips as to how you break up a script into scenes, acts, etc? please explain the format. We will get the topic only tomorow. I have 2hrs to write a script 2500-2750 words long. Puhleezz help me! And wish me luck.
2006-07-21 03:22:06 · update #1
begin with a concept / concepts...
build a story over that concept...the story eventually has to prove the concept / concepts...
and break the story into scenes...
how do you break the story into scenes?
there is something called as a time and space continuum...
that is...whenever there is a break in space (distance : for example, your script is about your birthday...you are celebrating your birthday in your house...that will be scene one...after the celebration you go out at night for dinner to a restaurant...that (restaurant) will be the second scene as there is a break in the physical distance between the two events) or a break in time in your story...that will begin the next scene (example : you are doing something in the morning...scene 1....you are doin somethin else in the afternoon...that would be scene 2 as there is a break in time))
yes...it is necessary to list the characters in a scene...
and by the way....build your characters in the context of your concept...everything that you do in your script has to sprout from the concept and form the tree...
even the minute details should reflect your concept...
hmm....remember though that your concept doesnt need to be expressed blatantly....the more subtle it is the more beautiful!
there are a few things you can keep in mind to write a good script...
place the characters in situations that essentialy will express the concept you are working with..and create their reactions...
cause and effect...situations and reactions...
(how do you do characterisation : you have to go deep into the characters...where do they come from? their background...their aspirations, desires etc) also remember that everytime you introduce a character in a scene , describe how they look and their nature...
format of a script: (example)
Scene 1 :
Night.Ext.
Seashore (Goa)
Alice,Fisherman & Rahim
( and visualize and describe the place (location) , the background or the ambience)
jsadjskd....ijdkasjd..skdjsj (now you describe the event : DONT mention the camera angles!) ...a good script is always written like a novel...
[ here night is the time when that scene is happening...ext or int stands for exterior or interior...i.e, whether its an outdoor scene or an indoor scene.. seashore (goa) ..is the location where the event is happening...and alice, fisherman and rahim are the characters in that scene...]
visualize the scene in your mind and write it down...
take care of a few elements like : mood, rhythm, flow and texture
(mood is the mood of the script....rhythm is the intensity or the element that causes the events...flow of events ...flow has to be reasoned and defined...you script shouldn't meander meaninglessly...and texture is the visual look your film will have...like the colours , sets etc...)
finally...how do you write a good script?
hmm...its like organizing a symphony....where everything....different tunes and sounds come together and form the melody!
and write from your heart....for anyone to like your script...they have to feel it...
the key elements of a script is imagination, intuition and instinct...
by the way, i have written this based on script writing for films (media)...but it can also be implemented for a play (theatre)...the aesthetics though a bit different are quite similar! everythin that i described here can be implemented for writing a play...
i like the way a great director Andrei Tarkovsky (russian) describes filmmaking...
he calls it "sculpting in time!" says a lot, doesnt it?!
hope this helped...
wish you all the best...
2006-07-21 03:31:29 · answer #1 · answered by . 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm rather baffled as to why you would enter a script writing competition if you didn't know what you were doing... but I didn't reply to question...
Anyhow, I would check out the site www.simplyscripts.com/, from there you could check out the scripts for whatever movies you like and see how the professionals did it.
Best of luck!
2006-07-21 03:01:47 · answer #2 · answered by jeffengee 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
shouldnt worry. jst be calm. go to google right now and search. if you were more specific i would hav done it for you but i dnt know what kind of play you were writin. so jst go to google and use the keyword 'how to write a play'. or go to a library and ask the librarian. he's probably read lots of books and can tell you the plot. yeah good luck you'll need lots of it. and oh i hope my answer is the best you know what i mean 10 points. DNT HESITATE!!!
2006-07-21 03:04:19 · answer #3 · answered by jamez3d 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It`s very hard to write about something like this, I know that,because my father was a novel writer.But to write in the last minute,it is impossible. My advice is to think at something real from your life, write down and make something great.Good luck!
2006-07-21 03:09:53 · answer #4 · answered by mar9rox 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Why did you enter the contest if you don't know what you're doing?
All I know is, if you enter a script based on the comments you get here, you will not win.
2006-07-21 02:54:29 · answer #5 · answered by Troy S 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋