Unit 19: Scriptwriting: Weekly Lessons

Lesson 1:

Task:

Scene Script

On your blog, pick ONE of these quotes and explain what you think it means over 2 paragraphs.

Refer to the Friends Script we have looked at today in class.

“A great script is absolutely essential, perhaps THE essential thing for a movie to succeed.” Sydney Pollack

“A script is the blueprint for a the film- there are very few bad scripts that make good movies” Topher Grace

“If you put someone in a room with no script to direct, they’re just going to sit there. Writing scripts is the execution for a show. Then the director takes that and hires people. It’s like trying to build a house without any bricks. You need a great script.” – John Patrick Shanley

Week 2:

Role of a Scriptwriter:

Task:

Collaborate in groups of three on a shared google document. You can then upload the finished product on your blog.

Take a role each to research:

-A TV script writer

-A film script writer

-A video script writer

How do you get started in the industry?
What skills do you need to be a successful scriptwriter in this sector?
What is different about scriptwriting in YOUR field (film, TV or video games)?
Describe at least three famous script writers in your field. How did they find success?What projects did they work on?
Find three successful scripts in your field, and describe why they worked.

Useful Links:

Film Scriptwriter

https://www.studiobinder.com/blog/how-to-become-a-screenwriter/#create-portfolio

TV Scriptwriter

https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-write-a-tv-script-a-guide-to-starting-your-career-in-television-writing#5-ways-tv-writing-is-different-from-film-writing

Video Game Writer

https://screencraft.org/2018/11/30/so-you-want-to-write-for-video-games/

Week 3: Legal and Ethical Considerations

Task:

Pick an imaginary project:

A film/TV show about ISIS
A film/TV Show about slavery
A biopic about Johnny Depp (or another celebrity)
A film/TV Show about gang life in London
A film/TV Show exposing the life of prostitution in London
A film/TV Show about drug use in youth culture
A film criticising Boris Johnson for his handling of the Coronavirus
A film about the recent murder of a police officer in Croydon
Another project that you can make up

Write down what ethical and legal issues you would have to take into account in working in this project, and how you would deal with them

Useful link:

https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/53331/8-famous-movies-and-lawsuits-plagued-them

Week 4- Formatting a Script

Useful Link:

https://www.studiobinder.com/blog/brilliant-script-screenplay-format/#Parentheticals

Task:

Open the ppt entitled ‘key features of a script’ from the blog.

Download it. For each technique you will need to explain

-what it is

-how you format it

-provide an example

You can take all your examples from one script or use different ones.

Powerpoint to download:

Week 5: Features of a Script

Opening Task:

Make notes on your blog on the following:

What is the difference between:

-A Film Script?

-A Radio Script?

-A Video Game Script?

Useful Links:

Radio Scripts: http://artsonline.tki.org.nz/Teaching-and-Learning/Secondary-teaching-resources/Drama/Reviewed-resources/Key-Collection/Radio-Drama-Bow-Down-Shadrach/Writing-a-radio-play/Format-for-radio-play-scripts

Film Scripts: http://www.writersstore.com/how-to-write-a-screenplay-a-guide-to-scriptwriting/

Video game Scripts: http://www.stormthecastle.com/video-game-design/writing-a-video-game-script.htm

https://github.com/olivierkes/manuskript/files/1326943/How.to.write.a.video.game.script.pdf

Structuring a film Worksheet:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1zwt3sDGQ-RYDOgIgm1IymDo3k0hnzhhk/view?usp=sharing

Week 6

Research scenarios

WEEK 7

Lesson on script proposals

Loglines exercise

Jurassic Park Proposal

WEEK 8