M1: Script Conventions

 M1: Script Conventions

What is a script?

A script is a written piece of work by a group or singular screenwriter(s) for various projects such as a film, TV Programme or even a video game. This can be an original work or an adaptation from an already existing piece of writing by numerous or singular writers; within a screenplay, there is various descriptions of events, actions, characters, character descriptions, dialogue, VFX and more. This is to clearly display to the audience what is happening within the narrative. Within a media product of a script, there is the 'Three Act Structure', in which there is an 'Act 1 -The Setup', an 'Act 2 - The Confrontation' and an 'Act 3 - The Resolution', this gives a sense of order to a narrative, however, some screenwriters like to subvert this, possibly leaving cliffhangers, subverting the order, etc. Furthermore, within a script there is a large amount of dialogue between numerous characters, this drives the narrative as only by using characters can a story evolve to meet the 'Three Act Structure'. 

What are the keys parts of a screenplay?

Within a screenplay, there are numerous key parts that make up the narrative, one of these being 'Slug Lines', an uppercase line of text with a blank line above and below it. While a 'Slug Line' can be also labelled as a 'Scene Heading', it more often refers to an 'intermediary slug line', this being to used to break up and then re-focus a prolonged scene, this can also be used to make a scene more poignant to the audience to refocus the reader on an important detail or new element. There is also a 'Scene Heading', this being used to showcase the location headings that tell the audience where they are within the script. This can be outside or inside (EXT. or INT.) and at which setting/location; as well as, whether or not the reader is to imagine daylight or darkness (DAY or NIGHT). Furthermore, one of the most important parts of a script is an 'Action Block', this is used to describe what is happening in a scene, this could be when a character is moving, facial expressions, etc. This also has to be written in present tense, therefore, the audience can clearly understand what is happening and when, if not clearly stated in past tense. Additionally, the most significant part of a screen play is the dialogue, this drives the narratives and helps scenes progress; this is always written as the character speaks unless clearly stated as written as a flashback or in the past. Lastly, there are characters in a script, it is vital that the characters titles/names are written clearly and in capitals above their dialogue to state to the reader who is speaking.

12pt Courier Font: 

The 12pt Courier font are written in nearly all scripts, whereas it is a Film, tv series or game, this is used to create easier reading for the actor, director, editor, reader, etc. As well as this, the space between the lines will have enough paragraph space to be read easily, to add to this, a page of script is a minute of film therefore this needs to be consistent. 12pt Courier Font is important as it clear to the reader to understand, creates space in between dialogue and is the traditional, formal format for screenplays. Consistent layout and formatting means that one page of a screen play equals one minute of screen time.

Draft 3 of Script: