The next key thing that Kelly taught us about Screenwriting is a how to use a Screenplay Format. A Screenplay Format is the way in which a screenplay is set out. Here are some key terms when using the format;
Scene: screenplays are divided into scenes. A scene can be defined as a unit of dramatic action which takes place in a specific location in continuous time.
Slugline or scene heading, eg EXT ANNIE'S HOUSE. NIGHT:
This tells us whether the scene is inside or outside, where it is and whether it's day or night. If more information about the location is needed it can be general or more detailed, eg INT. NINA'S CAR. CAR PARK. NIGHT.
Scene Direction: ALWAYS written in the present tense. It contains descriptions of the characters' actions and events relevant to the story. Characters' names are usually capitalised so they can find their directions quickly and easily, eg
ANNIE notices NINA slamming her car door and approaching the house.
Character Cue: the name of the character who speaks. ALWAYS capitalised and centered above their line.
Actor Direction: in brackets under the character's name, used to describe the way, or to whom, they speak. Mostly redundant, and disliked by the actors, but can be useful if the manner of speaking contradicts what appears to be the meaning or if there is potential uncertainty about who is being addressed.
Dialogue: what the characters say.
Camera shots and angles should not appear in the screenplay (although some writer/directors writing for themselves may include them).
After reading these facts we were tasked with learning them and labelling a screenplay with these key terms;
After learning about screenplay format, we moved onto stories.
Our first story task was to turn a story into a screenplay which was no trouble and we easily completed as it was just a quick task. After that we were tasked with writing a story and turning it into a series of tweets which taught us the importance of getting straight to the point as on Twitter you are limited to about 150 characters per tweet. Our story set-up was 'Carnelle Scott is young and full of dreams and feeling marooned in Yazoo city, Mississippi. Her only way out is by winning the town's beauty pageant on the Fourth of July.' I had to start off the story and then it would be passed to around 6 other people in the room for them to carry it on but the story's resolution must be; 'Carnelle Scott successfully escapes from her home town by winning the beauty pageant.' Now, I started off my story pretty generic so that other people could let the story run it's course. When I got my story back, it had turned into this hectic piece in which Carnelle's dress had caught on fire yet she still managed to pull it off. So, I turned this story into a series of tweets for you to sit back and enjoy!
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