Subplots; Writing your TV Script: Day 4

A subplot is a subordinate (less important) plot in a story. You might think of subplots as support to the main plot. They can introduce and maintain secondary characters who are foils to the main characters. But subplots also do some of the following:

• Subplots advance your story in increments or parts
• Subplots comment on the action of the main plot, or reveal aspects of characters
• Subplots speed up or slow down your story's pace
• Subplots provide suspense
• Subplots create or alter mood (the juxtaposition between dramatic scenes and comic ones, for example, are what we mean by melodrama!)
• Subplots can fill in holes or weak points in your main plot
• Subplots can provide another viewpoint or "lesson" or theme to the main plot
• Subplots give your readers/viewers a break from the main plot

CLASS ACTIVITY (15-20 minutes): You should have your 3 index cards outlining your episode plot from last class. Gather with your group to help each writer get ideas for a subplot. Match the subplot if you can with the main story. Together create several subplots (1 subplot per writer per script). Write these ideas (subplots) on index cards that can be chosen by your group or shared. A subplot should: 

• Focus on a character who is NOT the major character/protagonist of the main story line
• Should not be as complex or complicated as the main action
• Should have a clear beginning, middle and end (inciting incident, complication, rising action, climax, resolution) 
• Each writer should select one subplot to include in their script (see plot structure above)

Once you have your story index cards, begin writing your 10-15 page television script. Use the character lists, the set lists, the index cards with your plot outline and subplot idea to guide your story. 

Television scripts are comprised of:

1. A slugline (all in CAPS) indicating EXT (exterior) or INT (interior): LOCATION, and time of day.
2. Description (left justified) written in paragraphs that are NOT indented. Skip a line between paragraphs for easy reading. A general rule is to limit your scene action to four or five descriptive and specific lines PER action.
3. Dialogue has the character's name all in CAPS, indented to about 2.5" (5 tabs over); A character's dialogue appears under the character name. It is NEVER centered! Instead, tab over 3 tabs. ACTOR NOTES (if used) should be in parenthesis and 4 tabs over. Keep your dialogue specific. Do not waste your plot time with incidental or unnecessary dialogue!
4. Transitions. Transition notes are RIGHT justified. FADE OUT, CUT TO (are the most typical transitions); DISSOLVE TO, or INTERCUT are used less frequently. 

Use the handy handout to guide and help you format your script correctly! Use the models (sample scripts) for ideas and/or formatting examples.

If you plan a 10 page script for example, your first act should be about 3 pages, your second act should be about 4 pages, and your third act should be about 3 pages. -- This isn't a lot of space, please note. Your subplot should comprise no more than 1 page per act (1 of 3 pages in the first act; 1 of four pages in your second act; 1 of 3 pages in your third act, etc.)

In a 15 page script, you might have each act about 5 pages long. Of those 1 or 1.5 pages should be dealing with your subplot.

You may, if you need to, have a longer script. But 10-15 pages is our target.

Get writing! This project is not due yet!

HOMEWORK: None.