TV Script Project: Day 4

TV Groups:

Crazed Carnival: GROUP: Valerie (head writer), Liz, Farhan, Tali, Jonaya, Melinda

Domino Effect: GROUP: Lesana (head writer), Keniah, A'layza, Aalaysia, Bisharo, Zachariah

The Big Crunch: GROUP: Degraj (head writer), Tia, Emma, Madison, Makenna, Wesley

Today check in with your group quickly, make sure everything is okay, then use your time in the lab today to write your episode in TV script format (see handout).

TODAY in CLASS/LAB:

• If the format still doesn't make sense to you after reading the handout, check out: How to Format a Screenplay - 5 Basic Elements and watch it, then do that.
• Check out the 50 of the Best TV Scripts to Download for models and examples.

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.

WRITING THE TV SCRIPT:

• How to Write a Television Script
• How to Write a TV Show Pilot Script that Sells 
• Writing Advice from Trey Parker & Matt Stone (South Park) for NYU film students...

REMEMBER: You are not the director or cinematographer for your episode. You don't have to worry about directing notes or camera movement in general. See the sample TV script samples as examples for the kind of writing you should be doing!

Use your story index cards to help you progress. If you get stuck during an act, move on to write the second or third act, then come back if necessary and complete your 1st.

Your scripts should be between 10-20 pages in length.

FAQ:

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 12-18 pages is a good target. 18=6 pages per act.

Get talking/meeting, then writing! This project is not due yet!

At the end of class (about 1:30) meet again with your group to discuss how things are going. Where are you in your writing process, what questions do you have, what problems are you facing? Etc. Help your group solve problems or find answers/solutions. Offer suggestions or help to collaborate with a weaker writer to assist them if you are progressing nicely.

HOMEWORK: None.