A Form to Organize the Key Elements of Your Sketch

BRAVE NEW WORKSHOP SKETCH WORKSHEET A Form to Organize the Key Elements of Your Sketch

The purpose of this worksheet is: 1. to give you a format for organizing and recording the key elements of your sketch; 2. to ensure you have a very thorough list of key elements by giving you questions to answer and points to defend; and 3. to prepare you for the “filling in the blank with dialogue” step of the sketch-writing process.

There are two important pieces of information to include for each of the five key elements: the simple facts (often short or one-word factual answers), and the feel of the key element (usually a few sentences of description that get to the core truth of this key element). Please be sure your answers address both the facts and the feel when completing this form!

1. THE SATIRICAL POINT (a) In a word or two, what is the basic topic of this sketch?

(b) In a sentence, what is the point you are making with this sketch? (i.e., What is your opinion? If you could have the audience walk away with a one-sentence summary of your point, what would that one sentence be?)

(c) In a few sentences, describe the satirical point you are making and why you are making it. Include comments on why you think this deserves stage time, why it is an important point to make, the flavor or feel that you would like this sketch to have, and what reaction you’d like to get. 2. THE CHARACTERS For each character in your sketch, complete the following two sections: (a) List factual data on this character that is important to this sketch. This factual data might include (but is not limited to) age, occupation, sexual orientation, marital status, ethnic or religious background, physical characteristics, recent events in life, etc.

(b) Also, describe the point of view and the bottom line of this character. In a few sentences, you should be able to give a very clear idea of what this character is about; what makes them tick; what opinions, attitudes, and characteristics of this character will most impact how they behave in this scene? Which side of the satirical point does this person represent? What is this person’s role in this sketch (main character, ambiance, comic relief, etc.)? What is this person trying to accomplish in this scene? How would you describe this person to a friend if you were gossiping about him/her?

Character Name: Age: Occupation: Sexual orientation/Marital Status: Ethnic background/geographic orientation: Important physical characteristics: Recent historical events in his/her life: Other: Describe his/her point of view:

Character Name: Age: Occupation: Sexual orientation/Marital Status: Ethnic background/geographic orientation: Important physical characteristics: Recent historical events in his/her life: Other: Describe his/her point of view: Character Name: Age: Occupation: Sexual orientation/Marital Status: Ethnic background/geographic orientation: Important physical characteristics: Recent historical events in his/her life: Other: Describe his/her point of view:

Character Name: Age: Occupation: Sexual orientation/Marital Status: Ethnic background/geographic orientation: Important physical characteristics: Recent historical events in his/her life: Other: Describe his/her point of view:

Character Name: Age: Occupation: Sexual orientation/Marital Status: Ethnic background/geographic orientation: Important physical characteristics: Recent historical events in his/her life: Other: Describe his/her point of view: 3. THE ACTION OF THE SCENE (a) In one sentence, describe what this scene is about—what will happen in this scene?

(b) Describe the overall feel, style, rhythm, or pace of this scene.

(c) List the major events or beats that will occur from beginning to end in this scene. This should be a sort of play-by-play of what the characters do in the scene. This can take the form of beginning, middle, and end, if that is helpful.

4. THE ENVIRONMENT, LOCATION, OR SETTING (a) List the important factual data that describes the setting or location of this scene. This factual data might include (but is not limited to) year, day of the week, time of the day, country, state, city, specific physical location, set pieces, important props or costumes, tone, temperature, mood, colors, etc.

(b) Take some time to visualize the setting in your mind, and then describe the setting as if you were describing it to a blind person, with the goal of describing the feel of the setting, more than just the factual elements.

5. THE “FUNNY” Write an explanation of why you think this scene will be funny, and where you think the opportunities for humor exist. Is it the premise that is funny? Will the characters be funny? Will it be visual gags? Is it the characters in an odd setting that makes it funny? Why did it make you laugh? What made you think this would be funny? Copyright © Brave New Workshop Theatre, 1999