MMDSW501 SCRIPT WRITING a Screenplay, Or Script, Is a Written
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MMDSW501 SCRIPT WRITING A screenplay, or script, is a written work by screenwriters for a film, television program or video game. These screenplays can be original works or adaptations from existing pieces of writing. In them, the movement, actions, expression and dialogues of the characters are also narrated. The script the actors use during filming is primarily dialogue with minimal stage direction. This is similar to the 'spec scripts' given to agents and producers to generate interest in the work. The primary focus here is on telling the story, the word and actions that convey the message. What sound effects or lighting effects that are important to the actor's performance are noted. But, anything not directly impacting the performance are generally left out. The screenplay is the extra layer with everything that was left out of the script. It may very well be the 'shooting script' in most cases, which is less of an actor's tool and more of a director's tool. The screenplay includes those aspects of filming that are outside the actor's purview, things like camera angles and cut or fade instructions, effects that the audience will see but have no effect on the actor's performance while on set. The script, or screenplay, outlines all of the elements (audio, visual, behavior, and dialogue) that are required to tell a story through movies or TV. A script is almost never the work of a single person. Instead, it will go through revisions and rewrites, and ultimately will be interpreted by the producers, directors, and actors. Story could be something which is an extension of plot with/without dialogues. It is mostly brief. Whereas in screenplay, you have to take care of camera angles, various shots, cuts, dialogues, expressions, camera movements, and more. You have to be aware of what is on the screen and what is behind the screen. 1 L U 1 Brainstorm story ideas L O 1.1 Collect ideas in a mind map Strategic planning as the central topic DEFINITION OF MIND MAPPING A mind map is a graphical representation utilized to visually organize information. The process of mind mapping involves penning a central theme and coming up with new and associated ideas that branch out from the central idea. ESSENTIAL FEATURES OF A MIND MAP Given below are five key characteristics of a mind map: • There is a single key idea, focus, subject or concept graphically represented in the form of a central image. • The key themes associated with the idea, focus, subject or concept radiate from the central picture as branches. • Each branch carries a key word or image printed or drawn on the associated line. • Other branches, shown as twigs are connected to the main branches. The twigs represent concepts of lesser importance. • The branches create a linked nodal structure. HOW TO BUILD YOUR OWN MIND MAP If you are using a mind map to get employees in your business to come up with ideas/solutions, you may give them instructions as follows: Step 1: Start with the topic Put the topic, central concept or idea in image form, in the center of an empty page. Space on the page should be used wisely and yet freely so that the brain doesn‘t feel unbridled, and there is space to occupy more and more ideas as they come. Beginning in the center provides the brain with freedom to move in all directions and reveal ideas/solutions more naturally and freely. It may be more convenient to position the page in landscape orientation because that makes drawing easier. Step 2: Define the structure Create the fundamental structure with which you would be organizing your ideas. The structure would include branches radiating out from the central idea and drawn as thick lines. These main branches are termed as Basic Organizing Ideas (BOIs). 2 Step 3: Define each branch Put down a key image or word for each branch as your ideas come. Allow the ideas to flow freely and quickly (long pauses are not to be encouraged) without judgment on whether they are practical or crazy. Step 4: Highlight the priorities The concepts of lesser importance can be represented as the twigs and drawn as thinner lines. Step 5: Extend your mind map by additional ideas As information and ideas keep coming, connect them to the mind map in a suitable manner. Step 6: Review and revise After the first attempt, allow your mind to settle. Once it has, you may want to revisit what you did. Review it and revise and/or reorder it. Sometimes, a different sheet of paper may be required for this. How about two mind maps? Another way to mind map and this is for problem-solving, is to create two different mind maps, one each for the problem and solutions. For the problem mind map, the problem would be the main idea represented in the center with causes and aspects of the problem connected by branches. Sub-branches can be used to examine the problem in more detail Suggestions/Tips/Techniques • Use colors for the whole project. Colors give the mind map extra vitality and arouse the brain‘s creative and visual faculties. • Stick to single words or brief meaningful phrases for key words. Too many words would only cause cluttering. • Similar information, if any, can be clustered together. • Capital letters are to be preferred to small caps. • It would be a good idea to make the branches curved instead of straight. Only straight lines in the map may come across as boring to the brain. • Use as many images as possible. Besides being easy to remember, a picture is worth a thousand words. • Use arrows to show connections between ideas. • If the person wishes and if required, he can annotate the mind map. An example would be providing references to other sources, making them identifiable by writing them down in a different color of pen. 3 • One should feel free to adopt a personal style as this would boost the creative fire. ADVANTAGES OF USING MIND MAPS Mind maps help the user utilize the complete power of the brain, both the left which is more associated with logical and analytical thinking, and the right which is utilized for day dreaming, spatial awareness, color, imagination and a feeling of wholeness. This idea generation technique has several advantages including that it: • Spurs one on to view the bigger picture; • Requires less time to develop; • Consumes less space than notes that are chronologically arranged; • Allows large topics or projects to be broken down into manageable chunks and this broken-down form, therefore, facilitates effective planning and minimizes chances of forgetting key points and being overwhelmed; • Increases concentration; • Helps trigger more associations and ideas by applying radial thinking; • Provides pleasure to the eyes (once completed, the mind map appears like a mini work of art to those who IDEA A screenwriter can also be approached and offered an assignment. Assignment scripts are generally adaptations of an existing idea or property owned by the hiring company, but can also be original works based on a concept created by the writer or producer. STORY Most literally and simply, "story writing" that is distinct from screenwriting means having written the story in a form other than the screenplay. Someone wrote a story in novel, short story, treatment, or other form that was not the actual screenplay used to create the movie. Ideas to burst a mind map with information Idea sorting Idea sorting and refinement is a simple and effective way to make your ideas more practical and viable, as well as more appealing to those who are funding the innovation project (your stakeholders). After you've generated dozens of ideas for a better battery, do you just throw out the notion of making the battery biodegradable, or can you find some value in this? Idea expanding The ability to expand a sentence or a short passage into a large paragraph is essential to be a good writer. The expansion of a passage practically amounts to the writing of miniature essays on the subject of the original passage. 4 Idea focusing is the way you have to focus in other to get a full information to what you want to write for. L O 1.2 Creating a Powerful Content Brainstorming Dashboard Brainstorming is another way to automate idea flowing. Cyfer (a secret) allows you to create multiple dashboards with multiple widgets in each to store and quickly access any information you may need. Ways to Develop Content Ideas There are ways to force your mind into behaving, so try these ten ways of developing content ideas when you are stuck. Get Away From the Problem You might just need a break. For some of us (maybe even all of us), there is only so much that can be taken on before we have to take a couple of days to ourselves. Trying to force yourself to work on a project will just lead to frustration and further stress which then saps you of the energy to form ideas. Take Some Time To Daydream Daydreaming is a great way to come up with ideas, and expand on them. It is also an activity we don‘t tend to engage in nearly enough as adults. It should be a regular part of our lives, especially when related to the process of coming up with content. How can we create anything if we aren‘t taking the time to stretch our imaginations? Check Out Blogs You Read Other people‘s content is a gold mine for ideas.