Script+Form

fade in: Int. Library Jams –day Eight grade GATE students tumble into the library. They’re squirrelly and chattering. It’s Friday playtime. Their sometimes teacher, MARK, lunky and middle aged, is waiting for them. He’s smiling. He’s set a trap for them.  Mark OK guys, everyone take a seat at a computer. One extra talkative student, MR. OBVIOUS, stops in the way of most of the rest of the students. Mr. obvious (stalling) Do we each sit at a computer or in our group? mark Everyone at their own screen. Then log in and open the file on the desktop called Sample for jams. The students shuffle around, all trying to sit next to the friends they’re talking to. A few log on quickly and start reading the screenplay fragment on the screen. maark You’ll see some instructions in screenplay format. Move you cursor down through the lines and look at the first box in the second menu bar. You’ll see things like SCENE HEADING, and CHARACTER NAME. He has their attention now. The ones who were talking try to get the file open quickly to follow along. mark These are format styles you’ll use for screenplays. Many will automatically set to the next style with a double return, like SCENE HEADING and ACTION, OR CHARACTER NAME and DIALOG. Others you will have to switch with your cursor. He walks around and looks over their shoulders. mark Just play around with it for a bit. Gets to one side of the room. mark Get to the end of the sample, double space, switch to SCENE HEADING and write. students (shocked, whining) Write what? mark Your scripts. You all say you have an outline. Start writing. If your first scene is in a room start with INT. If it’s outside start with EXT. Follow with a short identification of the location, -Day or –NIGHT, double return and start describing the action. Students What action? mark What’s the first thing you see on the screen? Who is in the scene? What do they do? Go. Do it. We’ve talked enough. Now write. 