Full Description
Scriptwriting for Theatre and Screen: A Practical Guide is an introduction designed to help readers understand the nature of dramatic scriptwriting and quickly guide them to a place where they can write, first a short play, and then a short screenplay.
The book clearly points out not only the differences between writing for the stage and writing for the screen, but also the shared skills and the fundamental dramatic principles that unite them. The two sections (Theatre Writing and Screenwriting) are connected by a bridging chapter which explores similarities and differences between the two media. The chapters are arranged with a short introductory essay on topics such as generating ideas, structure, character, modes of address, empathy, status, visual writing, and revising and editing, followed by practical exercises with exemplar responses - including a sample short play and film. Two additional chapters address how to approach writing a self-reflexive commentary, explore how the skills covered can be applied to writing for television, and explain other skills a writer might need to develop when working in this industry.
This complete introduction to writing dramatic scripts is intended for students of playwriting and screenwriting but is also suitable for all writers new to these areas and interested in developing their skills.
Contents
Introduction - How to Use This Book
Part 1: Theatre Writing
Chapter 1. Invitations
Chapter 2. Ideas
Chapter 3. Character
Chapter 4. Structure
Chapter 5. Location - Setting
Chapter 6. Empathy
Chapter 7. Status
Chapter 8. Practical Considerations - Acts - Scenes - Format
Chapter 9. Planning and Writing Scenes
Chapter 10. Modes of Address
Chapter 11. Actual Writing
Chapter 12. Similarities and Differences Between Stage and Screen
Part 2: Screenwriting
Chapter 13. Introducing Screenwriting and Launching a New Idea
Chapter 14. Structure Revisited
Chapter 15. Particularities of Short Films
Chapter 16. Format
Chapter 17. Genre
Chapter 18. Character Revisited
Chapter 19. Visual Writing
Chapter 20. Moment-to-Moment Writing
Chapter 21. Rewriting... Again
Chapter 22. Writing for TV
Appendix 1: Critical Commentaries - Evaluations
Appendix 2: Some More Writing Exercises
