Unit 11 - Scriptwriting: November 2016

A) Style & Content
Scripts are, for the most part written in Courier new font. This font makes the script clear to read and easy to format. Generally scripts are written in a size 12 pt font. All of the scripts that I looked at barring the game script used both a courier new font and the size 12. Fitting in with the stereotypical script format. The game however is more unconventional. This is due to the game having multiple choices for each characters which makes the script more broad and harder to keep control of. The layout of the game's script is that of a flowchart. So that the speech and stage directions can be repeated or changed according to the input. Additionally the game has multiple options otherwise it would not be fun to play. Therefore the multiple choices are there for entertainment purposes.

Scripts are an essential tool for the production of many audio and visual products. They are used by the production team to help give the product structure. This then informs, presenters/actors/directors and writers. The radio drama scripts on the most part generally contain dialogue and no stage directions. However this radio drama includes information about background noise and what's happening in the scene. For example "CHRISTINE let's herself in the front door, calls out." generally you see this read out as part of the script in the radio show, so that people can visualise what's happening in the scene. They are also evident on all of the visual media scripts. This is as the actors would need know how where they need to be positioned on screen. As the others are all visual scripts, most of the time they need stage directions. Stage directions are usually justified to the left of the screen in lowercase letters. Itis placed before the dialogue so that we understand what happens in the scene. Additionally the left placement makes it stand out juxtaposing the dialogue. Additionally they usually have character descriptions so that the actor playing them is able to portray them accurately.

One of the script I looked at is a video game script. It juxtaposes the other scripts as it has a format where the script only continues when a the game has a certain input. For instance, the example script I looked at had a part that would only continue when a certain point is met. This information is justified to the left and says in a square bracket "When you walk up to the stairs something falls over" this helps the programmers know where to add different things that may effect the players idea of the story. This style suits the genre of the script as it is a video game, which can have multiple choices or a set story which certain criteria must be met. Video Game scripts usually contain a flow chart. However Max Payne however is only a story based game so doesn't rely heavily on flow charts. Additionally when the script has different outcomes based on the input, using a flowchart helps the developers and writers create the game. In comparison to other scripts this is incredibly specialised and suited to the needs of its product. One convention of a video game script is that they include a synopsis. This is as the developers can get an idea of the story before creating the game based on the script/flowchart. The genre of the video game is a third person shooter, therefore it is used for entertainment purposes. The mode of address would then be in a peer to peer, as it is more of informal language. Additionally the game will use slang to instil verisimilitude as it can help the player feel as though the characters are real. For example from the script I looked at uses slang such as "hurt ya"

Most of the scripts I looked at included stage directions (SD's), however they were justified in different places. For example the film I looked at 'How To Train Your Dragon' used SD's within the characters dialogue, for instance "Gobber lays a giant book in the centre of the table" This may be useful for a film as there is more content and it may be easier for the actors to see exactly what they need to do under their name. However both the TV show 'The Big ang Theory', and the radio drama '1977' had their stage directions placed above the characters dialogue and was also justified to the left. For example in The Big Bang Theory In between two characters dialogue there is a SD. "Leonard Indicates Another Grease Board Filled With Equations' In capital letters, which makes it stand out.

The characters/actors dialogue is the same in all the scripts barring the film. This includes the character's name, which is always in capitals and generally in bold. which is seen across the example scripts. Additionally this character dialogue section is usually justified to the centre, which separates it from other texts, and due to it being a convention, people instantly understand what it is. On the subject of sound, Sound effects are for the most part are part of stage directions, however the sound is usually capitalised. For example, as seen in the 'How To Train Your Dragon' script, the sound effect is capitalised. "A RUMBLE of thunder", which clearly shows that this is a sound effect. This can also mean it is a full shooting script as sound effects that may be added in post-production are on the script.

Mode of address is how the dialogue in the script is interpreted and directed to the other characters. This can include a teacher to pupil mode of address. This is when it is more formal and one of the characters is more imposing that the other. This is implying that one is like a teacher to another and speaking as though it is in a working environment. For example the game script would be a peer to peer mode of address, as it is two people having a conversation. For example "Listen! Someone's broken into my house"

B) Narrative and Structure
There are different ways that a script can be structured. Single-stranded, Multi-Stranded, Linear and Non-Linear. The video game script that I looked into is a single-stranded script. However the Tv show is a Multi-Stranded Script, and the radio show and film are both Linear scripts.

Single-Stranded:
A single-stranded script is where all of the scenes revolve around a single character. It is generally based upon a first person narrative. This is can benefit the media for example a film, as you can connect with the character and may be able to understand their emotions better.
The video game script "Max Payne", which revolves around max and his adventures in a first person way.

Multi-Stranded:
A Multi-Stranded script is when there are several viewpoints taken from a certain running order. They all match with each other to come together to tell one narrative. An example of this is would be the script that I looked at, 'The Big Bang Theory'. This shows different parts of each characters life which can create spectacle and excitement for the audience. We can see that in the first part of the 'Big Bang Theory Script' that all of the characters are together, this is as it states all the characters names in the intro part.

Linear:
This is when a script is done in chronological order. It uses a structure including an equilibrium, disequilibrium and a resolution. Showing a stereotypical structure to a story. This is usually seen in film scripts as they generally have a more structured narrative to help convey the story being told.
One script that I looked at 'How To Train Your Dragon' was a film script. Therefore we can see with examples such as "A RUMBLE of thunder shakes the hall" which may connote that this is the disequilibrium part of the narrative.

Non Linear:
A non Linear script is when a story doesn't follow a chronological order. Instead the story jumps around from different times. One example of this would be the film 'The Social Network', which constantly jumps forwards and backwards between the sam narrative but at different times.

C) Genre
The scripts that I looked at were unintentionally all fictional scripts. They all depict a story that is created by imagination and not any real past and current events. However the radio drama script '1977' Is can be classed as non-fiction as it uses real stories and events from the time, but is not a story.

The language used in all the scripts bar one, '1977' is informal language as they are all addressing their peers. However due to the language used at the time, the Radio Drama uses formal language.

D) Target Audience
The target audience is vital to writing a script. The writers must understand who they are writing for, so that they can write accordingly. The film script, 'How To Train Your Dragon' is written for kids, which is seen in the nature of the writing. For example it uses 'fillers' that many young people use such as "like" in places where it's not appropriate. The films characters are mainly of the male gender. Therefore the film would mainly be aimed at male children of 5-14 year of age. Due to them being young they would most likey be going with their parents who would need a high disposable income.

The Big Bang Theory script would be targeted at teens and young adults aged between 13-25. It is mainly a male character dominated script, however Penny is a fairly strong female character which can help target both genders. We can tell this due penny's dialogue, for example "Leonard, Did you do this?". People who would watch this comedy would most likely watch a lot of television. Therefore they would need the means to pay for a television and in some cases a license. I would class them in B/C1 due to the naturew of the comedy in the script and the disposable income they would have to have.

The radio drama '1977' would be targeted at an older generation. This can be due to the more mature language used in the script. Therefore the script may target people above the age of 25, as people of a younger genration would not find it as interesting. The characters seen in the script are primeraly female, therefore the script would target a female audience as apposed to a male audience. Many people who listen to the radio are usually retired who were brought up with radio, or people in their cars on their daily commute. Therefore they could have a large spending range due to them either needing to have a car or just buy a radio. Therefore they would be classed in E due to them potentially being state pensioners.

Max Payne's video game script would be aimed at teenagers due to the nature of the game. The target audience would most likely be aged 16-24 due to the rating of the game and the language used in the script. For example " a nob boss", which may be deemed offensive to younger children. The people would need to be able to afford the game and would need a high disposable income. Therefore they would be classed in B and C1 in the social grades.