Minds on.

I definitely write from a need to try, in my own two hours, to right a wrong. My little play is inconsequential in terms of whether or not we have health care, but it may affect the way people who see the play think about the issue.

Lisa Loomer

This is the did you know icon. Did You Know?

If you’ve ever been to New York City, you know that the theatre, and in particular, Broadway, plays an important role. You might also have heard of a subset of theatres and plays that are ‘off-Broadway.’ However, the term off-Broadway isn't geographical. Broadway theatres have 500 seats or more, off-Broadway venues have 100-499 seats, and off-off-Broadway theatres have less than 100 seats.

Writer’s Notebook

Take a moment to watch 5 Common Mistakes New Screenwriters Make and make notes in your Writer’s Notebook for use when you polish your script.

Sculpted Scripts

This is an image of a blank pad of paper with a pen on it and two crumbled up paper balls off to the side.

As King Lear reminds us, “nothing will come of nothing, speak again.”

Most script writers will admit that their first drafts were not their last ones. Fortunately, the beauty of the writing process is that with conscientious review and refinement small and significant improvements can be made. However, there comes a time in all writers’ careers when they need to write ‘Fin.’

This is the dropbox icon. Sculpted Scripts

Before polishing your own scripts, take a moment to review an existing movie script that has been polished and produced. You can easily find scripts online, though there are some resources below to assist you in your research. Read at least ten pages of the script (ideally you’d want to read the entire script, although some are quite lengthy) and then find and watch the portion you read. Afterward, include the name and MLA citation for the script. Then, respond to the following questions in your Writer’s Notebook.

  • How did the script differ from the performance? Why was that the case?
  • Was the script’s use of dramatic forms and elements (e.g., stage directions, dialogue, settings) effective? Why or why not?
  • What three changes would you make to the script to improve it? Provide a brief rationale for your suggested revisions.

Resources

  1. The Internet Movie Screenplay Database contains numerous contemporary and classical scripts from a variety of genres.
  2. Simply Scripts provides access to a variety of scripts, including unproduced and non-English scripts.
  3. The Screenplay Database allows users to search by date, alphabet, and genre.
Action.

Contemporary Dramatists

Another way to polish your script is to expand your own dramatic reading - the more exposure you have to dramatists and their work, the wider your dramatic worldview will be.

This is the discussion icon. Considering Contemporaries

Find a contemporary dramatist who is still actively writing as of this year.

Then complete the following aspects of this assignment.

  • Research and summarize your chosen dramatist’s biography. Pay specific attention to the theatrical genre in which the playwright participates. How have her/his writing practices, processes, and beliefs along with personal experiences and socio-cultural contexts influenced her/his work?
  • Read one of her/his scripts and copy it into your Writer’s Notebook (using proper MLA citations).
  • Analyse and assess the script for its use of dramatic forms and elements.

Summarize your findings above.

This is the enrichment icon. Enrichment

This is an image of an award ribbon with a number one in the centre.

As Wayne Gretzky noted “[y]ou miss 100% of the shots you don't take.” Hmm, that would be a good prompt for a play...

Now that you’ve had a chance to read some dramatic writers’ scripts, why not enter some contests, yourself? There are plenty of free or small-fee contests in Canada and internationally: a simple Google search for ‘drama contests’ will net you many results.

Research one currently active (or soon to be active) contest.

However, before entering any contest make sure that you read the rules and regulations carefully. Beyond ensuing that you are meeting all contest criteria (for example, costs, file types, word counts, and formatting), you should be aware that some contests have clauses regarding publication rights and ownership.

Consolidation

This is the dropbox icon. Polished Perspectives

For your final task for this activity, you will create a polished mini-portfolio of the scripts you have written throughout this unit. There must be one monologue, a dialogue, and a ten-minute play.

Along with your drama portfolio, you must include an annotated paragraph where you identify and explain your writing decisions for each of the scripts. Your reflection should comment specifically on how your scripts:

  • achieve their purpose;
  • were proofread, revised, and edited to become polished; and
  • adhere to and utilize the form (monologue, dialogue, ten-minute play).
  • Optional: you may record yourself reciting one or more of your scripts.

Prior to completing this task, conduct a self-assessment by ensuring that you meet the following criteria.

  • Have you considered and incorporated the appropriate and relevant dramatic techniques and forms learned throughout this unit?
  • Have you proofread, edited, and revised your work?
  • Have you completed the identification and explanation of your writing decisions?

This is the metacognitive icon. Metacognitive Moment

Now that this unit is complete, reflect on your growth as a writer by writing a 2-3 paragraph response. Your response should comment on the following questions.

  • What are your strengths as a writer?
  • Refer to the goal for improvement you set at the end of Unit 3. Did you achieve your goal? If yes, give an example from your writing.
  • Do you believe that you see dramatic writing as a potential art, craft, and/or career?  How so?  What skills are needed?

Include examples from your works so far, as well as specific references to each activity. As a reminder, here are the activities you’ve completed in this unit:

  • Activity 1 - Casting Call: Reviewing Forms
  • Activity 2 - Analysing and Acknowledging Authors
  • Activity 3 - Speaking For Yourself: Monologues
  • Activity 4 - Speaking For Others: Dialogues
  • Activity 5 - Dress Rehearsal: Sculpting a Script
  • Activity 6 - Opening Night: Polishing and Reflection

Next, select one of your polished pieces from the unit and reread it. Now, in one or two paragraphs, explain what specific Dramatic Writing skills are showcased in both your product and its creation. Make sure that you:

  • give an example of a creative choice you made, and how it improved the effectiveness of communicating your message; and
  • give an example of how your own beliefs, values, or experiences are revealed in your writing.

Alternately, you can choose to create a digital mind-map, a short video, or a digital cartoon showcasing your skills growth.  

Learning Skills Reflection

If you're working on a tablet, click here to open the following interactive in its own window instead of using the embedded version below.

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