Script-Writing: A Crash Course
A script is typically typed using a font that imitates a typewriter, probably because this is one of the easiest fonts to read (check out how widely it’s spaced).
When you are setting the scene, you will write like this—in italics. In a play, italics indicate a stage, costuming, or set-design direction, not intended to be read aloud.
Scene I, Act I
Lights up on a large middle school classroom. There are six clusters of desks in the room and just more than 20 STUDENTS are seated. A short, blonde teacher, MISS IATAROLA, is adjusting something on her PowerPoint. The PowerPoint is currently frozen on “10 minutes of book love”. A few STUDENTS are still reading, but most are talking quietly waiting for the next part of class to begin. MISS IATAROLA clicks her remote confidently and a PowerPoint slide appears on the screen. It reads “Script-writing: A Crash Course”.
MISS IATAROLA: Could I have two students volunteer to pass out papers for me?
Two STUDENTS raise their hands and MISS IATAROLA gives them each a stack of papers. The STUDENTS circulate around the room as MISS IATAROLA clears her throat and begins to speak.
MISS IATAROLA: When a character speaks, that person’s name is in all caps. Hesitates before continuing. Now, I could tell you that is because writers are bossy, but to be fair, it’s much easier to tell when your lines are when your character’s name is practically being screamed at you from the page.
There is a dull silence in the room before MISS IATAROLA continues
MISS IATAROLA: Oh yeah, and whenever you use a character’s name in the stage directions, costuming directions, or pretty much anywhere else, it should be in all caps as well. Again, it acts like a big red “look here” sign for the person reading for that role.
EMMA: But how do you switch between characters? Is it like a book where you have to indent and begin a new paragraph?
MISS IATAROLA: No, actually, it’s more straightforward than that. After one character is finished speaking, and another begins you simp—
ARIANNA: What about when characters interrupt each other?
MISS IATAROLA (slightly annoyed at being interrupted, but glad for the chance to explain) That’s a good question. The best way to do that in a script is to begin writing the line of the character who will be interrupted and only write part of the word that the other character will cut through. Instead of ending the word, use two hyphens on your keyboard, you know, the button next to the zero, then press the enter or spacebar to make a dash.
NICK: Okay. But what about stage directions like pausing a scene? I was thinking of having Mercutio pause and talk to himself, but I don’t want Benvolio to know he’s doing it. Or even, how could you give a character an aside to the audience?
The classroom pauses, the students frozen, as MISS IATAROLA alone rubs her right hand over her forehead in frustration. She turns to address the audience.
MISS IATAROLA: Thank goodness for people that ask questions. Honestly, if I wasn’t writing this script about this conversation, they would probably avoid asking these questions because they’d want to just start working to get it done.
MISS IATAROLA RETURNS TO THE POSITION SHE WAS IN BEFORE THE ASIDE AND THE CLASSROOM COMES BACK TO LIFE.
MISS IATAROLA: To answer your question, AARON, you can write stage directions that occur at any point in a scene, not just the beginning. In these stage directions, you just indicate what you want the actors to do, and they’ll do it. Well, if they’re good actors. She pauses for laughter that does not come. Anyway. Anymore questions?
KELLY: Just one—you said we were going to get an instructions sheet? Is all of this written out on there too, or do we have to read through this fake script to find out the rules?
MISS IATAROLA (smiling): Good point. Could I get two people to pass out these rubrics and instruction sheets? Two STUDENTS raise their hands and MISS IATAROLA hands them the sheets. They circulate around the room passing the papers out to other STUDENTS. Now that we’ve covered what the script itself would look like, I want to go over a few more elements I need you to include.
JIMMY: Is this a presentation project? Do we have to act it out?
MISS IATAROLA (sheepishly): Well…actually I don’t think we’ll have time to do that. We’re finishing Romeo and Juliet with an essay, so presentations would take too long.
DANNY: We have to do an essay too??
STUDENTS (angry but unsurprised, and sounding a little like a 90’s school-set sit-com): Miss Iatarola!!!
MISS IATAROLA CHANGES THE POWERPOINT SLIDE AND HOLDS UP HER HANDS HELPLESSLY, GRINNING SHEEPISHLY AT THE AUDIENCE.
End of Scene I