Assignment Requirements
q For this assignment you will create a script for a short stage play.
q Plays must run between five and ten minutes.
q Plays must have two characters and one setting (such as a park bench). Set requirements must be minimal.
q Plays must follow a proper script format. Plays must be typed with pages numbered and stapled together.
q Plays must be unpublished, unproduced and must be completely original.
q Co-written plays are acceptable, although there is a maximum of two co-writers per script.
Deadline: To be read in class on Friday, May 21
Writer’s Tips
q Keep the stage in mind. Write in the present tense. Dramatic writing is all about what’s happening in the here and now, not somewhere else at some other time.
q Try to avoid writing little TV scripts with numerous little scenes or sequences.
q Focus on the conflict early in the action, develop it, complicate it, and resolve it by the end (perhaps even surprisingly).
q Give your characters goals, needs, and action lines. Push them into taking action that will influence the outcome of the story.
q Rewrite your play. Many playwrights have often said, “We don’t write plays, we rewrite them.” Keep at it until you think that your play will move the audience in the way you want it to move them.
q There is no restriction in terms of the style of the play. It could be a comedy, a satire, a farce or a hard-hitting emotional drama. It is suggested, however, that you write about what you know, what you believe, what excites you, or what you feel deeply interested in.
Schedule
q Day 1 Assignment Requirements and internet search
q Day 2 Play Proposal due
q Day 3-5 Workshopping and Scripting (collaboration and discussion encouraged)
q Day 6 Script due for classroom reading
Web Resources
q The Young Playwright’s Page: http://www.jondorf.com/youngplaywrights.html
Play Evaluation Rubric
Criteria / 5 / 4 / 3 / 2 / 1Play Proposal / q very well thought out and presented / q well thought out and presented / q satisfactory / q needs more development / q very little detail provided
Rough Draft / q complete; evidence of extensive editing and revision / q complete; evidence of editing and revision / q complete; some evidence of editing / q complete; little evidence of editing / q complete; very little evidence of editing
Spelling / Grammar / Punctuation / Formatting / q no errors / q 1-3 errors / q 4-7 errors / q 8-10 errors / q more than 10 errors
Character Development and Setting / q characters are very well developed; setting compliments the story and characters / q characters are well developed; setting compliments the story and characters / q characters are reasonably well developed; acceptable setting / q development of characters needs work; somewhat acceptable setting / q very little development of characters; little consideration was given to play’s setting
Conflict(s) / q conflicts are clearly introduced and well-developed throughout / q conflicts are introduced and developed throughout / q conflicts are reasonably well introduced and somewhat well-developed / q conflicts are somewhat unclear and / or underdeveloped / q conflicts are unclear; no real scene development
Resolution / q very clear and conflicts are well-resolved; a well devised ending / q clear and conflicts are resolved; loose ends are tied up / q reasonably clear resolution to conflicts; some loose ends / q resolution unclear; many loose ends / q no clear attempt at resolution
Pacing / Flow / q dialogue moves story along at a reasonable pace; plot and character traits revealed / q dialogue moves story along at a reasonable pace; plot and character traits revealed / q dialogue stalls from time to time; character traits are present but need to be stronger / q dialogue leaves the reader unclear as to the structure or the character traits / q dialogue is hard to follow and seems not to relate to the story being told
Ease of Staging / q transition from script to stage seems very clear and straight-forward / q transition from script to stage appears straight-forward / q transition from script to stage appears somewhat straight-forward / q transition from script to stage appears challenging / q staging of this play would appear to be very difficult
TOTAL: _____ / 40
Script Formats
It is suggested that you use one of the following formats for your ten-minute play:
Format 1:
Set the scene in a paragraph formatted this way. Two or three sentences should suffice to give us the idea. It could also contain brief character descriptions or describe an action of one of your characters.
PERSON 1: Says something in dialogue formatted like this, which could carry over in the form of a hanging indent.
PERSON 2: (Off) Sounds great!
PERSON 1: (looks around) Perfect.
She looks at the ocean and begins to hum a song.
Format 2:
It is also acceptable to use screenplay format for your ten-minute play. The following is an example of a play script using the basic screenplay format:
The action takes place in a renovated barn on the Nova Scotia seacoast. The place has been turned into a loft-like living area, with a kitchen and bathroom off to one side.
LENNY appears at the front door and knocks...
JAMES walks slowly out of the bathroom and notices LENNY with a "hey you're here, all right!" sort of gesture, then crosses to the front door and opens it.
LENNY
Hi Dad.
JAMES
Hey! How ya' doin?
LENNY
Fine. How're you?
JAMES
Finest kind. Finest, finest kind. (Pause)
That your suitcase?
LENNY
Yeah.
JAMES takes LENNY'S suitcase.
JAMES
It's great to have ya' here!
JAMES exits into one of the bedrooms...
JAMES
(from off)
How was the drive?
LENNY puts his guitar case down, as JAMES re-appears.
JAMES
How was the drive man?
LENNY
I left the city, and I drove here. It was fine.
JAMES and LENNY look at each other for a second, not sure what to say next... ETC…
SUGGESTED BOOKS ON PLAYWRITING
q “THE ART AND CRAFT OF PLAYWRITING”, by Jeffry Hatcher. 1996. Story Press. ISBN 1-884910-06-8.
q “THE DRAMATIST’S TOOLKIT - THE CRAFT OF THE WORKING PLAYWRIGHT”, by Jeffrey Sweet. 1993. Heinemann. ISBN 0-435-08629-4.