1. Topic-
Script Writing
 
2. Content-
Screen Heading, Action, Character Name, Dialogue, Parenthetical, Transition

Screen Heading: Appear at the beginning of a new scene and tell us the scene's setting. They include:
- INT. or EXT. Short for Interior and Exterior.
- LOCATION. Where the scene takes place. These should be short: LIBRARY CIRCULATION DESK or TRAILER PARK.
- TIME. Usually just DAY or NIGHT but can be as specific as 4:59 A.M.

2. ACTION: You always need some Action after a Screen Heading, even it's only a single line. Like this:

The stretch limousine bursts into flames.

3. DIALOGUE. The words the character speaks.

4. PARENTHETICAL. Character Cues
5. Transition. Kind of punctuation marking the transition between scenes
6. VOICE OVER (V.O.): Used when a character or narrator can be heard talking from some unknown place (the future, heaven, inside our head)
7. CAMERA DIRECTIONS: These indicate how close the camera is and how it will move, focus, etc. Directions include POV shots, pans, tilts, push ins, pull outs, dolly moves, tracking shots, close ups, wides, etc.
 
3. Goals: Aims/Outcomes-
1. Provide an intense study of what screenwriters seek to convey in the writing process.
2. Engage students in the creative process and the practical application of screenwriting.
3. Enable students to function and communicate more proficiently, work independently, and to value the individual contributions of others.
 
4. Objectives-
1. Students will write, original scenes to create a story with a beginning, middle, and end.

2. Students will format a script appropriately using ScriptStyles.

3. Students will listen to and implement constructive criticism as they go through the process.
 
5. Materials and Aids-
*Mac or PC Computer
*Downloaded template of WORD ScriptStyles.
 
6. Procedures/Methods-

A. Introduction-

1. Discussion of best movies ever seen and why students considered them the best.
2. Look through actual scripts from the movies at imsdb.com.
3. Discussion on what was different from the actual movie.
 

B. Development-

1. Students will view a script from another student at simplyscripts.com or from good samples from past years.
2. As a group, we will come up with a plot, characters, and a climax and resolution.

 

C. Practice-

Students will write up a short scene based on the criteria from class, using correct script formatting.
 

D. Independent Practice-

1. Students will develop an idea of their own using Cluster Word Web 3
2. They will continue to work out their idea by completing Brainstorming Storymap 2.
3. Finally, they will complete Story Map 3.
4. Individual Review of Movie Idea in Group Setting.
5. Students will write script using ScriptStyles
 

E. Accommodations (Differentiated Instruction)-

Students will type one scene of a movie.

 

F. Checking for understanding-

Check student's script writing progress
 

G. Closure-

Students pass in typed scripts and also save them on the computer.
 
7. Evaluation-
1. Scriptwriting Rubric.
2. Peer Comments.
 

This Lesson Plan is available at (www.teacherjet.com)