Script frenzy Reflection

When I first heard we were going to write a 100 page script in 30 days my initial thought was awesome! Within about 5 seconds it hit me that I couldn't do that. I had never written that many pages and I had never even thought about writing a script. I knew it couldn't be easy, I had seen my dad spends years writing a book, but at the same time part of me was excited for the challenge. The script frenzy workbook was helpful in getting me prepared for the script writing and that eased my mind about the impossibility of the task that lay ahead. The workbook had some very helpful parts like character planning and outlining the basic structures for a script, but at the same time there were some parts I thought were not needed. The workbook spent way to much time on the dialogue. I found it redundant. I needed the help with how to write effective dialogue, but I think 2-4 pages of help would have been enough not the 14 the packet had. I think in the end though I would have never been able to finish my script if it hadn't been for the workbook. My final script is 72 pages of my 80 page personal goal. I originally told myself if I could write about 3 pages a day during class I would have my script done in no time. I was wrong though. Some days I was able to write 4 pages the others I couldn't get past a page. I ended up not being able to plan my time accordingly and writing the last 30 pages in the last few days of script frenzy and a few days after that. I would have liked to plan better, but I found once I was home alone with no distractions and no friends I was able to get into the zone and finish the script with ease. I think one of the strengths of my script is the descriptions. I think the descriptions allow for someone reading the script to picture exactly how the movie is going to look. I also think another strength is in the characters. I spent a lot of timing planing out how I wanted every character to act and talk and I think that came through in my script. Each character has different sayings and gestures that are unique to them and I really like that about my characters. I feel like I was able to truly get to know my characters through my script and that was something I never thought would happen. A weakness of my script would have to be in some of the scenes. I think some scenes are heavy in the dialogue and not as much action. I have a few scenes where the main characters are eating dinner and talking, but they are talking for about three pages. I would like to go back through and change that a little. That way the scene doesn't get too dry and boring. If I could make this change I think that would make my script that much better. If were given more time, I would like to have done more research. My script has a murder trial which is a big part of the plot line. I have watched a lot of murder shows on television both true crime and made up shows, but I think it would have been helpful to do internet research on how trials works. I based the trial off of what I had seen on a Dateline episode. If there was more time I would like to do some research and then rewrite some parts of the trial so that it was 100% accurate to what would really happen in court. Now that script frenzy is done, I am glad we did it. I think it was a challenge and I couldn't finish it within the 30 day constraint, but I am proud of what I have and what I finished. I think that this project taught me a lot about myself and writing scripts. It was fun, but I don't think I would write another script until I am being paid for it. It was just too stressful.

blog 12

I think this scene has one very evident strength and that is in the descriptions. The descriptions are very vivid and my peers agreed that the description allows for a clear picture while reading it. I am proud of the descriptions because that is something I worked a lot on this semester. A weakness in the scene could be the dialogue. I have found that when I am writing dialogue that explains something the dialogue becomes less int4eresting and intriguing and more expository. I would like to work on that in this scene. I think if I could make the dialogue less dry while still getting the point across then the scene would be better. If I had more time to work on this scene the dialogue would be something I would want to fix, but I would also like to try and play with the camera angles. I found that one of the hardest parts about writing the script using celtex. I would write the scene then go back and put in camera angles. I think it would be helpful if I was able to see what kind of camera angles are often used so I could try and incorporate them into my script. I put basic camera angles into my scene, but I think it would be fun and useful to explore other camera angles and figure then use them in my scene and throughout my whole script.

Putting the Action with the Dialogue

Observatory- Morning

As Tailynn walks out a group of people walk in chatting and laughing. She walks straight ahead and to a large desk with a women behind the desk. There is a small sign that says Shelia and a larger sign that says Observatory.

Shelia

Good Afternoon. How can I help you?

Tailynn

Well I'm new here and I just wanted to explore a little

Shelia

Wonderful. Welcome to the Innocence Observatory. This is the main observatory. From here you can go to Earth and solve your murder (points to double doors) or you can watch trials. Either one you choose. We are open everyday, all day. THere are two other observatories. One is attached to the Cafe and that one is for open only during the day for trial viewing only. The other is down the hall to the left and is for finding evidence and researching your murder only. Do you have any questions for me?

Tailynn

Actually yes. Wherre can I go to see my family?

Shelia

   Unfortunately no. That is not an option. You can see your family during your trial and sometimes when you are on Earth but you cannot go to Earth to visit them. That would be abusing the system and would result in Impeachment.

Effective Dialogue (Blog 8)

1.Make sure that your dialogue encompasses both what is said and what is left unsaid.
2.The best dialogue sounds like the reader/watcher is eavesdropping, not like the participants are performing.
3.Do not make characters from other characters. Characters will come through dialgoue and actions

blog 10

Shelia

Good Afternoon how can I help you?

tailynn

Well I'm new here and I just wanted to explore a little.

shelia

Wonderful. Welcome to the Innocence Observatory. This is the main observatory. From here you can go to Earth and solve your murder or you can watch trials. Either one you choose. We are open everyday, all day. There are two other observatories. One is attached to the Cafe that one is open only during the day and only for trial viewing the other is down that hall to the left and is for finding evidence and researching your murder only. Do you have any questions for me?

Tailynn

Actually yes. Is there any place I can go to just see how my family is doing?

shelia

Unfortunately no. That is not an option. You can see your family during your trial and sometimes when you are on Earth but you cannot go to Earth to visit them. That would be abusing the system and would result in Impeachment.

Tailynn

Okay thank you.

blog 9-

Dean

Good morning Tailynn. How are you doing today? Adjusting well?

Tailynn

Uh, yeah sure.

dean

Please have a seat we are waiting for one more then we will begin.

Have you guys met each other yet? This is Tailynn, Amari and Delilah.

The elevator doors open and in walks another girl. 

dean

Welcome Caitlyn! This is Amari, Delilah and Tailynn. 

Great so now that everyone is here we have some things to go over. First although the circumstances that lead to your arrival in Innocence are sad we try to keep as positive as an attitude as possible. We are all friends here and we are all in the same stressful situation. So lets keep the smiles plentiful and the tears for our pillows. How about we get to know each other a little better before we continue. We will take turns introducing ourselves. Just tell us your name, age, where you are from and your favorite thing to do. Amari want to start us off?

Amari

Hi, my name is Amari. I am from New York City, I am 15 years old and I like to play soccer.

Dalilah

Hello. I'm Dalilah. I'm 22 years old, I'm from Miami Beach Florida and I like to swim and play tennis.

Caitlyn

I'm Caitlyn, I'm 19 and I'm from Laurel, Montana. I'm a model, but I also like to take pictures and edit them. So like photography things.

Dean

Tailynn want to tell us about yourself?

Tailynn

Um yeah. I'm Tailynn I'm 18 years old and from Lincolnville Kansas. It's a small town, I bet none of you have even heard of it.

dean

And what's your favorite thing to do?

Tailynn

Nothing.

The Hollywood Formula- Innocence

Opening Scene- The movie will open with a girl reading a newspaper article about a murder in rural Kansas. The title of the article is “Beautiful 18 year old missing for 5 days, body found” There is a picture in the margin of the girl. She flips through the newspaper and then throws it down. Then the camera goes to mirror and there is a girl looking at herself in the mirror. It’s the same girl from the newspaper. She is fiddling with her outfit and hair. Twisting, examining her body. She then takes off her shirt switches to an oversized sweater and leaves her room. Walking down a hall you can see all the doors are similar except for the number and a few have pictures on them. She gets in an elevator and gets off a floor, enters a cafeteria with a sign that says Innocence Cafeteria.

Inciting Incident- Tailynn is called down to the Gavel Room to disucss with the Dean her failure to safely place evidence on Earth. The Dean gives her a punishment of 2 days in suspension. She has to report to a room every morning at 8 and stay there until 3 in order to ensure that she isn't traveling to Earth. While in this room she meets to girls, who have been murdered by the same guy and they start to bond. They make a pact to help each other and get their killer convicted.

Subplot- The screen closes on Tailynn falling asleep and opens on a dark garage. You see a girl laying on a raised silver table. You can only see her face. The face is pale and the lips are blue, showing the girl is not just sleeping but dead. Gloved hands brush her hair off of her shoulders and reveal her shoulders allowing the viewer to assume she is nude. The hands come back into the picture this time with a necklace. The necklace has a letter D on it and is placed on the girls neck. You can see a shadow walk to a closet and take out a pink blanket. The blanket is wrapped around the girl and her body is picked up. She is carried to a open trunk and placed in. He carefully lays her down and adjusts her necklace so that the D can be easily viewed. He brushes her hair back with his hands and then closes the trunk. The screens go black with the closing of the trunk and reopens on Tailynn in her bed again, the D necklace still adorning her neck.