M1 Script Conventions

I was asked to create a script for a 10-15 minute extract from my show 'Inside' to be used as promotion. Due to this I made sure to use a gripping extract which would make the target audience of 15-21 year olds want to watch it. I chose an extract from episode 3 as it establishes key aspects of the plot such as the protagonist's mental health struggle and it ends on him having a panic attack but doesn't conclude what happens to him, thus making the audience want to watch the show to discover more. 

Type of Script:

I used conventions of screenwriting to create a shooting script which would be used by the production team. In order to do this, I included technical instructions such as shot types, transitions and editing instructions. 

Format/Layout:

In compliance with the conventions of screenwriting, I used 12-point courier font so that 1 page of text roughly equals 1 minute of screentime. My script is 11 pages long (excluding the title page) meaning the extract should last around 11 minutes. Another convention I followed is the use of alignment; all text in a script is left aligned but different aspects are indented. Action blocks appear on the left with dialogue indented in the centre of the page and transitions on the far right.

I have used slug lines (highlighted in blue) at the start of each scene to establish 3 key elements of the scene: the location, whether it's set inside or outside and the time of day. Slug lines typically appear capitalised as a way of differentiating from the rest of the text. In my script an example of a slug line is for the opening scene I used 'INT. CARAVAN - LATE AT NIGHT', this informs the production team about the location and how the scene should look. 

Type:

This script is fictional, I have created the story based on things that could happen in real life but with fictional characters and a narrative that I came up with. 

Genre:

My show is a crime drama. In order to conform to this my script uses conventions of crime drama such as involving the police and criminals within the plotline. The protagonist in my show is a criminal and ends up helping the police solve crimes which somewhat subverts typical expectations as the police and criminals would usually be against each other. In addition, my show overlaps with the teen drama subgenre due to the fact it follows a teenage protagonist and another key storyline follows his struggles with mental health and bullying. 

Angle of Article:

The audience acts as an external observer of the events, primarily following the life of Seth, the protagonist. At times the audience will see another character's life through the external viewpoint. 

Technical Language:

Due to my script being a shooting script, I have used technical instructions (highlighted in pink) to inform the production/post-production crew of things that need to be included or happen during filming. For example, I included shot types such as 'close up' as this would inform the cinematographer how to shoot the scene. In addition, I included transitions such as 'cut-to' between scenes and 'fade in' at the beginning.

Parenthetical:

Parentheticals (highlighted in green) are used to tell the actor using the script how they should say certain dialogue. For this extract I used parentheticals such as 'whispering' or 'shouting' to convey the volume the actor should use and therefore hint at their emotion. 

Action:

Action blocks are written in the present tense so that when shooting the actors do exactly as it says in the script. Descriptive language is used to help illustrate what the scene should look like. In my script I used description such as 'run-down' and 'aged' so that the production crew have an idea of the mise-en-scene. Key aspects of the action are capitalised to highlight their importance, for example I capitalised the action 'picks up a picture' because this is an integral shot that needs to be included. 

Dialogue:

In a script, dialogue is written in the present tense and using language that the character would use. This often means dialogue is written informally and using slang. For my script I used some informal language due to the fact many of the characters are teenagers and therefore are likely to use this type of language. 

Linear/non-linear:

My script is linear due to the fact the events occur in chronological order. It starts late at night and continues into the morning. Other parts of my show include flashbacks which would make it non-linear. 

Multi/single-stranded structure:

My TV show is a single-stranded narrative, it follows the protagonist. All other characters included link back to the protagonist in some way. 

Three act structure:

In the first act of this script the audience sees the protagonist planning something in his home. In this part some hints are given as to what he's planning so that the audience begin to question what could be going on. The second act follows Seth going to school and facing a hard time with his fellow classmates, leading to him having a panic attack. Due to the fact this extract is less than 15 minutes it doesn't necessarily include a third act where the resolution occurs, this would happen after the extract.