Formatting and Styling

Formatting

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Radio• Visuals are absent

– music, sound, and microphone positions are essential

• Single-column format (normally)• Two-column format

– Left side: production information– Right side: directions and dialogue

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Television

• Single-column• Used for screenplays, single-camera, and TV

shows

– Formatted like a stage play• Essential character movements added to

dialogue• No video/audio technology inserted

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…• Two-column format (multi-camera norm)

– Left side: video directions/director’s cues– Right side: audio information/dialogue

Film/Screenplay

• Sequences are consecutively numbered

• Video column contains all video directions

• Writer fuses visuals instead of dialogue to tell story

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…• Films are shot out of sequence

– the numbering of the sequences is optional: - it can take away from the flow of the story

+ can organize story better

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Writing a Screenplay

• 1st: write a summary/outline

• 2nd: treatment/scenario: more detailed rundown of plot– info of setting, plot, characters and

sometimes bits of dialogue

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Audio Formats of a Screenplay

• Left side: technical instructions and sources for each channel and sound

• Right side: description of actual audio content, narrative or dialogue

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Writers and Directors

• The writers in the film must:– Describe his/her mental pictures in his/her

script

• The directors in the film must:– Decide how to use the actors, cameras and

shots in order to portray the images the writer has created

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Style:

Writing for the eye

Be Brief

• Writing for print:– can make the presentation as long or short

as needed for maximum effectiveness

• The same presentation for radio/TV:– must fit into a :30 sec. spot

– no more than 100 hundred words.

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Retain an Informal Tone

• Get the point across in an understandable way:

– You have one chance

• Formal language may be used only for:– news– documentaries

• But Keep It Simple

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Be Specific

• Vague and general information tends to confuse audience members– Keep it Simple, Specific and Clear

• Content can be significant and sophisticated

– Write it in a way that audiences can relate to

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Personalize

• Demographics: – critical to understanding

– critical to reaching a specific audience

• Relate content and style to the audience:– try to relate to each individual audience

member

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Be Natural

• Don’t:– use flowery language with high style

– use simple uncluttered sentences with low style

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Accuracy and Research

1. Do thorough research beforehand

2. Check credibility of internet sources before using

3. KNOW THE FACTS BEFORE WRITING

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The Computer

• Aside from using a computer there are various writing methods, such as a word processor, hand writing, and a typewriter

• To be a successful writer, you will need to be able to use all of the skills

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Software Types

• Three main types of software used:– Database: files and retrieves information in

any format needed to design

– Spreadsheet: keeps track of financial information and budgets

– Communications: releases script from confines of the desk (ability to share files)

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Computers and the Screenplay

• Most screenwriters in recent years have used “story development software” such as:– Scriptzone: analyzes screenplay to

determine weather comparable elements in screenplay need similar revisions

– Scriptdude: software to virtually develop the storyline, characters and dialogue

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…– Write a Blockbuster: takes you step by step

through the process of writing screen plays that are similar to the ones that have been most successful in Hollywood

– Final Draft: provides writers format for the screenplay

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Computers and the News

• Used in several ways for newspaper and broadcast news:1. The actual writing and editing of a story

2. Creating graphics, including charts, graphs, maps, and other visuals

3. Accessing information, obtaining databases

4. Laying out the pages and designing format for the issue

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Computers in Production

• Writer-producer or writer-director can use the computer to break down every production item required by the script including:– Costume needs– Every special effect– All audio effects– Number of extras required and their costumes– All props

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…• Software can also provide a production

board:– Lists every element in any scene, which

includes boxes to be checked as each item is accounted for

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Internet Format and Style

• Guidelines to create ‘reader friendly’ web sites:1. Don’t use fonts smaller then 12 point in size

2. At large sizes, any font is ok, smaller sizes use sans-serif font

3. Avoid tight spacing

4. Space between lines of text should be set one or 2 points higher then the actual font size

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…5. Keep text organized in small, digestible, bulleted

“textbites” and avoid wide columns and long paragraphs

6. Restrict text color to those hues that allow the text the be as readable as possible against the background color (or image) of the page

7. Try to limit the amount of text on any single page

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Shane Hannah Leonard

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