Scriptwriting FORMAT Exercise

MegaData

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I've taken a television show (Red Dwarf) and transcribed it into a TelePlay, in order to get a feel for Screenplay Format... since I had not written one before. This is just an exercise in preperation for my own original work. However, because of any copyrights on the television show, I have to ask, is there a place on the forums I can post my little format exercise for feedback? Is that allowed on here? If so, should I delete it after a certain timeframe?
 

dpaterso

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<scratches head> We've got a Screenwriting sub-forum in Share Your Work (password = vista) where you could put this... and since it's just an exercise there's probably no harm... but, how can we possibly know if you've got the format right? :)

I'm wondering if there might be any value in comparing your script with other transcriptions (assuming you haven't already). A Google search reveals several fan sites.

-Derek
 
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MegaData

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Thank you kindly. I sometimes only get online at the library... which doesn't allow for much time to browse. It looks like I can answer my own questions by just comparing what I've written with some scripts already online. And without embarassing myself too much! :D

I'll have to make one more revision, without camparissons. I know I haven't set up who is in the new scenes sufficiently well. While I was writing, I had a problem with someone talking while someone else is holding their head or gesturing... still not sure if my choices in presentation were the best choices. Yep, need one more revision, for certain. Later!
 

dpaterso

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I knew I'd typed this before, somewhen. :)

Take a peek at this older thread:

British Sitcom Teleplays

Alas the Fawlty Towers links are dead but the others (Red Dwarf, BlackAdder, Only Fools and Horses) are OK.

The BBC Writersroom's Script Archive includes a Comedy section, tho' this could use an update.

-Derek
 

Plot Device

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One exercise I have done is to watch a movie without reading the script, then pick just one scene and try to guess how it was written, and then write it out according to my best guess, and THEN read the script to see how close I came to the way some pro did it.

This exercise works best for scripts that have been nominated, so the actual script itself is usually floating around freely as opposed to some post-release transcript.

I realise the original screenplay isn't always going to be the same as the final cut in theatres. But it's still a worthwhile exercise.
 

DeaconBlu

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then pick just one scene and try to guess how it was written...
We did something close to this in acting class. Beat the scene out, block it, shoot it, then watched the movie. It's really amazing.

Any interest in doing this exercise? The writing the one not the acting one.