Weekend Script Writing Course

@Canning Garden Methodist Church

“The best way to get a good idea is to get a lot of ideas.”  --Linus Pauling, Nobel Prize, Chemistry

25 July, Friday night
With Acting Class:
Introductions, Sample Reader’s Theatre: “The Annunciation”

Class time:

• Example script: “The Killing Spree”
• Elements of a Good Script: Lecture with handout, identify those elements in "The Killing Spree"
• Flash Writing Ice Breaker: “She walks into the room and locks the door behind her…” Participants continue writing from there.
• Read samples aloud when finished. What creativity!
• List up to 20 influential experiences in your life. Many are stumped!
• Prayer for inspiration!
• Small groups: share ideas, get feedback

Aiya, there’s Homework!

• Read “Elements of a Winning Sketch” from Steve Pederson’s Drama Ministry.
• Brainstorm the 10-20 most important things you believe – values you hold, issues that are important.
• List 10 of your favourite stories

List people you know or characters you’ve met in movies, books or plays who also hold these values. Then do the same for characters who would be antagonistic toward those values.

“Nothing is more dangerous than an idea when it is the only one we have.”  Emile Chartier, French Philosopher

24 July, Saturday AM

• Flash Writing: Slips of paper – quotes on desks. Some share their inspirations! Marvelous!
• Discuss the DRAMA MINISTRY chapter (with notes on white board) 1. Essence of Drama=conflict; 2. Basic Elements of structure; 3. Action: Show don’t Tell; 4. The Power of Drama is that is seems REAL, not one dimensional ie all good, or all bad!; 5. Editing out the extra verbage: Cut anything that doesn’t give background, advance the plot, develop the character more.
• Flash Writing: Pick an influential experience with most conflict. Write dialogue in the middle of that conflict.
• Discussion of participants experiences. Ideas for making into a story with a beginning, middle, and an end. Name the protagonist, antagonist and conflict.

Afternoon Videos
Willow Creek Sunday Morning Live, vol 1
    “Tired When Needed”
    “Is Nothing Sacred?”
Friends of the Groom Live (on tape)
    “One Day at a Bus Stop”
    “Tale of 3 Trees”
    “The Lighthouse”

24 July, Afternoon Session:

• Play Idea Worksheet (limit you play to 3 characters)
• Character Worksheet for 2 characters
• Dialogue Discussion: 1. Ellipsis…, 2. Interruptions--, 3. Half Finished sentences, 4. Replacing words with physical actions, 5. Beats & Pauses, 6. avoid long sentences or more than 3 sentences at a time for your characters, 7. avoid clichés, 8. don’t let you characters “let go” with their emotions, but fight emotions (like in real life)
• Discussion of Reversals and Surprise with video examples from The West Wing (“In This White House” episode #24 Sam’s debate with Ainsley Hayes, and Leo later offering her a job)
• End Early to continue brainstorming, work on Play Idea Worksheet, Character Worksheet, and outline come back at 8PM.
• Synopsis: Minimize the entire idea for your play into three sentences that includes beginning, middle, end, your protagonist, antagonist and the conflict.

24 July, Evening Session
• Discussion: Where each participant is with their ideas…Help along the ideas with group input. The wind is back in our sails! This is actually FUN! Nearly everyone left inspired and excited.

Homework
• Write an outline for your play or sketch. Draft at least a page from the play. If you can, finish a draft of one scene to be read tomorrow.

25 July, Sunday Afternoon
Lectio Divina: Monologues that come from meditating on Scripture and putting yourself in the story, as one of the characters or an eye witness.
SAMPLES:

• “Rancher” - Local Pig Farmer from Traveling Light
• the acronyms for Stage Directions ie. USR, DSR, DSC etc. and SFX = Sound Effects)
• “Doubting Thomas” from Max Lucado
• “Mary’s Firstborn” – Kimberly reads

Break

• In smaller groups of 3, read over your drafts

Join Acting Class to see their works in progress, and have Readings of your drafts by the acting participants.

Thanks everyone for a great weekend!