Scriptwriting has always been a personal pleasure of mine. The idea of not only producing a decent piece of writing appeals, but also on a bigger scale, there is the thrill of watching somebody perform your words, whether on stage or screen. It is hard to describe the feeling you get when you watch others take your work on board and use it for performance, especially if you get to see it too. I have had this pleasure and feel it is time to encourage more of you to have a go too!

So why write a script? Well why not? The appeal for scripts right now is lifting its lid and there are many opportunities not just here that could see your work in performance. Its worth having a go, and if you’ve never written a script before it is worth trying something new. You never know, you may enjoy it. When I started scriptwriting, about 7 years ago now, I was a bit unsure at first. In my head I was a fantasy writer, and my earlier attempts were a bit elaborate for the setting. As I studied theatre at college, we had modules in scriptwriting. It was these modules that showed me just how exciting writing a script was, especially when my own script got chosen to be performed at the county arts festival. That sense of enjoyment lasts a very long time.

With the introduction of film on DeviantArt in 2007, and now the new AR project, *collab-da, this is the perfect time for budding scriptwriters to step out and have a go. There could be a filmmaker eager to find something to film, and your writing could be that thing they’re looking for. Not to mention there are plenty of performance opportunities on the stage or radio too, take ~Soundzine for example, who are always in search of new pieces to be recorded.

This article has been written to try and encourage you all to have a go. Scriptwriting and deviantArt has very rarely been discussed. The script category hides under the large umbrella of fictional prose, and is a home for miscats in its gallery. Common miscats include Original Character profiles, Fan fictions and even poetry and prose written in the first person. There are also occasionally pieces that breach copyright policies, such as script extracts from films and television series. However, beyond those pieces there are some brilliant creations hiding and at the bottom of this article is just a sample of some of those.

Writing a script is fundamentally like writing a story, but instead of writing the piece to be read, this is about writing a piece to be performed. Therefore the elements of your storytelling are carried through the voice of the actor. The greatest challenge in scriptwriting is to create a connection with the audience, engage them in a way that will keep them sat down comfortably watching the action in front of them. Scriptwriting surrounds out daily lives, whether you are watching the latest episode of your favourite serial drama, or at the cinema enjoying a film. You may be a regular theatre goer or even have been exposed to street theatre. Most of the action you see in front you and enjoy some from strong writing. It is a craft that relies on timing, tension and believable characters.

One of the key elements of writing a good script is structure. This doesn’t just refer to the format in which you produce your script, but looks at the planning of it from beginning to end. It doesn’t matter which performance medium you may be aiming for, structure is what makes a script. You need to look at scenes and their lengths and what happens in each. Plot and characters need to be considered, how we’re introduced to new people and when we will establish what is going on. Your script needs some form of objective in its story. Ensure you are starting your story in the right place and that it has direction. Energy, pace and tone are all really important and need to be considered from the very start. These may seem overwhelming to think about all at once, but most of it comes natural, once you establish your script.

The format of scriptwriting does vary depending on who you are submitting your script to. It is often a good idea to read some scripts that have been submitted to the place you are looking to send yours to, and adapt that form. For the purposes of deviantArt, I would suggest the following:

Make sure your script is clear.
Remember, spelling, grammar and all those elements in other forms of writing, are equally important in a script.
Read *WordCount’s Giving Prose Visual Appeal as it is probably a good adaptation to make you consider how the script looks.
Define your action from your dialogue, and if you’re using camera angles, stage direction or music, keep these separated too.
Use Bolds, italics, capital letters and decent spacing where appropriate.
Why not try uploading your work in PDF format?

Resources

There are many resources online which will also help you, and a lot of reading too. It may seem overpowering, but to write a script is like any other form of art, you need to understand a bit about the form before you have a go. Once you gain an understanding of the basics, you can go far after all. The below resource list is a mixture of articles on scriptwriting, essays and also websites dedicated to getting your work out there. I have also included a few scriptwriters that may be worth looking up and having a read of their work.

The BBC Writers room- Lots of information not only to get your started, but also towards submitting your scripts.
Playwriting 101- How to write a play by writer Jon Dorf
Stage Affair- Writing for stage
Write Angle- A collection of articles and resources on screen and play writing. There are also some examples of plays worth reading.
Lazy Bee Scripts- A site I have used for my youth theatre group, an excellent collection of adaptable plays for the classroom and beyond.


Scriptwriters worth reading :

Sarah Kane
Caryl Churchill
Bertolt Brecht
Harold Pinter
Henrik Ibsen
Tenesse Williams
Arthur Miller

A few existing Scripts on deviantArt

These are a couple of scripts that I have found and enjoyed on deviantArt. These pieces are just my opinion though; there is a whole gallery full of pieces that may appeal to you!

Blagged by *ebony66136

This is my favourite play on deviantArt, so much so last year I suggested it for a DD! This is a short snappy and witty script, the kind that would suit a film short.

Not Really by =DarkApple

This is an interesting script, which could work on several performance mediums that looks at racism face value.

The Family Business by ~TheModernHooplah

Cruelty to children? Or just selecting for perfection? You decide with this dynamic piece!

Fate by ~barnabus

This may be the most popular script on deviantArt, but there is a reason! In fact ~barnabus is possibly the best scriptwriter on here, and if you don’t know where to start, looking in his gallery may be a good place!


If anyone is considering writing a script, or is feeling optimistic and looking towards the idea of film working with literature, then I hope this article has been of help. If you do end up writing a script, drop us a note and I will be more than happy to give it a read. Don’t forget to also check out a new community called ~TheScript ran by ~Synith who is trying to bring the scriptwriters together!




Thank you for reading!

`Beccalicious