Names:_______________________________________
Topic___________________________________Genre_________________
Theme_______________________________________________________
Working Title__________________________________________________
Play Outline (Subject to change as you begin writing the play.)
Setting (time and place)
2 Characters & Descriptions
(Limit your number of characters!) 1.
2.
3.
4.
What is happening (general plot idea) in this play? All action should be written with the stage and live performance in mind.
What is the major struggle, conflict, or problem?
What will be the climax or turning point of this play?
How might this play end?
Scene Ideas
Act 1
Scene 1
Scene 2
Scene 3
4.29.2009
Journal—Renew/Review Your Idea Bank (about a page) 5 points
Write down your interests or passions.
Write down your favorite genres (sci-fi, adventure, romance, comedy, drama, mystery, etc.)
Write down social issues that concern you.
Write down political issues that concern you.
Write down issues with friends (including boyfriends or girlfriends) or family.
Write down moments, times or experiences in history that interest you.
Write about stories you wrote that could be turned into a short play.
Write down your favorite genres (sci-fi, adventure, romance, comedy, drama, mystery, etc.)
Write down social issues that concern you.
Write down political issues that concern you.
Write down issues with friends (including boyfriends or girlfriends) or family.
Write down moments, times or experiences in history that interest you.
Write about stories you wrote that could be turned into a short play.
4.27.2009
Reading Stage Plays
Part I—Journal
Journal—Write down 10 Things that really interest you (ie: listening to your ipod). Then write down how each interest could be turned into a conflict or dilemma for a stage play (not a movie!). Make sure you do this for each interest no matter how challenging.
Part II-Reading Stage Plays
Read 3 Ten Minute Plays—You may choose from any of the websites below. Try to find plays that interest you as models for your own writing.
http://www.hitplays.com/default.aspx?pg=sl&stc=TMP&cl=Ten+Minute+Plays (the Previews show the entire script)
http://theatrehistory.com/plays/10minute.html
http://www.10-minute-plays.com/
http://www.geocities.com/pocolocoplayers/free.html
For each play you read write down the answers to these questions. You will have 3 sets of answers.
1. What is the setting?
2. What is the theme?
3. What is the mood?
4. Describe an important character.
5. What is the plot?
6. What is the major conflict?
7. How does it end or resolve?
Note: You will need to download Celtx onto your home computer soon—a free, good program to help you format your stageplay and screenplay.
http://www.celtx.com/
Journal—Write down 10 Things that really interest you (ie: listening to your ipod). Then write down how each interest could be turned into a conflict or dilemma for a stage play (not a movie!). Make sure you do this for each interest no matter how challenging.
Part II-Reading Stage Plays
Read 3 Ten Minute Plays—You may choose from any of the websites below. Try to find plays that interest you as models for your own writing.
http://www.hitplays.com/default.aspx?pg=sl&stc=TMP&cl=Ten+Minute+Plays (the Previews show the entire script)
http://theatrehistory.com/plays/10minute.html
http://www.10-minute-plays.com/
http://www.geocities.com/pocolocoplayers/free.html
For each play you read write down the answers to these questions. You will have 3 sets of answers.
1. What is the setting?
2. What is the theme?
3. What is the mood?
4. Describe an important character.
5. What is the plot?
6. What is the major conflict?
7. How does it end or resolve?
Note: You will need to download Celtx onto your home computer soon—a free, good program to help you format your stageplay and screenplay.
http://www.celtx.com/
4.23.2009
Final Project Screen Play : Due May 29th
The Screenplay Project—Due on Friday, May 29th
(100 points)
Important Note: The finished, typed screenplay must be ready to turn in when class starts on Friday or you lose 20 points off the top!
One day late (or more) is ½ credit.
1) Work individually or with a partner.
2) The final script will be 15-20 pages typed. Don’t panic! There is a lot of white space in a script. Your script must follow the screenplay style and format as seen in other screenplays and from screenwriting assignments: Single spaced with double spacing between character speaking parts. Use the downloadable CELTX screenwriting program to help guide you.
3) The final screenplay must be original writing—you may extend your play or adapt one of your short stories.
4) Do not plagiarize from another movie or TV show. Please keep your screenplays appropriate. No racism, sexism, homophobia, illegal drug references, extreme violence or explicit sexual scenes.
5) Your screenplay should have a beginning, middle, and end. You must have authentic sounding dialogue, strong, believable characters, a good storyline, conflict, and a resolution or some type of ending for the script.
6) Some class time will be dedicated to the screenplay writing and outlining, but plan on writing the bulk of the screenplay on your own time.
7) When planning your screenplay, make sure you consider a setting, characters, plot and resolution that are different or alternative to the usual Hollywood movies.
8) A 15 page screenplay is about a 15 minute movie since each page roughly equals one minute of movie time.
9) You may also write an original TV show episode or a musical screenplay.
(100 points)
Important Note: The finished, typed screenplay must be ready to turn in when class starts on Friday or you lose 20 points off the top!
One day late (or more) is ½ credit.
1) Work individually or with a partner.
2) The final script will be 15-20 pages typed. Don’t panic! There is a lot of white space in a script. Your script must follow the screenplay style and format as seen in other screenplays and from screenwriting assignments: Single spaced with double spacing between character speaking parts. Use the downloadable CELTX screenwriting program to help guide you.
3) The final screenplay must be original writing—you may extend your play or adapt one of your short stories.
4) Do not plagiarize from another movie or TV show. Please keep your screenplays appropriate. No racism, sexism, homophobia, illegal drug references, extreme violence or explicit sexual scenes.
5) Your screenplay should have a beginning, middle, and end. You must have authentic sounding dialogue, strong, believable characters, a good storyline, conflict, and a resolution or some type of ending for the script.
6) Some class time will be dedicated to the screenplay writing and outlining, but plan on writing the bulk of the screenplay on your own time.
7) When planning your screenplay, make sure you consider a setting, characters, plot and resolution that are different or alternative to the usual Hollywood movies.
8) A 15 page screenplay is about a 15 minute movie since each page roughly equals one minute of movie time.
9) You may also write an original TV show episode or a musical screenplay.
One Act Play: Due Monday May 4th
You will write a One Act 5+ page stage play with a partner or individually. This
} This will be written for high school students to possibly perform at school. Keep it appropriate or no credit.
} Five pages=Five minutes because of the way the play is formatted. Use Celtx—a free download to help you format your stage play and screenplay. See my blog for download information. http://celtx.com/download.html
Elements of Your Play/Rubric (60 pts)
} ___(10 pt.) Well-written, revised & edited. Professional quality. Appropriate for high school performance.
} ___(10 pt.) Written for the stage/live performance—no special effects or complicated movie effects. Includes props and stage direction. Setting is clear and fits the play.
} ___(5 pt.) Hook—Gets right into the action. Grabs your audience’s attention.
} ___(10 pt.) Believable characters with authentic dialogue that flows well.
} ___(10 pt.) One dilemma/conflict that is climatic.
} ___(5 pt.) Has resolution or satisfactory ending.
} ___(10 pts) In play format. Use Celtx.
} The character list is not included in the 5 pages!
Sample Structure of the One Act Play
Act 1
} Setting
} Scene 1—hook the audience, establish mood, characters and conflict, rising action (beginning)
} Scene 2—climax and maybe falling action (middle)
} Scene 3—falling action and resolution (end)
You will have anywhere from 1-3 scenes for a 5+ page play. Don’t make the scenes too short because it is difficult to get actors on and off the stage quickly.
} This will be written for high school students to possibly perform at school. Keep it appropriate or no credit.
} Five pages=Five minutes because of the way the play is formatted. Use Celtx—a free download to help you format your stage play and screenplay. See my blog for download information. http://celtx.com/download.html
Elements of Your Play/Rubric (60 pts)
} ___(10 pt.) Well-written, revised & edited. Professional quality. Appropriate for high school performance.
} ___(10 pt.) Written for the stage/live performance—no special effects or complicated movie effects. Includes props and stage direction. Setting is clear and fits the play.
} ___(5 pt.) Hook—Gets right into the action. Grabs your audience’s attention.
} ___(10 pt.) Believable characters with authentic dialogue that flows well.
} ___(10 pt.) One dilemma/conflict that is climatic.
} ___(5 pt.) Has resolution or satisfactory ending.
} ___(10 pts) In play format. Use Celtx.
} The character list is not included in the 5 pages!
Sample Structure of the One Act Play
Act 1
} Setting
} Scene 1—hook the audience, establish mood, characters and conflict, rising action (beginning)
} Scene 2—climax and maybe falling action (middle)
} Scene 3—falling action and resolution (end)
You will have anywhere from 1-3 scenes for a 5+ page play. Don’t make the scenes too short because it is difficult to get actors on and off the stage quickly.
4.02.2009
The Art of Dialogue Short Story: Due Wednesday April 8th
Outline a fictional scene that includes two characters, a setting, and a conflict. You may choose to use any examples from the graphic organizer or come up with new a setting, new characters, and a new conflict.
Give a brief summary of what is happening and make sure the conflict is clearly stated.
Then rewrite the scene using mainly dialogue. Use the dialogue between the two characters to create emotion, mood, and conflict. Do not explicitly reveal what the conflict is. Use a narrator to describe the setting and the actions of the characters but nothing else.
Your Story should be AT LEAST 2 pages in length.
Please use quotation marks.
Remember, using slang and vernacular makes dialogue sound real and can add to the conflict, mood, and emotion of the story.
Use “Hills Like White Elephants” as your reference.
Give a brief summary of what is happening and make sure the conflict is clearly stated.
Then rewrite the scene using mainly dialogue. Use the dialogue between the two characters to create emotion, mood, and conflict. Do not explicitly reveal what the conflict is. Use a narrator to describe the setting and the actions of the characters but nothing else.
Your Story should be AT LEAST 2 pages in length.
Please use quotation marks.
Remember, using slang and vernacular makes dialogue sound real and can add to the conflict, mood, and emotion of the story.
Use “Hills Like White Elephants” as your reference.
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