MURRAY OLIVER 21 Thomas Street, South Fremantle. WA 6162. Tel: 08 9430 5841 Fax: 08 9335 8585 Mob: 040 33 10 580 e-mail: emo@swiftdsl.com.au TELEVISION SCRIPTWRITING: CONSTRUCTING THE BIBLE A series of nine lectures, screenings and workshops, 24 May 19 July 2005. Lectures and Screenings: FTI Training room Workshops: FTI computer lab. Course Outline Lecturer and Tutor: Murray Oliver This program of lectures and workshops provides comprehensive instruction for writing a series bible for television and takes students through the writing and scripting process. WEBSITES Course Resources http://www.tvscript.uni.cc Thisone s4u2 http://www.muzz.has.it
1 OBJECTIVES: On completion of this unit, students will be able to: 1. understand the nature and importance of presentation documents for television. 2. prepare a bible for a series idea/concept for television. 3. understand the importance of group work in the film and television industry and the need for a postive dynamic to keep the work progressing; 4. have a greater awareness of the elements of dramatic scriptwriting, particularly the development of plot and character; 5. write dramatic scripts for television series in international industry format and be familiar with current scriptwriting practices; 6. understand the script editing process is an integral part in the improvement of an idea, and its documents, for presentation. COURSE CONTENT: 1. A review and expansion of basic scriptwriting principles: structure, character development, story, plot. 2. An introduction to the nature of television series and how they are bought and sold and how they are developed. 3. A major group exercise developing a mini television series bible. 4. Exercises in developing the various components of a series bible. 5. Exercises exploring the elements of dramatic writing with particular regard to story, dialogue, character, plot and visual storytelling. 6. Development, through various stages of a television series bible. 7. Exercises in positive group interaction and pitching projects. TEACHING AND LEARNING PROCESSES: Lectures, screenings, workshops and discussion groups ASSESSMENT: The lecturer will monitor student progress, and read, and comment on, assignments and workshop exercises. Assignments and in class work must be prepared to a professional standard and typed in the correct script format. Examples of television bible and television script layout will be provided. Students will be introduced to, and are encouraged to familiarise themselves with, Simply Screenplay a freeware format programme (copies will be provided for home use).
2 It should be noted that working co-operatively in small discussion groups is an important component of the learning process in this course, just as it is an important part of the working process in the film and television industry. Assignment 1: a group devised bible of a mini soap series for television Students will work in groups during the workshops to construct this work and are expected to fully commit to the final document. Details will be provided in class: this assignment is to be completed during the workshops. Assignment 2: a bible of a series for television This project will be developed in stages over the course as detailed in the course outline below. Some of the delivery items for this project may be delivered by e- mail. The final delivery item is due two weeks after the final lecture. Workshop Exercises: A number of short exercises will be undertaken during each workshop (separate to the mini soap series assignment) to help develop essential scriptwriting skills. They are to be completed during the workshop and will usually be read in class by members of the various discussion groups or the class as a whole. Reading: Students will be expected to have read at least one television script and two television mini-bibles prior during the first two weeks of the course to familiarise themselves with the form. Course notes: Course notes and lectures will be posted on the course resource website at http://www.tvscript.uni.cc immediately following each lecture for students to review at their leisure. Students should familiarise themselves with this and the lecturer s website thisone s4u2 at http://www.muzz.has.it they contain essential course material and valuable background information on the basics of scriptwriting pertinent to the course. E-mail: Considerable communication will take place via e-mail during this course. Students should ensure they have the e-mail and telephone numbers of other members of the group. A list will be circulated at the end of Week 1. COURSE SCHEDULE Please note that classes run from 10.00am 1.00pm every Tuesday from 23 rd May for NINE sessions, (listed overleaf) until 19 th July. Students should arrive at least 5 minutes prior to class as the schedule is tight.
3 1. Lecture: Introduction, review of drama (structure, story, characters, plot, premise etc) television (what it is and what makes it work) and the development process (concept, bible, storyline, scene breakdown, script). Format and genre of television drama. Why cops & robbers, doctors & nurses are such rich pickings. Concept and synopsis writing: what should a concept pitch do? Web Research: visit the TV schedule and various series sites. Screenings: view the start to several series and discuss their ingredients. Workshop: concoct several television series ideas and draft rough concept documents for them. Discuss in general terms the concept for the mini soap series for next week. Major assignment development: develop three brief one paragraph concepts for series you would like to explore. Reading: See the website: read the sample concept documents. 2. Lecture: Program types and variations, the bible contents, understanding the story potential and constructing and understanding the story arc of the series. Memorable characters. Structural variations in series and sitcoms. Self-enclosed episodes, serial elements, arc stories. Primary and secondary characters. Screenings: more series viewing to continue concept discussion. Workshop: The mini soap series bible: develop a concept for a 6 x 5 minute mini soap series using 3 interior sets, and 7 or 8 characters. Use the Character Sheet to develop a description of them. Major Assignment development: chose the series concept you intend to develop and write the character descriptions for it using the Character Sheet. Use this material to extend the concept into a one page outline of the series concept. Reading: See the website: read several of the mini bibles. 3. Lecture: characters and cast design; characters revised: profiling and back storying. Characters lists and descriptions. Considerations of how to develop the characters and inter-relationships for your project. Character profiling reviewed; back storying your characters. Screenings: more series viewing to discuss characters. Workshop: The characters: develop, refine and finalise the character profiles for the mini soap series; then, using the Story Chart, plot what happens to each character over the six episodes of the series. Major Assignment development: Using the Story Chart plot what happens to each character in each episode of your series. Submission: one page outline of the series concept. Reading: See the website: read the sample character profiles.
4 4. Lecture: Storylines: sources and strategies. The television storyline document. Developing storylines that fit your concept. How many stories are there? Review of dramatic structure. Story testing: are all the structural elements there? Disturbance/problem, strongly motivated characters, conflict/obstacles, crises/turning points, climax/resolution, theme/premise. Screenings: two ½ hour episodes to track and discuss the story arcs. Workshop: Using the Beat Sheet, commence plotting the first three episodes of the series this is the log line for each episode and will become the mini scene breakdown. Major Assignment development: Use a Beat Sheet and broadly plot what will happen in each episode of your series. This will become the log line for each episode which you will develop later into the episode storylines. Reading: See the website: read the sample storylines. 5. Lecture: Production and the Scene Breakdown: pulling it together, writing visually. Production parameters. What will the 'rules' be for cast, locations, set, action? Refining the style and tone. Scene Breakdown: a precise construction plan which details the content of each scene and demonstrates the structure, plot and character developments are sound. Workshop: Continue with the Beat Sheet and plot the final three episodes of the mini soap series. Pull together the material you have developed for the series to date, allocate each writer an episode and individually write up your scene breakdown by extending the episode logline. Major Assignment development: Finalise your broad plotting using the Beat Sheet. Choose the episode you intend to script and develop the storyline for it. Submission: series bible (4-5 pages). Reading: See the website: read the sample scene breakdowns. 6. Lecture: Scripting: taking the step from the scene breakdown; the scripting process in commercial television, how a script is worked. Dialogue revised. Stepping stones, using the scene breakdown to ensure you stick to the plan and let the dialogue write itself. Using the format programs (Simply Screenplay, Final Draft, Film Setup etc). Workshop: Script your episode of the mini soap series and, when all episodes are completed collate it all into the bible and distribute it to each member of the group. Major Assignment development: Draft your episode scene breakdown from the storyline. Submission: 2 page episode storyline. Reading: See the website: read the sample series episode scripts.
5 7. Lecture: The first draft: getting it to work. Story character and structure: the essential things you want to accomplish in a first draft; then on to beats, scenes and sequences, links and progression. Screen directions revised and refined: plain, concise, present tense continuous English with character suggestions interlaced. Dialogue re-examined and extended. Some common flaws in scene construction: come in late/get out early! Workshop: Read the mini soap series bible and prepare for script editing meetings on each others scripts making notes as you proceed. Meet and discuss each episode then agree on the script editing outcomes and give each episode writer concise instructions for the polish. Major Assignment development: finalise the scene breakdown and discuss it with the group and the course tutor. Reading: See the website: read more sample episode scripts. 8. Lecture: Revision: editing, polishing and rewriting; the script editing toolbox. The trick to revising the first draft for presentation: format, length, breaks, refining dialogue and screen directions and the joy of proofreading. Workshop: Polish your individual episode of the mini soap series then jointly polish other sections of the bible and assemble it for final presentation. Major Assignment development: commence writing the 1 st Draft script. Reading: See the website: continue reading sample series bibles and sample episode scripts. 9. Lecture: The package and the Pitch. Putting the whole package together into a selling document. What range of strategies make for an effective package to grab the attention of potential buyers? Pitching your project to the people who make decisions is a calculated business. Workshop: Students will pitch their series. Details TBA Major Assignment development: pull together your series package and devise a brief pitch for it. Reading: read and help proof each other s assignments! Submission: the final draft of the series bible including the 1 st Draft script of the episode story lined in the previous submission. Students will have one weeks after the final week of the course to complete the project. (See the assignment brief for details of this submission).