PRE-PRODUCTION: SCRIPT RESEARCH

After having some feedback from Simon regarding the script and its formatting, I thought it would be a good idea to have a look at a few scripts and see how they format themselves and compare it to mine. I decided to look at 'The Truman Show', looking at how it is formatted and how it is written. These are the key points I dug out to help me:
-include location descriptions at the start of each scene, it helps to set the scene to the audience and also makes it a lot clearer and visual for the reader, and when talking about the characters actions it makes it a lot more easier to explain.
- Use of (O.S)-On Screen to denote that a character is speaking but only their voice is heard you cannot see them
- Use of full stops in the scene headings, after the scene number, int/ext and after day or night
- Don't be afraid of small scenes, when writing I tried to avoid any scenes that were small because I thought that they were wouldn't help the story, but in reality they help move the plot along in ways that dialogue can
-Use of paragraphs to separate the action that is happening on screen.
- Capitalisation of characters names
- Use of parentheses above the dialogue, I was previously using it below the words.

This research helped me in other ways too, reading through the script made me see the type of language that they use, which i can adapt to use in my own ways. I was always unsure on how to write some actions because I am used to writing essay style but this is quite different, phrases like 'We see' are something I use a lot in my drafts because it helps the audience to visualise what they are seeing on screen. I have also looked at the script for The Conjuring, though it is quite a different genre from both 'The Truman Show' and Unspoken, I thought it would be good to have a read through and see if I notice anything different about the scripts.

-Use of 'Continued' on the bottom and top of each page, unless the start of a new screen
-Use of scene headings on to signify time period and place (very specific to genre)
-Use of (V.O) (voiceover), similar to the use of (O.S) but for a character that isn't involved on the scene
- Use of '--' when a character interrupts another character
- Use of much shorter sentences and descriptive statements eg 'Keeps Staring'

The most interesting feature of this script is the use of shorter more descriptive sentences, they are a lot more to the point and not filled with words. The script is quite dialogue heavy but it really works for this type of genre. This research will help me a lot in writing draft number 4 of Unspoken, I need to adapt my writing into a more script style, be descriptive but not overly descriptive. I also need to come up with a stronger narrative arc, as Simon said, the story is there and it's good, but so far what we are doing with it isn't cutting it.