LO1: Analysis Of Scripts

  STYLE and CONTENT

-       What type of LANGUAGE is the script written in? formal? Informal?

-       What is the HOUSE STYLE of the script? Font style? What does it look like?

-       What is included in the script? Does it have acts (drama script)? What are the layout conventions? What is the mode of address (peer to peer, parent to child, teacher to pupil)?
The language on a script is written in a formal mode of address using the teacher to peer or even the parent to child style of formality, this is because it is important that the actors/narrator know what is happening within each scene clearly. In terms of the house style of the script you can see that the font used is 'Courier New' with a 12-point font size.But in terms dialogue between the characters is centred within the middle of the page, to make it clear for the actors and narrator what lines have been set out to read. The script contains: character names, location, time of day and lines.

• Peer to peer- informal, slang, colloquial
• Teacher to pupil- Formal, learning/educating- TV News broadcast
• Parent to child- informal, advice, guidance

• Term
• evidence/example
• Why/purpose

All scripts are written in 12-point font size using the 'Courier New' font. This is due to the fact that they're able to fit a lot more text on a page using the number 12 font size, and also the 'Courier New' font is a lot easier to read than other fonts. If you look at the examples I have gathered from the script that has inspired me, which is the documentary script you will notice that the script shares these features. Dialogue is justified to the centre in order to make it clear for actors to read easily.

Character descriptions are used for people on TV, Radio and Film. This is to ensure verisimilitude among their audience, this basically helps set the target audience with an image of what certain characters may look or act like within the screenplay. Another reason why screenplays have character description is to be able to help the actors connect with the role they're playing by understanding what the characters personality is like in order to perfect the role.

The reason behind having a flow chart behind a computer game script is due to the fact that most games are structured, this means that levels and sequences within a game go in a certain order that does not go in all directions. Also another reason for this is to ensure that options are available within certain games, allowing the player to make his own choices that could effect the storyline in the end.

The text with the lines that are intended for the presenters/characters to read out is justified on the left hand side of the script. In order for the presenter's/characters to know which line is theirs within the script.

Video games will feature a synopsis within their gameplay because they generally want to give the player a feel and a understanding o what the game is about, so they don't get confused when it comes to understanding the diegsis of the games introduction.

Usually the type of scripts that tend to have the most stage/location directions are plays and TV dramas, this is because it is important to know where the action/presenter will be standing within the certain part of the play/news broadcast. Location information is justified to the left in order to inform the cast of the location whereabouts clearly.

Sound effects are presented within a script are written on the right hand side of the script, also the sound directions tend to be written in all capital letters for example 'The MUSIC STOPS'. The reason for this is because the general connotation between using capital letters is that it connotes an order, which is denoted with that example I have just used. 

CW/ Edit / SFX / GFX is always placed in capitals  and is justified to the top right of the script, this is called a shooting script.

ALLEN’S HOUSE

Nora Allen, Barry's mother, nurses after a bunch of kids have it beaten. Henry Allen, the father comes home.

NORA: Tell me what happened?

BARRY: Those guys were picking on kids. Just 'cause they thought they weren't cool. It wasn't right.

NORA:  I know.

BARRY: I guess I wasn't fast enough.

NORA: No. You have such a good heart, Barry. And it's better to have a good heart than fast legs.

Mode Of Address refers to how a certain text is written out. There are three different modes of address, these are: Peer to peer, Teacher to student and Parent to child. These modes of address are all different depending on the conditions of the scenes on the script. Looking at my 'The Flash' script I can see that their is a part within the script where it shows an example of parent to child mode of address within the script. The reason how I come to undertsnd that this is a parent to child mode of address is due to the fact that when a parent speaks to their child they tend to comfort, advise and show a sense of affection towards their child with the script steriotypically.

Narrative structures commonly refers to how the screenplay is laid out in terms of the diegesis. For example most screenplays follow the Linear pattern, this is because it is easy to follow and most the people will understand what is happening within the scenes. Although not all screenplays follow this narrative structure. Some follow a non-linear pattern, this is because some films want to create spectacle from the get go in order to draw in the audience straight away. CW/Edit/GFX/SFX on a script is justified to the right of the page, this is called a shooting script.

    NARRATIVE  STRUCTURE

Single stranded- 1 main character (protagonist)/ empathy
Multistranded- More then 1 protagonist (Creates spectacle) 'Band of protagonist/ heroes' 
Linear -Equilibrium- Disequilibrium- Resolution 

TV news have a running order (New stories will always contain the 4 W's, Who, What, Where, When and How.

Within a script there are four different types of narrative structures. These structures are single stranded, multi stranded, linear and non-linear. The narrative structure that I am looking into is a multi stranded script. I know this due to the fact that I am studying a documentary in terms of wha I am interested in doing for my final product.

Single Stranded 

This script is centred around one key character. The biggest example of this is films such as Harry Potter, where we are made to the character go through their lives, therefore as we go through positive and negative outcomes within the characters lives we begin to feel more connected and drawn in to them. Also documentaries and dramas also manage to follow a single stranded narrative structure. This is done by following the protagonist within the film.

Multi Stranded 

A multi stranded script is a script that follows more than one protagonist, these protagonists can usually be seen in groups of teams. TV programmes usually incorporate this style of script within their shows to help introduce their viewers to more than one character within their show, potentially gaining fan favourite characters and building a wider target audience through this. An example of this would be Eastenders and Coronation Street.

Linear

A linear script is a script that follows the pattern of the beginning, middle and end. Within each of these parts of the narrative different things are happening. Commonly in the beginning of the story you will have a equilibrium, this is when nothing bad has happened within the story and everything seems good. As soon as we get to the middle of the script we reach the disequilibrium, during this part of the script something has occurred to make the narrative gain tension within the diegesis. The final stage at the end is called the resolution, this is where the disequilibrium is resolved and everything goes back to the way it was. One of the films that comes to mind when I think of a linear narrative within a script is 'Finding Nemo' the reason for this is that it follows the linear narrative 100% and ends on a positive resolution which ends the film on a good note leaving the audience satisfied with the outcome.

Non-linear 

A non-linear script does not follow the linear script pattern, this could mean that the film would start straight away with the disequilibrium and the equilibrium or the resolution could follow after. However sometimes within a non-linear script there can sometimes be occurrences where  there is no resolution at all within the script.

Fiction: This is not real- Film/ Video Games/ TV drama. Carl Rogers (1980) "Ideal Self"

Non Fiction: This is real- TV news broadcast (inform/ educate)


Genre

The definition of genre is a "Type or kind", this was said by Barry Keith Grant and is widely considered the definition of the word genre. A genre is used to separate different themes when it comes to narratives in scripts, such as; Horrors, action, romance and drama. For example an example of a genre from 'The Flash' script that I found is sci-fi, this is a science fiction genre. 'The Flash' has a fictional narrative, this is due to the fact that the concept of The Flash is an imaginary concept which means the things that occur within this narrative are based on imagination. 

CU CUSTOMER #1 in booth eating dinner - looks up
MS DOLLY DOWN AISLE (camera passes customers in both booths)	MUSIC & NAT SOUND UNDER NARRATOR V.O.: Maggie’s diner, just off the New York turnpike has been serving up burgers and shakes since 1930.
TRACKING SHOT MS WAITRESS with tray	Maggie’s Diner hasn’t changed much in the 70 years it’s been Open. Customers can still get friendly service,
CAMERA FOLLOWS TRAY as she sets it down in front of a customer.	good food, and an atmosphere that takes us back to a time of innocence and youth.
MS WAITRESS scooping ice cream. CU MILKSHAKE MACHINE	CHUCK HAINES VO: I remember when I was eight years old, having my first milkshake.
CU CHUCK HAINES	I was sitting right over at that counter. I took one taste and I thought I’d died and gone to Heaven.

Where as if you look at my other script above for the documentary you can see that the narrative of this script is non-fictional. I know this due to the fact that the actors and presenters within this script are talking about real restaurant locations around the world and documenting it.

  TARGET AUDIENCE

Who are the target audience and why? Talk about the scripts individually for the target audience 

The target audience for 'The Flash' TV programme is mainly aimed at young males between the ages of 14 and 18 who are interested in comic books. These people are probably still in full time education and are huge comic book fans that enjoy reading. when it comes to the demographic the target audience for 'The Flash' would be within the ABC1 category within the demographic scale which means they would be able to purchase quite a lot of the products due to them having a flexible spending power. In terms of the geographic of the target audience for 'The Flash' it is aimed at people internationally, due to the fact that The Flash is a popular comic book character there is going to be some world wide recognition already.

My second scripts is a script for a radio station. The target audience for this radio station

Demographics

• ABC1 ( Lifesyle/Spending power)
• Gender
• Age
• Geographic (Live)

Denis McQuail (1972) "Uses and gratifications" (Pleasures)

1. Escapism- TV drama/ Film

2. Surveillance- Documentary/ News