All scripts should be written in the Courier font in size 12, but in the examples that I found only two were written in this format. These were both the documentary and computer game scripts. The other scripts that weren't written in this style could have been in either the wrong font or alignment due to the website they had been published on or down to the fact that one of them is a sample script, so won't have been written in the precise form.
The screenplays will have character descriptions to give a brief introduction to them and the roles that they play in the show, film or game. Here is a snippet from the character descriptions of Max Payne (see below). They have these so that the viewers/players can have an idea of the characters and gain a better understanding of what the story is going to entail.
A computer game script would include a flow chart. This is because in a game there are multiple options that the players can choose, so the script must include all the possible options that the players could choose. An example of this would be in FIFA 17's 'The Journey' game mode, where users get to choose and live life as footballer Alex Hunter.
The presenter's and characters sections will be set out with their names on the left. This is because the reader reading the script will read from left to right. The text that the presenters and characters say will never go underneath the name of who is saying that text. This is so that it makes it a lot easier to identify who is supposed to be talking at that time. Names will be in capitals so that they stand out and are easy to read.
A synopsis is a brief introduction that a player can start with to gain a better understanding of the game they are about to play. A synopsis is included as part of the game-play so the players can get a feel for the game they are going to be playing. What's included in these are normally game-play, characters talking and the start of the story.
The type of scripts that have stage directions are TV shows such as soaps like Eastenders and Coronation Street, live TV broadcasts and stage productions such as West End shows. Some examples of stage directions are entering from the left or right and what an actor or actress has to do in that particular scene.
Sound effects on a script are presented in capitals and underlined. This is so that they stand out and are not missed by anybody reading the script. An example from the scripts that I found is in the documentary when the narrator starts their voiceover. Sound effects are aligned to the right so they aren't confused with the main body of text, which is aligned to the left.
(Voice over in the documentary script - add picture).
Mode of address is defined as how the addresser speaks to the addressee. There are three main types of mode of address. They are peer to peer, teacher to pupil and parent to child. In the peer to peer mode of address, the language involved is normally very informal. Slang words can be used as well as colloquial terms. Peers/friends tend to be more relaxed when talking to each other, so slang words are easily spoken and used. Teacher to pupil is a more formal way of communication. A teacher is trying to educate the pupil, so will try to explain more formally so the child can learn. The parent to child form of communication formality depends on the background of the parent. It is advisory that parents communicate easily and fairly with children so they can understand and learn speech in the correct way.
In my scripts the mode of address I found most common was teacher to pupil. An example of this in my scripts is in the News Broadcast from BBC Radio 1 Newsbeat. The news reader is trying to teach us of the news that has occurred that day, helping us learn what has been unfolding around the world.
In my scripts the mode of address I found most common was teacher to pupil. An example of this in my scripts is in the News Broadcast from BBC Radio 1 Newsbeat. The news reader is trying to teach us of the news that has occurred that day, helping us learn what has been unfolding around the world.
The narrative structure is how a story is laid out. There are three possible types of narrative structure in a story. They are single stranded, multi stranded and linear/non-linear. An example of a single stranded narrative structure in my examples is in the Max Payne script. The game is based around him and you can play as him in the game, so the script has to be revolved around Max.
b) Narrative Structure
There are four different types of narrative structure that are mostly used in script writing. They are single stranded, multi stranded, linear and non-linear. In the scripts that I am analysing, the documentary, news broadcast and radio drama scripts are all multi stranded. This is down to the fact that there are multiple characters or people involved in the stories. However the video game script is single stranded, as it focuses on the character Max Payne throughout.
Single stranded:
A single stranded script has one key central character. This is normally the protagonist in a film, documentary, drama, or any kind of performance. The script is based around this person and follow their journey, such as in the Harry Potter films, where the story revolves around him. Empathy is normally taken from these kind of scripts as we grow closer to the character we see the most.
Multi stranded:
A multi stranded script has more than one protagonist that the story focuses on. These characters are also known as a band of protagonists or heroes. TV Drama scripts are normally multi stranded because they have different stories going on in the same episode. Examples of this are soaps such as Eastenders and Coronation Street. An example from my scripts is the TV Drama script, which gives the views and opinions of multiple characters during the same scene.
Linear:
A linear script is one that happens in chronological order, from beginning to middle to end. Examples of this are TV series that have a set story, such as the Netflix series 'Making A Murderer', which followed the life of Steven Avery and his involvement in being 'set up' by County police. From episode one, each episode looked at the next part of his story.
Non-linear:
A non-linear script is where the story doesn't follow one specific pattern, it branches out into different areas for different scenes or episodes. An example of this would be in the music video for Jamie Lawson - Wasn't Expecting That, where the story happens in reverse.
c) Genre
Genre is defined as "a class or category of artistic endeavor having a particular form, content or technique". (http://www.dictionary.com/browse/genre). Barry Kieth Grant elaborated on this definition in 1995 by talking about sub genres. He suggests that dividing genres into more specific and accurate categories allows audiences to identify them specifically by their familiar specifics and what becomes recognisable when looking at characteristics. (http://www.slideshare.net/alexhester/barry-keith-grant-theory). There are two main types of genre, they are fiction and non-fiction. Types of fiction include films, video games and TV dramas and types of non-fiction include news and documentaries.
d) Target Audience
The target audience for the documentary script would be B, C1 and C2 on the ABC1 scale. This is because the 'A' group of people would be too classy for roadside diners and the groups below 'C2' wouldn't be able to afford to eat out at diners. It would be for males aged between 30 and 50 who live in America. This is because males are more generally associated with enjoying food than females and people around this age start to become more interested in food as they have to cook it for themselves now. The documentary is also about diners, restaurants that are most commonly found in the United States.
The target audience for the news broadcast would be B, C1 and C2 on the ABC 1 scale. This is down to the fact that the broadcast is being aired on BBC Radio 1, a station that the 'A' group of people wouldn't generally listen to and the people in the groups below C2 might not be able to afford a car to listen to the radio or an mp3 player or radio to listen to the news broadcast. The gender and age range for this broadcast would be both males and females aged between 16 and 25 because Radio 1 appeals to teenagers and young adults by playing a variety of current music and keeping up to date with current news and gossip. Radio presenters are both male and female so would appeal to both genders.
The target audience for the Radio Drama would be A, B and C1 on the ABC1 scale. This is because these kind of people generally listen to these kind of programmes on the radio on stations such as BBC Radio 4. The gender and age range for this broadcast would be both males and females aged between 40 and 60. This is because the people in this range would prefer to listen to stories, entertainment and reminisce from their childhoods.
The target audience for the Max Payne script would be B, C1 and C2 on the ABC1 scale. This is because in this range people would be able to afford a console plus the game, and would have time to play the game. The gender and age range for this game would be males aged between 13 and 30. This is because the game is rated as 'mature', meaning teenagers would be mature enough to play the game while adult fans can still play too. The adults playing the game would be able to use it as a form of escapism from work or other stresses as they become someone else, Max Payne, in the game, and can forget about their lives in that moment.
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