BMMA130

MALAYAN COLLEGES LAGUNA

Prof. Bart Andrew S. Mendoza

COURSE OVERVIEW AND ORIENTATION

A FEW REMINDERS BEFORE WE START,

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A FEW REMINDERS BEFORE WE START,

All live sessions are recorded, so as to accommodate

those who won't be able to join.
Eating is allowed during class sessions, just make sure
you are muted and/or your webcam is turned off.
MALAYAN COLLEGES LAGUNA
Prof. Bart Andrew S. Mendoza

BMMA130
 Getting Started:
Before you sit down to start writing any form of
script for any medium, genre, or method of
distribution, you need to consider the common
factors that exist among all media forms, despite
their basic differences
 Background
The written forms used to instruct a production crew to
carry out the writer’s desires did not blossom forth
overnight. Script formats evolved over many years
through the development of a variety of entertainment
venues. Even within a specific medium, variations of
format style evolved as the technology of the medium
changed to meet the combined needs of the production
staff as well as the challenges of the latest technology
 Background
Live theatrical performances
presage all forms of modern
media. You may learn much
from the study of live theater
in addition to recognizing the
field of theatrical production
as a predecessor of electronic
media.
 Background

In many cases, nothing was written, but stories passed from one
troupe to another or became simpler in the memory of the
originator. When productions became more complex, notes
were written and passed from one performing group to
another. Finally, actors and directors wrote more detailed scripts
to guarantee that a play would be performed as the writer had
intended.
 Background

As the theater evolved, so did the scripts that the directors and
actors followed. The format became relatively standardized so
that whoever needed to read or follow the script would be able
to understand what was expected of them as members of the
cast or crew.
 Background
Before the end of the 19th century, motion pictures followed
live theater in presenting dramatic productions, as well as
documentaries and other genres as the field developed. The
original filmscripts mimic the format layout of theatrical scripts
once scripts became the rule in film.
 A typical
Shakespearian
era play script.
 Sample:
A script from a
20th-century
play
 Sample:
A modern film
scene script
It became obvious early in the days of television that motion picture
and radio script formats did not work well for live multiple-camera
productions. A type of script developed for audio-video production
at about the same time.

The two-column format placed both sound and picture elements of

the script on their own spaces in the script. This made it easier and
more accurate for the cast, crew, and director to isolate the portion
of the script critical to each
 Sample:
A modern A.V.
script format
The left-hand column now lists all The right-hand column lists all of the
visuals, with camera instructions, audio, including music, sound effects, and
camera framing, shot selection, narration or dialogue.
and transitions all entered in
All copy to be read by the talent is
capital letters.
entered in uppercase and lowercase
letters, and all other instructions are in
caps. This system developed to make it
easier for talent to pick out their copy
from all other instructions.
 Script Variations
Today, television writers use both dual column and single- column script
formats, depending on whether the script will be produced as a live multi-
camera production or as a single camera video production

Each studio, station, or production operation may require a specific script

format for its own operation. A writer should determine from the client
how to format the script.
 Media Differences
Each of the electronic media requires that scripts provide
information in different formats to best serve the people using
the scripts.
Filmscripts, like theatrical scripts, provide the basic blueprint of
the production. The actors need to know their specific dialogue,
and the director needs to have a written form of the overall
concept that the writer’s vision provided in the script. Highly
detailed and specific shots and framing are not necessarily
required in a filmscript.
 Media Differences
Television and video scripts must balance serving both the aural
and visual needs to be met by the script. The script must give
the director all of the necessary information, including accurate
narration, detailed (depending on the type of script) visuals, and
timing information. Whether the script is single-column or dual-
column, the same information must be easily read and obvious
to the director.
 Basic Writing Skills
Audiences watching television, or viewing a film under normal
conditions cannot go back and review what they have just been
exposed to if they did not understand the message or were confused
by plot changes.

Obviously, with modern recording equipment and techniques, a replay

is possible with any medium, but the goal of an audience absorbing a
story as it unfolds requires that the story be told in as clearly a manner
as possible. A writer must consider the audiences' comprehension
level.
 Basic Writing Skills

In order to write for the audience’s comprehension level, you must

know your audience. You should not write for yourself or, necessarily,
for your own amusement; rather you should target a specific
audience.

To accomplish this, you must be aware of audience demographic

analysis methods, broadcast ratings, market studies, ticket sales
analysis, and Internet response analysis.
 Language of Discrimination

A writer must deal with the “isms”—racism, sexism, ageism, and, if you will,
disabilitism.

A difference exists between political correctness and depictions based on

fairness and accuracy. Political correctness follows the law and the fashion
of the moment, but you need to treat all individuals and groups of people
with the same care and consideration you would expect to receive. We all
are individuals, so we all must be respected for our individual
characteristics.
 Language of Discrimination

The tremendous power of the electronic media must never be

forgotten as you place descriptions and develop characters in
your stories and reporting.

That power can cause far more harm than can be imagined until
an incident reveals that power in a negative manner.
 Summary

Throughout the history of public performances, whether on the theatrical

stage or on film, radio, television, or a digital format, the means of
communicating to the production staff and crew from the writer have
evolved. Some of the traditions have migrated from one medium to
another; in other cases, totally new means of communicating were
created. Each succeeding medium borrowed from previous media to suit
the new demands of the new medium.
 Summary

A script must be written to maximize communication. In some cases, it is

written in order to most clearly communicate with the audience; in others,
so that all members of the production staff and crew understand what
the writer had envisioned. In all cases, sentences constructed using
correct, straightforward language and proper punctuation are a necessity.
The formats must be programmed for the purposes of the specific
medium.
 Summary

You are responsible for matters of avoiding discrimination and violations

of the law, and if writing for broadcasting, for understanding the rules and
regulations of the broadcast industry. It is necessary to understand the
audience to accurately target the message and to avoid annoying or
displeasing members of the audience.
 End of Lecture

Any Questions?

Questions will be answered

during our live sessions
 BMMA130
MALAYAN COLLEGES LAGUNA
Prof. Bart Andrew S. Mendoza

COURSE OVERVIEW AND ORIENTATION

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