A script is a document that outlines every audio, visual, behavioural, element required to tell a story. A script can also be used as a set of instructions such as how a theatrical script has instructions for the actor and radio for different sound effects.
LANGUAGE AND ANGLE OF THE ARTICLE
Mode of address is how the producer speaks to the audience, there are three modes of address these are teacher to pupil, peer to peer and parent to child. Peer to peer language is colloquial language meaning that it is informal. The language used during teacher to pupil is formal as they are there to teach information. Parent to child is more advisory based making it a mix of formal and informal.
Restricted code means that language is simple with a reading age of seven. When this is used it is used for respect. Elaborate code is more complex and specialist language.
Within the radio script the language that is used is teacher to pupil as the script is a news article meaning that the purpose of it is to educate the listener. The radio article has the facts where as the listeners do not yet know what has happened so the mode of address needs to be clear in order to inform the audience. This means that the language that is used is restricted code as this is simple language which everyone can understand as there is not a specific target audience of a radio news report as it needs to be accessible for everyone. This can be seen within the script for “Earthquake 1”, a news report about Britain’s strongest earthquake. During this script, specialist language is used such as “tremor” and “epicentre”, however these are terms which the general public will be familiar with when referring to an earthquake. By using terms such as these it means that the facts are reported with figures such as “5 point 2” being used in order to inform the audience about exactly what has happened.
Film scripts are written in peer to peer mode as they have informal language throughout them. The script for “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix” portrays this through the language which is used due to the genre of the series being fantasy. Within the script the language used is not too informal The purpose of the film is for enjoyment so both the mode and language used in the script needs to appeal to the type of film. The language used throughout the script is restricted code as the film is aimed at teenagers, 12 to 17, so it would not be appropriate to use elaborate code. This can be seen through language such as expressions like “boo-hoo” and “idiot pig”. These are very informal and used to make the audience laugh. As the audience is of a C2DE social grading, this type of slang language and offensive phrases are commonly used by this group as generally colloquial language is used by a lower social class.
The mode of address for the TV drama script for Grey’s Anatomy is parent to child due to the nature of the episode “Into You Like A Train”.The lead character is drunk so there is a mixture of formal and informal language used. This can be seen through sentences like “This is just pathetic”, where the language is a mix of both. There are hints of elaborate code throughout the script as it is a hospital drama so some specialist language is used like “5 migs”, these are seen in the more dramatic scenes as it means that they truly show the environment of a hospital. The use of elaborate code means that the target audience for the programme is 16 to 24 year olds, those watching would need to infer what some language used means, meaning an older target audience. Restricted code is also used throughout most of the episode though so that the audience can understand what is happening as it is a programme for entertainment.
The script for a play includes actions such as stage directions within it as these direct the actors what to do. Within the script for “Little Women” this can be seen, ”AMY appears with the brush” is a key example of a stage direction within a script shown the action within the scene. A play is to entertain the audience, the language within the script is restricted code the target audience for the play is 16 to 24 year olds. This language can be seen during one of Amy’s lines “I want to go to Rome, and do fine pictures”, this language is easy to understand due to the code which is used however the play is set during the American Civil War so the language is relevant to that time. The script for this play is written in a parent to child angle as it is a mix of formal and informal language. This script is not necessarily to advise people but to tell a story which the majority of the audience does not know so therefore it needs to have an informative element.
A gaming script is completely different to other scrips as there is more focus on the action of the game, this is due to there being a flow chart as there are more than one path that a player can take. This can be seen in the “maze game flowchart” as there are options such as “plot player #1”, the different plots will be written on a separate script. The purpose of a game script is to entertain the audience who are playing the game, a maze game is generally for a younger audience so the different options are quite simple. I believe that the language used within the game will be restricted code as this is going to be what the audience views however the language used within the script is elaborate code as this is what is being used to create the game so therefore it can include more specialist language such as “legal move subroutine”.
FORMAT AND LAYOUT
All scripts are written in the font "Courier" and are size 12. This is a standardised font size and means that it is easier to estimate the length of a script. It is harder to make changes to a script is it is handwritten which could also cause for it to be harder to read. Both the TV Drama and film script follow this convention as a large amount if personal will have to work from this script. Scripts are used by a range of people including screenwriters, directors, actors and also editors. With most media products scripts mainly just include words, where as a computer game script would also need to include a flow chart as games are complex and require for there to be more than one path that a player can take. Including a flowchart means that it is easier for developers to be able to track all the possible pathways that are within the game, making it easier to understand. By having more than one path it means that there are multiple storylines and choices which means the flowchart shows how each path links together. A synopsis is a summary of a story, this is important in a gameplay as it will explain the story of what is happening in the game. As video games have a variety of different storylines, a synopsis is useful to explain the multiple routes that each person could take within the gameplay. Within a script, characters sections are set out differently, every time there is a new speaker, there is a new line or section within the script. The way that each character is differentiated is by the names being in bold. All stage directions, sound effects and non-diegetic sound are written in italic within a script. Stage locations are mainly included in scripts for plays, this is so that each person knows where about on stage they are needed. An example of a stage location is "CSR", this means centre stage right and directs actors into the right place on the stage. Stage directions are not only included in scripts for plays but also for TV shows, films and radio dramas. This is so that the characters know how to act as this will prompt them to what emotions are needed for each line or scene. An example of a stage direction might be "(act surprised)", this helps the actors know what they need to do in order to add context to the scene. The generalised narrative structure of a screenplay follows the same structure as most pieces of literature and plays. It starts with the Exposition which is were we establish the tone and setting of the film. This is followed by the rising action which is were there is a conflict or tension as many event happen and the stakes get higher. This is followed by the climax which is where there is a change, either for the better or worse of the protagonist. The falling action follows this which is the aftermath and conflict's resolution. Finally the narrative will end with the denouement which is where the conflict is finally resolved.
THREE ACT SCRIPT
A three act script is used in most films that are made today as well as in performance pieces such as plays. Almost every Hollywood movie uses this structure and it is said to be a critical theory to master for screenwriters. This structure splits the plot into three sections with the first act (the setup) creating a strong foundation and understanding of the world that the screenplay is set in, this also includes some suspense. The second act (confrontation) is where the goal is established but also where the obstacles are positioned preparing for act three. Within Act Three (resolution) we hit the lowest point of the narrative and the characters have to cope with the loss but this ends with winning everything back and the final scene which generally has a good ending. Some people may refer to this as the beginning, the middle and the end. The narrative doesn't have to be resolved however, as long as there is some form of narrative closure then the audience is happy. Another way which the the third act can end without a resolution is just but the protagonist completing the mission that they set out on. Finally, as long as the narrative questions have been answered then the third act can end without a resolution. Aristotle's three act script is contrasted with Todorov's narrative structure as his idea is that the narrative follows the same pattern, with there being five steps. These steps are the equilibrium, disruption, realisation, restored order and final equilibrium.
STYLE
Different types of scripts follow different narrative structures as they all have different purposes. A single stranded narrative structure is one that focuses on a centralised character, this is something which we usually see within video games and films as we follow the journey of the main character. Iron Man 3 is a film which focuses just on Iron Man rather than the rest of the avengers and therefore is an example of a single stranded narrative. We would see a multi-stranded narrative in films and TV dramas, which is where there is more than one central character. There is generally not a beginning, middle and end as there is more than one storyline running at the same time. This is something which can be seen in many soaps such as Eastenders. A linear script would be one where the events are told in chronological order, this is found manly within video games and most screenplays, depending on the narrative of the film. Bridget Jones' Diary is the perfect example of a film which follows the linear narrative as it shows a year in her life in order. In contrast to this, a non-linear narrative is a narrative which is not in chronological order. Generally these narratives include flashbacks, this is something which some screenplays follow, including the film memento. Radio shows have a running order which is the order which the stories and features are going to be told. These are told using the five W's (who, what, where, when and why)
