Assignment #1
Script Formatting
ASSIGNMENT: To write and format three (3) pages of an existing movie in screenwriting software such as Final Draft, Celtx or Adobe with scene headings, action, character, dialogue.
This is an exercise in SCRIPT FORMATTING using SCREENWRITING SOFTWARE. The purpose of this assignment is to learn to use screenwriting software (like Final Draft) and become familiar with basic script formatting rules. You won’t be graded on creativity – only the correctness of your formatting. So refer to the formatting textbook, The Hollywood Standard, often, and pay attention to formatting rules!
1. Watch any movie you love. (English language please!). You can also format short animated films on Youtube, such as Pixar’s “For the Birds”.
2. Imagine you’re the screenwriter for the movie you’re watching. WRITE/FORMAT three (3) pages of the script, or about three minutes of the movie, based on what you’ve watched, including the dialogue. You can go to the Course Documents section on Blackboard and read my imaginary script rendering of Pixar’s short film “Mike’s New Car” as an example. Spelling counts! Errors beyond TWO will be points off for bad spelling!
3. USE ONLY SCREENWRITING SOFTWARE. You may download a FREE DEMO of Final Draft on FinalDraft.com or purchase it. Celtx and Adobe Story are both free screenwriting software online. However, you must convert Celtx and Adobe Story to PDF before handing posting assignments on Blackboard, as the instructor does not have Celtx or Adobe software.
4. Upload your assignment to your Blackboard Discussion Board forum. Each one of you has a forum for assignments. Any assignments that are late will have points deducted.