When a drama is played out - whether in a theatre, a cinema, or on a television in someone's living room - the race is on to tell a story in the allotted time. Every second that passes is valuable; and every word in a script must therefore be packed with purpose by the writer.
The skill of the dramatist is never to waste a moment. Whether writing a play for the stage, or a script for television or movies, the screenwriter must constantly...
Top Three Tips
With the above in mind, here are the top three tips for writing drama:
Make the Actors Work for You
Wherever possible, replace dialogue with a stage directions and use the space to allow the actors to portray and demonstrate what the characters are feeling, rather than having them blurt out the plot movements or their emotions. The connection that then builds between the viewer and the actor becomes an important part of the effectiveness of the drama.
Make the Stage Directions Work for You
Remember that plot doesn't have to be carried in lines of dialogue, plot is often carried forward by characters actions, or by events unfolding before the audience. Take the opportunity to describe in the script how the story should unfold; but always be careful to allow the director and actors their interpretative freedom. Never confuse describing the plot with describing camera angles or shots. The writer describes the essentials which must be revealed to carry the story forward, but the director and actors work out how they will portray those plot points.
Make the Audience Work for You
The writer should always "see" the story from the audience's viewpoint. Always assume the audience is watching and listening. If viewers are given too much information, they will quickly become bored. The writer should attempt to ensure that the audience is becoming engaged. If viewers are engaged, they will be trying to anticipate what will come next. Understanding the viewers' perspective on the story is how the best dramatists involve, manipulate and move their audience.
Drama is Teamwork
The creation of drama may start with the writer, but the final product is the result of a whole team coming together; and it is often overlooked that that team includes the audience. The most important lessons the writer, as principal creator, can learn, are how to make all those elements work as part of the play or screenplay.
The skill of the dramatist is never to waste a moment. Whether writing a play for the stage, or a script for television or movies, the screenwriter must constantly...
- be aware of the visual impact of, and the revelations in, every scene
- live within the limitations of the time constraints, and make every single word of the script work hard.
Top Three Tips
With the above in mind, here are the top three tips for writing drama:
- Make the actors work for you
- Make the stage directions for you
- Make the audience work for you
Make the Actors Work for You
Wherever possible, replace dialogue with a stage directions and use the space to allow the actors to portray and demonstrate what the characters are feeling, rather than having them blurt out the plot movements or their emotions. The connection that then builds between the viewer and the actor becomes an important part of the effectiveness of the drama.
Make the Stage Directions Work for You
Remember that plot doesn't have to be carried in lines of dialogue, plot is often carried forward by characters actions, or by events unfolding before the audience. Take the opportunity to describe in the script how the story should unfold; but always be careful to allow the director and actors their interpretative freedom. Never confuse describing the plot with describing camera angles or shots. The writer describes the essentials which must be revealed to carry the story forward, but the director and actors work out how they will portray those plot points.
Make the Audience Work for You
The writer should always "see" the story from the audience's viewpoint. Always assume the audience is watching and listening. If viewers are given too much information, they will quickly become bored. The writer should attempt to ensure that the audience is becoming engaged. If viewers are engaged, they will be trying to anticipate what will come next. Understanding the viewers' perspective on the story is how the best dramatists involve, manipulate and move their audience.
Drama is Teamwork
The creation of drama may start with the writer, but the final product is the result of a whole team coming together; and it is often overlooked that that team includes the audience. The most important lessons the writer, as principal creator, can learn, are how to make all those elements work as part of the play or screenplay.
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