Dramatic Writing

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Dramatic Writing

Dramatic Writing

3/15/04

Writing a Musical

For the next two weeks, we are going to write a small musical. Have fun and let your music be your inspiration.

1-List 10 of your favorite songs

2-Beside each song, decide woh could be singing that song to whom. (Ex. waitress to a patron, captain to a steward Try to avoid guy to girlfriend for every song.)

3-Make 3 groups of 3 songs that you could put together for a short play.

4-Scene 1--Write the first scene that ends with the first line of one of your songs. (Ex. I've got it Shoeless Joe Hardy (music begins))

5-Scene 2-Incorporate the next song in the scene (dialogue before and after) and try to make the song a different tempo/rhythm than the first.

6-Scene 3-Begin the scene with the song with the text to follow. You could also "Reprise" a song from scene 1 or 2.

Scene breakdown for 'Betrayal'

1--1977

2--1977 later

3--1975

4--1974

5--1973

6--1973 later

7--1973 later

8--1971

9--1968

Harold Pinter

Assignment #7--Write a 1-2 page scene of dialogue in which every exchange regarding the conflict contains a verb. (Ex. "I want you to give me that letter." "Only if you leave this room." "Not unless you turn your back first."

Assingment #6--Stage Directions Only

Write a scene in which the characters do not speak but convey their thoughts through behavior. Your primary job is to explore the mannerisms of your characters through their physical expression while telling a story without words.

Remember that ACTIVITY is simply doing (He opens the envelope). BEHAVIOR deals with the subtext (She rips open the envelope anxiously OR He slowly tears the envelope to pieces without opening it).

The stage directions must have the characters doing something that progresses and that reveals the mental state or intention of the characters. DO NOT CREATE SITUATIONS IN WHICH ACTORS WOULD HAVE TO START DOING PANTOMIME TO MAKE THINGS CLEAR.

Assignment #4--Using the two characters you sketched previously, and including the goal the protagonist desired, decide which of the two characters wins the conflict. (ex. Does Ben's physically impared character get the stick which yields a win at the championship or does the blind character get the stick) Now write down the story of this conflict in a one page narrative. (Can, of course, be longer.) Write it down as a short story or synopsis. Include what happened before the conflict took place, write down what happened in the scene of the conflict itself, and write down what happened in its aftermath. THINK IN TERMS OF ACTIONS--WHAT DO THESE CHARACTERS DO!!!

Assignment #3--Imagine that your protagonist and antagonist are trapped in a room somewhere. In that room is something they both desperatly want. It could be valuable (a bag of money), contain valuable information (a secret about your character), or have sentimental value (a special photograph). Each character must try to WIN the object. (Don't let anyone win to easily.)

Assignment #2--Character biography. Create 2 protagonists. This character could be based on a real-life person, or one you've imagined. Choose the character's birthdate, birthplace, and where the character grew up. Choose the character's family, social and economic background. Next describe a few key events in that character's life--deaths, winning the lottery, childhood scares. Then, ask yourself, how can I make this character MORE interesting.

Once you've done this, create a concrete goal for your character. A want. A need. A desire. ONLY ONE. Make it concrete and write it down.

Finally, create ONE antagonist for either of the two progagonists you created. (Go with the one you find more interesting.) Create a biography.