University:
Boston University
Course:
CAS CI 512 | Film and Media Theory
Academic year:

2020
Views:

63

Pages:

2
Author:

Accinkiquicpqw

One-Act Play Outline Brief Setting Description: List of Main Characters with Brief Description/Relationship Information: Main Conflict of Play: Scene One – Brief, but Specific Synopsis: Scene Two – Brief, but Specific Synopsis: Scene Three – Brief, but Specific Synopsis: Climax and Resolution: Miscellaneous/Extra Information: Tips for Writing a Play Step 1 Begin with an idea. Inspiration can come from anywhere and at any time. Get inspired by an interesting person, a meaningful event, an interesting place or an important point that needs to be expressed. Plays are a great medium for expressing a concern or issue. Step 2 Develop the story before turning it into a play. Remember the same conventions of writing a story. Plot is extremely important, ending in a dramatic climax just like other stories. Character motivation will drive the plot. Step 3 Create interesting characters. Good character development is essential to playwriting. They should have thoughts, feelings, passion, wants and needs. It is important in stage plays not to create too many characters, which would be confusing to an audience. Consider how many characters are needed to effectively tell the story. Some of the most intriguing plays have only one character, whereas some have dozens. Step 4 Create the world carefully. This is done partly in the designing of the set and costumes, but will need to be set up by the playwright in the dialog. If performing the play with little or no set or costumes, the audience only knows what the world is by what the characters say. It is important for the audience to understand in what context the play is being set. Step 5 Write believable dialog. Dialog is everything in a play. Some conventions may be used to give more information, such as the chorus used in ancient Greek plays, or soliloquies directly addressing the audience. However, dialog is generally the only way for playwrights to portray setting, character, feelings, thoughts, what is happening and what has happened before. It is important that the dialog being spoken by the character is believable and makes sense at the time it is being spoken. Step 6 Have a lot of action. In most cases, it is interesting for the audience to see the actors moving around on stage. Some of this is the work of the directors and actor later, but the play needs to allow for it. Step 7 Keep it simple. Remember that this is not a motion picture. Put the emphasis on good character development, a well thought plot and meaningful theme for the most successful play.

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