Prototypes, Scriptments and Proofs-of-Narrative

The course guide quotes filmmaker and scholar Kathryn Millard, who suggests in her book Screenwriting in a Digital Era: “Write for place. Decide on a setting for your script and write for it” (2014, p. 184).

This is actually Number 4 in her ‘Manifesto for sustainable screenwriting”. In consideration of Project Brief 4, I thought I’d draw your attention to Number 10:

“Develop prototypes.  Work quick and dirty.  Your script can be a map, sketches, photo-texts, a wiki, a list scenes that form part of a jigsaw, a graphic novel, a video trailer, a short film – whatever works” (Millard 2014, p. 184-5).

As discussed in the studio today, also relevant to the ‘proof-of-narrative’ deliverable of Project Brief 4, are the pages on The Scriptment in the Screen Australia document in our shared drive (p. 11-12).

According to Screen Australia, the term ‘scriptment’ “refers to a document that is part script, part treatment, and may include visual materials. It is likely to be a more expanded and detailed document than a treatment or scene breakdown, and incorporate some scene writing and possibly images as well as prose” (2016, p. 10).

Also:

“Scriptments may also be used to showcase important visual aspects of the story, and include illustrations, concept art, photographs etc. They may be more suited to some filmmakers as a way to express their style of storytelling and what will make their project special” (Screen Australia 2016, p. 11).

This description of a ‘scriptment’, as well as Millard’s of a ‘prototype’ might inspire you in assembling your ‘proofs of narrative”.

PS:

If you have plans to quote the Screen Australia document in your final post, how I’ve cited it above is correct for Harvard style. This is how to cite it in your reference list: Screen Australia 2016, Info Guide: Story Documents, 2016, viewed 17 May, <https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/getmedia/7b189b10-2ce4-47d1-b206-bee3de29a419/Story-documents-drama-final-January-2016.pdf>

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