Because lots of my early work has been short story writing it is important that I adapt what I have written into a screen world. Through my previous medium, I was able to thoroughly describe the intentions and motivations behind my characters actions (because I could communicate through writing directly from my character’s minds). However, in my screenplay writing I must find a way to show these things. It will be important for me to think symbolically, how can I put these thoughts into behaviour? How can I communicate this mood through visuals?

Below is an in class activity that allowed me to work on my skill to do this.

Hints:

• Only write what the camera is seeing.
• Verbs not adjectives makes the script become playable.
• Don’t write ‘she’s feeling rebellious’ instead write ‘she kicks over the chair’. The latter is active and inherently visual.

Writing Prompt

Rinaldos so tired of his children’s bickering. He can’t bear to be a single dad and is at the end of his tether. He feels guilty and angry with himself.

RINALDO LOOKS ACROSS THE LIVING ROOM AND SEES HIS TWO CHILDREN, DARYL (AGE 6) AND LORENZO (AGE 7), FIGHTING. HE SHUTS HIS EYES AND RUBS HIS FACE. THE CHILDREN CONTINUE RUNNING AROUND THE LIVING ROOM. HE EXITS THE ROOM AND WALKS DOWN THE HALLWAY UNTILL HE REACHES THE DOOR THAT LEADS TO HIS BALCONY. HE OPENS THE DOOR AND LEANS AGAINST THE IRON RAILING. RINALDO DIGS INTO HIS RIGHT POCKET AND FINDS A PACKET OF CIGARETTES. HESITANTLY HE TAKES ONE OUT OF THE PACKET AND LIGHTS IT WITH THE REDHEADS LYING NEXT TO THE ASH TRAY. RINALDO SMOKES A CIGARETTE WITH HIS RIGHT HAND AND RUBS HIS EYES WITH HIS LEFT. HE TURNS TO HIS RIGHT AND LOOKS INTO HIS NEIGHBOURS WINDOW. HE SEES HIS NEIGHBOUR LAUREN DOING THE DISHES. SHE LOOKS OUT THE WINDOW AT HIM. RINALDO STARES AT HER UNTILL SHE PULLS UP THE BLIND.