Research: Script-Writing in a Professional Mannerism

To create a decent script is to develop a sense of direction for the actors or a production team involved. Depicting visualisations, a script pushes forward how a film is going to be directed and thus helps to resolve any issues that may arise. In B3D Studios, we have created a foundation for our storyline, of which a more static direction can now be followed from. We know that the film is set as a 1950’s approach on the year 2000, and that it stars an evil invasion of humans, which were mutated into cannibals via an Alien source which also gives them invisibility powers. In relation to the 1950’s, this storyline is simplified into their low budgets and limitations. This means less camera angles than in modern film, simple special effects, stereotypical “bad” acting (i.e. the screaming blonde beauty in trouble) and various aspects such as how films of such nature were often low on money before deciding to wrap. As a result, this gives us the chance to make indirect jokes on the somewhat bad quality of the film making at the time, therefore providing humour into our otherwise “serious” science fiction trailer.

I have looked at a decent example of how a typical script is written out, none other than that of the cult classic “Aliens”. Here we can see how there is a Synopsis before the dialogue and how various directive quotes are put in place.

After this Synopsis follows the expected type of scripting, the dialogue. Alongside this however, there will be informative text directing the actors/production team about how the scene will be carried out.

For example:

 FADE IN:

     EXTREME CLOSEUPS OF FLICKERING INSTRUMENT PANELS.  Readouts and digital
     displays pulse eerily with the technology of the distant future.

     Wherever we are, it seems to be chill, dark, and sterile.  Electronic
     machinery chuckles softly to itself.

     Abruptly we hear a BEEPING SIGNAL, and the machinery begins to awaken.
     Circuits close, lights blink on.

     CAMERA ANGLES GRADUALLY WIDEN, revealing more and more of the
     machinery, banks of panels, fluttering gauges, until we reveal:

     INTERIOR - HYPERSLEEP VAULT

     A stainless steel room with no windows, the walls packed with
     instrumentation.  The lights are dim and the air is frigid.

     Occupying most of the floor space are rows of horizontal FREEZER
     COMPARTMENTS, looking for all the world like meat lockers.

     FOOM!  FOOM!  FOOM!  With explosions of escaping gas, the lids on the
     freezers pop open.

     Slowly, groggily, six nude men sit up.

                              ROBY               Oh... God... am I cold...

                              BROUSSARD               Is that you, Roby?

                              ROBY               I feel like shit...

                              BROUSSARD               Yeah, it's you all right.

     Now they are yawning, stretching, and shivering.
Alien script taken from http://www.imsdb.com/scripts/Alien.html

I shall use this technique to write up the script for "The day of the invisible cannibal from beyond the stars". Whilst this is happening, storyboarding will be taking place.

Chris