About DavideAndrew Papa Expertise DavideAndrew Papa is able to answer specific questions relating to Acting, Script wiriting,production,directing and Producing 35 mm motion Pictures for International distribution,based on AMPAS protocols,and personal opionions based on experience.
Experience
Past/Present clients Have dealt with Los angeles biggest talent agencies,and hollywoods biggest distribution companies...too numerous to mention here(due to confidentiality clauses)
Expert: DavideAndrew Papa Date: 5/1/2004 Subject: script writing
Question I have this idea for a sitcom. It is a family sitcom that will be based upon actual things that happen in a family with a biblical solution on how to solve problems.
The problem is I don't have any experience in writing a script. Can you give me any suggestions on how to get this idea off the ground and running?
Answer Dear Adrian
Big question...Lets see if I can help.
(1)Time..! In this case time is an asset...It will take many months and even years before the works are finished..not because of how longs such works take to write and create...but because it will take a lot of time in revising the works after the rough idea has eventuated on paper..
You have to give it your best shot the first time around otherwise it will fail to attract the people needed to participate the conversion from script to film or stage:
Ensure that at least 4 episodes are written ...6 would be better...this will ensure that your Idea and story can continually be perpetuated for a long time..Remember 16/24 eposides are needed for screening of a sitcom for one year on television...hence you need to show that this can happen...Your very first episode has to be powerful..very powerful if not controversial...espeicially with the subject matter at hand...If you are spreading a message of hope based on the faith of a particular religion...remember that your audience are those who share a wider Doctrine...hence try and make your story to reflect the events everyday day life of every day poeple..
(2)Concentrate of BAIT and HOOK from the onset...bait the sitcom throught...and ensure the hook is delivered near the end...eg:Nobody noticed as the one arm Man entered the room,as he sat in the corner ...is the Bait initiated at the start of an episode..Near the end of the episode the HOOK is delivered..As everyone turned to talk to the one arm stranger ...he was gone...Nobody had seen him leave,as they ran outside in search of him..etc..etc..This would be the case of a Film..in the situation of a sit com..ensure the bait and hooks along with delivery of such are initiated with perfect timing...and that many more such bait and hooks are applied through out..A "situation Comedy"is usually applicable to the subject matter in debuking the bible..hence if this is the road you are choosing..then also be attentative to the message you are implying and remember if you go about it wrong...you will also offend many people..eg:A long shot of Jesus is implied which looks like from the opposite end of a shoreline that he may indeed be walking on top of water..
As the diciples come into the shot ...they yell out to him..to attract his attention...Jesus waves back from a distance,as the camera perspective is taken from a slow Pan...The shot is slowed down...and the theme from 2001space odyessy is heard as a slow running Jesus is heading for the group..As the camera moves in ..we all break out laughing when we all become aware that Jesus had been standing between 2 lakes...seperated by a thin strip of land..
If the sit com was continual,as opposed to short segment shots...then you would continue to build on the above scenario..eg:Using todays "street talk method of delivery"-A puffed out Jesus finally meets with the diciples,as John greets him first.."Yo bro..Why .., I thought you were walking on the water.." As Jesus replies (still puffed out..)" I tried that once before...and it didn't work"-to which John replies "But we've all walked on water"-as he turns to the rest of the diciples who in a walla of response,(obviously all lying..)"Yeah".."sure"..."Right man,for sure man"..Jesus stops puffing looks at the mob and with some anger and replies.."Didn't we agreed boys".."I'm the only one walking on water..got it.." as the Mob again reply in walla (Yeah sure man..,.right..,o.k)-As they all begin to walk off - CUT:
Adrian get the idea...either you continue with the whole Skit or you simply cut to another sketch.
If the Sit com is on stage (Live) the same rules apply,obviously the water scene won't be used..instead compensate for lack of such a scene by ensuring that the scense are simple and uncomplicated in delivering the "punch line"The character George Costanza in "Seinfeild" does this so well..Once a line is delivered,many times "George" simply gives a particular "look" without even giving a response..And the audience laugh..."Simple delivery ,simple response" is crucial to such sitcom-and is much more difficult to achieve than if you were using the editing capability of Film;
(3)(have Pleaty of paper a dictionary and Manila folders on hand ) or- to Get started,allocate a room where nobody else goes to..get yourself a good cheap computer eg:A cheap 10 year old Powermac is great;Allow nobody to use this computer:Make sure you have an old version of lets say "Clarisworks" 3.0 writing program:
(4)Day One: Make a file mark it as "idea file"
fill it with all your ideas..in short one line form-eg:look at the Middle or end of the situation Forget about the start,the start will come into effect when you have a clear middle or ending-but if you are able to eventuate a start-then so be it:Picture everything in your mind-it must be clear in your mind the scenes you wish to deliver:eg:
(a)Kid comes home-crying because of Bullying at school:
(b)Dad got ripped off buying goods in a store:
(c)Mum was seen talking with another man..and the neighbours started a rumour which got back to Dad.
(d)The daughter bring her first boy friend home..Dad is not impressed:He's jewish-
(e)Police brings the son home-He';s been charged with stealing-but it wasn't him-and he won't say who it was-
etc..etc..you'll need at least 50 plus-short ideas for a stroy situation;
ONCE you have made such a file close it -this becomes your reference file-try and fill it with as many situation you can..and keep on filling it as other ideas come your way-
Pick any 6 situations-one at a time and start writing a 6 or 8 page story of the situation-keep on correcting and making the story until you are satisfied with the out come..then file it in another FILE named "complete story"
You may end up working eventually on 6 or more story at the same time..as the creatrive idea's flow..you will be able to place such an idea into one of the six eventuating stories..
Think about the six stories all the time...it helps to generate the ideas need for completion..
As time goes on...you'll find that you are actually completing whole stories....until all six are finished..NOBODY is to read your short stories once you have finished it-YOU WILL NOW COMMENCE WITH THE SCRIPTS-
Open up single files denoting the episode:eg (a)above-
First page:heading Name of sit com then episode title-"Turn the other cheek"
On the front of page one ensure your name address and contract number is visible usually at bottom left side-Each episode is presented in seperate folders-
Fade in-is your first Line: (just in case it goes to film)
Give the Character their "names" start writing-At first concentrate on the theme as well as the story you have written..
Four of five lines to discribe the scene-then dialogue-eg:
Remeber if you write it as a sitcom-allow the idea that it could be applied on film instead-cover both sides:
Here is an example:The number on the right are the spacing margins
(5mm)Fade In
(5mm)Capitals-(1)INTERIOR-AFTERNOON-HOME-FRONT DOOR
space(all set at 1.5)
(5mm)Young Tom,enters the room via the front door -Mr Jackson,Toms Dad, is sitting in a well furnished lounge room..reading the paper-Dad hears Tom enters,and stands to greet him...but Tom's upset-and runs to another room,down the passage way-to his bedroom;
Where Tom is laying face down crying on the bed..
(5mm)(As Front door Opens,Tom enters as dad gets up to greet him)
(25/30 mm)Capitals-DAD
25/30mm) (in bracket parentheisis)-(happy,good mood..)
(sapce)
(15/20 mm) dialogue- Hi...son...how was your day..what...what's..(Leave 10 mm space to the end of page )
(space)
TOM
(Teary,frown upset)
(Tom stops momentarily looks at dad...drops his school bag...and runs into his room)
(space)
DAD
(dumfounded,surpised follows his son)
(space)
son..but..hey...what's wrong..
wait...son..
(space)
(10 mm from end of page) INTERCUT
(Scene 2)INTERIOR-DAY-TOM'S ROOM
(space)
As Dad slowly enters Toms room...,he can sense something is wrong...as he see's his son crying face down on his bed...)
The margins are close enough to acceptable standards..use them to make your work presentable and professional looking..
The above scenes came from the short story you wrote-which may have read something like as follows-
The door opened quickly as young Tom,obviously upset...threw his bag down by his dad,who was sitting in his well furnished apartment-reading the daily paper-
Mr jackson sprang to his feet in a desperate effort to console his son...who was clearly upset,about something.Mr Jackson..or "Jacko" as his friends call him...immediately went after Tom..who by now was in his bedroom...laying face down,crying his eyes out-
Get the idea Adrian..?Once your story is finished Visualise the scenes you wish to describe-into script form..
After many months-you will finish the required six scenes-you will personally become very familiar with the characters...and you will easily be able to continue the scenes with ease-Once your scripts are finished-sit on them for a few weeks-keep on revising and fine tuning them..until you are very sure that you have created your best works..Make an appointment-get them protected under copyright(WGA) and present them to the required producers..
if you've impressed a producer..you're in..if not get on trying,so long as YOU believe in your creation...Don't listen to the negative feedback as many will follow..
At first Present Only 3 of the 6 works..make sure all Episodes are in seperate binders;A producer will be impressed if they ask for more episodes which can be submitted quickly..
