Script writing for me seemed like one of the most boring and non important activity within
the whole film making process when I first signed up for the 'Planning and Making a film' module at Bath Spa. However, over the duration of this course, it has really hi
t home how fundamental scriptwriting is. For script writing fundamentally concerns the ability telling a story. It is certainly not one of my strongest areas, as I am familiar with studying directors and filmmakers, considering their themes and intentions hidden within their films. But to completely create an idea from the beginnings, and to then transform it onto paper is something I don't find easy. Although since this module begun, I have had two opportunities to submit scripts. This current script I am finding much easier than the first. One element that has played a significant influence in this current script for me is the fact we have just finished our first film. On the one hand, it has helped me produce a simple concept that would be very practical and easy from a production point of view as the filming locations are fundamentally set in just one room. Although, this film might have been restricted to some degree by this, as I was ruling out anything that I thought would have been difficult to shoot. To some extent this could be seen to have restricted my creativity. Although in terms of filming, it could be hard to get marked well, as there is little to do in the pre-production phase.
1st Draft
My first draft was ok for my first script writing attempt, however there were some weaknesses. For one, the script struggled in that it was not correctly written, littered with mistakes where it did not abide to the strict script formatting. I receive feedback from Mike (our lecturer), and also from some members of our class. My fellow student stated that they liked the script and that they thought it had good potential. They said that it reminded them of Groundhog day. Which is ironic as this was not going though my mind when I came up with the concept. Mike suggested that the script was lacking in terms of a good ending, he also suggested that the main character Leo could try and use this strange cycle to his advantage. With this in mind, I went back to the drawing board and re-worked my idea.
Final script
In this re-write I tried to think of something that could be used in the cycle process. Something that would it in, which leon could take advantage of. When sitting in the lecture it occurred to me that there was a very simple concept which could fit with this idea, Leon's incomplete Homework. Although this idea would fit with the morning sequence, I wanted to keep the initial shock and panic that Leon would have felt before he realized he could use it to his advantage. I was struggling with the repetitive cycle, as I didn't want the script to seem boring and repetitive. In terms of the ending, Leon needed to break the cycle. However, I didn't want him to get everything his own way as he after all neglected his college work. I thought it would be good to finish on his realization that all of the work and effort he had put into his homework in the morning, was wasted. I was contemplating him getting his homework done and returned to the point when he breaks the cycle and begins to get ready for school. I thought that it would have been pretty funny if his dog came up and ate his finished work. This would have been ironic as it is a typical excuse for many students. I didn't implement this in the story as I did not have enough time because I thought of it just a day before the final script hand in. Generally, I am really impressed with my first script attempt. I am grateful for the constructive feedback that my peers and lecturer have given me. I am hoping to film this script in the summer as a short film. I am a little disappointed that nobody actually decided to use the script for the second film on the course, however, I am a little relieved that nobody has attempted to film it as it is something that I want to film in the near future.
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