The script for a film, television drama or a play is the three
dimensional product. There are a number of processes in
training scriptwriters, and also a few principles.The Principles
- There are very few applications for "workshops".
Scriptwriters learn to collaborate when they are mature writers.
until then, writing is a lonely and solitary activity. It
is also very personal and there is no need for people to have to
expose themselves in front of potentially hostile co-learners at
an early stage.
- The principles of structure and format can be taught in
classrooms.
- The learning process of writing is done by doing, and the
most effective developmental tool is one-on-one mentoring.
- People with no ability to express themselves in writing, nor
people with an inability to visualise should be developed in
costly training. Therefore potential scriptwriters should
be tested. it is not sufficient for them to submit a
sample of writing to be adjudicated by a panel.
- People who teach scriptwriting should NOT come from a
one-sided background. it does NOT help to have
Euro-centric writers or script trainers teaching Africans.
Africa has plenty of writers who can be taught to train and
mentor.
The Processes
- Candidates for courses must be tested for literacy
expression ability and ability to visualise.
- Learners must be taught script structure from various
backgrounds. the Hollywood script format is only the
Hollywood script format. the same goes for the Indian,
French, German, Russian, Chinese and Japanese script formats.
- Layout is taught in one hour.
- Writers should be encouraged to use helpful software.
- Writers should be taught to approach a story from any angle
they like. The sequence in which they do the following
should be of their own choice and at their own time.
- Plot.
- Format
- Genre
- Visualisation.
- Characterisation.
- Style.
- Scenario.
- Sub plot mapping.
The "360 degree" system as we have developed it, enables writers
to "see" a script in terms of the c=views from 360 degrees.
- They see it from their own (the creator's) perspective.
- They see it as if they are reading a map.
- They see it from the audience's perspective.
- they see it from the producer's and director's perspectives.
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