PLANNING FOR GROWTH IN YEARS OF RESTRICTED RESOURCES

DiscussionThose who teach scriptwriting must consider how to separate the acts of writing fromdirection. While each depends upon the other, the question for us is whether we canteach students to do both separately rather than doing both at the same time. A morepractical approach may be to have students play the roles of scriptwriter or director andinsist that they perform to their assigned roles. Contrary to popular trends of havingscriptwriters direct their own material, the industry may be served with more welldeveloped materials if job functions complement one another for the purpose ofenhancing the finished product.It is important to mention that students rarely note the need for scriptwriters anddirectors to work together, that one works to facilitate the other, or that one worksbecause of the efforts of the other. I cannot remember one instance of such comments.I must admit, however, that I think students do appreciate and recognize therelationship and simply take that relationship for granted. We must do more to showour students the necessity of both tasks performed effectively by two people.Writing is to make the opportunity and direction is to take the opportunity byinterpretation.NotesI = specific camera movement or audio effects or identified specific camera framing.II = Techniques inherent to the script. (i.e.: To use inherent literary storytellingtechniques like suspense, tension or pacing.)III = Noted an event such as how the talent or some other object moved.IV = Remembering to use verbs or adverbs. This category included visualizing orpicturizing. V = Use of descriptive technique or detail.VI = Use of A dictionary definition.? = Student wrote something no one understands. Some students did not provideresponses for each category.BibliographyBlacker, I.R. (1996). The elements of screenwriting. New York: Macmillan.Deemer, C. (1991) “The Rhetoric of Action” Creative Screenwriting. Retrieved January,8, 2003, from Story and Myth http://storycraft.org/Myth/stmyth11.htm#deemerDimaggio, M.(1990). How to write for television. New York: Prentice Hall Press.Goldman, W. (1983). Adventures in the screen trade. New York: Warner Books.Hilliard, R.L. (1999). Writing for television, radio and new media (7th ed.). Belmont,CA: Wadsworth/Thompson Learning.Katz, S. D. (1991). Film directing shot by shot: visualizing from concept to screen,Focal Press.Walters, R.L. (1994). Broadcast writing: principles and practice (2nd ed.). New York:McGraw-Hill.Weston, J. (1996). Directing actors: creating memorable performances for film andtelevision, Michael Wise Productions.Whener, C. (1997)“Writing Action Adventure” Retrieved January, 12, 2003, fromScreenwriters Utopia http://www.screenwritersutopia.com/actionwriter/action.html.59Feedback September 2003 (Vol. 44, No. 4)