Unit 3 - Lesson 3: Writing For The Stage
An Introduction
Craft:
This lesson is meant to show you how to start writing a play! Writing a play can be more challenging at times than writing a screenplay, but with that challenge comes a lot of room to play. For this lesson, we'll be watching a YouTube video that's been put out by the YouTube channel, Story Teller's Handbook.
The video is linked to the right of this text.
Connect:
Now we'll be talking about what you just watched and adding on some new knowledge!
Writing a play has much different limitations than writing a movie. When you think of a movie, especially a big blockbuster or a sci-fi movie, chances are it has CGI—or fake—elements in it.
When you write a play, it's meant to be performed live. The closest you can get to CGI is huge, expensive puppets. Can you imagine if the T-Rex from Jurassic Park was just a ragdoll? It wouldn't be as effective, right? Well, that's where dialogue comes in. Because plays rely entirely on actors portraying characters, that means that dialogue and situations have to be more relied upon while you're writing.
Make sure that the dialogue and situations aren't boring for you. While you write, you're your own audience, so make sure to pay attention to your reactions!
More lessons here
Create:
This is the final step in this lesson. Now you get to put what you learned into practice!
Brainstorm for a minute and try to come up with a character, situation, or even a piece of dialogue you find interesting. Try to build off of what you come up with. Try your best to work within the confines of what's possible in a play—but also remember that you can always edit things in and out later. Just have fun for now!