  Drama
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Over the course of my next couple of newsletters, I'll tackle the whys, structure, development, and format of play/script writing as we develop our idea for a play/script. |
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PART TWO - Fleshing the Idea Out
There are different types of plays for different types of goals - the one, three, or five act plays.
One Act Plays
The one act play with it's 3-6 scenes can be throught of as equal to a short story in manuscript writing. Timewise, a one act play falls between 30-60 minutes. The play focuses on a single incident and it's affect on others. The curtain only falls during an exciting tableau and not a tame scene. In a one act play, the focus needs to be on the main character and there's no room for any subplots.
Three Act Plays
These plays became popular in the late 19th Century. The first act leaves the main character in a precarious position, but not utter peril. The second act is usually the longest, and leaves the hero/heroine in such distress that it would take a miracle to save him or her. The third act is usually the shortest with the hero/heroine rescued from difficulty with quick action and a happy ending.
Five Act Plays
Shakespeare's plays were well known as five act plays. Act One introduced the characters and the problem. Act Two was the rising action. Act Three was the climax were there was no turning back from the hero's decision. Act Four was the falling action where the hero had to deal with the consequences of his decision, and Act Five was the conclusion, happy or sad.
 Now it's time to flesh out our scenario and look at our polling results...
The idea that was the most popular was: "A young woman must choose between love and a career," but it was "A young French winegrower in the 1940's during WWII" which scored higher responses in all the other poll questions so I've decided to work with that idea for our play. I've also decided to structure our play as a one act play so it will be easy to read the end result.
My Main Character is a naive young man who has inherited a vineyard in Burgundy, France. His supporting cast consists of:
a Nazi overseerer
an aging mother
a young sister
a cafe owner
and two customers
Now it's time to do research...
If you'd like to do your own research I have two great books to recommend:
"Wine and War," by Don & Petie Kladstrap. This book is about the Germans who ran France's wine industry in WWII. Another book is "The Wine Bible," by Karen MacNeil. This book comprehensively covers French wine regions.
OUR SETTING: Burgundy is a region in the northeastern part of the country. It is known for it's chardonnay and pinot noir. Our French winegrower lives in a town called "Beaune," near Dijon.
OUR CAST:
Edmund Huet
18, main character. His father died of a heartattack a couple of months ago.
Claire Huet
50, Edmund's mother, struggling to reconcile her county's occupation by the Germans.
Isabelle Huet
12, Edmund's sister.
Armaund DeBeaux
late 40's, runs the local cafe in Beaune.
Remi
Giles
Armaund's customers, members of the French resistance.
Dedrich Boomerz
late 30's, the German Winefurher who bullies Edmund.
It's 1943 and the Huet's grape crop is decent this year. They are well known for making a wonderful chardonnay. Dedrich, the winefurher, orders Edmund to send his wine to Berlin for mere pennies.
Remi and Giles can smuggle the wine out to England for a better price. Edmund needs the money. Edmund's struggle? What should he do?
THE CHECKLIST:
#1 pick the main character
#2 give the main character a goal - in Edmund's case he wants to help the resistance
#3 brainstorm obstacles the main character will face
#4 work on the setting
#5 outline your scenes
Well, now we have the idea fleshed out. Next we'll work on outlining scenes and we'll take a look at an actual "breakdown" of a script.
CHALLENGE: Do you have a better character name for the winefurher? Submit your entries to the newsletter feedback. The winning name will get a "Congratulations" Merit Badge.
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Here are some script/plays I've recently found on Writing.com:
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Can't get enough drama? Check these items out:
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For those of us drama queens and kings, a forum to swap writing ideas and post questions
#1394242 by Joy  |
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Have an opinion on what you've read here today? Then send the Editor feedback! Find an item that you think would be perfect for showcasing here? Submit it for consideration in the newsletter!
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Here's some feedback from my last letter:
Vivian 
Good newsletter, Steph. I'm not much of one to write plays, had to direct too many, but you really brought out some excellent thoughts. ~~ Viv
Viv! How exciting - to direct a play. I'd love to hear your thoughts on it. Maybe you can guest a drama newsletter?
Acme 
What an inspirational newsletter, Steph! I'm looking forward to seeing future issues and the activities which result from them.
Thanks, Sweetie! I think this is going to be fun.
AXiLeA
Hello!
I just took your poll and I liked discovering the ideas presented for a play. I was wondering where these ideas come from, as they are all very different.
And... why four options and not more (as the poll allows more options).
I know I am curious, but maybe this can be explained in the introduction?
Axilea
Well, I came up with them. I tried to think of four very different scenerios that would be intriguing to write about that would be character driven. Why wasn't there more? I couldn't think of any more... sigh... Thanks for asking. I hope you like the idea that was picked!
Maretta
I find this very interesting, because I have a son and a daughter-in-law who are actors and a son who is a director of commercials and documentaries. I see an average of at least a play a month and often have been at "Talk backs" where authors talk about where and how they have developed their ideas and plays.
I usually write short stories and I have never really thought about a script but found the idea very interesting and rather intriguing. I voted for the plot "the winedealer in the 40's." It sounds as though there would be many directions to go with that subject.
Enjoyed this. Thanks. Maretta
Thanks for the vote, Maretta! How interesting to know actors. I sometimes wonder what actors think of certain scripts and plays. Please feel free to comment on the progression of our play as we go along.
al1801
The top two - great ideas it's going tobe a rough call in deciding which one.
1. Let the story come from a reired, elderly ex-Nazi, who is reflecting on his life before, during and after the war. As a youth he is idealistic and imbued with the idea of a better Germany through National Socialism.
During the war, and whilst he is a winner he is the epitome of an Aryan poster boy and has the arrogance to go with it.
When the tide changes and he is now the pursued and finds himself a prisoner.
He survives and must now adapt. how he does so is told through the play.
2. The President of France is given a bottle of wine from his home province. He is the younger brother of the young winegrower and through the play he is reminded of the years of German occupation and the relief from the jackboot by Allied soldiers.
Whichever way you choose to go, I'm here to put my $AUD 0.10 worth in.
Great idea in it's own right, Al. You could definately develop this into a play.
Thanks for all the great feedback on the past newsletter.
SantaBee is a 911 Dispatcher for LAPD. Her short story, "The Peenemunde Secret" received an Honorable Mention in the 2007 Writer's Digest Popular Fiction Contest. You can find "The Peenemunde Secret" in her Short Story Folder.
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Drama: June 25, 2008 Issue [#2460]
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