Writing a Webisode : Legends of the Scriptwriting Adventurer
Writing a webisode was surprisingly easy and hard all at the same time. As a writer, I thought writing a webisode would be a lot like writing a story, except I would have to format everything properly. That was all well and good, except I also had to imagine the scenes!
I had a hard time coming up with a concept for starters. Unlike a book, you have to think about projected filming costs. How expensive is this movie/tv show going to be? How many scenes can be used numerous times and how many will need to be built? Is it animated? That means animators will need to be hired, voice actors, not to mention sound effects. In live action tv and film there are costumes, scenes, makeup, hair, actors and actresses to hire, directors, and even though you’re just the writer, someone is going to read your script. It is up to you whether that person reading goes, “Too expensive!” or “Hey, this could work!” so while your imagination can run wild, it has to have parameters that must be met. That was the hardest thing about writing the script.
As a writer I did not think too much about my “action” being separated from my “dialogue” in fact in Novels, this is hardly an issue. Something happens and someone says something. In a script, there is so much more to think about. Each character has to be introduced, and each exterior or interior has to be labeled and properly formatted.
What was great about the experience was all the skills I acquired. Though it isn’t my main objective to become a script writer, the skills needed will help me in other areas as well. For instance, Graphic novels; now that I have a good handle on how scripts are formatted I should be able to easily make my graphic novels flow more smoothly since a graphic novel is like a moving picture without the movie.
As with everything, we should take what we learn and use it to our advantage. Will I have a career as a scriptwriter? Probably not, but the experience has made me a much better writer. Our professor had us do an assignment that was creating our own world. Doing this and having it handy makes it easier to keep tabs on what you are talking about in your script. Therefore, no accidents when you are describing Aunt Martha’s old cottage home, or what color it is; because it is right there already listed out.
Final Draft 10 is by far the most magical program I have run across since WORD 2013. It is such a great tool and is so helpful when it comes to formatting scripts for Movies, Television and Graphic Novels!
All in all the experience was scary, nerve wracking, intense, but overall fun. I am very grateful to have learned so much from my professor and my peers.