Exercises
- Take a script that’s already been produced and try to make it better. Start with the struc-
ture and take it from there. What improvements would you make? - Rewrite a script of your own. Then polish it.
- Cast a script (any script) in class. Read it out loud, using the cast you chose. Next take a
vote. Would you buy that script as is? If it were a feature-length script, would it make a
little money? Make a lot of money? Break even? Lose money? If it were a television
script, what kind of audience ratings would it make? Top ten? Top fifty? Would it lose
money? Win awards? What did you like about the script? How could you improve it?
Discuss. - Take someone else’s script and give her detailed notes on improving it. Remember that
you’re supporting her and helping her to better implement her own vision, not rewriting
it to your vision. - Rework your storyboard, making it better visually.
- Cast your script. Can you improve the script now that you have actors, building on their
strengths and character interpretations? - Record your actors as they improvise the dialogue for your story. Do you want to include
anything that they’ve contributed in your final script? - Conduct a reading of your script before an audience. Hand out questionnaires to test con-
cepts and possible endings, get reactions to jokes, and so on. Request a rating and solicit
comments. If kids make up your audience, ask the questions verbally instead.
274 Animation Writing and Development