Styles of Script

Different Styles of script

TV Drama - Easterners 30th Anniversary Script

This script of the 30th anniversary of Eastenders opens with a basic description of the action  taking place and a small amount saying how the characters are supposed to be feeling in the scene . The character names are in bold and underlined and followed by dialogue. In between the dialogue comes any stage directions for the actors which are very specific - for example (Lauren shakes her head). In a TV script the description for the location is quite basic as this is a show that has been running for a while so it doesn't need alot of detail of location as needs minimal detail because it is a standard set that is used lots in an episode and almost every day of the year. In comparison to a theatre they would only have one set and as for films there are specific location managers to find locations for films exactly what the directors want. There are no directions as to how the actors should deliver the lines which makes me think it could perhaps be down to people's own interpretation on how to deliver the line? Perhaps to make it more natural as a TV soap is supposed to be realistic.  Format of the text is to the right of the page, also down the right of the page are music ques. There are specifications of setting and lighting but as mentioned it is very basic.

Film Drama - The Duchess 

The format of the script is central to the page. There is extreme detail of what setting and further scenes. For example "A spring meadow with sheep". There are people with specific jobs to find perfect locations for films - location manager. Films are one off productions so they look for the perfect setting rather than having a fixed setting like a TV soap. The directions of how lines are spoken. There is a lot of detail as to what is expected of a scene, it outlines whether the scene is indoors (interior) or outdoors (exterior), the location and the time of day. 

Theatre/Musical Script - CATS

The title of a new song is in bold to signify the start of it. This could come in great use for a sound technician if the songs are being played with backing tracks, or even if there is a band playing the accompaniment this is also an indication for a new song. Characters names are stated with their name and a colon then the dialogue /lyrics afterwards like the dialogue that would be seen in a TV script, so in that sense TV scripts and theatre scripts are very similar. Cats being an all song and singing show there aren't any stage directions, however in a musical theatre show script there will be stage directions and also directions as to how a line should be said. They are normally quite detailed directions as to when characters enter and exit scenes and the directions of how the scenes should be directed as well as actors notes.