Screenwriting : One location, three characters! by Stevan Šerban

Stevan Šerban

One location, three characters!

Kovid has not died yet. It is not even known when it will!

Do you rewrite your scripts with many characters and many locations into one location and with as few characters as possible?

Craig D Griffiths

That is my default starting point. Then if people want to expand they can. I have sold a 3 person one room drama. I am working on one that is one person in a house (with some voice actors - ghosts) and another which is two guys and a broken down car.

It is a challenge to make it work without feeling like it is intentional. I never want to the reader (eventually viewer) to feel the people should leave but don’t.

Craig D Griffiths

Nick Assunto - Stage32 Script Services Coordinator the production is having COVID testing on a regular basis. All non-talent must maintain a one person per 4 square meters in all rooms. The production team is in a different building using a video village. Onset - 6 people. Three actors, Camera, Sound and Director. All other changes are made by people that walk from the other building, make a change and leave.

Slow, painful, but as safe as we can make it.

Everyone that visits set is logged in for contact tracing reasons. As much single use items as possible (sorry environment).

But we have it covered, as far as we know.

My default for writing small is budget. More productions are will to risk smaller amounts. Once we start, the budget goes up, so does the locations and the cast. But a small starting point is better (in my opinion).

Stevan Šerban

In 1992, I wrote and directed a play for a theater with three characters on a bus. (there was no Covid at the time)

We have won a lot of awards at festivals and that play has been performed for five years!

Craig D Griffiths

Stevan Šerban sounds like a great premise. Do you own the play? If not could you get it and adapt it for screen.

Richard Kodai

I think it's a great idea to either make your script "smaller" or come up with a new idea for a feature. That is what I'm going to do. I'm working on a new script for a movie on a single location, with only a handful of cast and crew. Covid safe. Cheap.

Brian Largo

I'd suggest this either if you rewrite it or you're writing from scratch: If you're shooting it yourself, analyze what you have in hand and write with it in mind.

Craig D Griffiths

Richard Kodai you are 100% correct. Small is always a great option. I just went through this. I started with a 3 person one room screenplay.

The production has kept growing as they find money.

http://griffithscreative.com.au/contained-story-you-must-write-one/

Stevan Šerban

Craig D Griffiths Yes, that's my play.

Craig D Griffiths

Stevan Šerban film it. Even if you use and iphone and Filmic Pro (which is amazing). Focus on good audio, makes a big difference.

The story is the important thing after all and if it is a good story you have it made.

You’ll find a distributor these days. There is a need for content to keep streamers full. So much content is being consumed.

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