Act I - tv script

Which is the proper way to do the following? I’ve seen it done both ways.

ACT I
Scene A
…………
Scene B
&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp
ACT II
Scene A
………..
Scene B

OR

ACT I
Scene A
…………
Scene B

ACT II
Scene C
………..
Scene D



“Women might be able to fake orgasms. But men can fake a whole relationship." -- Sharon Stone

I have not seen it either way.

It's not necessary to label (number, sequence) acts or scenes in a screenplay..

Lisa

It appears you may be attempting to label "sequences"

A common structure narrative might be

Act One 2 sequences
Act Two 4 sequences
Act Three 2 sequences

Sequences do not need be numbered as said, but are a common method of grouping inter-related scenes that have a beginning, middle, and end.

Or maybe that' s not what you are talking about at all

Yes, I am referencing to sequences. I’ve never numbered anything before but in looking at the ‘Bravo contest sample script’, it prints the sequence letters. So I was trying to get as closely to their example as possible (beat) or not?


“Women might be able to fake orgasms. But men can fake a whole relationship." -- Sharon Stone

Brown,

Go to Oscars.org, click on Nicholl Fellowship, go to screenplay sample.

Numbering scenes isn't recommended. It explains in the script what to do and not to do. It's quite amusing. Give it a try.

EXT. WHITEHOUSE - NIGHT

or whatever is sufficient enough to show change.

Cass

Lisa - it sounds like you're talking about structure for a 1/2 hour tv show, which is what I believe the Bravo contest is for.

Some three camera sitcom shooting scripts will label their A plots and B plots throughout the script. Single camera shows read like feature scripts.

It's just a tool.. Whatever works for you is right.
----------------------------------------------
Edited to include: I just looked at the sample pages. Above them it says "If you've never written in script format before..." so I wouldn't worry about following what they did exactly. It's just a guide.

Good question, Lisa.

I've wondered the same thing myself.

Reckon we need to do a little more research, eh?

~Barn

I believe, because we're writing a "pilot," we have some lee-way with the

Act 1
-----
Scene A

format. What's posted on Bravo, as was stated earlier, is posted merely as a guideline. (Read the rules to see that what they've actually posted as an example is NOTHING more than that.) We have free rein within reason.

Because we're "giving birth" to these sitcoms, I don't think there's really a standard, so long as we are consistent with what we do. If I'm wrong, I'm sure someone will correct me.

Let's see what the pros that hang here have to say.

~Barn

I think of my stories in sects of three ten page sequences per 30 pages.

Thinking of each sect as a smaller BEG, MIDDLE, or END of the grander BEG, MIDDLE, and END.

It guarantees a forward movement to the story which is essential to any executed story.

Here's what I remember from my sitcom-writing days.

Keep going up through the alphabet with your scene lettering. Don't repeat the same letters in Act II. To reduce confusion, sitcoms skip the letter O and the letter I.