One-act play advice

[elephant1978]

Many of you know I'm trying to write a comedic one-act as an original writing sample. I've read some really great ones so far. Just thought I'd cover my ass and see if anybody has any brief insight into writing one? In terms of structure, character archs, things like that?

Ele...

[billythrilly7]

Re: One-act play advice

I really think you're in trouble, ele.


Just kidding.


good luck...make it funny..don't worry about the other stuff...structure shmucture, arch, shmarch.

[Hairy Lime]

Re: One-act play advice

I've read some really great ones so far.

I'm flattered.

[phatgirl]

Re: One-act play advice

Ele - Have you heard about the Actors Theater of Louisville's 10 minute play books? The plays in there are fabulous. I used this as inspiration when I wrote my short script.

Here's a link to one of the books on Amazon.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/157...lance&n=283155

Good luck.

[elephant1978]

Re: One-act play advice

I'm flattered.

To be honest, Hairy, I haven't read it yet. I found a handful that were half the length...so being lazy, I read those first.

But I'm still looking forward to it.

Ele...

[Hairy Lime]

Re: One-act play advice

I'm no longer flattered.

[Kwvillen]

Re: One-act play advice

To be honest, Hairy, I haven't read it yet. I found a handful that were half the length...so being lazy, I read those first. http://scriptsales.com/boards/images...es/redface.gif

Where are you reading these from?

KWV

[elephant1978]

Re: One-act play advice

Where are you reading these from?

KWV

My "agent" sent them to me.

Ele...

[Kwvillen]

Re: One-act play advice

Oh. Thanks elephant1978. Is there a bit of subtext in your post or no?

KWV

[elephant1978]

Re: One-act play advice

Oh. Thanks elephant1978. Is there a bit of subtext in your post or no?

KWV

It's just a hip-pocket. So I'm hesitant to call him my agent.

Ele...

[Kwvillen]

Re: One-act play advice

Okay, that's what the quotes meant. Gotcha.

KWV

[odocoileus]

Re: One-act play advice

One Act Tips:

http://www.pubinfo.vcu.edu/artweb/pl...eactstips.html

The website's a good resource on the whole. The one act tips don't seem so revelatory, but who knows.

[elephant1978]

Re: One-act play advice

It just seems to me that writing a comedic one-act is basically like writing a 25 page sketch. Right?

Ele...

[odocoileus]

Re: One-act play advice

Makes sense to me. If you're aiming for 25 pages, you could structure it pretty much like a sitcom. Maybe flesh it out to 30 pages by including more jokes. Eliminate the act breaks you'd find in a sitcom - you could subtly signal act breaks through character entrances or exits.

You probably want to keep all the action in one location, or in adjoining locations that the characters would naturally move to - say INT. JONES' HOUSE - LIVING ROOM -DAY and then EXT. JONES' HOUSE - LAWN -DAY.

Unity of action would be good too, though it might not hurt to jump forward in time if it worked dramatically.

[Hairy Lime]

Re: One-act play advice

In my mind, a one act play only means that you don't have to change sets during an intermission. I'd still write it with a beginning, middle, and end.