Labrador's IRA Newsletter Project:
Effective Literacy Website 2:
“Simply Scripts”
“Simply
Scripts” (http://www.simplyscripts.com)
is an online resource that provides access to a plethora of scripts. Here, you
can find many free scripts from the following categories; movie, TV, radio, Anime, Oscar transcripts,
theater, musical, non-English,
and unproduced scripts. There is no
need for registration or to create an account (unless you want to participate in their discussion board) as it is
constantly updated every month. Students,
as well as educators, can fully appreciate the world of performing and literary
arts by going through the scripts of their favorite movie or show. After introducing this site to my students, I
required them every two weeks to find a scene from any script that they would
like to reenact in class. Sure enough, the
students’ learning motivation skyrocketed making the class more interesting and
exciting for them—I would reserve the
library biweekly giving them an opportunity to explore and print an excerpt
from their selected script. If the
library is booked, I would reserve it weekly or have the students explore the
site on the classroom’s desktop computers.
Not only does it allow students to practice becoming technologically
literate individuals, but also literary proficient learners.
Aside the vast accessibility of free scripts,
“Simply Scripts” provides an online
store for screenplays not available on their site. You can also find books on screenwriting tips
especially useful for novel, young filmmakers and directors. You won’t even
have to worry about any purchasing issues in the store as the prices are very
affordable.
“Simply Scripts” has other features to
help improve online dialogue about scripts; such as a discussion board, movie
review, and treatment section. The
discussion board covers topics from script legal rights issues to opinionated
reviews of certain movies or shows. When
you go through this section, you will see how active the discussions and
commentaries are concerning the respective topics. However, to participate in the discussions,
you would need to create an account and log in.
In the movie review
section, you are able to look over the approval ratings and criticisms of professional
movie and television analysts. This can
be quite useful, if you want to find scripts that have academic value rather
than tasteless humor. The reviews are also quite entertaining to
read on your spare time.
The last section,
the Treatment, is an ideal place for directors or young filmmakers as it offers
resources on how the movie or show should be shot, which camera angles to use,
how “blocking,” or actor’s movements, is mapped out on the script, and more
importantly, the narrative explanation of the film itself. Simply put, this section provides outlines or
steps that show how to “treat” each film into its expected appeal.
So, if you ever want
to motivate your students into reading, have them navigate “Simply Scripts” and let them enjoy
reading their favorite movies and shows.
Aside having students perform, it is equally fun to watch students read,
memorize, and rehearse their script.
Witnessing this process is pleasing for most educators as it signifies
student learning, allowing them to read, analyze, and recite dialogues in class.
Thanks for sharing your class activities. This is something I would like to try with my students.
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