I'm thinking of doing a stageplay mainly because I've actually been in a stageplay (high school drama) and having to think of various settings and explain them just seems a bit daunting for me. I feel like there are more terms in screenwriting that I am just not familiar with, SO, I thought a stage play might be easier.

Then again, there are things you can do with a screen play (special effects, etc.) that would be either difficult or impossible to do on the stage.

So I keep going back and forth--even this close to the start(!) I'm still feeling like I want to stick with the stage, but am I doing this out of some miss-placed loyalty? Like the stage will somehow be "sad" if I abandon it for the silver screen?

Me: I'm sorry stage, I'm thinking of writing a screen play.
Stage: But why?
Me: For one thing, I can do things with a screenplay that I can't do with a stageplay.
Stage: Wait! Just give me a chance! Don't leave just when things start to look a little rough! We can make it work!
Me: Well....

So what about you guys? (and by "guys" I mean "people in general regardless of gender)

If you are doing a screenplay or anything other than a stage play, why? Why not a stage play? If stageplay, why not screen?

Looking forward to reading your comments!

"You're insane."
"Has it really taken you this long to figure that out?"
- Batman: The Long Halloween

I felt the signature going first was appropriate for this. Who says you can't have special effects on stage? You just have to be creative about it, dammit!

I'm doing both, should I have the time. The stage play is a stage play because I can't really see it as a movie in my head, but a lot of the stuff that's coming to mind would be perfect for the stage. The movie...well, it's a graphic novel adaptation, and it's got meta-humans in it, so a stage play would be quite literally impossible. Unless anybody has ideas of how to have a guy suddenly appear out of thin air without smoke or mirrors, being gripped by a guy that goes so fast his own dimension can't contain him.

I've written both. Performed in both. Directed both. They're both great mediums.

Stage is more character oriented. Less locations. More dialogue.

Screen is a lot of visuals. More complex (but fun!).

I would think it ultimately depends on what your story is about. Are you thinking dynamic dialogue or fast car chases?

Screenplays are fun, because, especially in a forum like SF, you can do anything with it and not worry about the reality of making the film. It's an exercise, really. So, don't let all the mumbo jumbo about screenplay format get you down.

Whatever your choice, stage will understand. Trust me. :)

-

karynbensinger.com

Last year I wrote a stage play because I have experience with stage plays (acting in them), and also because I felt it would be more marketable once completed (several theaters in the area allow local playwrights to submit their work). I've always found dialogue to be easy to write (in novels, short stories), so I figured a play would be a breeze; I never plot out my novels, so I approached SF the same way, with a general idea but no specific details.

Once I started writing, my hands were tied by the limitations of the stage. I couldn't tell my story in one or two settings (I probably could have, if I had thought about it and taken the time - before June - to plan). I was still determined to write a stage play, so I changed my story to one that could take place on one set.

The writing and format for a stage or screen play are pretty similar (the writer is not supposed to say much about camera angles and such anyway), and the screenplay allows you to have a 5-minute scene in one room with the next scene in another room or another house. The stage play does not. Even if you're planning on having all your scenes indoors (no big car chases), the screenplay allows you to move to and from locations very easily, unless your locations can be created with a quick and easy set change.

That's my two cents.

:)

Criss, la Reina
www.crisswrites.com
www.xanga.com/reinacristina

Thanks for all the comments! Yeah, I like to write (or try to write a lot of snappy, witty dialogue that I thought would work well on the stage--though I've seen it work well on the Gilmore Girls too...but then TV is a whole other ball of wax, what with having to plan for commercial breaks and all.

Like you, Criss, I tend to not plot out my novels in advance either--I try to start with a semi-vague idea of what the story will be about, and then take it from there--which might be one reason why I have yet to "win" NaNo in the 5 or so years that I've been doing it.

This is my first stab at Script Frenzy, and like NaNo, I only have a vague idea--well, the problem is I have several vague ideas and keep hoping that with enough Ritalin, I'll be able to choose one! My first thought (and I kind of laughed when I saw your profile)was that it was going to be "Noises off" meets "Bang Bang You're Dead" meets "High School Musical" but without the music--possibly having a few false starts into a some big musical number, then having someone in the cast remind the others this isn't a musical--it's REAL life! ;-) I even had a title for it: "High (school) Drama: A Comedy in Two Acts" Some of it being inspired by my almost 17 yr old twins who are involved in plays at their school. I still might do this--maybe try it out the first day or so and if I don't like it, move on to my next idea.

The thought had also occured to me--and thanks for the reminder--that there might be times when I'll feel the stage is too restrictive--I guess that's why screen plays seem to be more popular in SF (at least from what I've noticed). I guess, if I start out with a stage play, but later decide I want to do more with it, I could always adapt it for the screen later! :-)

Donna Leonard
http://360.yahoo.com/writinginmyhead

Writing that springs from the surface of existence--when there is
no other way and the deeper wells have dried up--is nothing,
and collapses the moment a truer emotion makes that surface
shake.

I'm writing a stage play. About a quarter of the way through, I felt it should be a manga script. Now it's feeling like a soap opera.

Although this is confusing the hell out of me, it's nice to imagine my story in various dramatic contexts.

I'm going to keep writing it as a stage play. When it's all over, I'll consider what may suit it best.

Saipanwriter
http://saipanwriter.blogspot.com

P.S. Writinginmyhead--I find inspiration from my 13 yo daughter, who is also active in theatre.