How Do I make a script from a fanfic

[Koichi]

Not sure if you could consider it a radio play for what I have in mind, but I'll call i tthat untli someone can offer a better term, anyways, I have a fanfic that I wish to make into like i said, a radio play. But I've been wondering whats the best way to convert it into a script? should i just have the lines for each character typed out and leave the sound effects out? or should I include the sound effects in the script? I was also wondering what I should do if I have a certain character look a certain way during the scene would you have the narrator say; "Insert char name here turned his head insert thing here..."
Any help would be appreciated, thanks!

[LG65]

While I am doing something of this nature now, I found out that there can't be too much narration.

Have the lines for each character typed out, but include sound effects. You want to make sure that the audience wants to imagine the scenarios (narration works too, but not too much).

And yes, I do believe it's a radioplay.

[Z-Che Chan]

Download this program:

www.celtx.com (http://voiceactingalliance.com/board/www.celtx.com)

It should have everything you need scripting wise.


With it being a fanfic, you should be set, you just have to put it in script format. You may want to go back, however, and check to see if there is anything you may want to add (speaking wise) that you feel may push the story along even further or get rid of something that may otherwise be narration.
With that script program, you should be able to organize everything well.

*Concern 1: Script*

Have the SFX included in the script. It allows the talent to know what's going on as well, not just their lines wise

*Concern 2: Description*

As far as description goes, you have a few options (that I can think of at the moment):

Narrate: Be careful with this since you don't want to much narration. That doesn't mean it can't be pulled of, in my opinion, you need to be picky about the VA who does the narrator for it to turn out (some may disagree). With this option, you may want to set up an 'intro SFX' for them. So as the audience is listening to it--it'll cause a visual freeze frame of the character
that you usually see in anime where it has some corcky background with their name, age, ect..,

Character interaction: As the titel says, depending on the feel of the radioplay, you can have a scene where the characters interact enough to were you know.
For example:

*Character gets picked on
Bully: Ha! Look at you! Your hair is all dingey looking and you wear ratty clothes! *cackles*
-Later on that day, the character is crying:
Character: I don't have on ratty clothes (this can invite SFX for ruffling clothes and the audience would see that through the audio)
-Then a friend could talk to the character and descriptions can come through that. Or even go to a scene of shopping afterwards.

*Friends make fun of each other

*Character introduces his or herself
-if you have that intro SFX for freeze framing (this is visually caused by the SFX and audio pause), the character can say everything.


A MAJOR OPTION!!
If it isn't necessary, don't use it!!: With it being a radioplay, unless it's crucial to the story/environment, you can just leave it out. Lol
(That is major xD)

WELP!
Ultimately, the result comes from the author. If you don't script it well, anything can end up going wrong, so keep that in mind. I could give you a ton of advice, but if you can't apply it...well...it's bound to backfire ^^;;;
Just a hint of advice as far as the voice talent is concered....the issue i've heard in A LOT of radioplays is that some characters sound alike x.X From that, naturally, it becomes confusing. The talents don't have the fandubs, the characters, to cover it up (well...unless it ridiculously obvious). I say that because with a fandub--the audience has visuals to distract them. Well, i'm sure you can tell the differences ^^;

Just something to keep one less *issue* when critiques come your way.
Good Luck! ^^


Btw: If it has to be 'dubbed,' it's not a radioplay.

If there are still pictures with audio, it's a radioplay
However, if it's moving characters, with moving mouths, it's dubbed.

I may need to go back and check my definition though xD
That IS the jist of it. Lol

[Koichi]

thanks for the advice and links guys, I'll defintely try that program and keep those tips in mind. And yeah i know what you mean by the "Corky" effect background lol. right now i just plan on doing a radioplay, but eventually i may make stills of major parts of the scene, dont know what you would call that lol.

[UltraRob]

First, here's an article about doing audio drama in general (http://blog.kungfuactiontheatre.com/?page_id=6) that might be worth you looking at.

Now then, to your more immediate problem.

Z-Che Chan already covered most of what you need to know about the formatting, but here's a few extra notes for adapting like you're doing.

1) Strip out all the "he said"/ "she said" type references that are there to tell who's speaking, you don't need them anymore. If there's an important emotion expressed then put that emotion in your actor's notes.

BOB
(angry)
I'm going to get that guy!

You'll be amazed how much of the story is just talking about who's saying what and other things unnecessary to audio drama.

2) As for narration, there's really two major considerations- is this an audio drama (radioplay) or a full-cast audiobook? They're a bit different. If it's a full-cast audiobook (like Drowtales (http://www.drowtales.com/wordpress/?cat=31), or Lady from Day (http://www.ladyfromday.com/)) then you're trying to preserve the original text and use actors to enhance it so there will be lots of narration. If you're trying to produce an audio drama then the dialogue and sound effects are the focus, so try to keep the narration down to a bare minimum. (Maybe even just using it to indicate where scenes take place, or for setting/ending scenes.)

Things to think about!
Good luck!
Rob

[Russ]

You don't need any special software. Most people do just fine with Word or even a simple text editor. The key is simply to recognize that prose and performances are different things and you cannot translate simply from one to the other. Some of the best examples - and worth learning from - are Agatha Christie's adaptations of her own works, including The Mousetrap, Witness for the Prosecution, and And Then There Were None. They are not straight transcriptions, as that would not have worked well.

[Koichi]

First, here's an article about doing audio drama in general (http://blog.kungfuactiontheatre.com/?page_id=6) that might be worth you looking at.

Now then, to your more immediate problem.

Z-Che Chan already covered most of what you need to know about the formatting, but here's a few extra notes for adapting like you're doing.

1) Strip out all the "he said"/ "she said" type references that are there to tell who's speaking, you don't need them anymore. If there's an important emotion expressed then put that emotion in your actor's notes.

BOB
(angry)
I'm going to get that guy!

You'll be amazed how much of the story is just talking about who's saying what and other things unnecessary to audio drama.

2) As for narration, there's really two major considerations- is this an audio drama (radioplay) or a full-cast audiobook? They're a bit different. If it's a full-cast audiobook (like Drowtales (http://www.drowtales.com/wordpress/?cat=31), or Lady from Day (http://www.ladyfromday.com/)) then you're trying to preserve the original text and use actors to enhance it so there will be lots of narration. If you're trying to produce an audio drama then the dialogue and sound effects are the focus, so try to keep the narration down to a bare minimum. (Maybe even just using it to indicate where scenes take place, or for setting/ending scenes.)

Things to think about!
Good luck!
Rob
If I look at it that way then it would be an audio drama... but yeah of course im going to take out those hesaid/shesaid lines haha

[Mochan]

It's not just the 'he said/she said' lines, it's all the narration. If it's a radioplay, then it needs to be converted to radioplay standards. Which means making the actors say/do things that would normally be told by narration. You basically want to take out narration completely (if you can) and have the characters do all the talking and doing.

[Koichi]

Thats what i was thinking as well, I might have a few parts for the narrator, but only to intro the chapter or describe something like when in anime the time slows down when a boy and girl first meet and the narrator describes her or somethin along those lines.

[UltraRob]

Thats what i was thinking as well, I might have a few parts for the narrator, but only to intro the chapter or describe something like when in anime the time slows down when a boy and girl first meet and the narrator describes her or somethin along those lines.

Sounds good. Just use it when absolutely necessary. :) There are some things sound effects and even stage dialogue can't do, and that's what narration is there for!

Rob

[Rikdo_Osaka]

If the story is told from a character's POV then narration or thoughts since this is the main character doing the narration. This goes the same if you can an narratior...

[Koichi]

just also wondering, if the fanfic is based off of an anime, would I post the auditions in the original works area..? or the anime area?

[Z-Che Chan]

Umm...good question o.0

Erm...


EDITT!!!
I lied!!

It goes in the 'Original and non-anime' section
....cause...that's what it's descriptor says. Lol


GOES IN THE 'ORIGINAL AND NON-ANIME' SECTION XD
My bad. Lol

[Koichi]

thanks, thats what i was thinking too lol, yeah it has some of the anime characters, and some of my own, and of course one of my own characters is the amin character in the radio...drama lol

[Z-Che Chan]

And yeah, the other poster is correct about you not actually needing that software, but I find it enjoyable to use >.>

I could always send you a word script template if you don't want to use the software, but celtx is easy to use and VERY helpful.

Your choice ^^

If not,
Good Luck on your project! ^^

[Koichi]

thanks, and yes the celtx made it really easy to make the script, im almost done with teh first uhh... episode.. or whatever you wanna call it