Sunday, April 27, 2014

Making a Living at Writing (not easy but here are some tips)

I was asked recently if I make a living at writing. Answer: I do.

I make a living off of writing and a good part of that is scripts. I had been writing and marketing my scripts for 20 years before I got to this point so it's not a quick or easy process.

Step 1: Write A LOT! - Don't be afraid to write something bad. I wrote a lot of bad scripts before I wrote good ones.

Step 2: Enter contests - No contest is too small. Don't just go for the big contests that promise fame and forture. Go for the local, small contests. I got my start with small contests and got great feedback from these.

Step 3: Learn how to market your own writing online. I did a lot better promoting my own writing rather than going through traditional publishers and agents. I've done both and I've made much more on my own. This may not be true for everyone though. It is good to try traditional means too. Some writers still make a living the old fashioned way.

Step 4: Learn from other writers and make connections to stage theatres and/or movie makers (depending on the scripts you write). Don't just focus on Hollywood or Broadway. You learn a lot from small community theatres and new movie makers. Start small and learn as much as possible from the people who use your scripts.

Step 5: Have fun! If you don't enjoy your own writing, no one else will enjoy it either. You have to be your own biggest fan. That love of your writing will come through.

Here is a great script writing video to get you started: http://freedrama.net/writing.html

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

The Ghosts of Detention play now published with great monologues for teens

The Ghosts of Detention (aka The Wedgie Club): Great Plays for the Stage is now available on Amazon.com.

This is a full length play about young adults (teens / teenagers) who find themselves in trouble at their high school and end up in detention. The script takes place in the 1980s but the students from detention end up performing a 1920's play within the play. There is a lot of comedy and excellent monologues throughout the script and even some songs. This play has a flexible cast of 11 to 26. This play includes excellent monologues for teen actors including "I Need Detention", "The Girl Who Broke His Fingers", "Wishing" and "Big Zero."

Monologues from the play "Ghosts of Detention"

"I Need Detention"

"The Girl Who Broke His Fingers"

"Wishing"

"Big Zero."

Monday, April 21, 2014

Princess from Another Planet free comedy scifi play script for 4 or more actors

The newest free play script on the Freedrama website is:

Princess from Another Planet


Comedy play for 4-5 actors plus possible extras by D. M. Larson



CAST OF CHARACTERS

PRINCESS - space alien princess from another planet with a necklace that gives her powers

SCIENTIST - Peter is a brilliant inventor who creates a translation machine to understand the alien princess.

LILA - Girlfriend of Peter who does not want to see him go with the Princess to her planet.

SOLDIER - Nervous soldier who tries to do his duty. This part can be divided up between multiple actors if desired.

GENERAL - This character is off stage (although can be on stage if desired) - It can be double with Lila or pre-recorded or played by another actor.

Read the play now at http://freedrama.net/princessplanet.html


Sci Fi Themed One Act Plays that can be used with this script:

Superhero Support Group

Super Dead Man

Metropolis Man


Sunday, April 20, 2014

Easter improv theatre games for fun activity on this holiday http://www.freedrama.net/improv.html

Easter Improv

Here are some fun improv theatre games you can play on Easter with your drama / acting friends and family.


Pass the Egg: All people get in a circle and pretend like they are passing an Easter egg. Each time the egg goes around the circle it changes and gets bigger, smaller, heavier, lighter, stinkier, etc.

Bunny Mirror Exercise: Pair up people. One person acts like the Easter Bunny and the other person must copy all their moves. Then they switch places.

Shrinking Easter Egg: Everyone pretends they are inside a giant Easter egg, but then the leader says the egg gets smaller and everyone must pantomime showing the egg getting smaller. The leader makes it smaller and smaller until no one can move.

Lines from our Pockets: The audience will write lines that people hunting for eggs might say. Someone will collect the lines and not show them to the actors. The actors put the papers in their pockets without looking at them. The actors will act out the scene and then they must take a paper from their pocket after saying a few made up lines and add the line in their pocket at the end of what they are saying. The scene is a group of kids on an Easter egg hunt.

Here comes Paul/Paula Cottontail. Peter is sick and the other rabbits are trying to train Paul/Paula Cottontail to do Easter bunny duties. But each time Cottontail is offstage, they say a problem he/she has and then Cottontail must come on stage and act in the way they say. Then each time Cottontail leaves, they give a new problem and each time Cottontail returns, the problems all combine for a big problem. The game ends when Cottontail goes off to deliver eggs or gets fired.

Stunt Doubles: 2 Actors are acting a scene such as making Easter baskets. When it comes time to do a "dangerous" step (such as putting candy in the basket) they call in their stunt doubles.


Find more improv theatre games at http://www.freedrama.net/improv.html

Tuesday, April 15, 2014

Reading can come alive when you read with a group (classroom reader's theatre)

Reading can come alive when you read with a group (read a play with your class for a fun literature experience).

Hook (Anticipatory Set): As a class, discuss the following questions: What are some of the students' favorite movies? Are they dramas or comedies?

Part 1: Divide the classroom up in to small groups. Have the student groups discuss if they like a serious story (drama) or a funny one (comedy). As a group, they will decide on which one they like better. (optional: maybe students will want to change groups to join a comedy group or a dramatic one)

Part 2: Have students go to freedrama.net and search the website for scripts that match the size of their group. From these scripts, did they find a dramatic one or a comedy?

Part 3: The students will print out enough copies of the script for each member of the group. Each student picks a part. They will read the entire play aloud in a small group.

Part 4: The students will pick a short scene from the script and practice that scene. Conclusion: The groups will summarize the script for the class. Then they will perform the short scene for the entire class and discuss why they picked the script and that scene. (Optional: students can say which famous actors they would cast in the script as a fun way to engage the class)


Wednesday, April 9, 2014

Dramatic female teen monologues about depression http://freedrama.net/small1t.html

There are some good female teen monologues that tackle the topic of depression. http://freedrama.net/small1t.html

"The Not So Perfect Child" - Monologue- Female (2-3 minutes)

"Much Madness" Dramatic Monologue-Female (new)

"Sob Story" Monologue from a play - Female (1-2 minutes)

"Mess Things Up" Monologue from a play - Female (2+ minutes)

"First Words" Monologue from a play - Female (45 seconds to 1 minute)

"Beauty and Perfection" - Short Monologue from a play - Female (1 minute)

"Piggy Princess" Monologue from a play - Female (1-2 minutes)

"Pearls of Wisdom" Monologue-Woman
A play for mature actors (6-7 minutes)

"No Witnesses" - Dramatic Monologue for Kids - Male or Female (1-2 minutes)

"End the Hurting" - Short Dramatic Monologue (about bullying and abuse)-Male or Female (30 seconds)

"The Girl Who Broke His Fingers" - Monologue - Female (new)

"Perfectly Ugly" Monologue from a published play - Female (1+ minutes)

"Breaking Heart" - Monologue- Female (2 minutes)

Tuesday, April 8, 2014

Nobody Famous character analysis (it's not all fluff in comedies) http://freedrama.net/nbfamous.html

"Nobody Famous" is one of my older one act plays but it remains popular http://freedrama.net/nbfamous.html

I believe people enjoy the light comedy and simple humor of the situation and characters. I had someone email recently about the character of Heather, who might be considered the one with the least amount of depth. But there is more than meets the eye in this "simple" character.

When someone asked about the character of Heather (by an actor portraying her), I gave this reply:

"You described Heather well... ditzy and wants to have fun.

But she is also very positive and wants to try and help Brenda look at the brighter side of life. Even though Brenda seems annoyed with her, Heather does help her have fun and look at things in a more positive way.

Heather does tries to see the best in people, but she's also a bit gullible. She also is a sharing person, who is not greedy. Of the people in the play, she is probably the kindest person. She has a good heart and is the most innocent (least corrupted by the world). Despite any problems around her, she keeps a good outlook on things."

So comedies don't always have to be fluff. Characters can have depth and be interesting beyond their appearance on the surface.

Copyright and Royalty

These scripts are published and protected by Copyright (c) 2001-2021.



When you purchase a PDF, you may make as many photocopies as needed (but please do NOT repost online in any way).



Purchasing a PDF of this script gives you the rights to use for:

Auditions

Classrooms

Workshops

Camps



If you use the script in a paid performance where admission is charged or in a competition, please pay the royalty:



https://sellfy.com/p/1MQC/



This royalty covers all performances that occur within one month’s time.



IMPORTANT: Please be sure to get permission from your competition for the script before performing it.