Step 1: Mastery of Drama and Comedy

Topic · 1 minute

Rio Bravo (1959)

The scene you will transcribe today only takes about half of a script page in the original script of Rio Bravo.

But you are not writing for the audience of the 1950’s. Today, we break up the action, and create more white space on the page, so we arrive closer to the one-minute-per page average.

Because it is the film’s opening scene, there’s nothing else you need to know other than the characters’ names as noted in the script.

• The drunk: DUDE
• The bad guy: JOE BURDETTE
• The sheriff: JOHN T. CHANCE

Of course, if you’re a western lover you should also know that the drunk is played by Dean Martin, and the sheriff by John Wayne.

Zootopia (2016)

If you’ve seen this delightful animation, you will remember the instant-classic DMV scene.

The entire sequence runs for nearly four minutes, and we’ll focus on the first ninety seconds.

Screenwriters Bush and Johnston were facing a tremendous challenge here.

The scene had to be slow, but not boring. How do you make something seem long, yet not feel long?

You’ll find out when we share the full-length script with you at the end of the course.

For now, all you need to know is the names of the two key players:

• The bunny: HOPPS
• The fox: NICK

Enjoy!