Scriptwriting

Mambo Vipi, Future Screenwriters and Playwrights!

Habari zenu, wasanii? Welcome to the magical world of Scriptwriting! Ever watched a show like Sultana, laughed at a skit from Churchill Show, or been captivated by a play at the Kenya National Theatre and thought, "Wow, how did they come up with that?" Well, it all starts with a single idea and a blank page. The script is the blueprint, the map, the recipe for every great performance. It's the soul of the story. Today, we're going to learn how to build that soul from scratch. Are you ready to bring your stories to life? Let's do this!

1. What is a Script? The Foundation of a Story

Think of a script like the architectural plan for a building. Before anyone can lay a single brick, the architect has to draw a detailed plan showing where every room, door, and window goes. A script does the same for a play or a film.

It's a written document that tells a story through:

• Scene Headings: Tells us where and when the scene is happening. (e.g., inside a classroom during the day).
• Action Lines (or Stage Directions): Describes what the characters are doing and what the audience sees and hears.
• Character Names: Shows who is speaking.
• Dialogue: The actual words the characters say to each other.

Image Suggestion: A vibrant, digital art illustration of a young Kenyan student sitting under an acacia tree, laptop open, with characters from their imagination (a brave Maasai warrior, a tech-savvy Nairobi girl, a wise grandmother) popping out of the screen like holograms. The style should be colourful and optimistic.

2. The Three-Act Structure: The Skeleton of Your Story

Most great stories, from Hollywood blockbusters to local stage plays, follow a simple, powerful structure. Think of it as a journey with a beginning, a middle, and an end. We call this the Three-Act Structure.

    Act II: Confrontation (The Messy Middle)
         /|\
        / | \
       /  |  \  <-- Climax (The Big Showdown!)
      /   |   \
     /    |    \
    /     |     \
   /      |      \
Act I:    |     Act III: Resolution (The End Game)
Setup     |
(The      |
Beginning)|
----------|----------------->
Inciting Incident (The Spark!)

• Act I: The Setup (Mwanzo)

  This is the beginning. You introduce your main character (the protagonist), their world (e.g., a bustling high school in Nakuru), and what their normal life looks like. Then, something happens to turn their world upside down! This is called the Inciting Incident.

  Example: AMINA, a top student, is preparing for her KCSE exams. Her normal life is studying. The inciting incident is when she discovers that her family's savings for her university fees have been stolen. Now, she has a problem to solve!

• Act II: The Confrontation (Katikati)

  This is the longest part of the story. Your character tries to solve the problem from Act I, but things keep getting worse! They face obstacles, meet new people (allies and enemies), and are pushed to their limits. This is where the drama, the action, and the suspense live.

  Example: Amina starts her own investigation. She confronts a shady neighbour, takes on a side hustle selling smokies to raise money, and her grades start to slip because of the stress. She almost gives up hope.

• Act III: The Resolution (Mwisho)

  This is the grand finale! Your character faces their biggest challenge head-on in what we call the Climax. After this final showdown, the story wraps up. We see the consequences of their actions and what their new normal looks like.

  Example: At the climax, Amina discovers it was a relative who took the money. She confronts them in a powerful scene. In the end, she doesn't get all the money back, but her community, impressed by her hard work, comes together to help her. She learns a valuable lesson about resilience and community.

3. Proper Script Formatting: The Rules of the Game

Just like a science experiment, scriptwriting has a specific format. This makes it easy for the director, actors, and crew to read and understand. It looks technical, but it's very simple once you get the hang of it. Let's break down a sample page.

SCENE START

INT. GIBSON'S CYBER CAFE - NIGHT

A noisy, dimly lit cyber cafe in downtown Nairobi. The hum of old computers fills the air.

KEVIN (19), looking stressed, types frantically on a keyboard. He's wearing a faded band t-shirt. Across from him sits ANNA (18), calm and composed, scrolling on her phone.

                        ANNA
            Any luck finding that attachment?

Kevin groans, leaning back in his plastic chair. It squeaks in protest.

                        KEVIN
            Nothing. It's like the email just
            vanished. My whole project... gone.

                        ANNA
                (without looking up)
            Did you check the spam folder?

Kevin freezes. He slowly turns to his screen, his eyes wide.

                        KEVIN
            (to himself)
            Huwezi jua...

He clicks the mouse a few times. His face lights up.

                        KEVIN
            Wewe! You're a genius!

SCENE END

Key Elements to Notice:

• SCENE HEADING: Always in CAPS. Starts with INT. (Interior/Inside) or EXT. (Exterior/Outside), followed by the LOCATION, and then TIME (DAY/NIGHT).
• ACTION: Written in the present tense. It describes what we see and hear.
• CHARACTER NAME: In CAPS, centered above their dialogue.
• PARENTHETICAL: A small direction for the actor, in brackets, to show *how* they should say a line (e.g., (whispering), (angrily)). Use these sparingly!
• DIALOGUE: The words the character speaks.

4. The Math of Scriptwriting: Page-per-Minute Rule

How do you know if your script is the right length for a 10-minute festival play or a 30-minute TV episode? There's a simple industry-standard formula to help you estimate.

    FORMULA:
    1 Page of Standard Script Format ≈ 1 Minute of Screen/Stage Time

    CALCULATION:
    Target Runtime: 15 Minutes
    Required Script Length: 15 Pages

    Target Runtime: 45 Minutes (like a TV drama)
    Required Script Length: 45 Pages

This is an approximation, of course! A scene with a lot of action and very little dialogue might be faster, while a scene with a long, emotional speech might be slower. But it's a great starting point for planning your story.

5. Your Turn to Create! The Scriptwriting Challenge

Sawa sawa, now it's your chance to be the writer! Here is your mission, should you choose to accept it:

Your Task: Write a 2-page script for a scene between two characters.

The Situation: A student has just found out they have been chosen to represent Kenya at an international arts festival, but their best friend, who also auditioned, did not get selected.

Include: A clear Scene Heading, Action Lines, and Dialogue that reveals the mixed emotions of the characters (joy, jealousy, disappointment, support).

Don't worry about making it perfect. The goal is to practice the format and to let your creativity flow. Think about how real Kenyan friends would talk in this situation. What words would they use? What would they do?

Remember, every great journey starts with a single step. Today, you've taken your first step into the incredible world of storytelling. Keep writing, keep observing, and keep dreaming.

Tukutane jukwaani! (See you on the stage!)