With thanks to Alex Brown for writing the script, adapting the script & providing us with the permission to make necessary changes…

Script Writer’s Vision: ‘An awkward family dinner. Stacey is Marvin’s mum. Her character I feel has changed most of all. I couldn’t find a way to make her a sarcastic, bitter grandma as I want all the negative vibes to be on Marvin, so she’s much nicer than in the other script’.

Key Themes: Hierarchy, lack of family ideal, relationships, masculinity and power.

We had permission to re-edit the script which Alex Brown kindly went through and re-wrote for us over Christmas.

After meeting up with our script writer and receiving feedback from our tutor, we decided to make our script seem more realistic due to it being set in Lincolnshire where earthquakes are unlikely to occur. We wanted a situation that the audience could relate to, such as extreme weather conditions.

The script wright was happy to make the change from earthquake to extreme weather, but was keen to keep the events fairly unambiguous so that whilst the listener can hear the rain and wind etc., they are not fully aware of what is happening. Is it a storm, a flood, a tremor? These should be the questions that the listener is asking.

From Peggy Reading on script read out workshop session. This was very useful feedback which we responded to:

• Listeners can’t see what is happening so no need to include descriptions such as ‘stares vacantly’ in script. Instead, direct the actor to speak without enthusiasm etc.
• Go into detail with sound effects. Make sure they look different on the script so that they are distinguishable from dialogue.
• Different foods don’t sound the same when being eaten. Some crunch, some are soft etc. Consider this when you want the characters to be eating with their mouths full.
• In the first scene of the script, ensure that the listener knows who each character is. This can be through other characters relating to them e.g. ‘Dad, you know I don’t like it’. We now know that this is James’ Dad.
• In the opening sound sequence with the build-up of weather, maybe open with rain and thunder and then fade into the television weather warnings before the character start to speak.
• On the script, change ‘…’ to ‘(hesitant)’ as this is an easier direction for the actors to respond to.