Song Spotting Assignment

Spotting a Script: Assignment

You are to spot the script entitled Happily Ever After: When Fairy Tales Go Bad.

To do this, you will need to download a copy of the SONG SPOTTING SCRIPT and then replace portions of the book with descriptions of songs which might stand in their stead. You don’t need to write the lyrics, just a description of each of the songs you suggest.

There are about a dozen scenes in this script; begin spotting with Scene Two. (Don’t spot the first scene; it’s likely to become a long musical scene, and therefore beyond the scope of this Lyric Lab.) You will probably end up with about 10-14 descriptions of song possibilities.

There doesn’t have to be a song in every scene, and neither does there have to be only one song in any given scene. Some of the scenes in the script have a lot of action, and you might discover you’ll want to keep some of it, while the song is being sung. That’s fine; just indicate that’s a possibility you’re considering.

Your description for each song should include the following:

Working Title(s) of the Song
Scene Number, Character(s) singing the song
Page number (of original script)
1-3 sentence narrative version of the lyric
First line of dialogue which this song replaces
Last line of dialogue which this song replaces
Purpose of song (e.g., exposition, action, etc. If character, also indicate self-discovery, decision, resolve conflict or enflame conflict.)
Suggested Structure (e.g., AABA, ABAC, etc.)
Suggested Progression (e.g., Pronoun Progression), if any
Description of the purpose of each A, B section
Do you think some dialogue will be included during this song? Yes/No/Maybe

To complete this assignment, you may hand in either:

1. A new version of the edited script, excluding all the material from the book which you cut, and including all the information requested above. If you’re handing in the script electronically, it must be in Microsoft WORD. Please insert an inch of blank space (five carriage returns) before and after each song description, so they stand out on the page.

OR

2. A description of songs, including a description of the section you’ve cut and all the information requested above.

See Spotting a Song Example (below) for additional reference.

Spotting a Script: Example

Spotting a Song Assignment

Working Title(s) of the Song: Believe in the Small; The Small and Mighty; Believe in Me; Deep Down Inside; Look at Me

Scene Number: Act Two, Scene Four

Character(s) singing the song: Chicken Little

Page number: 2-4-10

1-3 sentence narrative version of the lyric:

Chicken Little complains that no one pays any attention to him because he’s so small. He knows he can help people, if they’d just give him a chance. He contemplates going home and giving up, but pulls himself up by his bootstraps and vows to carry out his rescue plan anyway.

First line of dialogue which this song replaces:

I could’ve helped, I really really could’ve.

Last line of dialogue which this song replaces:

I pick...rescue!

Purpose: Character (decision)

Suggested Structure: AABA

Suggested Progression: Problem/Solution

Description of the purpose of each stanza (i.e., each A, each B or C)

First A: Problem: No one believes in me because I’m so small.
Second A: Elaboration: Even though I have a plan, no one’ll give me a chance.
B-section: Contemplated Solution: I could give up and go home.
Final A: Action: Chicken Little to the rescue! (climbs castle wall)

Do you think some dialogue will be included during this song? No.