scripted vs unscrpted

Scripted vs. unscripted

The script is very essential in the studio and majority of media houses either on television or radio have been using scripts in their productions from their inception. The trend is slowly changing with majority of media blocks leaning toward the more spontaneous approach with majority of their shows being unscripted. Many of the people presenting these shows have developed various styles of presenting their shows but the questions posed today is whether one is more convenient than the other and how.

I have been in two classes that have required me to do number of productions ranging from a music show to a news briefs. One was requiring a script and the other being totally spontaneous. My first show was in my COM 264 class, were I was asked to go to the studio and record something for 5minutes just to get familiar with the mixer and all the software that entail studio production. This to me was a piece of cake being that I think of myself as computer whiz. These gadgets and computer programmes are nothing far from the soft wares I encounter on a daily basis. This was piece of cake because the mixers a bunch of knobs that you turn left and right to get the final product. The hard part came in when it was time to record. The show was impromptu I had to do without a script. It was a difficult process seeing that I did not have a format or know what to say where, when and some times why. The whole show was filled with adlibs and numerous breaks and silence in-between the transitions and songs. My content on the topics I was talking about sounded limited. Monotony was the bulk of my piece, with repetition of a number of words as I tied to think of what to say next. I was toast had it not been for the confidence I tried to exhume. I told myself not to fret for it was just the first day and the next time would be different.

My second time in the studio was in my com436A class were we were handling a class activity in the studio and were to handle a certain topic that would spark out an argument or conversation.  We all spoke our minds with each and every persons view coming out clearly. It was fun listening to what other individuals think and comparing notes on what you both find wrong or right or what you disagree upon. It was more lively compared to the show I did on my own which had my own ideas and no one else’s also contributing to the monotony that I had mentioned earlier.  Even though some of the speakers were fairly dominant in the discussions which I later concluded to be as a result of not allocating each and every individual his/her own time to speak and be heard. The need to have drafted a script also came in when we were at times taken out of the topic which is the case in a majority of spontaneous discussions especially those that spark a lot of emotions. We at one point did not realize that we had actually all written something small to remind us on what we were to say. Even though it was not that comprehensive it was a form of a script. It actually helped us bring out our views even thought they got lost in the midst of all that arguing.

The next time I was in studio we were told to use a script during our production. We sat down and drafted a script that would be used in our show for the com436A class production. I must admit the script made every thing easier better and I even had more fun taking part in this production compared to the earlier one. The show was a type of commentary with the characters different world views coming out during their interaction. The flow of the conversations was close to perfect with each and every one saying what they intended to say in few but clear words. The numbers of takes were also fewer compared to those in the previous unscripted ones. And we also spent little time editing because of the fewer mistakes. The last two times I went to the studio I made sure I had a script because it makes work easier and I also found out that you necessarily don’t have to stick to the script. There is room for additional things such as exclamations and back ground conversations that do not appear in the script they make the show look more natural and not rehearsed

Spontaneity is also wonderful experience and many people like the unexpected.  In movies the lady always tells her man/ husband to be more spontaneous. I think there a lot of fun in mystery and the thrill of not knowing what to expect next make the adrenaline in our bodies rush. Maybe that’s why when your friend sees a movie befor you; you do not want him/her to spoil the experience for you so immediately he/she stars talking you hush them up. But on the other hand planning makes things work faster. Scripts reduce the stress of saying things you had not planned to say. Some of the things that come out of the presenters/characters mouth have consequences if you cannot vouch for them. In scripted work you have time to confirm what you want to say before you let it out. But a balance can be struck you necessarily don’t have to write every thing you are to say live on air. You can just create guideline on what you plan to do during the show and let your opinion come out when you speak because you can now follow a guideline and also speak your mind.