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The Given Circumstances 8/16/2011 10:46:00 PM

THE GIVEN CIRCUMSTANCES

Adapted from SCRIPT, ANALYSIS FOR ACTORS, DIRECTORS, AND

DESIGNERS BY James Thomas.

Time: In what year and the season does the action occur? Can the passage

of time during the screenplay be determined? The time between the scenesand acts? The hour of the day for each scene? Each act? What is the

urgency?

Place: In what country, region, or city does the action take place? Are any

geographical features described? And what specific locale does the action

occur? What is the specific location for each scene, including the ground

plan and other architectural features if possible? What is the meaning of the

place?

Society: What are the family relationships? What are the relationships and

love relationships? What occupational groups are depicted? What social

classes are represented? What are the social standards, the behavior

expectations? Are they spoken about or implied? Are they enforced openly

or indirectly? What social group controls the social standards? What are the

rewards for conformity? What are the penalties for violating the social

standards?

Politics and Law: What is the system of government that serves as the

background for the story? Any specific examples of political or legal

activities, actions, or ceremonies? Do politics or law exercise any control

over the characters? Who controls the political and legal circumstances in

the screenplay? How do they exert control? What are the rewards for

political and legal compliance? What penalties for violating the political and

legal standards? What is right what is wrong?

Intellect and Culture: what is the general level of culture and artistic taste of

the characters? Any examples of intellectual or creative activities? Any

characters more or less educated or creative than others? Does intellect or

culture exercise any control over the characters? Who controls the

intellectual and artistic circumstances in the screenplay? How do they exert

their control? What are the rewards for intellectual and creative

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conformity? What are the penalties for violating intellectual and artistic

standards?

Spirituality: What is the excepted code of religious or spiritual beliefs? What

is good what is bad? Any examples of religious or spiritual activities orceremonies? Does spirituality exercise any control over the

characters? Who controls the spiritual circumstances in the

screenplay? How do they exert control? What are the rewards for spiritual

conformity? What are the penalties for violating the spiritual standards?

The Three Great Influences: Religion (Good/Bad), Science (True/False),

Philosophy (The Nature of things.)

The world of the screenplay: describe the world of the screenplay the

distinctive social universe the social situation, created by the given

circumstances and social standards? How does the world of the screenplay

influence the conduct and attitude of the characters in the screenplay? What

other different points of view expressed by the characters towards their

world?

Professor Jos Angel Santana, PhD.

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Moons Death 8/16/2011 10:46:00 PM

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Time 8/16/2011 10:46:00 PM

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