this is the first semester in my media degree where I have been exposed to the art of screenwriting. before now the only scripts I’d ever read were for mediocre High School projects and for stage productions. so in this first week of our screen riding studio I was taken aback at how intricately detailed screenplays have to be to communicate so many things to different audiences. firstly I was very surprised at the different languages contained within a screenplay, including those pertaining to camera movement and perspective, mise-en-scene, actor blocking, location, among other things. I didn’t realise how much of an input a screenwriter can actually have in the directorial process of creating a film, (whether this is a good or bad thing is debatable) but there is definitely potential for the screenwriter to dictate how the film and the actors will look. in a way I guess it’s good because the writer can ensure that the film will take focus on certain elements that may be symbolism or speak to the greater topics and themes of the overall story that the director may not have read. that’s definitely a topic I’d like to look into further maybe later in the semester but for now I’ll move on. secondly I was surprised when it was mentioned that a screenplay needs to sell itself I never considered that a screenplay was also going to have to be a business tool to get people to fund your film. which is obvious now that I think about it but, ice cream Play feels so far away from any capitalist or money-oriented goal. I think I have the stereotypical idea of a writer sitting at Starbucks on their MacBook writing an amazing screenplay and that definitely contrasts with the business side of the industry. but of course no one’s going to give you money to make your film unless they know what you’re making a film about, it’s something so obvious that I just never thought of. so given my oblivious nature to the art of screenwriting I’m very glad I took this class given that I’ve learnt two very crucial things about them already.