Winter Creative Challenge

Topic: Script Writing

NEHS is aware that drama (both contemporary and classic) is slowly being eroded from high school English curricula. This creative challenge aims to engage students with pieces of literature that they may not be familiar with, and to foster a love, and understanding, of script writing as a creative process. This year’s Creative Challenge will focus on Shakespeare’s The Tempest. Applicants should consider the wider themes and motifs discussed in their chosen scene and focus on updating it to their particular local geographic and cultural context.

Awards

Winning students will be notified by email and will have their work published on the NEHS blog. All winning students will be candidates to receive prizes at the end of the year.

Eligibility

  1. Applicants must be NEHS student members enrolled in a school with an active NEHS chapter.
  2. A maximum of five chapter members may submit from each active NEHS chapter.

Submission Requirements

  1. Applicants should read William Shakespeare’s The Tempest to gain some overall context of the play. Students can also consult various film versions of the play, available online.
  2. Students should select one of the following key scenes for detailed study:
    1. Act I, Scene II - Arial reports to Prospero
    2. Act II, Scene II - The four-legged monster
    3. Act III, Scene I - The log scene
    4. Act V, Scene I - Caliban’s return
  3. Students should re-write one of the scenes above, bringing the scene up-to-date and making specific reference to the students local cultural and geographic context.
  4. The student’s text should be no longer than the original and should be written in modern English. There is no requirement that the scene be written in blank verse.
  5. Students should use standard script formatting conventions. View guidelines on how to format a script.

Submission Process

  1. All submissions must be made via the NEHS AwardSpring platform.
  2. Applicants must complete demographic data questions prior to submitting their documentation.
  3. Applicants must include a brief biography and portrait photo.
  4. Applicants must agree that they are willing to provide a written report and photos detailing the impact the award has had on them, which can be used by NEHS to promote this and other competitions in future years, if they receive one of the awards.

Evaluation Process

  1. All submissions will be evaluated by at least two NEHS evaluators.
  2. All submissions will be evaluated against a rubric containing (but not limited to) the following categories:
    1. Quality of plot and structure
    2. Quality of characters (are they well-rounded and believable)
    3. Development of conflict and tension
    4. Shows action rather than talking about action
    5. Is directly related to students’ local context
    6. The work could be successfully produced on stage
    7. Correct formatting