Downton Abbey Script Book Season 1 (Downton Abbey, 1)

It's not often that I read scripts, especially for TV series, but I was trying something new for the script writing unit of my Creative Writing class. I love Downton Abbey, and I think that the series has a lot to consider, in terms of formatting, pacing an episode, developing characters' motivations.Since I've seen season one several times, I easily imagined the episode playing out in my head as I read. Unlike other TV scripts I've read, Julian Fellowes is a minimalist when it comes to actions; much of the blocking and movement seems left to the director and actors' interpretation of the scenes. Apart from crucial actions, sometimes the entrances of characters aren't even noted--they are suddenly just there in the scene, reacting to what another has said. If Fellowes does include a direction, it is often a line such as "he is pleased" at the end of a scene. It's a state of mind for the actor to consider as he or she reacts to the information--this becomes very clear if one considers how often DA is parodied as a show about people giving each other a LOT of dramatic looks. Great shades of Hemingway's iceberg.The book does offer two advantages for DA fans: reading deleted lines/scenes, and reading lots of commentary. Deleted scenes and lines are marked by vertical dotted lines along the margins. Sometimes, there is some commentary from Fellowes about why the scene was cut. Other times, the reader has to think about it--in most cases the cutting speeds up the story and removes redundant information. By contrast, the commentary in the book is extensive at times, filling whole pages. It's useful, whether Fellowes is explaining a character's motivation, the complexity of Mary and Matthew (so many cross purposes!), or how many beats he includes in a scene. I found that I enjoyed the commentary towards the second half of the book, since the notes were less about establishing characters and more about the technical aspects of the story writing.For DA fans, this is well worth reading. For fans of scripts or aspiring writers, this is worth considering, especially since it does set up the rest of the series.

I'm working on a script of my own and reading what the show was written is helping on how my script should be written that I think all screenwriters should get this to help them on how to write better.

This book--the first of what will hopefully become a six-season series--is a must-have for all of us who are enduring Downton Abbey withdrawal. That said, it's appeal should be broader than that. All the shooting scripts from Season One are given here in unedited form, with indications where dialogue or scenes were cut in the interests of time or other production considerations.But the real value of this collection are Julian Fellowes' own very fulsome, prolific and engaging comments on nearly every scene, He gives us the creative thinking behind many of the character trait and plot twists, details on production resources and limitations, the struggles and uncertainties of the first season, before anyone knew what a phenomenal hit the show would be. Fellowes shares wonderful anecdotes from his own growing-up and tales heard from his own family members--incidents that found their way into the show. He offers a great deal of historical background, both on national and international events that are mentioned on the show and on the minutia of the way of life he set out to portray, and the attitudes and assumptions--the "why" of the aristocratic life as well as the "what."Downton Abbey fans will watch the Season I DVD with sharper eyes and enhanced awareness. Students of TV production, direction and writing will love this book too, for it's insights into the profession. I devoutly hope Fellowes intends to publish all six seasons of scripts and his comments.

Downton Abbey the Script for Season 1 allowed me to start to catch up on the entire PBS series...I did not even know it was on TV until my gf told me about it and convinced me to check it out...I only saw Season 4 and Season 6 the final one on PBS, because for some reason Season 5 was put on a pay per view basis, so I had a lot of catching up to do...This charging for Season 5 by PBS was unconscionable, greedy and just plain wrong!Anyway I have a lot of catching up to do, I am now immersed in Season 2 the script and still have to read Season 3 and 5 just to get current! And then, already mesmerized, I will want to reread Season 4 and Season 6 just to refresh my memory of such a classic portrayal of a lifestyle doomed to become extinct as the dinosaurs in this modern world of 2016! The author, Julian Fellowes has outdone himself here, giving us a veritable time machine glimpse into the past that we would otherwise be totally unaware of. He does an outstanding job of bringing home the reality of everyday life of the characters in both the "Upstairs" and the "Downstairs" portions of this stately, classic old English mansion and their values, morals and world views they believed in so implicitly.

Personally I enjoy reading playscripts of different types. It is always interesting to consider how an interpretation of a script results in a successful outcome, as was the case with Downton Abbey.A reading of the script also serves as a reminder of the evolution of the series including plot and character development. However, in the case of this particular publication, it also serves to enhance one's understanding of the series, especially in view of the fact that Julian Fellowes explains clearly why certain scenes have been included, excluded or moved.He also details where the inspiration for certain situations contained within the script came from, which not only provides an interesting alternative perspective, but also serves to justify the inclusion of even the most unlikely happenings, within the context of the scripts.Overall, this proved a fascinating read and represented excellent value as a Kindle download.

Downton Abbey has become a must see in my house. I love everything from the gorgeous castle to the Dowager's one-liners. Maggie Smith plays the part brilliantly. Having collected the DVDs I was delighted to see they were releasing the complete scripts - especially since I'm also into screenwriting and am hoping to write my own TV drama one day. This book not only contains the material which was aired but also deleted scenes. Julian Fellowes gives commentary which in some parts is very interesting and gives more insight into the Edwardian Era. In the middle are some nice pictures to. I've already pre-ordered Series 2. A must buy for any Downton Abbey fan!

As an eternal student of writing and its many forms, script writing has always eluded me as rather technical and, at times, foreboding. I have always wanted to understand the craft before attempting to write my own screenplay, so I thought what better way to learn than to learn from the greats. Julian Fellowes created the masterpiece that is Downton Abbey - an intricately woven world of many layers and of characters known and loved the world over. This book offers brilliant insight into the world he created while showing us the technicalities of the writing form. A brilliant learning tool, but wholly entertaining also. I will be getting the script books for the entire run (which of course I hope goes on and on forever). I cannot recommend this book enough. Its simply amazing how something so black and white can open our eyes to a world of colour, torment, intrigue, laughter, sadness and joy all in one fell swoop.

A pleasure to read and well done

I love this book, it's fascinating to read how the scripts first started out. How much was scripted and how much was the chemistry between the actors. There's lots of scenes that were cut and lines missing which add things to a scene that never made it into the show. It also explains things like what Matthew and Mary thought when they first met, why Julian Fellowes had them start off on the wrong foot and over the course of the series fall in love. It's interesting to see it written down and explained with reasoning behind it. I've already ordered the series two book.