Scriptwriting Unit Task 1
Unit 24: Task 1
Commissioning
There are many jobs that simply standalone themselves when
it comes to the commissioning progress of any literate material, whether it is
a script or a simple stage direction. There are many processes that a script
will go through before having that all important make or break decision. But
also, one of the major questions that is often raised; how much is the writer
actually involved? Do they have a say in what parts are taken through to the
final script? And are they actually there on set to help vision what the final
piece looks like?
Different Job
Roles:
Commissioning
Editor
The commissioning editor is responsible for identifying
scripts or any literate media products to build up a publisher’s list. They
conduct a lot of research, whether it be online or around celebrations, such as
book fairs and local events. They are responsible for ensuring that authors are
able to deliver typescripts (A texted copy of a script) to specifications on
time. Commissioning Editors are also able to commission any form of work by
finding and contacting authors, or responding to book proposals. Though the
commissioning editor is mostly associated with books. In magazine articles,
they are responsible for commissioning writers to assemble articles and
features.
The commissioning editor is involved with the project at
every stage of its production. They are the main bridge between the initial
suggestion for a script (or product) up to the final published piece. As they
are responsible for developing their publisher's list, the commissioning editor
researches their department well, in order to learn about any prominent trends
and gaps in the market. This is where they may visit book fairs; to see what is
really “hot” on the market. They may do research online by scouring famous
social networking sites (such as Twitter and Tumblr) to see what books and
themes are trending in the media at that current time. But also, they may
attend conferences to discuss where they think the next craze may hit, and what
they might be, on both international and national scales. Other sub-roles the
commissioning editor has, is to support, develop and research Authors in their
projects, Reading and evaluating potential new proposals. Negotiating contract
terms with the authors, working with administration by looking at finance,
budgets, and strategy for selling. Generally helping out the Author of the
script to get their words transcribed from paper to the screen.
Producer
The Producer is the main job in the commissioning process
that determines the success or failure for a script to be used. Though they
work in close proximity with the Commissioning editor and Director, it is the
producer that is responsible for turning the story ideas into profitable forms
of media. Producers hold the responsibility and authority in all aspects of a
film/TV show’s production. Not only that, they are also responsible for
deciding and gathering together the whole production team. And guide the film
from beginning to end.
Producers are usually the first to get involved with a
script. In the crucial development stage, the producers are responsible for
selecting a screenplay. They then are expected to secure the rights, select an
editing team and choose the screenwriter. But also, producers raise the growth,
financing and supervise the development process overall. They are the main
people who can say yes, or no to the next big script.
However, the producer’s main job role lies within the
pre-production, post-production and production stages. As they are responsible
for setting out locations, working with selected Actors for the roles, helping
the flow of filming for a specific scene. And the general management of the
production process. Yet producers do often work closely with the scriptwriter,
in order to help the vision of what the writer interpreted the ending product
to look like; even if it is over the phone, or the scriptwriter is on set.
http://creativeskillset.org/job_roles_and_stories/job_roles/757_producer
Director
Directors take over the role of management from the
Producers when it comes to filming. It is the director role to guide, manage
and create the vision that the Writer of the script has; and to bring their
work to life. Directors are responsible for managing the whole technical team,
as well as the Cast on any set. They work closely with the Producers, to make
sure that the media that they create is what is expected and wanted from the
production team. Directors also aid the Producers with finance; planning the
shooting out on location. But it is also the Director, with the Producer and
Commissioning Editor that decide to commission any script/piece of media they
think will be successful, and this is most apparent in TV and Films, as often
Producers and Directors work together closely on many different projects.
However, it is also not surprising that a person may be both the Producer and
Director (For example Steven Spielberg), as it is often the trend now for
employers to ask their staff to do more than one job; something that the Media The industry is currently looking out for. However, the most arguably and the most obvious job of the Director is to base their work off storyboards and
scripts, and bring their vision to life.
https://nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk/advice/planning/jobprofiles/Pages/tvorfilmdirector.aspx
Script Editor
The script editor works closely with the Producers and
Writers to help the Writer to achieve and create their vision. The role of the
Script Editor is quite self-explanatory. As an editor, it is their job to
provide guidance to the Writer; helping edit and finely tune narrative and
dialogue to become more suitable for a certain target audience, or to fit a
certain theme. Script Editors are present throughout the whole of the production
process, making sure that the Script chosen is presented to the best of its
ability. Their other role is to provide the feedback to the Writer about the
certain script when passed through the production team. However, mainly, the
Script Editor will make a close relationship with the writer to help develop
the script for its final draft for the team to produce.
http://www.myfirstjobinfilm.co.uk/scripteditors.html
Agents
Agents are usually associated with Actors and are seen as
the general overseers and managers of what projects an Actor gets involved
with. This is the same in the case for a Script Writer. Whereas an Agent is
needed for an Actor to become successful, it is less the case for a Script
Writer. The Agent is responsible for managing the business concerns of the
Script Writer; and to actually help promote and get them that valuable
commission that the Script Writer is hoping for. Typically Agents have an
extremely good business sense about them, obviously helping them with their
job. But ultimately, they secure the best work for the Writer for the best fee.
Tasks that the Agent is involved in include; Arranging
bookings and auditions, managing and negotiating contract fees, arranging
publicity and promotion. But also, other jobs like managing fan-mail, requests
for personal appearances. And also arranging travel arrangements. It is wise
for anyone in the Media industry to have an Agent; as it takes the workload and
extra stress of organising small jobs, and paperwork for them. But also, without
an Agent, it would be hard to secure a decent project. Agents do not
necessarily have a say in the production process. Though they do talk to
Producers and Directors, or any others that are involved with the Writers to
organise funding and other administrator inquiries.
https://nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk/advice/planning/jobprofiles/Pages/entertainmentagent.aspx
Writers
The Screen Writer (or Script Writer) creates the idea for a
new TV show/Film. They are the genius behind some of our much-loved TV shows
and films, and often do not take a lot of credit for the success of a project.
It is one of the most creative professions in Media. And in my opinion, the scriptwriter should be given more credit and publicity as the Producer and Director.
Though Writers do come up with their own ideas and sell them to Producers.
Writers may also be commissioned to adapt a Script from a novel, play or a true
life event.
The roles of a Writer are pretty simple, however, it doesn’t
make it the easiest job. These roles include; coming up with themes and ideas.
Researching background material is a very important task when it comes to a writer developing their story. Especially if they wish to base their project
after a real-life event. A Writer may wish to be as historically accurate as
possible; so it is expected that an extensive amount of research will be
applied. Pitching is also another main aspect of being a Writer, as it is expected
for the writer to pitch their ideas to the producers and production team. But
also Writers must be prepared to re-write scripts if needed if it doesn’t fit
what the production team has planned. Writers work closely with the production
team throughout the whole of production, helping to create the vision of their
piece to life. However, the Writers may also take time to manage their
administration. Though usually that is left to the Agents.
Commissioning
Bodies
The Commissioning Bodies are the organisations behind the
production team. They, ultimately decide on the pay that each profession gets.
They decide the contracts, the hours, and who to employ. Ultimately they are
responsible for the welfare of each profession during the projects that they
get involved in it.
Corporations
Corporations are companies that embody a single act. They
can either be a whole marge of companies, or they could be one huge company
with one goal. For example, the BBC is a prime example of a corporation, as
they aim to be the most reliable company for TV Licence payers and viewers.
Independent Production Companies/Producer/Director
Organisations
Independent Production Companies are companies that do not
have large high brands to sponsor and promote them. They are often
Student-made, whether it is at college, university or film school. Yet equally,
they can rival big production companies. A good example of an Independent
Production Company could be Jim Jarmusch. Though he was seen as an Auteur, he
was an independent filmmaker that made a big impact on Independent film as a
genre and helped form an uprising against Hollywood.
This is very similar to Producer and Director Organisations,
as they, too can be seen as independent and are never usually backed by big
Corporations like the BBC and ITV. Yet this links to the roles of Producers and
Directors’ roles merging, often one person will be allocated to do both the
Producer and Director role in smaller companies. (Like I have explained
previously) This is very often the case with Independent Companies and
Organisations, as they do not have the budget to hire one person for each
profession. (Find out more on the difference between Producer Organisations to
Independent Companies…)
The role of the
Writer throughout Production:
Although I have already touched lightly on this subject, the
role of the writer throughout any production is something that is a very strong debateable case that leads to much speculation today. Though there is this
whole “perfect image” of a Writer helping and having a huge say in what makes
it onto our screens, this does often lead to questions as to whether it is
actually the case. Do writers have a huge say within production? And how much
of a role does the writer have overall in the production process?
Pre-Production Planning
Pre-Production is the stage where the Writer is most
involved in. This stage of planning requires the ideas of a writer to form into
a script, ready for production. Pre-production, as a whole, is one of the most
important stages. The planning for any project needs to be clear, well thought
out and organised for the project to be successful. Yet Pre-Production Planning
is the stage where most of the paperwork will be done, and contracts, payments, and location planning just to name a few, will be on that list.
The role of the Writer throughout Pre-Production Planning is
the most important stage. It is where the Writer will be expected to actually
make the Script. At this stage, a lot of talks will be given with the Producer
and Commissioning Editor to adapt and edit the script for their liking. This
could result in completely re-writing a script, in the worst cases. Though
whether or not the Writer may agree with this is another speculation that is
certainly raised.
The importance of Pre-Production, like I have previously
mentioned before, it is one of the most important stages. If the Production team
does not form all the right paperwork, the right skills for finance, the
location planning and the actor’s contracts and more right, then it could lead
too many problems down the line in the Production stage. But also, this could
prove a massive problem for the bigger Production companies, as there is a
deadline for the Pre-Production paperwork to be in, and with a busy schedule
this could also contribute a factor to why the Pre-Production stage is so
important.
Script Editing
Script Editing happens within the Pre-Production stage. This
is a task that the Writer is most involved in. The Writer, Script Editor and
possibly the Commissioning Editor will be present when editing the Script. The
most changes to the story, the plot and narrative will be made at this point.
The Producer and Director will also have heavy involvement, making sure that
the Script fits what they have planned. Target Audience and changes in trends
is a major factor that contributes to the editing of a script. Companies and
Organisations, especially will demand that the producers meet a certain target
audience for the project, and with trends ever-changing, it is quite hard to
set a certain idea in stone, without adapting it slightly to fit the target
audience better. One prime example is The Hunger Games. Originally, Peeta
Mellark’s leg (one of the main characters in the story) was meant to have his
leg amputated. However, as the film was expected to be a 12 rating, they had to
cut many gory scenes out of the movie, Peeta’s leg removal being one of them.
The importance of Script Editing is paramount. Like I have
previously mentioned, for the Script to fit into a certain theme, sometimes
major changes have to be made. And often, more than ever, the original idea of
the Script will not exist by the time the final draft, then the actual script
is produced. Without this stage, the Script would not be as planned and fitting
to the Production teams’ ideas, and again, it could lead to a lot of problems
in the actual Production stage.
Director/Producer involvement
Directors and Producers are the most important people in the
Pre-Production process, and throughout the whole of the project. They are the
managers. They organise, plan and make things happen. Without the Producer, the
Director would not have the materials and resources needed to Direct his cast
and crew when shooting. Without the Director, the Producer would not know what
to plan, and what issues need addressing before Production. The Producer,
however, has more of a stage within Pre-production, as he/she will provide guidance towards the Production team, make sure that the Writer edits the
script to the needs of the project, and generally oversee this side of
production. Without the Producer, the project would simply not happen, as they
are the general administrators. Yet, without the Directors input to what
happens, he/she would not have a good idea of the Script, and what the Writer
wants the project to look like. Both the Director, Producer, and Writer will
work closely together to create the vision of the Writer to come to life.
As for importance, both the Director and Producer are of
equal value. One would not work without the other. However, concerning
importance for Commissioning and Pre-Production, the Producer would be of more
importance, like I have already explained; they are responsible for planning
and making sure everything runs smoothly throughout the whole of the
pre-production stage. They are also responsible for all of the paperwork;
including Risk Assessment forms that need to be completed on time.
Shooting Script Production
This is one of the Directors main roles. The Director will
work with the Writer to create a visual; (having more of an idea how the project will look like) in a form of words, a plan so he/she will know what to
Direct and how it should look. This is more of the Director role, though the writer will be allowed to have input and guide the Director. This is one of the
final stages that the Script will go through, and more or less this is just for
the Directors benefit than anything else.
Page Lock-Down
Page lockdown is when the Script cannot be adjusted. It is
when the Script has reached a point that everyone is happy with and close to
filming. Though little directions can be made, any major changes or taking out the narrative will not be permitted. This is the final draft and the official script that will be used for Production.
Working As A
Writer
In this part, I will be exploring what it is like to be a
writer. I will explore the stereotypes involved with being a writer, compared
to what it is actually like. As well as exploring what is actually involved
behind the creative genius of any TV Show or Movie.
Agent Representation
Agent Representation is crucial for a Writer if they wish to
aim high. They need the backup and guidance of an Agent to try and get them the
best work. And this only happens through Agent Representation. Agent
Representation ensures the safety of the Writer, trying to get them the best
possible sale. The Agent often deals with Writers employment. But also,
they are the ones to deal with the problems that come with Writing, often
dealing with Copyrighting issues, and in the worst cases if the writer issued
and taken to court.
It is important for any Writer to have an agent, as it
increases the chance of getting better work. But also, like I have previously
mentioned, the Agent will help with legal issues and back the Writer up if
things do go round. Yet, it is equally beneficial for both The Agent and the
Writer, as they both thrive off each other’s work, The Agent will only get paid
if a Script is sold, the same as a Writer. The Agent can also help the Writer
with Pitches and presentations, generally improving the work ethic of the
Writer.
Royalty Payments
Royalty Payments is when a part of media, or media content
is paid for every time it is used. This is used as Copyright. For example: When
a band’ song is played on the Radio, the Band will be paid for every time the
song is played. This is the same for a Writer, he/she will be paid for every
time their Script is used in any form. And this is mostly how people earn a lot
of money, through the act of Royalty Payment. This is another good way of earning
money and can be critical for new Writers to earn money and get themselves
known.
Professional Presentation
Potentially one of the hardest things a Writer has to
do is to present their idea that is so loved towards people that could
potentially decide whether you make it into the Media industry or not. To have
a Professional Presentation, every detail of the presentation must be perfect,
formal, exciting and inviting. As the commissioners will not want to waste
their time and money on someone who isn’t worth it. The words must capture and
entice the people viewing and this is the only time the Writer will get to sell
their idea. Though Agents can help with this process, it is ultimately down to
the Writer and how they pitch
Writing within the Gaming Industry
Writing for video games can either be one the easiest, or one the hardest opportunities a writer can be presented with. FPS (First Person Shooter) games usually consist of a linear narrative with set pieces, not too different from that of a Hollywood movie, whereas RPGs (Role Playing Games) can consist of huge, branching story arcs that require teams of people of to complete. Skyrim (2011, Bethesda Game Studios) for example, makes use of choices within missions giving the player a sense of control over their narrative, with consequences to their actions. To craft, a world like this is painstaking and meticulous and requires highly skilled writers who are able to brainstorm/think outside the box when it comes to approaching narrative sequences. Recent AAA releases such as Red Dead Redemption 2 (2018, Rockstar Games) had a story consisting of over 500,000 of dialogue (spoken lines, this doesn't include the structuring of the story itself) Development on the game began soon after the release of its predecessor in 2010, with most of the development time focused on the development of the story. The bigger these games get, the more writers the industry will need.
Writing within the Gaming Industry
Writing for video games can either be one the easiest, or one the hardest opportunities a writer can be presented with. FPS (First Person Shooter) games usually consist of a linear narrative with set pieces, not too different from that of a Hollywood movie, whereas RPGs (Role Playing Games) can consist of huge, branching story arcs that require teams of people of to complete. Skyrim (2011, Bethesda Game Studios) for example, makes use of choices within missions giving the player a sense of control over their narrative, with consequences to their actions. To craft, a world like this is painstaking and meticulous and requires highly skilled writers who are able to brainstorm/think outside the box when it comes to approaching narrative sequences. Recent AAA releases such as Red Dead Redemption 2 (2018, Rockstar Games) had a story consisting of over 500,000 of dialogue (spoken lines, this doesn't include the structuring of the story itself) Development on the game began soon after the release of its predecessor in 2010, with most of the development time focused on the development of the story. The bigger these games get, the more writers the industry will need.
Example of branching dialogue tree in an Indie game
John Truby's 22 Steps
John Truby is an American scriptwriter, who’s accolades include serving as a consultant for over 1,000 scripts over the past three decades including writing some of the episodes from the hit series “21 Jump Street“. Truby is also a teacher and some of his students have written such films as “Shrek“, “Sleepless In Seattle” and “Scream“. However, Truby’s most famous accolade is the creation of what he calls “The 22 steps of scriptwriting”. Truby goes around the world giving lectures on how to write a great story and the backbone of these lectures is the 22 steps:
- Self-revelation, need, and desireThis is a fairly simple step but important to get right. Failure to secure all three of these will result in not knowing which direction your story is going.
- Ghost and story worldThis step in scriptwriting is figuring out the protagonist’s “ghost” and “story world”. The ghost is an issue from the protagonist's past that still haunts them, perhaps causing an internal struggle for them. The “story world” is then showing the audience what an average day for our main character would look like.
- Weakness and needThe weakness or problem is the difficulty that the hero has at the start of the story. The need is what our hero needs in order to live a better life. In a large number of stories, this is a wife/girlfriend
- Inciting event
The inciting event is generally quite noticeable in the film. It’s the action that breaks the hero’s “story world”. For example in the film Taken, the kidnapping of his daughter would be the inciting event. - DesireThis is what drives the story. The plot of the story is generally focused on the hero’s desire.
- Ally or alliesUsing an ally is a way various scriptwriters define their protagonists. Allies can come in more or less any form, whether it’s friends, peers or someone that gives advice to our hero.
- Opponent and/or mystery
The opponent is fairly straight-forward. The opponent is the person with the ability to attack the hero’s weakness displayed earlier on. The mystery can also be the unseen opponent. It is also known that detective stories need a mystery as they have a lack of an enemy - Fake-ally opponentThe fake ally is a character in the story that appears to be an ally but ends up being an opponent in the story. For example in The Dark Knight Rises Fake-ally opponent would be Talia-Al-Ghul.
- First revelation and decision: Changed desire and motive
This is often known as the first turning point in the film and is where the hero receives some new information or makes a decision that takes them in a different direction. - Plan
The plan is the hero’s means of fulfilling his/her desire. The plan doesn’t always have to go spot on if it did it would make for a boring film. An unseen flaw in the plan or an opponent’s action could change the plan. This change should be intended to shock or surprise the audience - Opponent’s plan and main counterattack
The opponent then comes up with a plan to counteract the heroes and stop the hero from fulfilling their desire. - Drive
The drive is the guideline of the story, the actual steps that the protagonist takes within the plan. It is very easy to simply repeat yourself for the drive so it is important to take care not to - Attack by ally
This is also fairly noticeable in many films. This is the section where the hero goes awry, steers from his original motive or tries to short-cut to get to his desire. This is usually the section where the hero receives a slap across the face. - Apparent defeat
Apparent defeat is when the hero is about to give up. When all hope is lost, there is no way out of their predicament. It is the low point of the story where the hero is certain that the opponent will come out victorious. - Second revelation and decision: Obsessive drive, changed desire and motiveThis is when the hero realizes that where they went wrong and decides to give it another shot. The hero has renewed interest in their desire. Their perspective on the desire may have changed
- Audience revelation
This is when the audience sees something that the hero doesn’t and learns a vital piece of information. This is typically when the audience learns a piece of information before the protagonist - Third revelation and decision
This is when our hero learns all they can, making them a more worthy opponent against the opponent and able to beat them. - Gate, gauntlet, visit death
This is typically the last sacrifice the hero will have to make for their desire. The hero may also go through a final test before their battle. - Battle
The final battle between the hero and the opponent. This step is in most films made and is a chance for the writer to clearly distinguish what the hero and opponent are fighting for. This is to show who will come out on top - Self-revelation
The hero finally learns what they have been doing wrong and how to do things successfully. It is something the hero did not understand until that moment - Moral decision
This is the hero then acting on what they have just learned. The hero must make the decision to do the moral thing. This may be the hero dying a noble death - New equilibrium
This is finally everything returning to normal, similar to the “story world” shown at the start.
For example, here are John Truby’s 22 steps in Harry Potter And The Philosopher’s Stone. Now, this film does not have all 22 steps, as it is not a perfect film, however, it has a large majority of them and is considered a good film. I have also broken some of the 22 steps up again, so the blog page is slightly easier to understand
Ghost: Harry not knowing his parents
Ordinary World: Dudley Dursley’s birthday and showing Dudley being trapped in the zoo shows that strange things happen often in Harry’s world.
Need: Harry needs freedom from the Dursleys and to have control over his life
Weakness: Harry’s general physical weakness, lack of power and general weakness against Vernon Dursley
Inciting Event: The sequence of shots in which Harry attempts to get his Hogwarts letter.
Desire: Harry’s desire to find out who he really is and most information about his parents.
Ally: Rubeus Hagrid
Mystery: Voldemort, the fears and rumours surrounding him.
Fake-ally opponent: Professor Quirrell
1st Turning Point: The famous scene in which Hagrid tells Harry “You’re a wizard” Plan: To have a good time at Hogwarts, Harry has never been happy or succeeded at anything so this is why his plan is so simple.
Ordinary World: Dudley Dursley’s birthday and showing Dudley being trapped in the zoo shows that strange things happen often in Harry’s world.
Need: Harry needs freedom from the Dursleys and to have control over his life
Weakness: Harry’s general physical weakness, lack of power and general weakness against Vernon Dursley
Inciting Event: The sequence of shots in which Harry attempts to get his Hogwarts letter.
Desire: Harry’s desire to find out who he really is and most information about his parents.
Ally: Rubeus Hagrid
Mystery: Voldemort, the fears and rumours surrounding him.
Fake-ally opponent: Professor Quirrell
1st Turning Point: The famous scene in which Hagrid tells Harry “You’re a wizard” Plan: To have a good time at Hogwarts, Harry has never been happy or succeeded at anything so this is why his plan is so simple.
Opponents’ plan: To kill Harry Potter as he poses a threat to the opponent’s overall plan of controlling the wizarding world.
Drive: To make friends and generally succeed at Hogwarts.Attack by ally: Mirror Of Erised scene, where Dumbledore tells Harry not to go back to the mirror. Harry is getting distracted by the Mirror’s tricks and is falling off the wagon.
Apparent defeat: Getting caught tending to Hagrid’s dragon. Harry and the crew end up losing 150 house points for Gryffindor and end up getting detention in the Forbidden Forest
Second turning point: Harry, Ron, and Hermione find Fluffy in the Forbidden Corridor and realise there’s more to Hogwarts than they first thought,
Third revelation: Harry finding the hooded figure in the Forbidden Forest and piecing together all the information he has. This leads Harry and the gang to change their mind and go directly to Fluffy
Gate, Gauntlet, Visit To Death: Harry has to go through a number of trials at the end of his mission (Getting past Fluffy, the Devil’s Snare, the broom challenge and the chess game). Harry’s sacrifice is getting his best friend injured.
Battle: Harry and Voldemort/Quirrell battle in front of the Mirror Of Erised
Self-revelation: In the hospital where Dumbledore explains the story, filling in any gaps or mistakes that Harry has made.
All of these 22 steps will not be in every film. Sometimes it suits the film well, other times it may backfire. For example in The Dark Knight Rises, although Batman has an extensive battle with Bane at the end, he does not fight the actual villain, and so it takes the edge off the film slightly.
Also, as mentioned in step 21, the protagonist doesn’t always have to survive, they can die a horrible, yet meaningful death. The reason this rarely happens is because of franchises. A company cannot capitalise from a franchise if the main character is dead, so although death would make a better ending, it rarely happens.
Legal And Ethical
Considerations
As with anything, there are many legal and ethical
considerations that come with writing a script. Especially in this day and age,
where it is hard to find a piece that is so original and new that it has not
been a re-make an adaptation or based on real-life events. Having to go through
Legal and Ethical considerations can be the hardest thing for a Writer, as you
could get into serious trouble if you are not careful about where you get your
ideas from, and whether they are really your own.
Copyright
Probably the most known consideration when it comes to legal
considerations. Copyrighting issues are hard to avoid, especially if you are a
writer. At the best of times, it is hard to find inspiration to write your next The script, and so stealing a few ideas and twisting them into your own is a risky
business, yet it is often the case that Copyright issues come into play when
this happens. Copyright means to own something completely, and you are able to
sue someone if you think they are using something that is yours. For example,
it is hard to use a mainstream song on a Video that you home make, because of
the copyright law; you will have to pay to use the said song.
NDAs
NDAs (Non-Disclosure Agreements) are contracts drawn up by production companies to ensure protection over their intellectual property, usually within the media industry. Once signed, you are legally required to keep any and all information of a project to yourself (for example, you may have been to a test screening for an unfinished/unannounced film). This is a relevent document to writers, as it's often used to protect their work and prevent it from being leaked.
Example of an NDA (Non-Disclosure Agreement)
NDAs
NDAs (Non-Disclosure Agreements) are contracts drawn up by production companies to ensure protection over their intellectual property, usually within the media industry. Once signed, you are legally required to keep any and all information of a project to yourself (for example, you may have been to a test screening for an unfinished/unannounced film). This is a relevent document to writers, as it's often used to protect their work and prevent it from being leaked.
Example of an NDA (Non-Disclosure Agreement)
Bias
This can happen without anyone really realising. Writers may
tend to do this also. Being bias means to lean on one side of an argument,
rather than the other. And as a Writer, this is not a good thing to do. A writer needs to aim towards everyone, and so siding with someone can cause a
negative issue amongst the consumers. However, there is a difference between
being bias and having an opinion. Although, it is hard to determine a line
between the two.
Censorship
The main blockade used to stop children from coming across
potentially harmful visual or audio pieces of Media. This can be used for Writers,
if they wish to reach towards Children and Adults, and so allowing more views
for the ending product.
Watersheds
“Watershed” is the time where Adults are allowed to view
more mature topics, such as Nudity, Sex, and Violence after a certain time. In
the UK, Watershed is after 9pm. A good example of a Watershed programme is
Celebrity Juice. The show battles with a lot of mature themes, as sexual
references, lots of swearing and vulgar terms are often used on the show.
Libel
To Libel means to shame. To slate or rant about
something/someone. A Writer may do this in a Script by going against a certain
topic. This can raise a lot of legal issues, as bias and copyright, even
offensive language can all be used against the Writer if the person is offended
enough. Though sometimes Libel can be used as a powerful message, it is often
risky and not advised to use in any writer's screenplay.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is when someone uses your content without you
knowing. This is used with Copyright. Using the example I have done before, if
you use a song on a Video of a mainstream Band, then that is classed as
Plagiarism, if you have not paid to use the song. This is a common issue within
Scriptwriting, as often a Writer may draw inspiration from other Scripts and
often, they will not realise that they are using the idea and put it into their
own script. And, like I have previously mentioned before, it is getting harder
and harder to come up with your own original idea without using inspiration
from other things. Plagiarism is something a Writer must consider very
carefully when writing.
BIBLIOGRAPHY:
http://www.prospects.ac.uk/commissioning_editor_job_description.htm
“Commissioning Editor”
Found: 10/05/19
Author: AGCAS editors
http://creativeskillset.org/job_roles_and_stories/job_roles/757_producer
“Producer”
Found: 10/05/19
Author: Creative Skillset
https://nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk/advice/planning/jobprofiles/Pages/tvorfilmdirector.aspx
“Director”
Found: 10/05/19
Author: National Careers Service
http://www.myfirstjobinfilm.co.uk/scripteditors.html
“Script Editor”
Found: 10/05/19
Author: My First Job In Film
https://nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk/advice/planning/jobprofiles/Pages/entertainmentagent.aspx
“Agents”
Found: 10/05/19
Author: National Careers Service
“Literary Agent”
Found: 10/05/19
Author: Wikipedia
“Watershed”
Found: 10/05/19
Author: Oxford University Press
“Libel”
Found: 10/05/19
Author: Google
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