The document outlines various roles involved in the film and television production process such as writers, directors, producers, agents and commissioning editors. It describes the typical responsibilities and tasks associated with each role as well as average salaries. Commissioning bodies that hire writers are also discussed, including large corporations, independent production companies, independent directors/producers and film organizations.

1. Role of Writer and the Commissioning Process
CommissioningEditor:The commissioningeditorisessentiallyanadvisorforthe buyerof the
script.Theywill readthe scriptfully,multiple timestosee whattheybelieveisitsrealisticpotential for
the buyer.Theya commissioningeditorwill notmake the decisionbutmayhave a strong
view/opinion/advice onwhetherthe buyershouldpurchase the proposedscript.Shouldthe
publisher/productioncompanypurchase the proposal/scriptthe commissioningeditorisstill neededto
make sure that all of the writersworkiscompletedonschedule. Whentheylookintobuyinganew
script/proposal, theywill lookatotherproductionswiththe same/similargenre,audience,narrativeand
budgetto see whetherthe productionof the scriptwouldbe viable tomake moneyprofit..Anexample
of someone whoisacommissioningeditor/chief advisorisClaire Dresser
(http://www.bbc.co.uk/aboutthebbc/insidethebbc/managementstructure/biographies/dresser_claire)
had a salaryof £113,000 in2016. Whilstthismayseemlike anamazing salary, she worksfora huge
global corporationasa headof department/chief.
Producers: A produceris one of the mostimportantpeople amongthe entire filmsproduction.
Theycontrol everyaspectof the film.Frombudgeting,marketing,healthandsafety,casting,release,
advertising, prettymucheverything. FormostFilmorTV productions, there are oftenmultiple
producersone of whichcan be a leadcast memberorthe director.Forthe majorityof the time whena
cast memberisa producertheyhave ofteninvestedtheirownmoneyintothe production.A producer
will oftenhave aproductionoffice teamtowhomtheyworkwithtoproduce the film.The producers
oftenworkeverydayrunningthe everydayoperationsandare the person/peoplewhohave the final say
on bigdecisionssuchasfilminglocations,budgetingetc. A producerwill oftenhave anequal amountof
control withthe directoraboutthe changestothe script. The average salaryfor a producerinthe UK is
£35,000. The average islike thisdue tothe highnumberof indie film/TVproducersthroughoutthe UK.
In addition,some producers’salariesare perepisode thattheyworkonratherthan episode perseries.
(http://www.payscale.com/research/UK/Job=Film%2FTV_Producer/Salary)
Director: A Directorisoftenthe most knownpersonwithinthe productioncrew.Theyare in
charge of leadingthe productionof the filmof TV episode frombehindthe camera.Theywill often
directa group of camera, sound,technical (andother) crewstoall worktogetherduringthe filmingof
the production.Itis commonto have the directorfilminghimself orherselfattimesaswell asworking
withthe editingcrewondecidingthe final editof the film.The directorisoftenconsideredthe most
importantrole withinthe productionandtheyofteneditthe scriptwiththe screenwriteronrewriting
parts of the script. Thiscan ofteninclude rewritingpartsof the scriptfor reshootsafterall of the initial
filminghasbeendone. The salaryfora directorcan varyextensively.Forexample anindie filmdirector
may onlyearn£20,000 whilstatopHollywood directorsuchasPeterJacksoncouldearn£300,000 plus.
Script Editor: A script editordoesnotalwayseditscripts.Theirjobcaninclude findingnew
scriptswritersfora commissioningbody.Workingasa liaisonbetweenthe producers/directorsandthe
scriptwriterhimself (thiswill onlyusuallybe fortelevisionseries).Theycanalsouse researcherstohelp
strengthenthe scriptsfactsandinformation.A scriptwriterissomeone thathasgoodknowledgeof
scriptwriting(oftenfromexperience),the productionprocessaswell ascommunicationsskillsto
mediate fromthe producers/directorandthe scriptwriterhimself.Scripteditorsnormallyworkout
everythingtodowiththeircontractbefore workingaswell asdeadlinesforthe scriptandthe expected
workhours. The average salaryfora scripteditorat the BBC is between£41,000 and £45,000.

2. Agent: Anagentis someone whowillpursue leadsof workforpeople thattheyrepresent.They
oftenrepresentscriptwriters,actors,musicians andplentyof othermediarelatedprofessions.Theycan
alsobe knownasreps,whichissomeone whorepresentsthe clientinmeetings,andotherbusiness
relatedeveryday-to-daytasks/necessities.Theycanalsobe there tosupportthe client’sbuild-upand
reputations withindustrydecisionmakers.Anagentneedstobe able tohave good linguisticand
communicationskills.Be able toresearcherandkeepuptodate withany developmentsinthe industry
that couldaffecttheirclientaswell asbeinganeffectivenegotiatorforcontractsand an overall good
communicator.Anagentisalso responsible forthe clientshouldtheyfailedtomeettheircontract/job
requirements.Intermsof the salaryfor an agent,theywill oftenhave anegotiatedcontractwiththe
clientfora percentage of the clientsof total earnings.Thiswill oftenvarybetween10% and25%.
Writer:A writerisa job withnoparticularjobdescriptionthatis100% correct. A good
descriptionof awriterisfromWikipedia,whichisasfollows:“A writer is a person who uses written
words in various styles and techniques to communicate their ideas. Writers produce various forms
of literary art and creative writing such as novels, short stories, poetry, plays, screenplays,
and essays as well as various reports and news articles that may be of interest to the public. Writers'
texts are published across a range of media.”
Some writers are also responsible for researching everything they will need for their written work
that they produce. A writer should they be hired by a media industry commissioning body will need to be
able to work with the script editor as well as the producers and director of the screenplay. Should the period
for the screenplay be short the writer will need to have good dedication and be realistic with how they spend
their time awayfrom the keyboard.
Commissioning Bodies:
Corporations: Thereis a huge group of largecommissioning bodies for scripts both for film and
television productions. These corporations can vary on their focused genre/theme. For example, Walt Disney
is very highly to hire screenwriters for new children’s films whilst for their older target audience for their
Marvel Studios Films they will use different screenwriters who have specialized in that particular
genre/theme. Walt Disney is included within the ‘Big Six’ major film studios. Another studio included within
this ‘Big Six’ is Paramount Pictures, which is headquartered in Hollywood California. Paramount Pictures is
also a distribution company for films.
Independent ProductionCompanies (IPC): There are quite a few independent production
companies. Some are more well-known than others whilst others produce short films some will produce TV
shows or full length films. It is common however to have these IPC’s working alongside huge corporations of
other production companies to produce their productions. For example, J.J.Abram’s own Production
Company Bad Robot worked alongside Paramount Pictures and other companies to produce the latest Star
Trek films, which had the first two directed by J.J.Abrams himself. As a screenwriter, it may be easier to
approach a smaller IPC with a script proposal/idea rather than a large corporation. Quite often, you may have
your screenplay produced by an IPC alongside a larger production company.
Independent Directors and Producers: Therearequite a few independent Directors/Producers
however not all of them are able to make a name for themselves. Some have done well by starting small and
have had fortune favor them. Whilst others may also be working within the Indie Film Industry. Quentin
Tarintino for example whilst working in a movie rental store wrote Reservoir Dogs and with luck of having
contacts you passed his script along he was able to gather a budget together of $1.2 million dollars and
shortly afterwards various actors joined the cast such as Tim Roth.

3. Organizations: There are variousorganizations,whichcanallow aspiringscreenwriterstostart
makinga name for themselvesorgetthemnoticedbycommissioningbodies.There are film
competitionssuchasSundance whicheveryyearhostacompetitionwithvariouscategories.Sundance
hosta filmfestival everyyearandhave begunhostingmultiplefestivalsgloballydue tothe successand
popularityithadinthe UnitedStatesof America.Variousfilmactors,writersanddirectorshave become
successful fromthisfestival suchasQuentinTarintinoandKevinSmith.
Competitions:Asmentionedabovefilmwriters,directors,actorsandothercrew/staff can
become more noticedfromhavingawardsundertheirmetaphorical belt.Thiscan helptobuildtheir
portfolio.There are loadsof filmcompetitionsthatcanhelpfilmmakersacrossthe globe.Such
competitionscaninclude the BFIawards,Depictandthe Cinemagicyoungfilmmakercompetition.
The Role of the Writer throughout Production:
Pre-productionPlanning:Withinthe initial pre-productionof ascript,there are fourmain
stages.The firststage is the preparationthiswill be the researchandgatheringof any
resources/materialsthatthe writermayneedtowrite the firstdraft.Theywill oftenplaneach
element/conventionwithinthe scriptsuchas the characters,narratives,locationsplusmore
conventions.The firstdraftallowsthe writertodecide onhow the narrative will occur,whatthe
characters will do,sayand react. In the thirdstage of the pre-productionplanning,the scriptwill be
rewrittenfromscratch...Withoutanydialogue (orveryminimalamountof dialogue).Thisallowsthe
writerto nail the scriptinterms of the actionsthat the characters do as well asany location-based
movementorgeneral actions.Thisalsoallowsthe scripttobe writtenwhere the characterswill very
rarelybe stoodsomewhere talkingbutinteractingwitheachotherwithexpressionsandbodylanguage
beinga large factor.The final draftwill usuallybe acombinationof the firstandseconddraft.Depending
on whatthe writerbelievestobe importantthe charactersactionsor dialogue willtake prioritywhen
decidingbetweenwhattoinclude the actionsorthe dialogue.
Script Editing: The editingwill usuallybe done all throughoutthe initial draftwritingprocess
withextraopinionsbeingexplored.The writermaybe able tohave a few actors readthrough the script
as well asactingthrough a fewscenestogive theiropinionsfromadifferentpointof view fromthe
writer.Thiscan allowthe writertogaininsightintohow otherpeople wouldsee,interoperate andlike
the narrative to be told.Shouldthe scriptbe read-outinthe formof a table readto a closedaudience or
betweenvariousdifferentpeople throughoutthe screenplaysproductionprocessformore pointsof
viewswithdifferent opinions.
Director or ProducerInvolvement: Once a productioncompanyor independentproduction
studiohascommissionedonce the screenplay.Thendependingonthe contractterms andagreements
between themwriterandthe scriptbuyersthatwritermay be allowedplentyof accessandpowerfor
whathappensto the scriptduringthe production. Thiscouldmeanthat the writermaybe cut outof the
equationentirelywithonlyacreditat the endof the film. A producer’sinvolvementinthe processisto
finda scriptand helpnegotiate withthe scriptwriterforthe permissions/ownershipof the script.After
whichthe producer(possibly alongside withthe writer) canstartto make changesto the script. Thiscan
alsobe done withthe director whowill focusonthe visualizingof the narrative byaddingsome creative
flare andopinionstothe script.

4. ShootingScript Production:Duringthisstage of the productionof a scriptthe director,
screenwriterandscripteditorworktogethertobreakdownthe scriptintoseparate scenestomake
filmingeasieraswell asmakingsure thateach of the sceneshave smoothtransitionsbetweenone and
another.Thiscan involve extendingeachscene toallow more freedomof where eachscene will begin
and endforthe postproductionediting.Inadditiontothisfromthe script,locationswill needtobe
thoughtaboutin termsof availability,costandease of access forall of the filmingequipment,castand
crew. Followingonfromthisarough filmingschedule canbe constructedtoworkout the periodof the
production,whichcaninclude whichsceneswill be shotthenwithoutfollowingthe orderof the
narrative.Forexample,the endscene couldbe filmedfirstandthe firstscene couldbe filmedmidway
throughproduction.
Page Lockdown: Page Lockdownisthe constant updatingof the scriptduringthe filmingand
pre-productionprocess.Everytime the scriptischangedthe new one hasbe put out to everyone that
needsaccessor needstouse it.In orderto make sure a scripthas the latestchange it islabeledwitha
letterratherthana letter.Forexample,if onpage 64 a characters entersthe scene lateroninthe scene
(letussay theyturnup on page 66) page 64 will be labeledpage 64A whilstpage 66 will be 66A. Lateron
if,anotherchange ismade on an alreadyalteredpage;itcyclesthroughthe lettersof the alphabet.
Therefore,itwill gofrom66, 66A, 66B and so on and so forth.
Adjustmentsduring shootingstage: Thisisessentiallythe same asabove inadditiontothe
companythat will be producingthe filmi.e.shootingthe scenesetc.will discussandtalkaboutany
improvementthatcan be made once theyare readyto film.Forexample aslow-motioncameramay
become availabletothe scriptmay needtobe alteredtoallow the slow-motioncameratobe usedto its
full effect.
Way the writers work:
Agent Representation: AnAgentsjobrole hasbeenmentionedearlierhoweverinsummery
theyrepresentthe writerduringcontractagreements,tofindthemcommissioningbodiesfortheirwork
as well asany eventsthattheymayneedtoattendfor publicityof acommissionedscript. Some
examplesof agenciesinthe Hollywoodfilmindustryare The Creative ArtsAgency,UnitedTalentAgency,
International Creative ManagementPartnersandthe WilliamMorrisEndeavor.
“An agentis someonewho will pursueleadsof workforpeople thatthey represent.They often
representscriptwriters,actors,musiciansand plenty of other media related professions.They can also be
known asreps,which is someonewho representstheclient in meetings,and otherbusinessrelated every
day-to-day tasks/necessities.They can also be there to supporttheclient’s build-up and reputationswith
industry decision makers.An agentneedsto be ableto havegood linguistic and communication skills.Be
able to researcherand keep up to datewith any developmentsin theindustry thatcould affecttheir
client aswell asbeing an effectivenegotiatorforcontractsand an overall good communicator.An agent
is also responsibleforthe client should they failed to meettheir contract/job requirements.”
Optioning:Thisis whena productioncompanybuysall productionrightsforyourscript.The buy
the rightsfor isbasedon a contract decidedbetweenthe writerandthe productioncompanyandthe
paymentisnormallyone large paymentratherthanininstallments.The productioncompanywillmost

5. likelyshelvethe scriptandnotproduce it for several yearsornot at all.Thisisso that particular
companycan stop theircompetitorsfrombeingable tomake it.However,itcouldbe thattheywould
like tomake it butwill require several ormore yearsforan openingintheir‘productionline’of films.
Duringthishowevertheycouldhave the scriptchangedbyotherwriters,change itbeyondthe writers
goals/aim.
Royalties:Royaltiesare the primaryandmost commonwaythat writersare paid.If a writer’s
workhas beenbroadcasted,published,airedorusedforanycommercial purposes.The royaltiesthata
writerwill be paidisoftenbasedona percentage value. The writer’sagent,the writerandthe
productioncompanywill oftendecide this.Forexampleif aproductionismade froma script,it makes
£1,000,000, and the discussed percentageagreementwas5% thenthe writerwouldget£50,000. This
couldevenbe everytime itisshow.
Copyright: The Copyrightlawisaboutprotectingpeoplesworkfrombeingcopyandusedfrom
anyone else whodoes nothave the rights, permissionsorauthoritytouse it. If someone uses
copyrightedworkwithoutthe rights,permissionsorauthoritythenacopyrightlawsuitcanbe filedwith
potentiallyotherlawsuitsdependingonhow the copyrightedworkwasused.Forexampleif a
copyrightedfilmwasusedinaprogram the aimsto give ita bad reputationand couldaffectthe sales.A
copyrightanddefamationlawsuitcanbe filedagainstthe perpetrator.
Plagiarism:This iscopyingsomeone else’sworkandclaimingitasyourown.However,itcan be
claimingthatsomebody’sworkisactuallysomeone else’s.Anexample of plagiarismisseeing
somebody’sfilmidea/proposal atuniversityandcopying hisorherworkor creatinga piece of workthat
isverysimilar. Plagiarismisaverydifficultcase incourtat timesassomeone cancoincidentallyhave a
similarideaafterbeinginspiredbythe same sourcesasthe original writer.
Bias: Beingbiasedisthe followingof onlyone particularagenda,views,andopinionsratherthan
listeningtoall of the factsand knowingeverythingbefore makinganinformeddecision.Intermsof Bias
inthe writer’s role, itcanbe the showing/portrayal of people,real-life eventsandimportantfigures.To
avoidbeingbiasedawriterwouldhave tocoverall of the pointsof viewsandopinionsaswell asnot
defaminganyone.Inadditiontothis,theywouldhave toshow everyoneasbeingequal.There isbias
withinthe presswhere certainnewscompaniesshow supportforone particularpartye.g.conservatives
whilsttheydefame/portrayotherpolitical partieswhentheycan.
Watershed:The watershedisthe time atwhichprogramsthat couldbe disturbingforsome
views,goryorveryviolent,scenesof asexual nature etc.canbe airedontelevisionbroadcasts.The
watershedwithinthe UKis from9pm till 5:30am. Certainchannelsmayhave more freedomwiththe
watershedtimeframe andcouldairthese televisionprogramshowever;there wouldbe apincode that
wouldrequire entering.Thesechannelsare usuallyonsatellite TV providersandeachTV setbox will
have a differentpincode.The BritishwatershedtimeiscontrolledandregulatedbyOfcom.
Libel Laws: Thisisa lawthat essential stopsdefamationproductions/broadcastsfrombeing
aired.The lawaimsto stop offendingprograms,programsthatcouldheavilyaffectsomeone
emotionally.Thisissimilartothe defamationact.Inadditiontothis,screenwritershave tobe careful
whenwritingaboutreal life people deadoralive tomake sure theydonotbreakthe libel law.Thiswill
oftenrequire hoursuponhoursof researchto make sure itis acceptable.Itisquite oftenthata media

6. productionbasedona real life personwill be privatelyshowntothe familyandfriendsof thispersonto
getpermissiontoairthe productionas well asthoughtsonany changes.
CensorshipIssues:Censorshipwithinthe mediaindustryisdefinedbyage ratingonmedia
products. Thisage basedratingsystemcan be on filmsincinemasandDVD.Anyvideobasedmediaon
DVD,certainmusic(due to termsof racism etc),videogames,booksandmore. There are twoprimary
agesrating basedcorporationsthatmoderate andreview andmediaproductsbefore theirrelease.
There isthe BBFC(BritishBoardof FilmClassifications) andESRB(EntertainmentSoftwareRatings
Board).The BBFCmoderatesfilmandtelevisionprogramsbothphysical andonlinereleases.Whilstthe
ESRB moderatesentertainmentbasedmediasuchasvideogames.
(www.bbfc.co.uk/what-classification/guidelines) (www.esrb.org/ratings/)
Time Management:Screenwriterstendtohave theirownpreference abouttime management
and whentheyfind theyare mostproductive andlike towork. Some will setatargetin the formof a
wordcount, numberof pages,scenesora durationof time.Howeverthiscanall be thrownout of the
windowshouldawriterbe commissionedforapiece of workas theymay be givenashort time frame,
be askedto make significantchangesduringthe writingprocessorevenhave theirworkloadincreased
exponentially.Below isalinkof a videowhere variousscreenwriterstalkabouthow theyprepare fora
screenplay.Thisispart1 outof a 3 part series.(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kf3nPajdLk8)