5. http://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/writing/tips_shortfilm.shtml
“Spare a thought to the presentation of your script. It isn't
hard to make it easy to read, and it's always worth the effort of
rewriting and editing in order to make your story shine.” (Online)
6. http://www.robinkelly.btinternet.co.uk/cd.htm
“So, in essence, before a series is commissioned for broadcast,
the idea has involved the person to whom it first appealed; generally a
script editor; the head of comedy; a comedy expert in entertainment
commissioning; a channel scheduler and a channel controller.
By the time it gets presented, a script will have gone through five or six
drafts, had at least one informal read, then two days of rehearsal.”
(Online)
9. http://www.scriptfly.com/articles/developscreenplay.php
“Analytical Approach
This is where you develop every detail about your story
before proceeding to write the script. This approach goes hand-in-hand
with the popular screenwriting books by Robert McKee, Syd Field, John
Truby and Chris Vogler. The plot is worked out in intricate detail. Maybe
index cards are used or a 40-page outline written. You don't write a
single scene until you have every inch of the story developed.”
(Online)
11. http://thescriptlab.com/screenwriting/story/development
‘ “The basic spine of any successful screenplay is character,
objective, obstacles, and theme. A good story is about an interesting
protagonist (character), who wants something badly (objective) and is
having trouble achieving it (obstacles), and the story is worth writing
because it illustrates some kind of universal message (theme).”
(Online)
12.
13. ‘How To... Write For Television’
‘ “HOW DO YOU MAKE THE PLOT INTERESTING?
You have an idea, you have worked out a broad structure, now take a look
at how you can write a script in an interesting way.
The importance of conflict
Examples include a problem to be solved; an obstacle to be overcome; a threat to be
handled; a decision to be made; a challenge to be met.
Decision making by principal characters
It ceases to be a story and just becomes a succession of incidents if there is no
decision making by principal characters on show.
Consequence of action – cause and effect
Something happens, and as a result something else happens. You set up a situation
and then see how the characters react to it.
Creating empathy
Viewers like to know who to identify with; they like to know who they are cheering
for.
Plots to avoid
Idiot plot – Script editors hate plots which only work if basically intelligent characters
behave in a totally stupid way.
Scenes that go nowhere – Every scene should move the story on. It should either
advance the plot or illuminate the characters – but preferably both.
Plots that lose tension – We must always want to know what is going to happen next”
16. ‘The Art and Science of Screenwriting’
‘ “Let us start from the beginning. What are we after?
Is it a premise? An interesting situation? A character? Some action? A dilemma?
A social issue? An artistic expression? A post-modernist interpretation of angst
or a large cheque?
The first, simple, answer is: it could be all of these and many more besides.
However, in essence the start of a screenplay’s development is an idea which the
writer believes in.”
20. ‘Media Magazine’
‘ ‘Adapting a book? That’s got to be easier than starting from scratch
hasn’t it? There are already characters and stories to draw upon and
there’s the added bonus that all the Babylon books are lid-lifting
exposés, so plenty of inside knowledge to be gleaned.”
21. ‘Media Magazine’
‘ “Starting points there may be from the book, but there is also the
dawning realisation that the readers will have pre-conceived
expectations that need to be met.”
