Feature writing for film projects

1. Feature writing: Basics and
Structure
Farooq Sulehria

2. Definition
• ‘If you take the term literally, a feature is a
special part of something. Feature articles are
often special portions of the periodicals that
publish them’ (Garrison, 2010).
• Difference with news, editorial,
opinion/column.

3. Characteristics
• Creativity.
• Subjectivity (as opposed to objectivity).
• Informative.
• Entertaining.

4. Basic elements
• Characters: put people into the story.
• Story telling (close to fiction).
• Let the reader see and hear for her/himself.

5. Structure
• Lead.
• Body.
• Conclusion.

6. Pictorial aid
• Complement your coverage with pictures.
• Pictorial features!
• Some ethics before you click and print.

7. Interviewing
• Interview-based features.
• Interviews for research.
• Interviews by characters.

13. Types of features
• 1. Descriptive and Colour Writing: ‘It often
requires taking readers to the scene and
recreating it.’
• The Human-Interest Article: ‘true-life drama
story’. ‘Human-interest stories are, at the
foundation, people stories’.
• Profiles and Personality Sketches: Individually
focussed.

14. Seasonal Features: Event-related.
Entertainment Features and Critical Writing: A mix
of objective and subjective writing.
Aftermath, Follow-Up and Depth Series:
‘Reminders’.
Travel Writing: tips, information, investigation.

15. Service Features: ‘help people live their lives better’
[Ladies Home Journal].
Personal Experience Article: Getting involved in the
story writing.
Humor in Feature Writing: Satire, parody
[fictionalising].
New Technology and Science Features:
Specialist/expert writing.

16. How to get Feature ideas
• Observation is the mother of all ideas in
Journalism writing.
• Reading.
• Experiencing.
• Events.
• Individuals.