2. Job Roles
Commissioning EditorsCommissioning Editors
Commissioned editors often aim to build a publishers list. They usually do this by identifying media products or also
books to publish, The way in which they do this is through finding certain authors and viewing their proposals and
then respond to them. These often have a similar to to a buyer this is due to the fact that they ensure that the
authors deliver their typescripts at the specific time that it is due. This s because people have them look over their
scripts to ensure that the product is worth investing time into. They also need to ensure that the script is sent in the
correct format this is due to the fact that if it has been sent in the wrong format they don’t end up looking at them.
This is because many company's end up sending the wrong format.
They also must attend book fairs, attend meetings/ conferences, Conduct research through the internet in order to
identify the demand. They also must create a publishers list for titles within that specific genre. They also must
identify possible future markets, new titles and products which have commercial potential and also have a purpose
Producers: These people are used in the movie industry as well as the TV industry. People in charge of this role are
used to oversee their idea being produced and turn it into a project through conception into competition. The
directors and producers of movies are sometimes involved in the distribution and marketing process however this
does not always happen Another role of producers is to work along side the director this is because it is easier for
the idea to be seen due to the fact that the director Is in charge of production.
3. Directors The director is the person that is in charge of everything he is also the one that is responsible for the
interpretation of TV or film production. They also help the cast and crew for example they would help the crew set up
the lighting ect and also tell the cast what they need to do in terms of acting. The director also controls the dramatic
and artistic aspects of the production. the director also visualizes the screenplay this is done mainly so that he is able to
direct the technical crew and also the actors mainly so that they are able to fulfil his vision one of the main roles of the
director is to choose the cast members, productive designs and also almost every creative aspect which is involved in
the production of a media product. The directors main job is to give directions to the cast and crew members. The
director should also be able to mediatie the differences in terms of their creative visions in order to create a good
product and also in order to stay within the budget.
Script Editors: The script editor is one of the many members of the production team for scripted radio and television
programs, These are usually comedies and dramas. This role has important responsibilities for example developing the
storyline and adding ideas in order to make the product better. They also have to make sure that the script is suitable
for production aswell as this they also need to ensure that production involves continuous verbal and visual integrity.
One of the script editors other responsibilities is to make sure that the final product does not include any continuity
errors.
Agents: An agent is somebody who has given somebody permission for them to act on another persons behalf this is
often through employment so that they can find work for their clients. The agent must be ready to organize meetings
for their client in case they where to get the opportunity to work. The agent also must be able to schedule auditions for
their client as well as the meetings. The agent also must be able to negotiate deals for their client that is appropriate for
both parties. The agent should also have the ability to build a relationship between decision makers within the industry
aswell as this they often help support and guide the writers careers.
4. Writers: A writer is somebody who practices the crat of screenwriting and also writing screenplays which Movies, Video games
and also TV programs are based around. Being a writer is a freelanced profession and professional screenwriters do not require
any specific educational grades. In some instances you can often see screenplays being wrote in teams this is too achieve a
narrative which is engaging and has an emotional impact on the viewer. Writers also must make sure that they send the
screenplay to the producers in the correct format this is because the producer will not even read the master scene scrip if it
had not been sent in the correct format. If the writer was interested in getting the script commissioned then they would have
to get the commissioning bodies involved in the process.
Corporations: The big corporations are all apart of large conglomerates this is because they have to complete ownership of
each and every stage of the production for example funding, distribution marketing and also in some instances the exhibition.
When you work with big corporations you will ore than likely already know peoples names who have worked with other big
companies agents or indies in the past. In the US there is something called pilot season this is something from March to May
each year where a large amount of commissioning networks are seen to run competitions to get smaller screenplays noticed.
These big corporations have the power to give up and coming writers the opportunity's to to submit their scripts to them and
if that script was something which they enjoyed they could have the idea commissioned to be produced for one of their
channels. In the UK the leading corporations are things such as BBC, ITV and also Channel 4 these corporations commission
scripts and also the budgets for TV shows and movies which may be aired on their channel. The BBC have a website in which
scripts can be submitted for the audience to read this therefore give BBC an idea on what is popular and what types of shows
people would like to see.
Independent companies: Within the uk there are hundreds are smaller production companies who can often make deals with
the bigger production companies in order for them to produce a movie or TV series. There is different companies which are
known to produce a specific genre. He writers may also submit their work straight to the ICP’s
5. Independent Directors: An independent director is somebody who is a director or another board of directors. This is somebody
who does not have any material and does also not have a pecuniary relationship with companies or related people. This person
needs to act as a guide for the company. It is often to see there rules include improving corporate credibility and also the
governance standards which functions as a watchdog. They are often seen to be actively involved in various other companies this
is in order to maintain good governance.
Organisation: Organisations within the media production are seen to be setup sometimes this is mainly to help and assist the
prospective writers to give them an edge over the rest of the industry and help the start a career as a writer for the bigger
productions. Examples or British organizations: BBC Writers Room BFI Film Academy. These organisations help to support writers
across a huge range of media productions.
Competitions: There are a huge number of comptitions which are held this is mainly for amateur screenwriters who are looking
to be noticed by the bigger corparations. These competitions often include cash prizes and may also lead to working with one of
these big organisations. They don’t often lead to immediate success however these help an independent screenwriter show their
potential and show their work to agents, managers and producers In the uk a company known as FilmFreeway run up to 3
competitions. All of these winners since 2013 being in put into production with some awards.
6. Section 2 Working as a writer The demands and requirements
To be a screenwriter requires you to have a good ability of storytelling abilities and also imaginations. Screenwriters are not
actually hired employees instead they are contracted freelancers. For the majority of of scriptwriters towards the beginning
of their career they base their work on speculation, This means that they work without getting paid or hired. The
differences between a a professional screenwriter vs an amateur screenwriter is mainly that professional screenwriters
usually represented by a talent agency whereas a amateur screenwriter is not. Professional screenwriters also don’t work
for free where as amateur writers usually do work for free and are also considered “Writers in training”
Mostly in the media industry they would like for the screenplays to be wrote in standard formats, This need to be followed
because it helps the examiner to have a rough idea on the length of the products. The most used and most effective format
is master scene script this is used because for each page of the master scene script is correspondent with one minute within
the movie. This is also helpful for the scriptwriter because it is in the correct format and they do not have to worry about it
not being looked at.
Royalty payment this is a percentage of the gross which is made by using the script which the writer had created. This can
be negotiated with the clients agent and also the producers. This is the payment which the writer will receive for the overall
sales of the books and the films along with a percentage of the money from the use of the script.
7. Writers should also correctly manage their time when they are producing some sort of screenwriting. This is because when
spending too much time on the script you may end up with a script which seems to be more complex than it actually needs to be
this is because the script turns into more of a novel rather than a script. Most of the time screenwriters spend more time on the
character evolution/ development, and creating something which is rather hard to potray. This will get easier however due to
developing the character through some well written actions or dialogue. The writer must also not allow for the script to go
unfinished for a long period of time. This is mainly due to the fact that the writer will more than likely lose focus and motivation
with finishing the script off and may eventually give up on the project which would mean that the writer would have wasted their
time. The most important thing is when the script has been commissioned and there is a number of people relying on the writer
to have the script completed by the specific deadline. If the deadline is not met then this will likely cause a strained relationship
between the writer and the commissioners of the script. This is mainly because if the writer is behind schedule that means that
the producers will be losing a rather huge sum of money which would therefore result in production being scrapped.
For a scriptwriter collaborating is a key activity this is due to the fact that it brings knowledge, experience, teamwork and also
there is room for personal development because you are working with a number of other professionals which means that they
can take in their advice. Working with other professionals and receiving help from the also makes the work easier and quicker it
will also more than likely be better because they will input their ideas to make the product better. A huge number of the biggest
blockbuster movies had been created by working in teams for example the Coen brother and also the Wachowski brothers.
Each writer must be aware of the terms which they will agree on with the person who purchases the script as once that person
buys the script then the writer only has the terms which had been decided. It is rather rare for you to see a screenwriter who is
directly involved in the development of a movie however you may see them appear as a producer depending on how established
they are.
8. SECTION 3 THE SCRIPTWRITING PROCESS – LEGAL AND ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS
Throughout the process of scriptwriting. The writers should think about weather their writing/script is going to be flagged by
any laws which could effect the production phase. The following considerations hat must be took into account are.
Copyright: Each piece of written content which has been completed has the ability to be copyrighted this is because if the
content is not copyrighted then It may be copied or stolen easily. When a writer has been working digitally a date gets created
on the work file this therefore means that the work has been copyrighted by the writer themselves. To avoid the work being
copied the writer should attach a copyright symbol or also a watermark onto the front page of the script and also every other
page. The writers copyrighted work remains their work for the rest of their life and also an extra 70 years after their passing.
Libel: This is a written or oral communication about a false statement that unjustly tarnishes another's reputation this usually
constitutes to a crime or sorts. Through this malicious things are often wrote about that individual this is often through a
broadcast or written text. Writers are advised to research ways in which they can possibl avoid this kind of thing happening to
them in the future or any other sort of legal issues which could damage their personal brand.
Censorships: There are certain restrictions during the writing process especially when it is for a huge scaled production and
also when the idea which had already been pitched already has an established target audience. It would therefore be rather
impossible for a movie with a rather young target demographic to have a script that includes racial insults and also sex scenes.
In the uk the BBFC have rather strict guidelines about the sorts of things that can and cant be shown on TV also in video
games and even on the radio and in films this therefore forces the product to have an appropriate age rating on their product
for example depending on the audience scenes which could possibly include violence and sex may have to be removed.
9. Watersheds Usually in broadcasting shows there is a point in time which I quite often later on the night when channels decide
to show movies or shows with adult content in them this therefore divides the day as during the day you often see rather
family friendly shows being broadcasted this is mainly due to the fact that kids are more likely to be watching the TV during
the middle of the day which means that they can not show movies which includes content not aimed towards a younger
audience where as later during the day movies with violence, drug abuse etc are shown because the younger kids have mostly
stopped watching the TV
In UK television the watershed is at 9pm till 5:30am whilst programmes which are featured on PPV (Pay Per View) are allowed
to begin airing at 8pm. Programmes which have an age rating above 12 are not allowed to be shown until after 9pm.
Films/shows which are aimed at an audience 18+ often require a pin to be entered in order to watch it depending on what sort
of movie/ show it is. Shows which are aimed 12+ are usually allowed to be shown before the 9pm watershed for example
shows such as the Simpsons which do no include any real violence which would change the ability for them to be shown
Plagiarism: This is when a product is released which looks extremely similar to a movie that has already been released and that
movie has not been given any sort of mention. If the newer movie has clearly copied from the existing movie for example
ideas being taken and having a newer take on it with newer details, Each case of plagiarism can often be resolved by the
original creator being given credits which would make them eligible for specific royalties.
