Unit 19 scriptwriting Learning Aim A discusses the scriptwriting process and various roles involved. Writers create scripts that must be approved by producers and commissioned by bodies like corporations or independent companies. Examples include the BBC and ITV commissioning scripts for TV shows. Writers must consider legal and ethical issues like plagiarism, copyright, censorship, watershed rules, and avoiding bias when creating scripts.

1. Unit 19 scriptwriting Learning Aim A
Section 1 commissioning scripts
Commissioning exists in many different formats. In film production. It is receiving different
plots and approving them for production. There are many jobs to be done in the field of
commissioning as people need to produce a commission and people need to approve them.
Examples of possible job roles are:
Writers. This job involves screenwriting and producing possible scripts for projects like
movies games and television programmes no education is needed as it is a freelancing job
however a lot of creativity is needed. Many writers form teams to develop basic stories and
improve engagement and emotional impact. if master scene script is not used by the writer
chances are the script will not be read by producers who usually approve commissions.
Commissioning bodies get involved when the writers script gets approved by producers’
examples of commissioning bodies are:
Corporations: all big-time corporations are part of conglomerates, this allows them to have
complete ownership of every production stage like budget, advertisements, distribution and
sometimes Exhibition of the film. Many freelance workers like working with corporations as
there is usually safety of getting to know and work alongside celebrity names. in the US
there are pilot episodes meaning releasing an episode of a show to gauge their audience’s
reception of a show and a lot of networks run competitions to give up and coming writers a
chance to display their works. In the uk examples of big corporations are the BBC, ITV, SKY
and channel 4. These commission scripts for tv shows to air on their respective channels.
The BBC has a website where submitted scripts can be read. And this helps the BBC
understand what’s popular amongst their viewers.
there are thousands of independent companies who usually make deals with other
companies to produce material. Companies differ in genre and capability in terms of budget,
writers can submit work directly to these indie companies.
Producers oversee production of a type of media they are either employed by companies or
bigger ones work independently, they plan aspects of productions like the script and its
writing, the editing, financing and directing.producers are also often involved in marketing
and distributing processes.they work with the directors and other crew to help members
have a clear idea of the intended product.
script editors are members of production in scripted forms of media, usually comedies or
dramas. they have responsibilities like finding script writers, developing ideas and storylines
and ensuring only suitable scripts are produced. They are also responsible for overseeing
continuity mistakes are not present in final cuts and that the production has integrity.
Agents are given contractual permission to represent someone else for employment,so they
find work for their client, they schedule meetings and auditions. prepare contracts and
negotiate deals that everyone involved accepts. Agents build relationships with high up
members of the media industry and support writers careers.

2. For a screenwriter who wants to be noticed by companies there are screenwriting
competitions to enter with cash prizes this will not make them successful immediately, but
will help screenwriters show off their work to managers, agents and producers. An example
of this is UK FilmFreeway who run competitions with winners in 2013 now being in a form of
production, some even winning awards.
SECTION 2
To be a screenwriter one must have good imagination and storytelling abilities.
screenwriters are freelancers. most of them at the beginning write without getting hired at
all. However professional scriptwriters are usually represented by an agency, and don't work
for free. amateur writers often work for free and are considered to be in training.
Industries want their screenplays to be written in certain formats, as it will help the
examiner have an idea on how long the product will be. The most used format is master
scene script. In this format each page is a minute on screen, due to the font size and font
used. This helps screenwriters as they know their script will not be looked at if not in the
right format.
A writer will need representation in the form of an agent, they look after sales and
workload, typically the agent receives between 10-25% of the pay, depending on their
agreement with the client. the agent will also be in charge of the negotiation of the sale to
publishers and producers. and well known companies will not accept self representing
clients. because experienced agents will already have contacts to send on the work.
Royalties are percentages if the gross made by using the writers production, which is
negotiated by the agent, client and the producers this is the payment the writer will receive
from sales of the product as well as use of the script, the payments writers receive are
varied.
Writers manage their time when producing screenwriting as spending too much time could
make the script over complex, as it will become more of a novel than a script, many
screenwriters spend time thinking about character development, creating a basic character
then developing them through dialogues or actions. while wasting time can cause
unfinished scripts which can lose interest of the writer and they will give up on the project.
this is dire when the script has already been commissioned and the writer is relied on to
finish projects by deadlines.If not met the relationship is strained with the commissioners as
the whole production will be behind schedule causing losses.
A screen can collaborate which brings experience and knowledge. having someone to work
with helps them learn with others and makes work easier and quicker, many blockbusters
are made with are written in teams. For example, a famous screenwriting duo is the coen
brothers.
Every writer is aware of the agreement they made with the purchaser when the script is
sold, as they will only have the rights that are agreed on. screenwriters are rarely involved
with the development of a film .

3. SECTION 3
During scriptwriting, writers think about legal and ethical issues on how their script will
affect rules or laws that will make producing it impossible considerations are:
Plagiarism: when a product is very similar to another existing work. and this existing work
isn't credited appropriately, even if the second work has been changed by adding a new or
different details or words, the copying is still dishonest because the original work is not
appropriately credited. and cases of plagiarismare usually settled by the originator receiving
royalties or credits.
Copyright: Finished works of a creator can be copyrighted, otherwise it can be stolen or
copied with no legal consequences. when a writer is working on the script, a date is created
in a file and it automatically makes the copyright valid. the writer should put the symbol of
copyright on every page of any script made. This lasts for the writer's life plus 70 years after
the fact.
Censorship: this is a restriction for writers especially when big labels are involved and the
target audience is established. there will be no script for a really young target audience that
presents swear words, racial slurs or any depictions of sex. The BBFC has guidelines about
what you can or cannot show on tv,radio,videogames or film. Some aspects need to be cut
or censored depending on the audience and how the material is presented.
Watersheds: this refers to a point in time when products with adult content can be
broadcasted.this makes a day period where programs made for family viewing may be aired
and a night period where programmes depicting adult content may be aired. In most
countries, the same applies to tc advertisements, both the content and nature of a product
will change when it can be advertised.
The Uk watershed on free to air tv starts and 9pm till 5:30am, while pay per view channels
may start at 8PM. Programmes Rated 15 like family guy cannot be shown outside the night
period, however programmes with a 12 rating may be shown outside the night period like
the big bang theory, futurama, brooklyn nine nine, ETC. Some channels (like SKY) can legally
show adult programmes before 9pm however will require a PIN code to access. 18 rated
content may not air until 10pm on most channels without pin protection. movies like mad
max or kill bill have television versions where most adult content has been censored or
dubbed in post.
Bias: the writer may have prejudice toward a person or group. writers have been found
unconsciously writing offensive speech, but every writer needs to have responsibility to be
aware of how to write without bias. corporations like the BBC have a commitment to be
balanced, imperial and fair, and thats how every writer needs to be even if writing a work of
fiction, they should consider how to represent different people, groups or organisations.