The document provides information about the roles involved in the television and film commissioning process. It discusses the roles of the producer, commissioning editor, scriptwriter, executive producer, literary agent, editorial assistant, and agent. The producer oversees the entire production process. The commissioning editor finds scripts that match the brief and passes successful scripts to the producer. Scriptwriters write scripts to be considered. The executive producer ensures projects are completed on time and on budget. Agents represent and sell scriptwriters' work. Royalty payments provide money to creators when their work is used.
2. Introduction
When commissioning a script for television and film, the is a process in which
you must go through as a scriptwriter. During the first stage the scriptwriter is
then shown to a commissioning editor, who will decide whether or not they think
the script is what they have been looking for. Finally, if the script is successful
then it will be shown to the producer, who gives a final call, seeing as if it the
producer who is charge of the whole operation.
3. Job roles involved in the Process
The Producer:
The Producer is in charge of the whole production. The Commissioning editor selects which
production companies or producers will be commissioned to make the programme that they want
for TV or film, which suggests the power they hold. Producers have overall control on every aspect
of a media production. They bring together and approve the whole production team. If the
commissioning editor finds a script that matches the brief, I will take it to the producer, I will decide
whether or not they want to use it. The contract cannot be signed if the producer/commissioning
editor does not like the script. Producers hold many responsibilities, from selecting screenplays,
securing the rights and choosing the screenwriter and editing team. Their key responsibility is to
create an environment where the talents of the cast and crew can flourish. They raise development
and supervise process.
4. Job roles involved in the process
The producer:
There are many skills on which a producer must have. They must a prior experience of
working on film or television industry. It is important to have creative vision in order to make
a unique and successful media production that brings in profit. As they must be thinking
about the profit. It is really important that they have a good in depth of understanding of
finance and to be able to secure and motive the production team. This means that
communication skills are vital, and it is important to be constantly on top of their game at all
time.
5. Job roles
Editorial Assistant:
Editorial assistant provides support in all stages of the publication of: books; journals; magazines;
online material and publicity materials. They support senior editorial staff in the administration of the
commissioning, planning and production of publications. The work they get and the responsibility
given to them will vary depending on the organization and work they have going on during that
current time. An assistant role is the usual starting point for careers in editorial work. With the
growth of digital publishing, there are increasing opportunities to work for online publications which
can involve editing and writing website content and using social media. Cindi Leive - Leive’s
magazine career started in the early 1990s, when she worked as an editorial assistant for Glamour.
Leive also worked at self, before returning to Glamour in 2001, where she is now Editor-in-Chief.
6. Job roles
Executive Producer:
An executive producer oversee the work of the producer on behalf of the studio, the financiers or the
distributors. They will ensure the film is completed on time, within budget, and to agree artistic and
technical standards. They can also raise a significant proportion of a film's finance, or secure the
underlying rights to the project. In major productions, they may be a representative or CEO of the film
studio. In smaller companies or independent projects they may be the creator or writer.
Typically, Executive Producers are not involved in the technical aspects of the filmmaking process.
Executive Producers must be excellent negotiators. They need a keen business sense, and an intimate
knowledge of all aspects of film production, financing, marketing and distribution.
Jane Harris is a British television director and producer, best known for her contributions to soap operas,
including EastEnders and Family Affairs, she is one of the leading executive producers behind the work of
EastEnders.
7. Job Roles
Literary Agent
A literary agent will work with and represent authors of book-length fiction and nonfiction in their
dealings with publishers, such as contracts. The agent's job is to find a publisher and get the
best deal possible for the author. Agents have to be familiar with both the publishing industry
and the laws governing book contracts so they can safeguard
the interests of their clients.
Edward Hibbert is an Anglo-American actor and literary agent. He played Gil Chesterton in the
TV series Frasier. He also voiced Zazu in both The Lion King II: Simba's Pride and The Lion
King 1½, replacing Rowan Atkinson.
8. Job roles involved in the process
The producer examples
● An example of a producer is Sue Vertue
She is an English television producer, mainly of comedy shows, including Mr. Bean and coupling. One
major television series that she produced was ‘ Sherlock ‘ which aired on BBC 1 in 2010 and now has four
series, which are highly anticipated, with a massive fanbase, and is still running in 2017. The show which
depicts a modern update of the famous Sherlock Holmes and his partner Dr. Watson, solving crime in 21st
century London, has a high rating on IMDB of ‘9.2’ with positive reviews all around
Another example of television producer is Carolyn Strauss:
She is an American television executive and producer. She was the president of the Home Box office (
HBO) network's entertainment division until 2008 and was responsible for commissioning series like the :
SOPRANOS, the wire, curb your enthusiasm and Sex and the city.
9. Job roles involved in the process
The commissioning editor:
A commissioning editor's role is to be able to find new idea’s from script writers which match
the brief that they set out. In this brief they advertise what to include in the written script,
such as if they show is after or before the watershed, then they must make sure the content
of the script is appropriate for the time that the show will be on television commissioning
editors advertise a brief in which included what their producers are looking for,and they must
find the talent for the I.e. scriptwriter. They must be able to find new writers that they can
nurture into a successful media project. Scriptwriters are able to search or online for
commissioning editors and present they ideas and script to them. The commissioning editor
is who passes the script, if they approve it and think its suits what they are looking for, onto
their producer.
10. Job roles involved in the process
Scriptwriters:
The script is in charge of writing the script for the film television and plays. Many times around, the scriptwriter has creative
control, although when they are commissioned, they are may rules and regulations they must follow. A scriptwriter will go
online to looks for commissions from either corporations or independent companies which they will read and advertise
commission. Then they will write the script with the intended characters, misé-en-scene on the commissioned genre. Once
the script is finally done, the writer will go to their agent; once the script is submitted, for their agent to discuss any finer
details with whoever is publishing/producing their script.
Why is time management such an important skill for a writer?
‘Writers, like most people, are incredibly busy. With work, family, friends, and other obligations, things can sometimes get
hectic. By using time-management strategies, however, they can find the time for writing, even when their life seems
overwhelming.’ Some ways this could be achieved is by: creating a writing space, prioritizing your activities, scheduling time
for writing, establishing writing goals and writing whenever you can.
11. Job roles involved in the process
Agent:
A scriptwriters will normally have a agent who will negotiate and sell their products to the
large companies. An agent will have contacts which are able to talk to companies in order to
sell the scriptwriters products and negotiate a price. It bs important to find work their clients,
relationships with industry decision-makers in order to persuade them to take their clients on.
They take percentage from what their clients earns, in this case the scriptwriter, for the work
which they do.
Some skills in which are vital for agents include: Having excellent social skills particularly
ability to make good contacts within the industry and to maintain them diplomatically and
tactfully. And being able to network effectively
12. Job roles
What are ‘royalty payments’?
‘Royalty payments are a way of giving money to the people who helped make something whenever it is
played, for example, if a script is bought by a production company and then turned into a film or television
series the scriptwriter will receive money every time that the it's shown. The royalty fees can range up to
15% of money gained but can be very little at the same time. Songs that are over 70 years old are royalty
free so that if television shows use an old tune they don’t have to pay for it. Many scripts have been
recycled and have used certain parts from other films or television series' which results in the production
company having to pay royalties to the old writer as well as when a film is remade.’
14. Commissioning bodies involved
Corporations:
BBC, Channel 4, channel 5 is a well established companies with broadcasting rights for tv a cooperation is
a business which own many subsidiaries which means they can generate more income and therefore
profit than independent companies, a scriptwriter will either go to a corporation or an independent, as a
cooperation has more finance it is likely to receive a higher amount of money and have better job
opportunities in the future, there are many strands to corporation such as factual drama, arts, science,
sports, news so you need to choose the correct commissioning department.
15. Independent companies
An independent company has less finance and power and therefore rely on the corporation because they
do not own any broadcasting rights, which means they can produce film but they rely on others to show it
to the public.their aim is to get their products or an scripts aired in tv to mass audience in order to get to a
higher profile as possible.
For a new script writer it might be better to find a independent company because it’s more likely to get
commissioned but there’s not as much as money as a corporation companies may have in their budget.
An example of an independent company Fremantlemedia UK who produce productions such as The X
factor, grand designs, the apprentice.
16. The role of a scriptwriter
The role of the scriptwriter is to create a script for film or TV productions. It is important that
screenplays should allow whoever is reading it to imagine how the film will work on screen,
so that the commissioning editor is able to tell if it will be a successful production. It is
important that the screenwriter writes the script so that it fits in with basic principles of
dramatic construction, and fits the format and style expected in the industry, for example the
BBC format. Screenwriters are almost always freelancers. They either pitch original ideas to
commissioning editors of corporations or independent companies in the hope they will be
optioned or sold. However, most of the time the scriptwriter will have an agent to negotiate
prices for them.
There are skills which screenwriters need to have: have an in-depth understanding of the
story, plot and narrative, Understand the different ways film affect audiences.
17. The role of a scriptwriter
Examples of screenwriters:
Ann McManus- Ann McManus is known for her work on bad girls (1999), waterloo road (2006) and
rock rivals (2008). Waterloo road is a contemporary drama series set in a challenging comprehensive
school, from 2006-2015 with 10 seasons altogether, being popular and success series. Waterloo
Road was aired on BBC 1 which means that's McManus would have been in competition with many
other writers, as she was pitching her idea to a large and successful cooperation.
Damon Beesley- Damon Beesley is a English writer and Television Producer, best known for his work
on British comedy The Inbetweeners and New Zealand comedy flight of the conchords. He often
works alongside his partner Iain Morris. The Inbetweeners follows four friends and their antics during
their years of school and was made into series, and 2 films being very successful with a large fan
base.
18. Laws and Ethics
Censorship
In order for the the script to go through normal publishing terms, they must make sure they follow all
ethical and media laws. These are things such as libel, censorship and watershed. In order for a script to
be published before watershed; inappropriate content must be censored.
Censorship makes sure that things are where they stand it is a big part of not showing unfamiliar culture to
the under-age generation; and not scaring more sensitive minds. It’s a part of the law to follow censorship
on any free-to-view channel in the UK; at least until watershed, which then allows channels to broadcast
more sensitive content. Essentially, censorship is the suppression of the freedom-of-speech law, which
suppresses any objectionable, harmful, sensitive, politically incorrect or inconvenient broadcast as
determined by the media board and governments.
19. Laws and Ethics
Libel
Under the Libel act; comes to defamation act (2013) which states that the media can not damage to an
individual’s reputation with misrepresenting or using false information, although many genres do take the “
mick” out of certain people,using misinformation can cause a court sentence, and for the scriptwriter who
has misinformed to face being sued.
When a scriptwriter writes the script, they must make sure it does not damage a person reputation or
contain a false claim; this can lead to sueing and a bad record; meaning the scriptwriter will not have a
good reputation for themselves; not allowing them to get a job, or much future work.
20. Laws and Ethics
Watershed
The watershed i the time which splits daytime and nighttime television. The watershed, set by OFcom for
British broadcasting, is the point in time after which programme with adult content may be aired. This
means that anytime before 9:00PM OR AFTER 5:30AM, only content that is suitable for all ages may be
shown on TV. It splits the time between when more sensitive minds are asleep, and can not be affected by
the explicit content, After 9:00pm in the UK, shows with the explicit are allowed to start broadcasting,
which are illegal to broadcast before the watershed time, because they may contain explicit content such
as; swearing and drug use which are unsuitable for children. If a commissioning editor has set in the brief
that the show they are looking for is set before the watershed, it is important that the scriptwriter does not
include any inappropriate content in their script, in order to be commissioned.
21. Laws and ethics
Legal and ethical
Plagiarism: In an instructional setting, plagiarism occurs when a writer deliberately uses someone else’s language, ideas,
or other original (not common-knowledge) material without acknowledging its source. This definition applies to texts
published in print or online, to manuscripts, and to the work of other student writers. Most current discussions of plagiarism
fail to distinguish between: submitting someone else’s text as one’s own or attempting to blur the line between one’s own
ideas or words and those borrowed from another source, carelessly or inadequately citing ideas and words borrowed from
another source.’
Copyright:
Is the exclusive and assignable legal right, given to the originator for a fixed number of years, to print, publish, perform, film,
or record literary, artistic, or musical material. As soon as the idea for your novel, poem, or manuscript is written down in a
fixed copy, the work automatically has copyright protection.’
