Section 1: Obtaining work as a screenwriter – Commissioning
Job Roles:
Commissioning Editors
Their main job is to allocate the funds for the production so that it can go ahead and they are the senior employee of the broadcaster. They are in charge of selecting the programme ideas so that the shows that go on TV are always checked over to make sure nothing is in there that shouldn't be.
https://www.prospects.ac.uk/job-profiles/commissioning-editor
https://www.prospects.ac.uk/job-profiles/commissioning-editor
Producers
The main role of the producer is to oversee the sections of the production that the director doesn't have to look into (e.g. financial aspects and legal aspects). When writers are starting to write for projects a producer may originate a project, or pitch it to the writing staff. They will also may attach this project to a particular writer or a group of writers.
The producer is also among the first set of people that are apart of the project, the many responsibilities of a producer are seen in the four major stages of production on a project. For example in the gaming industry a producer acts the same way as they do in movies helping with the budget and the development process.
The main role of the producer is to oversee the sections of the production that the director doesn't have to look into (e.g. financial aspects and legal aspects). When writers are starting to write for projects a producer may originate a project, or pitch it to the writing staff. They will also may attach this project to a particular writer or a group of writers.
The producer is also among the first set of people that are apart of the project, the many responsibilities of a producer are seen in the four major stages of production on a project. For example in the gaming industry a producer acts the same way as they do in movies helping with the budget and the development process.
http://creativeskillset.org/job_roles/757_producer
Directors
When a project is started, the director takes the ideas that the producer and writers have come up with and is responsible for pulling all the ideas together to make a full project. They provide the creative vision and have a creative direction in which they want to take the ideas, to do this they make sure the DP (director of photography) some technicians and the editing staff have a good basis to work from.
They also have to interpret the script so they have a complete vision of what the project will look like and how it will be made. (The writers have little control over what the director decides to do with their work).
http://creativeskillset.org/job_roles/758_director
Directors
When a project is started, the director takes the ideas that the producer and writers have come up with and is responsible for pulling all the ideas together to make a full project. They provide the creative vision and have a creative direction in which they want to take the ideas, to do this they make sure the DP (director of photography) some technicians and the editing staff have a good basis to work from.
They also have to interpret the script so they have a complete vision of what the project will look like and how it will be made. (The writers have little control over what the director decides to do with their work).
http://creativeskillset.org/job_roles/758_director
Script Editors
The main role of a script editor is to provide a overview of the writing process. They also support and are responsible for helping the screenwriters to "map" out their story, they have to remind them of this "map"when they are writing scenes that may change from the narrative they also tend to agree on a development schedule with the producers and screenwriters. This schedule usually includes some development meetings, one-to-one editorial meetings and regular feedback.
http://creativeskillset.org/job_roles/3765_script_editor
The main role of a script editor is to provide a overview of the writing process. They also support and are responsible for helping the screenwriters to "map" out their story, they have to remind them of this "map"when they are writing scenes that may change from the narrative they also tend to agree on a development schedule with the producers and screenwriters. This schedule usually includes some development meetings, one-to-one editorial meetings and regular feedback.
http://creativeskillset.org/job_roles/3765_script_editor
Agents
The role of a agent is to be able to find work for their clients and also to organise contracts for the talent they are looking after. They also help to negotiate appropriate deals and help to build up relationships with the decisions of the higher ups in the chosen industry. Much of their time is spent on trying to keep up to date with all that's happening in the industry so they can see which productions are in current development and which are about to be given the green light.
http://creativeskillset.org/job_roles/282_agent
The role of a agent is to be able to find work for their clients and also to organise contracts for the talent they are looking after. They also help to negotiate appropriate deals and help to build up relationships with the decisions of the higher ups in the chosen industry. Much of their time is spent on trying to keep up to date with all that's happening in the industry so they can see which productions are in current development and which are about to be given the green light.
http://creativeskillset.org/job_roles/282_agent
Writers
The main role of any writer for any production is to be able to research certain topics or things that will be discussed in the project, they are solely responsible for creating and developing an engaging narrative featuring an emotional impact with the viewers. A lot of writers that work on projects are freelance (meaning they work for free and are hired on for particular assignments).
Corporations
The main role of any writer for any production is to be able to research certain topics or things that will be discussed in the project, they are solely responsible for creating and developing an engaging narrative featuring an emotional impact with the viewers. A lot of writers that work on projects are freelance (meaning they work for free and are hired on for particular assignments).
In the gaming industry writers work the same way where there is big groups of writers that bounce ideas off of one another to figure out the storyline. For certain game companies the writers work in small groups to ensure the story is exactly how it is wanted.
Commissioning Bodies:
Commissioning Bodies:
Almost all pitching ideas for four of the biggest corporations (Fox, Sony, Disney and Universal) go through established relationships this help to create a "safe bet" so that established names who have already worked for big companies or agencies. The biggest UK corporations like the BBC, ITV, Channel 4 often commission scripts and budgets for TV shows that will appear on their channels.
Sometimes with writers being freelance workers they are given opportunities to submit some scripts to big corporations and if the corporations like the scripts they could possibly commission the script to be made for one of their channels.
Independent Production Companies
In the UK there are many independent production companies that are used for both commercial and broadcasting needs and strike deals so that these companies can produce material that could be broadcast onto networks. Writers may also submit their work and ideas to independent production companies to see if they can get work, this also depends on what company they submit their work to because some companies have different genres that they work towards keeping and have certain budgetary restrictions in place.
Organisations
There are also a number of organisations that are set up to assist prospective writers to help kick-start a career in media be it as a writer or director. The few that are most well known are the BBC Writers Room, Good in a Room and the BFI Film Academy as well as the The Writers' Guild of Great Britain. The WGGB helps to support young writers across all platforms of media including film, online, radio, theatre, TV and videogames.
Sometimes with writers being freelance workers they are given opportunities to submit some scripts to big corporations and if the corporations like the scripts they could possibly commission the script to be made for one of their channels.
Independent Production Companies
In the UK there are many independent production companies that are used for both commercial and broadcasting needs and strike deals so that these companies can produce material that could be broadcast onto networks. Writers may also submit their work and ideas to independent production companies to see if they can get work, this also depends on what company they submit their work to because some companies have different genres that they work towards keeping and have certain budgetary restrictions in place.
Organisations
There are also a number of organisations that are set up to assist prospective writers to help kick-start a career in media be it as a writer or director. The few that are most well known are the BBC Writers Room, Good in a Room and the BFI Film Academy as well as the The Writers' Guild of Great Britain. The WGGB helps to support young writers across all platforms of media including film, online, radio, theatre, TV and videogames.
Section 2: Working as a writer – The Demands and Requirements:
When writers start working for independent companies and major companies they have to maintain a professional way of conducting their business and also show professionalism when presenting their work to actors, producers and directors. If this professionalism isn't shown that company won't accept that writer because they'll come across as being untrustworthy and not reliable.
Agent Representation
In the media industry it's very important to have a agent and have one that has very good bargaining and negotiating skills, it's also important to have a well known and well travelled agent because they will be able to send more contracts with roles that interest the actor. Some submissions that get sent through to production companies have to be done by agents or managers to be counted as solicited (ask for or try to obtain something from someone) otherwise they are know as unsolicited (not asked by or needed by someone) submissions and won't be accepted.
Communication
When pitching ideas to higher ups in a its very important and crucial to have clear communication skills so that the producers and director has a basic understanding of the idea that is being pitched to them. In any media format it's important to be able to make your points known when discussing ideas that would benefit the whole production, this is mostly important during meetings when many ideas are getting pitched around to see what will get made.
Time Management
When working in a professional environment it's important to be able to manage time effectively so that you will have the correct amount of time to get a script completed on time. It's also important to do this because it shows that you are interested in writing scripts and trying to get projects green-light.
Another thing that could happen if time is not managed correctly is the writer finding no interest in the project anymore or losing the story that they had originally set out and planned, if the writer gets behind schedule it can cause many problems mostly the whole production process could cause money losses.
Royalty Payments
Writers will often receive royalty payments when creating their work so that if their work gets published they will receive some payments from it. Royalty payments are split up between a specific group of people working on the production, these people are the writer, the agent and the producers. These royalty payments can come in the form of sales from the use of a script that was used for example a writer will receive payments from the use of a script for a film or TV show.
Collaboration
In the media industry its important to find writers, producers, directors that you enjoy working with and can grow a working relationship with so that you will always be working in the industry and will always be able to keep a job. For example, Tim Burton has frequently worked with Johnny Depp during his career as a film director also in Burton's movies they feature a somewhat Gothic style to them.
https://jamesaconrad.com/writing/multi-screenwriting-teams.html
Handing Over Control
Section 3: The Scriptwriting Process – Legal & Ethical Considerations
A copyrighted piece of work is the most important thing that a writer can call their own, as long as the idea is protected and a copyright symbol has been placed on all work your idea will be safe. However, your idea won't be safe forever after the creator passes away and 70 years has passed the projects that the writer had protected are now free to use.
https://info.legalzoom.com/copyright-laws-video-games-20305.html
Plagiarism
A lot of writers need to be very careful when publishing their work to make sure it isn't plagiarised in any way otherwise legal action will have to be taken in order to get the legal rights. Most if not all plagiarism cases end up being settled with the original creator being credited so that they can get royalty payments from the use of their work.
https://www.plagiarismtoday.com/2012/01/30/plagiarism-in-video-games/
Libel
Libel refers to people sometimes writing hurtful or inaccurate things about a single person, a group of people or an entire business either in written format or in a broadcast. Therefore, writers will have to research certain things to make sure they don't bring up any legal issues. To be able to collect on any damages that could be created and brought up an individual or individuals have to have proof that malice was intended.
Bias
When writers create a fictional piece of work they have to make sure that they don't favour a certain demographic of people or that they don't alienate a group of people. 'Representation' is a massive issue in current media production and it should always be the main priority when writing and creating.
Censorship
When writing and creating it's very important to make sure that the audience is being kept in mind because you don't want to offend anyone because it could turn them off your product and make sure it gets plenty of negative attention. To make the subject matter appropriate some aspects may need to be cut or censored, this usually means the level of violence, language if there are any sexual themes or any drug use. If any of these apply then the material will need to be altered.
In the video games industry many games companies will come across censorship in their games due to the rating that may be put in place by either the publishing company or the production company themselves.
Censorship is somewhat different in games because when things get censored they are mostly just taken out and removed form the coding but sometimes this censored content stays in the code by accident. For example, in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, Rockstar thought that they had completely removed a graphic scene but was later found by some people in the coding files.
Watersheds
When writing a project to get commissioned it's important to know what kind of rules to follow, for example if the project you want to get put on TV has swearing in or certain adult themes it will need to be put on in a different time slot. (Before 9pm when the watershed starts) For example Mock the Week is always put on at 9pm because it features some adult themes and won't be suitable for going live during the day.
https://www.ofcom.org.uk/tv-radio-and-on-demand/advice-for-consumers/television/what-is-the-watershed
Grade Achieved - Pass
