Working as a writer:
Working as a writer can be an extremely difficult and time consuming job, every writer will have a different method of writing; some may be able to sit down whenever and wherever and start typing while others may treat it more like a traditional job working in set hours or in a certain place to help with concentration. Some writers prefer to work freelance so that they can work towards deadlines and work off of other peoples ideas, while others prefer to work entirely by themselves working at their own pace from their own ideas. A writer may finish his/her script and seek the help of a screenwriting agent, the agents job is to read through the script and tell the writer if it is acceptable if so they will work alongside the writer to get it produced. Earning money working as a writer is different from most other jobs, you can earn money through freelance work as I mentioned earlier or you can sell your script to studio and get paid a lump sum but even then you won't get the full amount, the example below shows how much you would get paid if you sold a script to a studio with a writing partner
Legal and Ethical aspects of writing
When writing a script you have to be mindful of what you are writing, research beforehand to see if your idea has already been created or if any one is already in progress of creating it, this is important because if you release a script with the same or similar content as another legal difficulties can arise such as copyright infringement claims or plagiarism. As well as following legal guidelines it is also a necessity to ensure your script is not at all ethically or morally incorrect especially if you plan to have someone else help with the publishing aspect as a lot of agents/directors will immediately reject a script if it is too offensive.
If your script is to be made into a film or television programme you must also be wary of regulatory bodies such as OFCOM ( More information on OFCOM and regulatory bodies can be found on my previous blog posts). If your script does make it into a TV programme or film you will have to take into account censorship, the watershed and libel laws. Censorship simply means that if your script is excessively violent or offensive it will have to be altered in order for it to be allowed to be shown which leads into the watershed. in the UK the watershed is 9pm and after, the watershed is simply the point in which more offensive or violent programmes or movies are allowed to be shown in order to prevent younger audiences from seeing them. [1] The Guardian states that the aim of Libel laws are to balance the right of free speech against protection for the reputation of an individual from unjustified attack." which put into terms of script writing means that if you create a script that follows a real person or a character that represents a real person to ensure that if they are to be shown in a negative light it is true and not just a made up fact. [2] An example of a Libel case is the defamation case for "Wolf Of Wall Street" in which a broker sued the producers of the film for "their right to free speech supersedes his wright to privacy."
Script commissioning
A commissioning body can be in the form of a corporation, independent production company, independent directors/producers, organizations, and competition etc. a commissioning body decides whether a script will progress further to go onto becoming a film or TV programme.
Company - BBC Writers room
[3] The writers room is a site set up by the BBC to allow for anyone to send in a script for consideration to be developed further. The site allows for writers of any level of experience to send in their scripts, which will then be looked over by officials at the BBC who will then discuss whether or not the script has the potential to go any further if the writer of the script is contacted again within a couple of months this means that the script has been read and they want to further develop it. The script readers at the writers room normally read the first 10 pages of the script and if they are not interested by then the script is usually rejected. Companies like this can be very helpful for writers who don't want to be tethered by working with agents.
Script pipeline is a screenwriting competition much like the BBC writers room which tasks writers of any skill level to submit their script with a chance of it being developed further. The current script pipeline competition that is running has a deadline of March 1st 2016 and an entrance fee of $50 (£34) [4] The person who wins the competition gets:
Independent producer(s) - Vertigo Films
[5] Vertigo films describe themselves as a UK Film and Distribution company founded in 2002 by Allan Niblo and James Richardson. The following year Rupert Preston and Nick Love joined and became partners. The company’s mission is to create and distribute commercially driven independent cinema and since inception it has produced 28 films and distributed a further 35. The Films span a range of genres and audience taste and include the box office smash hit Streetdance 3D, the biggest independent UK DVD of all time The Football Factory, the multi award winning Monsters, Vertigo co-production Ajami (nominated for an Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film), smash hit family film Horrid Henry The Movie, audience favourite The Sweeney, and the hottest director of the moment, Nicolas Winding Refn's first English-language film, Bronson.". The benefit of choosing an independent producer is that you will be working with a much smaller company than something like the BBC which means that your script will get more attention and you will have a bigger part in developing it. Independent producers can be better for writers who prefer to work with people who are not tied down by studios or executives. Jobs roles in the journey of a script
The very beginning of the scripts journey, the writers job is to create a script which will go on to become a film, television programme or otherwise. Writers are almost always self employed working from home and are not employed by a company or individual meaning that they can work on their script in the times that suit them best rather than work hours (however some writers prefer to work only in certain time frames such as 9-5). [6] An example of a popular writer is Mark Gatiss a British writer known mainly for his work on Sherlock and Doctor Who.
A broad role that covers more than just screenwriting a literary agent represents a screenwriter and their work to a director/producer helping to further the scripts journey. They ensure that the producer they pick is best suited to the writer and his/her material as well as ensuring that the writer is payed their royalties when their work is used. A literary agent knows the market very well and will ensure that the script the writer has written will find the correct place or producer to be further developed. [7] An example of a literary agency is David Higham Associates situated in the UK.
Script Editor:Working alongside a producer it is the script editors job to give the writer feedback on their script. such as ensuring that the story is still competent, exciting and captivating and the characters are still interesting and developed enough. They will suggest changes to the script to make it better while ensuring they do not stray too far from the writers initial vision of how the script plays out. [8] An example of a script editor is Kate Leys a British woman who worked on Four Weddings And A Funeral and Trainspotting. [9] However script editors don't always intend to keep the script how the writer intended there have been accusations of script editors 'butchering' scripts by changing them so much from the original simply because they know it will make more money that way, and because of certain laws stating that when a writer has been paid a certain amount they cannot revoke their name from the project meaning that a lot of the time writers get blamed for a bad script when some times it's because they were muscled out by studio executives who just want to make easy money this story better explains this situation.
One of the final roles in the scripts journey the director oversees the visual aspects of creating the script making sure the product looks as close to how the writer describes.Often times the writer and director are the same person as it is much easier for the writer to develop his own vision rather than telling someone else what he/she wants this only if the writer has had experience with direction. An example of a director is Quentin Tarantino who also writes all of his movies, well known for Pulp Fiction, Kill Bill, Django Unchained and the upcoming Hateful 8.
The role of the writer in pre-production and production.
Now that the script has been commissioned the writer will have to write a few more drafts based on the feedback given from directors, producers, script editors etc. until they have a script that all parties are satisfied with. The writer will keep in contact with script editors and agents in order to meet deadlines. Writers have to do something called page lock-down which is simply when the writer chooses pages of the script which are completed, these pages can then be handed out to any one who will need to see them in order to further the production of the script. After this the director will enter and begin working on visualizing the script working alongside the script editor and producer he/she will try to replicate what the writer has described. script writers are often invited along to rehearsals to help pick actors that best fit the roles they have written. When the actors have been cast and the script is given the go ahead shooting will begin, at this point there isn't much the writer can do except sit back and watch their vision come to life.
In summary
Job roles in the commissioning process:
Commissioning editors: A commissioning editor decides which script(s) that he/she believes will be successful and helps to further there development.
Producers: Near the top of the film and TV hierarchy the producer overlooks projects and manages the people and funds for them.
Directors: In charge of the visual aspects of creating a film or TV programme the director will ensure that the writers mental image is replicated as closely as possible.
Script editors: Working alongside the writer the script editor reads through the writers script and suggests changes while still ensuring to not completely change the script.
Agents: Agents will help the writer to get his/her script commissioned by representing them and their work when talking to people in the industry.
Writers: The writer is the one that creates the script which will go on to be the TV shows or Films that you enjoy. they are the very start of the journey of the script.
Commissioning bodies:
Corporations: Large groups of people with a wide variety of roles and professional film and television industry workers.
Independent production companies: Similar to corporations but on a much smaller scale, and without the downside of being owned by a bigger corporation independent production companies have more control over what the want to produce.
Independent directors or producers: Individuals who have just started in the industry who are trying to make a name for themselves or people who have been in the industry for a while and want more free reign over what they can and can't create. Indie directors and producers can choose whoever they want to work with without worrying about someone higher up telling them otherwise.
Organizations: Much like a corporation an organization is a huge media outlet that can control where the writers work can be shown and advertised.
Competitions: Like the aforementioned Script Pipeline competition a writer of almost any level of skill can enter a script and have a chance of getting it commissioned and adapted without the need to seek agents/producers/directors etc.
The role of the writer throughout production:
Pre-production planning: during the pre-production phase the writer will work alongside producers, directors, script editors etc. in order to settle on a final version of the script that all parties are happy with.
Script editing: The script editor will look through the script pointing out anything that he/she believes could be changed or removed and then consults the writer.
Director or producer involvement: The director and producer will talk to the writer about adapting his/her script discussing whether it will be a television show or film, as well as how it will be shown and where etc. The director will also begin visualizing the script by making shot lists, looking into locations, and at actors
Shooting script production: After consulting the script editor and creating a few extra drafts the writer will then create the shooting script which is the final draft that will be given out during production.
Page lock-down: When writing, the writer will choose pages to lock down which basically means pages of the script that the writer considers done, these pages can be sent out to producers and other officials to show them what the script will be like and how talented the writer is.
Adjustment during shooting stage: While the film/show is being shot the writer may want to change the scene to better fit the pace or feel of the movie.
Working as a writer:
Agent representation: Choosing the right agent can be crucial in deciding whether the script will ever be commissioned or adapted, a good agent will have a good understanding of the market and any gaps that can be filled as well as many contacts in the industry.
Royalty payments/optioning: If the script gets adapted then every time it is shown either on television or at the cinema the writer will receive a percentage of the money as royalty. However if the writer needs money quickly then could option the script which means to sell the script and it's rights to a studio for a lump sum of money.
Professional presentation: The more professional looking the script the more likely it is for agents to accept it and take it further.
Time management: A writer must be able to balance their time well because when the script is commissioned they will need to work to deadlines instead of on their own time.
Legal and ethical considerations:
- Copyright: The writer must not steal content from already existing material.
- Bias: The script must not be overtly in favour of a certain person or belief etc.
- Censorship: If the script is too offensive or violent the studio or editor will censor it.
- Watersheds: If the script is too dark,violent,offensive etc. it will be shown later on television or have an age limit in cinemas.
- Libel: If the script represents a real life person in a bad light it ha to be proven not just slander for the sake of it.
- Plagiarism: The writers material must only be his/her own or based on existing work it cannot be directly copied.
Bibliography
[1] http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2006/aug/31/news.politicsandthemedia[2] http://www.thewrap.com/wolf-wall-street-defamation-case-producers-say-one-toupee-involved/
[3] http://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/
[4] https://scriptpipeline.com/shop/screenwriting-contest
[5] http://www.vertigofilms.com/about.php#.Voxp6BWLSUl
[6] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Gatiss
[7] http://www.davidhigham.co.uk/
[8] http://www.kateleys.co.uk/biog/
[9] http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/jan/09/screenwriters-heavy-handed-script-editing-pushing-talent-out-of-film
No comments:
Post a Comment