Article on being a writer for TV and film

TV and film are a massive part of the media industry; they are the primary source of entertainment around the world. Every country in the world has their own TV channels and films can reach any part of the world via Internet, DVD or many other new platforms, such as Netflix, online streaming, and others.

Due to the widespread use of TV and film it has become a popular career choice for many people, which is why it can be pretty hard to get into this very competitive industry. In this article, I will explain how an idea starts in the mind of the writer and the stages it must pass before becoming reality. I will describe different paths writers can take to enter this industry and also how to develop the skills needed to succeed.

THE SCRIPT

The main thing first - the script. The writer must have a script, which stands out from all the other scripts and is special. Everyday, scripts get sent to companies with the hopes that they will go through and capture the imagination of the decision makers; This means that there is a lot of competition. The script is also the foundation of the pre-production and an image for other people to see what the writer has imagined. It must be detailed yet easy to understand. If the writer’s proposal goes forward with a company the editors and directors may make changes. The writer must be prepared to have their script played around with and shaped to the satisfaction of the company. It is almost guaranteed that the script the writer started with will not be the same script at the end.

If the writer has a rubbish script there is only so much that can be done to make the product good. That is why it is essential for the script to be as close to perfection as possible and even then it will still be played around with. One big thing to remember when a writer is writing a script is, that the target market of the production is the audience not the company itself. The company will already know how to aim this to the preferred target audience, but what they want to know is if the script has the potential to engage with the audience and be immersive.

THE COMMISSION PHASE

The commissioning phase consists of process the idea must go through to become reality. After the script is created, the writer must send it off to a commissioning body. There are many kinds of commission bodies depending on size, budget, platform etc.

Different options will be explored below:

Corporate commission bodies

The main TV Corporation in the UK is the BBC, which allows writers to send in their scripts. Due to the size and scope of the BBC, there are different expectations for each genre, which is why they have different departments for each genre ranging from Cebeebies to sport and many more. The BBC has templates for proposals for the public. For experienced writers/directors on the other hand, they have an online system called e-commission where accounts can be created and ideas submitted. From this they can review previous work, check proposal and get in touch with writers and authors.

Independent companies

Smaller and more independent companies differ from larger companies as they have low budgets and take fewer risks. To get yourself noticed with these companies you must make connections, alternatively you can hire an agent who will have the right resources and connections to help you extend your reach. After your script has been reviewed they may decide to invest in your proposal.

Competition

Another way for a writer to get their script invested in is competitions. Many organisation and companies hold competitions where writers submit a small part of their script. If the section is successful the whole script is taken and invested in. This method is a lot more competitive than the previous options and not chances of winning are not as good as the other methods, however it is still worth consideration.

Now that the writer has a commissioning body there are many stages and people that the proposal needs to go through before the production starts. These people include the director, editors, production managers etc. All these people are essential to get the best out of the script, they have an in-depth understanding of how the commissioning phase works and all work together in stages to make the proposal a reality.

JOBS AND THE PROCESS

·      The writer- the writer is vital as he creates the foundations of the whole pre-production. This is where the idea is born and pre-production starts. Pre-production is important because it is the planning and preparation for the whole production. Without planning, people will not know what to do, people will have trouble understanding each other and major mistakes are bound to happen. Without thorough planning, the production will be considerately more difficult and may lead to extra spending.

·      Script editor- this person works as the writer’s second brain. They will review the whole script and give guidance to the writer and forge the script into the best version they can. Although they do not actually write the script they work extensively with the writer to make the script flawless. Their main aim is to make sure the work is aimed at the target audience and that it will keep them engaged at all times.

·      Researcher- this person looks at all the information and data. They will check the facts on the script to see if they are correct. Sometimes, depending on the script dates location and general facts will be checked to secure they are accurate. They research and report back to the writer and editor to show what they think needs changing or improving.

·      Director- this person and the producer as the script is being worked on until the whole project is finished, this is where the script starts evolving in the mind of the director into something more physical and therefore  ccvmore easier to perceive. The director’s job is to transform words into images using the planning from the script and the producer. As the script is being worked on they will feed in their ideas on how to make the script look better during production. Their opinion is very highly respected because most have years of film making experience and they know what they are doing.

Now the filming phase starts. During filming many things can be changed and altered although this is not always desirable. Different people work on the project during this stage;

·      The producer- as said before, the director and the producer work very closely whilst the script is being edited. The main job of the producer is to manage everything and ensure all the planning is put into action. The producer brings everything together, organizes everything, heir props and equipment etc. this carries on all the way untill the product is complete. Cameras, make up, lighting, etc. the producer also manages the use of the right.

·      Editorial assistant- this person works closely with the commissioning editor and can directly put in what the commissioning editor wants in the production.

·      Editorial admin- just like the editorial assistant this person works closely with the commissioner. They may be in charge of a group of assistant editors and manage them as  superior.

·      Executive producer- the executive producer works as the commissioning editor’s body makes sure that all the conditions are met and schedule is on time, as well as many other things.

After all the filming is finished all the participants will meet to discuss all that has been filmed with particular focus on quality, locations, if certain scenes need changing, actors etc. After this they may decide whether further editing is needed or if anything needs to be changed.

• Commissioning editor- this person has the last say in everything. They decide whether the script goes through to production and which parts do. They also decide when the film is done and have a massive say on what happens. A writer is practically handing over the film to this person when in the commission process.

LEGAL MATTERS

For a writer it is essential to be are aware of the copyright laws and legal matters involved with script writing. These laws are in place to make sure people do not plagiarise others work, follow ethical guidlines, copyright laws , avoid libel etc.

Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. This allows creators of such projects to have the right to control how their material is used. These rights cover such aspects such as how the work is broadcasted, plagiarisms, issues, adapting etc. The creator also has the right to be credited and identified as an author for distortions of such works. These laws give protection in most countries; scripts are one of the many types of literary works, which can be protected by this act so therefore as a writer you have to be careful not to take any parts from existing scripts. Other types of work which may effect a writer would be lyrics to a song, plays, logos, video footage broadcasts etc.

Copyright law automatically becomes a right when a piece of work is created, therefore when a writer creates a script it is already under protection although it needs to be an original, and should show skill and hard a degree of effort into the work. If a person is working freelance under a company the rights usually belong to the creator unless there is a contact to the contrary.

Anyone found of copyright infringements and if the owner actively claims, the person who committed the offence can receive penalties like, paying for damages and profits, fines, loss of freedoms, or loss of employment. Most of the time these cases are not persuade but in the case of script writing and film making you should be extremely careful as a lot of losses can be made and the creators lose out on a lot which may push them to take legal matters.

A SUCCESSFUL WRITER

Okay, so here’s the main part, you want to be the best writer you can be? You must have the ambition and genuine passion for writing, writing must be something you enjoy doing, when you enjoy doing something you will always excel in it.

You must be a very good story teller, your stories and plots must be engaging and can attach to your audience not only in attention but emotionally as well. You will have to be a good listener as well as a good writer, people will come and add criticisms and offer help and a good listener will know how to welcome these comments and how to work to improve using the help, which is offered. As I’ve said before a script will be changed by many different people and you must be prepared to allow them to change it round for you, the editors and directors have experience in what they do, so have trust in their opinions.

Research is also very valuable, read screenplays and watch films which capture your imaginations and find what you love about them. After you do integrate this into your own ideas, it is always okay to take ideas and copy from other media, many big feature films and TV series borrow ideas from previously successful productions, an example would be psycho, it have been used as a template for many, many productions.

Before you can really start working on big projects you need to practice and also make a name for yourself, just like in any section of media people like to see your previous work to have an idea about how good you are at what you do. A great form of practice is to use social media to your advantage for example start your own blog where you review films and things you have a passion for, try and get some poems published and even write a few small screenplays. Keep in mind that you will have to do a large amount of work for free to get a kick-start in the industry as well as making connections with people who can help you out in the future and know how you work so they can trust you.

If you follow these steps, people and agents will have an interest in your work but also your talents in particular. They will be able to see you have a real passion for this work and that you devote a lot of yourself into what you do. These are the sort of people that companies want as writers and for then on it’s your choice about which route you want to take, what you feel comfortable in and of course to keep doing what you enjoy the most.

Thank you for reading and the best of luck.

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http://www.rossiterandco.com/CorporateProducer/CorporateVideoProduction/VideoScript.htm

http://www.bbc.co.uk/commissioning/tv/pitching-ideas/index.shtml

https://www.copyrightservice.co.uk/copyright/p01_uk_copyright_law

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1988/48/contents

http://www.wisegeek.org/what-are-the-consequences-of-breaking-copyright-laws.htm