BTEC National Diploma in Creative Media Production (Film & Television) Unit 24: Writing for Television and Video
Assignment 6: Screenplays
Student name:
Assessor:
Issue date:
Deadline:
Lead IV:
Sean Offord
Sonia Marshall
Unit 2: Assessment & grading criteria (tick when criteria are met) To achieve a pass grade the evidence must show that the learner is able to:
To achieve a merit grade the evidence must show that, in addition to the pass criteria, the learner is able to:
To achieve a distinction grade the evidence must show that, in addition to the pass and merit criteria, the learner is able to:
P1
describe the writer’s role in the commissioning process using some subject terminology appropriately
M1
explain the writer’s role in the commissioning process with reference to detailed illustrative examples and with generally correct use of subject terminology
D1
comprehensively explain the writer’s role in the commissioning process with elucidated examples and consistently using subject terminology correctly
P2
collect and prepare suitable background materials for a scriptwriting project with some assistance
M2
collect and prepare good background material for a scriptwriting project competently and with only occasional assistance
D2
collect and prepare excellent background material for a scriptwriting project to nearprofessional standards working independently to professional expectations
P3
produce script proposals for specific purposes working within appropriate conventions and with some assistance
M3
produce script proposals for specific purposes showing some imagination and with only occasional assistance
D3
produce script proposals for specific purposes showing creativity and flair and working independently to professional expectations
P4
pitch a prepared proposal
M4
pitch a prepared proposal effectively
D4
pitch a prepared proposal to a nearprofessional standard
P5
produce a script for a specific purpose working within appropriate conventions and with some assistance.
M5
produce a script for a specific purpose competently showing some imagination and with only occasional assistance.
D5
produce a script for a specific purpose to near-professional standards and working independently to professional expectations.
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BTEC National Diploma in Creative Media Production (Film & Television) Unit 24: Writing for Television and Video Learning Outcome 1: Know about the commissioning process for writing for television and video Commissioning: job roles within the commissioning process (commissioning editors, producers, directors, script editors, agents, writers); commissioning bodies (corporations, independent production companies, independent directors or producers, organisations, competitions); the role of the writer throughout production (pre-production planning, script editing, director or producer involvement, shooting script production, page lock-down, adjustment during shooting stage) Working as a writer: agent representation; royalty payments; professional presentation; time management Legal and ethical considerations: copyright; bias; censorship; watersheds; libel; plagiarism Learning Outcome 2: Be able to research, collect and prepare background materials Background material: published scripts; factual information; opinion; speculation; existing material from other broadcast and written media for conversion or adaptation Research: primary, eg original interviews, focus groups, surveys, questionnaires; secondary, eg observation of existing products, books, magazines, newspapers, journals, internet, CD ROM archives, electronic databases, newsgroups, existing interviews Prepare material: evaluate the use of found material; extract useful data and information; order and organise according to intentions; store
Unit Content
Learning Outcome 3: Be able to produce script proposals Produce: gather research; word process; present in a printed form; track revision changes Proposal: title of proposed script; overview (identification of genre, concept overview, unique selling point (USP), initial scenario, suggested target audience); product intention (high concept, narrative synopsis, intended communication); message; character briefs (name, age, dramatic motivation, role in narrative); non-fiction talent requirements (role, age, on-screen persona overview) Script purposes: factual programming, eg news, documentaries, links, announcer scripts: informational, eg promotional video, government information shorts, factual magazine items: entertainment programming, eg quiz shows, light entertainment, variety, children’s magazine shows, music broadcasts, performance broadcasts; live broadcasts, eg sporting, entertainment, cultural; fictional, eg, drama, sitcoms, sketch shows, soap opera, feature films Learning Outcome 4: Be able to pitch script proposals Pitch: verbal presentation skills; ideas communication; supporting materials, eg images, hard copies of proposal; client liaison, eg appropriate tone, use of language, open communication; awareness of promotional nature of pitching; negotiating changes and adapting to client needs; product knowledge Learning Outcome 5: Be able to produce scripts for television and video production Syntax and vocabulary: target audience considerations, eg extent of vocabulary, existing knowledge, awareness of slang, definition of terminology or jargon; standard in-and -out cues; phonetic spellings; pronunciation guidance; tone of address; standard formats, eg Warn-Advise-Repeat; narrative structures Script formats: common conventions (font, sizing, generic terminology, page labelling); BBC drama format; film layout; audio visual (A/V) layout; genre specifications, eg news, sitcom, sketch show, quiz, magazine format Script directions: sluglines; action; character names; dialogue; talent cues; shot descriptors, eg ELS (extreme long shot), LS (long shot), ž, MCU (medium close-up), two-shot; insert cues, eg VT (video tape), SOT (sound on tape); shot directions, eg establishing, wallpaper, cutaway, POV (point of view).
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BTEC National Diploma in Creative Media Production (Film & Television)
Getting Your Foot in the Door as a writer! Many unknown writers and filmmakers ‘cut their teeth’ on short film scripts, because in this format there is much greater chance for a new writer to get their work into production. There are quite a few competitions for new writers to submit their scripts to, and winning one of these can be a great way to begin getting a name for yourself as a writer.
If you are writing longer pieces, the BBC Writers Room could be the first point of call for you. It’s the BBC’s place for all unsolicited scripts. All work is assessed primarily for the talent of the writer, and in addition for the script's suitability for further development. Most submissions will be for specified television formats, such as 30 minute single camera dramas, or documentaries etc. It’s also a brilliant place for info on screenwriting in general and you should get to know it well if you want a distinction in this unit!
The Brief Produce a screenplay for a ‘short’ (around ten minutes) for entry into a competition of your choice, either as a script or as a complete film The following tasks will take you through the process of creating a complete short film script. They will also help you to understand the role of the writer and their position in the commissioning process. The script you produce may be used in the next unit, Single Camera Techniques as the basis for a full production. Tasks
Undertake and present research on the screenplay competitions, BBC Writers Room, scripts, and the general process of taking a script to screen (U24: GC2)
Create a treatment/proposal for your short screenplay (U24: GC3)
Come up with an idea for your own short script, and undertake and present research into relevant short films and other texts from TV and the internet and relevant themes and issues (U24: GC2) Pitch the treatment/proposal to a team of potential buyers/backers (U24: GC4) Write the screenplay. This will be the longest process and you will need to redraft and rework it at least three times (U24: GC5) Create a Prezi or other interactive presentation explaining the screenwriting and commissioning process and the writer’s role in it (U24: GC1).
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BTEC National Diploma in Creative Media Production (Film & Television) Actions for Improvements
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Learner aims for next assignment: 1. 2. Learner declaration
I certify that the work submitted for this assignment is my own and research sources are fully acknowledged. Signed:
Date:
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Achieved