How do you become a writer and whats it like to work as one?
- According to this site, To be come a screen writer you would have to "Educate your self" and by that you would have to learn the basic of screen writing and that is reading books about screen writing and that will help you understand the basics structure of screen writing, Also from creating interesting characters and plot to the development of engaging and proper story structure.
- According to "About careers" website, they are saying that there are 3 books you need to read to understand the structure of screenwriting and they are:
- Story Structure by Robert McKee
- Screenplay by Syd Field
- and Screenwriters Problem Solver by Syd Field
- One you have know the basic of screenwriting structure you just need to practice.
- According to some sites like io9.com it says that what it like to work as a script writer is you are paid to work in conditions of your body while brainstorming fantasy. People who write script even makes mistakes to their profession.
What is a staff writer?
- A staff writer is a byline that indicates that the author of the article at the hand is employed by the periodical that publish article as a regular staff member and as not as a freelance writer or special contributor.
- If you want to be a staff writer a degree is not required for work as a television writer, but you do need education such as creative writing, English and film production. Courses in literary theory will help you create your own voice
- Some staff writer get nervous when they pitch their script and they get fired because it not as good as they thought. Every staff writer gets a note to improve their script and that what some script writer hates.
What is the commissioning process, how do you get an idea commissioned
- A Commissioning is where to put in or make for service of use, Ideas that are chosen for production.
- Here are the job roles;
- Commissioning editor- The commissioning editor will decide whether your idea will go into productions.
- Executive Producer- Executive producer is responsible for ensuring the commissioner condition are met.
- etc.
- Here is one of the commissioning bodies;
- Corporation- BBC
Why do you need an agent and what are the name of the some scriptwriters
- Having an agent is important if you want to be a scriptwriter even if you get a producer interested on your own. Don't go near a contract without an agent because you can make a mistake that you can not redo your contract. So you need an agent so he can see if the contract is good for some script writing like money wise, what are the condition of giving your script etc.
How does a script get chosen
- If your script is good enough you can tell your agent to contact and make some phone call to the people who reads the script and to see if they like it and want to make a production about the script or if it is terrible and they want nothing to do with it. You could also email the people who decides if the script is good enough and share your idea with them but make sure your agent have a read of your email if it is good enough,
How does a script writer get paid
- According to writersdigest they are saying that for each program they get paid so I think that for every script, scriptwriters they do they get paid. If a script get sold they get $300.000, but the writers gains an extra $200.000 if their script leads to production.
- The script will get paid when the people who reads your script will like it and will make a production about it . That then when you will get the money but make syre you get your agent to look at the pay rate on the contract then try to negotiate it.
What legal issue do you have to worry about as a writer
- The legal issue you have to worry as a writer is copy write when shorts are option, option agreement, real life stories/biography etc.
- The reason why real life story and biography is an issue is because a script telling a true story may rely on on a number of difference sources such ad meterial in public or autobigoraphy which is copyright example biography will need to be cleared.
- The word Plagiarism means that you are taking some one elses idea or take some one else work and you take credit of it and making it one of yours.
- The word Libel mean that you are making/ publishing a false statement that damages people reputation
What example are there of legal action involving scriptwriter of tv and film
- According to the site npr.org it says and shows that a case between Reed Martins and Jim Jarmusch saying that film flowers is based on one of his own movie/ screenplay. It says that The dreams of screen play can be shattered if they can not get a actual film maker to read their own script. That shows that even famous people steal people film idea and take credit of it .
What do you think are some of the high points and low points of working as a writer for tv or film
- In conclusion I think that the high points is that you can not steal anyone idea, try to make one of your idea and give it some thoughts so you do not get sued and get in court. The low point I would say is the agents, You have to find the perfect agent for you that can make your script a success so you can have a lot of money to your success and you can make more script. The reason why the agent is a low point is because there are many agents to choose from but you need to fine the right agent so you can be successful.
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Commissioning Process
BBC
Programme development and production requires an in depth understanding of the television process. BBC does not have the resources to support individual thought this process as it can take many Months or even Years to develop a successful ideas and will involve multiple of people.
If you want to be a writer the BBC writers room aims to discover and develop new writing talent from Drama and Narrative Comedy.
If you want to be a Documentary Film Maker the BBC new directors gives up an coming filmmakers the chance to have their one hour film documentary broadcast on BBC. Six films get selected each year with a commission with a budget of £100,000.
ITV
Itv is the biggest broadcasting business is made up of Itv. Itv is the largest commercial channel in the country. Here are the biggest channel of Itv- ITV, ITV2, ITV3, ITV4, CITV, ITV Encore and Itv Be. Annually Itv invest around £1billion in content for for its broadcasting channel.
Here are the Commissioning Areas for Itv- Entertainment and Comedy, Factual, Daytime, Drama, Sport, Current Affairs, Digital Channel and online.
Comedy and Enterrainment
For Itv Entertainment and Comedy here are the list of commissioning people that works with the entertainment and comedy- Elaine Bedell- Director of Entertainment and Comedy, Claire Zolkwer- Commissioning Editor, Comedy Entertainment, Asif Zubairy- Commissioning Editor, Entertainment, Kate Maddigan- Commissioning Editor, Entertainment, Peter Davy- Commissioning Editor, Entertainment and Amanda Stavri- Commissioning Editor, Entertainment.
They are committed that they are to challenge of finding, enveloping and commissioning entertainment and comedy programming across a range of platforms and to reach new elusive viewer.
Factual
For Itv Factual here are the list of commissioning people that works in factual - Richard Klien- Director of Factual, Jo Clinton- Davis- Controller of the factual, Katy Thorogood- Commissioning Editor, Factual, Priya Singh- Commissioning Editor, Factual.
Factual on ITV is a broadest sense of the world should be entertainment and be able to give their audience a good time. Factual plays a vital role bridging between drama and entertainment and the rest of the schedule, offering a chance for a change of tone, mood and colour.
Daytime
For Itv Daytime here are the list of people that works in Daytime on Itv- Helen Warner- Director of Daytime, Clare Ely- Commissioning Editor, Jane Beacon- Commissioning Editor.
Itv Daytime schedule offers a wide range of lively, entertaining and it is engaging programming. There are long term favourites program on ITV for example This Morning, Dickinson real deal etc. There are lots of content involving in ITV like programs with lively debate like The Jeremy Kyle show and Loose Women. Also there is Factual Entertainment like The Chase and tipping point
Drama
For ITV drama here are the list of people who works in that commissioning- Steve November- Director of Drama, Victoria Fae- Controller of drama, Charlie Hampton- Commissioning Editor and Jane Hudson- Head of Drama Series.
ITV drama makes Series, Serials and single films for a broad, heartland audience which regularly reach the rating above 6Million. They have variety and depth, including period series like Downtown Abbey. The top 2 soaps weekly Coronation Street and Emmerdale. These 2 long running soaps have been entertaining the nations for decades.
Sport
There is only one member for the sports and is Niall Sloane- Director of sports.
There is a range of sport on ITV and ITV4. It is free so they are the best free to air offering of football, Champion Leagues, England matches and the Europa League. It is not just football that they just do, they do other sports like French open tennis, Tour de France and Tour de Britain(Cycling), British Touring cars, Snooker, Darts and many more.
Digital Channel
There are two members in the digital channel and they are Angela Jian- Who is a Director of Digital channel and acquisitions and Paul Mortimer- who is a Controller of Digital Channel.
There are many Channel on ITV with Digital Channel like ITV3, ITV4, CITV, ITV Encore, ITVBe
CITV is the number one commercial children channel. The CITV team commissions and acquires a range of programs aimed at children up un till the age of 11.
ITV3 is where the whole British is where they begin with. Right now they have just experimented with buying some foreign language drama. The opportunity of commissions is limited, But what they do is that they continue with the commission the crime thriller awards as their Autumn event.
ITV4 is where they put program like Sports, Sports related show and quality entertainment mainly for mens/Women's.
