Billie Dwyer’s Report on Script Development andScript Commissioning.

What Is Script Writing?Script writing is an art form that lets people develop something from their own mind, which can sometimes be very difficult. Whenever you watch a film or a TV programme a person has sat down and wrote a script and after various draft have produced the script and tried to sell it to a producer. Scriptwriting is a very hard profession to do well in.

(Website: http://www.filmscriptwriting.com/)

The Stages Of Script WritingDevelopmentDeveloping a script can take a long time to create. There is multiple drafts and development that has to be done before sending it off to a producer for them to read. There are also various steps that the writer has to consider before they begin writing the script. They have to research, develop the narrative and actually start with writing the screenplay. The creative side of the screenplay comes from the writer which means a part of their imagination has a great influence on the screenplay itself.

‘Screenwriters are responsible for researching the story, developing the narrative, writing the screenplay, and delivering it, in the required format, to Development Executives. Screenwriters therefore have great influence over the creative direction and emotional impact of the screenplay and, arguably, of the finished film’.

There will be a first draft which will contain a rough outline of the script and what the script is about. The second draft will be a more detailed edit with the stage directions and cinematography that will be used. The third draft will contain even more detail than the second, considering actor direction( where and what they want the actors to do) and the mise on scene. The fourth and final draft will be fully detailed and ready to send a copy to send off for commissioning. The writers have to think the style, genre, theme, film length, and structure of what they want to see on screen when writing a script. They will do this by producing ideas generation which includes mind maps and mood boards. As you can see from this image everything that the writer has to think about how it all connects together. This also shows how much work and thought goes into writing a script. Screenwriters must perform to professional standards which means sticking to deadlines, and must work together with the development team to come up with ways to create the best work they can which may get produced.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_11VBh3yd4&feature=relmfu

This link above explains in detail and one point that they seem to talk about is that to write successful script it must draw the reader in within the first 10 pages. This image is also taken from ‘The Art and Science of Screenwriting’ book.

(Website: http://www.filmscriptwriting.com/ )(Book: The Art and Science of Screenwriting, page 13, Philip Parker)

This is a basic understanding of the way script development works. ‘Most screenplays have a three-act structure, following an organization that dates back to

Aristotle's Poetics. The three acts are setup (of the location and characters), confrontation (with an obstacle), and resolution (culminating in a climax and a dénouement). In a two-hour film, the first and third acts both

typically last around 30 minutes, with the middle act lasting roughly an hour.

Page 2- Of Script Development

(Website: http://www.filmscriptwriting.com/images/5pointsofstructure.gif)

The first act establishes the set up of the location, characters and stage directions, the second act is focusing on the development of the script and the third act is concluding the script ready for commissioning.

Page 3- Of Script Development

This page, taken from ‘The Art and Science of Screenwriting’ is basically saying that screenwriting is a lot of work as it says,

‘Most screenwriters have upwards of seven projects in various stages of

development at any one time’. Screenwriting can take up months of the writers time but if they want their work to be developed more by a producer and then being turned into a short film of episode, they are going to have to put the extra work in to ensure they have numerous episodes written just in case they decide produce it, or if they written a short film they have to show that they can work to professional standards.(Book: The Art and Science of Screenwriting, Page: 57, Author: Ray Frensham)

Script Commissioning The first steps to commissioning a script will be constructing ideas by either producing mood boards or mind maps to generate ideas for your script. Next is the first draft which will include a brief description of what the script is all about. The second draft will be a more detailed understanding which will be the actor’s directions, and the mise on scene. The third draft willbe even more detailed and will finally begin to form a script.The final draft of the script should be readthoroughly to make sure it is up to professional standards so it can be sent to a producer.

Step 1 - Send script to writer’s room

We will only consider scripts that meet our guidelines, so please ensure that you have run through our submissions checklist before you submit your script.

Step 2 - Script logging

When your script is received we log it on our database and send an acknowledgement card to you. If you haven't received an acknowledgement card within one month of sending your script, please contact us so that we can check if it has arrived.

The second step will be to send your script to the producer and then they log it onto their systems and the writer will receive a card of acknowledgement.The script is then read by a professional, which within the first 10 pages should catch their attention. If this doesn’t appeal to them, the writer will have the script returned to them with no comments. If not the Script is then read in full and is assessed by the readers. If the writer does not want to continue the process, they will ask the writer to send another original script.

The Script is then read in full and is assessed by other readers. If the writer does not want to continue the process, they will ask the writer to send another original script to monitor their process.

Step 3 - Script sift

Our readers sift all eligible scripts by reading the first ten pages. If the script shows potential, it will be given a full read. If not, it will be returned to the writer without any comments - this tends to be the case with the majority of unsolicited scripts.

At this stage a script is read in full, and assessed by our readers for the potential of the writer. If a script doesn't merit further attention at this stage, it is returned to the writer along with the reader's comments.

Step 4 - Script read

The script will then be read a second time, if they feel the script is appealing, they will send it too the development manager. The final step is for the writer to meet the development team that they would be working with, and also to develop the script even more to be up to the professional standards of the development team.

Step 5 - Invite Next / Second Read

If a script shows real talent and potential, it will be given to another reader for a second opinion. If the second reader feels the writer isn't yet ready for further development, they will be invited to send in their next work. If the second reader feels the writer is ready, the script will be passed to the Development Manager.

Scripts that are championed by our readers are then assessed by the Development Manager, who may meet with the writer, monitor their development, recommend their work to other BBC producers and departments, or place them on a development scheme. Only a small number of scripts and writers progress to this stage.

Step 6 - Meet / Develop

Page 2- Of Script Commissioning

Website: http://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/writing/writersroom_flow.shtml

Conclusion

Overall I have found many references to script commissioning and development in sources such as books, over the internet and in videos to find the information I was looking for. I have found that it takes months of planning and development to produce a good quality script also the commissioning stages take a long time and there are still chances that some writers wont get their script read due to the quality not being good enough. I have also looked at the three act structure which gives the writer guidance on how to write their script. It explains that there should a beginning, middle, end to every script and which stages of the script should go where , such as the location, actors/actresses and stage directions. I feel that scriptwriting is one of the hardest professions to accomplish