Screenwriters

Screenwriters

Screenwriters collect and join scripts required for aspects of media worldwide such as TV shows, films and many more working alongside directors and producers with the intention of selling them and having them produced. Scripts can be developed by either the screenwriters own ideas or even any existing material. The screenwriter is responsible for explaining the story to the target audience in much detail.

The Film Industry:

 In the film industry it is normal for scripts to be based on existing material. This is then adapted by the screenwriter’s interpretation. A film project gets initiated by a screenwriter and as they initiated it, the writing assignment becomes there exclusive assignments. A production company wants done these are known as 'open' assignments, competition is increased and creates a business rivalry. The more established writers will win these assignments.

Development Process:

Once a screenwriter finishes their project they team up with an industry-based representative in order to pitch and sell their script. These representatives can be producers, directors, literacy agents and entertainment lawyers. The screenwriter is given the rights that were agreed with the purchaser but are credited once their work is recognised by the public. This gives the screenwriter an opportunity to earn higher income and more reputation.

Production Involvement:

Screenwriters are rarely involved in the development of a film. They can be established as producers, advisors or even direct the project. Many scripts do not make it into production because the amount of scripts purchased each year outnumber the amount of professional directors that work in film and the TV industry. When a screenwriter sells their finished project, he or she often has to continue networking and push to have their projects chosen and turned into films or TV shows. If interest in a script fades that project could die out.

One Page Pitch

One Page Pitch

Working title: Shortcut

Film genre: Horror thriller

Length: 120 minutes

Target audience: 15 – 24 year olds

Tag line: ...and remember, the next scream you hear may be your own!

What if premise:  Max is a mentally unstable teenage boy (16) who suffers from schizophrenia.

What if he were to be all by himself in a perilous situation, with no one to call on but the voices in his head? 

In an environment he is completely unfamiliar with?

What would you do in his situation?

The story synopsis: This is about the happenings and occurrences when a schizophrenic 16 year old teenager called Max is left to fend all for himself. Max thinks he is taking a short cut home but it turns into one of the worst mistakes he ever makes.

Statement of Intent: The moral of this is to show the vulnerability of people like Max in this kind of situation.

Visual realisation: The look of the film is quite dark and gloomy, this brings negative connotations to the audience and makes them feel uncomfortable. The pace of the film starts off slow to build tension and then the tempo gradually increases throughout the film. It eventually leads to a climax. An example of this is in a film called Wrong Turn 6.

Audience appeal: We believe that our target audience will enjoy this piece as it has extremely scary values and this is ultimately what they are looking for.

Horror Thriller - First ideas

Horror Thriller – First ideas

·        Setting/Location

o   Woods – evening, not too dark

o   Abandoned house

o   Field

·        Plot

o   Someone being followed

o   Murder

o   Hiding from something

·        Narrative

o   Screenplay/screenwriting

·        Characters/representations

o   The protagonist – represented  as weak/vulnerable/nervous/scared

o   The antagonist – represented as shady/suspicious

·        Sound

o   Diegetic – trees blowing in the wind/potentially birds

o   Sound effect – snapping of twig on ground when someone stands on it – close up shot

o   Discordant – uncomfortable music in the background – makes the viewer feel tension/helps build tension and suspense

·        Camera shots/types

o   Close up – on twig on ground, someone walks over and snaps it – shallow focus

o   Establishing shot – show setting

o   Mid-shot – Show expression of the character that is targeted

o   Low angle – low angle on the antagonist to show the power of the character

o   Tilt shot – looking at a footpath, protagonist walks past camera looking behind as he does so – shows the nervousness of the character

o    Ellipsis – antagonist walks towards camera from long distance, cuts to not far away from the camera, then cuts to the character walking past the character – shortens time

·        Iconography

o   Low lighting

o   Tension building music

Conventions of a thriller

 This is my PowerPoint on conventions of thrillers, it includes the themes, feelings, iconography and thrillers themselves.