Unit 19: Learning aim A

 Task 1

Sebastian Trujillo                                                                                                                        20/09/2021

Scriptwriting

Introduction

Script writing is the process of writing and composing stories in the screenplay media. The 3 processes of screen writing are first to draft the characters, logline and a detailed treatment with the story’s plot. After you have drafted and developed all the assets needed to begin a film and shows and other forms of media. Then a revision over the script and finally a conclusion polishing the work and publishing it.

The reason why different scriptwriters have different roles and responsibilities since sometimes they must specialize in a specific genre. Therefore, leading some scriptwriters to aim for better props, characters, actors, settings, etc.

 

A1- Roles and responsibilities of scriptwriters in the media industry

Obtaining work as a scriptwriter

·       House ideas

A Lot of companies have their own executives that study the market and decide what would be good based on their past success. Sometimes they have ideas for what would work. These decisions might be based on money, but they bring in a creative writer or a team of writers to take their idea further.

·       Pitching

Once a writer has a good relationship with a company or gets a chance to pitch in a meeting with their representation. The producers might ask the writer what else they are working on or have written. This is a good opportunity for the writer to pitch the company on one of their other projects.

After a good pitch, they might ask for a written synopsis and if that goes well. They could again option that script from the writer again.

 

·       Screen writers hired to write adaptations

Some screen writers are hired to improve or recreate a show or film where they are given a better or similar experience related to the past media. For example, Netflix and Hollywood rolling out its billions to obtain books, comics and short stories that have prebuilt audiences.

Case study

Hideo Kojima

Hideo Kojima is a Japanese video game screenwriter who has specialised in the famous game franchise called Metal Gear solid which has made $178 million on opening day and another famous game name Death stranding. Hideo Kojima became a game script writer he is now by first originally starting by creating an 8-bit action game for the computer system called the MSX2 in 1987. Which the mechanics and interest in the game led him to use those concepts to develop the game Metal Gear. Therefore, other game producers asking for his help to create more games increasing his popularity. Making him recognized for what he has done now.

 

Demands and requirements

Ways that scriptwriters develop their skills within their sector would be by:

·        Chunking your narration: In this way you can improve your skills by making your script more readable as you want people to understand you text quickly and clearly through compressing your words and texts

·        Do a pass for redundancy: re read your work more than once to see if you have begun to be repetitive with a theme or dialogue as it could waste space.

·        Condense, condense, condense: Condense your wording as sometimes you can stretch on a script and that also gets hard for other readers of the script.

A2- Legal and ethical consideration for scriptwriters in the media industry

Legal considerations

When scriptwriter is creating the next work, they need to be careful of the legal restrictions and considerations their work could effect on themselves and others. So, some of those legal requirements that scriptwriters need to consider and how can they ensure these are met before, during and after writing their scripts would be; for it to be 18 plus or under, to have a text that isn’t copyright.

Some of the rules of copyright for scriptwriting are to protect your idea so that no one can take your work from you. You need to have owner over your scripts so “copyright thieves” can't steal your work.

For example, back in the 1990s. In 1997 there was a boy who died after his friend stabbed him in the chest. The boy’s mom then proceeded to sue midway games the creators of famous fighting franchise called Mortal Kombat because the game advocated violence which enabled the boy’s friend to think of himself as a character in the game called Cyrax which is a “robotic ninja” and in that disbelief he attacked the kid. In the end midway games was not sued but this case did help reinforce the movement against violent video game.

ethical considerations

some of the ethical considerations that scriptwriters need to take into considerations are would things like censorship and libel. First censorship is the prohibition of any parts of books, films, news, etc. That are considered obscene, politically unacceptable, or a threat to security. Libel/defamation is a law where it is not allowed to publish a film, text or any other form of media that is a false statement creating lies and confusion.

One case study that relates to the area is the film the interview where the movie takes place in Korea and the main character talk and lives with Kim Jom Un. And in this film Kim Jong Un Is portrayed as an evil and ruthless leader at some points in the film as a joke. But Korea didn’t take this kindly and wanted to attack the U.S.A for this comedy film. Which ended up changing some offensive jokes in the film.

Evaluation

Each scriptwriter Is given a specific role/ responsibility which they must ensure is taken care core constantly. Scriptwriters like house ideas, pitching and hired to writer adaptations. Scriptwriters need to be careful of censorship and copyright as it might lead to lawsuit and bigger problems. Another important thing to a scriptwriter’s job is to refine and improve skills by compressing work,

Bibliography

5 Ways to Improve Your Script in Minutes - The Script Lab. (2017). Retrieved 23 September 2021, from https://thescriptlab.com/features/screenwriting-101/7568-5-ways-improve-script-minutes/

Legal and Ethical Concerns in Scriptwriting. (2016). Retrieved 24 September 2021, from https://racheldayscriptwriting.wordpress.com/2016/01/06/legal-and-ethical-concerns-in-scriptwriting/

Sackman, J. (2019). 11 Video Games That Resulted in Major Lawsuits - Goliath. Retrieved 24 September 2021, from https://www.goliath.com/gaming/11-video-games-that-resulted-in-major-lawsuits/

Snyder, D. (2012). How Hideo Kojima Became a Legendary Video-Game Designer. Retrieved 22 September 2021, from https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2012/03/how-hideo-kojima-became-a-legendary-video-game-designer/254831/

Wilson, K. (2021). The Secret How 97% of Screenwriters are Hired. Retrieved 21 September 2021, from https://freshmenscreenplay.com/the-secret-how-97-of-screenwriters-are-hired/