LO2 Be able to generate ideas and plan the script for a media product, in response to a client brief
P2*: Generate script ideas for scripted elements of a media product
P3: Create a plan to support the writing of the script extract
M1: Explain the conventions to be used in the formatting and layout of the extract
Addendum to M1
I have built up drama in my script through showing that Ethan and David have a previously established friendship that will inevitably by torn apart by David becoming infected with an alien serum. The serum renders the host mindless and extremely aggressive meaning that David can no longer be reasoned with or understood he becomes a husk that only serves a hazard to his previous best friend. This dichotomy will allow the audience to further empathise with protagonist which as previously mentioned will make hime more relatable.
I will present this drama and tension through rapid cuts, the later scenes of Davids infection will be mostly shot as a close up on Ethan's face with the sound of bones cracking in the background showing off in great detail how this is affecting Ethan the protagonist. The rapid pace is conveyed through long complex sentences with commas placed scarcely matching the breathlessness that loosing a best friend would have on a person. This will scene plays out like the calm in most horror movies and given the oppressive tone of my film this relatively lighthearted conversation takes on a more ominous tone as the audience waits for the inevitable catastrophe to take place.
LO3 Be able to produce the script for a media product, in response to a client brief
P3: Create a plan to support the writing of the script extract.
This was my original draft for the script the green text shows amendments I have made due to client feedback but the essence of the original script is within the black text.
I have produced a new script based on my feedback.
The green text indicates larger changes to my script and it is now in the correct format .
I also produced my own reflection on my script which can be read below
Client Evaluation
Client Feedback Summary.
Upon evaluation of my client feedback I was pleasantly surprised to find that my client had an overwhelmingly positive outlook regarding my script. This has assured me that I have made a suitable script.
My Client has informed me that my the codes and conventions of Sci Fi have been aptly expressed and blended within the narrative.
The client is in agreement with me that the script will adhere to the BBFC requirements of a family friendly film with the action and humor not causing concern for parents.
The client has highlighted my writing as the major strength of my script saying that the humor was particularly strong aspect.
More valuable perhaps where the aspects of my script that have were not as positively received by my client, these aspects have been highlighted with potential improvements that will be implemented at a later date.
The primary improvement that has to be made to my script is the format, which will need to be refined so as not to confuse stage directions with with parentheticals and shot type.
Another area of my script my client thought needed improvement was some of the longer pieces of dialogue. My client has suggested that larger blocks of dialogue could be broken down to improve the expediency of the plot
Evaluating Client feedback - what am I going to do?
It has been made clear to me what are the weakest and strongest aspects of my script in an attempt to rectify points of weakness I intend retroactively make amendments based on client feedback.
The first and foremost improvement that needs to be made is the structure, I need to make the differences between stage directions and parentheticals more clear, to do this I will simply put directions such as laughter in italics. I will also more clearly label time of day in the scene opening.
I will also attempt to break up dialogue with less blocks of exposition after all this is a ‘show don’t tell’ medium.
My script writing process
I wanted my script represents the style through which it was created. When sitting down to write my script I wanted to create the entire thing in one sitting then correcting things retroactively. This allowed for a more organic creation process knowing how characters will react of the cusp rather than a premeditated response that does not resemble natural speech. Character interaction was key of my script as the majority of the comedy comes from the faced paced almost improv style dialogue.
I created the first draft read and reviewed it and made small adjustments accordingly. I believe giving large breaks between sitting down to write would cause me to loose sight on the vein of conversation that was taking place or cause the dialogue to feel less genuine.
Have I met the Client Brief?
I endeavoured to create a fast paced family sci fi film, which I think my script is representative of. The brief asked that the film be short, Sci fi, and family friendly. My script has covered all of those bases with overt oppressive Sci Fi themes such as disposability with how the protagonist often meets his untimely demise. The theme of sci fi is also conveyed through gadgets and gizmos used by Tom.
Family friendly aspects are harder to pin down, family friendly isn't just pander to children but to create a product that the whole family can enjoy. I have done this by capturing the fast paced witticisms of shows such as the Simpsons or the Pixar films. As for short, when translated to film my script should take no more than five minutes, well within the definition of short.
Heading: Legal & Ethical Issues.
I have avoided ethnic and legal quarrels by limboing under anything of the sort, washing my hands of any responsibility. Our cast consists of three men and a woman so it is not necessarily balanced towards biased representation. I don’t believe that my script will cause any offence. We have not negatively portrayed any groups nor have we referenced any brands. I did not want to compromise the product to shoehorn in a group of people just so that the production could have the ideal Burger King kids club of perfect representation. There is no recourse to legal and ethical issues due to the fact that there is no defamation or libel evidenced in the actual script itself.
Script Strengths
My Script's strengths in my opinion stem from the dialogue and description. As previously mentioned the dialogue is used to convey, everything really, this being a short family friendly film there isn't much nuance. The dialogue is snappy quick and believable whilst being sharp enough to evoke laughter out of most people. Whilst not a direct inspiration for the script much of the dialogue is modeled after Monty Python quick paced and undeniably silly. This humorous element is very much something that both the children and adults will appreciate. The kids will understand the fun element that there really is no such thing as time travel and the adults will enjoy the sarcastic elements related to this.
Script Improvements
My script could use some work with the tone, I believe that upon reflection the tone shifts much too quickly and whilst fast pace is an aspect of my script that was intentional, this breakneck pace with which the tone shifts can be jarring to some viewers and break their immersion with the narrative of the film. My script will go from an infected husk laying in a pool of mutated gore, bone and sinews (albeit made to look not too scary, given the family friendly audience) twisting in a macabre courus, to two characters fighting over the possibility and plot holes of time travel like and old married couple. The adults will be interested in the connotative representation of this image and the children will be enticed by the moderate gory nature too.
Client Feedback Summary.
Upon evaluation of my client feedback I was pleasantly surprised to find that my client had an overwhelmingly positive outlook regarding my script. This has assured me that I have made a suitable script.
My Client has informed me that my the codes and conventions of Sci Fi have been aptly expressed and blended within the narrative.
The client is in agreement with me that the script will adhere to the BBFC requirements of a family friendly film with the action and humor not causing concern for parents.
The client has highlighted my writing as the major strength of my script saying that the humor was particularly strong aspect.
More valuable perhaps where the aspects of my script that have were not as positively received by my client, these aspects have been highlighted with potential improvements that will be implemented at a later date.
The primary improvement that has to be made to my script is the format, which will need to be refined so as not to confuse stage directions with with parentheticals and shot type.
Another area of my script my client thought needed improvement was some of the longer pieces of dialogue. My client has suggested that larger blocks of dialogue could be broken down to improve the expediency of the plot
Evaluating Client feedback - what am I going to do?
It has been made clear to me what are the weakest and strongest aspects of my script in an attempt to rectify points of weakness I intend retroactively make amendments based on client feedback.
The first and foremost improvement that needs to be made is the structure, I need to make the differences between stage directions and parentheticals more clear, to do this I will simply put directions such as laughter in italics. I will also more clearly label time of day in the scene opening.
I will also attempt to break up dialogue with less blocks of exposition after all this is a ‘show don’t tell’ medium.
My script writing process
I wanted my script represents the style through which it was created. When sitting down to write my script I wanted to create the entire thing in one sitting then correcting things retroactively. This allowed for a more organic creation process knowing how characters will react of the cusp rather than a premeditated response that does not resemble natural speech. Character interaction was key of my script as the majority of the comedy comes from the faced paced almost improv style dialogue.
I created the first draft read and reviewed it and made small adjustments accordingly. I believe giving large breaks between sitting down to write would cause me to loose sight on the vein of conversation that was taking place or cause the dialogue to feel less genuine.
Have I met the Client Brief?
I endeavoured to create a fast paced family sci fi film, which I think my script is representative of. The brief asked that the film be short, Sci fi, and family friendly. My script has covered all of those bases with overt oppressive Sci Fi themes such as disposability with how the protagonist often meets his untimely demise. The theme of sci fi is also conveyed through gadgets and gizmos used by Tom.
Family friendly aspects are harder to pin down, family friendly isn't just pander to children but to create a product that the whole family can enjoy. I have done this by capturing the fast paced witticisms of shows such as the Simpsons or the Pixar films. As for short, when translated to film my script should take no more than five minutes, well within the definition of short.
Heading: Legal & Ethical Issues.
I have avoided ethnic and legal quarrels by limboing under anything of the sort, washing my hands of any responsibility. Our cast consists of three men and a woman so it is not necessarily balanced towards biased representation. I don’t believe that my script will cause any offence. We have not negatively portrayed any groups nor have we referenced any brands. I did not want to compromise the product to shoehorn in a group of people just so that the production could have the ideal Burger King kids club of perfect representation. There is no recourse to legal and ethical issues due to the fact that there is no defamation or libel evidenced in the actual script itself.
Script Strengths
My Script's strengths in my opinion stem from the dialogue and description. As previously mentioned the dialogue is used to convey, everything really, this being a short family friendly film there isn't much nuance. The dialogue is snappy quick and believable whilst being sharp enough to evoke laughter out of most people. Whilst not a direct inspiration for the script much of the dialogue is modeled after Monty Python quick paced and undeniably silly. This humorous element is very much something that both the children and adults will appreciate. The kids will understand the fun element that there really is no such thing as time travel and the adults will enjoy the sarcastic elements related to this.
Script Improvements
My script could use some work with the tone, I believe that upon reflection the tone shifts much too quickly and whilst fast pace is an aspect of my script that was intentional, this breakneck pace with which the tone shifts can be jarring to some viewers and break their immersion with the narrative of the film. My script will go from an infected husk laying in a pool of mutated gore, bone and sinews (albeit made to look not too scary, given the family friendly audience) twisting in a macabre courus, to two characters fighting over the possibility and plot holes of time travel like and old married couple. The adults will be interested in the connotative representation of this image and the children will be enticed by the moderate gory nature too.