Screenwriting

As I am inexperienced with the screenwriting process , I will need to research it and find useful resources to refer to when developing my idea. I came across a useful forum which is dedicated to screenwriters where you can critique people's work or submit your own screenplays for feedback. The actual website that produced the forum 'writersworkshop.co.uk' also has some useful resources within it however I believe you have to pay a fee to receive some of the tips in the form of a workshop.
Link: http://writing-community.writersworkshop.co.uk/forum/top/11

I also found a webpage which gives screenwriting tips and explains elements to screenwriting such as what makes a good story by looking at ideas such as 'conflict' to make a story line gripping for the audience.
Link: http://www.screenwriting.info/

Here I found the screenplay for the successful film 'Fantastic 4 (http://sfy.ru/?script=fantastic_four_2005). The film was highly successful due to the characters, plot and concept appealing to its target audience effectively. The film has your generic super hero fights villain plot however the characters in the film draw you in due to them all having individual personalities as well as individual powers which make the characters appeal to the audience. The generic superhero fights villain plot is generally aimed at the younger audience and the action packed, fantasy, far fetched plot definitely achieves this but also adults can enjoy the film too. The plot involves the four main characters gaining super powers from radiation exposure and over the film the characters are involved in mini events which all lead up to the dramatic final event where the 'fantastic 4' fight and defeat the main villain. The plot follows 'Todorov's Narrative Theory' in which normality ( characters are NOT super hero's living normal lives) suddenly changes and a disruption occurs ( characters turn into super heros). There is recognition of this change ( Characters form  together to make 'Fantastic 4') and attempt to repair the damage ( Defeating the main villain). The story then ends with a re-equilibrium ( Main villain is killed yet they now have super powers). This structure is very common within film ideas and is a good starting point when developing an original screenplay.


Screenwritng Literature

http://escrituraavcontemporaneo.wikispaces.com/file/view/write+%2B+sell+the+hot+screenplay.pdf
I found a PDF link for the screenwriting book; 'Raindance Writers' Lab, Write and Sell The HOT Script. The book has a number of useful chapters which provide hints and information on producing a screenplay, but I have selected one chapter as it fits my situation perfectly , '8, Writing for short film'. The start of the chapter explains these productions are short films, the audience will be more critical and also explains that short films are  acknowledged like big feature film productions and provide a gateway into the screenwriting industry. A short film can vary from 30secs to 30minutes but the chapter explains that keeping it under 10 minutes is ideal when  submitting it into film festivals, "Remember:you can tell a great story in as little as 30 seconds". A short film should tell the story via visuals while keeping a storyline at it's heart, as  the book says about screenwriting's golden rule, "Show, don't tell". The stronger visual your story creates in the viewers head, the smaller role time and logic plays in the journey from beginning to end than in other formats. Short films are not an excuse to 'push all the boundaries', but however is a chance to experiment how far cinematic story telling can go.
Points to consider:
.Simplicity, clarity and economy of the storytelling; the vision of the piece, and the visual images it will create.
. Make your idea coherent (ordered sequence of events through time and space). In-coherent plots can sometimes be an issue in a short film due to limited time.
. Ideas which are too concept driven
. Lack of narrative and story telling techniques
. Lack of engaging characters
. Unecessary  use of action and repetition
. How the film will be portrayed to the audience ; Will it have a universal appeal? What will the audience be guessing and when will they know it? What questions will need answering?
. Is the audience engaged to the plot?, Is it original?, Can we relate to and in-habit the characters?, Does the world and story have authenticity?.

These points are pivotal when producing a short film idea and even if one of the points is neglected, the audience may leave with a critical view as a short film will be analysed more thoroughly than a feature-length film. It is also important to consider the practicalities of your idea; remember short films are shot on a low budget so the necessity and realistic availability of the resources you need should be considered. A satisfying ending is also important for a successful short film as because of the length, the narrative is limited so concluding the film to a satisfactory manner for the audience is effective.

Gerald Prince (1973) developed a narrative theory in which any story must contain at least 2 events, in which 1 must cause the other. The book uses an example from William Golding's time in the Royal Navy during World War 2:
"The Germans used to have a very long distance plane. And if we were
escorting convoys back across the Atlantic, this plane would come out,
and it would circle the convoy, perhaps five miles away from it, round and
round and it was wirelessing to submarines saying where this convoy is.
So you knew that this plane was sending your position.
I remember one moment at which the captain of the escort got in
touch with the plane. He flashed it up on an Aldis lamp, you see – and
said, ‘Please, will you go round the other way. You are making my head
ache.’ The plane turned round and started going round the other way, like
that, you see. There was this kind of insane contact between people.
It could be argued that causality is in play here, with the British captain’s message as the cause and the reversal of the German pilot’s flight
direction as the effect. But what makes this an interesting story is that
the German pilot chose to fly the other way, and for that matter, that
the British captain chose to contact the pilot, violating wartime protocol
which prohibits frivolous contact with the enemy."
Here the characters are making things happen, not just merely reacting to events they face. Causality flows from the choices the characters make whilst at the same time making the characters more appealing. This can be applied to short film idea by making the characters earn interest from the audience by developing the narrative by their own individual choices and shaping their own story. This is a more effective way of creating an engaging narrative, in which causality overrides or precludes choice rather than flowing from it, and not making the main character too passive or unable the change the outcomes of their story.

Social realism/ conspiracy films

My idea is dominantly a conspiracy type genre but I would like it to have a gritty/ raw feeling which the majority of social realism films produce. A film containing both of these elements which I have recently viewed is called 'Route Irish' which involves a private contractor (Frankie) in Iraq's death and his best friend (Fergus) investigates his death. Due to Fergus originally introducing Frankie to the Private Contractor industry, he has the contacts to investigate the death and discovers some shocking results. The film shows corruption within the military in which an innocent Iraqi family are killed by the Contractors and attempt to cover up the incident which involved killing Frankie to avoid him revealing the truth. The film shows the ugly side to war and corruption within war which is a shocking yet appealing factor, grabbing the audiences attention. The characters in the film all mostly are working class which is a common factor in films portraying social realism.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1528312/






Other films I have seen which strongly portray social realism are 'Kidulthood' and 'This is England'. Each both portray different issues from different races, ages of people yet they are both similar in the sense they contain elements of violence, anger, poverty,characters are working class, frustration being aimed at the wrong people and most importantly they both end on a sad note which is what makes these types of film so powerful and makes them unique to other film genres. I will need to incorporate these elements into my idea to make it as gripping and appealing as possible.

'Kidulthood' represents issues all young people may be exposed to but specifically the film concentrates on young people living in an urban environment. It covers issues such as violence, teen pregnancy and drugs. These issues are highlighted and relevant in real life society which increases the appeal of the film.                                       The idea uses slang and vocabulary used by young people living in an urban environment in the script which increases the authenticity of the film and produces an accurate account of this way of life. Portraying an accurate, un-bias account of these social experiences and events is pivotal in the idea being developed and becoming successful as an inaccurate and bias idea could be seen as offensive to members of the public and may cause controversy. An example of this occurred in the film 'K.I.D.S' (1995) in which strong, shocking scenes of under age sex were included which was condemned as inappropriate which cause an off-the-shelf company was formed to distribute the film.

The Cancer Conspiracy

My film will be based on an alleged 'cancer conspiracy' which suggests a cure for many forms of cancer was discovered around the 1950's but due to the government generating millions of pounds from treating patients with the disease, the cure had been kept secret or used in other medicines. I have found a couple of useful links and videos explaining the idea in more depth.

References and Useful Links

 http://www.worldwithoutcancer.org.uk/ultimateconspiracy.html

http://info.cancerresearchuk.org/cancerstats/keyfacts/

http://www.worldwithoutcancer.org.uk/aboutb17.html





A similar theory linked with this is that a vitamin named B-17 which can be found in apricot seeds and other substances can prevent cancer developing or can even cure it for victims suffering from it. There is a theory that this supplement has been banned for distribution by government by claiming it as a 'new unsafe drug'. The reason behind this is that the Government and pharmacists would lose out on money in the form of treatments and donations made by the public for research.



Understanding the illness
Due to the sensitivity of the disease and the large amount of people who suffer from it, it is important to understand the illness and portray an accurate account of someone who may suffer from it.
There are over 200 types of cancer all with an individual name and treatment. 1 in 3 people are likely to develop the disease which is based on the statistic that every death in the UK in 1999 showed that 220,000 people - some 35% of the 630,000 total deaths - had previously been found to have the disease. The rise of people developing the disease (thought to be increasing by 3.2% every year) is thought to have been a factor of an ageing population, increase in obesity and it developing in later life with people who smoke. From 2008, over 2 million people were living with cancer however the number is expected to double to 4 million in the next 20 years.  However due to advances in technology, the survival rate is increasing too. 


The most commonly diagnosed cancers worldwide are lung, breast and colorectal (bowel) cancers. The most common causes of cancer death are lung, stomach and liver cancers. The disease involves abnormal cells dividing without control and invade other tissues. Cancerous cells can spread to other parts of the body via the blood or lymph ( "clear fluid that travels through the lymphatic system which fights disease or infections") - 'National Cancer Institute'. 


Cure 
Chemotherapy: This involves curing the disease by taking cell killing (cytotoxic) drugs to remove the harmful cancerous cells. The number and dosage of chemotherapy drugs varies on the individual situation. The chemotherapy can be taken during other treatments such as radio therapy or hormonal therapy. The treatment can cause side effects such as hair loss, sickness and loss of appetite. It can also cause long term side effects such as heart,lung or sexual reproductive organ damge depending on the dose and amount of time you use the treatment. The treatment can also in extreme cases cause cancer to return in later years.

Radiotherapy: This involves using high energy radiation waves (X-rays, gamma rays) to shrink and kill tumours. It can be exposed to the body externally by a machine (external beam radiation) or can be exposed internally using radio active material bening placed near cancerous cells (internal radiation therapy). The therapy works by killing the DNA of the cancerous cells. If the DNA is damaged beyond repair it will stop dividing or die.


Here is a link which shows the potential side effects from radiotherapy: http://cancerhelp.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/treatment/radiotherapy/side-effects/general/

Surgery: Surgery may be needed to remove cancerous lumps from the body. A biopsy is needed 1st which is a sample of the potential cancerous body tissue which is analysed to see if it contains cancerous cells and from here the surgeons can decide on what the next course of action will be.


As well as researching the disease in terms of science and statistics, it is also equally if not more important to research how cancer effects people first hand and how it effects the people around them. I myself experienced my Grandfather live and eventually pass away from the illness which gives me an insight to how characters may react to this situation in the film. I have also found a short documentary of a man living with testicular cancer and shows his personal feelings and how it effects him, but also gains the families feelings and emotions and shows how it effects them.

Research Plan

I will conduct both primary (research conducted by me) and secondary(research already available to you e.g internet, books T.V etc) research when developing my screenplay.

The primary research I will need to do will include interviews with people asking questions such as what elements they want to see in a drama, conspiracy type film. I will conduct this interview whilst with my friends and I will ask them detailed questions and gain their opinions to add to and evolve my idea. I will conduct my primary research first as it can be very time consuming so I will get it finished as early as possible.
I will also produce a questionnaire to collect personal information which can not be collected anywhere else such as the internet. I will ask a variety of people from different ages, backgrounds etc to gain their opinion and add validity to my results and the higher number of people I ask will make my research more representative. Also due to my grandfather recently dying of the disease, I observed someone first hand who suffers with the disease and I know first hand how it feels to have someone you love suffer from it which I can apply to my idea to make it more authentic. Interviewing a doctor who is experienced with treating cancer patients and has knowledge of the disease would be extremely insightful aswell. Otherwise methods of primary research include focus groups, pilot studies, participant and non-participant obsevation and group interviews. The primary research I gain will add valuable, personal opinions which can not be found anywhere else. These opinions will benefit my screenplay as I will include their preferences when evolving the idea.

I will also conduct secondary research which is available to me in a variety of forms, e.g. internet, books, videos, documentations,T.V etc. My idea is based on an alleged conspiracy of cancer treatment so I will need to reserach the disease to understand more about it and make my short film more gripping and accurate. I could go about this by looking at medical websites online, reading books from the library, and watching documentaries.  Also as I am highly unexperinced with the screenwriting process, I will need to read screenplays available to me on the internet to gain an insight on what a successful screenplay looks like and what elements it includes to be a successful screenplay. Linking to this I will read books about screenwriting to gain hints and tips of how to write a successful screenplay. Such books include 'Reading for a Living' and 'Raindance Writers lab write + sell the hot screenplay'. This books can be ordered online or there are copies available in the school library. Also reading literature from other drama, conspiracy genres will benefit me as it will give me an idea of the type of elements and ideas involved in this certain genre. Also watching films from the drama and conspiracy type genres will make it easier to as what elements my screenplay should include.

Schedule (All published on my blog)


Step one: Insert an entry outlining an original idea for a short film.

Step two:  Publish a research plan explaining how I  will conduct both primary and secondary research and how it will be utilised.

Step three: Post an entry on your collated research and comment on it and explain how it will be integrated within your short film idea.

Step four: Read and analyse existing screenplays and explain how this will benefit your idea.

Step five: Read literature on screenwriting and explain how this has benefited your understanding of writing a screenplay.


Step six: Go back to your original idea and evolve it using your collated research whilst remembering your research never stops and will continually grow.

Short film Idea

Conspiracy, drama. A middle aged man/woman suffers from an incurable  disease(e.g. cancer,AIDS)   and will eventually die. (S)he has given up hope and has resorted to drugs to hide his/her reality. (S)he will stop at nothing to get a high and stubles upon a substance from the back of a pharmacitucal factory which improves his/her  disease. He/she continues to take this drug and eventually it cures their disease. Emphatic about the fact (s)he has discovered a cure for a terminal illnes, the main character goes about in gaining exposure of this miracolous substance. The government however, go about in assasinating the main character due to the fact they do not want the cure being exposed as cancer generates billions of pounds.

Research

Produce an original idea for a screenplay

 . Research existing products (copyright)

.Plan how you will go about your research (primary and secondary)

. Conduct research (reading existing screenplays, conduct surveys, read screen writing books, interviews etc.

. Develop your original idea based on your research

Idea 1

A drama documentary following a group of teenagers through everyday life and the issues they face. 2 best friends (males) like the same girl. The girl, knowing fully well that they both like her, arranges to meet both of them at a certain loacation at the same time. The boys not knowing they are they are being set-up both turn up and the girl is not at the location, instead she has set them up and a group of thugs try and kill the 2 boys.

Idea 2

Conspiracy drama. A middle aged man/woman suffers from an incurable (e.g. cancer,AIDS)  disease and will eventually die. (S)he has given up hope and has resorted to drugs to hide his/her reality. (S)he will stop at nothing to get a high and stubles upon a substance from the back of a pharmacitucal factory which improves his/her  disease. He/she continues to take this drug and cures their disease. Emphatic about the fact (s)he has discovered a cure for a terminal illnes, the main character goes about in gaining exposure of this miracolous substance. The government however, go about in assasinating the main character due to the fact they do not want the cure being exposed as cancer generates billions of pounds.

 Id

Screenwriting task 2

.Produce an original idea for a screenplay

 . Research existing products (copyright)

.Plan how you will go about your research (primary and secondary)

. Conduct research (reading existing screenplays, conduct surveys, read screen writing books, interviews etc.

. Develop your original idea based on your research

Idea 1

A drama documentary following a group of teenagers through everyday life and the issues they face.

Idea 2

Ollie lainchbury:the movie

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Employment process for a Screenwriter

A Screenwriter is self employed and must seek out employment opportunities themselves if they want to be successful. This means they must be very pro-active.  A Screenwriter must submit their work to work agencies to be commissioned if they are to gain potential employment.  A Screenwriter can be represented by an agent who will submit your work to agencies and will also take responsibility in negotiating contracts and securing appropriate deals for them.


The Writers Guild
The Writers Guild organisation represents and supports writers across media. The Organisation will negotiate for the best pay and conditions possible for their members. The Writers Guild negotiated rates, agreements and guidelines which aid in improving the employment process for it's members. Some of these are the: 


APC Code Of Practice(2009)
http://www.writersguild.org.uk/images/stories/wggb-docs/APC_Code_of_Practice_2009.pdf: 
This aids in the submission of film and programme proposals in the UK film, radio and television industry. Any film, radio and television proposals that may include formats, treatments, scripts, outlines, development documents, tender submissions, story lines, artwork and synopses
which is sent to a broadcaster or film or production company with the aim of it being developed and taken into production is covered by the 'Code Of Practice'.
  The 'code' encourages free flow ideas within the film and broadcasting sector and encourages confidence for writers submitting their work. The code states a set of guidelines on how to submit film and programme proposals to film, broadcasting and production companies. It sets out obligations for those submitting and receiving film, radio and television proposals. The code also states the proposal must be original and be the writers own work, submitted by themselves and making sure it does not breach any copyright infringement. 
  
Other areas of media which have had agreements negotiated for by the Writers Guild are animation, film(WGGB/PACT agreement 1992), musical theatre, Radio (BBC Radio Drama Script Commissioning Agreement) and television (BBC  Television Drama Script Commissioning Agreement).


Writers can also seek employment in the form of competitions. The Screen Writing industry is extremely competitive so these competitions are fierce and originality and talent is key to make your work stand out from the others. The 'BBC Writers Room' have a number of opportunities for aspiring Screen Writers including BBC Radio 4 extra , Newsjack which gives writers the chance to submit their sketches and short jokes in the hope of them being developed on the sketch show. A competition launched by the BBC Writers Room called The BBC Writers Room Future Talent Award for Writers gives student and recent graduate drama writers  based in the northern England area the opportunity for their work to be developed by professionals in the industry, be mentored within the BBC and taking part in their 'Headspace Writer in Residence Scheme'.


Writers may also seek employment by attending film festivals where potential production companies way attend seeking new ideas and productions. 'The BBC Writers Room' have a festival featured on it's opportunities window called the 'Steyning Festival Theatre Trail 2012' where the highly successful Steyning Festival Theatre Trail are seeking six new unperformed plays to take in to production. This opportunity gives the writer the chance to have professional actors to perform in their play and to have their work performed in different venues around the country which will get the key recognition needed in this highly competitive industry.

Screenwriting research

Screenwriting

Screenwriting is the process of creating scripts for media products such as feature films, video games or TV programmes.  Screenwriters are not committed to any long-term employment (freelance) and are usually represented by ‘agents’ who discover potential opportunities for screenwriters to put forward their work. The screenwriter must undergo research for their narrative idea, writing the screenplay in the required format and delivering it to the development executives. Screenwriters must have knowledge in visual storytelling and how it can affect different audiences. Imagination and creativity is pivotal in creating individual characters within a script and brining them to life and making the audience feel they can relate to these characters. The screenwriting business is extremely competitive and only the top screenwriters are able to live sufficiently from the revenue it generates. Screenwriting operates in teams and one other screenwriter may be chosen to improve on the narrative.Screenwriters must be creative, dedicated, well organized, work efficiently in a team and have a high level of persistence and patience as many scripts are rejected before being accepted to go into production.

There are many roles involved in the screenwriting process and they all play a part in creating a script. 

Commissioning editors:

 Commissioning editors identify media products to put forward to professional companies to try and achieve potential production. They commission works by finding scripts from screenwriters. Their role is rather like that of a buyer. They also ensure the screenwriters script is delivered to specification and on time.

Commissioning editors are involved with a project at every stage. They are the key link between the initial proposal for a feature film or product and the final production.

Commissioning editors research their field in order to learn about trends and gaps in the market. For this purpose, they:

. Conduct internet research

. Research the market on both national and international level

. Negotiate contracts with the screenwriter and their agent.

. Meeting with other commissioning editors and senior editors to discuss new proposals

. Attending local film projects to discover potential scipts/ talented screenwriters

.  Working with administration, finance, budgets and strategy;

. Providing data and contributing to marketing and sales activities;

Producers: 

 The producer has the final responsibility for all elements of the entire film production.  They bring together the Screenwriters, Director, cast, finances and production team. They are responsible for creating an environment where the cast and crew can flourish- they are hugely responsible for the finished product. They have responsibilities throughout all four phases of production.

· Development –  Producers are usually responsible for creating the underlying premise of a production or for having the job of selecting the actual screenplay. Producers have the necessary rights to select the screenwriter and the story editing team, raise the necessary funds for development and also they supervise the entire development process.

. Pre-production-  Producers often bring together the key members of the creative team, including the Director, cast and Cinematographer. They work with the Executive Producers to raise the necessary funds for the production. Once this is secure, they have the responsibility of selecting other key personnel, such as Line Producer, Associate Producer and Production Manager, but also remaining as the Heads of Departments, for example ; Production Designer. Other responsibilities in Pre-production include location scouting, approval of the final shooting script, production schedule and finance.

· Production – The Producers have the responsibility of managing the day-to-day operations of the producing team, however many practical functions are delegated to the Line Producer and various Associate Producers. Producers are in constant communication with the Director, and with other various key members of the creative team, on and off set .Script changes and cost reports all must have the approval of the Producers and remain the as the primary point of contact for production partners, investors and Distributors.

· Post-production and marketing – Producers are expected to create a working relationship (liaise) with post production personnel, including the Editor, Composer, and Visual Effects staff. The Producers must then consult with all financial and creative personnel on the production of the final print, and are usually involved with the financial and distribution aspects in planning the marketing and distribution of the finished film.
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Directors:

The director is the driving force behind the whole film production, and acts as the pivotal link between the production, technical and creative terms. The director may write the entire script for the production or can commission it to be written; or can be taken on if an early draft of the script has been submitted. The director is responsible for translating the productions written script into actual visual images and sounds to be put on the big screen- they must define the style and structure of the film and must act a the productions storyteller and team leader to make the crew works efficiently together to make the script a reality. The director’s duties include casting (during pre-production), script editing, shot composition, shot selection and editing. During post production, the director works closely with the Editor with the technical aspects of the film, making sure the final cut of the film fits the directors approval.   The practical elements of the film making process such as marketing and finance are left to the producer. The director must be constantly aware of the films budget as it will effect how the production is made. In some film productions, the director can take up multiple roles such as Director/Producer or Director/Writer.

Script Editors:

Script editors provide a critical overview of the screenwriting process, and liaise (create a working relationship) between the Producer or Development Executive and the Screenwriter. The Script Editor does not provide solutions a such but make the screenwriter aware of areas which can be improved and explain the potential consequences of specific choices the screen writer may make. The script editor must be able to make detailed explanations of their analysis. Their opinions must be valid within the context of the entire filmmaking process, and they should be able to assist Screenwriters and Producers to realize the potential of their screenplays. They must be able to mediate the screenwriter’s ideas and desires whilst realizing the commercial imperatives of the specific market. This schedule typically comprises a number of development meetings, one-to-one editorial meetings, and regular email feedback .Script Editors are also responsible for helping Screenwriters to develop a route map for their story, and for reminding them of this map when they write scenes which do not embed well with the narrative. Script editors must devise a development schedule with the producers and screenwriters in order to work efficiently. Script editors must assess the relationship between screenwriter and producer in order to make sure the production meets everyone’s vision and informs all parties if any changes are made. Script Editors should negotiate their contracts before they start work, setting out fees and delivery deadlines for each stage of the process. Script editors are sometimes full time employees of a production company but the majority work on a freelance basis and are hired when needed. 

References:
http://www.skillset.org/
http://www.prospects.ac.uk/commissioning_editor_job_description.htm

Agents:
An agent represents performers or members of a creative team who work through all areas of the media industry ( Film, Television (including Commercials), Radio, and Theatre). An agent is also involved in supplying artists for corporate events, these can include singers, dancers,  stand-up comedians, choreographers etc. An agent's main responsibility is to discover work for their artist (they will co-ordinate contract details and appropriate deals for them). Agents represents a variety of performers and will gain rapport with industry decision-makers to persuade them to hire/use theit client. When necessary, an agent will guide and support their artists career.

Agents must be aware and up to date with what is happeneing in the entertainment industry, know of what upcoming productions may be available and if these have been given the 'green light'.  Agents must also create healthy relationships with venues, hirers, producers and other employment creaters within the media industry. The majority of an agents time consists of establishing and maintaining working relationships, and using their list of contacts to find potential work for their artists.

As well as supervising contacts, negotiating fees for all types of work and staying up to date with fees within the industry rates and industrial agreements, the agent will seek new potential artists to add to their current roster, which helps the agent to develop their career.

Readers:
The script reader will analyse and evaluate the screenwriter's work and will make suggestions of how it can be improved for the next stage of the screenwriting process. Some script readers may also work in other roles in the film industries, script reading to make some extra money, and to improve they're analytical skills. The script reading role is usually a low paid role, however it can be quite satisfying, and lead onto bigger roles such as script editing or script development. Script readers usually will work for public well funded bodies such as the UK Film Council. Script readers used by UK film companies are well trusted readers or script editors and whoms opinions are well respected by the Producers and Development Executives.  Readers may also be employed by the Screenwriter to add opinions for improvement before being submitted to Producers or Funding Bodies. A Script Reader will assess the script and decide if it has been 'professionally crafted'. This is all produced in a 'readers report'.

Studio Executives: http://www.skillset.org/film/jobs/production/article_3875_1.asp

Censorship refers to the type of content which can be shown to the public e.g. language, nudity/sex, violence , religious content, drug use and themes represented.  Censorship is dependant on the target audience and specifically  for T.V, whether it is shown after the watershed or not.  For  example if the target audience for a film was young children, strong language and drug use would not be acceptable.   The watershed  ( known  as the safe harbor in the US) , is the  time period  during media schedules where programmes with potential censorship issues can air adult material.  The watershed in the UK (watershed decided by OFCOM in the UK) starts around 9.00pm and finishes around 5:30am.  The watershed (safe harbor) in the United States begins around 10.00pm and finishes around  6.00am. The watershed does not apply to radio.

Censor ship also applies to authors as the content of a book will need to match societies standards of what type of content the target audience can be exposed to.  The classic book used globally in classrooms ,‘Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck’  has been largely controversial and was even banned  in 1997 in an eighth –grade classroom in Peru, Illinois. The book was also asked to be removed from a classroom in Kansas by one of the student’s mothers. The book is considered highly controversial due to some of its dark, deep themes which include- racism, , sexism, false hopes, and the harshness of poverty. Even though the book is valued as a useful educational  resource in schools, it is still highly debated and the book is being banned in schools throughout the globe. The themes brought up in the book ask many valid issues to society such as; 

deep themes which include- racism, , sexism, false hopes, and the harshness of poverty. Even though the book is valued as a useful educational  resource in schools, it is still highly debated and the book is being banned in schools throughout the globe. The themes brought up in the book ask many valid issues to society such as; Should young people be exposed to issues such as racism and violence?.

This example of censorship illustrates why all media types need to be aware of any censorship issues which may effect the potential of a media product.

Libel (also known as slander) refers to how a character is portrayed in a media product. A character may be portrayed in a negative image which can result in the actual person who the character is based on, taking legal action against the production company.  Slander and Libel are however slightly different as libel refers to permanent forms of ‘deformation ‘ , and the spoken and gestured forms are usually known as  slander.  Deformation is classed as ‘exposure to hatred, contempt, ridicule, or pecuniary loss-must directly affect the reputation of a living person’ *. In (1964), the U.S Supreme Court launched an expansion of the protection of the press from libel actions. This was the result of a court case in which an elected official (Montgomery, Ala) in which he claimed of defamation by civil rights activists, it was decided by court to protect freedom of speech, public officials could only collect money for libel of if ‘falsehoods’ were stated with “reckless regard of the truth”.

A case of libel occurred in an episode of the highly controversial show ‘South Park’ in which Mohammed was shown in a negative image , which is deemed highly disrespectful within the Muslim faith as Mohammed cannot not be shown in an image. This caused alot of controversy and threats were made towards the production