Lo2: Scriptwriting
Scriptwriting is a technical skill that comes into the media industry, that helps create a blueprint for the product that is being created. Scripts are mainly used in films and other performing societies as it acts as the backbone and others working in the industry to gain an idea on what the characters are like. This will then help the actors in that role. The skills required for scriptwriting is creativity and good English. This is because in order to write you need to have a creative mind that will build up a story and characters in a lot of detail that will develop a character. An industry that would use this is Disney, as they are a conglomerate company who specializes in the film industry. The reason why they would need a script writer is to expand on the ideas gathered by the company. By doing this the company will be able to start on the practical work once the script is complete.
Practical and Technical skills
As a Scriptwriter, the practical and technical skills that are needed is the ability to be creative. This is because when it comes to Scriptwriting, you need to have a creative mindset to come up with ideas and picture what you want the story to be. The script must also fit into the genre of the movie or series that is being filmed, as it is your job to create that atmosphere and character development, of how they are going to come across when the actors play them roles. Another skill needed for a scriptwriter is quick writing. This is because a scriptwriter would have a deadline for the script and they would have to make sure they have all the details that a script would need. For example, the scriptwriter would have to make sure they have all the names on the script, and spelt correctly that fits in the standards for the production.
Specific Industry Knowledge
A scriptwriter would need to have knowledge on the industry they are working for, as every industry has some way of having their products different to rival industries. For example, Disney would like a script that would benefit everybody, and keep their stories diverse with no stereotypes that include either hidden adult humour that they had to keep their audience happy and the people who review the products. However, Warner Bros tend to like most of their films with comedy and find ways to entertain their audience. This means as a scriptwriter, you must try and come up with jokes and other humours that will fit within the script that keep their audience entertained. This shows how important is it for you to know who you are working for and how they like to have their films distributed. It is also important to gain knowledge on what you are making for them companies, as if the product is based of a historic event, it will be the job of the scriptwriter to include the important people in the script, along with making sure the lines the people say with their quotes or facts are as historically accurate as possible.
Communication Skills
With the role of being a scriptwriter, it is important to communicate with your client to gain any improvements on the script. This is because if there is a line in the script that the producer is not happy with then the script can be edited before reaching the actors to not confuse them with their current lines. Also, the scriptwriter would also need to talk to the actors, as during filming the scriptwriter would have to speak to the actors and tell them who their character is and how they have to play that role. The benefits of doing this allows the actors to get in characters straight away without having to guess who their actor is, and how they have to act like that character. A scriptwriter could also get advice from other scriptwriters or people they know that could potentially help to structure a professional script.
Organization of a script
The organization of a script is important, as the script must be set in chronological order, with the characters that are needed for that are needed for each scene having their names on the left side of the script. This is because it keeps every scene being rehearsed well organized as the actors that are needed on that scene will be there, along with the set and scenery being in the right place, as the script should tell everyone where they are and what stage directions will be used on set. The reason why a script should have stage directions, is because it will tells what props are needed to be on set and how they are going to be used. This is helpful as everything that would be needed for that set can be put out and ready to use during the rehearsals the day before or before the actors arrive on set. This makes rehearsals less time consuming and quicker to do as the producer will know what is next to rehearse and have set out for the next scene. The script should also consist of lines for the actors. These lines should also be in chronological order and consist of every characters lines, which will allow the actors to know their ques when the other characters last line has been said. The characters lines will also have stage directions in between them which tells them the emotions they should use during that scene, along with the tone of their voices that should be used in the scene, which will bring more of a flow and a sense of what is going on during the scenes.
Problem solving
The reason why problem solving would be needed for a scriptwriter is because the script will be the main use source that actors and rest of the production team would rely on the script. This is because the script will have the correct lines for a character, so if an actor forgets his lines, he can look back at the script to read out the missing words. If the producer is not sure on where the characters are on set or if they are in a different location. The script should tell them where the characters should be on set, along with having the location as the sub heading.
Wider Responsibilities
When being a scriptwriter, it is very important to get your facts correct when writing up a film that is either non-fictional or based around a significant time period or event. The way a scriptwriter would gain their knowledge on these topics would be looking at historic or present researchers who would go out and discover what happened during these times. For example, if the scriptwriter was in charge of making a script for a film based on World War 2, the best way to gain an understanding on what weapons were used, where battles take placed and who fought in the war, can come from books written by people who experienced the war or a veteran being interviewed on Remembrance Day.
People/ Characters Representing Ethics
The reason why scriptwriters must include their character being ethical is to bring a sense of responsibility towards that character typically social responsibility. This is normally seen in the main character of the film who would either build up social responsibility to show the development of that character or start of the film who would lose their ethics and go on a tangent before realising what they had done.
The reason why scriptwriters do this is to create character development within the movie, but some do it to inspire their audience to have social responsibility by creating heartbreaking scenes for the characters who don't have any social responsibilities but also shows how some overcome it as well.
.png)
