LO2: Task 4 - Professional Etiquette

LO2: Task 4 - Professional Etiquette

Professional Etiquette as a screen/script-writer:

Professional etiquette is your ability to remain cordial and meet the requirements that others expect of you within your job role. This would include meeting deadlines and being able to communicate appropriately based on your role. The effect of professional etiquette is that production and interactions with other team members can run as smoothly as possible. 

As a screen/script-writer the pre-production and production team are dependent on your work as it's your role to create the narrative the project, the characters to be played by the cast, their personalities, the events in the story, its structure and the content/genre that will be shown. Ultimately your work determines the actions of the rest of your team for the project such as casting directors that will find suitable actors to play your characters, storyboard artists who you'll need to explain your vision to, the director and producer who you'll need to justify it to as well as how it relates to the brief you've been given. This also relating to regulation with the content that you write being fitting for the target audience therefore, its essential your script is as understandable and fitting to what you've been asked as possible so that everyone else involved can work off the script as smoothly as possible. 

You would need to maintain a professional relationship with those above you in production such as the director and producer, taking their feedback professionally and adapting it as they're the ones who your work is most vital to and is made for/needs to be appealed to. Due to this, professional etiquette is essential as you meet deadlines and communicate professionally with your fellow production members. 

Hierarchy Diagram

Position in Hierarchy and effect on other job roles:

The writer is positioned above the line in the hierarchy therefore, has an influential position that affects the rest of the team involved in the production. This is including a script supervisor who acts as the editor for the script produced by the writer; talking through it with the writer so that it relates to their brief as suitably as possible and will be understandable to the rest of the team so everyone understands what their role is in creating/planning the production. This is also inclusive of fine-tuning the content to be as effective and engaging as possible. Another role which is close to the writer is the director (beneath the producer) who the writer needs to communicate their ideas within the script to so that the director can relay that information to the rest of the crew. Examples including setting for set designers and costume for costume designers; these being part of the art department (storyboard artists too with the events of the narrative which the director can relay information like shot types to). This could also affect the casting director who needs to base their casting around the characters you have created. A role this affects too is the assistant director who your communication with the director will impact; their understanding of what you've communicated to the director also affecting everyone under their supervision like the art department, effects artists and cast.  

Failing to accommodate the other team members through either not completing your script by the deadline, poorly communicating your ideas or failing to meet the brief would prove problematic for almost everyone involved due to the writer's position in the hierarchy table, above the line meaning a high responsibility due to the importance of the script in a media production.

These include: 

• The director (who can't communicate to the cast or director of photography regarding effective shot types that signify certain events or character types in the product).

• The casting director (who doesn't understand what characters they need and therefore, what cast is suitable).

• The locations manager (who doesn't know what settings will be fitting).

• The assistant director (who doesn't know what they need to communicate to the art department, cast, effects artists, sound artists or stuntmen). 

LO2: Task 3: Career Pathways

 LO2: Task 3 - Career Pathways 

Independent: This work would involve self-employment (freelance) which would therefore, require organizational and communication skills so that you can interact and negotiate with your employer as well as selling your services to them; this is in conjunction with managing multiple projects with different employers at the same time. An example of a freelance employer for screen/script-writing that is currently available would be on Upwork (Looking for Film/TV screenwriter to write short form scripts for YouTube – Freelance job in Content Writing – US$300.00 Fixed price, posted 8 March 2024 - Contract to hire – Upwork) to write short (1500-3000 word) scripts for a YouTube channel which will culminate into 10 scripts total for a fixed payout of $300. Due to the lower payout as a freelancer within the pay to work ratio, multiple contracts with other employers would have to be sought out for extra earnings and further experience therefore, requiring organizational skills to balance those projects and the workload required to meet their individual deadlines. 

Voluntary Sector: Volunteering as a screen/script-writer would provide valuable work experience to get your foot in the door of the media industry and work with other companies to produce work with well-known names in the industry. An example of a volunteering for script-writing would be with Industrial Scripts (Volunteering Opportunities | Industrial Scripts | Film & Editing) who have worked with producers such as Robert Jones (The Usual Suspects) and Caryn Mandabach (Peaky Blinders). Volunteering with Industrial Scripts would require communication skills to keep in contact with the company to understand what work they're requesting and to give feedback on what script work you create for them. This would also therefore, require the skills needed to be a screen/script writer such as media knowledge and awareness as well as English/writing skills. 

Employment: Employment would be the gateway into working as a screen/script-writer: working with an established employer under a salary and contract, likely working on similar media content such as type (i.e. film) and genre. An example of employment that could get you into the industry and gain experience would be as a junior copywriter in Manchester (40 content writer jobs in Manchester, England, April 2024 | Glassdoor). This work would require (as is consistent with script-writing jobs) organizational, creative and communication skills as well as being able to meet deadlines and manage vast workloads which include researching the topic your copywrite is based on. 

Work Based Training (Apprenticeship): An apprenticeship (similarly to voluntary work) is a method of introducing yourself to working in the media industry under the guidance of an employer however, alternatively, this work is paid. An example of work experience for script writing would be within the application for 'content creatives' in Manchester (Content Creatives - Greater Manchester - 2024 for Channel 4 (248580) (getmyfirstjob.co.uk). This work (as with most other media apprenticeships) contains a variety of media related work, involving script/content-writing however, due to this, skills required involve more than media and English capabilities such as art, photography and graphic design. This is also including research ability, pitching (communication) and handling your own tax and accounts as this involves freelance work. 

Further Education (College): College (as part of further education) allows for script/screen-writing skills to be developed through creative media coursework and A-level English language and literature courses to further writing capabilities, understand more about the writing and development seen within other literature and media, gaining the skills to disect, understand and be influenced by it. An example for this would be the Creative Digital Media Diploma at UTC Sheffield (Creative and Digital Media - UTC Sheffield City Centre) which allows for media skills, including script-writing, to be developed. This is in addition with other features of the course such as advertising for a real client which can develop communication and organizational skills which are vital as a freelance (or employed) screen/script-writer.  

Higher Education (University): University (similarly to college/further education) allows for further study into the media industry to refine your skills within a media sector you take interest in and for script/screen-writing this would be the English and film course at Salford University in Manchester (BA (Hons) English and Film | University of Salford). Similarly to college, the same skills will be required however, this is in a focused course of study which means English, creative and media knowledge/analysis skills are essential. This course includes understanding literature and film in critical analysis of their creative and contextual creation; this including the writing of the media analysed. This allows for influence from understanding studied media to shed light on your own writing so that it can be refined and taken into employment or freelance.

LO2: Task 2

LO2 Task 2: Investigating a Job Role

Investigated Job Role: Screen Writer

I have decided to investigate the job role of a screen-writer as I take interest in both media and English therefore, I can combine the two to create my own original vision and creative pieces of writing that can be translated into audio/visual media. 

Practical and Technical Skills

Skills required as a screen-writer  include capabilities within media and English academically, being able to understand the conventions of the format in which your writing will take place so that actors, directors and producers can visualize your scripts so that they can be used to give creative direction to those staff members. This furthered by the adaptations to audio visual and interactive meaning that these directions have to be specific to the media the script is created for therefore, requiring an understanding of conventions and capability to write narratives as well as dialogue. A practical skill required would be to be able to meet strict deadlines which require vast amounts of work to be presented within, requiring organizational skills. Another skill that would be necessary would be software knowledge including Microsoft word and excel for planning. Furthermore, a general understanding of arts and historical contexts which may become prevalent within your work if it's based on a piece of history or is being used as a method of surveillance to make the audience aware of the world around them in conjunction with creative abilities like writing and understanding how your scenes will play out. 

Specific Industry Knowledge

Required industry knowledge would be the ability to research related subject matter to the media in which a script is needed to be written to understand the conventions and styles of it; this is inclusive of adapting those conventions to the form the media will take such as a tv series, film or game. This would require knowledge of research methods such as focus groups in which further communication is necessary alongside an understanding of target audiences. This would then extend to communicating this to other crew members so they can plan what will be needed to fulfill certain parts of the script such as necessary props and their uses. An example of this would be a fantasy series in which a lute is needed for a bard therefore, it would be necessary to communicate the need to have a lute on set and for someone to have the capability to play it. 

Communication Skills  - Oral and Written

Communication skills are highly needed as a screen-writer; this is evident within the strict deadlines in which you will have to exchange between the director, producer, actors and development producers to communicate your drafts to so that they can be in an agreed upon finished state before the deadline's end in which the script will need to be presented to everyone (that is necessary). Additionally, screen-writer's are often assisted by researchers who will assist in understanding what they're writing. Furthermore, you will need freelancing skills which comes with presentation capabilities to be able to pitch yourself and potential screen-plays to a producer so they can pick up your work. Screen-writers are also joined by script editors who will read through their work as the two communicate ideas and edits to each other, requiring creativity. Lastly they will have to communicate with the development producer to get the screen-play/script ready for production. Furthermore, online meetings such as Teams or Zoom allow for everyone needed/involved with the script to give feedback so everyone can create an agreed upon draft and understand their roles in relation to the screen-play. You can further this through an online table read where actors can read their roles and the director (and yourself) can give guidance during the read.

Organization

Due to strict and tight deadlines, extensive planning is needed to have your screen-play in a finished state and be ready to communicate it with other crew members like the development producer. Software that can assist in this including excel in which you can create a production schedule to plan out your work load. Furthermore, the various drafts of the screenplays need to be organized and sent to the right people at the right times with instructions or guidance for feedback given to each dependent on their significance to the script (e.g. a script editor with the dialogue or an actor with the directions). 

Creativity

Creative skills as a screen-writer are vital in creating fluid and natural dialogue exchanges between characters which progress the story. This is especially true if in your role you're the one creating the narrative and story, I.E your own original story rather than what a client or employer has requested of you, being able to define personality traits in setting and character and using historical or social contexts effectively and morally if relevant to the narrative. This is in addition to deciding how each scene will play out, character's roles within it, the setting, props and actions within; this including discussions with the director regarding potential shot types and angles within the scene. 

Problem Solving

Potential issues could be the strict deadlines which can be remedied through using excel to produce a production schedule for yourself (or following one made by your employer) to manage the time and amount of work needed to be completed before the deadline; furthering this with planning documents to gather potential ideas for either the narrative or certain scenes or characters such as a mind map or a mood-board to get visual representations you can present to your team to give them a clearer/visual idea for your screen-play. This therefore, assists with dealing with deadlines due to getting your ideas clear and developed early. Possible contingencies for software like Microsoft Word could be pen and paper which can then be physically given to the production crew; this also eliminates any reliance on E-Mail.

Working as Part of a Team

Communication is an essential aspect of screen-writing as you'll need to work alongside the script editor before passing your work onto the developmental producer; this means creating multiple drafts and exchanging feedback and guidance between yourself, the editor, director, developmental producer and actors so that everyone understands what role they play in (and in creating) the narrative. 

Wider Responsibilities

• Communicating with staff involved. - involves director, producer, crew/actors and script-editor; telling them what they need to understand about the screenplay (character roles, personalities, settings, props and directions in conjunction with director).

• Meeting Deadlines - Planning to have all your work ready is vital as the entire production depends on it (i.e actors, director, producer).

• Organisational Skills - Having all your work in one easily accessible place; including panning materials which will influence what you write and so that colleagues can see what you've written/planned so they can give feedback.

• Giving and receiving feedback - involves director, producer, and script-editor

• Understanding Characters/settings in your research so that the cultures and contexts/points of history are accurate and well represented.

• Understanding client/producer requirements so that you and your producer's thoughts align to create a narrative that they are happy with.

LO2: Task 1

 Job Roles and Skills

Audio Visual Industry