1. WORKING AS A WRITER RYAN BEDELL

2. TYPES OF RESEARCH PRIMARY Original research to obtain new information. Methods used to obtain this information include questionnaires, interviews, surveys & focus groups Strengths: Direct and current information gathered by yourself Weakness: The demographic group of people you are interviewing may not be within the demographic audience you are targeting. Validity & Reliability Some of the methods of primary research are certainly valid, such as focus groups and interviews because they give an insight into the audiences view. However, they may lack validity. The most prone to neagative validity are questionnaires and surveys, as some people may lie. Most primary results will be reliable, as they have came directly from the people. They may also be unreliable as some people may lie or deliberately answer questions incorrectly.

3. TYPES OF RESEARCH SECONDARY Existing information gathered by other people. Same methods used as Primary research but conducted by a third party. The purpose of secondary research is to consolidate your existing research (primary research)and to also cross- reference any results to see if there are any trends. Overall, Secondary research is useful, as it is cheap and can directly enhance your primary research or give you a clear insight into who you are targeting, depending on the reliability of the research, i.e who it was collected from.

4. TYPES OF RESEARCH QUANTITATIVE Research that is mainly measurable information such as numerical and statistical data usually in the form of graphs and diagrams Quantitative research is used to gain generalised results from the audience you are targeting. Quantitative research uses statistical results is in order to gather this information such as online questionnaires and on street or telephone interviews. The data is then displayed onto a graph showing the trends of what people have answered.

5. TYPES OF RESEARCH QUALITATIVE Research that contains the opinions, attitudes and figures of your target audience, as opposed to facts and figures. Methods used to obtain this information include Interviews and Vox Pop. STRENGTHS: Gathers the opinions and attitudes of your target audience and is, therefore a much stronger basis to go on than quantitative research, which consists of yes or no answers. WEAKNESS: Extremely time-consuming and expensive for large amounts of data to be gathered.

6. PURPOSE OF RESEARCH Research undertaken by media companies has two main purposes Market Research & Production research. MARKET RESEARCH This type of research is used by media companies in order to effectively target the correct audience. It involves finding out statistical data about the size and profile of the audience for the particular media product. This type of research also analyses an audiences awareness for a particular media product and how the audience would react to the media product. Market research is also used to analyse current competition within the market as well as current trends. Market research is used to determine what the public wants to watch. For example, using trending data such as views for a particular genre of TV, such as reality TV. If the figures are the highest, this gives the TV company an insight into what the public wants, which is reality TV. Therefore they will show more of this genre.

7. PURPOSE OF RESEARCH Visual representation of Market Research and what is involves Identifying trends This involves looking at statistical data. For example, a cinema examines views to determine which is the most popular genre of film in order to show more of that genre. Competitive Analysis Examining what your competitor is currently doing in terms of product and how you could better them. Analyses their pricing and marketing techniques. http://marketingresearch1358fst.blogspot.co.uk Source

8. PURPOSE OF RESEARCH PRODUCTION RESEARCH This type of research is conducted if market research is favorable and the media company is willing to launch a new product within the market. Production research comprises of gathering information regarding the new product, researching whether the product is commercially viable and investigating whether the technology and personnel are available in order to make the product. For example, before a new television show is aired, there is usually a pilot episode e.g (Lost).This is to test whether the public accepts it, which determines whether the product is commercially viable. The company investigate whether the technology and personnel are available before airing the pilot.

9. PURPOSE OF RESEARCH An example of how a production team may use film trailers to determine a certain trend in a particular genre of film. Source: www.filmjournal.com

10. CURRENT PRACTICES SCRIPTWRITER Scriptwriters are responsible for writing the screenplay and delivering it in the required format. Scriptwriters come in two forms Freelance and Commissioned Scriptwriters. Scriptwriter also work with film producers in order to develop the script when it is being produced. Freelance Scriptwriters who are freelance write the script themselves using their own original ideas and then pitch it to Producers in the hope that their Script will be commissioned into a screenplay. An example of a freelance script writer is Matt Damon who wrote “Good Will Hunting”. Freelance scriptwriters may also receive royalty payments as a result of other people using their franchise. For example, with the Star Wars franchise, whoever wants to use a concept from the film would have to pay royalties to George Lucas. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0119217/

11. CURRENT PRACTICES Matt Damon & Ben Affleck co-wrote “Good Will Hunting” an example of a freelance scriptwriter.

12. CURRENT PRACTICES Commissioned Scriptwriters Scriptwriters are commissioned by a producer or company to create a script from the producers concept, such as an existing screen work i.e. a remake, novel, poem, play, comic book or short story. An example of a commissioned scriptwriter is Peter Jackson who wrote the script for the “Lord of the Rings Trilogy” the screenplay was originally commissioned by John Boorman however it was never made, they later sold the righs to Saul Zaentz company who then commisoned the film. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120737/

13. CURRENT PRACTICES Peter Jackson,a commissioned scriptwriter,on set of “The Lord of the Rings” formerly a book written by J.R Tolkien

14. CURRENT PRACTICES RESPONSIBILITES OF A SCRIPT-WRITER Scriptwriters provide a basis on which the Production team including the Producer, Director, Production Designer, Composer and Editor can work on, so the screenplay can capture the imagination of the viewers. Producers tend to “see the film unfold cinematically in their imagination”. In order to do this, the Producer requires the Scriptwriter to produce a script that includes high quality creative writing as well as to meet strict deadlines in order to achieve a finished screenplay.

15. CONTRACTS Scriptwriters need to be aware of legal agreements that relate to their employment in the form of Contracts. Scriptwriters need to be aware of what they are being asked to do, when they will be required to work, what payment they will receive and what is included and what is not. Scriptwriters can visit www.bectu.orge.uk which is a trade union official website for more information about Contracts.www.bectu.orge.uk Freelance Scriptwriters will receive royalty payments their work if their work is used by another production company or individual.

16. LEGAL & ETHICAL CONSTRAINTS Production companies and screenwriters need to consider the legal and ethical issues before releasing any content, because if the production company fails to follow these practices they could end up in court, facing penalties-financial or even incarceration. The majority of UK Production companies and scriptwriters follow Ofcom’s broadcasting code guidelines. Found here http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/broadcasting/broadcast-codes/ LEGAL ISSUES & ETHICAL ISSUES There are a range of practices that scriptwriters have to follow, such as Libel Law, Discrimination legislation, Obscenity and Watershed.

17. LEGAL & ETHICAL CONSTRAINTS LIBEL LAW Scriptwriters can be sued for damages if they publish things about a person. That are untrue and damage their reputation. This coincides with the Defamation Act 1996, which states that individuals or companies could face penalties if found guilty of slander without evidence. http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1996/31/section/1 DISCRIMINATION LEGISLATION Scriptwriters can be taken to court on the grounds of discrimination if any discrimination is found within their work. This can include race, gender or age. WATERSHED If a Scriptwriter is commissioned by a UK Television company they would have to consider the UK Watershed when producing content for that allocated timeslot. (Starts 9:30pm ends 5:30am) During this time, adult content is allowed e.g strong language, sexual scenes and violence)

18. LEGAL & EHTICAL CONSTRAINTS COPYRIGHT Scriptwriters can also face copyright penalties, under the Copyright Designs and Patents Act 1988, If they are found guilty of copying another persons work without due credit, copyright protection exists for approximately 70 Years for film. The penalties for breaking copyright include a maximum fine of £5000 or incarceration.

19. BIBLOGRAPHY Creative Skillset, 2007. Screenwriter[Online] Available at: http://www.creativeskillset.org/film/jobs/script/article_4057_1.asp http://www.creativeskillset.org/film/jobs/script/article_4057_1.asp IMDB, 2001. The Lord of the Rings:The Fellowship of the Rings[Online] Available at: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120737/http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120737/ Prospects, 2012, Writer [Online] Available at: http://www.prospects.ac.uk/writer_job_description.htmhttp://www.prospects.ac.uk/writer_job_description.htm OFCOM,2006. Intellectual Property Rights[Online] Available at: http://www.ofcom.org.uk/terms-of-use/