SCREENWRITING TASK 1 DONE

The primary role of a writer is to write the script. In a movie or play, a script is needed so the actors know what to do and say, which is the responsibility of the writer. Other responsibilities include researching and developing an engaging narrative for the screenplay, which must meet the brief in the appropriate format. The screenplay they produce should meet the brief in the appropriate manner for their scripts to be considered to use in production. Most writers are freelance, which means they work by themselves, whereas very few others prefer to work in teams. They also carry out research into what the theme of the movie/play about in order to educate themselves further on the topic. Doing this would have a positive impact on their ideas, scripts et cetera, before pitching to a commissioning editor. Scriptwriters provide a blueprint onto which the producer, director, finalize and edit themselves to what they exactly want. Scriptwriters must produce highly creative writing, to strict deadlines, working with the script development team to create a financially viable product. 

Ethical and legal issues that need to be considered by writers include bias, conflict of interest, copyright, libel and censorship. Copyright, the most commonly heard, is very important it is done properly. If a writer’s work isn't copyrighted, other writers have the ability to look through their work in order to steal them to use in their own work. The copyright must be clearly exposed on the manuscripts, this way the work is the writers and the writers only, and no ideas can be stolen. As you work digitally, a date is created in the file and this automatically attaches the copyright to you and the date. You should put the copyright symbol and your non the front page and every page of the script. Copyright lasts for the life of the writer plus 70 years. In terms of censorship, writers must consider their intended form and audience when writing scripts as the BBFC have strict guidelines about what can and can’t be shown on TV, video, games, radio and film. To make the script appropriate the viewer, some aspects may need to be cut out or censored, which generally revolves around violence, sex, language, discrimination and use of drugs. Bias is an ethical issue that must also be thought of by a writer. In order to prevent this, the publication should not be one-sided, nor should it be "prejudiced against results", instead it should include information from both or all sides.

Other roles in commissioning includes the commissioning editors, producers, directors, script editors and agents. As a commissioning editor, you are the senior employee of the broadcaster, along with being responsible for selecting programme ideas and distributing funds. They usually specialist in a specific genre and oversee the writing process throughout the production. The producers in the industry oversees all aspects of the production and when writers are 'on staff', a producer may originate a project, pitch, organize and finance it and then attach it to a particular writer to develop. The director of the whole process takes the script and is responsible for pulling everything together. They are able to edit the script to the way they want it to be, after the writer is finished with it. The technicians and editors all work from what they are produced by the director. Script editors provide a critical overview of the scriptwriting process and liaises between the commissioning editor, writer and producer. They identify any issues with the script, but aren't responsible for coming up with the solutions. The agent of the process is maybe the most important as without one, no contracts organized or appropriate deals negotiated. The agents build a relationship with industry decision-makers and support a writers career. They are the ones who find work for the clients, and make their work worth doing.