Screenplay research
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section of the website is for those who want to write, who have an idea that is
itching to get out, and who would like a guide or structure to help them take
it from idea right through to a first draft. What you get here is a series of
steps in the writing process with essential elements, questions and challenges
you will face. It’s not designed to be exhaustive. But it’s not just a basic
‘how to’. It’s the essentials of what we believe go in to making a good script.
All ideas are only as good as the characters that drive them, and
all good ideas need to be dramatic.
Dialogue is not just about what characters say – it’s about what
they express by what they say.
Kate Rowland leads the team and is the BBC's Creative Director,
New Writing. Previously Kate was the Head of Radio Drama at the BBC before
setting up writersroom, and she continues to commission The Wire slot of original new drama on Radio 3.
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Ashton is the Development Producer, overseeing writer development, script calls
and talent searches, development schemes, partnerships and production projects.
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Another channel which
competes and is probably BBC’s main competitor is ITV1. They have programming
which contends with BBC. As shown here the main show with the biggest turnout
was ‘Coronation Street’ which can be seen to contend with BBC. This show tends
to contend with ‘Eastenders’ as the shows are both similar in its soap status
and both contend with each other. Not only this but both use competition based
shows which are also constantly contending with each other. Between these two
the main ones are ‘Strictly come dancing’ which would be contesting with ‘I’m a
celebrity’. Although as shown hear the main contender is ITV1 channel 4 still
are shown to have a lot of views but not enough to be considered a contender.
Research Task Silent Witness,Choices: Part 1&2
In the opening scene for 'Choices' it shows Ainsley and Helen talking in the back of a car which details that they are in fact engaged. After this slightly romantic scene they get out of the car to the club in which they go in their separate directions as Helen approaches her friend,a car slowly starts driving past. As Ainsley turns towards the car a gun points out of the window aiming outside the club. The gun starts shooting which in slow motion you see the havoc caused by the bullets being shot.
The main audience for this is mainly middle age people as the show features quite mature content however the contents and style of programming put the primary audience at around 35-50's as the show features content of crime dramas but not only this but has a lot of content which is more drama related in which the narrative is pushed forward by the characters.
The secondary audience would be around 20's- 30's in which the whole crime drama would come in a appeal to people of this age group. Also the whole mature content and investigative action would attract viewers of this age.
In this I liked the investigative procedures used and what they learn was quite cool in using forensics. Also I liked how the show was set out by separating two stories with the death of the girl and the night club shooting. However the crime aspect was very good, no matter how cheesy it became, it was likable. In terms of my particular screenplay I think that the whole crime drama looks quite good.
What I didn't like was how information in which the police didn't know was displayed as it took away from the build up. However I did like it when the viewer would receive information as the character would. However I would stay away in my screenplay by keeping the mystery rather than knowing something the main character does not.
Edge of Darkness, Compassionate Leave
In the opening scene this details how Ronald Craven is assigned to the miners voting case in which the votes have been tampered with. The vote was about the switch to nuclear power. James Godbalt was arguing with him about the votes they have got about the miners.
There are 3 characters in the opening scene. The main character Ronald Craven, James Godbolt and his boss in which they are having a three way conversation.
The primary audience for this would be around 30's to 50's as not only does it feature mature content but also the fact that the main character is around that age and is also a father who has lost their daughter which would appeal to an older generation initially.
Secondary audiences would be younger from around 20's to 30's who may of caught wind of the nature of the tv show. Also the subject matter of the show of being about nuclear power may attract younger left wing people. But not only that but the crime genre would also draw in the younger audiences.
The thing I liked most about this was how you received information at the same time as the protagonist. This gives it a investigative aspect in which makes the whole journey a lot more thrilling. Not only this but the aspect of having a mourning father doing the investigating makes the investigation a bit more stylish and emotive.
Things I did not like was how slow it was all though it releases information slowly I think it releases it in such a way were there is no pay off for watching such a long episode and learning anything. So in doing my own screenplay I would like to try work the information received by although withholding information make it worth while to watch.
Sherlock, A Scandal In Belgravia
At the start of Sherlock after the recap has a series of clips in Sherlocks apartment in which he is having people coming in with particular problems for Sherlock however for each one he says "boring". After this there is an investigation into a death of a man in the middle of no where in which details the car that back fires and the sportsman is suddenly dead with a blow to the head. Then Sherlock is approached by men in suits which intend to take him away somewhere. Without saying the location of where they are going a helicopter turns up for Dr Watson at the crime scene.
The characters in this are the main protagonists; Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson. However there are other minor roles like the series of people asking for Sherlocks help. Also the is the police inspector as well as the victim.
The primary audience for this would be around 30's to 50's because of the shows investigative nature as well as the main people who are likely to be fans of Sherlock Holmes would be middle aged. However the general genre of a crime/thriller would attract older more mature audiences.
The secondary audience would be around 20's to 30's as the cleverness of it would attract the younger audiences. Not only that the mostly the characterisation of Sherlock would be enough to attract a younger audience.
What I liked about Sherlock was the investigative nature as well as how they showed Sherlock analysis of things like the text on screen as well as the extreme close ups on the subject being analysed. Rather than stating this directly to the audience in dialogue it is brought up as text on screen. In my screenplay I will look at innovative ways of presenting information without dialogue. This will give my screenplay a unique look and feel without trying to rip off the style of Sherlock.
There is not much I had disliked about Sherlock as I found the show embodies the person well and the structure and style is also very aesthetically pleasing.
The main audience for this is mainly middle age people as the show features quite mature content however the contents and style of programming put the primary audience at around 35-50's as the show features content of crime dramas but not only this but has a lot of content which is more drama related in which the narrative is pushed forward by the characters.
The secondary audience would be around 20's- 30's in which the whole crime drama would come in a appeal to people of this age group. Also the whole mature content and investigative action would attract viewers of this age.
In this I liked the investigative procedures used and what they learn was quite cool in using forensics. Also I liked how the show was set out by separating two stories with the death of the girl and the night club shooting. However the crime aspect was very good, no matter how cheesy it became, it was likable. In terms of my particular screenplay I think that the whole crime drama looks quite good.
What I didn't like was how information in which the police didn't know was displayed as it took away from the build up. However I did like it when the viewer would receive information as the character would. However I would stay away in my screenplay by keeping the mystery rather than knowing something the main character does not.
Edge of Darkness, Compassionate Leave
In the opening scene this details how Ronald Craven is assigned to the miners voting case in which the votes have been tampered with. The vote was about the switch to nuclear power. James Godbalt was arguing with him about the votes they have got about the miners.There are 3 characters in the opening scene. The main character Ronald Craven, James Godbolt and his boss in which they are having a three way conversation.
The primary audience for this would be around 30's to 50's as not only does it feature mature content but also the fact that the main character is around that age and is also a father who has lost their daughter which would appeal to an older generation initially.
Secondary audiences would be younger from around 20's to 30's who may of caught wind of the nature of the tv show. Also the subject matter of the show of being about nuclear power may attract younger left wing people. But not only that but the crime genre would also draw in the younger audiences.
The thing I liked most about this was how you received information at the same time as the protagonist. This gives it a investigative aspect in which makes the whole journey a lot more thrilling. Not only this but the aspect of having a mourning father doing the investigating makes the investigation a bit more stylish and emotive.
Things I did not like was how slow it was all though it releases information slowly I think it releases it in such a way were there is no pay off for watching such a long episode and learning anything. So in doing my own screenplay I would like to try work the information received by although withholding information make it worth while to watch.
Sherlock, A Scandal In Belgravia
At the start of Sherlock after the recap has a series of clips in Sherlocks apartment in which he is having people coming in with particular problems for Sherlock however for each one he says "boring". After this there is an investigation into a death of a man in the middle of no where in which details the car that back fires and the sportsman is suddenly dead with a blow to the head. Then Sherlock is approached by men in suits which intend to take him away somewhere. Without saying the location of where they are going a helicopter turns up for Dr Watson at the crime scene.
The characters in this are the main protagonists; Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson. However there are other minor roles like the series of people asking for Sherlocks help. Also the is the police inspector as well as the victim.
The primary audience for this would be around 30's to 50's because of the shows investigative nature as well as the main people who are likely to be fans of Sherlock Holmes would be middle aged. However the general genre of a crime/thriller would attract older more mature audiences.The secondary audience would be around 20's to 30's as the cleverness of it would attract the younger audiences. Not only that the mostly the characterisation of Sherlock would be enough to attract a younger audience.
What I liked about Sherlock was the investigative nature as well as how they showed Sherlock analysis of things like the text on screen as well as the extreme close ups on the subject being analysed. Rather than stating this directly to the audience in dialogue it is brought up as text on screen. In my screenplay I will look at innovative ways of presenting information without dialogue. This will give my screenplay a unique look and feel without trying to rip off the style of Sherlock.
There is not much I had disliked about Sherlock as I found the show embodies the person well and the structure and style is also very aesthetically pleasing.
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