Create scripts
Overview
A good idea is at the heart of any production whether it is live action or animated. This Standard is about your ability to create a script or treatment that is compelling, tells a story, and engages its audience. You may be responding to a client or project brief or creating a script or treatment to explore a concept or idea with a view to future production. This standard is for you if you create scripts.
Performance criteria
You must be able to:
determine the creative, production and project parameters that will
affect your approach when analysing a brief or creative
opportunity
- create narratives that are suitable for the target audience and
appropriate to the production parameters
- structure stories to convey or explore the idea or concept with
coherence and accuracy
- create scripts or treatments that communicate the story vision,
characters and world produce scripts or treatments that meet
project specifications and conform with industry standard layout
conventions
- check that your work is original and unique and meets your own
quality requirements
- use feedback and criticism when appropriate to improve drafts or
to fit in with production requirements
produce re-drafts at the times required
liaise with colleagues to resolve contradictory comments and
check that scripts or treatments are appropriate and fit for
purpose
- work with the Script Editor and be guided by them through the
writing process
Knowledge and Understanding
You need to know and understand:
the aims and objectives of the production and its overall
conceptual vision
the purpose and use of a story bible
the scale and type of animation and the impact this will have on
the script
- the level or language and other requirements of the audience you
are writing for and any relevant cultural, social or political issues
that you will need to take into account
- the budget, timescales, episode duration and other project
parameters you will need to comply with
- whether it is part of a series and how to find out about any
previous episodes or story continuity
- the purpose of, and how to write a, script, treatment, one page
synopsis, paragraph summary and one line tag line
relevant legal obligations or broadcasting standards
relevant theories and principles of story structure that apply to the
script you are writing
- the characteristics and appeal of the genre of script you are
writing
- the principles of dialogue writing, action description,
characterisation, timing and pacing and how to achieve them
- the context of the script and where is sits with regard to similar
work and how it will add to what is already available.
- industry standard layout and presentation for written and visual
scripts or treatments
the role of the story editor and the process of feedback and redrafting
who needs to sign off the script
the sorts of issues that can arise in co-productions, especially
when work is shared or outsourced overseas
- how to work as part of a team