Unit 19B

Jos Bennett

Film- The Departed

Scene heading- contains scene
heading, scene number,
interior/exterior, location, daytime.
The first time we see a character
their name appearance and
physical description is shown.
Character names are always
typed in capitals.
A Brief description of the location
When a character has
dialogue their name is
centralised
Dialogue begins at the end
of an approximately 2 inch
left hand margin
When referring to another
character the name does not
appear
in capitals
If you want
emphasis on the
way a line is delivered it
appears centralised and in
brackets

Genre considerations for film

When writing for film you have a more free reign to
tackle darker subject matter with more adult themes.
The extended time period of films (90-120 minutes
usually) requires plots and subplots to be more
extended and elaborated upon than Television.
The language used in films can be as bad as a producer
and sponsor will allow. Independent films do really have
free reign over what they do and say in their films, but
must it must be kept in mind that whoever will
distribute their film will have their own guidelines.

Style of script for film

Scripts for films are made with production in mind. They
make it easy for directors and cinematographers to
understand how to more easily portray the scripts.
They are very structured and organised and are written
using fairly strict guidelines.

Organisational guideline
considerations- Film
Film organisations like production companies may have
guidelines for their programming to maximise on profit.
These will take into consideration watershed and
national broadcast law for TV showings, current affairs
that may deem the production untasteful.

Children's TV- Danger Mouse S1-E38

Scene heading- contains scene
heading, scene number,
interior/exterior, location, daytime.
The first time we see a character
their name appearance and
physical description is shown.
Character names are always
typed in capitals.
A Brief description of the location
When a character has
dialogue their name is
centralised
Dialogue begins at the end
of an approximately 2 inch
left hand margin
When referring to another
character the name does not
appear
in capitals
If you want
emphasis on the
way a line is delivered it
appears centralised and in
brackets

Genre considerations for Children's

TV
Subject material needs to be lighter as the audience will
be children.
Use of profanity, nudity, and any violence deemed too
extreme for children will be strictly prohibited.
Shows will usually be shorter and contain less elaborate
plots and may not contain subplots, to account and
accommodate for children's lack of attention span.

Style of script for children's TV

Scripts for Children's TV are made with production in
mind. They make it easy for Voice Actors and Animators
to understand how to more easily portray the scripts.
Children's TV scripts are usually just as complicated as
any other scripts, as only the dialogue and actions from
within the programme are simplified for children, the
rest is laid out in the same way.

Organisational guideline
considerations- Children's TV
With children's TV the national watershed is less of an
issue as most children's TV channels will show nothing
that would be in breach of the watershed regardless.

Live Television-The X-Factor

Act
Floor plan showing
camera/judge/talent
location

Running
Order

Timetables
Airing
timetable

Genre considerations for Live

Television
When writing a script for live television it must be assumed
that, the programme being live, it cannot be scripted
entirely. While some live events could be almost entirely
scripted most will, in my research, pre record scripted parts
and have the rest of the show entirely unscripted.
What is left to write as a script is more of a timetable
showing camera movement, placement and cuts to
advertising breaks.
Use of the broadcast delay must be used to censor
anything not deemed usable by the network running the
show. This will include anything under the watershed law.

Organisational guideline
considerations- Live TV
TV organisations will try not to include Profanity or
nudity in their programming's but such is the nature of
live television that anything can happen, if a contestant
on a game show gets an answer wrong and swears as a
force of habit there may be a short broadcast delay to
add in a censor bar or censor bleep avoid fines from
producers.