Script Research

This image was taken of a script of Inspector George Gently – Series 5 Episode 3. This script links to my own script because this script is based around a detective for the police just like my idea. It is very beneficial to me because this image is the opening scene and it shows us that already the narrative is straight into a detective story. This would be a great way to attract the audience instantly because they are involved straight away and they understand what is happening. They will not feel like they have missed anything before this beginning.

This script would be categorized as secondary research because someone else has produced this script and I researched and found this script on the BBC Writersroom(link).

Finally as mentioned before this material was very inspirational as it taught me to get the audience involved straight away and begin with the case being shown to the two main protagonists.

This image was taken of a script of Death in Paradise – Series 1 Episode 1. This script would link into my own script well because again it gets straight into the story there is no sort of introduction to the episode it goes straight into the story. Again this would attract the audience and keep their attention because they will not lose interest by waiting for a really long introduction to the episode.

This script would be categorized as secondary research because someone else has produced this script and I researched and found this script on the BBC Writersroom(link)

Finally as mentioned before this script would be helpful because it shows that attracting the audience straight away would be very helpful for dramas and not having a long introduction to the episode.

This image was taken of a script of My Murder. This script may link into my script well because although I have said that getting straight into the action is a good thing the audience may want to know about the characters first before the actual episode begins to unfold. I chose this because the opening scenes give a little background on the characters involved in the programme.

This script would be categorized as secondary research because someone else has produced this script and I researched and found this script on the BBC Writersroom(link)

Finally I said before that getting straight into the action would attract the audience but I’m also thinking of the other audience members would enjoy a little introduction to the characters involved.

This image was taken from a news story by The Telegraph showing that a hairdresser was murdered by her jealous former detective husband. This would help my script because it is a news story which has occurred containing a police detective who has had power and then changed because of this power. This news story also shows that the young woman tried to tell the police about her husband’s violent behaviour but no action was taken.

This news article I have found would be categorized as secondary research because someone else has written this article and then published it on The Telegraph’s website.

Finally this news article could help on my script as it shows that gaining power could change a person but also change how they act and how they used to be before taking on the role of a detective.

This image was taken from a news story by Daily Mail showing that a former police detective brutally murdered his wife in their own home in front of their two children. This would help my script because again it is a news story which involves a former police detective who had the power of being that role and then abusing that power and or changing because of the power they have. This news story shows that he beat her with a baseball bat over a missing changing bag then stabbed her in the throat just weeks after giving birth to their new child.

This news article I have found would be categorized as secondary research because someone else has written this article and then published it on the Daily Mail’swebsite.

Finally this news article could help on my script as it is another occurrence in which someone has been murdered by a former detective either because of having that power or because of abusing the power.

This image was taken from a news story by IOL News showing that in Cape Town, a police officer returned fire to an armed robber after firing at himself and his partner. This article also says that the police officer “rushed to his partner’s aid, taking a bullet in the process”. This news story would help my script as it shows some partnerships turn out to be great friendships and even brotherhood. It also shows that no matter what some partners are there for each other and will do whatever it takes for each other.

This news article I have found would be categorized as secondary research because someone else has written this article and then published it on the IOL News website.

Finally this news article could help and be important as it shows the camaraderie between two partners which would do anything to save one another and the bonds between two partners.

Exisiting Materials:

I have had inspiration from BBC One’s Sherlock, the reason for this was because I really enjoyed the on-screen text that Sherlock had within its episodes. I think it looks really professional and comes across that the audience can actually see what the character is thinking and can get inside the characters head also. In addition to this I also had inspiration from BBC Two’s Edge of Darkness, the reason for this is because I liked the idea of a police detective being the protagonist of my story as well as having twists within the story just like Edge of Darkness has. Finally I also have had inspiration from Showtime’s Dexter the reason for this is because my protagonists are police detectives like in Dexter however it matches this programme because one of my protagonists is also a serial killer which is the same as Dexter himself, I really liked this idea because it is a good twist however it may be easy to figure out.

Opinion and Speculation:

“every killer and every killing is unique.”
“emotions play animportant role in decision making.”
“ killersgo through a mental and physiological process of detachment that prevents themfrom seeing the victim as human.”
“People a lot smarterthan you and I have struggled with this question since the dawn ofcivilization, and no one has come up with an answer yet.”

These quotes from various websites have helped me because the twist in my story involves the protagonist also being a serial killer, so finding these quotes helps with the question “why do people kill other people?.” When finding these quotes it states that some people who are serial killers are mentally unstable, or emotionally unstable to make their own decisions and in the end do not know what they are doing. In addition one quote states that serial killers get to a mental state that they don’t see their victim as a human like themselves. But finally to this subject there is no full answer as to why others kill because it has been an unanswered question for centuries and no matter how much research is put into this question it will still remain unanswered. So for my script this helps as one of the protagonists could be mentally unstable but the police could not know this, lead the protagonist to be the serial killer involved in the twist.

Screenplay Pitch & Pitch Feedback

Pitch script proposal by kobalv2

Script proposals and writing a synopsis

Script proposals and writing a synopsis

There are many reasons why you would want to produce a script proposal, one of these would be to show your ideas to a company to see if they would be interested in creating the programme your script is based around. When producing a script proposal for a film for example you would have to pitch your idea to a board of a film company and explain why your idea would be good and the main unique selling points of the script.

On the other hand for factual entertainment programming, some scripts are not set for example a football broadcast, there cannot be a set script already for the broadcast as they do not know what will happen in the football game, in addition to this some parts could already be set for example the pre show before the game starts where the commentators talk about both teams and their best players etc.

Lastly, fictional entertainment programming, an example would be a drama but depending whether it be a single, series or serial, this then effects the producers of the script because if it is a single, then the proposed script could be looked over and minor adjustments could be make by the TV company if they do not fully like the idea, however, if it was a serial like Eastenders then the script writers would need to keep proposing ideas to the BBC and checking that the ideas are good and will keep the audience interested.

When presenting my script proposal I plan to produce a verbal presentation showing the research I have carried out on other scripts which I want to base my script around, these will be a variety of scripts not just one genre, also they will be from different channels to see if there is a change in how the scripts are created on different TV networks. In addition to this I will also show the unique selling points of my script in the presentation and I will try to get feedback from TV networks to see how the script could be improved before I begin creating.

On the other hand I will also produce a short written report, this report will entail what I intend to do with the script and how I plan on doing it, which will be attached to the copy of the script I will hand to the reviewer, however on the script given to the reviewer it will have the unique selling points underlined and the main parts of the script underlined and they can make notes, which I will take into consideration and then improve on to make the script more suitable for their brief and client demands.

The title of my proposed script is 'Face in Darkness'. The reason behind this name is because I want it to be a crime drama and there is one person going and killing certain people one by one in the neighbourhood.

As I just mentioned I would like my script to be based around a crime drama, I got inspiration from watching 'Edge of Darkness' and 'Sherlock', from this I wanted to create a script on a crime like 'Edge of Darkness' but then add in a few technical elements like text on screen from 'Sherlock'.

I will produce concept art of the proposed scenery for the programme and try to find a place which represents the concept art as close as possible.

The unique selling points of my script would be that 'Sherlock' was a great success and having aspects from 'Sherlock' may interest people but also there are many crime dramas on TV and they all seem to do very well so it seems to be a popular genre.

Suggested target audience for my script would be 20 - 30 year olds of both genders but mainly males as it will be violent however drama is a dominantly female genre, in addition to this the secondary audience would be older people from 30 - 50, these still may be interested in viewing, again both genders also.

The initial scenario as mentioned earlier is there is this one killer who nobody can find, killing certain people of a neighbourhood, the detectives cannot figure out why either, they cannot put a plan together and figure the mystery out.

I would like to propose the product as a single but two parts to make up the one single, and leave the first part on a cliff hanger as it may entice the viewers to watch the second part.

My intention of my product is to mix two different programmes I have seen into one and see if it works well and if the audience enjoys the programmed produced. Choosing this narrative again was good as it is a popular genre and gets good ratings and with the correct advertisement viewers will be drawn in.

My proposed product is high concept because it can be described precisely and also can be described very easy.

I will try to communicate my product by focusing it on being local and having the characters speak not the queen's English but not all slang either, kind of a variation of them, the characters also will remain professional at all times and no sort of funny business within the interactions of characters.

There is not an intended message within my product.

There are only two main characters one of which is Chris, Chris is a 38 year old man in the police force, he's been a detective for the same one in Norfolk for the past 15 years. His role is to train and be partners with the secondary main character Bill. He has a standard home life living by himself in a small flat. Chris was based on Benedict Cumberbatch from 'Sherlock'.

Bill is a 24 year old trainee detective who has to work alongside Chris as he gets used to the job and if their partnership grows they will stay as a team, he has recently just joined the Norfolk police force and is nervous about starting but jealous of Chris at the same time, again a standard home life living by himself in a small flat.

There are no non-fiction talent requirements for my production.

The beginning will start off with Bill joining the police force and going to the police station for the first time and getting the briefing that he will be working with Chris and also will get a little information about Chris. Then it will move on to the middle which will entail one or two people have been murdered but they are no traces of the killings and both main characters cannot figure out why. The story then moves onto where the ending 2 more people have been killed but it was Bill killing them all along and hiding the bodies in the police station and he tried to frame Chris. Bill then gets put in prison and its another case solved.