Nature and Purposes Of Research In Creative Media Industries

 Research is essential in the creative media industries, especially when wanting to create a production that is factually correct and accurate. There are plenty of research types and various different ways to conduct this research which will be furtherly explored in this essay.

The first kind of research is called 'Primary Research', This research entails gaining information from primary resources such as other people. You as the researcher, have to conduct the resaerch and gather the results yourself. Its a way of gaining fresh information more tailored to the media product you are making. This can be more helpful in some instances and is conducted by yourself personally so it is self generated and is described as' Techniques of original data collection or research direct from the target respondents.' from a website called 'Oxford Reference'.  

This is an example of primary research that I have collected; this is a survey I have made to gain responses to whether or not people of the target audience for my screenplay would be interested in the idea of my screenplay. I did this by asking both quantitative and qualitative questions, to find out information about my respondents such as age and what kind of films they are usually interested in. I also took  a section from my synopsis to give my respondents a flavour of what my screenplay is about.

A great example of primary research in films, is a test screening with an audience. This is a great way for film makers to know what others think of their film or television show, so they can make adjustments and improvements to their work. This also a great method because you are getting real feedback from real people who reflect how your actual audience may be. A perfect example of this in the professional film and TV industry, is with the popular TV series 'Friends'. When shown the pilot episode, viewers thought it was 'not very entertaining, clever or original' an the characters were portrayed as 'smug, superficial and self-absorbed'. Overall the show originally scored 41 out of 100 (http://www.thesmokinggun.com/file/friends-anniversary). The show continued on for various seasons so producers and writers must have taken into consideration the bad reviews for it to be the success it is today.

Secondary research on the other hand, is research conducted and gathered by other people, meaning it is already existing. It comes in many forms such as: News articles, books, websites, TV shows and documentaries. A website called 'Formplus' described it as 'a common approach to a systematic investigation in which the researcher depends solely on existing data in the course of the research process.' 

Secondary research I've had to conduct includes my Depict unit from last year; this unit heavily relied on secondary research. An example of this research I had to conduct was watching previously made Depicts to get inspiration for my own. I then wrote about my five favourites.

This is the link to my research post: https://erindunntvandfilm.blogspot.com/2019/10/depict-research.html

An example of  how secondary research can be used is for historical purposes. This is important especially when making a movie because if you wanted to make a movie about a historical person or event, in most cases, you cannot speak to this person or people that experienced the event. Therefore, to make your film or TV show accurate, you will need to gather pre-existing research. An example of this in the media industry is: the film '1917', which is a film about the first world war and the soldiers involved. The writer of this film, Krysty Wilson claims that she 'spent a huge amount of time' reading personal accounts from the first world war whilst she was researching for the film.  She also visited IWM (Imperial War Museum) London to review documents and visit First World War galleries, stating that 'to get this story right and to be believable and to pay tribute to the men who fought and died in that war, I needed to read all the first-hand accounts I could'. She also watched films and documentaries and read books. From carrying out all of this secondary research, Krysty knew that the film tribute that she wanted to make was all factually correct and realistic to the hardships that were faced in World War One.

Pros and Cons 

Like everything, both primary and secondary research have their pros and cons. Sometimes primary is better than secondary and sometimes secondary is better than primary. For this report, I will look at it in a general aspect. 

The pros of primary research, are that it is up-to-date information you are accessing since you are conducting it specifically for the project you are working on. It is also allows you to get more personalized responses and you know where all responses are coming from . It also has its disadvantages such as being more expensive and time consuming to carry out, analyze etc. Primary research can be time consuming because you have to actually physically gather the data from scratch. This could mean creating your own surveys and polls which would take time to create because they would have to be presentable and laid out to a professional standard. Conducting your own secondary research, also comes with its expenses. If you needed to interview a special individual or celebrity, you would have to pay them in order to get this interview. Price ranges can vary from celebrity to celebrity depending on their level of fame. Also, travelling to certain locations to interview them will end up costing you, as sometimes the celebrity may live in a different country to which it is you as the interviewers' responsibility to get to the venue.

Secondary research is better than primary research in this aspect because all of the material is already laid at for you and you don't have to actually spend time gathering it. However, there is a chance that since it was conducted by someone else, you don't know where they got their information from, therefore information could be incorrect or outdated if it is an old secondary source of information. Secondary is also cheaper and anybody with a device and internet access can conduct secondary research. 

Overall, I think that secondary research is better in the long run because the research is more accessible and quicker to find along with also being cheaper. In some cases though, the best type of research depends on the type of project you are creating. If it is historical then secondary, but if it is about a current event or in general set in modern-day then primary may be better.

Quantitative Research

Quantitative research, is a type of research that is presented in numbers or figures. It is usually a result of research carried out to groups of people and presented in figures. As stated by scribbr.com 'Quantitative research is the process of collecting and analyzing numerical data. It can be used to find patterns and averages, make predictions, test causal relationships, and generalize results to wider populations'. Some examples of quantitative research, are: box office ratings, programme ratings etc. These are all things that require numerical results. 

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/9H8DZDK

A good example of quantitative research in the creative media industry, would be box-office ratings for famous movies. For example, the data was collected that between its release in January 2018 and August 2018, 'Black Panther', produced by Marvel studios, grossed a total of  $700,059,566 . This research was beneficial in terms of knowing how successful the movie was, which would help future Marvel movies and is also a great example of quantitative research. (https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl2992866817/)

Qualitative Research

Qualitive Research, is the name given to a type of research that requires a more personalized and specific answer. This type of research is not limited to numbers and/or 'yes' and 'no' answers. Also stated from scribblr.com, 'Qualitative research involves collecting and analyzing non-numerical data (e.g., text, video, or audio) to understand concepts, opinions, or experiences. It can be used to gather in-depth insights into a problem or generate new ideas for research. Some examples of Qualitative research, are: Film reviews, Game reviews, responses to advertising campaigns etc.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/9H8DZDK

A good example of qualitative research from the professional media industry, is the website 'IMDB'. This website includes movie and television reviews written by normal people and is a great example of qualitative research because this is feedback received from real people on media products which would then help the producers for future movies and also other audience members who are wondering whether they should watch the film or not. 

Data Gathering Agencies 

A 'Data Gathering Agency', is an agency that records data on media consumption. Examples of the data collected by these agencies are the most popular shows in a certain period of time, 

 

The Role Of The Writer and The Comissioning Process

 In this essay, I will explore the role of the writer when it comes to screenwriting and I will also be focusing on the commissioning process.

Commissioning 

The commissioning process, is a term given for getting a script into production. There are plenty of job roles in the commissioning process, these include: commissioning editor, director, script editor, agents and writers. I will individually explain what each role entails. 

The commissioning editor, has the final say in whether an idea will go into production or not. Producers on the other hand, have a massive impact on the commissioning process; they are the financial and creative heart of a production. They are responsible for coming up with storylines and ideas; they also hire writers and also option the script. Optioning, is the process of securing rights to a script. They have control over the finance of a production, deciding on the overall budget of the film and source financing from investors, studios and distributors. They approve locations and hire a production team to help the production of the film run smoothly. The health and safety of the cast and crew is a major responsibility of the producer legally when on set. The producer also solve any problems that occur over the process of production.

Directors focus on the more creative side of the production process. Hired by the producer, its the director's job to visualize the script and bring it to life. They work closely with the producers and casting directors in order to chose actors and actresses for the film or television show and compare notes about script changes and camera shots. They also instruct other aspects of production such as lighting, wardrobe and makeup. Some directors also like to rehearse before filming begins, 'blocking' the characters. This enables them to make necessary changes and so the actors know where they are positioned. At the end of the filming process, the director will create a 'Director's cut' where they will take control of the editing of the film. From there, the final cut will be made when reviewed by the producer and financers. A good example of a director who is well-known in the film industry is Steven Spielberg. Spielberg is the name behind many poipular films including: 'Ready Player One', 'War Horse' and the 'Indiana Jones' movies. He has been in the film business since 1969 when he was hired to direct one of the segments from the pilot episode of 'Night Gallery' (1969). He is well-known as one of the most commercially successful directors in history, however has had setbacks throughout his career for example in the early 1970s when he unsuccessfully tried to raise the finance to his low-budget films, so he turned to writing screenplays with other writers before then directing them. His first majorly successful film was 'Jaws' (1975) which made 472 million USD in the box office which then lead to the production of 'Jaws 2' which was released  in 1978. Spielberg is a good case study because he has been in the business for a long while and has had a fair few setbacks which is expected in any successful career. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steven_Spielberg)

 The next job role in the process is the Script Editor. The role of the script editor, is to find new scriptwriters, create and develop new storylines and also make sure the script is suitable to go ahead for production. The script editor is usually hired by the producers and works closely with the scriptwriter to ensure that there are no mistakes in the script and suggesting improvements that can be made. This job role is also more permanent as they work with the producer.

Agents are another important role, specifically literary agents. The role of a literary agent, is to act in the interest of the writer. The literary agent helps to push the writer's work by promoting it and working closely with publishers. An example of a good literary agency is 'Janklow and Nesbit Associates' literary agency, co-founded by Morton. L. Janklow who is one of the world's most famous and well-known literary agents. They match writers to quality publishers, the legal team ensure great contracts. 

 ( https://www.janklowandnesbit.com/people/morton-l-janklow)

Lastly, another important role in the commissioning process, is the writer themselves. The role of the screenwriter, is to write the perfect script that will go into production. Screenwriters can base their writing either off of original ideas, adapting an original story or joining an existing project. They work closely with producers and directors to make sure their script is to good enough standards, working to tight deadlines. Screenwriters normally write three drafts of a script or screenplay; the third of which gets pitched to a producer or film company. This draft is known as 'the polish'. On the other hand, screenwriters can be commissioned by a film studio or producer to write a script specifically for them. Once picked up by a studio, more screenwriters can be added to the mix. These screenwriters may share a credit with  the original or even sometimes replace the original screenwriter. A good screenwriter to look at, is Quentin Tarantino. Tarantino has helped written films including: 'Pulp Fiction' and 'Kill Bill vol.1'. He is known for writing his scripts in longhand, not outlining plot twists, setups or pay-offs. 

(https://www.vulture.com/2017/10/100-greatest-screenwriters-of-all-time-ranked.html)

https://screencraft.org/2019/07/22/timeless-screenwriting-wisdom-from-quentin-tarantino/#:~:text=Quentin%20Tarantino%20is%20known%20for,and%20dramatic%20flow%20of%20another.

Another vital part of the commissioning process, is the commissioning body. A commissioning body, is the part of a company which decides which scripts (sent from outside their company) go into production. Depending on the type of commissioning, the process and success rates will be different. For example: whether you enter a competition or send your work in. Some examples of commissioning bodies are corporations such as the BBC. The BBC hold competitions in order for aspiring screenwriters to get their work noticed and possibly into production. An example of a screenwriting competition held by the BBC, is 'BBC Writer's Room'. Writers have to submit their script in a certain window of time, this reflects and also gives them experience for life as a screenwriter as they would have to get used to tight deadlines. Contestants have to submit up to thirty pages of a script. They also need to fill out an application when submitting their script. At the end of the process, a group of between ten and fifteen writers will be chosen to join the Script Room writer development group for 2021. Scripts with the permission of the writer, could also be taken furher into development and used within the BBC.

The next way a writer could get their script commissioned, is through an independent production company. An independent production company, has a different system to a major film studio, however,  they do their own script editing and sometimes receive funding from bigger corporations in return for some of the revenue at the end of the commissioning process. If you go with an independent production company, it is better that you are a less known writer as these companies have a lower budget, however are a great way to kick off your writing career. Some examples of these companies are: Amazon Studios and A24. An example of an independent production company, is 'Warp Films'. They are supported by ITV global, and have shows in the pipeline for channel 4. It was founded in 2001 and was initially financially supported by NESTA.  Writers and directors work with them and they don't support certain genres or formats .(http://warpfilms.com/).

As well as independent production companies, we also have more major big production companies. These companies, as opposed to independent production companies, have their own facilities such as a studio which they can use to make the films. Studio productions are also likely to be more expensive and involve higher-paid actors. An example of a film studio is: 'Columbia Pictures'. which was founded in 1918. Some well-known movies produced by this film studio include: 'The Karate Kid', 'Spider-Man Homecoming, and Venom.' 

https://millennialstudios.co.uk/blog/film-production-company-vs-film-studio/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbia_Pictures

Independent directors on the other hand, have a much easier job producing their own scripts, however, you need to be in a good position financially to independently produce your own work as it isn't cheap. Some independent directors seek involvement from other directors. The same can be said for independent producers,  they perform the same roles as a studio movie producer, however they need to find investors and are answerable to these investors if their project doesn't succeed. They also need to hire writers etc. An example of an independent film director is 

Organizations also have a major role in script development. Although they don't fund projects, they are always there to offer support and advice throughout the way. They really help writers improve their work and allow it to be seen. An example of an organization is 'The Script Factory'.

Working as a Writer  

When it actually comes to working as a writer, there are a load of factors that need to be considered. All of these factors enable for a perfect script and commissioning process. The first of which is Agent Representation. To kick off your writing career, and be a successful writer you will need an agent. Literary agents help push your work and get you recognized as a writer. They do this by representing your work for film producers and studios etc. They also deal with sales and negotiate prices. They are usually involved in every step of the process and would mostly be needed by unrecognized and independent screenwriters. An example of an agent is 'Knight Hall Agency Ltd'. All agents have expectations when it comes to approaching them, the first being to have read a piece of your work before they work with you, you also need to write a little bit about yourself and your work when you send it to them.

The next stage of the writing process, is optioning and payment. To 'option' a script is to keep a script  on hold for a certain price and amount of time. During this time, the writer can not sell their script to anyone else. Also during this time, the buyer can make any changes they wish to the script. When the time is up, the screenplay is returned to the writer. This if often done when the screenwriter does not have the sufficient funds to turn their script into anything bigger.

When it comes to professional presentation, there are certain standards that a screenwriter has to live up to. Their script has to meet professional standards which requires using the correct software. A good example of an effective scriptwriting software is 'Celtx'. This if a free software used by many screenwriters and offers a simple interface and layout. It also writes in courier 12 font which is essential when it comes to screenwriting and is the go-to font. Other general information about the professional layout of a script, is that scripts normally can't exceed one hundred and twenty pages and should be above ninety. Scripts can't have any information un-related to the script in general, such as camera angles, and descriptions of characters or settings can be no longer than two lines. Having all of these rules in place gives you as a writer have a much higher chance of getting your script accepted. When it comes to shooting a script, if there are any changes made (normally motivated by budgeting) then Page-lockdown is essential. Page-lockdown, is the process of coding any changed pages, instead of changing it manually. Pages are individually sent out and renamed to page '1A' which replaces the original '1'.

The last crucial aspect of working as a writer is time management. Writers often face very tight deadlines so it is crucial that these deadlines are met. Especially when working with other people (producers and directors) it is essential that the writer has the script in on time in order to not let any of the production team down.

Legal and Ethical Considerations

As well as writing the best script to your ability, as a writer, you need to consider the legal side of things. If not done properly, you could be taken to court. The first legal aspect of scriptwriting is copyright. A writer owns copyright to anything that is written by themselves. Having copyright over your work does not hold your general idea, however it stops someone from stealing your specific piece of work.  Copyright includes a whole glossary of rights which include: Electronic rights which is the right to publish or allow others to publish electronic versions of your work and Exclusive rights which is the right to publish your work without the work appearing elsewhere at the same time. To be eligible enough to copyright your own work, you have to prove that is is in fact an original piece of work.  If copyright is breached, then the person responsible may have to pay the original owner the profits of what they have made from selling the text, or even a court order where they hand over all copies of the text before attempting to sell the copied work.

The next aspect is Bias. Bias is the idea of being more in favor of one side of a story when trying to get a message across to an audience or readers. As a screenwriter, it is important to be unbiased towards a subject, you need to write about a subject in a way that allows the reader to form their own opinion and not enforce a certain view upon them. This ties in well with another term called 'Libel'. Libel is the term referring to the idea of writing in a way to present someone in a bad light. This then inflicts hatred on that specific person through the way the writer has conveyed them or more specifically their opinions of them in their text. This can be done deliberately for this effect. To avoid legal issues, writers will often make up fake characters to make a point and can exaggerate them as much as they would like to.

Watersheds are another important legal aspect when it comes to scriptwriting. Watershed is the term given for the time where it acceptable to show more mature, non-child-friendly content. This time usually lasts between 9pm and 5.30am. This is important to consider as a screenwriter because depending on what content you put in your writing may determine what time it will be shown.

Lastly, the final thing to consider is Plagiarism. This is the act of taking someone else's work or ideas and passing them off as your own. Doing this could get you in legal trouble, with the person with the person who owns the work suing you, plagiarizing someone's work could also lead to a prison sentence. 

Screenplay Synopsis

 Log line: Sometimes, staying at home isn't as safe as you think 

Synopsis

In a 

Edited Script Proposal

Script Proposal

The History and Development of Editing

Editing is the splicing together of media (both visual and audio) which make a film a film. It is the post-production process of making a film and is very important to get right as it is a crucial aspect to film making. 

Editing first started  in the early 1900s and was a physical process, which would include cutting a positive copy of a film negative with scissors and splicing it back together again. This is where the term 'cut' derives from. Unwanted film would be discarded, just like it is now digitally. It was then fed through a machine called the 'Moviola' which allowed for the editor to watch the film whilst editing. Editing would have to be very precise, if editing wasn't done properly, film would have to be reprinted which would cost money and put the film at risk of damage. Once the film had been cut good enough, it was then used to make an editing decision list. Whilst the negative was being processed, this was what the negative cutter relied on and it split shots into rolls which were then contact printed to produce the 'answer' print. 

However, nowadays, the invention of digital editing using programmes like 'Final Cut Pro' or 'Premiere Pro', has made the editing process so much easier. Digital editors skip the whole positive film workprint altogether  and like before with the positive film which allowed the editor to experiment, editors can digitally manipulate the film however they'd like without the risk of damaging film. This is a quicker less time consuming way of editing.

With digital editing, you can be much more creative and precise. If you are not happy with the way you have cut a particular clip, you can undo  or delete the editing. Whereas with physical film, you did not have this advantage and you had to be careful where you were cutting and splicing film.

The invention of digital editing also brings more techniques to help develop your editing. These include effects known as 'transitions' which help smoothly move a scene on to another scene. These include 'wipe, dissolve, fade' etc and are a very effective addition to editing.  

Another method of editing, is 'in-camera; editing. This is where the filmmaker shoots the shots or sequences in the exact order they will appear in the film. This is instead of editing the clips with a software later on which is an advantage, however there are lots of things that need to be considered when using 'in camera' editing. One of which being you need to know exactly how you would like the shots to turn out and in which order you would precisely like them in. This requires a lot of planning beforehand as unlike with digital editing, you can not move clips around or re-shoot scenes. As soon as the last scene is shot, the production for the movie is completely over. This is good for low-budget films or filmmakers as it more affordable, however it is a lot more work and effort.

Combining footage into sequences can help develop a narrative for a film or TV show and help us understand how characters are feeling. An example of combining shots to create meaning is 'The Kuleshov Effect'. This includes using the same shot of a man however changing what he's looking at by cutting to a different picture/scene each time which changes the mood and perspective of the first shot as we assume his emotions.

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In editing, a system that is most often used is called the 'Continuity System'. This is a process of editing that is widely used if film and in hollywood, which consists of combining shots together. Pretty much all movies follow this structure, and it helps the audience understand the relationship of shot to shot. 

 An example of a movie scene that uses continuity editing is this scene from 'The Greatest Showman' ( (25) The Greatest Showman | "Who's That?" Clip - YouTube ). The scene starts off with a slow-motion medium shot of Phillip and Anne, whilst she is doing her trapeze. (00:4-00:7). The slowing down of this shot, shows the significance of this moment, how seeing her for the first time makes him feel as though time has slowed down, and highlights how this could be an important relationship in the movie. 

The next important part of the scene, is the eyeline-match when Anne notices Phillip for the first time. We see Anne looking up, and then it cuts to Phil looking back at her. This kind of shot helps the audience understand what the character is looking at, by cutting to the person or thing they have their eyes on. Also by the expression on Phil's face, we can see that what he is looking at has a great effect on him; and as an audience we are intrigued to know exactly what is making him feel this way, which is achieved by an 'eyeline match' shot.

 The film then cuts to the next scene, which opens with a tracking shot, which follows PT and Phil to introduce Phil to Anne and WD. This is an important technique used on film, because it establishes where the action is happening and also which characters the audience should be following. In this case, the audience knows they should be following PT and Phil, as they walk down the stairs of the busy circus, with a lot of action happening behind them, but we know that it is them that we should be following.

After he has shaken hands with WD, there is a moment where his focus has shifted to something/someone else. This can be shown by the camera panning to an over-the -shoulder shot where we see the back of Anne's head and we instantly know what his attention has shifted to. A pan in important in film, as it illustrates when the characters or us an audience need to shift our attention to something else.

Following on from the pan, is an over-the-shoulder shot. This is mainly between Phil and Anne and is important in film as is signifies when a conversation is being held between two characters and helps us establish that the characters are staying in the same place.

Another crucial aspect of film making is the 180 degree rule. This is quite possibly one of the most important rules when it comes to film and it involves placing an imaginary line in between two characters or in a scene. The camera must not cross the line or else it could lead to dis-orientation and confusion from the audience.

This rule is followed in my selected scene as the camera always stays on the same side of the shot, even when the shots variate between over-the-shoulder, the line is never crossed. This makes it easier for the audience to follow and helps with continuity. 

In conclusion, this scene follows a lot of the conventions in film making and editing, this is in order to intrigue the audience and help them understand the storyline and identify with the characters and their relationships. This helps bring an understanding in for the whole movie.

Sherlock-The Blind Banker

 1. . Does the episode follow a 3 act structure and / or classical Hollywood narrative?

2. Howb does Binary Opposition apply to this episode?

Binary Opposition applies to this episode because we are shown binary opposites (a villian and a hero) 

3.Can Propp’s character types be applied to the narrative and if so, how do they help to shape the plot?

4. Who are the main characters (up to 5) and what is their name, age, gender, role in narrative and dramatic motivation?

Sherlock Holmes - in his 30s, is a detective  and his motivation 

Dr. John Watson - In his 40s and also is a detective

5. How did the episode vary with the shooting script, and why?