P4- Script

 Afoot script Draft 1

As I was writing this draft, I was encouraged to put as much character and idiolect into the writing as possible, meaning that I should use bold, italics and line directions to make sure that the characterisation of the scenes key players is clear all along, even before the scene is acted out. I also need to gain a much more secure grip of how the entire plot is going to look in detail rather than in broad strokes, and be able to write at a faster pace then I have been.

Draft 2

This draft was read and reviewed by other members of my class, who noted that I needed to include a lot more of the technical requirements of the script, such as using more transitions and scene openers which I had forgotten to include. I was also asked to make the plot much more specific and to put my efforts into bringing the story of the extract to a close. When writing draft 3, I will first put all of my energies into quickly finishing the story, before then going back through the script to make tweaks and add anything important I may have missed whilst writing.

Draft 3

Final Draft

From my feedback, I tried to focus more on the process of deduction and investigation in this draft, making sure that the characters have physical reasons and evidence in order to come to the conclusions that they do, rather than just pulling them out of thin air. I also worked on emphasising the characters unique personalities and adding more physical comedy to the different scenes, in order to keep the light and energetic tone without it becoming stale or uninteresting.

Since the first draft, I have been able to develop the plot of my extract significantly, developing a detailed story in the limited time available, as well as being able to develop it it without it becoming convoluted or impossible to understand. I focused a lot on making sure to remember how scripts must be laid out, using headers and scene transitions in order to make it easier for other crew members to visualise and produce the extract. Finally, I believe that the best way that I was able to progress the script is through the development and coming to a greater understanding of all of the characters, including how they all talk and interact with each other, as well as their overall dynamics, which I was able to flesh out and gain a greater understanding of through the development of the extract.

P3- Script planning

 The extract I have chosen is from episode two of my drama/ detective tv show “Afoot”. I have been asked to write an extract to be used as a promotional scene from my series, which will be used to build interest and a viewership before the show is fully produced. The show will aim a target audience of young adults, using younger characters and a broader, more exciting story in order to try to appeal to them. I will be writing a spec script, focusing more on the overall story and mood that I want to capture than the technical details, as this is what I think will be the main selling point of the show. The extract will be from the point of view of the main character, detective Caspian Flynn, but will feature the entire main cast, showing a scene establishing the status quo of the series, cutting between the mysterious “conductor” committing a crime and Flynn and his assistant Dawson solving it. I will write the script in industry standard format, using the conventions of Tv drama screenplays and industry requirements such as using 12point courier font writing. I will describe the action on screen using present tense action blocks, as well as writing dialogue how the characters would speak, such as writing the detective more intellectually than the other characters, making it easier for the actors to perform to those roles.

Gantt chart

P2-Developed ideas

 

Out of these, I will be going forward with extract two as the one i will take forward and write the script for.  I believe that this extract will be better at garnering interest, as it involves all of the characters and establishes the premise of the show well, rather than being in the middle of the show and having little to do with the plot of the show earlier on, which may leave new viewers confused. This extract also alines closer to the client brief, as it is only one scene rather than the plot of an entire episode, which could not fit into a ten minute slot which we have been allotted. This extract will also appeal more to the younger target audience, as it is more focused on intriguing action and has a faster pace to the alternative slower character study, as well as being more easy to make interesting and fun to watch. Ultimately this scene also features a more complete narrative, showing an entire small mystery rather than one small part from the middle of a larger and more confusing story.

P2- Initial ideas

 Interpretation of the brief.

I have been asked to produce a drama sequence between 10 and 15 minutes to promote my pitched drama series "afoot". This will serve as a teaser for the show to try and raise public interest and investment. I will develop the ideas for multiple possible sequences before deciding on one and producing a full screenplay for the scene. This will be created for the shows target audience of young teens and early twenties, and so it will try to be written in a style that appeals to these groups, despite the historical setting.

When creating the screenplay i will have multiple things i will need to consider. I will have to consider the pros and cons oof using a spec script or a shooting script as a shooting script involves more technical details, whilst a spec script is written before and meant to more emphasise story. Ill also have to consider which part of the story I would like to produce, such as weather i am going to choose to focus on set up and establishing the characters and world to a potential audience, or a more dramatic or climactic scene to leave the audiences on a cliffhanger and get them invested more in the wider story and plot. All of these are things which i will have to carefully consider and choose as production continues.

Ideas for extracts.

1.  This scene shows Flynn and Dawson solving a standard crime, establishing their personalities and the status quo, which can later be subverted. This would be good for investing people and quickly showcasing the main characters and their dynamics, but may seem derivative as there are not many twists to the formula yet to help differentiate it from other mystery stories. 

2.  Similar to the first extract, except we also see the conductor planning and executing the crime, with the scene focusing more on the intellectual game between all of the players in the scene. Similar pros and cons to the previous extract, but would probably be more engaging due to focusing more on the moving pieces and outsmarting than standard fictional detective work.

3. Shows Dawson close to the end of the series unravelling and becoming more and more corrupted, before ultimately deducing the identity of the conductor and going out to arrest her. Although it is a very dramatic scene, i am not sure if it will retain the same weight without the setup of the rest of the series to accompany it.

4. Shows the beginning of the final confrontation, with Flynn and Dawson talking and arguing about the case, and ultimately their dynamic as a whole, eventually setting them both into the stereotypical hero and villain roles. Able to establish a lot of character drama and tension for the seasons climax, but i am again concerned of how well it would work as an introduction for someone who has never heard of the show before.

5. This extract focuses on Dawson, as he solves a case on his own for the first time, with his skills improving throughout. However after solving the case he ends up stealing a piece of evidence, foreshadowing that he may be more sinister than we've been led to believe. This is a good scene as it features a complete character arc, ending with an interesting hook, but i am unsure if it would be a good introduction to the show, with it only introducing one of the three primary characters.

6.  In this extract, Flynn attempts to solve a case, but is distracted by his new relationship with Phillips and is more careless than normal, ultimately needing assistance to put the pieces of the case together. Although this scene is good for establishing character relationships and showing how the characters have changed by the halfway point in the show, it works best when contrasted with other scenes in the show, and probably wouldn't work as well being a solo extract.

P1- Script analysis

 P1- Script analysis