WRITING FOR FILM, TELEVISION, RADIO OR
THE STAGE
I am an Independent, working outside
all these Industries.
And my focus is mainly on Film.
So, the Formats that I have presented
here, will reflect that.
With Television, Radio and the Stage,
I would suppose that the Main Thread
Format would be the same or similar.
However, with these Scripts, there are
different types of Directions,
Such
as, with Stage Plays –
STAGE
LEFT, CENTRE STAGE & STAGE RIGHT
Stage
Plays can also be Sectioned into –
ACTS (ACT 1, ACT 2, etc.)
I am not experienced in these areas, so
can only offer this very limited insight here.
WHAT NEXT ?
So, now that you have your Script, by
itself, or Screenplay, what do you do with it ?
BEWARE –
Any IDEA can be stolen and marketed by
someone else, with or without your knowledge or consent.
COPYRIGHT
There are Laws that go some way to
protecting your IDEA, and keeping it your own.
Copyright is the right of a person or entity to control
solely, or with others, at their own
discretion, what happens to their IDEA, or
someone else’s IDEA if they have bought the
Copyright of that work.
In Australia,
Copyright is automatically given to the
person who has made the entire, original work.
So,
ensure that you have displayed that the work is By You,
In
a Prominent Place in the work.
This
should be sufficient in Australia (You would hope).
eg. Title
Page
KHAKI TOWN
Adapted Screenplay
by
Katherine Stuart
Also,
you can display the Copyright of your original work,
On
that Piece of Work,
To
make it Clear that you are Claiming your Copyright.
By
using, either –
© Your
Name or Your Business Name YEAR
or, ©
Your Name YEAR
Your
Business Name
YEAR
- the Year of
completion of the work
or, another associated date, such as,
- the Year of
commencement of the work
eg.
©
Katherine Stuart 2022
Dochas
Books Film
For
Books –
This
can be included in the publishing information on the page towards the beginning
of the
book.
For
DVDs –
This
can go towards the bottom of the back panel of the DVD Cover.
For
Short Pieces of Written Work –
I
always put this, a few lines down from the end of the last text.
If however, you are working in an
organisation, and / or have collaborated with other people on the project, then
you may have entered into an agreement / contract where copyright goes to the
organisation or other entity.
So, you would have to follow their
guidelines as to how it is presented.
In Other Countries,
Copyright for someone who has written
an entire, original work can be administered differently,
eg. Involving
a document application process and fees, etc.
So, check out what the situation is in
your own country.
When you have sorted out where you
stand with the Copyright,
you should Archive the Script or
Screenplay, as a Master Copy.
THE MASTER COPY
The Master Copy is the Original Copy of
the Script / Screenplay that you keep for yourself,
in your archives, and which you copy
all other copies from.
Archiving your Script or Screenplay is
advisable,
as then it is easily retrieved when
needed.
Take the time to archive properly, as
it will save you a lot of headaches later.
To do this, either / and / or -
- Group your computer Script / Screenplay File
/ s
into one Folder
- Name the Folder, in an easily identifiable
way –
eg.
KHAKI TOWN
- Place the Folder in an easily retrievable
place on your computer
- Burn the Folder onto a CD Disc
- Name the Disc, in an easily identifiable way,
as above
- Print out a Hard Copy
I like also, to Print out a Hard Copy and keep that as my Master Copy.
THE NATURE OF THE STORY / WRITTEN WORK
BE AWARE –
That an Idea or Story once Outlined or
Written,
can sit on the shelf for Many Years,
before it is its Time to Shine.
And in some cases this can be longer
than the Writer’s Life Time.
Which is why many people advise writers
to have a Day Job,
because the Story is not going to Pay
the Rent, in many cases.
TO PRODUCE OR NOT TO PRODUCE
That being said,
- You can Produce it yourself,
using it within your own Production
Or, - If you cannot Produce it yourelf, or have
produced it and need help with distribution,
then you will have to approach someone - a film, television, radio or
stage entity
(depending on what end use you have written the story for), that can.
All this depends on –
-
the size of your project
-
the level of education that you have already achieved in Production
-
the level of expertise that you have already achieved in Production
-
the connections you have, or can make,
to those that have the education and / or expertise in Production
SIZE OF PROJECT
SIZE will Dictate How Many People need
to be Involved in the Project.
eg. YouTube
Video - Yourself Only
- Yourself
and Some Friends
- You
can Produce this Yourself
3
Hour Feature Film - You may have to get extra help with
Production,
depending
on the type of film that it is
LEVEL OF EDUCATION
Going through the Tertiary Education
Courses designed for Filmmaking, Television, Radio or the Stage, can put you in
a good position to acquire higher levels in –
- The Technical Processes of Production
- Connections to Other People inside and outside
the educational institution,
who have technical skills in Production
- Pathways to Distribution,
as some institutions are geared to providing
an outlet for their students’ films etc. ,
outside their institution.
LEVEL OF EXPERTISE
The more you can do yourself the
better, through –
- gaining skills through the education system
- trial and error on the job, by doing your own
projects, by yourself or with others, by -
either,
-
making the project in your own time, at your leisure
or,
- gaining paid work,
on other people’s projects
Though, on large projects, it makes
sense to specialise in some areas, and rely on the expertise of other
specialists as well.
MAKING CONNECTIONS
Think about what help you need,
then keep your eyes and ears open to
the response from the universe,
and opportunities will arise.
eg. Small Videos - Read
Information or Watch Videos,
on the Internet,
about
the particular item / subject that you need help with
- Create Your Own
YouTube Channel on the Internet
This is a Distribution Outlet,
accessible by anyone with a computer, etc.
Films - People
/ Companies that you are already involved with,
who
can help with Production and Distribution.
- Companies that give access to
outsiders,
to
help them with Production and Distribution
THE APPROACH
- Decide on who / what entity to approach
Either show or send them either of a
few things, computer file or hard copy, depending on the circumstances, and minimal
being the best –
eg.
- COVER LETTER WITH OR WITHOUT SYOPSIS
It is not a good idea to send a script or screenplay first
up,
as, you can be turned down,
but meanwhile, it has been copied without your permission
and knowledge
So, minimise that risk !
Then, if you receive a positive
response or reply, then you can go from there.
BUT BEWARE –
There are many sharks out there,
waiting to rip you off, one way or another.
Tread carefully.
Using, for example –
TO PRODUCE YOUR OWN STORY –
Some very informative videos,
On
the StudioBinder YouTube Channel -
Also,
“The world’s leading video, photo, TV and film production
management software”
From
the StudioBinder website –
TO APPROACH SOMEONE TO HELP WITH FILM PRODUCTION
AND / OR DISTRIBUTION -
“If
you’re looking to distribute a film (script or finished project) please contact
[ ].
Include a one paragraph synopsis and short
biography of the people involved in the
project (highlight any past
experience). If the film is of interest, we will invite you
to submit a one
page outline, script or any supporting stills/footage.”
At the
Umbrella Entertainment website -
THE WORLD AT PRESENT
With the World in a State of Great Flux
at the moment, things are changing on a Global Scale.
This can be very traumatic, but it can
also create some Good Opportunities.
So, keep your eyes and ears open, and
Catch That Wave.
Good Luck AND
MAY THE FORCE BE WITH YOU
text © Katherine Stuart 2022
Dochas Books Film
