I have always been fascinated by the way writers
can influence, and even manipulate the readers’ emotions by their expression of
thoughts – through character, dialogue and narrative plot in movies and T.V
shows. One line can move people to tears, sometimes a line becomes so
socially recognizable, that people quote them as they discuss the film or TV
show in their day to day lives. But for me, it goes beyond just wanting to
watch and discuss those shows, for me it is a passion and hopefully a future. My biggest inspirations are Stephen Moffat and
Edgar Wright, whose journeys from little known sitcoms to mainstream worldwide
icons are inspiring. I am inspired by how creative and innovative the
characters are, which these writers have created. It is my love for memorable
characters and great witty dialogue that stimulated me to write creatively for
pleasure. To further my interest and develop my skills, I want to study film
and creative scriptwriting, to extend my knowledge of a subject, for which
I have developed a passion. I
am creative and have been since I was a very young age, for example, in primary
school, I would write page long short stories and read them to the class at the
end of each day. My enthusiasm for creative writing and media became greater
and when I entered high school and took up Media Studies, Art and English. This
enhanced and developed my skills, and furthered my knowledge of media.
My first ambitious project was writing my own novel, which then
pushed me to learn the skills required to turn it into a script. I then
expanded my writing to sitcom ideas, sketches and short stories. I also
contribute to a blog, in which I review Dvd's on a weekly basis. I am a huge fan of stand up comedy, I have so much
respect for anyone who can get up in front of a crowd of people and make them
laugh, this has led me to perform around local bars. I'm not sure what kind of
style of comedy I perform, I take the audience on a nostalgic journey through
my short life, and find the funny, I've always been quite good at that. The first moment I knew that I wanted to go into
film making as a future career, was when I was in high school. I wrote diary
extracts from the point of view of a man who had died, and found himself as a
ghost at the beginning of time, I wrote this as part of a art project I was
doing, but found I enjoyed the writing a lot more than I did the art work. I
still enjoy art, and during my final year at 6 form, I volunteered to help put
together an art exhibition that showed of mine, and my classes work. As much as I loved writing for my own
pleasure, I knew that I wanted to take it one step further, I wanted to
write something that I could then film, that is when I entered college, were I
studied Film and Television. Each unit taught me new, valuable skills
and techniques that really pushed my creative side to an area I really
needed. I aimed to film and write at least one of every genre, from animation
to horror, this was to find out what kind of genre I worked best with. I would
work on each of the technical aspects as well, for example, I would be a
cameraman, using the X-100's on one project and be on sound, and using zoom
mics for another, this was to give myself a variety, and to give me as much
experience with the equipment I could possible get. I also got the opportunity
to film in professional environments, I worked on filming the "Lancaster
Lights" last Christmas, and I also worked on sound, in a film
entitled "The Wedding Dress". The director then asked that I work
on a short with her to be submitted to the "48 Hour Challenge" This
was called "The Constant Couples". I am a conscientious, sensitive
and committed student and I’m confident that I have the qualities and skills to
succeed at university. I look forward to the challenge of a demanding course,
and to the opportunity to play a significant role in university life.
Friday, 19 October 2012
Thursday, 18 October 2012
BBC/Sky/Technology Task
MORE ABOUT TECHNOLOGY:
Technology has expanded more than we think over the last 80 years, starting with something we take for granted now a days, colour. Colour tv started coming into our homes at a good time in the economy, the war was over and we was finding ourselves with more money, especially in America, who was the first to take up consumerism, they were now buying Tv's, cars, washing machines, and dishwashers. I feel like this the first bit of driving force companies needed to develop technology further, almost like this is the direct link that takes me to 3D television now, they now knew that we was interested and not scared about something new, we wanted colour, then better looking visuals (HD), and then 3D etc. The impact this has on us have a lot of pros and cons, for example, companies are now forcing subscriptions onto us to have access to the latest technology, it is not enough to fork out for the newest Tv, we then have to have a paid subscription to have access to channels.
Monday, 15 October 2012
Career Development Path
My ideal job in the industry would be to work as a writer. In this role I will be mostly be working free lance, which would make my income and work pattern very irregular. I would be working on Tv shows rather than movies I am hoping, this is due to my thinking of how difficult it would be for a script of mine to be picked up by Hollywood. I think I am on the right track to getting into the industry, I have been writing all my life, and have joined sites that allow me to submit and get my work reviewed, I was a movie reviewer for a site for roughly a year. During my time at college, I have been active in a lot of extra curricular activities, whether that be for others (Lancaster Lights) or my own written work. This all adds to the experience I need to show when applying for these jobs, as for the skills, I am a A Level English student with a passion for the job I am aiming for.
The legal and effical issue surrounding writing will of course be copyright issues, I could be taken to court and lose a lot of money if I was proved too of stolen or plagerised other peoples work. But likewise, if my work was ever stolen or copied, I could be entitled to a lot of money. Cases like this emerge quite a lot of the time, due to people being protective over there own work, and the money that can be earned, an example is the Dan Brown case, in which his best selling book, "The Da Vinci Code" was said to of been a copy of another book. There are ways to protect your work, and there are establishments that will copyright and protect your own work.
The legal and effical issue surrounding writing will of course be copyright issues, I could be taken to court and lose a lot of money if I was proved too of stolen or plagerised other peoples work. But likewise, if my work was ever stolen or copied, I could be entitled to a lot of money. Cases like this emerge quite a lot of the time, due to people being protective over there own work, and the money that can be earned, an example is the Dan Brown case, in which his best selling book, "The Da Vinci Code" was said to of been a copy of another book. There are ways to protect your work, and there are establishments that will copyright and protect your own work.
Jobs Role
One of the tasks were set was to select 3 different job roles that I would like to do in my career.
For each of them roles, I would have to describe the following:
For each of them roles, I would have to describe the following:
- Who would I be working for? (Name of the company and what they do)
- What would the role involve?
- Who would employ me to do it?
- The types of contract that might be involved
- The working patterns associated with that type of work
- Any ethical and legal considerations associated with it
- How would you get that type of job? (What experience, skills and qualifications would I need? How would I find out about the job?)
- How well paid do you think it would be?
- How would I make a career our of it? Where/what would it lead to?
Runner - I would be working for a production company in this job, or a studio like the BBC, I would be attached to one show, for a short period of time. The role will involve me being responsible for fetching and carrying and doing most of the odd-jobs of a production. The role is usually to support anyone who needs help in a variety of ways. I would be employed by the producer to do this role on a hourly contract. The working patterns in this job role would differ I imagine from a typical 9-5 job (if this was a television series in front of a live studio audience) or to be working for them at all hours, as long as they needed me.
I would have to volunteer to be in this position or send in my Cv and be asked for a interview. Although I wouldn't need as much skills and experience that I would for other positions in the industry, I would need to show a interest in the industry and show that I have been wanting to get into the industry. I wouldn't have the biggest salary but working as a runner will put my foot in the door and help me progress up higher through the industry. The higher position I am hoping it will lead me to is a writer.
Writer - Who I would be working for depends on who hires me as writers are freelance, but it would be a producer who would look for my work and hire me, or who I would send my work in to be looked at and then maybe brought on board. The role would involve me writing my own original work or adapting someone else's written, acted or told stories. With it being freelance work, it means my pay would be the one of, I would get paid, say 10k for my work and then not see another penny. Again, with it being freelance works, it would mean my working hours are slightly erratic, I would have a deadline to hit but then after that would maybe not see any work for a few weeks, or months. The ethical or legal requirements that I could run into would be copyright issues.
I would get this job by sending in my written work, or be sought out by a production studio to work on their team. I would need to have experience with writing scripts/screenplays, I would have to show that I have excellent literacy skills. With me only getting a one off payment, and me working freelance, I would be getting a big pay check. Depending on how much of my work gets seen and made is depending on how good a career this could be for me.
Director - This would be the highest that I would reach for in the industry. This would be another free lance job in which I would be hired by different production studios. I would be in charge of the actors and film crew on set. They control the films artistic and dramatic look and technically guides the rest of the crew. To get the position I would have to send in my Cv or be sought out by a studio. I would have to have a lot of experience in the industry to land the role. I would be extremely well paid, but once again, with it being free lance work, I wouldn't be financially stable. As for the hours I would be working, I would be working at all hours, any days, due to filming times and schedules.
I would have to volunteer to be in this position or send in my Cv and be asked for a interview. Although I wouldn't need as much skills and experience that I would for other positions in the industry, I would need to show a interest in the industry and show that I have been wanting to get into the industry. I wouldn't have the biggest salary but working as a runner will put my foot in the door and help me progress up higher through the industry. The higher position I am hoping it will lead me to is a writer.
Writer - Who I would be working for depends on who hires me as writers are freelance, but it would be a producer who would look for my work and hire me, or who I would send my work in to be looked at and then maybe brought on board. The role would involve me writing my own original work or adapting someone else's written, acted or told stories. With it being freelance work, it means my pay would be the one of, I would get paid, say 10k for my work and then not see another penny. Again, with it being freelance works, it would mean my working hours are slightly erratic, I would have a deadline to hit but then after that would maybe not see any work for a few weeks, or months. The ethical or legal requirements that I could run into would be copyright issues.
I would get this job by sending in my written work, or be sought out by a production studio to work on their team. I would need to have experience with writing scripts/screenplays, I would have to show that I have excellent literacy skills. With me only getting a one off payment, and me working freelance, I would be getting a big pay check. Depending on how much of my work gets seen and made is depending on how good a career this could be for me.
Director - This would be the highest that I would reach for in the industry. This would be another free lance job in which I would be hired by different production studios. I would be in charge of the actors and film crew on set. They control the films artistic and dramatic look and technically guides the rest of the crew. To get the position I would have to send in my Cv or be sought out by a studio. I would have to have a lot of experience in the industry to land the role. I would be extremely well paid, but once again, with it being free lance work, I wouldn't be financially stable. As for the hours I would be working, I would be working at all hours, any days, due to filming times and schedules.
Journal Day 3 - Uni + Job Role
University Of Leeds - New Media - This, much like Experimental Film making appeals to me due to it being new, the last thing I wanted to do in Uni is a 3 year course, learning and doing the exact same things I did and learned in college.
Job Roles In The Media:
I have been looking into job roles in the industry for close to a year now, which has led me to sign up to a E-mail service called "My First Job In Film" http://www.myfirstjobinfilm.co.uk/index.html
This is were I will be looking into jobs.
The different areas in which this site breaks down the job roles are:
Development - Turning ideas into completed scripts ready to be made.
Financing And Pre-Sale - ensuring the necessary money is found to fund the film.
Production (& Pre-Production) - the shooting phrase
Post Production - bringing together and modifying the different elements to create the finished film.
Sales, Distribution & Exhibition - getting the film out to an audience.
RUNNER - This will realistically be my first job in the industry, it will be my way of getting my foot in the door. In this position, I will be responsible for fetching and carrying and doing most of the odd-jobs of a production. The role is usually to support anyone who needs help in a variety of ways, until I would then learn enough to progress.
My ideal role would be a Writer, it would be my role to write an original script or adapt other written, acted or told stories. Upon doing a bit of research I learnt a few things. Most professional screenwriters are unionized and are represented by organizations such as the WGA. There are also different types of writers, such as a head writer, this is a person who oversees a team of writers on a television or radio series. The title is common in the soap opera genre, as well as with sketch comedies and talk shows that feature monologues and comedy skits.
Screenwriters are people who write/create the short or feature-length screenplays from which films and television programs are based.
Job Roles In The Media:
I have been looking into job roles in the industry for close to a year now, which has led me to sign up to a E-mail service called "My First Job In Film" http://www.myfirstjobinfilm.co.uk/index.html
This is were I will be looking into jobs.
The different areas in which this site breaks down the job roles are:
Development - Turning ideas into completed scripts ready to be made.
Financing And Pre-Sale - ensuring the necessary money is found to fund the film.
Production (& Pre-Production) - the shooting phrase
Post Production - bringing together and modifying the different elements to create the finished film.
Sales, Distribution & Exhibition - getting the film out to an audience.
RUNNER - This will realistically be my first job in the industry, it will be my way of getting my foot in the door. In this position, I will be responsible for fetching and carrying and doing most of the odd-jobs of a production. The role is usually to support anyone who needs help in a variety of ways, until I would then learn enough to progress.
My ideal role would be a Writer, it would be my role to write an original script or adapt other written, acted or told stories. Upon doing a bit of research I learnt a few things. Most professional screenwriters are unionized and are represented by organizations such as the WGA. There are also different types of writers, such as a head writer, this is a person who oversees a team of writers on a television or radio series. The title is common in the soap opera genre, as well as with sketch comedies and talk shows that feature monologues and comedy skits.
Screenwriters are people who write/create the short or feature-length screenplays from which films and television programs are based.
Wednesday, 10 October 2012
Journal Day Two (9.10.2012)
Today I looked at 2 more Universities, one being...
Salford University, whose English And Creative Writing course appealed to me.
A creative writing course is what I was innitially going to do, a few years ago, I filled out UCAS and got a invite from Salford to be interviewed for a Creative And Comedy Writing course, unfortuantly someone commited suicide by throwing themselves under a train and I missed the interview. This course appeals to me due to it's location more than the course itself, this Uni is in Media City and right next to the BBC, the thought of volunteering at the BBC while at Uni is a big possibility and would benefit me greatly.
Southhamton University had two courses that really appeal to me, the first being Film, which unlike a lot of similar courses I have read up on, has both lectures about the history of film and television, and the ability to film practicals.
The other course is Comedy - Writing And Performance, this interests me due to my love for comedy, most of my personal writing have revolved around the Comedy Genre, as I feel like that is a genre I am good at, the performing aspects also appeal to me as I have been performing stand up on the Lancaster circuit, although I don't want to be in front of the camera, doing stand up is very enjoyable to me.
Salford University, whose English And Creative Writing course appealed to me.
A creative writing course is what I was innitially going to do, a few years ago, I filled out UCAS and got a invite from Salford to be interviewed for a Creative And Comedy Writing course, unfortuantly someone commited suicide by throwing themselves under a train and I missed the interview. This course appeals to me due to it's location more than the course itself, this Uni is in Media City and right next to the BBC, the thought of volunteering at the BBC while at Uni is a big possibility and would benefit me greatly.
Southhamton University had two courses that really appeal to me, the first being Film, which unlike a lot of similar courses I have read up on, has both lectures about the history of film and television, and the ability to film practicals.
The other course is Comedy - Writing And Performance, this interests me due to my love for comedy, most of my personal writing have revolved around the Comedy Genre, as I feel like that is a genre I am good at, the performing aspects also appeal to me as I have been performing stand up on the Lancaster circuit, although I don't want to be in front of the camera, doing stand up is very enjoyable to me.
Monday, 8 October 2012
Journal - Day One
Uni's and Courses:
University Of Staffordshire - This Uni was suggested by a friend due to it's film making courses. But it also offers a lot of writing courses that really appeal to me. Getting into the media through writing has been my goal, I have never really have had the drive to be in front of the camera, and the writing side of the behind the scenes picture have always been the area that interests me the most, camera work, lighting, sound etc are useful to learn on a technical level, but I don't think I could go into a career doing them.
The courses that stood out to me the most was one called Experimental Film (http://www.staffs.ac.uk/course/08W63000.jsp), but that was more due to it's title, rather than the course itself. It strikes me as a course I should take if I wanted to create a artsy film later on in life.
The other course is Scriptwriting With Film Studies (http://www.staffs.ac.uk/course/08W58600.jsp) which will be the course I apply too, the thought of developing my scriptwriting skills and then immediately apply them to film is ideal in my mind, it would show me instantly if something I wrote looks good on paper and on film. It would really push me towards a career as a writer as well, perhaps even a director.
University Of Staffordshire - This Uni was suggested by a friend due to it's film making courses. But it also offers a lot of writing courses that really appeal to me. Getting into the media through writing has been my goal, I have never really have had the drive to be in front of the camera, and the writing side of the behind the scenes picture have always been the area that interests me the most, camera work, lighting, sound etc are useful to learn on a technical level, but I don't think I could go into a career doing them.
The courses that stood out to me the most was one called Experimental Film (http://www.staffs.ac.uk/course/08W63000.jsp), but that was more due to it's title, rather than the course itself. It strikes me as a course I should take if I wanted to create a artsy film later on in life.
The other course is Scriptwriting With Film Studies (http://www.staffs.ac.uk/course/08W58600.jsp) which will be the course I apply too, the thought of developing my scriptwriting skills and then immediately apply them to film is ideal in my mind, it would show me instantly if something I wrote looks good on paper and on film. It would really push me towards a career as a writer as well, perhaps even a director.
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