Monday, 16 March 2015
Wednesday, 11 March 2015
Tuesday, 10 March 2015
LO2: Research & References
We used sites such as IGN and BBC News in Gaming for research into the stories for the script. Here's the page for the Minecraft story used in the script.
Stories researched:
Anticipated game Project Cars has been delayed for the third time in a row, resulting in the game’s launch date to be moved back another month. According to publisher Namco Bandai, the hyper-realistic racing sim is now expected to be released in “mid-May” time, and this was to ensure the final build matches fan expectations.
Developer Ian Bell confirms out of the critically-acclaimed racing games that this will be its most “grand and intricately detailed of them all”.
Developer Ian Bell confirms out of the critically-acclaimed racing games that this will be its most “grand and intricately detailed of them all”.
The widely loved sandbox game Minecraft, based on players having the ability to create whatever they please in an open-world, is currently facing a ban in Turkey for being “too violent” and that its depictions of violence “cannot be ignored” according to the Turkish Family and Social Policies Ministry. This has sparked controversy for gaming fans in Turkey, as Minecraft is believed to be a game solely based on creativity and imagination, rather than an excuse to act as a violent game.
PlayStation Vue, a new project that will act as a cloud-based TV streaming service for both PlayStation 3 and 4, will begin its commercial rollout nationwide by the end of the month for select invitation-only tests. Vue will be targeting “cord-cutters”; people who ditch their traditional cable providers in favour of digital-only services. Vue will let viewers watch many different live TV and on-demand content from networks such as FOX, NBCUniversal, Viacom and CBS.
The cost of subscribing to PlayStation Vue has not yet been announced, but will first be available on consoles and eventually iPads and other non-Sony digital devices.
Written by Will Hewitt
LO2: Audience Profile of Ideal Viewer
Taylor is 22 years old and is a full time student at Sheffield Hallam University studying Digital Media Production. She loves her course at Uni and aims to work for one of the local games design companies. Taylor lives with her flatmate in the City centre and has a lot of spare time which she generally spends watching television and playing games on their shared gaming consoles. Her favourite games include Team Fortress 2 on PC, Formula One 2014 and Fallout 3 on Playstation 4 and Grand Theft Auto 5 on her XBOX One. She enjoys not only first person shooters but also racing games as she likes using multi-player modes to compete with friends and people online. Away from her games, Taylor is also an avid Sheffield United fan and plays in a local amateur team, so she's really looking forward to the next FIFA instalment which will include some of the national women'f football teams. When watching television, she generally tunes into informative programmes and documentaries and always checks out the latest entertainment news.
LO2: Task 2: My Scriptwriting Team
Our group consists of Danielle, Will, Alex and myself. We initially had a meeting to discuss how our roles would be divided. Our group decided that Alex and Will would work together to research topical news items for this week. This information was then sent to me and I wrote up the information into a script format. Danielle then edited the script into the correct format and added stage directions. We created our script for the week commencing Monday 9th of March and achieved our deadline of Friday 13th March.
LO2: Task 1: SLTV Brief
Monday, 9 March 2015
LO1: Task 3: Comparison of Example Scripts
A) STYLE & CONTENT
All of these should be written in 12 pt Courier font, however only two of them use this house style; 'The Godfather' film script extract and the radio drama extract. This is because scripts are supposed to be functional and this is a stylistic convention of scripts. The other three scripts might not have been set out in this conventional way because there is more flexibility with those types of media product. Interviews are often contain spontaneous speech, television news broadcasts often have to change their facts due to the way they are covering current events and video game scripts actually follow a flowchart style format because players can choose various options that consequently lead them on different paths. When considering the layout of the scripts, specific directions are written in between the dialogue to instruct the production team. Examples of these directions include acts in drama scripts, news items for factual media products (written N.I), special effects (SFX), silent, sound off tape and natural sound off tape (SOT and NATSOT). These directions are often abbreviated so into recognisable terms so that scripts are neater and more practical. Other specific conventions of script layouts include 'visual' and 'aural'; which aesthetics we see (including videos, graphics, labels and photography) and the sound effects, voices and music we hear.
Scripts are used by most members of the production team; including the presenters/actors/interviewees, writers, directors, producers, camera operators, special effects crew, game developers and show runners. This is so that everybody understands what content is going to be created; for example, the script is there so that the actors know what they're doing and saying, so that the camera operators know what, who and when they will be filming certain shots and so that the special effects crew know which sounds and effects they will be using and when they will be using them. Another advantage of the script being accessible to everybody on the production team is that any mistakes or issues can be addressed. Alternatively, video games often feature a synopsis as part of their game play. This is in order to summarise the narrative of the game, providing the players with background knowledge and other helpful pieces of information essential to the game play.
Various types of scripts use stage and location directions to instruct the actors to carry out certain actions and for the production team to use specific stage dressings. For example, in 'The Godfather' film script extract, the stage directions inform the actor playing Don Corleone of how he should react to hearing the news that his son has been murdered; "Don Corleone blinks. One feels that just for a second he looses all physical strength; he clasps his hands in front of him on the top of the desk and looks into Hagen's eyes". Similarly, sound effects are important in radio drama scripts as they act as cues, instructing the actors and special effects crews as to which sounds should be played to help maintain the verisimilitude of the media product. This is evident in the radio drama script when the cue "Sound: SFX of the room, there is silence between Catherine and Michael and in the background we can make out a TV in the background which is turned on" is written between the dialogue.
The film and radio scripts will have character descriptions usually at the beginning of the script but also throughout them; this is so the production team know how the writers want the characters look, and to inform the actors of any specific behaviours or mannerisms (in regards to television dramas and film). When considering the description of characters in a radio drama script the purpose of this is to instruct the voice actors how to speak; whether or not to adopt a particular accent or dialect, colloquialisms and idiolect. Descriptions are not usually used in scripts for television news broadcast or interview as these are real life non-fiction events, however the presenters and interviewees will have been briefed by the production team and director prior to recording to ensure that they know whether to adopt a formal or conversational register and that they won't use any vulgarisms or anything inappropriate. Sound effects in scripts are often indicated with the abbreviation 'SFX'. This is a universally recognised term and it makes the script neater and more practical.
Mode of address defines the relationship between the person doing the addressing and the person being addressed. This varies from each script depending on its purpose and level of formality. For example, in regards to the video game script which is designed to entertain, inform and provide guidance in the game, its mode of address is 'parent to child' because of its informal register. Similarly, the television news script and interview script are intended to inform, however their mode of address would be 'teacher to pupil' as they only really have the purpose to provide information and have formal registers. Considering the radio drama and film scripts, the register is informal and the purpose is to entertain the audience and so therefore their modes of address would be 'peer to peer'.
B) NARRATIVE STRUCTURE
There are four common narrative structures in scripts, these are: single-stranded, multi-stranded, linear and non-linear. In relation to the sample scripts I researched, the radio drama script, film script, interview script and news script are all multi-stranded, as they each present narratives/stories/non-fiction events from several different perspectives. On the contrary is the video game script, which is single-stranded as it tells the narrative from the perspective of the one character in the game that the player is controlling. In this case, all of the example scripts are linear, as they follow a chronological narrative structure.
Alternatively, the target demographics for the radio drama and film scripts are adults and older people (from about eighteen plus) of a slightly more female to male gender ratio from B/C1 spending powers. However, just like the target audience for the video games script, these people use radio dramas and films as sources of escapism from work life and the toils of the daily grind. These people are generally passive viewers and enjoy various different types of drama, be it soap operas to horror survival programmes.
Similarly, the target audience for the television news script and the interview script are also adults of an equally split gender ratio. These are people who are active viewers and are interested in keeping up with current affairs and will tune into these media products very regularly. They have the spending powers of A/B as they will be intellectual individuals who have generally made it to the top of their careers.
All of these should be written in 12 pt Courier font, however only two of them use this house style; 'The Godfather' film script extract and the radio drama extract. This is because scripts are supposed to be functional and this is a stylistic convention of scripts. The other three scripts might not have been set out in this conventional way because there is more flexibility with those types of media product. Interviews are often contain spontaneous speech, television news broadcasts often have to change their facts due to the way they are covering current events and video game scripts actually follow a flowchart style format because players can choose various options that consequently lead them on different paths. When considering the layout of the scripts, specific directions are written in between the dialogue to instruct the production team. Examples of these directions include acts in drama scripts, news items for factual media products (written N.I), special effects (SFX), silent, sound off tape and natural sound off tape (SOT and NATSOT). These directions are often abbreviated so into recognisable terms so that scripts are neater and more practical. Other specific conventions of script layouts include 'visual' and 'aural'; which aesthetics we see (including videos, graphics, labels and photography) and the sound effects, voices and music we hear.
Scripts are used by most members of the production team; including the presenters/actors/interviewees, writers, directors, producers, camera operators, special effects crew, game developers and show runners. This is so that everybody understands what content is going to be created; for example, the script is there so that the actors know what they're doing and saying, so that the camera operators know what, who and when they will be filming certain shots and so that the special effects crew know which sounds and effects they will be using and when they will be using them. Another advantage of the script being accessible to everybody on the production team is that any mistakes or issues can be addressed. Alternatively, video games often feature a synopsis as part of their game play. This is in order to summarise the narrative of the game, providing the players with background knowledge and other helpful pieces of information essential to the game play.
Various types of scripts use stage and location directions to instruct the actors to carry out certain actions and for the production team to use specific stage dressings. For example, in 'The Godfather' film script extract, the stage directions inform the actor playing Don Corleone of how he should react to hearing the news that his son has been murdered; "Don Corleone blinks. One feels that just for a second he looses all physical strength; he clasps his hands in front of him on the top of the desk and looks into Hagen's eyes". Similarly, sound effects are important in radio drama scripts as they act as cues, instructing the actors and special effects crews as to which sounds should be played to help maintain the verisimilitude of the media product. This is evident in the radio drama script when the cue "Sound: SFX of the room, there is silence between Catherine and Michael and in the background we can make out a TV in the background which is turned on" is written between the dialogue.
The film and radio scripts will have character descriptions usually at the beginning of the script but also throughout them; this is so the production team know how the writers want the characters look, and to inform the actors of any specific behaviours or mannerisms (in regards to television dramas and film). When considering the description of characters in a radio drama script the purpose of this is to instruct the voice actors how to speak; whether or not to adopt a particular accent or dialect, colloquialisms and idiolect. Descriptions are not usually used in scripts for television news broadcast or interview as these are real life non-fiction events, however the presenters and interviewees will have been briefed by the production team and director prior to recording to ensure that they know whether to adopt a formal or conversational register and that they won't use any vulgarisms or anything inappropriate. Sound effects in scripts are often indicated with the abbreviation 'SFX'. This is a universally recognised term and it makes the script neater and more practical.
Mode of address defines the relationship between the person doing the addressing and the person being addressed. This varies from each script depending on its purpose and level of formality. For example, in regards to the video game script which is designed to entertain, inform and provide guidance in the game, its mode of address is 'parent to child' because of its informal register. Similarly, the television news script and interview script are intended to inform, however their mode of address would be 'teacher to pupil' as they only really have the purpose to provide information and have formal registers. Considering the radio drama and film scripts, the register is informal and the purpose is to entertain the audience and so therefore their modes of address would be 'peer to peer'.
B) NARRATIVE STRUCTURE
There are four common narrative structures in scripts, these are: single-stranded, multi-stranded, linear and non-linear. In relation to the sample scripts I researched, the radio drama script, film script, interview script and news script are all multi-stranded, as they each present narratives/stories/non-fiction events from several different perspectives. On the contrary is the video game script, which is single-stranded as it tells the narrative from the perspective of the one character in the game that the player is controlling. In this case, all of the example scripts are linear, as they follow a chronological narrative structure.
SINGLE-STRANDED
A single stranded script is taken from the perspective of one character. It is taken from first person and is common in film and documentaries. An example of a first person script would be from the 2008 film 'Cloverfield', which is presented in the form of found footage, taken from one of the character's personal video cameras (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxqSIsxMlYQ). Single stranded scripts can also be found in video games, such as Fallout 3; where players create their own character to play from the perspective as in game (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LaTCXkTT1t0).
MULTI-STRANDED
A multi stranded script is taken from several points of view and has a particular running order. This type of narrative strand is common in TV dramas and soaps. An example of a multi stranded script would be from the AMC horror drama 'The Walking Dead', which follows a variety of different characters in different places at the same time (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6hyS1XV96po).
LINEAR
A linear script is when the story is in chronological order; it generally has a beginning, a middle and an end. An example of a linear script would be the TV series '24', where events actually take place in real time (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lxDREJ4vTo). Another example of a linear script would be on BBC news when they present the bulletins or when they interview guests. However, a BBC news script is more likely to have a running order as opposed to a narrative structure because it is a factual piece.
NON LINEAR
A non linear script is when the story jumps about; possibly using flashbacks and flashforwards in a non chronological order. An example of this would be the 1979 film 'Quadrophenia', where the last scene actually occurs at the very beginning of the film (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ds1aqhxKY7M). The effect of a non-linear script on the audience would be excitement because they have to become an active audience in order to work out what is happening on screen. Non-linear scripts are intended to create spectacle.
A single stranded script is taken from the perspective of one character. It is taken from first person and is common in film and documentaries. An example of a first person script would be from the 2008 film 'Cloverfield', which is presented in the form of found footage, taken from one of the character's personal video cameras (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxqSIsxMlYQ). Single stranded scripts can also be found in video games, such as Fallout 3; where players create their own character to play from the perspective as in game (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LaTCXkTT1t0).
MULTI-STRANDED
A multi stranded script is taken from several points of view and has a particular running order. This type of narrative strand is common in TV dramas and soaps. An example of a multi stranded script would be from the AMC horror drama 'The Walking Dead', which follows a variety of different characters in different places at the same time (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6hyS1XV96po).
LINEAR
A linear script is when the story is in chronological order; it generally has a beginning, a middle and an end. An example of a linear script would be the TV series '24', where events actually take place in real time (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lxDREJ4vTo). Another example of a linear script would be on BBC news when they present the bulletins or when they interview guests. However, a BBC news script is more likely to have a running order as opposed to a narrative structure because it is a factual piece.
NON LINEAR
A non linear script is when the story jumps about; possibly using flashbacks and flashforwards in a non chronological order. An example of this would be the 1979 film 'Quadrophenia', where the last scene actually occurs at the very beginning of the film (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ds1aqhxKY7M). The effect of a non-linear script on the audience would be excitement because they have to become an active audience in order to work out what is happening on screen. Non-linear scripts are intended to create spectacle.
C) GENRE
As I previously touched upon, radio drama script, film script and video game script are all informal as they exist in order to entertain the audience. In contrast, both the television news script and the interview script are formal as their purpose is to inform and because they are real life, factual non-fiction media products.
D) TARGET AUDIENCE
Target audience is something important to consider when writing a script. Regarding the example scripts I have researched, they all have differing target demographics. For the video game script, the target audience is primarily teenagers (ages twelve to approximately twenty), slightly more male to female ratio (as stereotyping suggests that males play video games more often than females however this has been contradicted according to recent surveys) who purchase games using spending money from their parents who are from B/C1/C2 backgrounds. As part of their lifestyle they often play video games as a source of escapism from school/college. The PEGI (Pan European Game Information) ratings of the different gaming scripts also help dictate the age range of the target audiences. Similarly, the BBFC (British Board of Film Classification) provides ages ratings for films and television programmes. These regulators act as a guideline to the platforms that broadcast the content, e.g. Television channels, cinemas and radio stations. For example, the age rating of The Godfather from the example script is rated as a fifteen age certificate, indicating that it is unsuitable for viewers under the age of fifteen. Alternatively, the target demographics for the radio drama and film scripts are adults and older people (from about eighteen plus) of a slightly more female to male gender ratio from B/C1 spending powers. However, just like the target audience for the video games script, these people use radio dramas and films as sources of escapism from work life and the toils of the daily grind. These people are generally passive viewers and enjoy various different types of drama, be it soap operas to horror survival programmes.
Similarly, the target audience for the television news script and the interview script are also adults of an equally split gender ratio. These are people who are active viewers and are interested in keeping up with current affairs and will tune into these media products very regularly. They have the spending powers of A/B as they will be intellectual individuals who have generally made it to the top of their careers.
Wednesday, 4 March 2015
LO1: Task 2: Five Example Scripts
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| RADIO DRAMA EXAMPLE SCRIPT Lincoln University (22/1/??) 'Rose: A Brand New Radio Drama' available at http://rose.blogs.lincoln.ac.uk/2012/01/22/creating-the-script/ [accessed 4/3/15] |
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| 'THE GODFATHER' FILM EXAMPLE SCRIPT Film School Online (1972) 'The Godfather' available at http://filmschoolonline.com/sample_lessons/sample_script_page.htm [accessed 4/3/15] |
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| GAME EXAMPLE SCRIPT Jott It (22/2/??) 'Script Writing Example' available at http://rgrvwcr.jottit.com/script_writing_example [accessed 4/3/15] |
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| TV INTERVIEW EXAMPLE SCRIPT Slide Share (23/4/13) 'Script for TV Interview' available at http://www.slideshare.net/ramsz001/script-for-tv-interview [accessed 4/3/15] |
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| TV NEWS EXAMPLE SCRIPT Jatisalness (??/??/??) 'Television News Package Script' available at http://jatisalness.blog.com/2014/01/10/television-news-package-script/ [accessed 4/3/15] |
Monday, 2 March 2015
LO1: Task 1: Assignment Brief Scenario
For this unit, "Scriptwriting for Media Products", we have been tasked with creating a five minute TV news broadcast script for the news section on the Sheffield Live TV programme 'The Games Corner' (week commencing Monday 9th March for broadcast later on in the same week). As part of our group, Alex and Will shall research topical gaming news items during the week we have been assigned, I will write up this research and Danielle will amend the format of our script. We will submit our completed script to Sheffield Live TV and we shall gain client feedback in order to make amendments to our script so that it is ready for broadcast. Jasmine Sahu is the production assistant for 'The Games Corner' and Vicky Kilby is one of the presenters. We will be gaining feedback from these two industry professionals in order to improve our script.
Sheffield Live! originally existed as community radio station that served the purpose of benefitting the local people of Sheffield. On the 23rd September 2014, the community station launched its own television channel.
Sheffield Live! originally existed as community radio station that served the purpose of benefitting the local people of Sheffield. On the 23rd September 2014, the community station launched its own television channel.
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