Task 2 Units 4, 5, 24, 31

Commissioning Editors There are a variety of commissioning editors in most corporations, from drama, factual, arts, sports and news and they all have a team that works with them. A Commissioning Editor of drama is in charge of buying scripts from new authors, proposals or manuscripts, book publishers, or articles and ideas for a magazine publisher. In essence, the role is about buying into concepts and people that could grow your portfolio and your company. Commissioning Editors will quite often research into developing in trends in the market, and seek to commission works relating to what the audience is most likely to respond to. A Commissioning Editor is also likely to help develop the ideas further and assist the writers in meeting their deadlines. In some businesses, the role is split amongst a team of editors. One example of a well known commissioning editor is Sarah Asante who works BBC 1,2,3 and 4 for Comedy.

Producers In a media context, a producer is the person who is responsible for the financial and managerial aspects of making a film, a broadcast, show, opera or any other staging production. They play an integral role in the television and film industries. The role of a producer, is to oversee each project from its conception to its completion and beyond. This means that they are involved in all aspects of its production. During pre production they have the important roles of approving locations, studio hire, the final shooting script, production schedule and the project's budget. The day-to-day smooth operation of the team is also down to the producer. One of the ways that they can ensure that all days run smoothly, efficiently and effectively is by having constant communication and consultations with the Director and other key staff, on and off set. During post production they may also be involved in the distribution process and the marketing of the project. As implied, producers usually tend to work closely with directors of a production as well as other production staff on a shoot. They are also responsible for a have overall control on every aspect of a film's production.

Producers A producers role is also to oversee the work of the producer on behalf of the studio, the financiers or the distributors. They will ensure the film is completed on time, within budget, and to agree artistic and technical standards. They may raise a significant proportion of a film's finance, or secure the underlying rights to the project. In major productions, they may be a representative or CEO of the film studio. In smaller companies or independent projects they may be the creator or writer. Typically, Executive Producers are not involved in the technical aspects of the filmmaking process. Executive Producers must be excellent negotiators. They need a keen business sense, and an intimate knowledge of all aspects of film production, financing, marketing and distribution.

Scriptwriters Screenwriters create screenplays for films. They provide the blueprint for the creative input of the Producer, Director, Production Designer, Composer and Editor, cast and crew. Screenplays should allow whoever is reading it to imagine how the film will work on screen. It should feature fascinating characters, an exciting plot, and a great idea for a marketable film. It should also fit in with basic principles of dramatic construction, and fit the format and style expected in the industry. Screenwriters have to produce highly creative writing, to strict deadlines. They work with a script development team to create a finished product that is likely to be financed and made. Sometimes producers bring in an additional Screenwriter to improve certain aspects of the screenplay. In this case, the Screenwriter may share a credit with the original Screenwriter. Or they may be credited for Additional Dialogue, or as a Story Consultant.

Scriptwriters Scriptwriters are involved in the creation and development of works of fiction and non-fiction. This covers various forms of writing including: poetry; short stories; novels; life writing; scripts for theatre; screen and radio; non-fiction; magazine and newspaper articles and web-content. New media is also opening doors for writers in areas such as mobile phone content and computer game scripts. Most writers work freelance and are self-employed. As income from writing may be low and erratic, most writers supplement their income with other related activities such as author visits, workshops, events and readings. Some writers may find avenues to diversify their writing and write in different forms, such as published novelists also writing reviews and literary criticism. In addition many writers manage their writing work alongside full or part time jobs which may be related to their writing or entirely unrelated.

Agents Agents represent performers and creative team members who work across the disciplines of film, television, radio and theatre. Their clients may include Actors, Singers, Dancers, Walk Ons or Supporting Artists, Stand Up Comedians, Variety Artists, Presenters, Choreographers, Designers and Directors. Agents find work for their clients, cultivating relationships with industry decision- makers in order to persuade them to take their clients on. Much of their time is spent establishing and maintaining relationships, using contacts to source work. They must keep up to date with what's happening in the entertainment industry and find out what productions are in development, and which have been given a green light. Agents also look for new artists to complement their existing roster. They co-ordinate artists’ contracts and secure appropriate deals for them. They keep up to date with industry rates and industrial agreements, and act as a buffer during contractual negotiations. They also support and guide their artists' careers.

Agents Agents also represent authors of book-length fiction and nonfiction in their dealings with publishers. The agent's job is to find a publisher and get the best deal possible for the author. Agents have to be familiar with both the publishing industry and the laws governing book contracts so they can safeguard the interests of their clients.

Corporations A corporation is large company or group of companies authorized to act as a single entity and recognized as such in law; and typically owns other subsidiaries, which means they have a lot more money than independent companies due to the fact that they make their income from box office revenue of a film and sales of a film. This means that a corporation cannot afford to create a bad production, because if it then fails to make a profit at the box office, the corporation will have lost lots of money. Some examples of major film corporations are Warner Brothers and Disney. A commissioning corporation for TV is Channel 4, they take on and create a wide variety of new programmes.

Independents Films that are produced outside major film corporations and typically created by an Independent Production company who create low budget films. Larger production companies are usually not interested in lower budget productions as they may not hold as much potential profit at the box office. Independent companies are usually a good opportunity for beginner directors who are just starting off as it allows them to build a reputation by creating potential hit movie; they would also be doing this with low amounts of resources. Some examples of independent production companies are Hartswood Films, Warp Films and Vertigo Films

The role of the writer Screenwriters work with directors and producers to write scripts for films or TV shows. Some may begin their careers as copywriters or writers for production companies. Screenwriters need to be able to work in a team and under pressure. A degree is not necessary, but many screenwriters perfect their skills through bachelor's degree programs or by enrolling in screenwriting certificate programs. Screenwriters develop scripts derived from their own ideas or other existing ideas or work. When writing scripts, screenwriters are responsible for describing the stories in detail, including physical environments and the moods of the characters. Films and televisions shows require the use of these scripts. Prior to production of a film or show, screenwriters might produce a synopsis and several scenes of a story. A shooting script is then prepared. The shooting script entails camera, lighting and shot instructions.

The role of the writer During the preproduction process, screenwriters must take into account the ideas of directors and producers they are working with. They should possess the ability to work and collaborate with others. Screenwriters may be asked to rewrite or make various versions of the scripts they are working on.

Copyright The Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, is the current UK copyright law. It gives the creators of literary, dramatic, musical and artistic works the right to control the ways in which their material may be used. The rights cover: Broadcast and public performance, copying, adapting, issuing, renting and lending copies to the public. In most cases, the creator will also have the right to be identified as the author and to object to distortions of his work. The Copyright, Designs and Patents act is used to ensure that people's intellectual property is protected.

Censorship Censorship is the suppression of speech, public communication or other information which may be considered objectionable, harmful, sensitive, politically incorrect or inconvenient as determined by governments, media outlets, authorities or other such entities. Censorship also protects people from offensive content, it does this by highlighting what the film/TV program contains, often on the back of the cover or in the tv guide if it is on television. It highlights content such as violence, nudity and swearing

Watershed The watershed means the time when TV programs which might be unsuitable for children can be broadcast. The watershed begins at 9pm and material unsuitable for children should not be shown before 9pm or after 5.30am. Some of the unsuitable material that cannot be shown is everything from sexual content to violence, graphic or distressing imagery and swearing. Although the watershed allows unsuitable material for children there is a limit to what can be shown. The transition to more adult material must not be abrupt and the strongest material should appear later in the evening. But Ofcom’s rules protect viewers from offensive and harmful content. If broadcasters break the rules then given broadcasters can be given a fine and the content aired will be removed. Since 2003 Ofcom has taken action on more than 300 occasions when broadcasters have scheduled unsuitable content before or immediately after the watershed. In most of these cases it has been inappropriate music videos.

Libel The defamation act (2013) exists to protect an individual's reputation from being damaged. Libel is a written or published defamatory statement. If a person's reputation is damaged as a result of another person's statements, they can then proceed to sue them for defamation. You can defame someone in many different ways, for example by publishing material in various forms, such as through newspapers or other printed media, broadcasting on radio and the internet e.g. blogs, or by email. People can sue so long as the material can be reasonably understood to be referring to them. Knowing this a screenwriter must make sure that when they write a script they do not damage someone's reputation as the screenwriter may be sued for damaging that person's reputation.