P3 Planning a Script

My series is a crime drama called Inside, the extract I will create a script for is from episode 3. It is aimed at 16-18 year olds, primarily based in the UK due to being on BBC3. I intend to write a shooting script which would be used by the production team during filming. The extract will be used as a promotional video for the series so it will be exciting and gripping in order to make the audience want to find out more. The script will be written from the protagonist's point of view with the use of voiceovers by him to subtly explain details of what's on screen. For this script, I have chosen to use an extract from the third episode of the series where the protagonist (Seth) stays up all night planning something, which the audience is unaware of, he then goes to school having not slept and is teased by his classmates which then leads onto him having a panic attack. In the extract we meet the protagonist and learn some information through his voiceovers and actions. We also meet some people from his school and we learn that he is quite isolated from everyone else. I will use present tense within the action blocks and the dialogue will be written exactly how the character will say it so that during filming the actors can do and say exactly as it appears in the script. This will include any informal/colloquial language which the characters would use. I will use the industry standard format and conventional layout of screenplays, including the typical 12pt courier font. This will mean that roughly one page will equate to one minute of screen time. 

P2 Developed Ideas

I have chosen 2 of the 6 extracts and developed them through mind maps in order to decide which I will go forward with. This helped me to further develop exactly what will happen in each extract and any specific details to include.

Idea 1: (Episode 1)

The first extract I have chosen is the opening scene of my series, this will allow the audience to be introduced to the protagonist and find out the key storyline (the police asking for his help).

Idea 2: (Episode 3)

The second extract I have chosen is from episode 3, in this part of the series the audience finds out about the protagonists struggle with mental health which is a key theme throughout the show. In addition it will include hints towards what he is planning without completely revealing it. 

P2 Ideas generation

I have been asked to create a script for an extract of my TV show to be used as promotion. It must be 10-15 minutes long and therefore feature around 5 scenes. Its purpose will be to promote the show and make people want to watch it. It must suit the target audience of BBC3, 15-21 year olds. I will create a shooting script that could be used for the actual production of the scene. As it intends to create interest surrounding the show, I will choose an exciting scene and include a cliffhanger at the end so that the audience will want to watch the show to find out what happens.

I have created an initial mind map to generate ideas for an extract from my TV drama to write the script for. I have chosen earlier episodes from the series and key events that will be exciting as an individual extract. Each idea includes various key characters and they all focus mainly on the protagonist.

D1 Discuss Client Considerations

In order to begin production of my TV series I would need to adjust my overall storyline to clean up certain things that I was given feedback on. For example I would have to consider what the cliff-hanger would be and ensure everything is explained through flashbacks and the voiceover. I need to finalise decisions to make sure the storyline makes sense and flows well throughout the first series.

M3 Understanding Feedback

Final pitch:

Feedback:

1. Is the end of the first series too much of a cliffhanger?

When the main characters mum leaves it’s final so that part concludes at the end of the first series. I wanted the last episode to not conclude whether or not he does the crime so that the audience want to watch the next series but I think I could come up with something else to leave as a cliffhanger that comes as a twist right at the end. 

2. Does the main character need to commit an actual crime during the series? Is there any cost of loyalty to the police?

He becomes close with the main police officer, he’s also proving the other police officers wrong because they said he couldn’t do it at first. At the start of the series he may commit some minor crimes to survive such as stealing food and I could use flashbacks to things he’s done in the past to show that he used to do it but now his loyalties are leaning towards the police. He almost gets distracted by his helping the police so he has less time to go out and commit crimes and he subconsciously doesn’t do it because he’s releasing there’s other ways around it. Before he found the crimes satisfied his need for intellectual challenge but now solving crimes does that for him so he's less inclined to do it. 

3. Is it a crime procedural? Does the audience find out as the police find out?

Each episode follows a crime being solved. Throughout the episode the audience finds out some parts but the conclusion isn’t given until the end, the audience can try solve it themselves before it’s revealed. The audience might know some details that the characters don't know but they won't explicitly know what happened until it is revealed. 

4. Is the crime the vehicle to make certain things happen?

The crimes will effect certain things in each episode. For example some of the crimes will be linked to the main character or some element of them will cause a realisation for someone. 

5. Is the use of voiceover a stylistic choice? Are we going to hear the inner thoughts of your protagonist?

At the start of the series he explains some parts of his life. Throughout the series he will narrate what’s going on so it gives the audience more of an insight into the storyline. 

6. Is it only the protagonist that does the voiceover? 

Only the protagonist speaks in the voiceover. He essentially narrates everything that happens even if he isn't in the scene, it's as though he's looking back on his life. 

7. Is the audience seeing all the action through his eyes? Do we only get to know what he knows?

It would mostly be things he sees but there would be certain things such as the wife cheating on the police officer which he doesn't know about until after the audience does. The narrator knows everything because it's the main character in the future looking back at his life but he doesn't know in the actual storyline. 

8. Who is he living with before his mum comes back? 

He lives on his own. One of the main reasons he commits crimes is to survive because he can't afford to live on his own, he lives in a caravan which his dad bought before he died and he finds ways around expenses like bills. 

9. Does he need to be adopted?

No, the police officer asks him to move in with him. He explains to him about why he's moving out and says he'll be able to give him a safer life until he can afford to move away. 

10. Does he have no father figure? Does the police officer provide a figure he never had?

His dad died when he was young which plays a role in why the mum decides to leave, he doesn't remember his dad because he was so young. The police officer is the most understanding of his situation because he grew up without a mum, he looks after the protagonist when the others are judgemental towards him. 

11. What's his central motivation?

He commits crimes to survive. Initially he started doing it to get food as he couldn't afford it but then it developed into a sort of obsession, he is a very intelligent person and planning his big crime satisfies his need for further challenge. 

P2 Supporting Documents

Narrative arc:

Character arc:

Mood Board:

P3 Final Pitch PowerPoint

I have created a more visually appealing PowerPoint to present in my final pitch.