Writing a screen play or script is only one stage in a film’s production. The best script can be produced but if not sold properly to production companies it can remain simply as a great script. Both BBC and Channel 4 offer opportunities for these scripts to be turned into motion pictures.
The BBC Script Room is a way of submitting unsolicited original scripts for production. This is the new system to come into effect from May 2012 replacing the BBC Writersroom. It is not a free script reading service, but instead a means for the BBC to discover new writing talent and offering those without a track record, representation or contacts in the industry to have their work considered for production by the BBC. Rather than a ‘anytime’ submission system it is ran using windows of opportunity for scripts to be submitted which are announced on the BBC Writersroom Opportunities page throughout the year. Each call has a deadline and all submissions are intensively assessed by the script readers and the BBC Writersroom team, drawing up a shortlist. They then offer development opportunities for those shortlisted. With thousands of scripts entered every year the competition is extremely tough, meaning only those with a strong script, originality and potential shown in their writing and given the attention required from thr BBC.
Film4 by Channel 4 works on a different system. Instead they only look at scripts submitted through a registered production company with a history of films that have been produced and officially distributed either theatrically or at festivals. The other option is to submit via an agent. Due to the sheer volume of material submitted, Film4 will only consider scripts submitted via either of these methods. This allows them to encourage new filmmaking talent through their proactive development process and traditional strong links with independent producers and literary agents. However traditionally they do not develop ideas aimed at the family audience.
Another option is to have a novel or theatre production adapted into a film. Many large produced films today are found in literacy and theatre productions. Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, The Hunger Games and Twilight are all examples of popular novels being turned into a feature film. This tends to also have an effect of causing the novelization of the book to increase in popularity after the film is produced and released. The musical show Chicago is an example of a highly successful stage show turned into a motion picture. Through the adaption of the musical stage show to a musical film it brought attention back to audiences of the joys of musical that caused a revival in the genre, resulting in the production of the Highschool Musical trilogy, a remake of Hairspray and for the stage show Les Miserable to also be produced.
Bibliography.
BBC. (2015) Send a Script. [Online] Available from: http://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/send-a-script/ [Accessed: 16/05/15]
Channel 4. (2015) Film4 FAQs. [Online] Available from: http://www.channel4.com/info/commissioning/4producers/film4-faqs [Accessed: 16/05/15]
Film4. (2015) How to Submit Projects. [Online] Available from: http://www.film4.com/film4-productions/how-to-submit-a-project [Accessed: 16/05/15]
IMDB. (2015) Most Popular “Based on Novel” Feature Films Releaseed in 2014. [Online] Available from: http://www.imdb.com/search/title?at=0&keywords=based-on-novel&sort=moviemeter&title_type=feature&year=2014,2014 [Accessed: 16/05/15]
Open 4. (2015) Production Training Scheme Application. [Online] Available from: http://open4.channel4.com/ [Accessed: 16/05/15]
The BBC Script Room is a way of submitting unsolicited original scripts for production. This is the new system to come into effect from May 2012 replacing the BBC Writersroom. It is not a free script reading service, but instead a means for the BBC to discover new writing talent and offering those without a track record, representation or contacts in the industry to have their work considered for production by the BBC. Rather than a ‘anytime’ submission system it is ran using windows of opportunity for scripts to be submitted which are announced on the BBC Writersroom Opportunities page throughout the year. Each call has a deadline and all submissions are intensively assessed by the script readers and the BBC Writersroom team, drawing up a shortlist. They then offer development opportunities for those shortlisted. With thousands of scripts entered every year the competition is extremely tough, meaning only those with a strong script, originality and potential shown in their writing and given the attention required from thr BBC.
Film4 by Channel 4 works on a different system. Instead they only look at scripts submitted through a registered production company with a history of films that have been produced and officially distributed either theatrically or at festivals. The other option is to submit via an agent. Due to the sheer volume of material submitted, Film4 will only consider scripts submitted via either of these methods. This allows them to encourage new filmmaking talent through their proactive development process and traditional strong links with independent producers and literary agents. However traditionally they do not develop ideas aimed at the family audience.
Another option is to have a novel or theatre production adapted into a film. Many large produced films today are found in literacy and theatre productions. Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, The Hunger Games and Twilight are all examples of popular novels being turned into a feature film. This tends to also have an effect of causing the novelization of the book to increase in popularity after the film is produced and released. The musical show Chicago is an example of a highly successful stage show turned into a motion picture. Through the adaption of the musical stage show to a musical film it brought attention back to audiences of the joys of musical that caused a revival in the genre, resulting in the production of the Highschool Musical trilogy, a remake of Hairspray and for the stage show Les Miserable to also be produced.
Bibliography.
BBC. (2015) Send a Script. [Online] Available from: http://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/send-a-script/ [Accessed: 16/05/15]
Channel 4. (2015) Film4 FAQs. [Online] Available from: http://www.channel4.com/info/commissioning/4producers/film4-faqs [Accessed: 16/05/15]
Film4. (2015) How to Submit Projects. [Online] Available from: http://www.film4.com/film4-productions/how-to-submit-a-project [Accessed: 16/05/15]
IMDB. (2015) Most Popular “Based on Novel” Feature Films Releaseed in 2014. [Online] Available from: http://www.imdb.com/search/title?at=0&keywords=based-on-novel&sort=moviemeter&title_type=feature&year=2014,2014 [Accessed: 16/05/15]
Open 4. (2015) Production Training Scheme Application. [Online] Available from: http://open4.channel4.com/ [Accessed: 16/05/15]