Assignment Brief

Course Title/Level:

BTEC National in Media (Creative Media Production)

Unit No: 3 Unit Title:

Research techniques for the Creative Media Industries

Unit No: 24 Unit Title:

Writing for Television & Video

Assignment Title:

Scripting & Research

IV of assignment brief by SSM Date:

Student Name: Assignment Tutor:

Date Issued: Deadline Date:

Assessment Decision

Criteria Covered

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Full

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For each assignment you must: 1. Check you have completed as much of the assignment as you are

able, taking note of the grading checklist with reference to the evidence required.

2. Complete any additional requested documentation.3. Ensure your name is on your work.

Grading ChecklistAll pass criteria must be met to be awarded a Pass gradeAll pass and all merit criteria must be met to be awarded a Merit gradeAll pass, all merit and all distinction criteria must be met to be awarded a Distinction grade

P24.3 M24.3 D24.3P24.4 M24.4 D24.4P24.5 M24.5 D24.5

Assignment Scenario

You are a new, small but ambitious independent screenwriter. You have been commissioned to write a pilot episode for a six part horror / Thriller / Sci-Fi series called “The Vault”, independently.

The series will be rather like “Outer Limits” and the “Twilight Zone”. Your aim is to write the pilot episode (30 minutes (roughly 1 page per minute)) and make it as exciting and as interesting as possible in order to attract funding for the complete series.

Most successful scripts are grounded in well researched themes, characters and contemporary topical issues; therefore thorough research is required in the preparation for the script writing process.

No filming is required for this project – it is purely a pre-production based project honing your script writing and research techniques.

Documentation needed for this assignment includes:

* Project Development Diary (for the duration of the project)

* Primary Research (with qualitative and quantative data analysis)

* Secondary Research (No Wikipedia – full annotations)

* Market Research

* Digital Sketchbook Research

* Research Evaluation

* Completed Scriptwriting Workbook

* Completed Script Commissioning Letter (750 words)

* Project Proposal

* PowerPoint Script Pitch

* Script

* Written Evaluation (500 words)

(This list is just a very basic overview of what needs to be submitted. See Scripting & Research Project Task Submission List on Moodle for a more detailed breakdown of what is required during submission. This list will also include which elements should be

completed individually and / or as part of a group.)

Unit Content Covered: 3.1(PMD), 3.2(PMD), 3.3(PMD)24.1(PMD), 24.2 (PMD), 24.3(PMD), 24.4 (PMD), 24.5 (PMD)

Scenario:

TaskNo. Task Description Unit

NumberCriteria Covered

Date Achieved

1

Task Scenario:As a media producer you will need to record your progress your productivity at the end of each of your sessions, in the form of a Project Development Diary. This will showcase your thoughts and progress throughout this assignment.

Evidence:Your Project Development Diary should reflect what you have accomplished in each of your work sessions, as well as your own thoughts and comments regarding your progress. Entries do not have to be long but must be reflective. You will need to conduct a Development Project Diary for most of your projects. See Development Project Diary help sheet for further details.

Assessment: To achieve a Pass grade your Project Development Diary must show evidence of the collection and preparation of suitable materials for scriptwriting. To achieve a Merit grade your Project Development Diary must show evidence of the competent collection and preparation of suitable materials for scriptwriting. To achieve a Distinction grade your Project Development Diary must show evidence of the near professional collection and preparation of suitable materials for scriptwriting.

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2

Task Scenario:As a scriptwriter you will need to undertake original Primary Research in the development of your screenplay. You must gauge your peer’s opinions and the opinions of others through surveys and questionnaires.

Evidence:Your Primary Research should be collated and presented through qualitative and quantative methods using graphical and psychoanalytical methods. See Primary Research help sheet for further details.

Assessment: To achieve a Pass grade your Primary Research should reflect appropriate use of subject terminology and conventions. To achieve a Merit grade your Primary Research should reflect appropriate use of subject terminology and conventions, using illustrative examples and imagination. To achieve a Merit grade your Primary Research should reflect appropriate use of subject terminology and conventions, using

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elucidated examples and near professional standards.

3

Task Scenario:As a scriptwriter you will need to undertake pre existing Secondary Research in the development of your screenplay. You must study and analyze internet and book based materials to discover information that will aid the development of your screenplay.

Evidence:Your Secondary Research should be highly organized and fully annotated with reference to specific points that were useful in the development of generic / narrative concepts relatable to your screenplay. Plagiarism will not be tolerated – all references should be fully sourced via a bibliography. Wikipedia is not a reliable source – do not use! See Secondary Research help sheet for further details.

Assessment: To achieve a Pass grade your Secondary Research should reflect appropriate use of subject terminology and conventions. To achieve a Merit grade your Secondary Research should reflect appropriate use of subject terminology and conventions, using illustrative examples and imagination. To achieve a Merit grade your Secondary Research should reflect appropriate use of subject terminology and conventions, using elucidated examples and near professional standards.

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4

Task Scenario:As a scriptwriter you will need to undertake Market Research in order to fully understand (and tailor your script to) your potential target audience.

Evidence:Your Market Research should consist of a series of questionnaires and surveys designed to identify potential viewers of your new show. These facts can help mould your screenplay to be more successful. See Market Research help sheet for further details.

Assessment: To achieve a Pass grade your Market Research should reflect appropriate use of subject terminology and conventions. To achieve a Merit grade your Market Research should reflect appropriate use of subject terminology and conventions, using illustrative examples and imagination. To achieve a Merit grade your Market Research should reflect appropriate use of subject terminology and conventions, using elucidated examples and near professional standards.

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5Task Scenario:As a scriptwriter you will need to utilize a Digital Sketchbook in order to fully realize concepts, characters, locations, props and ideas that will help to develop your final screenplay.

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Evidence:Your Digital Sketchbook should consist of a series of images (hand-drawn, photographs, Photo Shopped images) defining set design, actors, costumes, characters, locations, props, style, etc., with pertinent notes added to explain their relevance to the final script. If original image sare hard copies then they must be scanned into the system (using one of the many scanners) to be implemented into your digital sketchbook. See Digital Sketchbook help sheet for further details.

Assessment: To achieve a Pass grade your Digital Sketchbook should reflect appropriate use of subject terminology and conventions. To achieve a Merit grade your Digital Sketchbook should reflect appropriate use of subject terminology and conventions, using illustrative examples and imagination. To achieve a Merit grade your Digital Sketchbook should reflect appropriate use of subject terminology and conventions, using elucidated examples and near professional standards.

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6

Task Scenario:Your next task is to write a written Research Evaluation summarizing the information and research you have gathered within your Primary, Secondary, Market, and Digital Sketchbook Research to prepare for the scriptwriting process. This should detail how useful and relevant the research was in your preparation and development for the writing of the screenplay itself.

Evidence:Your Research Evaluation should examine both the findings and usefulness of your primary, secondary, market and digital sketchbook research sections of this project. See Research Evaluation help sheet for further details.

Assessment: To achieve a Pass grade your Research Evaluation must convey relevant information using appropriate use of subject terminology. To achieve a Merit grade your Research Evaluation must convey relevant information using generally correct use of subject terminology. To achieve a Distinction grade your Research Evaluation must convey relevant information using consistent use of subject terminology.

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7Task Scenario:You are to complete the Scriptwriting Workbook to improve your understanding of the development and plotting an original screenplay. It is through this understanding that you will better appreciate the features associated with the processes of writing a script.

Evidence:

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Your Scriptwriting Workbook should consist of a series of questions and activities that you are required to fully complete to show understanding of the development and plotting an original screenplay.

Assessment: To achieve a Pass grade your Scriptwriting Workbook must show evidence of appropriate use of subject terminology. To achieve a Merit grade your Music Video Workbook must show evidence of appropriate use of subject terminology using detailed illustrative examples.

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Task Scenario:Your next task is to write a 750 word Letter about the commissioning process of a script and the writer’s role within the commissioning process.

Evidence:Your 500 word Script Commissioning Letter should reflect your understanding of the process that a screenwriter needs to go through in order to get their screenplay fully commissioned. See Script Commissioning Letter Help sheet for further details.

Assessment: To achieve a Pass grade your essay should show appropriate understanding of conventions. To achieve a Merit grade your essay should show evidence of imaginative thinking. To achieve a Distinction grade your essay should show evidence of near professional standards showing creativity and flair.

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9

Task Scenario:Complete your Project Proposal which should outline the technical qualities, purpose and target audience of your finished episode of the Vault.

Evidence:Your Project Proposal should include a target audience profile, the technical style, appropriateness of the screenplay to the genre, and overall purpose of your finished pilot episode. See Project Proposal help sheet for further details.

Assessment: To achieve a Pass grade your Project Proposal must show evidence that your concept is working within appropriate conventions. To achieve a Merit grade your Project Proposal must show evidence that your concept is working within appropriate conventions, showing some imagination. To achieve a Distinction grade your Project Proposal must show evidence that your concept is working within appropriate conventions, working towards professional expectations.

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10Task Scenario:Complete your PowerPoint Script Pitch in order to

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sell your concept and script.

Evidence:Your PowerPoint Script Pitch should contain pictures, text and aspects of market research, genre, style, actors / characters, setting, etc.. Each PowerPoint will be presented to the rest of the class. See PowerPoint Script Pitch help sheet for further details.

Assessment: To achieve a Pass grade your PowerPoint Script Pitch must pitch a prepared proposal. To achieve a Merit grade your PowerPoint Script Pitch must pitch a prepared proposal effectively. To achieve a Distinction grade your PowerPoint Script Pitch must pitch a prepared proposal, to a near professional standard.

on Moodle

11

Task Scenario:Write your full Script for the pilot episode of the new show – The Vault. You may need to complete more than one version or ‘draft’ in order to perfect key elements of your script. Your fully finished screen play should be approximately 30 pages (30 minutes).

Evidence:Your Finished Script should show a thorough understanding of techniques and associated conventions of the scriptwriting process. The content and style of the script should reflect the genre of the show itself, as well as containing appropriate narrative structures. See Script template in Moodle for further details.

Assessment: To achieve a Pass grade your Script needs to use appropriate conventions. To achieve a Merit grade your Script needs to show some imagination. To achieve a Distinction grade your Script needs to work towards near professional standards.

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12Task Scenario:When you have completed your script, now is the time to be reflective of the technical and aesthetic decisions you have made in the writing and research of your screenplay. You must write a 500 word Written Evaluation, in order to fully express your decision making processes.

Evidence:Your Written Evaluation should reflect the technical competency that you feel you have applied to your project. See Evaluation Help sheet for further details.

Assessment: To achieve a Pass grade your Evaluation should reflect your collection, preparation and use of background materials within the scriptwriting process. To achieve a Merit grade your Evaluation should reflect your good

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collection, preparation and use of background materials within the scriptwriting process. To achieve a Distinction grade your Evaluation should reflect your excellent collection, preparation and use of background materials within the scriptwriting process.

Grading SheetBTEC First National in Media (Creative Media Production)Unit: 3 Title: Research Techniques for the Creative Media Industries

PLTS

To achieve a pass grade the evidence must show that the

learner is able to: PLTS

To achieve a merit grade the evidence must show that, in addition to the pass criteria,

the learner is able to: PLTS

To achieve a distinction grade the evidence must show that,

in addition to the pass and merit criteria, the learner is

able to:

P1Describe the nature and purposes of

research in the creative media industries with some appropriate use

of subject terminology.M1

Explain the nature and purposes of research in the creative media

industries with detailed illustrative examples and with generally correct

use of subject terminology.

D1

Comprehensively explain the nature and purposes of research in the creative media industries with

elucidated examples and consistently using subject

terminology correctly.

P2 Apply research methods and techniques with some assistance. M2

Apply research methods and techniques competently with only

occasional assistance.D2

Apply research methods and techniques to near professional

standards working independently to professional expectations.

P3 Present results of research. M3 Present results of research competently.

D3

Present results of research to near-professional standards.

The above criteria are covered in this assignment

Grading SheetBTEC First National in Media (Creative Media Production)Unit: 24 Title: Writing for Television & Radio

PLTS

To achieve a pass grade the evidence must show that the

learner is able to: PLTS

To achieve a merit grade the evidence must show that, in addition to the pass criteria,

the learner is able to: PLTS

To achieve a distinction grade the evidence must show that,

in addition to the pass and merit criteria, the learner is

able to:

P1 Describe the writer’s role in the commissioning process using some subject terminology appropriately.

M1

Explain the writer’s role in the commissioning process with reference to detailed illustrative examples and with generally correct use of subject

terminology.

D1

Comprehensively explain the writer’s role in the commissioning process with elucidated examples and consistently using subject terminology correctly.

P2 Collect and prepare suitable background materials for a scriptwriting project with

some assistance.M2

Collect and prepare good background material for a scriptwriting project

competently and with only occasional assistance.

D2

Collect and prepare excellent background material for a scriptwriting project to near-professional standards working independently to professional

expectations.

P3 Produce script proposals for specific purposes working within appropriate

conventions and with some assistance.M3

Produce script proposals for specific purposes showing some imagination and

with only occasional assistance.D3

Produce script proposals for specific purposes showing creativity and flair and

working independently to professional expectations.

P4 Pitch a prepared proposal. M4 Pitch a prepared proposal effectively. D4

Pitch a prepared proposal to a near-professional standard.

P5Produce a script for a specific purpose

working within appropriate conventions and with some assistance.

M5Produce a script for a specific purpose

competently showing some imagination and with only occasional assistance.

D5

Produce a script for a specific purpose to near-professional standards and working

independently to professional expectations.

The above criteria are covered in this assignment

Authentication StatementThis form must be signed by both the candidate and the centre-assessor, and attached to the candidate’s coursework submission. Any candidate unable to provide a signed authentication statement may receive zero credit for the unit.

Notice to Candidates The work you submit for assessment must be your own. You may be disqualified from this assignment if you copy from someone else, copy from downloaded or published materials, allow another candidate to copy from you, or if you cheat in any other way. Any information used must be correctly referenced to its original source.

Declaration of Authentication I have read and understood the Notice to Candidates above. I have produced the attached work without assistance, other than that which my teacher has explained is acceptable within the specification.

DateStudent’s signature