Single camera drama

Lesson 1:

Single camera drama: drama done with only using one camera. Limited camera angles. One view, different takes is an option but only one camera is used.

TV Drama formats:
Single drama,
series,
serials,
soaps.

Single camera drama format used to be staple of television shown often on BBC.  Designed as a one off programme or a mini series. "Made for T.V, movie". Often based on true stories. Topical subjects or issues that make this more for T.V more than film.

Series. Is a programme broadcast regularly often once a week. Where the same characters and basic situation are used to tell a different story in each episode.    Family Guy is an example.

Serial. This format also uses the same characters and locations regularly, but each episode is not complete in itself and story lines continue through to to the next episode.  Using cliffhangers and removing cast from episode to episode. This type often uses more than one perspective or narrative.   Game of Thrones is an example of this.

Soap. This Drama format has multiple characters who carry multiple storylines at once. Usually no single storyline dominates and storylines can carry on for weeks before conclusion. EastEnders is an example.

Paragraph written for homework before realsing its not for soaps. 
Soaps
The soap I have chosen to write about is Eastenders. Prior to this essay I had never focused on soaps and had never watched one. Eastenders is a very popular soap based in the London England. Due to the type of drama format, the soap airs once a week and has been going since 1985 with over five thousand episodes in a total of sixteen seasons. On the soaps 30th anniversary back in 2015 more than 20 million people turned into to watch it. With a television show like this that has been running for so many years the amount of crew involved....     

Lesson 2

Boy A is a drama film based on a true story , when Jack is released from prison for serving a sentence for a violent crime he committed as a child comes out of prison with a new Identify and tries to begin a new life before his past catches up with him. The film was based on the 1993 murder involving James Bulger as the victim and Robert Thompson and Jon Venables as the murders. The film included several flash backs which gave the viewers an idea of the murder, which at the time was yet to be completely know of what happened that day. Flashbacks include the murder several times at different point of views and the court date as well as in school. The climax of the film came from when Boy A was discovered and his old identify relieved. The effect of the climax left Boy A without anyone to speak too and his girlfriend dumping him.    

Narrative
seems to not have saved on blogger. Will rewrite from powerpoint on lesson blog. Notes were taken but lost unfortunately

• Linear - Straight forward chronological story. 
• Non-Linear
• Flashback
• Realist
• Anti-Realist
• Endings
• Character

Character  (Lesson 4)
Narrative films focus on human characters and their struggles.
Characters are typically responsible for cause and effect in narrative.
Rounded characters are more main characters. Flat characters are not as developed and are in the background.
Flat characters are minor characters who do not go through any substantial change in the story.
Round characters, are more fully developed who may experience a change during the story.
Round characters are developed through conversations with other characters, through group associations, through direct description and through reactions to conflict.
Character traits are attitudes, skills, habits, tastes and psychological drives and any other qualities that distinguish a character.
Traits in opening scenes are relevant to later scenes. This is related to cause and effect.
Characters encounter obstacles in pursuing goals. Collision of goals and obstacles create conflict and thus drama.
Goals might include; looking for love and locating treasure.
Characters create cause and effect through choices that lead to conflict and consequences.
These patterns are designed so that the viewer clearly sees and understand them.
Characters possess traits, face conflicts and make choices and undergo changes that enable or hinder pursuit of a specific goal.

Potential title: "5.10" (Average height for male man shows that this character is an average man)
Creating a character.
Name: Mark Jacobs
Age: 16 ( In education. Doing btecs)
Gender: Male
Ethnicity: White British
Height: 5.10
Physical description: Skinny and muscular.
Distinguishing features:
Characters personality: Keeps to himself, stays out of trouble. Takes his life day by day. Not intelligent but just average instead. Independent. Prefers to work on their own.
Character is annoyed by bullying and disrespecting people. One day steps in and no longer becomes average.

Conflict between characters is important to any story.
Types of conflict include:
Relational conflict: Conflict between characters over goals and how to achieve goals.
Inner conflict. This is conflict within a character. It could be concerned with their self esteem etc.
Societal This is conflict between a person or group.
Cosmic.  Conflict between the main character and a supernatural force.

Unit 5. Working to a brief in the creative media industries
There is a total of briefs
Bosses will give you briefs

Contractual brief. Set up like a contract with legal jargon and will need a signature. Used when there is a lot of money, or long period of time. Will include pay, time frame, deadlines and job requirements. By signing you are forced to agree to all terms. This brief is laid out clearly and professionally.

Negotiated brief. Up to the employee more than others. Alter most aspects. Gives more leeway to employee. Used often when the employer is not sure what to have built or created.

Formal brief. Many types of briefs are formal as well as other types. This document outlines the specifications of a product or service. Well set out and structured in a neat orderly manor. No slang or abbreviations used. May have clients logo on it.

Informal brief. A short piece of text or email that requests someone to do some work for them. An informal brief doesn't have to be written and can just be a verbal agreement. This is most often seen when dealing with friends or very little money. Can include informal language and as a result can have gramatical errors.

Commission brief. This is where a client is where a client commissions a company to fulfil a brief. A commission is usually only given to a company who the client has relations with. This is an example of a brief tender. Saves time for looking for potential employes and just go straight away to your company choice.

Competition brief. Allows the public to send in attempts for a specific service or product idea. Winner is paid or awarded. Anyone can apply and so less money is spent on the product and you have a wealth of different ideas to choose from.

Tender brief. Similar to competition, not open to general public but instead is open to outside companies. After receiving the brief companies come to pitch to the clients to view for the work. The best will then be given the chance to be hired and work for the client. A general example of this is an advertisement for a job found on a website or newspaper.

Co-operative brief. Where two or more companies are contracted to work o the same assignment. Can be done for a number of reasons. Perhaps, the most common is for multi skilling where one company alone lacks the skills to complete an assignment on their own. Another example of this is for tight deadlines where one campy can not finish it on their own because of the lack of time available so introducing another company helps to speed up this process.

Reading a brief. When reading a brief you need to pay attention to the type of brief. After knowing that you can think of ideas for that particularly brief. Start by thinking of date, is it possible to do what you need to do in time. Do you have enough equipment. Do you meet the capabilities or the rest of the brief, what has been asked of you to do. Is there any special requirements.

Negotiating your brief. All briefs can be changed to an extent. Important to read through in detail first. Can be crucial if something is not plausible or will put you out of pocket. Negotiation can be used for tight deadlines or small budgets.

Tips for negotiating a brief. Give yourself and clients time. Read through the contract first. plan then go to negoiate. If you don't understand then ask. Make sure both you and the client are agreed on your expectations, goals and objectives are by the end of the negotiation.  

Opportunities. Many opportunities can be found within a brief on top of the money making aspect. These include:
New Skills,
Self development,
Multi-Skilling,
Gain contacts,
Experience,
Travel,
Communication skills
Portfolio/ CV,
Meet clients or important people industry.


Creating a character

Revealing the character through action. The character should do actions that related to their persona.

Revealing character through dialogue. Similar to the point above but each line of dialogue should further cement their time period and personality.

Reviling character through the story. Should show a change of the events of the story, teach the character something. What do they learn at the end?

Avoid cliches.

Think like an actor, give your character a point of view. The character needs motivation for the scene, as this gives them personality.

https://thescriptlab.com/category/screenwriting/character/]