Screenwriters write film scripts – and rewrite them when asked. The original idea might be their own, or be given to them by a producer who has a rough outline for a story they’d like written. Or a screenwriter might be asked to adapt a story that already exists in another form, such as a novel, short story or play. Screenwriters work closely with script editors, who are employed by film companies to liaise with screenwriters who are working on scripts for them. Script editors provide feedback, make requests for changes and ensure that drafts are delivered on time.
Inspiration: Guy Richie
Guy Richie is a British director as well as a screenplay writer. He has written most of his work, most of which being comedic British gangster films. His debut film in screenplay writing was Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels in 1998, and has made many more since then. ‘My principal job is to make interesting and entertaining films, and I’m not proud of which format or which particular technique I use. I just wanted the film to look good’. He is a an auteur who takes control on most aspects of a film, however I will be focussing on screenplay writing.
A cinematographer, also known as a Director of Photography, is in charge of the camera and the lighting crew. They’re the person responsible for creating the look, colour, lighting, and for framing of every single shot in a film. The cinematographer may also act as the camera operator on more low-budget productions, they work very closely with the director in order to achieve their visuals.
Inspiration: John Alcott
John Alcott closely worked with the director Stanley Kubrick, being the cinematographer for 2001: A Space Odyssey, A Clockwork Orange, Barry Lyndon (which he won an oscar for) and The Shining. Three films worked on by Alcott were ranked between 1950–1997 in the top 20 of ‘Best Shot,’ voted by the American Society of Cinematographers suggesting his great skill. He believes ‘how to use angles, set-ups, lights, and camera as a means to tell the story’ implying the importance of cinematography and how it is used to create meaning.
A film editor is responsible for turning uncut footage from a film shoot into a finished, cohesive final project. Their duties include studying film scripts and using them to guide scene development, determining which camera angles to use and coordinating sound and visual effects in post-production. Film editors are a crucial part in forming meaning in the film.
Inspiration Sally Menke :
Sally Menke was a film editor who worked very closely with Quentin Tarantino, editing all of his films until her death in 2010. She received a call saying she could edit ‘Reservoir Dogs’ and this is where their relationship began. Menke’s ‘style is to mimic, not homage, but it’s all about re-contextualising the film language to make it fresh within the new genre.’
I will complete research on each of the job roles I am undertaking: editing, cinematography and screenplay writing by understanding what these roles include and how they are done. I will also engage with a variety of specific films on how they were made from the point of view of the specific film roles I have chosen. I will look at specific practitioners to find inspiration and influence in my own work.
Match On Action – film editing and video editing techniques where the editor cuts from one shot to another view that matches the first shot’s action.
Scream (Kevin Williamson, 1996)
Graphic Match – when the shapes, colours and/or overall movement of two shots match in composition, either within a scene or, especially, across a transition between two scenes.
2001: A Space Odyssey (Kubrick, 1968)
Eyeline Match – a film editing technique to indicate to the audience what a character is seeing. Eyeline match allows the audience to believe that they’re looking at something through the eyes of the character
