Questions for focus group

What are your opinions on the characters in the script so far?

How do you feel regarding the storyline within the script?

What do you feel will happen throughout the series?

Would you watch this programme if it was real?

What channel would you expect to see this on?

What time slot do you think would be best fit for this programme?

Which character do you identify with most?

Do you think the characters behave true to real life?

If you could make any changes to the script what would they be?

If you could make any changes to the characters, what would they be?

Script - First Draft

Script - First Draft

(All the students are sitting in the 'common room' within their dorms. Declan is sat seperately from the group)


Declan: So, why are you freaks even here? (starts to smirk)

Jennifer: Excuse me? I am not a freak. (flicks fringe, and stares at Declan defiantly)

Declan: Pfft. Okay. (winks towards Jennifer and then turns towards the rest of the group) What are you all studying?

Ashley: What you fucking calling me a freak for? (starts to walk towards Declan, squaring his shoulders up)


Jennifer: Ashley, baby, calm down! (rushes towards him and tries to pull him away from Declan) Please?

Ashley: Alright, alright. But you, (points at Declan) stay away from my effing girlfriend. (Turns and drags Jennifer out of the room towards a corridor)

Layla: (pushes her glasses back up her nose) Wow. That was... sufficiently awkward... Hi, I'm Layla! (turns toward declan with her hand held out)

(Declan sneers at her and pulls out his phone)
(Connor enters the room with carrier bags from grocery shopping)
Connor: Hey, Abbie, come help unpack, alright?

Abbie: Fine. Whatever.

(gets up and follows her brother out of the room.)

Layla: I'll come help too!
(rushes past Declan in fear)

(THE CAMERA FOLLOWS LAYLA LEAVE THE ROOM, AS DECLAN FOLLOWS BEHIND, WITHOUT ATTRACTING LAYLA'S ATTENTION)


Layla: Oh my god, what a freak.

(Declan stands at the doorway to the kitchen)

Abbie: I know. Like, what are we gonna do, living with a wierdo like him?

Connor: Oi, leave him be. I'm sure he can't help that he was dropped on his head as a child.

(all three laugh, while Declan storms down the corridor)

Connor: Oh shit.

Script Analysis

http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/scripts/waterloo_road_s04e16.pdf

This script has many stage directions, however they seem to be written as a story, as though telling a story/describing the scene/actions of the characters, instead of directions for the actors.
The script also features more stage directions than dialogue in most of the scenes. It has emotions and also describing how the characters are feeling, even down to the things the viewers  can't see.

http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/scripts/sherlock_the_blind_banker.pdf

This script has many descriptions of the scene, and how the characters look/feel. This may be to give the actor more information as to how to act the part. It is written almost as a story.
It is written as to be rather modern, but still without much use of slang, so isn't as relevant to my script, however this is a script for a murder mystery/drama, and so could be useful.

Findings from Questionnaire

What kinds of programmes do you watch?
This graph shows that comedy was the most popular answer, with movies not far behind. This means I may put more comedy into my Drama.

What are your top 5 favourite programmes?
The most popular television shows watched are dramas/soaps. This means that my drama will fit in.

What age group are you most interested in?
The evidence shows that people are more interested in people their age/slightly older, meaning it fits in with my idea of university students.

Did you watch skins?
More people watched skins than didnt, that were asked.

If yes, what interested you?
More people watch skins for the teen issues and the drama.

What channel do you watch?
As the people I asked were teens, the most popular channel was E4, the ones aimed for a teen audience.

Which of these would you most likely watch?
I asked which kind of drama they would watch, and murder mystery was the most popular, meaning that my drama would fit in well.

What kind of storylines do you find most interesting?
All of the participants said crime was the most interesting, and so I have this featured heavinly in my drama (murder). I also have drugs, love and drama featuring in the show.

What interests you about murder mystery?
People say that the murder and the suspense are the main reasons they watch a murder mystery. They also find the investigation interesting.

Questionnaire for ideas.

Questionnaire

What kinds of programmes do you watch?
Comedy -
Drama -
Cartoon -
Movies -
Documentaries -
Mystery -
Soaps -

What is your top 5 favourite programmes?

1.        

2.        

3.        

4.        

5.        

What age group are you most interested in?
14-16 year olds -
16-18 year olds -
18-20 year olds -
20+ -

Did you watch skins? 

Yes                                         No

If yes, what interested you?
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What channel do you watch?
E4
BBC3
BBC1
BBC2
ITV
Channel 4
Channel 5
Paramount Comedy
Other ______________________________

Which of these would you most likely watch?
Murder Mystery
Teen Issues
Love Story
Other ______________________

What kind of storylines do you find most interesting?
Love
Drama
Crime
Drugs

Why?
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Suggest a name for the murder mystery/serial killer drama similar to skins?
­­­______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What interests you about murder mystery?
The investigation/chase
Finding out who the killer is/suspense
The gore/the murder
The back story
Nothing

Initial Idea's.

Idea for setting.

University - Students - group of strangers - 7 people in first year of university.
Serial killer - one of the group?
Love triangle between serial killer and one of the other characters in the group.

Idea's for names

Freshers week

Characters

Serial Killer - Declan Thomas - 19
Ashley Skinner - 18
Daniel Chapman - 18
Layla Kinley - 18
Abbie Smith - 18
Connor Smith - 18 - Abbie's twin brother
Jennifer Darwin - 18 - Declan and Ashley's love interest