Primary and secondary sources of information have many advantages, but also many disadvantages. Let’s start with the advantages of primary sources.
Primary sources consist of firsthand information about a particular topic or event, this is gold dust for a screenwriter as it thus enables them to work as closely with the source material as they Research Dossier
BlueCat screenwriting competition is UK based and has been running for over 25 years. It is built upon helping young, up and coming writers to get their big break in screenwriting. Upon submitting for BlueCat you are guaranteed a read of your script, as well as a written analysis if your script for free.
A cash prize of £18,500 is on offer.
Awards and prizes include:
£7,500 cash
£3,000 for the feature screenplay winner
TV pilot winner, £3,000
Short script winner £3,000
Rules And Terms
All submissions must be original, and the sole property of the applicant(s).
- All ages are eligible.
- Feature screenplays must be between 65-125 pages.
- Pilot scripts must be between 20-75 pages.
-Short screenplays must be between 1-29 pages.
- There is no limit to the number of entries you may submit.
- Scripts, including outlines, treatments, pitches, log lines or any developmental material related to the script, that has previously won any contest, competition, grant, lab, fellowship, mentorship, reading or award of any kind, are not eligible.
- Screenplays that have been submitted to any competition or contest prior to December 13th, 2019 are not eligible.
https://filmfreeway.com/BlueCatScreenplayCompetition - Source, Accessed 20-10-22
ShoreScripts are a UK based screenwriting competition. The sole purpose of the competition is to discover new, up and coming screenwriting talent with the aim of connecting writers up with the film industry. Shorescript have a wide range of prizes available for entrants to their competition.
These prizes include:
meetings with established industry professionals who are specifically attempting to represent new writers, aid them and potentially option for their scripts
A £5,000 cash prize
Mentorship from the creator of Atomic Blonde and the writer of Resident evil, Antony Johnstone
Shorescript do however have a set of rules and guidelines that must be adhered to if you want a chance of winning
Submitting your screenplay electronically
Script must be written in English regardless of where you are from
Must be the writer’s original work
Participants must not have earned more than £50,000 in screenwriting 18 months prior to entry
A writer can enter in as many different scripts in as many categories as they desire
Scripts must be written in size 12 courier font (Typewriter style)
Scripts must be submitted as a PDF
https://www.shorescripts.com/rules-faq/ Accessed 20-10-22
When it comes to screenwriting, there are two types of research: primary and secondary. But which one is better? Let's take a humorous look at the debate.
First, let's define the terms. Primary research is when you
gather information directly from the source, such as conducting interviews or
surveys. Secondary research is when you use existing sources, such as books or
articles.
Now, some may argue that primary research is the way to go.
After all, who knows more about a topic than the people who have experienced it
firsthand? But let's be real here - do we really want to spend our time
interviewing people and transcribing their responses? Plus, what if they lie or
exaggerate? Can we really trust them?
On the other hand, secondary research has its advantages.
It's quick and easy - just Google it! Plus, you can find a wealth of
information from experts in your field without ever leaving your couch. And
let's not forget about Wikipedia - the ultimate source of all knowledge (just
kidding).
But seriously, secondary research can be just as valuable as
primary research if done correctly. You just have to make sure you're using
reputable sources and fact-checking everything.
So which one should you choose? Well, it depends on your
project and personal preferences. If you're writing a historical drama set in
ancient Rome, then primary research might be necessary to ensure accuracy. But
if you're writing a rom-com set in modern-day New York City, then secondary
research could suffice.
In conclusion, both primary and secondary research have
their pros and cons in screenwriting. It ultimately comes down to what works
best for your project and how much time and effort you're willing to put into
it.
Reference:
American Psychological Association (APA) style
APA Style Blog (2021). How to Cite Sources in APA Style (7th
ed.).
A UK based commissioning body that will accept unsolicited scripts is the BBC Writers room
Writers can seek inspiration for their ideas from many different sources and avenues. James Cameron, the director of the critically acclaimed 1997 blockbuster ‘Titanic’ evidently got his idea from a real-life event. Real life events are a good source of inspiration for scripts, however I would say that it is mightily important to stay very true to the source material, as the avoidance of this could result in bad press and ultimately less acclaim. In 2022, Netflix released a show entitled ‘Dahmer’, which depicted the real life events of infamous serial killer Jeffery Dahmer. The show mostly stayed true to the real life events, however due to the sensitive material and baggage that went along with the source material, it was even more important for the director to not step on any toes.
Another and one of the most popular sources of inspiration for writers is pre-existing works of fiction. What I am referring to here is book to film adaptations. These have been around as long as cinema itself and is one of the most profitable and easiest ways to produce a great film. An example that Is most certainly a great case study is Roald Dahl’s ‘Charlie and the chocolate factory’. This award winning book has been adapted into two feature films. The 1971 version directed by the acclaimed Mel Stuart was subject to much criticism by Dahl. In charge of the screenplay for the film, Dahl and Stuart had an unstable and toxic working relationship, which ultimately led to a great film but a product Dhal was not happy with. This is a very key example of why sometimes boom adaptations can be a rocky foundation for a screenwriter.
Another source of inspiration for screenwriters is history. Although it may seem like an obvious pick, historical events are a very overlooked source of inspiration and can result in some great storytelling. The general population most of the time would have no visual way of seeing what historical events may have looked like. This gives some leeway to writers who want to tell an encapsulating story whilst keeping as true as possible to recorded history. Some great examples of films based on historical events are ‘Churchill’ and ‘Dunkirk’.
Information for a script can be gathered in a variety of different ways. The first primary way of gathering relevant information for a script is by conducting various interviews with experts and individuals with the relevant knowledge and experience needed regarding the script topic. These interviews can of course be conducted over the phone, in person or through email. Another source of Information is the classic. Books, academic writings and published material relating to the subject. Valuable background information and historical context can be found within these, providing an in depth analysis of specific aspects of your script.
The internet is also a free and useful tool for gathering primary Information: government databases, news articles and various social media posts are all valuable sources for information. These provide current and up to date info, as well as opinions and perspectives from a wide range of sources.
When it comes to my own screenplay idea, I used a variety of sources of inspiration and information to craft my idea. I conducted a survey which I asked the responders various questions such as "what would you change about the screenplay?" and "do you think it is commercially viable?". This survey aided me a great deal as it provided me with key insights into how people in my demographic saw my screenplay idea and their unique feedback which played a key role in the filming process of my screenplay. The second source of information I used for my script was an article I found on the internet entitled ‘How social media ruined dating’ Written by Kenny Ruiz.
Ruiz, K. (2020). How Social Media Ruined Dating. [online] Medium. Available at: https://kennethqruiz.medium.com/how-social-media-ruined-dating-9f2f2767bbe1 [Accessed 11 May 2023].
The article goes in depth on how social media has ruined the overall dating experience, this is the core ideology that my screenplay explores.
Secondary sources of Information are also very useful in gathering what you need to produce a great script. Some examples of secondary sources are encyclopaedias, dictionaries and other works that can provide background information necessary for your topic. Reports, studies and surveys as well as research institutions can also make for great examples of secondary research. Secondary research at its core may not be as factually sound or as close to reality as you would ideally want. However, it is vital as it enables a writer to gain access to an even wider pool of research which in turn will greatly boost a writer’s information bank. Other examples of secondary research include podcasts, documentaries, films and other visual or auditory material that can enrich the script and provide a more engaging experience for the audience.
In terms of secondary research and my own screenplay idea, there are multiple sources I used. The first of which is some rom-com films I watched. These included ‘Notting Hill’ and ‘Four weddings and a funeral’, these films, the latter being directed by acclaimed romantic director Richard Curtis. His style is one I would be honoured to attempt to enhance and make even better.
possibly can. Primary research provides unique perspectives that simply aren’t available with secondary sources. Because primary research is conducted by the writer most of the time, all of the information gathered is unique and will greatly boost the writer’s information quality. Primary research does have some limitations however. One of these limitations is it’s limited scope, because primary research is based on personal experiences, the findings and information may be narrow and not provide a scope the writer may be looking for. Primary research is also bias, the sources may be influenced by personal bias or subjective interpretation. This can therefore affect the accuracy of the information provided thus making it less reliable.
Primary research is also very time consuming and sometimes costly, especially including travel and conducting interviews
Secondary research is convenient and accessible. Readily available in libraries and public domains, they are in most cases cheap or free to access. Secondary research offers comprehensive coverage, they draw on a wide range of perspectives, so they may satisfy a writer’s need for diversity and larger coverage than a primary source.
Secondary resources offer multiple perspectives on a matter, providing a much more needed and well rounded understanding, which may benefit a screenwriter.
Secondary research lacks first-hand information about a particular topic or event, this can in turn make them less reliable and accurate than primary sources. Furthermore, secondary sources are influenced by the interpretation and bias of the given publisher, this can affect the objectivity of the information presented. This can steer a writer in a different direction than the one they were intending to go down. Secondary research may also offer outdated information, or worse incorrect information, especially given an absence of checks and regulation.
I would say that the most useful material for my script idea was without a doubt my primary research I carried out. Implementing first-had opinions from people I know genuinely felt like it was breathing new life into my once hollow script idea. The information I gathered from them that dating in the 21st century is so hard and disingenuous really helped me. It struck a bolt of belief into my core that enabled me to build some solid foundations.
Disregarding information in terms of my script idea has largely remained absent. This is due to the perspective heavy nature of the screenplay. However, many articles were disregarded in the research period of my script. An example of one of these articles is one published by artattackk.com about social media ruining modern dating. The tone and overall flow of the article just didn’t happen to match what I was going for in my screenplay.
Anon, (n.d.). 10 Reasons why Social Media has Ruined Modern Dating. [online] Available at: https://artattackk.com/blog/reasons-why-social-media-has-ruined-modern-dating/.
In terms of managing my ideas, documentation and resources, I have multiple folders on my computer that I store everything in. This therefore makes it easier and more accessible for me to pick out my information at ease.
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