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Task 1 - Workshop 4 Working as a Writer - Short Task - Write a Pitch for a New TV Show

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Task 1 - Workshop 4 Working as a Writer - Short Task - Write a Pitch for a New TV Show

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My Tv show is titled “Thanks Anne”, and the genre is comedic drama.

The show centres around Anna and Roxanne. Anna is a pensioner who runs a small crafts shop and has old fashioned values. She’s not tech savvy, she’s grumpy and lives quite far from family.

One day while on shift an intriguing customer stumbles in that will change her life forever. Roxane is an underground drag performer and aspiring singer with multiple stage alter egos. Roxanne was visiting the craft shop looking for some pins to fix their dress however after a short exchange discovers Anna’s incredible textile and styling ability. However, the pair immediately dislike one another “Without the stimulus of conflict, a character will remain under control, unemotional, static— and very, very dull. Conflict also serves to set up problems for the future, thus creating suspense” (Dmytryk, Edward. 2018.) however they work together because both have something the other needs. Roxanne needs a good seamstress, and Anna needs a creative outlet. What follows is that Anna becomes Roxanne’s seamstress, and the pair form an unlikely bond, all kinds of predicaments unfold due to the stark difference in values.

To get produced I will work with an agent and by using social media to create a demand for the shows production. My target audience is one of the main consumers of social media so I would promote the shows concept through character breakdowns or writing sketches based on my characters and uploading them to YouTube and TikTok. Since fashion is a huge theme in this film, I could create fashion-based content maybe using clothes to describe my characters personality. I think that also if the show is produced reaching out to some influencers such as Wisdom Kaye (@wisdm8) and @Aliyahsinterlude and ask them to help work of the styling for the drag characters then they will most likely promote the show on their platform.

To understand the shows audience, I will be referencing and referring to the Cross-Cultural Consumer Characterisation model developed by the advertising agency Young and Rubicam. I belive that “Thanks Anne” will appeal to those categorised in the 4c’s model as “The Mainstreamers”,” The explorers” and “The aspirer “

The target audience is people aged 18 to 40. I believe this show will have something for everyone especially people who are interested in fashion and people who enjoy dramas. Other shows that I think my audience would watch are “The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert.”, “Pose” and “Queer Eye”. In Pose the performance and costume aspect are elements that the audience hopefully will also enjoy in my show. ”Queer Eye” shows the dynamics between queer people and those with old fashioned values, how their interaction with one another has the potential to be meaningful and positive. “The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert” shows Drag culture in all its fun and fabulous glory.

I would pitch this show to The BBC and Channel 4. Because I believe those are the platforms my target audience uses and because they have produced similar shows and films. The style of comedy is uniquely British therefor its more appropriate to pitch to British broadcasters.

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Film title – Baggage

Hello, I'm Tia and I am a Manchester based writer in my last year of studying and The University of Salford.

Do you ever watch films set in the UK and think to yourself, “that was entertaining but so unrealistic”? Well Baggage is the solution to that; the short film is a gripping drama depicting realistic characters and motivations. This film is like putting up a mirror to the social issues seen here in Manchester. I took my time writing Baggage because I needed to tackle its harsh themes with sensitivity but with a sense of realism. Baggage has been developing for over two years and I am now ready to get it produced. All I need is your support.

Here is the synopsis- Tommy will forever change his and Lukes lives after a stolen bag results in an innocent stranger’s death.

This film is about addressing crime in Manchester and the link between crime and working-class men from unfortunate backgrounds. According to Statista “In the 2023/24 reporting period, Greater Manchester had a crime rate of 117.7 per 1,000 people, placing it third highest among police force areas in England and Wales.”

I was born and raised in Manchester and so this topic is personal to me having seen the effects poverty has on communities and how young men are groomed into criminal gangs and resort to crime to keep a roof over their heads. We all know that petty crime is wrong but what if it’s all you knew? What if you were stealing to provide for your loved ones? Those are the questions that will be explored in this short film.

The title Baggage -has a double meaning; it all starts with the stolen bag and that creates a burden that they will carry forever and that’s the emotional baggage. The themes are Family, money, poverty, addiction, trust, greed.

Although the catalyst for the story is a murder its really about the relationship Luke and Tommy have. Luke is a 17-year-old student who wants to go to university and Tommy is his 23-year-old brother who commits petty crime because it’s the only way he knows how to make money. The pair have lived together since the passing of their mother. Luke doesn’t want a life of crime and Tommy thinks university or employment is a waste of time.

By choosing to fund this film you will give upcoming local actors the chance to show off their talent and range.

BUDGET- £4000

How it will be spilt-

“Pre-Production ~10% , Production ~35%, Post-Production ~35% , Distribution and Marketing ~20%” (McGregor, L , 2022/28,Oct

“Film lingo often splits the budget into four categories: • Above the line —mainly the costs of writer, producer(s), director, and principal cast, which may be negotiable. • Below the line —non-negotiable wages and production costs, including everything from staff members to film tape to hard drives to renting sound equipment. • Post-production —all editing, and costs that occur after the final take. • Other —including costs of financing and insurance.”  (Thurlow, Clifford, and Max Thurlow.  2013.p52 )

If I reach my standard amount people can continue to donate up to £10,000. The extra money will go towards marketing and production also distribution to film festival.

This story is relevant and important today because the rise of inflation and the housing crisis, a lot of people are struggling to survive So, they turn to petty crime to make a few extra pounds. If you choose to fund this film, you are choosing to support the career of a Manchester based writer who loves her community.  Any extra revenue will be put towards Manchester based charities such as Barnabus.org and Centrepoint.org.uk

Reward for supporting us –

If you donate £10 you can get a digital thank You card along with updates on the films production. if you donate £50 or more you can get a A4 print of our official Baggage poster.  If you donate £200 or more will get all the above plus you will be entered in the prize draw to win the chance to be at the first screening of the film. And your name will be included in the credits as a special thanks.

I hope this pitch interests you, remember that it’s your support that keeps us creatives going, Thank you!

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TASK 3 - POSTGRADUATE STUDY - WORKSHOP 9

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TASK 3 - POSTGRADUATE STUDY - WORKSHOP 9

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After graduating I would like to do a masters, I want a career in screenwriting and so that is my focus as for post graduate studies. The first out of three postgrad study options I have chosen to further investigate is MA Screenwriting at The University of Manchester. Firstly, a huge advantage to attending this university is that I live within walking distance. This means I will be able to save money and not worry about travel costs or moving to an unfamiliar area which is a huge plus for me as I value a sense of community and familiarity.

Along with developing my academic skills through script analysis I will also be learning on the business side of screenwriting. By enrolling in this course, I could get the chance to get an internship at a production company. The requirements include a description of three original script ideas and one page of written script so they can assess your writing ability. Personally, I enjoy the challenge of having to create new ideas so this is a plus especially because the content of your script and ideas can influence their decision.

The biggest problem with applying for Ma Screenwriting at The University of Manchester is the limited capacity: they only accept around 15 students which means that the chances of not getting a place is significantly higher than other courses. Another downside is that they do not offer a part time option meaning that work will have to take a step back. This course also requires an Upper Second-class honours degree meaning I will need to achieve a 2:1 to even apply. Personally, I believe that this grade is achievable for me however it is still a requirement that is quite limiting. The price for attending this course is £14,000.

The next course I will analyse is MA film production at The University of Salford. On this course they develop all production skills including screenwriting and its focus is understanding the entire filmmaking process. Firstly, by choosing to continue studying at The University of Salford I will get a discount so that cuts down on costs. I’m not sure of the amount that will be discounted but the original full amount is £10,350.00 which is already cheaper than Manchester’s course for the same duration of time.

Secondly this course will take place at the Media City campus which I have not yet studied at so the thought of that is exciting. Media city is also the cultural hub for entertainment in Salford/Manchester and so this could open doors for potential networking and job prospects. Unfortunately, this course is full time and that it most likely will not explore screen writing in as much depth as for example the Screen Writing Ma at Manchester. However, I do have some interest in directing and I believe that having a wider range of skills can make you more employable in the entertainment industry. Working alongside students interested in other areas of production means that I will have a community of people I could collaborate with to produce my scripts. Another advantage to this course is that I will have access to Filming equipment via The Media City campus.

Lastly, I will be considering is MA screen writing at The University of the arts London. The course develops writing, script reading, script editing and script development skills that measure up to industry expectations. Students will develop their writing skills for film, television and radio. The course duration is 1 year and 3 months and the price to enrol is £14,000. The requirements are an honours degree however outstanding exceptions can be considered.  To apply, along with the usually personal statement you can submit 10 pages of script from a short film or 10 pages from a larger piece of work with a 1-page synopsis. You also must Submit a 2–4-page outline for an additional project.

The course will be taught with a mixture of lectures seminars and workshops and more. What I’m intrigued by is the focus on also developing skills as a script editor and script reader because they can help me strengthen my technical ability. There is a focus on gaining industry connection Through networking, interviews with industry professional’s and screenwriting magazine which all students have access to exploring. I think these are all great options however I would say they are not as impressive as the placements and internship opportunities offered by the other two universities.

The biggest dilemma I have with The University of the arts London is its location because I personally like to be close to home however, I could be broadening my reach as a creative by being in contact with the London community.

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I have just applied to write a script for Northwest Regional Organised Crime Unit. That will most likely be produced by march. I will then be able to add that to my portfolio and this could get me more recognition as a writer.

I have applied to volunteer at the kino film festival. Shortly after applying they reached back to me and asked if I wanted to be a videographer rather than just a regular volunteer and they have confirmed the dates I will be volunteering will be the 12th to the 18th of May. Before that I will be filming some promotional content at media city in the last week of march as it needs to be handed over to them for April.

On the 9th of May my performance research project will be done, I am creating a 60-page script, and I want to use that script to further my career. I want my script to be animated so I will go to networking events to promote my script. I will also pay animators/ commission animators to animate a short scene from the script which I can use to promote it. I will also see if I can’t convert my script into 15 pages so that I can get it produced as a short, animated film which I will also promote. The goal of this is get the attention of big production studios such as Netflix or the BBC to produce the script.

After completing my final assessment in May I will start uploading content to social media that is film related. I will upload film reviews to YouTube and write sketches that can be used for YouTube content. On TikTok I will create short form content such as writing advise and other film related content such as shorter reviews and theories. I will also use my other talents to help bring in wider audiences for example I am good at art and can film the process of creating art based on current films. I will build an audience of film lovers and people interested in creativity. I would also like to work with other creators to create content for example I will write short scripts (around a minute long) and collaborate with animators who can bring the script to life. I have many friends who are interested in voice acting and would be more than willing to help. The goal of starting social media is to create work for myself as an independent scriptwriter and to promote myself.

I was going to do an internship at Art bound initiative London however I have quickly changed plans as I was advised to not enrol as their practices seemed untrustworthy to my academic tutors. So instead of doing an internship for 2025 summer I will be attending film festivals to network, I will also be applying for jobs as a script supervisor or script editor at theatre companies such as the lowry or the royal exchange theatre. I will also use my free time to study playwriting by doing my own independent research. My goal is to develop my play writing skills and work on writing my first play

September 2026 I will enrol in a screenwriting master’s at the university of Manchester. I am choosing to do a gap year to give myself a chance to get work and network independently. I believe that a year away from education will better equip me with the experience I need to approach a screenwriting course.

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WORKSHOP REFLECTION - 1

Workshop 8: Creative Business Workshop, part 2 - Ria Meera Munshi

Ria is a Salford university graduate who has gone on to be a Casting Director, Concept Creator, Cultural Consultant, Director, Playwright. Ria took us through a journey of how she has developed as a creative since leaving university and the importance of being multifaceted. I was personally inspired by the accumulation of accolades she has. In my career after university, I will be taking inspiration from her career. Ria uses her talent and pairs it with her unique interests/identity to create unique experiences for example when becoming a playwriter. Ria had no interest in writing previously however she used the medium of a play to write a story that reflected her interests and life experiences. This is an approach to creating that I will be using going forward the idea of having transferable skills. We did an exercise where we wrote down our transferable skills. Mine where creative writing, videography, editing and crochet. And Ria challenged us to think about how we can combine them to create a creative business. I could use videography, screenwriting and editing to creative YouTube videos of sketches that can be posted online. I could also make videos of my crochet designs and ideas and make that my brand on social media. If my writing is a product then an independent writer is a business owner, and businesses need promotion to thrive. Here is what Davis states about the relationship between business and social media” It provides a start point because one of the biggest issues for small businesses is where to start.” (Davis, Robert, Inna Piven, 2014. P. XIII)

Ria also gave us the option to do three different writing exercises, I chose to do speed writing, where I had to keep my pen on my paper and keep writing until Ria said stop. I really enjoyed this exercise; the result was a short narrative Paragraph of me detailing my thoughts and feelings about my future. I enjoyed being put on the spot and not needing to have a plan before writing. The experience was refreshing, and I surprised myself as a creative because I’m not used to writing narratives in first person. Ria’s secret to success for creative business is to be Accessible, Interactive, Inclusive and innovative. And what that means is to make sure your business can be accessed by as many people as possible to make sure you’re not limiting your success. I will practice this in future work by doing independent research as I value inclusivity. I also interpreted it as striving to make something bigger than yourself.

Overall, I really enjoyed Ria’s presentation she was incredibly well spoken and gave us time for questions. I asked her to expand on her experience as a full time playwriter. Her response was that she was offered the opportunity and nearly passed it by because she thought she couldn’t do it however after understanding her transferable skills she used them to create an amazing play. Ria assured us that we could all be playwriters because we all have stories to share that are unique to us and that is just as valuable as technical skills and research “there should come a point where you cast aside that research and infuse the play with the spirit of you.” (Fountain, Tim, 2008. p. 31)

This workshop has inspired me to take an interest in playwriting rather than just limiting myself to screen writing, I have many interests and skills that can be used to try out new mediums. Ria’s resume was very impressive, and I have taken note of her contact information and would love to work with her if the opportunity arises.

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Week 2 - Workshop 4 working as a writer: Nick leather

Nick leather is an experienced screen writer who has worked for Channel 4, CBBC and the BBC. Nick detailed how he got his start, he won a writing competition to be an in-house writer. Nick encouraged us to take part in writers’ competitions and because of his Workshop I have added this to my career plan. Nick gave us a breakdown of how to pace a story using the three-act structure and narrative progression “Narrative progression is the forward movement of the story, taking the audience on a journey where they can never quite catch up to the narrator.” (McErlean, Kelly.  2018. )

I enjoyed how interactive this workshop was, he asked us about our favourite films. During the workshop he gave us a quick task to write a synopsis in a few lines. I enjoyed this exercise so much I wrote two different examples. Nick asked people to say their stories out loud, I chose not to however hearing the range of ideas challenged me to be even more creative. I like that he gave us the freedom to be as creative as possible by not limiting what we could write about. Nick recommended “Pearson Playwrights' Scheme” which has bursaries and internship opportunities for writers. We also had a moment to talk/write about our favourite films and why we enjoyed them. During the workshop nick detailed his impressive resume, what stood out the most to me was the process behind writing the film “Murdered for being different” (Williams, 2017). The film based on the life of Sofie Lancaster who died after her and her boyfriend were attacked for dressing alternatively. Nick Spoke about having to meet the family of the victims and find a way to tell the story in a way that was entertaining and true to the facts of the case and the violent nature of the murder. I like how Nicks choice to write the story in Sofie’s tone of voice as it gave the film a personal touch, making it both fun and tragic.“We owe regard to the dead, and even more to the living, and we must keep all our charities about us.”
(Cline, Sally, Angier. C, 2010 p.21) Although writing biographically can be a huge pressure Nick taught me that it can also be a huge privilege to be able to learn someone’s life story and be trusted to adapt it. What I learnt from Nick is to be versatile in my work, and what I mean by that is to be able to write for different genres and age groups. After seeing all of nicks writing credits on his cv I feel motivated to work even harder and to keep writing. I enjoyed this workshop Nick was a well-spoken presenter, and I like how interactive it was and all the advice he gave was helpful.

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Week 4 Workshop 7 : Film production DIY - James Kennedy

James Kennedy is a filmmaker with a multitude of production skills ranging from writing to directing and videography.  However the main focus of his workshop was the creation of the short film titled “CTRL Z “ the 2017  Sci-fi/Comedy was both written and directed by Kennedy. The film is about a guy with a machine that lets him create a check point in time he can return to , he uses it several times while on a date to get the perfect impression however in order to start again he must die. Thankfully James showed us the trailer for the film, and I was really inspired by the shear creativity of the concept, the writing was fun, and the humour caught me off guard at some points. The quality of the writing and the production was incredible, and it made me think about trying to get my short film scripts produced.

James went into detail about what it took to get his film produced starting with his Kickstarter. Kickstarter is a crowdfunding website for creatives to get projects made. James created an intriguing pitch that was more like a sketch which gave potential funders a glimpse into the clever humour that the film would feature. The pitch was a success and £4000 was raised to fund the film along with an additional £3000 coming from James himself. I found James’s pitch to be a great model for how to capture funders attention it was funny, informative and mysterious. “As you study campaigns that are working, and that have surpassed their funding goals, try to figure out some of the reasons why this happened.” (Rich, Jason R. 2014. P.26)

Since the workshop I have looked at the short film pitches on Kickstarter and I have more of an understanding of how to pitch my work. Previously I thought it had to be quite formal, but I understand now that it depends on what type of film you’re making, some are serious, and some are hilarious. James taught me that the key to a successful pitch is to hold funders attention. Some short films have a more serious message and so they lean on the dramatic elements of the story and what the impact will be of getting it produced.

Out of all the workshops I believe James one had some of the most helpful website recommendations, Kickstarter is an amazing platform that I am keen on using for my next short film. He also told us about “Bafta Rocliffe film competition” which I will be applying to after university. I found James’s workshop to be very informative, his advice was very useful, and I left the workshop feeling more confident about crowd funding and getting a film produced independently and use it as a stepping stone for my career.  “With a good short film to your name, screened on television or shown at an appropriate film festival or distributed on the Internet or sent to the right producer, you might get offered that dream job directing a film - or find that doors suddenly start to swing open when you try to get your own feature off the ground.”(Hardy, Paul. , 2001. P7)

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Contact info-

Email:  Tiaskymay@gmail.com

Phone: 7490 276727

Education- Undergrad at University of Salford, Media and performance.

I am a student screenwriter; I have taken the screenwriting module on my course in both first and second year and I write in my spare time. I have written in multiple genres such as Drama, Rom-Com and Period drama. As a creative I believe that that stories are incredibly important for the development of society, I believe that anyone can be a writer, and that writing is good for the soul. When writing a piece, I always aimed to entertain inform or inspire.  I don’t ever plan to stop writing regardless of my successes or losses because it is a part of who I am. I would describe my writing style as personal, humours and usually light-hearted.

Written scene -

Because I Could Not Stop for Death (2025)

Inspired by the Emily Dickinson poem of the same title. Emily Dickinson explores the anxieties surrounding death by personifying death as a courteous carriage driver taking her to the afterlife. My script is set in the English countryside 1863 and Clementine is a 24-year-old woman who had been ill for many years with scarlet fever, she had spent most of her life inside while her siblings got to live life freely. Death’s appearance is a little more menacing than in the original poem.

Secrets In The Garden (2025)

This script is inspired by the life of Lady Katherine Grey Countess of Hertford and her scandalous marriage to Edward Seymour, 1st Earl of Hertford. What made their story so intriguing is that they chose to be married without the permission of Queen Elizabeth I. This later ended in their imprisonment. This script is based off Lady Katherine's first encounter with Edward Seymour having met him while visiting her friend Jane Seymour, Edwards sister.

Adaptation –

The Cruel Prince (2025)

This is a screen play adaptation of a scene from the fantasy book” The Cruel Prince” By Holly black.  A book about a human girl living in a Fae realm. This scene starts with our main character ‘Jude Duarte’ and her family taking a carriage journey. When the carriage stops Jude enters a grand royal fae coronation dressed in stunning handmade garments, little do they know she is concealing a sword.

Full script -

SECURITY GUARDS (2024)

When a group of boyband super-fans don’t get tickets to the farewell tour, they become security guards for the venue. But after one fan goes too far, the group must choose between friendship or fandom.
This is the beginning of a 60-page script. Security Guards is a coming-of-age rom com about the importance of real friendships.

ZAYAH (2023)

This is a story about a 17-year-old girl who tries to escape her abusive household by joining her college track team however things take a turn for the worst when her spot on the team is challenged by newcomers.

Reference’s available on request.

Here is the link to my portfolio where you can read some samples of my work- https://www.tianelson.org/my-work.html

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Websites

Barnabus Manchester [Website]  https://www.barnabus.org

Centrepoint [Website] https://centrepoint.org.uk/what-we-do/manchester

McGregor, L , 2022/28,Oct , Build a Foolproof Budget for Your Short Film or Video, The Beat.[Website]  https://www.premiumbeat.com/blog/budget-short-film-or-video/

The University of Manchester [Website] https://www.manchester.ac.uk/study/masters/courses/list/09832/ma-screenwriting/#course-profile

The University of Salford [website] https://www.salford.ac.uk/courses/postgraduate/film-production

University of the Arts London [Website] https://www.arts.ac.uk/subjects/animation-interactive-film-and-sound/postgraduate/ma-screenwriting-lcc#application-process

Triton security. Sep 2023 [Website] https://www.triton-security.com/security-in-sight/crime-statistics-throughout-manchester/#:~:text=In%20the%202023%2F24%20reporting,topped%20the%20list%20with%20132.4.

Film-

Stephan Elliott.(director)(1994) The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert is a [film] Roadshow Film Distributors.

Williams. P.A (Director). (2017) Murdered for Being Different. [film]. BBC Three .

Books

Cline, Sally, and Carole Angier. (2010 ) The Arvon Book of Life Writing : Writing Biography, Autobiography and Memoir, Bloomsbury Publishing Plc,.ProQuest Ebook Central,

Davis, Robert, and Inna Piven.(2014) Social Media Branding for Small Business : The 5-Sources Model, Business Expert Press,. ProQuest Ebook Central,

Dmytryk, Edward. (2018) On Screen Writing, Taylor & Francis Group. ProQuest Ebook Central.

Fountain, Tim. (2008) So You Want to Be a Playwright?,Nick Hern Books, Limited. ProQuest Ebook Central,

Hardy, Paul. (2001) Making a Film on a Micro-Budget, Pocket Essentials. ProQuest Ebook Central,

McErlean, Kelly. ( 2018) Interactive Narratives and Transmedia Storytelling : Creating Immersive Stories Across New Media Platforms, Taylor & Francis Group. ProQuest Ebook Central,

Rich, Jason R.. (2014) The Crowd Funding Services Handbook : Raising the Money You Need to Fund Your Business, Project, or Invention, John Wiley & Sons, Incorporated. ProQuest Ebook Central,

Thurlow, Clifford, Thurlow.M. (2013) Making Short Films, Third Edition : The Complete Guide from Script to Screen, Bloomsbury Publishing Plc.ProQuest Ebook Central,

Theories

Young and Rubicam,(1985)  4C’s theory “Cross-Cultural Consumer Characterisation"