I am looking forward to this term and learning more about development within the industry.
Wish list:
- A competent and clear understanding of the options and pathways in a scriptwriting career. Hopefully what this whole term is about.
- Whether the industry has changed enough to allow multi-disciplined writers a broader career. (drama/comedy/sci-fi and directing/producing/editing for me!) The typecasting of writers into one particular genre, seems deeply flawed.
- Women writers writing women! (Writing for female characters or female loved projects without the use of over-indulgent male-led stereotypes or focusing too heavily on romance.) We need new stories, not the same tired old plots, especially those that display a woman as damaged and in need of saving.
- Career paths and progression routes within the television industry and the writer’s rooms. I can look into these in both interviews and research websites that focus on career progression.
- The production of independent projects and if they can lead to a writing career (or keep you stuck in a creation, funding, production cycle). The project I’m hoping to do the treatment for would be a self funded project so I need to research the market place for independent musicals!
- How mental health is portrayed in film and if experience with mental health issues is seen as an asset to writing or an obstacle to career progression. This might be something to look into more deeply later on when I write my TV series.
And so, I give you my premise for a full length film:
Times Up! (or name of her Blog – Melody seeks …?)
In this modern day musical, a relationship counsellor is trying to find love in a world with little prospects. If she fails she may regret ending her previous relationship. Questioning her ability to do her job, she starts a blog on dating which begins a journey of self discovery.
It would appear that this premise is in direct opposition of my earlier wish to write more female characters without over-indulging in romance. I am hoping to use the tropes of Romcoms and romance in Musicals to subvert our current view of what women like to watch and how they actually behave and act at the beginning of relationships. My peers have suggested I research Waitress and Julie and Julia for this premise and I will also be looking at Rent, The Prom and Crazy-ExGirlfriend.
