Tuesday, 22 November 2016

Lecture 5

Producing on the Bleeding Edge - Dr Lance Dann

  • Bleeding edge - podcast audio drama series - futuristic, thriller, satire
  • Funded by Welcome Trust
  • Transmedia (Henry Jenkins)  - fans of products experience them in different forms of media
  • Supported by University of Brighton, University of Sussex and Imperial College London
  • Produced by Resonance 104.4 FM
  • Will be released internationally Spring 2017
  • The Flickerman
  • Advice: think forward; "what happens if it's brilliant"- prepare for the best and the worst
Bid writing
  • Respond to brief 
  • What else has been commissioned
  • Be pragmatic
  • Write positively,  make your project sound engaging and realistic
  • Re-draft until perfect
  • Respond to advice given (by client/teachers)
  • Don't get too lost in describing story (content)
  • "Sell the sizzle not the steak"
  • Atmosphere and feeling of the piece

Team building
  • Spend a lot of time with each other
  • Mix it up - people you know and trust and people to keep you on your toes
  • Don't just work with people you're familiar with - diversity is useful
Script wiring
1. Open writing
  • Throw everything around
  • Messy chaotic and surprising
  • Work in 50 min sessions
  • Use rules and structure as guides but throw away after
2. Closed process
  • Focus and controlled
  • Shut out doubt
  • Commit words to the page
  • Don't get too distracted by other ideas
  • Take yourself into emotional space
  • Listen to soundtracks
  • Work in 25 minute blocks, then 5 minute breaks
  • Take proper breaks after 90 minutes
  • Avoid phones - use/do something different
  • Clear mind
3. Editing process
  • Take draft and cut it
  • Shift, change and bring in new material
  • Trust instincts
  • Read as objectively as possible
  • Be critical
Production:
  • Pilot should be amazing
  • Sum up spirit of work
  • First line is key - has to draw audience
  • Production planning
  • Keep rolling version of budget
  • Predicate for worst
  • Schedule early
Although Dann works in Radio, his talk was really useful. I will definitely take his advice on script writing, when creating my storyboard. I tend to get so caught up on having a perfect version that I don't end up writing down anything at all. Therefore breaking it up into sessions would be a useful way to get my ideas out there. Then I can perfect them afterwards.

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