1st Edition
An Introduction to Writing for Electronic Media Scriptwriting Essentials Across the Genres
"Wonderfully practical....just what every media writer needs."
Christopher H. Sterling
George Washington University
* Learn what it takes to write for commercials, news, documentaries, corporate, educational, animation, games, the internet, and dramatic film & video productions
* Outlines the key skills needed for a successful media writing career
The demand for quality and knowledgeable multi-platform writing is always in high demand. An Introduction to Writing for Electronic Media presents a survey of the many types of electronic media you can write for, and explains how to do it.
Musburger focuses on the skills you need to write for animation versus radio or television news versus corporate training. Sample scripts help you learn by example while modeling your own scripts. Production files illustrate the integral role writers' play in the production process, and individual movie frames allow you compare these to the real scripts.
Armed with the skills developed in this book, a media writer can apply for a variety of positions in newsrooms, advertising firms, motion pictures or animation studios, as well as local and national cable operations.
Robert B. Musburger, Ph.D., is Professor Emeritus and former Director of the School of Communication, University of Houston, USA. He has worked for 20 years in professional broadcasting, serving as camera operator, director, producer, and writer. Musburger has received numerous awards for his video work and teaching and he continues to work in electronic media with his Seattle, WA,. consulting firm, Musburger Media Services.
"[An] authoritative and clearly written description of the processes involved in writing for film, radio and television production."
Raymond Fielding, Dean Emeritus
Florida State University
Preface
1. Loading the App/Sharpening the pencil
History of Scripts
Script Variations
Media differences
Basic writing skills
The Law and Censorship
Distribution
*
2. Production for the writer (much of this will be folded into
Sound individual chapters)
Picture
Editing
The Crew-where do writers fit
Above line
Below line
3. Spots
What Makes a Spot
Public Service Announcements
Promotional Announcements
Commercials
Banners
Selling techniques
Changing their spots
4. News
Differences between media
Radio
TV
Internet
Script formats
Sports, Weather
5. Documentary
Definition
Short Form
Long Form
Docudrama
6. Corporate
Definition
Internal
Training
Communication
External
Public relations
Commercials
7. Educational
Definition
Primary
Secondary
Advanced
Using the web
8. Games
Types
Branching
Classifications
9.. Drama
Basics of dramatic writing
TV
Soaps
Features
Motion Pictures
Film
Digital
Radio
Ratings
10. Animation (Not a genre)
Basics
Shorts
Features
Two-dimensional
Three-dimensional
11. The Internet (Distribution)
Techniques
Sales
Promotion
News
Flash
12. Now What
Selling Scripts
Marketing yourself
Career Choices
Finding an Agent
Professional Organizations
13. Glossary
14. Index
Biography
Robert B. Musburger, Ph.D. is Professor Emeritus and former Director of the School of Communication, University of Houston. He has worked for 20 years in professional broadcasting, serving as camera operator, director, producer, and writer and has received numerous awards for his video work and teaching. His published writing includes "Electronic News Gathering: A Guide to ENG" (Focal), "Single-camera Video Production, Fifth Edition"(Focal), and, with Gorham Kindem, "Introduction to Media Production: From Analog to Digital, Fourth Edition" (Focal).
"Wonderfully practical....just what every media writer needs."
- Christopher H. Sterling,
George Washington University
"An invaluable student-centered approach to learning how to write for various media outlets....both professionally and pedagogically sound."
- Jennings Bryant
University of Alabama
"[An] authoritative and clearly written description of the processes involved in writing for film, radio and television production."
- Raymond Fielding, Dean Emeritus
Florida State University