Writing a Contextual Study for your Script
There is no set formula for a contextual study. The form of your study will vary according to the unique development of your script.
Students are expected to view films, read scripts, and read critical texts beyond those discussed in the classroom. Use the library. Do not simply rely on internet sources. The best marks will be awarded for rigorous and independent academic study, which shows an imaginative and wide-ranging consideration of the scriptwriting process and its context with the industry.
Your contextual study might address some, or all of the following questions. However, do not use this list as a bullet point template. Your writing should be both informative and engaging:
- How did you come up with the idea for your script?
- How did you develop that idea? (Workshops? Logline? Outline? First to Final Draft?)
- What feedback did you receive during the development process, and how did you respond to it?
- What strategic changes did you make during the rewriting process?
- Did you have problems with the ‘industry formatting’ of your script? How did you resolve these problems?
- How would you define the structure of your script? Does it follow a traditional three-act structure? If not, how does it vary from the latter? You should refer to scriptwriting theorists you have read (Field, Vogler, McKee, etc.) and reference them appropriately.
- Where have you placed the significant turning points in your narrative, and why?
- How did you develop the characters for your script?
- What locations did you chose for your script and why?
- Did you consider the budget of your script? How did this influence your creative decisions?
- Which films or screenwriters influenced your script?
- How would you define the genre of your script? You should refer to critical theory, and script/film examples in your given genre.
- Which films are similar to your script? What makes your film unique from others in its genre?
- Do you think your film stands a chance of being made, and why?
- Whilst it is not strictly within the remit of this unit, or possible within the given timeframe, ‘Bonus Points’ might be awarded if you can answer the following questions:
- Have you devised a marketing strategy for your script? i.e.
- Have you taken any steps to get the script made, or to encourage it towards production? (competitions, shootingpeople.org, contacts / filmmakers within the university, public networking events, etc.)
- All films, journals, books, webpages, etc. should be correctly referenced in a reference list at the end of your study. The reference list is not included in the word count for your study.
- Write a 3000-word contextual study based on the 90 page script I have written and attached, called: Tokyogasm. (Take your time to read the script and understand it, it has multiple protagonists, Tarantino inspired, message me if you’ve got any questions). The study should include a full Reference List. The Reference List does not count towards the 3000-word count.
When writing the contextual study do not re-tell the story. Follow the guidelines in the word document called: Scriptwrting-the contextual study. Referencing script-writing books is seen as better than referencing articles. Feel free to message me if you have any questions.
Useful Websites:
For everything concerned with scriptwriting, promoting yourself and your work, and for low budget film production.
For advice, for script archives, for courses on making low budget films.
For making low budget films. The related big green ‘Guerilla Film Makers Handbook’ is also invaluable.
For viewing short films.
For a large database of scripts. Warning – some of these are ‘fan transcripts’, rather than the genuine article.
