Roles of a Scriptwriter

Job roles
Commissioning editors are the senior employee of the broadcaster, they are responsible for selecting program ideas, allocating funds and they also specialize in a specific genre, and finally they have creative input and over see the writing process throughout production.
Producers oversee all aspects of the production that doesn't fall under the job role of director such as financial, legal and admin responsibilities. When writers are on 'staff' a producer may originate a project a pitching organize and finance and then attach it to a particular writer to develop. Producers are usually employed by a production company, if  not they would be an independent company. Producers plan and coordinate various aspects of the film production such as editing selecting the script, directing itself and finances.
The director is responsible for taking the ideas from the script and making the scriptwriters vision come true how ever they see fit. They provide the overall creative vision from which technicians and editors work from, as well as this they intemperate the script how they see fit, a writer has little to no control over this.
A script editors role as part of the production is too provide a critical overview of the scriptwriting process. They have many responsibilities such as finding new script writers, developing storylines and series ideas with writers, and finally ensuring scripts are suitable for production. They use keen analysis skills to clearly identify problems, they don't however create the solutions. And finally they help strengthen and develop screenplays.
Agnets, find work for their clients, they find the most suited job for their client, they only exist due to the fact that actors cannot represent themselves. An agent is someone that knows the legal ramifications of the business. They do this by knowing members of the hiring comity. They do not get paid unless they are finding work for their client. They organize contracts, negoteate appropriate deals  and finally support and guide writers careers.
Writers, who hold the responsibilitys of research are one of if not the most important jobs in the businesses. They are also responsible for developing an emgaging narrative and a deep and emostional impact on the audicnce. They do this within the screenplay that was writen to meet the breif in the appropriate format of filming. The vast majority are freelance, which means they do not answer to a company. However some writers are empoyed as part of a company, these are claaed writing teams. However, this way of writing(writing to a formualr that hasnt been set yet) is not the most efficent way of writing a film or TV show.

Commissioning Bodies




Courperations such as the BBC sometimes publish scripts of up and coming writers, giving them achance to make it in the world of TV. They do this by uploading the scripts sent by writers to the BBC website and making them available to download to the public, they then monitor the feedback. Almost all of the pitching of ideas for big courperations (e.g.Fox,Sony,Disney and Universal) goes through established relationships, this provides a more viable and realisitic option of already known names who have already worked for big courperations, indies or agents. These companies are part of large conglomerates, this is due to them having complete owener ship of all stages of production(funding, production, marketing,distribution and in some cases exhaibition). 
In the US, there are whats called 'pilots seasons' around the time of March - May each year where alot of commissioning networks run competitions to get your screenplay noticed by bigger corperations.
There are hundreds of Independant Production Companies all around Britan, they strike deals with other companies to produce materials, this could be for a broadcast on a network, once finished writers may submit work directly to IPC's. Differant companies are known for differant genres and work to varyify budgetary capabilities.
There are also a number of organisations that are set up to assist prospective writers to help kick start careers in media. Such as: BBC writers room, Good In a Room and BFI film Academy. The writers Guild Of Great Britan supports writers across media including film, online, radio, theature, TV and Videogames. 
There are numerous screenwriting competitions available for entry with cash prizes. Winning screenplay contests is not an automatic ticket to sucsess, but your work is more likely to be read by potential managers, agents and producers. For example, the Academy Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting and Austin Screenwriting Competition - there is a proven track record of writers who have sold scripts, gotten representation and launched their careers based on winning these screenwriting contests. 
In the UK FilmFreeway run three competitons, with all winners since 2013 being in pre - production or production, with some winning awards.

In order to be a script writer there are many legal reproductions that need to be taken into account, such as copywriter entanglements. Carful planning and script editing goes into writing a final script, which can in some cases involve multiple writers. 







This itself is typical to the writing process, in order to control the process, the writer himself is not involved in the process once its gone into production. Once in production it then moves to shooting format. If it is approved it is then assigned numbers for simplicity sake. It is then handed to the department heads, it is then moves to what is called page lock down, this is so that if chances are made they can be easily tracked. When changes are made they are recorded onto what is called revision pages.
Every writer must consider legal and ethical decisions when writing and publishing a script. Some of these include conflict of interest and bias. The legal ramifications include copyright claims, libel and censorship.
Writer must properly copywriter their work or they run the risk of having their ideas stolen by other artists. The copy write warning must be clearly visible on the manuscript otherwise the writer in question would be creating a possible loophole.
For censorship, writers are restricted in using sex or violence. It is doubtful to release a film that shows real sexism and racial intolerance. However, some will argue that this content is good for showing these issues in a positive way. It will demonstrate that the writer followed the social values beyond what the censorship board controls. 
Out of all the legal problems that could arise libel is one of the most threatening. This because it is possibly a career ending issue. This issue affects fiction and non fiction actors alike. Producing a professional script with information based on real life is seen as libelous. If it was about a real person, it must be made with care or that person will be harmed. 
Plagiarism is the failure to give credit to another author’s work or ideas, when it is used in the publication. It is the obligation of the editor of the journal to ensure the article does not contain any plagiarism before it is published. If a publication which has already been published is proven to contain plagiarism, then the editor of the journal can proceed to have the article retracted.
Publication bias occurs when the publication is one-sided or “prejudiced against results”. In best practice, an author should try to include information from all parties involved, or affected by the topic. If an author is prejudiced against certain results, then it can “lead to erroneous conclusions being drawn.”
Watersheds is one of Ofcoms most important responsibilities, this act involves protecting young children from harmful material. Codes set standards for radio and TV and these codes must be matched. There are strict rules that must be followed about what can be shown before nine o'clock on television, such as: no violence, no profanity and no sexual scenes or references. The name watershed refers to the crest dividing two drainage basins, a broadcasting watershed generally serves as a dividing line in a schedule between family-oriented programs, and programs aimed at or suitable for a more adult audience, such as those containing objectionable content.

Agent Representation 
An agent is someone that looks after the sales and work load of a client for a fee, this would be someone that knows all the legal and ethical propitious of the media business. The amount of pay they receive is all dependent on their ability to find their client work, but first they agree on a fixed amount, in most cases it is around 15% to 25%. The agent will then take that percentage from all of their clients pay checks. The agents job is to sell their client, they will  negotiate the sale to publishers, theatrical producers and film producers as well as TV. The more your agent knows and the more people know them is a large advantage as they will already have contacts to sell their client too.
Time Management
During the process of script writing it is very important to keep up with deadlines and schedules. If time is wasted it can cause scripts to remind unfinished, for as long as decades. If this becomes the case it can enter a place called 'limbo', this means that its spent so long in post production so long the the writer can loose interest and give up. Time management is even more vital when a whole team is working on your script as a commission. If deadlines are not met in this situation it can put strain on relationships with other writers, agents and producers. If the writer is behind schedule it can cause everyone to fall behind which would cost the team money.
Communication 
Scriptwriters need to be able to communicate between each other to properly understand each others ideas when pitching a product, when communicating to their audience via their written work.
Collaborative Skills
Writers will often have to work with other professionals in order to produce a project, this could be with other writers on a script, or even with producers and directors if they have been asked to produce specific material.
Research Skills 
TV and film actors may have to ensure accuracy in their portraits for example historical roles such as Brad Pitt in Troy. Where as factual film makers need carful fact checking, such as documentaries. 

Job Roles Within Commissioning

Producer - Admin, filming and crew
Executive Producer - don't do anything(sometimes the star of the film, Mark Wahlberg)
 Directors - (a person that controls the script) creative vision of the film, taking cues from the director, once script has been submitted the director is in control of the script
Script Editors - identify problems with the script(add subtract scenes when necessary) where it should be stronger, where it could be better
Agents - find work for actors and writers, someone who works in an industry, knows the legal ramifications(cannot represent yourself) organize the contracts and have relationships with commission agents and pitch their client to the most fitting, the agent does not get paid unless they are finding work for their client
Writers - solo writer(free lance) writing teams, writers signed on to a specific company(could be tweaking script or changing it, not the most efficient way to write a film or TV show, writing to a formula that hasn't been set) vast majority are free lance
Editors

Commissioning Bodies (people that produce a script)
Corporations (such as the BBC, can give up and coming writers a chance to air their script) these scripts can be downloaded from their website and read by the public, the BBC then monitors its feedback)
Indeoendant production complaises -
Independant directors
Organizations - BBC writing room, the writers guild of great Britain
Competitions - competitions can be won, this would gather the writer some popularity and recognistion
The screen writing process - once in production the script moves to shooting format