SCREENPLAYS WANTED ENVIRONMENT DRAMA SERIES

The first attack takes place on the planet the injured crewman unwittingly brings the alien onboard and it kills the crew. (Alien begins with the routine schedule on the Nostromo, disrupted by the discovery of the alien eggs.

SCREENPLAYS WANTED ENVIRONMENT DRAMA SERIES

There is a series of attacks which the protagonist at first tries to avoid, before being forced into a climactic battle: whether or not she wins is the writer's choice.

The 'expected scenes': What scenes would audiences expect to see? Horror establishes the protagonist's normal world before admitting the monster.

It resolves when Ripley finally ejects the creature from the escape pod.) (Alien's trigger occurs when the crew members examine the alien eggs. The resolution expects the monster to be destroyed or expelled and the protagonist to escape.

'Trigger' and resolution: What are the events that trigger stories in this genre? How are they resolved? Horror triggers bring in the monster, sparking the protagonist's jeopardy.

(Ellen Ripley must turn implacable warrior to defeat the alien's speed and cunning.) Horror antagonists are (literally or figuratively) monsters: superior in strength, malevolent in intent. Our point of view is aligned with her we share her terror.

Protagonist and antagonist: What are the generic characteristics of the protagonist and antagonist? How is the audience aligned with them? The horror protagonist is a victim who must find extraordinary personal reserves to save herself.

(The Nostromo crew have to prevent the spaceship reaching Earth with the alien on board Ripley barely escapes.)

Stakes: What is usually at risk? How are the stakes habitually raised? Is there a 'ticking clock' timeline? Horror places the protagonist in mortal danger, closing off her escape routes as the antagonist draws near.

Story world: Are there characteristic locations? What are the rules of the story world? Horror uses places where the protagonist expects to feel safe or knows what the dangers are they become traps once the antagonist appears.

I'll use horror as a model, with Alien, a horror/sci-fi hybrid, as an example: Research the genre you're interested in: look at how key elements are used. Mainstream UK theatre is dominated by musicals and comedy subsidised or non-mainstream theatre draws on relationships, personal stories, social drama, and romance radio does too. Police and medical series are obvious examples: the station, laboratory, hospital or surgery provides the central location. Current schedules are anchored by 'precinct dramas': groups or teams working within a tight-knit group of locations, often a workplace. Television employs story genres within series formats. The UK Film Council reports that, in 2007, the most popular genres with UK cinema audiences were:

Screenplays wanted environment drama