THE WRITE CHOICE By Spencer Rupert A thesis presented to the Independent Studies Program of the University of Waterloo in fulfilment of the thesis requirements for the degree Bachelor of Independent Studies (BIS) Waterloo, Canada 2009 1 Table of Contents 1 Abstract...................................................................................................................................................7 2 Summary.................................................................................................................................................8 3 Introduction.............................................................................................................................................9 4 Writing the Story...................................................................................................................................11 4.1 Movies...........................................................................................................................................11 4.1.1 Writing...................................................................................................................................11 4.1.1.1 In the Beginning.............................................................................................................11 4.1.1.2 Structuring the Story......................................................................................................12 4.1.1.3 The Board.......................................................................................................................15 4.1.2 Examples................................................................................................................................16 4.1.2.1 Log Line.........................................................................................................................16 4.1.2.2 Beat Sheet......................................................................................................................17 4.1.2.3 The Board.......................................................................................................................18 4.1.3 Analysis.................................................................................................................................18 4.2 Television......................................................................................................................................18 4.2.1 Getting on the Air..................................................................................................................18 4.2.2 The Template.........................................................................................................................20 4.2.3 Writing TV.............................................................................................................................21 4.2.3.1 Springboards..................................................................................................................21 4.2.3.2 Breaking the Story.........................................................................................................22 4.2.3.3 Rewriting, and rewriting, and rewriting, and.................................................................22 4.2.4 Examples................................................................................................................................23 4.2.4.1 Template.........................................................................................................................24 4.2.4.2 Springboard....................................................................................................................24 4.2.4.3 Breaking the Story.........................................................................................................25 4.2.5 Analysis.................................................................................................................................25 4.3 Video Games.................................................................................................................................26 4.3.1 The Development Cycle........................................................................................................26 4.3.2 Design vs Writing..................................................................................................................27 4.3.3 The Spectrum.........................................................................................................................27 4.3.4 The Design Team...................................................................................................................28 4.3.5 Examples................................................................................................................................29 4.3.6 Analysis.................................................................................................................................29 4.4 Conclusion.....................................................................................................................................29 5 Helping Hands.......................................................................................................................................31 5.1 Movies...........................................................................................................................................31 5.1.1 The Studios............................................................................................................................31 5.1.2 Directors................................................................................................................................31 5.1.3 Actors.....................................................................................................................................32 5.1.4 Editors....................................................................................................................................32 5.2 Television......................................................................................................................................34 3 5.2.1 Studios...................................................................................................................................34 5.2.2 Networks................................................................................................................................34 5.2.3 Directors................................................................................................................................34 5.2.4 Actors.....................................................................................................................................34 5.2.5 Editors....................................................................................................................................34 5.3 Video Games.................................................................................................................................34 5.3.1 Publishers...............................................................................................................................34 5.3.2 Designers...............................................................................................................................34 5.3.3 The Player..............................................................................................................................35 5.3.4 Problems................................................................................................................................35 5.4 Conclusion.....................................................................................................................................36 6 Regulation and Limitation....................................................................................................................37 6.1 Movies...........................................................................................................................................37 6.1.1 Ratings...................................................................................................................................37 6.1.2 Criticism................................................................................................................................37 6.2 Television......................................................................................................................................39 6.2.1 FCC........................................................................................................................................39 6.2.2 Standards and Practises..........................................................................................................40 6.3 Video Games.................................................................................................................................41 6.4 Conclusion.....................................................................................................................................43 7 Relationship Between Movies, Television, and Video Games..............................................................44 7.1 Dungeons & Dragons....................................................................................................................44 7.1.1 The Mechanic........................................................................................................................44 7.1.2 Core Assumptions..................................................................................................................45