The next hero in the crew I wish to introduce, is the writer. Their role involves taking the brief and works with the client to produce the ‘script’ of your project.
What this entity is will depend on the project itself. In video production or publishing, the writer plays the role in creating the meat of the story you’ll portray. This could relate to the screenplay or storyboard department who will flesh out basic ideas into something a little more tangible – a framework from which the director and crew will work from. In Audio production, this could be similar, for instance to structure a recorded drama, the composer of a score, or to set out a structure for a radio show or podcast. In other projects such as web design or education, your writer would formulate a plan – the bones of the site or your lessons to allow your respective makers to put their meat upon.
The very fate and shape of your project can be decided by your writer so care must be taken to communicate with them from the outset between your project leads and head developers (The Director and The Producer) to ensure the original objectives are fulfilled in a manner that matters to the client or end user and that the plan for the story will reach the outcome in a manner that they are satisfied with (within your power of course).
If the ‘story’ (for the sake of your respective term) does end up with a twist or surprise, many will turn to the writer to see what contingency plans were written in to address this and with the guidance of the Producer and if need be the Director, the correct plans will be put in place to ensure the ‘plot’ returns to the correct track before the end of the ‘story’ approaches for handover.
It can be a tricky job being the writer as almost a fortune teller for a project that is yet to spring to life and even more so joining one that is already part way though but with the right support from other members of the Cre-8 crew, a good one is always able to ensure that a story no matter how simple or twisted will reach a justifiable ending that has integrity and structure to ensure a smooth ending (good or bad) to your project.
Mike
