Screenwriting reserach and ideas - Step 1 & 2

STEP 1:
IDEA 1:
My first idea is about a man who goes on the run from the police, after playing a key role in a large gang attack in major English city. The man's home has been located by the police so he is unable to go home, so his last resort is to swat in a derelict block of flats, along with a group of people who're either alcoholics or excessive drug users to disguise himself amongst other members of the public. Ironically, because of the fact that the man is not an excessive drug user or alcoholic, he doesn't fit in and there is a personality clash between a few of the residents. Ironically, this results in the man being the victim of a gang attack, made up of people how he clashed with, as well as other contacts they had who were in the same situation.

IDEA 2:
A poor boy meets a rich girl, whose parents aren't too keen on they boys appearance or personality.The parents try to encourage the girl not to get together with him, but her feelings overwhelm her parents opinion. It turns out that it is in fact the girl that has the problems as she is a frequent drug user and the boy is trying to get her to change her ways as he feels deep love for her. It ends with the girl dieing from a drugs overdose as her parents try to blame the boy as they think he was a bad influence on the girl.

IDEA 3:
A talented male musician is on the verge of making the "big-time", but unfotuantly becomes very ill and brings his career to an abrupt end. Well thats what he thinks anyway... Fortuantly for him, he is asked to be the guinea pig of a new medication to bring him back to full health and it works with great effect. He uses this story to restart his career not only to make a living, but to make sure that everyone else who is suffering what he was a victim of receives the medication to bring them back to full health.

The Idea I intend to progress further with is idea 2. This is because it has a basic structure and features which are very common, but also very effective. It features "boy meet girl, complications occur, something happens, everything is okay in the end" structure.

Step 2:
To complete my screenwriting research, I am going to have to look at a range of different sources to collect information from. These sources include:

• The BBC Writers Room - Reading articles, tips and tools etc
• Script Angle
• TV Scripts and Bibles
• Possible YouTube videos?
• Books: 'The foundation of screen writing', 'Rain dance writers lab' and 'Reading for a living'

Step1: Create either a survey or questionaire to find out what different social classes/categories to gain information about their personal preferences.
Step 2: Put findings into a table/graph - quantative data.
Step 3: Look at different sources to gain inspiration for my own screenplay

by using a wide range of different research material, it gives you the opportunity to find a method/style that suits your own style rather than look at one source and feeling like you have to adapt yourself to that particular style.
Whilst carrying out the research, I will be posting my findings on the blog regularly. Also, whilst completing my research, it may give me new influences which we encourage me to change my original screen play to improve it.