The Creation of the Script 2

Programme Outline

Sixteen people whose lives were profoundly affected by an industrial dispute which endured for two and a half years continue and complete a television drama script about their experience. This second half of a fly-on-the-wall documentary observes the creative process of developing an initial draft script through to final production for the screen.

Zero VCR counter on first frame of the programme. Counter numbers may vary slightly on different machines.

00:00
Archive cinema newsreel of the Merseyside docks when the workforce was numbered in thousands.

00:34
Six months into the project, participants read through the first third of their script.

01:10
McGovern considers what has been achieved. He identifies a major weakness: the absence of a climax.

02:55
One docker suggests that an effective climax would be the famous promise from their union leader that ‘you will never walk alone’. Film footage from 1996 of Bill Morris, General Secretary of the TGWU, speaking these words.

04:05
McGovern expresses his excitement at their discovery of ‘betrayal’ as the key to the structure of the drama.

06:15
Workshop participants critically review the first draft of their script. Techniques for character development are discussed.

08:05
Liverpool drama students deliver a stirring read-through which the scriptwriters find a powerful emotional experience.

10:35
The dockers and their wives visit the headquarters of Channel 4 Television to review their first draft with the head of drama.

13:15
A film director joins the project, and the writers sign official production contracts.

14:25
Pressures mount as the script is finalised.

17:55
McGovern reflects on the big moments in the writing of the Dockers screenplay.

18:25
A cast is assembled for a complete run-through of the final script.

20:00
Members of the writers’ workshop reflect on their new experience of writing a television drama.

21:00
End credits.