AS Film Studies 2012-2013

Wednesday, 23 January 2013

Scripped or Script Buddy online scriptwriting software

Session 1
Idea - Concept - Story
Inciting incident
Resolution/Climax

Session 2: Independent Learning Workshop - Create Meaning
Scriptwriting workshop - evidence on your blog and email post address to rbr@leighmedia.org.uk

Today you will be working your way through tasks to apply the following points of advice to writing a script for a specific scene in your 'film'

How to Write a Scene in a Film Script

1. Film scripts are composed of scenes that tie together into a sequence of events that form an entire movie. To write a film script, the writer must break down the story into scenes. Each scene must tell a bit of the story & follow the format for a screenplay.

2. Determine how long the scene needs to be. A ten-page scene, for example, would require ten minutes of screen time. Remember dramatic pacing - look at examples in your film to see how long the disruption/resolution scene lasts

3. Decide where the scene takes place. Film scripts scenes begin with a scene heading, or slug line, that establishes if the events take place inside (INT.) or outside (EXT.), then exactly where the action happens such as PARKING LOT or HOTEL ROOM

4. Choose which characters need to be in the scene. Know the characters; make sure what they say and how they act are consistent with their personalities. Remember to always capitalize names in your scripts

5. Establish what needs to happen in the scene. Developing a treatment outline will help to break down the script scene by scene

6. Write a "scribble version" that includes some details about the scene. Just write a few words about what might happen in the scene, and refer to these notes later when writing the full scene

Task 1. Inspiration & Story Links

Look over your selected film you are writing to sequel or prequel. Watch the important scenes you analysed and mind map the threads that need to be woven into your scene - what do the audience need to know from your scene?

Watch clips & embedd them from other films in the genre/big influences on your ideas that have/will inspire you. Here are some key disruptions scenes from cinema history

Note on your Mind maps/Brainstorm

Existing characters & new characters - motivations, their reasons for their behaviour/attitude - how will it mirror or foreshadow who they will become/were in the last film?
What type of scene is it - love/romantic disruption? A confrontation/stand off? Redemption? What does this scene need to accomplish to driving/concluding the story or 'revealing' the characters?
How will your character respond to the disruption/how will your character resolve the conflict?
Where is the conflict and how will you use this to explore your MACRO (Gender or Age stereotypes/Birth of the Hero/Conventions changing/Non CHC narratives)?

Task 2. Video Diary (3 - 5 mins) - Print off a large cut out of your main characters.

Discuss with your mentor partner & Outline your scene in depth - what needs to happen & what needs to be said? (remember the requirements of the scene you are writing - the disruption or the resolution)

http://youtu.be/919aaXaDiLE

Use the character images and hold them in front of the characters to tell me who they are in your scene (if sequel how the last film has affected them, if prequel how you are telling their backstory)

Task 3. Act out the scene with your Mentor partner - Dialogue

What dialogue initially must be present in here - don't worry if it sounds terrible or cheesy at this point, what do they need to say to make the audience understand the scene and explore your MACRO study.

Record this dialogue on your phones & upload to your blogs

Task 4. Pen to paper

Now write your scene scribble script. Very, very rough. Start simple - location time & place, mood, describe the atmosphere of the scene. Paint me the picture so I can identify with the characters - make me interested scared, laugh, cry, sympathise, FEEL something for this situation & these characters

Post this to your blog & email me the link to confirm you have completed all tasks in the 2.5 hours you have been given to work on your scripts

Task 5. Homework
Using the following choice of websites to begin writing your script - final draft is due in a fortnight, I require a first draft next week

http://www.scriptbuddy.com/ - this is free

http://scripped.com/ - subscription but has some templates for you to work & ideas suggester from to get you started. If you all chipped in together as a class you could share the log in??? Here's a video to show you what it can do...

Wednesday, 16 January 2013

60 second Film Pitch - Lesson Plan

Thursday, 10 January 2013

3.1 Lesson Plan: Narrative Post Mock Lesson (CoM & V) Post-Modernism

Postmodernist film

Postmodernist film attempts to subvert the mainstream conventions of narrative structure, characterization and destroys (or, at least, toys with) the audience's suspension of disbelief. Typically, such films also break down and often upend typical portrayals of [representation of social groups], genre, and time with the goal of creating something different from traditional narrative expression.

Wednesday, 9 January 2013

Why so many Sequels/Prequels - Film Narrative & the Post-Modern audience

Sequels & Prequels

Sometimes when a movie becomes exceptionally successful, the creator of that work will create a follow-up work known as a sequel. A sequel generally picks up where the original work ended, as in the case of the blockbuster sci-fi movie The Empire Strikes Back. Some authors, however, choose to create a new work which begins before the setting of the original movie, play or novel. A work which explores the early lives of established characters is called a prequel. An example of a prequel would be the 2008 movie Star Trek, which explores the early history of the original characters from the television series Star Trek. The prequel Batman Begins also predates the successful Batman movie franchise released years earlier.

A prequel can be a single work created to explain the back story of popular characters, or it may become the first in a new series of prequels. The new Batman film franchise, for example, may spawn several sequels according to its own story arc, but they will all be considered prequels to the original series which featured Batman as an adult. Sometimes an author will create a prequel after taking the original storyline to its logical conclusion. Author JK Rowling, for example, may choose to write a prequel to her Harry Potter series instead of taking the original characters into adulthood. A prequel would either explore the early lives of the main characters, or else be set a generation or two earlier and use characters only mentioned briefly in the original series.

These sequels may or may not be based on original source materials, but they would incorporate the characters and general setting of the original movie or novel. Such sequels may succeed or fail based on their faithfulness to the original work or other factors. A prequel, however, often demands that the commissioned writer have a solid understanding of the mythology surrounding the original work, as well the ability to create realistic younger versions of established characters.