Writing and Scheduling

1. Chapter 2 Writing and Scheduling

2. Successful video/film productions need • A well written script • Lots of planning • Preproduction planning impacts production & post • Don’t let your eagerness to shoot take away from planning • Planning is the last time your production • Is truly under your control • Once shooting starts….

3. Screenwriting • Movie adaptations are often different than their source books • Why is this?

4. The main reasons for the difference • Writing a book & Creating a film • Are very different art forms • Screenwriting is a very particular type of writing • Writing for the eyes (visual) • As opposed to the mind

5. Finding a story • Before you can begin developing a story • You need to decide what it is about. • There are several ways to find ideas • Brainstorming • Observations • Inspirations • Experiences • Once you have an idea • develop a structure for it

6. Structure • Structure can turn a series of events • Into a story • Understanding the basic structure • Beginning • Middle • Ending • This is often referred to as the three-act structure • Can be applied to any type of production • Will help with writing shooting and editing of your film

7. Three Act structure • Act I – The beginning • Main character is introduced, along with the nemesis and supporting cast • Act 2 – The middle • Main characters problem gets complicated • Subplots are introduced and resolved • Middle of this act is middle of the movie • The climax usually occurs here • Bulk of the movie

8. Three Act structure • Act 3 – The ending • The main characters problem is solved • Unlike a stage play • The acts may blend together in film • Audience may not see clear separation between them

9. Writing visually • Movies are made up of pictures • Dialogue, talking, music and more • May exist in the production • But first and foremost • Movies are a VISUAL form of storytelling

10. 5 Minutes

11. We will have a few people share what they have written

12. Formatting your script • Movie screenplay format is very specific • Designed and refined to convey • More than dialogue and scene descriptions • Regardless of production type • Good formatting will make your production easier. • Screenplay format (Pg 19) • Advantages • Helps determine length & pace of script • One minute of screen time per page (variations occur)

13. Writing for unscripted • Unscripted projects • Documentaries, Reality TV, News • Still require SOME writing • Two approaches to documentaries • Inductive • Shoot the subject first then edit footage into final film • Deductive (Outlining) • Write out a script, then get footage to match it

14. Scheduling • Once script is workable what do you do? • Plan your shoots • What resources do you have (or need) • What items do you need for each scene • How many pages will you shoot each day • How much time do you have • What is your budget • Do you need to hire a crew • What about the weather? • There are many variables that can affect your schedule

15. 4 minutes

16. Let’s hear some of the details and descriptions

17. Breaking down a script • Going through the script to determine needs • This may result in shooting out of order • If there are complex scenes that require a crew • They will likely be shot in succession even if they are not in order in the film • Easy scenes can be shot first or last

18. Choosing a shooting order • Once you have a schedule & script breakdown • You will be ready to layout your shooting order • You may consider location now • Scenes at the house • Scenes outside • Scenes at the workplace • If you can shoot all the scenes • from one location at the same time • You won’t have to go back

19. How much in a day • This will vary depending on your budget. • With a big budget you can do less in a single day • Won’t be rushed • Can wait out bad weather • Multiple takes for perfection • If you have a small budget • You might have to get it in like the postman • Rented equipment • Friends helping during time off • etc

20. Scheduling for unscripted • If you are following a subject (documentary) • Your scheduling may change throughout • If you are shooting an event • Your scheduling will take place during the event timeframe • Other scheduling includes • Interviews • Supporting footage etc.

21. Breaking into Hollywood as a scriptwriter is tough. • Thousands of scripts are sent each year, some don't get read, most get rejected and a few make it.

22. What a good script needs • A main character who is driven towards achieving a goal • An opposition to your main character who will hold your main character back from achieving their goal • (The Bad Guy) • A fight (literal or metaphorical) between your main character and their opposition • An ending which answers the questions "Can the main character achieve his goal?”

23. If your script can present such a story • Along with a well thought out main character who the audience can relate to • You will all ready have the jump on most scriptwriters.

24. 2 Minutes

25. Switch with a classmate • You will switch with a classmate and add more details to what they have written • Make sure you read what they have written to avoid being repetitive

26. 3 Minutes

27. Switch back • Let’s have a few people share what they and a classmate have written for this one

28. Last One - 3 Minutes

29. The only way to get better at anything is to practice. • There are a few more writing exercises that can really get your creative juices flowing • They are designed to help you with character building, story structure and writing action sequences.

30. People You Know • This exercise will help your understanding in creating realistic characters. • Even seemingly dull people can be interesting or funny when placed in certain situations.

31. Write a list of ten people you know. • Pick a broad spectrum of people from your family, friends, work place and neighbors… • you don’t necessarily have to like the people you pick! • For each person on your list write out a single paragraph character description. • Come up with one characteristic for each person that makes them unique. • Somewhere within the list, you might just find a gem of a character to write about!

32. It’s Not Paranoia If They’re Really After You! • This exercise helps learn how to empathize with characters and feel what they’re going through. • This will allow you to write your characters with a lot of emotional depth. • If the danger doesn’t feel real to the character then it won’t seem real to the audience.

33. They’re after you! You don’t know why, but you’re being chased down relentlessly. • Write out a chase scene where you are the only one being chased. • Imagine the panic and fear you’d be feeling as well as the confusion. • Really get into the frame of mind of someone being chased, and fearful for their life. • To make it even more interesting write out three different scenes, each with a different method of travel. • On foot. • In a car. • In a helicopter, being chased by a UFO!

34. Script Exercise • Write a one-minute film with one location, no dialogue, and no more than three characters. • Sound effects may be used, but the story must be told through visuals and action. • Ensure that your story is self-contained (avoid writing a scene) and that it has a theme. In other words, your story should mean something outside of itself—it should have a point. • The length of your script should not exceed two pages in proper screenwriting format.