See the Week 6 - PROJECT 2 DETAILS instructions to write the SCRIPT.
Please respect SHARED TIME. The script must please be formatted and proofread in order to be functional before sharing—yes, even for rough versions—or it may not be accepted for group work, and you may need to fix it so we can give it detailed feedback. Please demonstrate self-directed deliberate practice, finding and using resources and support—show you can work unsupervised in outside-class time.
A script is needed for Filmed Readings Group Work.
Filmed Reads v1 and v2 are due by Week 10. If dated after this, they're graded as late. Filmed Reads are a basic requirement to show rewriting processes, needed to PASS the Project.
Class time may not be available for filmed readings late in the trimester, and doing readings in outside-class time late, sloppy, and half-baked is undesirable. Please smash out a functional rough script draft to work with now when creativity is more flexible, and show deliberate practice of employable skills for fair use of group work time, making script versions usable on schedule.
Campus Tech Store and Patron Portal (web checkout) or call (02) 8241 5212.
BEFORE CLASS:
You need to book ahead with your student credentials and borrow the necessary gear.
This is so that you learn our equipment system in preparation for future production and to demonstrate responsibility for your own projects. Please organise this amongst yourselves, using your communication skills. You will need:
A DSLR Camera and Tripod (ensure the camera has a built-in mic),
or, if you're using a modern phone camera,
A gooseneck clip phone mount or a tripod/light stand phone mount.
BEFORE CLASS,
We will need 2 sets of gear per class, usually.
If Tech Store wants to book the gear under the lecturer's name, please say politely, "I'm an SAE student; here is my ID, and I have been asked to demonstrate that I can book and return equipment safely under my own name and take responsibility for my own projects in some semblance of adult behavior."
Ensure you book enough time to finish all tasks, even if this might be slightly over class time.
A tripod or clip mount frees all team members for readings. This is best. If these are unavailable, one team member can do hand-held filming.
Ensure the camera or phone has PLENTY of space.
Film folks usually prefer 24 fps, HD 1080p. If you're using a good modern phone camera, there are apps for this.
BRING GEAR TO CLASS.
PRINT ENOUGH COPIES OF YOUR SCRIPT FOR 3-4 PEOPLE BEFORE CLASS, demonstrating your ability to read instructions and take adult responsibility for your own projects, thank you.
You can use your local city council library, Officeworks, or the SAE campus front desk. 1-sided printing may be better for script markup.
BRING THE COPIES TO CLASS.
BRING a PENCIL or a PEN.
Campus Online
View The Boyfriend Game (Alice Englert; 2017).
Nelmes, J. (2011) Realism and Screenplay Dialogue.
Sideways (Alexander Payne and Jim Taylor; 2003) PDF pages 1-25
Time Management in Calendar or Toggl
Writing Scenes & Dialogue.
Readings.
Screening.
Discussion.
GDrive > Project > Notes
Record your notes, screening, and readings analysis.
Action Paragraphs
- limited, effective word count
- 3-4 line paragraph size with spacing.
- good use of audio.
- see Hunter, Page 2 or 3
- see Week 6
We'll meet in class, discuss, and form TEAMS. Then we'll split up.
3 separate SPACES for filming are booked:
1. Room 103, our usual room
2. The Wonder Room (Floor 4) - ask Tech Ops to open it for you, if it's locked
3. Room 202 Seminar Room (Floor 2)
The facilitator will rotate around each space in turn for short periods.
There are many videos online about how to do "table" reads, and you can check them out. However, sitting at a table can be lacking in energy and body language, so let's do partly staged readings, which are slightly more physical, with more room to move. This also helps us make the timing more accurate.
Arrange a clear STAGE space, with a chair or two if needed.
CAMERA
Ensure the device has PLENTY of space. Film folks usually prefer 24fps, HD 1080p.
Position and angle actors and the camera so the fronts of bodies and faces can be seen as much as possible, with actors performing a 45-degree angle to the camera whenever possible.
Test a recording and play it back with sound to check the device is working properly before performing.
Each person requires a PEN/PENCIL, ready to make notes on their PRINTED script copies, such as suggestions or directions that arise during the workshop.
Use freedom of movement. If the line is standing, stand. If seated, sit. If moving, walk or run on the spot, or do some simple action. This helps the timing.
RELAX, breathe, and perform confidently and clearly, holding the script and keeping your finger on the page line.
Look up from the script in-between lines and during pauses, so your eyes and face can be seen. Keep your finger on your spot on the page.
Make eye contact when you're in dialogue with another actor. If you feel shy, you can look at their nose or forehead. Eye contact improves the dialogue.
Do a dry rehearsal run (no filming) if possible first. If there are suggestions, proposals, or offers, write notes on the script. You can do this during the dry run, or if you're filming, you may need to wait until there's a pause.
Use your limited TIME well. Depending on how many scripts are ready to film, the schedule may be busy. Plan enough time to
Discuss the reading and feedback,
Write further feedback notes on the script during discussion.
Download the video.
Please rearrange the furniture back to normal after use.
Partly staged Table Reads allow freedom of movement. If the line is standing, stand. If seated, sit. If moving, walk or run on the spot, or do some simple action. This helps the timing.
Serious acting is not required. You may give it a go, as you wish. It will help the script.
Download the raw footage to your own drive after filming. You may need to do this in after-class time, depending on how many scripts we have to film. Make sure to schedule enough equipment booking time.
Import your footage into (Premiere or similar) and make an EDIT.
Use the software vendor's help or good-quality online tutorials as needed.
Ensure the audio level is clear over the whole edit.
Export the edited 6-8 minute video as an .mp4 file
Size: HD 1080p square pixels
Frame Rate: 24fps
BitRate: 3000-4000 kbps max - this is usually sharp and clear enough, but check it. This affects the file size. Try to make the exported video less than 100MB if you can.
Upload to our Shared GDrive as a file.
If you're using GDrive Desktop App, you can work directly in our Shared folder, so you don't need to upload.
Upload to YouTube as an unlisted video (not public) and record the link in your documentation.
Based on lecturer feedback, peer feedback, notes from group work, and research analysis of your references, improve your script. Please do this on time, acting on feedback in the week you receive it, to practice industry-style development.
If you can't figure out how to improve and iterate new versions, maybe you're missing something. Consider if you need to arrange more scarce feedback time with your facilitator, study better writing and acting references more deeply, feel out the character's heart, intent, or action, write better pauses and timing, use better and clearer descriptions of music, mood, and sound effects, or carefully follow reference scenes, modifying them as needed, which is the recommended practice for most students.
Change the version/draft number when you save and export a new file in the required script file type.
My Story Name v#
Workload: 10 hours per week or 60 hours per project. You may review this in the Unit Guide.
You're expected to create weekly versions of revised work, seek feedback, communicate your status or needs, and send notifications of unavailability or lateness for classes as a team player, thank you.
Google Calendar, Trello, or Toggl - a weekly time-based task routine - is an appropriate way to plan and track your time, set reminders, and provide screenshot evidence of your total workload hours, as you'd do in a studio.
The facilitator usually responds to feedback requests or 1-to-1 support bookings in outside-class time in 1 day or so.
Scriptwriting Method.
Script Formatting (required for readings, feedback, or group work.)
Script Timing techniques.
English Tools: grammar, spelling, tense, and thesaurus tools to use in your day-to-day writing routine before sharing.
Project Scope (limits)
References you're expected to follow: Low-Budget Student Short Films and Screenplays for Scope and high-concept Screenplays with broad appeal and accessible writing style for your Writing.
Script Filetypes accepted for
(a) export/import collaboration and feedback
(b) printing
(c) submissions
Shared GDrive folder location and file naming.
Software and Resources
Frequency of Engagement & Communication
Prioritizing Tasks, Interpreting Feedback
Workload and Timeliness