Assignment: Write and direct a short story that involves two characters, one scene in three total minutes. A well thought out concept, with great writing that involves interesting characters we care about and want to know more about.
Due: 3 minute video that is well developed and will be embedded in your digital portfolio for film schools.
Goal: To learn how to write a memorable scene based off the traditional story arc which is based off two interesting characters dealing with an issue, problem or conflict based off one single location. You will learn about character development, set design and directing actors to achieve the scene you envisioned.
Pre- Production Process:
Monday October 24- Introduce project and brainstorm ideas
Tuesday October 25- Talk through possibilities
Wednesday October 26- Watch and discuss relevant examples
Thursday October 27- ideation, work on Topic/Pitch/Proposal for Monday
Friday October 28- hear Mr. Dangermond's story of working on set
Monday October 31- Go over Topic/Pitch/Proposals in class and discuss
Tuesday November 1- Work on Treatment in class--
This two to five page document should read like a short story and be written in the present tense. It should present the entire story including the ending, and use some key scenes and dialogue from the screenplay it is based on.
Any discussion of treatment writing should at least touch on basic screenplay structure. In his seminal book of fragments, The Poetics, Aristotle suggested that all stories should have a beginning, middle, and an end. Setup, Conflict and Resolution as more evocative terms for describing the movements of a screenplay. Breaking the movement of a story into three parts, gives us a 3- part or act structure. The word "act" means "the action of carrying something out."
Many screenplays are organized into a 3-act structure. The tradition of writing in this form comes from the theater and was followed by filmmakers. Think of it as a foundation for building a house that others can easily identify, even if the details are new and original.
Act 1, called the Set-up, The situation and characters and conflict are introduced. This classically is 30 minutes long.
Act 2, called The Conflict, often an hour long, is where the conflict begins and expands until it reaches a crisis.
Act 3, called The Resolution, the conflict rises to one more crisis and then is resolved.
Wednesday November 2- Work on Treatment in class
Thursday November 3- Go over Treatments in class and discuss
Friday November 4- Media Literacy Day- Watch and discuss important 3-2-1s in movies
Monday November 7- Begin Scripting in Scripped.com
Tuesday November 8- Work Scripting
Wednesday November 9- Work on Production schedule in class
Monday November 14- Read over script dialogue out loud in class and discuss
Tuesday November 15- Work on writing script
Wednesday November 16- Work on getting actors, script writing
Thursday November 17- Create Casting Call details and submit Rough Draft of script
Friday November 18- Media Literacy Day- Watch and discuss acting for the camera
Monday November 21- Host casting calls, continue writing
Tuesday November 22- Host casting calls, continue writing
Production Process:
Monday November 28- Thursday December 1- Shooting
Friday December 2- Media Literacy Day- Rough Cut Critique
Monday December 5-7 Editing
Thursday December 8- Rough Draft Peer Critique
Monday December 12-14 editing
Thursday December 15- Final Draft to Server
Friday December 16- Class critique