Class Email-phsfilmandscreenwriting@gmail.com

Year Long Course

Instructor: Brett Owen 

Click here: Syllabus

 COURSE DESCRIPTION:

This course introduces the fundamental elements of film artistry and production. Topics include film styles and genres, history, and production techniques as well as the social values reflected in film art. Upon completion, students should be able to analyze critically the elements covered in relation to selected films. Students should also be able to effectively analyze films within their respective thematic and historical context, and they will be able to write an efficient and poignant script for a short film.  In practice, students will be effective in the preproduction, production, and postproduction elements of digital filmmaking.  Students will work towards creating their own film.  

Color Grade: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvFCnVRcT3Q 

Flat Profile: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=72wJqaCnKfE 

Echo Fixing Audio: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6O1XyEs2-o8 

Noise Add: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k7P_sSUH9fE 

Constant Power: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1E1ztqg03lI 

Film Grain: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zc6NtSeqAtM 

Video Edit Tricks: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AaO0D66xeYY&t=482s 

Camera Settings: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLG3eOzJfQr2e2OD4W0GmcSpO5oZ-c5FIu 

Editing Photos in Photoshop: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGMDXOr4LmI 

Car Visual Effect: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jg9UbgvnLuo&t=322s 

LESSON 3 - Character Development

GOOGLE DOC - Review 

Copy and paste questions then respond using complete thoughts and sentences in a google doc.

Part 1: Film Reflection 

1. Think about the main characters in a movie that you have recently seen.  Who are they?

2. What were their individual objectives?  In other words, what do they want more than anything?

3. What were their obstacles? What kinds of things are standing in their way of meeting their objectives?

4. How did your characters relate to each other? Did they support each other?  Did they fight against each other?

Lesson 4: development of a protagonist character

Why Should The Audience Care About Your Character?

Student Worksheet Name: _____________________________

Character Development Questions #1- The Basics These  are the first questions you need to answer about  your character-­‐ the stuff you probably need to know  to get started.     

1. Name     

2. Age     

3. Height     

4. Weight     

5. Hair  Color    

6. Eye  Color     

7. Skin  Tone   

8. Do  they  speak with  an accent?   

9. Where  are they  from? 

10. Where  are they  now? 

  Character Development Questions #2- The Backstory Developing  a solid backstory for your character is essential – even  if you don’t put much or any of it in the narrative. The  more you treat your character as though they are a real person,  the more real they’ll become.    

1. Who  are their  parents? Biologically  and socially? 

2. What  is their  earliest memory?     

3. What  did they  want to be  when they grew  up? 

4. What  did/do  their parents  want them to be?     

5. Do  they  have siblings?    Older or younger?    Brothers or sisters?    

6. Do  they  have or  have they  ever had children?    How many? 

7. Do  they  or have  they ever  had a significant  other? Are they still  with them? Why? Why not?  

8. What  were they  doing right  before the story  starts? 

9. Up  until  now, what’s  the most noteworthy  thing they’ve done?  To them? To people around  them? 

10. What  was their  education like?     

Character Development Questions #3- Tastes Your  character likes and dislikes -­‐ their tastes  -­‐ is possibly the most overt part of 'who they  are'. People get to know other people's tastes quickly  and easily, and even an acquaintance can know that they always  drink Pepsi over Coke when available, or other things like that.

1. What’s  your characters  favorite color?   

2. Do  they/would  they choose  to wear a scent?    What would it be?  

3. Do  they  care about  what things look  like? All things,  or only some? 

4. What’s  their favorite  ice cream flavor?     

5. Are  they a  tea or coffee  drinker? What do  they drink? 

6. What  kind of  books do they  read? What TV  shows and movies do  they watch?  

7. What  kind of  music do they  like? Do they  like music at all?     

8. If  they  were to  die, what  would they have  as their last meal?     

9. Are  they hedonistic?    In all cases? Or  does practicality sometimes/always/often  win out? 

10.  Do  they  have any  phobias?  

  Character Development Questions #4- Morals, Beliefs, and Faith A  character’s moral code and beliefs can offer a lot of insights  on their motives, and the likelihood of their taking a given action.     Note: in this case, ‘moral’ should not be taken to be objectively good,  but as a neutral term for a belief that affects codes of behavior. 

1. Do  they  have an  internal (created  for themselves) or  external (handed to  them) moral code? 

2. To  what  extent  are their  actions dictated  by this code? 

3. Do  they  believe  in God or  Gods/Goddesses/Higher  beings? 

4. Are  they superstitious?     

5. Do  they  value faith/instinct  more highly than reason?     

6. Do  they  believe  in an afterlife?    If so, what is it like?     

7. Do  they  have any  specific beliefs  that are revealed?         

8. Do  they  respect  others beliefs?    To what extent?  

9. Have  they ever  had to stand  up to criticism  for being religious?    Or not being religious?  

10. Would  they be  more likely  to act for the  good of the one,  or the good of many?  

Character Development Questions #5- Relationships It  would be difficult (not impossible, but difficult)  to write a character who never interacted with anyone  else. Modern thinking about writing style suggests that  we should learn more about a character from the way other  people react to them than by their actions alone. So, these  questions about relationships will help to define the ways other  people behave around your character.    

1. Do  they  make friends  easily? 

2. Do  they  have a  best friend?     

3. Can  they get  people to do  what they want  them to? If so,  how? 

4. Do  they  have a  lot of romantic  relationships? Serious,  or short term? 

5. Do  they  fall in  and out of  love easily?    

6. Do  strangers  and acquaintances  actually like them  when they meet? 

7. Do  they  have a  network? (That  is, a range of  people they're connected  to without necessarily knowing)  

8. What  is their  relationship  like with their  family? 

9. Are  they still  in touch with  non-­‐family people  they were in touch with  a year ago? Five years? Ten?  More? 

10.  Do  they  like children?  Do they want children  of their own? 

11. Character Development Questions #6- Physical Appearance Time  to play dress up! I don't know about you, but this is  always one of my favorite parts. 

12. How  does this  character dress?  How would they choose  to dress, if all options  were open to them? 

13. Do  they  have any  tattoos? What  do they mean?    

14. Do  they  have piercings?  How many? Is this  culturally appropriate  for them? 

15. Do  they  have scars?  Where did they  come from? 

16. Do  they  alter their  appearance in  some way on a  regular basis?    

17. Is  there  something  they'd choose  to change about  their appearance if  they had the opportunity  to? 

18. Is  there  something  about their  appearance they're  particularly proud of/happy  with? 

19. Objectively,  are they physically  attractive? Fairly plain?  Unattractive? 

20. Do  they  have an  accurate mental  picture and opinion  of their physical appearance?  

21. How  much time  do they spend  thinking about their  physical appearance?  

Character Development Questions #7- General Knowledge How  well acquainted is your character with the world around  them? 

1. Can  they navigate  their own local  area without getting  lost? To what degree?    

2.  Do  they  know whom  the top politician  is where they live?  What about elsewhere?  

3. Do  they  know if/where  there are any major  conflicts going on right  now? 

4. Do  they  know the  composition  of water?  

5. Do  they  know how  to eat a special  fruit such as a pomegranate?     

6. Are  they good  with the technology  available to them? Average?   Completely hopeless? 

7. Could  they paint  a house? Without  making a mess of it?     

8. Could  they bake  a cake? Would  you eat it if they  did? 

9. Do  they  know how  to perform  basic maintenance  on the common mode  of transportation? (In  a modern Earth context, can  they change the oil and water  in a car?) 

10. Do  they  know the  price of a  loaf of bread?     

 Character Development Questions #8- Specific Knowledge What  about special skills? Stuff your character knows that  other people are unlikely to? 

1. Do  they  have a  specific qualification  in a technical area?     

2. Is  there  something  they do or  know exceptionally  well that most other   people don't? 

3. Do  people  often comment  on a particular  skill or area of  knowledge to this character?  Behind their back? 

4. Is  there  an area  this character  could be considered  top of their field or  a genius in? 

5. Have  they deliberately  sought to gain knowledge  in a specific area? If so,   why? 

6. Do  they  speak more  than one language?  More than two? Why?     

7. Does  their cultural  background affect  what they would be  expected to know? 

8. Have  they ever  been publicly  acknowledged for  being well-­‐versed  in something? (Think  Nobel Prizes) 

9. Have  they ever  been bullied  for knowing a  lot about something?     

10. Do  they  actively  seek new knowledge,  or let it come to them  naturally?  

 Character Development Questions #9- “What If...” Questions These  questions are designed to give you a different perspective  on why certain things are important about your character -­‐  or why they're not.     

1. What  if they'd  have more or  less siblings?    

2. What  if a key  formative event  in their past had  gone differently? 

3. What  if they  lost a limb?  (Would which limb  be important?) 

4. What  if someone  close to them  died unexpectedly?     

5. What  if they'd  been born 50  years earlier? 100  years? 1000? 

6. What  if they'd  done something  completely different  on the morning when  the story starts? (This  is a good plot question,  as well.) 

7.  What  if they  found enough  money to make  them wealthy for  the rest of their  life in a bag? 

8. What  if they  were stranded  and deserted?   

9. What  if someone  they trusted  betrayed them?     

  Character Development Questions #10- Other Questions These  are just questions that any real person would likely  be able to answer, but a fictional character often can't.  

1. What  did they  have for breakfast  this morning? 

2. What  ridiculous  beliefs did  they have as  a child? (Did they  think the moon really  was made of cheese?) 

3. Do  they  like marshmallows?     

4. Do  they  sleep on  their side,  front, or back?     

5. Do  they  work better  with sound or  silence? 

6. Do  they  have a  strange obsession  with something minor?     

7. Do  they  like art?     

8. How  fast can  they run?    

9. Do  they  prefer  to sit on  the floor or  on a chair?  

10. What  do they  want, right  now? 

PROFILE:

• Summarize your character in a paragraph.

Step 2: 1 Pager

5 paragraphs total.

Paragraph 1: Beginning - 5 Points

Paragraph 2: Middle - 5 Points

Paragraph 3: End - 5 Points

Paragraph 4: Character Development. - 5 Points

Paragraph 5: Setting, if needed. - 5 Points

Total - 25 Points

Step 3: https://www.writersstore.com/how-to-write-a-screenplay-a-guide-to-scriptwriting/

Creating a Script:

1.Cover Page - 10 Points

2. Logline - 15 Points 

3. 1 Pager - 25 Points

4. 10 Page Script - 50 Points

Total Points - 100 Points

Advanced Editing

 Important Film Cuts:

A J cut is a variant of a split edit film editing technique in which the audio from a following scene overlaps the picture from the preceding scene, so that the audio portion of the later scene starts playing before its picture as a lead-in to the visual cut. Also called an audio lead or audio advance. 

An L cut is a variant of a split edit film editing technique in which the audio from preceding scene overlaps the picture from the following scene, so that the audio cuts after the picture, and continues playing over the beginning of the next scene. 

In film, a match cut is a cut from one shot to another where the two shots are matched by the action or subject and subject matter. For example, in a duel a shot can go from a long shot on both contestants via a cut to a medium closeup shot of one of the duellists. 

Lesson 6- editing like a pro!

Welcome to your final video editing project! You will be editing a professionally shot scene for your final work.  I have high expectations for this last assignment. Make sure to read the script and get creative with your cuts. Happy editing!

Project:

1.  Go to the server to get your project file:  Common to all V: Computers - Photo/Video Editing - Horror Scene folder.  Drag it onto the desktop. There are 5 scenes that must be put together.

2. Read the script below.  You will be utilizing this script as your timeline to create your story.  Remember this is only guidelines. Get creative!

Here is the script for the scene:

HORROR SCRIPT

INT. WAREHOUSE NIGHT

We see down a dark hallway, and BECKY’s head pops up against the wall on the right side of the frame, she’s panting.

the KILLER enters down the hall, Becky looks and sees him, starts to run.

KILLER follows, axe in hand. When she looks back, he’s on top of her.

Killer swings the axe down on her.

CUT TO:

INT. BEDROOM MORNING

Overhead shot of Becky, waking from bad dream. She checks her throat, gets out of bed.

INT. KITCHEN MORNING

ALLY, Becky’s roommate is making coffee. Becky enters.

BECKY

I just had the most terrifying dream.

I was in some warehouse, being

chased by this madman in a yellow

suit, and he grabbed me by the throat.

ALLY

Here, you need this more than me.

Ally hands her a cup of coffee.

3. Follow this script story and edit this scene together using the multiple shots together.  All shots must be incorporated into the story for full credit!!!

4 Make sure to add title credit and closing credits.

5.  Get creative with the sound track selected! Music can carry a scene.

6. Export and email your scene.  I will grade and send you a response if you need to to make more changes.

Horror Scene Grading Rubric:

Audio: Use the sound effects and music to create a horror suspense feel to your scene.

Audio Levels:  Make audio is mixed correctly! Add your fills.

Video: Use proper pace and continuity. Use all shots in the folder.

Titles: Create a opening title: Movie Title and Closing Credits.

Exporting: Export in correct settings.

Finalize Video: H.264-NTSC DV-Project Name

Project Total: 100 Points

Key Terms: Multicam Sequence, J-Cut, L-Cut, Adjustment Layers, Lumetri, Essential Sound, Blending Modes, Bin Organization, Roll, Ripple Edit

Lesson- Music video Editing - imagine dragons

Time to put it all the editing techniques together in your final edit.  You will be editing a music video together that was professionally shot for an imagine dragons track.  In this final project you will try and match audio with video in creative storytelling process to create an entertaining compilation.

Requirements:

• Must use assets from all the folders

• Slow Motion and Ramping 

• Blending Modes with atmosphere and stock footage

• Lumetri color balancing

Project:

1.  Go to the server to get your project file:  Common to all V: Computers - Photo/Video Editing -Make the cut.  Drag it onto the desktop. There are multiple files to create a full podcast.

Audio: Balancing Interview Audio

Audio Levels:  Make audio mixed correctly! Add your fills.

Video: Creative use off all footage

Titles: Introduction Title to the song and band

Exporting: Export in correct settings.

Finalize Video: H.264-NTSC DV-Project Name

Project Total: 100 Points

Storytelling Review:

• How do you interpret the meaning of the child?

• What is the meaning of the boxing scene to the story being told in the lyrics?

• How does the overall trailer tell a story with the lyrics?

Believer

Imagine Dragons

First things first

I'ma say all the words inside my head

I'm fired up and tired of the way that things have been, oh ooh

The way that things have been, oh ooh

Second thing second

Don't you tell me what you think that I can be

I'm the one at the sail, I'm the master of my sea, oh ooh

The master of my sea, oh ooh

I was broken from a young age

Taking my sulking to the masses

Write down my poems for the few

That looked at me, took to me, shook to me, feeling me

Singing from heartache from the pain

Taking my message from the veins

Speaking my lesson from the brain

Seeing the beauty through the

You made me a, you made me a believer, believer

(Pain, pain)

You break me down, you build me up, believer, believer

(Pain)

Oh let the bullets fly, oh let them rain

My life, my love, my drive, it came from

(Pain)

You made me a, you made me a believer, believer

Third things third

Send a prayer to the ones up above

All the hate that you've heard has turned your spirit to a dove, oh ooh

Your spirit up above, oh ooh

I was choking in the crowd

Building my rain up in the cloud

Falling like ashes to the ground

Hoping my feelings, they would drown

But they never did, ever lived, ebbing and flowing

Inhibited, limited

'Til it broke up and it rained down

It rained down, like

You made me a, you made me a believer, believer

(Pain, pain)

You break me down, you built me up, believer, believer

(Pain)

I let the bullets fly, oh let them rain

My life, my love, my drive, it came from

(Pain)

You made me a, you made me a believer, believer

Last things last

By the grace of the fire and the flames

You're the face of the future, the blood in my veins, oh ooh

The blood in my veins, oh ooh

But they never did, ever lived, ebbing and flowing

Inhibited, limited

'Til it broke up and it rained down

It rained down, like

You made me a, you made me a believer, believer

(Pain, pain)

You break me down, you built me up, believer, believer

(Pain)

I let the bullets fly, oh let them rain

My life, my love, my drive, it came from

(Pain)

You made me a, you made me a believer, believer

APERTURE/SHUTTER SPEED/ISO

Project:  11 shots in Total - Sort in to two folders on your desktop.  Aperture and Shutter folders.  We will edit in Photoshop.

Groups of 3:  You will work in groups of three to create your portfolio of images.  

9 Shot in Aperture Mode: Rule of thirds, Balancing Elements, Leading Lines, Symmetry and Patterns, Viewpoint, Background, Depth, Cropping, Experimentation.

2 Shot in TV Mode -  Capture something in motion blur and still.

Total - 50 Points

Steps in Filming a Documentary:

1. Tell a story that you care about.

Duh, or else you will get bored, very quickly. 

2. Research.

-Learn everything you can about the subject of the documentary. 

3. Make a plan.

-Create an outline about HOW you want to film this doc. 

4. Create a shot list.

-List the footage and interviews that you will need.

5, Start shooting.

-Film everything on your shot list, and maybe a little extra.

6. Write a script.

-Find the most compelling parts of what you shot, and build around that. Decide on narration or non-narration.  The script does not need to have all of the voice-overs. 

7. Begin editing.

8. Check legal and copyright issues.

- You need to have a release for your subjects and depending on where you film, permission for the land/property used.  This becomes problematic if you plan on showing your film outside of class. 

FIRST PITCH

Documentary Groups and Pitch - Due before break Thanksgiving break.   50 Points

Groups 1-4 students

Pitch Due- Wednesday - 50 Points

How To Interview Someone for a Documentary

Prepare your questions

Think ahead about the type of questions you want to ask your interviewee. What kind of information are you looking for from this particular person and what are the type of questions that will best get them to give you the information you’re looking for? No need to go crazy. 5-10 questions is usually enough.

Avoid “yes” or “no” answers

Your questions should be asked in such a way that you won’t get “yes” or “no” answers. You need your documentary interviewees to give you substantive answers that you can use in your video edits. Instead of “Are you happy with the outcome of the court case?” Ask, “What is your response to the outcome of today’s court case?”

Prepare, but be spontaneous

Even though you have prepared questions in advance, allow yourself to veer off from questions if the interviewee says something interesting or unexpected that you’d like to explore further. Sometimes the unplanned “spontaneous” questions & answers create the best moments.

Get the interviewee comfortable

When the video camera rolls, ask easy questions to warm them up. Ask them what they had for breakfast, where they are from, how many kids in their family.. anything to get them talking and comfortable. This is a key interviewing tip!

Don’t give out specific questions in advance

I cannot stress this point strongly enough. It’s perfectly acceptable to give someone a general idea of what the interview will be about, but do not give them your list of questions. If you do, they will try to memorize their answers in advance and you will lose spontaneity and freshness. Your interview will end up feeling stale, unauthentic and rehearsed.

Have them repeat your question

This is a great idea, especially if you plan to have no narration for your documentary. Get the person to repeat back your question in their answer. This will help you with the video editing and storytelling later during the editing process. For example, you ask, “How are you feeling?” The interviewee says, “How am I feeling? I’m feeling excited!”

Proper positioning of interviewee

If you are the person both shooting AND interviewing, the person may end up looking into the video camera, which gives the feeling of a personal and direct connection with the person talking. However, the off-camera approach is most common. The interviewer sits or stands right next to the camera so that the interviewee is looking just off camera. You get your best results if the interviewer (you) is standing right next to the camera, that way you can see the full face of the person you’re interviewing and not a profile, which can be unattractive and distracting to the viewer because you can’t see their eyes and facial expressions very well.

Keep your mouth shut

Stay quiet when the other person is talking. You don’t want to hear yourself in the background. (Watch out for the “hmmmm”, “Oh right..”) Just ask the question and then keep quiet. It’s good to nod, and make gentle facial expressions, just no sound. Unless of course, YOU are part of the story and the camera has both of you in the shot.

Ask for final comment

Here's a great video interviewing tip: at the end of the interview, always ask the person if they have any final thoughts. Ask them if there was anything you missed. This can sometimes bring out some great information you hadn’t thought to ask about.

Don’t stop filming when the interview is “over”

Especially when you have someone who is nervous and never got quite comfortable with the interview. When you’re done with your official questions, say “OK, that’s the end of the interview.” Make sure the camera continues to roll at this point because often the conversation will continue. Psychologically, the person no longer feels the “pressure” of the interview and will loosen up. This is the time I have often gotten the best quotes of the interview!

HOW TO FILM AN INTERVIEW

Camera Setup - 2 camera Interview

B- Roll for a Documentary

A-Roll is the footage that tells the main story. This could be footage of your subject being interviewed recounting an important story, or footage of the big competition that your documentary is about. 

B-roll is the footage that makes the story more interesting. This could be the footage that you use to conceal cuts during interviews or illustrate a point that an interviewee is making, or footage that makes watching a process or illustrates a story better. 

5 Key Shots - Wide Shot (Establishing), Close Up Action, Close UP Face, Over the Shoulder, Alternative Shot

Filming Inserts-  Creative stills and movement shots of the environment.

PROJECTS DUE:

Documentary Pitch:  50 Points

Photography Shots: 50 Points

Film Shot Sequence: 75 Points

1 Camera Interview: 50 Points

Documentary Interviews and B-Roll: Due by Friday

1 Pager

5 paragraphs total.

Paragraph 1: Beginning - 5 Points

Paragraph 2: Middle - 5 Points

Paragraph 3: End - 5 Points

Paragraph 4: Character Development. - 5 Points

Paragraph 5: Setting, if needed. - 5 Points

Total - 25 Points

Grades:

Logline - 20 Points - Due Today

1 Pager - 25 Points - Due Wednesday

Script/Storyboard: 50 Points - Due Friday

FIlm scene breakdown

Lesson Objective: Understanding how to breakdown the shots and sound of a film scene.

Part 2: Bringing a scene to life

Due Dates:

• Short Film Due March 1st

• 15 Shot short due February 21st

Getting Ideas Tips:

• Study Other Writers’ Loglines

• Focus On What Moves You

• Opposites attract. 

• Reverse budgeting. 

• The “what if…?” 

• Watch movies. 

SCRIPT - 1st draft due march 15th

Revision Due March 22nd

https://www.writersstore.com/how-to-write-a-screenplay-a-guide-to-scriptwriting/

Storyboard: Due March 27th

Tutorial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQsvhq28sOI&t=188s

All pre-production due - April 3rd!!! -