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Short Film Narrative Short Film
You will now pitch your big short film idea that you have been planning and thinking about over the past few weeks. View the three short films created by CA students in the past. Voice is probably the hardest part of your short film because it can be difficult to have consistent audio.
Good plot, main character shows personality, and good use of sounds
Audio: No speaking parts so no risk of bad audio but need a very good plot and actor to make it interesting with no audio
Good use of special effects & good moral
Audio: Actors have speaking
Great character personality (Korea film festival winner 2009)
Audio: Narrative audio which is easy to do but need a very interesting story
Good use of jumper and clone effects but weak storyline.
Tips
-A plot that does not try to cover too much material and ends while the audience wants more or is surprised and satisfied with the twist ending. Similar to when you tell a deep joke and you have to think about it for a while and then when you get it, you burst out laughing or say "Ah ha!"
-What can ruin a film the most is often poor audio. With your small cameras, it does not record voices well. Therefore, you have to eliminate any vocal interactions with your subjects and will need to either narrate or no subject vocals. Watch this video; it is a really good narrative short film by a student...and a good moral at the end.
-Remember to have a lesson is taught and learned and the plot and characters do not remind you of any movie you have ever watched
For your short film's theme or message, consider using one of the school's values from E (excellence), T (truth), or D (diversity).
After Effects
Watch this short film created by a former CA student and how they used clone, transporter, and green screen effect throughout their dramatic film. "Remembrance"
The reason you learned After Effects last quarter was so that you could integrate special effects and green screen into your short film. Remember some of the effects that you learned last quarter (examples below) and you could even search for new effects you want to try (e.g. Light Sabers).
- flying (green screen)
- transport (e.g. through space, objects, and/or walls)
- freeze effect
- clone
- 3D lighting
Directions
Now follow the directions below to complete this assignment and keep in mind this is your big project grade for the quarter. You will need to have filming completed before May 6 and then we will edit in class.
NARRATIVE ARC
Full Size
Include the Narrative Arc in your post for your story's character (example):
Copy and paste the following into an email to WP and answer each for your short film idea. Remember you will be using After Effects to create special effects for your film and then edit your footage in Premiere.
- Int
- roduction: Conflict:
- Rising Action:
- Climax:
- Falling Action:
- Conclusion:
- --------------------------------------------
- Twist (you can choose where the twist will go in your time line; make sure the twist is good and original, which is an important part of your story to make it creative and different)
FOUR MUST HAVES
In an email to WP, copy the heading and numbers 1-4 and explain how your short film will meet the Four "Must Haves" in your storyline. STORY ELEMENTS
Copy the heading and following into the same WP email and write how your short film will accomplish but first write which day, time, and locations you will film your short film and then make sure to communicate that information to your actors and only write down the actors' names if they have already told you that they can film that day. You may not file an extension on this assignment as you have plenty of time (plan ahead) to film and you need the footage so you can edit during the week.
Character
Review the content about Character
Protagonist
Actor's Name:
Character Name:
Description (round or flat, dynamic or static characteristics):
Personality:
Character Arc:
Peeling the Onion:
Universal Empathy (use two out of the five ways to show empathy for your main character):
Props/clothes (they will bring for filming):
Antagonist
Actor's Name:
Character Name:
Description:
Personality:
Peeling the Onion:
Props/clothes (they will bring for filming):
Minor Character #1
Actor's Name:
Character Name:
Description:
Personality:
Role in story:
Props/clothes (they will bring for filming):
Minor Character #2
Actor's Name:
Character Name:
Type (e.g. protagonist):
Description:
Personality:
Role in story:
Props/clothes (they will bring for filming):
Conflict
Review the content about Conflict and write the following details:
- Tension (who/what will be involved? explain)
- Character Lock (change internally or externally? explain)
- Forced Action (explain)
- High & Low Stakes (explain)
Plants & Payoffs
Review the content about Plants & Payoffs and write the following:
- What information will you plant throughout the film that the viewer will have to figure out by the end?
- What will be the film's throughline?
Plot
Review the content about Plot and write the following:
- Explain the catalyst of your film
- What is the crutch of your film (7 c's)
- What will be the biggest conflict?
Effects
Explain some specific examples of how you will use special effects in After Effects for your film.
ACTORS
Your actors will want to know in advance when you will be filming so they can plan ahead.
Email any students you have listed to be actors or backup actors asking to use them in your film and let them know the dates you plan on filming. Explain to them a very brief background of your film but you can explain more later. Ask them to reply to your email about accepting the role.
Make sure you have their cell number to call and remind them the day before the shoot. If they are not students you can get a verbal commitment from them. If someone turns you down, immediately email your backup actor and fill them in.
You are now finished with this Pitch assignment. Send the email to WP and the link to the spreadsheet. Finally, copy and paste all of the content you wrote for the email post into a Google Doc, share it with your actors, and print it and being it to the next CA class for a grade.
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