THE PRODUCTION PROCESS FROM IDEA TO SCREEN

How do I record my

ideas?

What is a script?

What steps are in

the process?

DISCUSSION Why is pre-production important for filmmaking?

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QUOTE

“If you would ask me what my ideal process is, I would say long pre-production, long production and long post production.”

- Park Chan-wook, Director *Oldboy, Snowpiercer

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UNIT LEARNING TARGETS u Students will learn each step in the production

process and how it builds toward a finished film. u Students will learn how to pitch and sell a story idea

to the class. u Students will practice each step in the production

process to craft a finished film.

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PRE-PRO OUTLINE u Brainstorming u Pitching

u Green lighting u The Outline

u The Story Arc u The Treatment u The Script

u Storyboard u The Shot List

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PRE-PRODUCTION

PRODUCTION

POST PRODUCTION 3/17/18 6

PRE-PRODUCTION PUTTING YOUR IDEAS ON PAPER

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QUOTE Filmmaking centers around planning. If you don’t plan, you will have no idea where you will end up.

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THE PRE-PRODUCTION PROCESS

u Pitch u Outline u Script u Storyboard u Shot List

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THE ART OF THE PITCH

SELLING YOUR IDEA

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THE PITCH u Your elevator pitch. u Should summarize story, characters, setting as

quickly as possible. u Lays out story arc. u Sells your story to your audience. u Key question: Why is this story worth telling?

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VIDEO CRASH COURSE: PITCHING YOUR MOVIE CAN BE HARD

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LOG LINE A brief, one sentence summary of your film that states the

central conflict, characters and setting of your story.

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Charlie Brown is finally invited to a Halloween party; Snoopy engages the Red Baron in a dog fight; and Linus

waits patiently in the pumpkin patch for the Great Pumpkin.

-It’s The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown

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RJFS: HOW TO WRITE A LOGLINE

VIDEO

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VIDEO THE ART OF A GOOD PITCH

BY THE DIRECTORS OF TRIBECA FILM FESTIVAL

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SUCCESSFUL PITCHING STRATEGIES

u Starting your pitch with a question: u “What if everything you knew about your life turned

out to be a lie? u It engages the listener from the start!

u Create a cliffhanger - Bring the listener to an interesting or mysterious part of the story then switch to another portion.

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SUCCESSFUL PITCHING STRATEGIES u Speak openly about what drew you to the story.

u Be open to feedback. Even if it does not, at first seem like a good idea.

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KEEP IN MIND u Who is your audience?

u What’s the message of your film?

u What is the genre of your film?

u What is your story arc?

u What is the setup?

u What is the conflict?

u What is the resolution?

u It’s blank meets blank…

u If your movie was two movies, what would those be?

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GREEN LIGHT

The permission to go ahead and move forward with a project.

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Strong Idea! 3

Okay Idea! 2

Needs more Work 1

Idea is well developed. Has identifiable characters, setting, story arc. Fulfills project requirements and goals. Is makeable with time and resources.

Idea could use more development. Seems to have a story and characters. Needs slight revision to fulfill assignment goals and requirements. Might not be makeable with time and resources.

Idea is not developed enough to green light. Doesn’t have a story arc. Story and characters are confusing. Does not fulfill assignment goals and requirements. Is not achievable with time and resources available. G

reen

Lig

ht S

cori

ng C

ard

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GREEN LIGHTING u Everyone votes to Green, Yellow, Red light a

project.

u Automatically green lighting a project doesn’t do a favor to the group presenting.

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FEEDBACK IS KEY u Honest, constructive feedback helps everyone learn

and make better films.

u Would you want people to not give you honest advice?

u Think critically about the feedback you received and

if it can be incorporated.

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CHARRETTE PROTOCOL CHARRETTE PROTOCOL TIME

PRESENTATION Presenter Presents their project idea & pitch to a partner. The partner listens.

2 min

FRAMING QUESTION Presenter asks a question to frame the feedback. Ex – “What can I make better about…?” “How can I improve…?”

1 min

FEEDBACK Partner gives suggestions. Presenter listens. Make your feedback helpful, specific & kind.

2 min

OPEN DISCUSSION Presenter and partner have a dialogue about the suggestions/feedback.

2 min

TOTAL 7 min 3/17/18 24

THE OUTLINE CRAFTING EACH STEP

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THE OUTLINE u The Paradigm – a.k.a. “The story arc” u Act I,II,III – The skeleton

u Act I – Introduce characters, setting, story u Act II – Plot thickens, characters must overcome

challenges. u Act III – Characters overcome greatest obstacle and return

home. The “twist” happens. u Map out scenes – index cards. u Figure out the chain of events.

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THE STORY ARC

Act 1 Beginning

Act II Middle

Act III End

Climax

Crisis

Inciting Incident

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THE SCRIPT THE BLUEPRINT

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THE SCRIPT u The final written form of the story. u 2-column AV script. vs. screenplay u Written according to strict guidelines u Involves action, characters, dialog, parentheticals u Get feedback, re-draft

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STORYBOARDING PRE-VISUALIZATION

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STORYBOARDING u Visualize the script u Map out your shot framing, angles, movement u Storyboarding – A cartoon rendering of all of the

scenes in the script. u Animatic – A storyboard in motion.

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SHOT LIST THE SHOPPING LIST

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SHOT LIST u The “grocery list” of shots. u Determines what framing/angles/movements are

needed in the shots. u Shot lists are crafted from the script by the director. u Shot lists are to be prepared BEFORE ever

stepping foot on set. u Not being prepared wastes EVERYONES time.

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SHOT LIST DEMO

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PRE-PRO SUMMARY u Students have learned each step in the pre-

production process. u Students have learned how to pitch and sell a story

idea to the class. u Students have learned why each step in the

process is essential to the entire production. u Students will create their first pre-production

paperwork for their project.

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PRODUCTION LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION!

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LEARNING TARGETS u Students will learn the outline of the steps in

principal photography. u Students will be introduced to the concepts of

blocking and pre-lighting. u Students will learn the importance of continuity. u Students will learn the protocol of shooting a take.

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