MEDIA STUDIES

TV FILM

MAGAZINESCOMICS

ESSAYSTESTS

SKILLS OFANALYSIS

PRACTICALSKILLS

MAKING A FILMTRAILER

CREATING AMAGAZINE

ORCOMIC

Objectives:Objectives:

To understand how to ‘pitch’ a movie To understand how to ‘pitch’ a movie idea and be able to deliver one to a idea and be able to deliver one to a ‘financier’‘financier’

To understand what will be required in To understand what will be required in your ‘film package’…your ‘film package’…

COURSEWORK EXAM

4 Pieces.For one you plan & create

a media production.The other 3 can be writtenor practical or a mixture

of both

One ‘timed test’ (3 hrs).This will be on

And you will get some infobeforehand

50% 50%

120marks 100 marks

L.I.A.R.L.I.A.R.

The ‘Pitch’:The ‘Pitch’:

All movies start with ‘an idea’.All movies start with ‘an idea’.

NONE OF THESE FILMS ARE ORIGINALCONCEPTS!

In fact:In fact:

Around 50% of major movies are Around 50% of major movies are based on books, comics, TV shows based on books, comics, TV shows or are sequels/ prequels/ remakes!or are sequels/ prequels/ remakes!

Low risk investment:Low risk investment:

Existing storyExisting story Sequel potentialSequel potential Known brandKnown brand Marketing spin-offsMarketing spin-offs A-list star(s)A-list star(s) ‘‘Name’ directorName’ director ‘‘High Concept’High Concept’

Existing storySequels

Built-in fan base

Book sales in millions

Huge marketing potential

= Low Risk

Film virtually in profiteven before releasedue to marketing

spin offs.

HOWEVER:HOWEVER:

For your film ‘pitch’, we want For your film ‘pitch’, we want originality!originality!

Task:Task:

Write and then deliver a 60 second Write and then deliver a 60 second pitch for a movie in your chosen pitch for a movie in your chosen genre.genre.

The Movie Pitch:The Movie Pitch:

Will try and portray the film in a short, snappy Will try and portray the film in a short, snappy series of statements/sentencesseries of statements/sentences

Will often reference genre, star names, and Will often reference genre, star names, and previous ‘hit’ moviesprevious ‘hit’ movies

Is a ‘persuasive’ text; will need to convey a Is a ‘persuasive’ text; will need to convey a sense of ‘excitement’ about the movie ideasense of ‘excitement’ about the movie idea

You will be ‘scripting’ this P3 and delivering it You will be ‘scripting’ this P3 and delivering it during P4during P4

You will then be filming a 2 minute section!You will then be filming a 2 minute section!

Your ‘package’ to present Your ‘package’ to present to the financiers:to the financiers:

Pitch (verbal)Pitch (verbal) Treatment (summary of film, written in prose Treatment (summary of film, written in prose

like a story)like a story) GenreGenre Possible stars and why suitablePossible stars and why suitable Likely locationsLikely locations Budget outlineBudget outline Marketing spin-offsMarketing spin-offs Possible directors and whyPossible directors and why

BUDGETS:

$73.2m

$20m for Bruce Willis

$10m for the director

$7m for Samuel L Jackson

$2.3m for Robin Wright Penn

$1.5m ‘perks’ for Willis

$20m Rest of cast and crew

$10m S.F/X

Budgets:Budgets:

Average Hollywood film budget now up to Average Hollywood film budget now up to $63m$63m

Effects heavy films regularly top $240m Effects heavy films regularly top $240m (Spiderman 3, Transformers)(Spiderman 3, Transformers)

Everything Everything comes at a price (locations, comes at a price (locations, equipment, catering, etc…)equipment, catering, etc…)

Star salaries now huge (now over $20m)Star salaries now huge (now over $20m)

You want Chris Tucker?You want Chris Tucker?

$26m

When your pitch is ready:When your pitch is ready:

Who would star in your film?Who would star in your film? What roles would they take?What roles would they take? Why would they be suitable?Why would they be suitable? How much would they cost?How much would they cost? You will be using DT3 to help you answer You will be using DT3 to help you answer

these questionsthese questions Search for ‘fees’ and the star’s name, then look Search for ‘fees’ and the star’s name, then look

at their ‘filmography’ to assess whether they at their ‘filmography’ to assess whether they are suitable or notare suitable or not

You could cast ‘against type’!You could cast ‘against type’!

Put your researchnotes in Word,then save &

print.

Task:Task:

To film a very short ‘showreel’ To film a very short ‘showreel’ This will be a 1-2 minute sequence from your This will be a 1-2 minute sequence from your

film (the idea you have ‘pitched’ to us)film (the idea you have ‘pitched’ to us) You will edit this ‘in camera’You will edit this ‘in camera’ You will show this to us next week, P3You will show this to us next week, P3 You will provide a brief verbal commentary You will provide a brief verbal commentary

explaining what you were trying to achieveexplaining what you were trying to achieve This is mainly to get you used to using the DV This is mainly to get you used to using the DV

camera in a careful, controlled waycamera in a careful, controlled way

Continuity editing:Continuity editing:

Audience focuses on the story and Audience focuses on the story and characters, not the editscharacters, not the edits

Main conventions were established in Main conventions were established in Hollywood in the early 20Hollywood in the early 20thth Century Century

The most important one is the 180 The most important one is the 180 degree line… degree line…

Some key do’s and Some key do’s and don’ts:don’ts:

Zoom in and then zoom out (repetitively)Zoom in and then zoom out (repetitively) Pan back and forthPan back and forth Move the camera in an uncoordinated Move the camera in an uncoordinated

wayway Jump cutJump cut Confuse the audience without intent!Confuse the audience without intent! Cross the 180 degree line without intent!Cross the 180 degree line without intent!