Planning Tasks - Continued: Due Tuesday 24th November

Over the next week and a half you should each be responsible for a pre-production element of your project. You can choose from:

• Script
• Storyboard
• Location shots
• Casting shots and wardrobe decisions
• Shot list and shooting schedule (this should be completed last!)

Between you all of these elements will need to be completed on Tuesday, November 24th. This means you have 4 hours of lesson time.

Below are instructions for completing each of these elements correctly. Please ensure you read carefully.

SCRIPT:
Your opening will require a full script (even if you only have minimal dialogue). Your script should be completed in a Word document and uploaded to a site like Scribd so you can embed it into a post. This is a guide to scriptwriting.

There are three bodies of a script: Headings, narrative and dialogue. Each of these has three points to remember.
Headings: 1. Master scene headings which include:
a) Camera location - EXT. (exterior or outside) or INT. (interior or inside)
b) Scene location (LOCAL RACE TRACK)
c) Time (DAY or NIGHT)
2. Secondary scene heading
3. “Special headings” for things such as montages, dream sequences, flashbacks, flash forwards, etc...

Narrative Description: 
1. Action
2. Character and settings (visual)
3. Sounds

Dialogue:
1. The name of the person speaking appears at the top, in CAPS.
2. The actors direction (AKA parenthetical or wryly). Try to avoid these as much as possible. Both the director and actor will appreciate it.
3. The speech.

Putting all this together you should come up with something that looks like this:

INT. BARRY'S BAR - NIGHT

BOBBY is playing darts as he balances on on one foot aims his dart, sips a beer, and eats a handful of peanuts:

                        BOBBY

      (Drunkenly)
   I guess I need a bulls-eye.

As the PHONE RINGS:

           
           BOBBY

   Dammit! I told her not to call me!

BOBBY reaches for the phone and topples over.

STORYBOARDING:

Take your time when creating your storyboard! You will need to include an image of the shot, the type of shot (see short codes below), the type of cut to the next shot, the sound over the shot (e.g. diagetic or non-diagetic) and a brief description of the action. There is a website you can sign up to for a free trial called Storyboard That - it is a great site (especially if you aren't a great artist!).

SHOTS & ANGLES:
Extreme close up - ECU
Close up - CU
Mid-shot - MS
Long Shot - LS
Extreme long shot - ELS
High angle - HA
Low angle - LA

CUTS/TRANSITIONS
Straight cut
Fade to black (or white)

Dissolve 

LOCATION SHOTS:

Consider where you will be filming very carefully. You should have a photograph of each of your locations and a full explanation of what you intend to film there, why you have chosen the location (think mise-en-scene, audience expectations, connotations etc...)

Location: Detached house, MK Village (using exterior only)

Scenes to be filmed: 1, 2 and 10

This location will help to establish the genre of our piece (horror). The house is rundown and interesting shapes make up the exterior - it has a look of a 'haunted' house which should play into the audiences' fears (helping us to establish the desired tone for our opening). As the house is detached it suggests isolation which is fitting with our main character's predicament - she is alone as she is pursued by a killer.

CASTING SHOTS & WARDROBE CHOICES:

Again, these are important decisions which need to be considered carefully. You will require photos of your actors and possible costume choices appropriate to their characters. Remember to consider the representation of your characters. What are you trying to convey and how can this be done visually?

Name of actor: Sally Smith

Role: Polly Kent (First victim of killer)

Reason for casting: Sally looks fresh-faced and innocent. As her character is killed early on in the opening, it is important that a feeling of pity for this character is established as soon as possible. Casting this young and attractive actor will help the audience to immediately feel sorry for her. We will also be appealing to our target demographic with the casting of an actor of a similar age group.

Wardrobe - We want to really emphasize the innocence of this character so that the audience feel the full impact and horror of her murder. The dress pictured on the right has the right balance of innocence and beauty. The short sleeves and frilled front have an almost school girl quality which again would help with establishing the character's vulnerability. We chose white due to the strong connotations of innocence and purity. We felt the dress on the left was a little too provocative and would distract from the victim's innocence.

SHOT LISTS & SHOOTING SCHEDULE
A shot list is a full log of the shots you want to include in your film; essentially it is a checklist filled with finer details that will give your filming a clear sense of direction and purpose.

A shooting schedule is basically a plan of action. It should work in harmony with your shot list but should also serve as a reminder of where you are shooting, what times, what equipment you need (this includes props, costume, cameras etc...) and who is required.