Short FilmConcepts & synopsising

In todays workshop you will be;

applying your knowledge of concepting to create and develop 3 ideas for screenplays

Conducting initial research for each of these ideas.

Today

MUST use idea generation strategies to create 3 story concepts

SHOULD be able to develop your 3 ideas by conducting research

COULD evaluate your ideas effectiveness using peer assessment & reflectionBy the end of today, you

Famous American screenwriter Syd Field came up with a way to

describe a films concept in its simplest form.

Syd Field

Describe each

A person

A geeky high school loser

Story Concepts

In a place

New York City

Story Concepts

Doing his or her thing

Fighting crime as a

masked vigilante

Story Concepts

A person, in a place,

doing his or her thing.

Syd Fields rule of story concepting

A recently widowed OAP

In America

Flying his house off on the adventure of a lifetime

GUESS THE FILM…

A wealthy industrialist

In America

Using his super armour to fight terrorism

GUESS THE FILM…

A young farm hand

On Tattoine

Trying to rescue a princess from an evil empire

GUESS THE FILM…

An orphaned billionaire

In Gotham City

Becoming a vigilante crime fighter

GUESS THE FILM…

You will work in small groups to produce a short film based around a theme.

OVER THIS YEAR

{JUMP CUTS

Jump Cuts is a three month film production challenge.

You will need to plan, organise and film a 2 to 5 minute short film.

You will need to work in small groups, and work hard outside of your class time as well as in it.

What is Jump Cuts

What do I need to plan?

You must submit a proposal, script & storyboard.

You must have a detailed production schedule (for pre-production & production), risk assessments, budget and consent forms.

Jump Cuts Rules (1)

What do I have to make

Jump Cuts is a horror and thriller film festival. Your film will need to be influenced by one (or both) of these genres.

This years entries must be based around the theme “Flashback”, but how your story does this is up to you.

You can only have a maximum of three actors. Try to think of an idea with as little dialogue as possible.

Jump Cuts Rules (2)

What next?

Get in groups of no more than 4. You will need to come up with an idea & pitch it to your group today. The group will vote for 1 idea that they want to make.

Remember to keep your ideas realistic & attainable. 5 minute films should not have a lot of dialogue, exposition etc... Think short and snappy.

Jump Cuts

“What’s this about working outside of class time?”

If you want something you have to work at it.

You need to have filmed this by mid-december

That means you have complete pre-production by the end of next week. That means putting in some time outside of class.

You will only have this class on a Mondayto spend on it….

Jump Cuts

Go away and begin coming up with some concepts:

A person

In a place

Doing their thing.

It doesn’t have to be the best idea ever – you only have 2- 5 minutes to tell your story. The simpler the story the better. Simple

stories can be the smartest stories.

Task 1: working alone

Pitch your ideas to each other and discuss what you like and dislike about them.

How creative is the idea? How many actors will it need?

Will you need to spend money on props for the idea to work?

Will you realistically be able to film it?

Task 2: in your groups

Now you have a rough idea work in your groups to develop the story:

How does it start? What happens next? How does it end? Is there a twist?

Task 3: Group breakout

In your groups decide who is responsible for the following plans;

Storyboard Script Risk assessments Production schedule Proposal

Task 4: responsibilities

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Ffcfggj4-FY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=VMmEDvZFnVc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q2VcK8xy6CQ

Here’s some of previous years entries