Writing Screenplay

Screenplay; The written form of a movie that also includes instructions on how it is to be acted and filmed : the script for a movie

What is the purpose of a screenplay; The purpose for a screenplay is one of the starting point of the film and television show These screenplays can be original works or adaptations from existing pieces of writing. In them, the movement, actions, expression, and dialogues of the characters are also narrated.

Task given; We were first presented with the stimulus of adapting our film opening from a book that we may choose, that had not been adapted into a feature film. Due to this we decided on Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult, from this the opening page presented a letter written by the protagonist therefore we decided to use this as out stimulus and to cooperate him writing the letter.


Challenges faced; We faced many challenges whilst writing the screenplay including finding a book that we all liked and believed would be a strong film opener, we spent a long time deciphering between books and came to the conclusion of Nineteen Minutes. Another challenge was how to present the letter as there were many options; voice over, writing, typed, placed non-diagetically on screen. In the end we decided on the letter being typed on a computer and to involve no dialog. 

     

 

Brainstorm's

Our task was to create a short film opening two minutes long, based off a novel that had not been created into a feature film. We began by searching for books in our schools library and online. My group spent a good hour searching through blurbs and synopsis's of  books that we found interesting. After much discussions we decided on Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult. From this we scanned through the book and found a written letter on the first page, therefor we began brainstorming on what to involve. 

 

My group and I talked through many ideas on weather to have the protagonist write a letter, type the letter ect. Using the mind-map and brainstorming help use join our ideas together and start to finalize our piece  

    

Preliminary Task; Final Cut

Preliminary task; Shot List

We wanted to involve as many shots as possible to get wide ranges of them, but not to over use them and make it become jarring, my favorite overall shot was the 'over the shoulder' because the dept was strong and created a great picture of how the young woman placed her stature over the young man.  

Preliminary Task; story board

For our practice piece we were given the task of; involving a persona open and close a door, walk across a room and exchange a few lines of dialogue with another person. After this initial task we began by discussing ideas for our story board, we came up with a disaster date. It involves an overly posh a woman and a young man which ends in him running speedily out of the restaurant due to her incompetence and rudeness.         

Our overall story was a comedy and involves a very shocking appearance of the woman. 

Shots

Tuesday 8th September,

SHOTS;

Today we began to learn about different shot types and how they represented a meaning to communicated to the audience what is occurring in the scene or to create atmosphere.

 Establishing/wide shot - with the use of a 35mm lens the wide shot is produced. This shot presents the setting of the scene and Establishes where the characters are at this moment in the film, this also could show the time and which protagonists may be incorporated in the scene. An example of this is in 'cabin in the woods' where a shot of the cabin is immediate to enforce that this is where the scene will commence. An establishing shot will be used to show they viewer where we are, before we cut to the action inside.

Close up shot -  A standard close up usually includes the head and shoulders of the subject, if the object is not alive then the shot may involve half or less of the object if large and all if small. This could present emotion to the audience or to state that the object is the importance of the scene. In the film 'The Shinning' a close up of Johnny is used whilst hes possessed to represent his anger and that there is something wrong with him. 

Extreme close up -  An extreme close up or ECU is used to make objects seam larger or also produce an emotion but in a larger image. The use of ECU's normally only last a few seconds because of the dramatic change in shot. For example in ' X-men First Class' a close up on Magneto eyes produces an effect of danger as bullets begin to be fired at him. 

Two shot - is when two characters are filmed in a single shot, normally filmed mid-chest up; This shot can create harmony or disharmony. The use of this shot is to show a conversation, conflict, attraction the list is endless. An example of a Two shot is in 'Ted' represents a conversation between the two protagonists.   

Over the shoulder shot -  or OTS occurs where the camera is placed behind the shoulder of the character, and can either show the opposite person on and object. Normally the should of the person is in soft and the subject is in sharp. For example in 'Mean Girls' this over the shoulder is used to present Reginae's reaction to Cady  question. 

These are some of the main shots that take place throughout Cinema and TV, there are any others yet these will most likely be seen in any production.

Practical Lesson (part one)

Pulp Fiction Re-enactment;