2. Objectives
• D2 Thorough & detailed pre-production for a
developed, stylistically confident & compelling short
film, with confident communication skills
• M2 Purposeful pre-production portfolio, for a well
thought out, imaginative and detailed idea for a short
film, with good communication skills
• P2 Completepre-production portfolio with basic
planning & pitch a concept for a what can be
recognised as a short narrative film
3. The hook:
Which do you want to keep watching?
• http://youtu.be/vN7BitXC49c
• http://youtu.be/NeLKh8JhGow
4. Starter
What makes a good short film?
• http://www.bbc.co.uk/filmnetwork/filmmaking/guide/introduction/what-makes-a-good-short
• Conflict or problem/question that needs resolving
• Character driven - depth, humanity, motivation and what makes them tick?
• An original or exciting idea?
• Stylistic experimentation (camera, edit etc?)
• Keep it short and pacey
• Production value - well composed, lit, edited, choice of location, attention to detail MES,
sound levels and mix.
• Avoid exposition dialogue - Rewrite scripts and condense
• Acting (get the right people and rehearse)
6. Assessment Schedule
Deadline /5/15
4 weeks
• Groups of 2 or 3
• Pre-production Paperwork THIS WEEK
• Film (5-10 mins), specific production role (ie Camera
Op, Sound, Lighting, DOP, Director) 2 WEEKS
• Production log/video diary
• Individual edit 1 WEEK
7. Pre-production paperwork by
end of this session
• Treatment & Pitch (with feedback from class)
• Script (at least 1 draft, with class feedback and final)
• Shooting script
• Storyboard/Animatic
8. Do you have IDEAS?
• Look at newspaper stories, quotes, song lyrics for
influence
• BRAINSTORM using Popplett
• Create a Moodboard of visual style influences and
Key Moment/narrative influences
• http://filmg.co.uk/files/downloads/Scripting-
Resource-Notes.pdf
9. Task 1: Pitch (video)
• Title
• What happens, who are the characters?
• Where/when is it set?
• What is the conflict/question or problem/obstacles that must be resolved?
• What style (chiaroscuro, realistic, surreal, hyper edited, minimalist etc)?
• What influenced - what have you stolen/borrowed/been inspired by?
• What is your theme or your message?
• Feedback improvements or questions on each other's with Post Its
• Write up your treatment - beginning, middle, and end - in no more than 1 paragraph
10. Task 1 Pitch (continued)
• Cost (and implications of your budget/how you will shoot this?)
• Requirements – crew (who is doing what?), actors, locations
• Who is your audience, and how you will distribute to them (veoh,
youtube, twitter – film festivals?)
• Presentation software: PREZI or Slideshare?
• Include visual aids from your Mood Board, screen grabs
• Presentation Skills: eye contact, body language, sell the idea to me
and maintain interest, clarity and tone of voice
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vb98Yi9oxiQ
11. Assessment Unit 2.4&5
• All must contribute verbally
• 2.4 deploy and manage technology to pitch a media
production proposal effectively [and with some
imagination/creativity & flair]
• 2.5 employ forms of address in a media production
pitch to communicate ideas [effectively/with impact]
13. Script guidelines
http://www.raindance.org/7-rules-for-
writing-short-films/
• 2. Keep the Practicalities of Writing in Mind (budget,
microcosm, restricted narrative)
• 3. Make It Visual (Show it, don't say it)
• 4. Find Single Moments (start from here)
• 5. Tell a Story (the 'bigger story' ie love, revenge, redemption,
destiny)
• 6. Engage the Reader (hook conflict in the first 30 sec - 1 min)
• 7. Beware of Cliches ( 'it was all a dream...')
14. Shooting Script
Composition, Framing, Angles &
Movement
• http://leighmediaas12.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/composition-
continuity.html
• http://leighmediaas12.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/camera-
angles.html
• http://leighmediaas12.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/camera-
shots.html
• http://leighmediaas12.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/camera-
movement.html
• Now go photograph your storyboard!
15. Task 3: Animatic
Put it all together with sound
• Record your dialogue
• Edit your storyboard images in time with your
dialogue - do you have enough shots or the right
ones to get across the drama? (Close ups?)
• Add in the remaining diegetic (foley, ambient) and
non-diegetic sound (score, soundtrack)
• Review - is the pacing right?
16. Practical assessment/skills
workshop next week
• Pre-learning next week: continuity (180 deg rule,
match on action), lighting, focus pulls
• Homework: complete all Recces, Auditions and
Casting, Production Schedule
• Workshop next week - I will assess your level of skill
and feedback how to improve
17. Pre-learning: Lighting &
Focus
• Split & Butterfly
• http://youtu.be/PzKNpejsdSs
• 3 Point Lighting (Key, Fill & Back)
• http://youtu.be/G8DYOeQFClg
• Depth of field (shallow focus & focus pulls)
• http://youtu.be/Fm5XNm7rPZ8
