2. This template PowerPoint presentation includes all the relevant
elements you need to cover your film production.
It is suggested you save this PP in a different name so you
always have a copy – some sections require you to delete the
information on the slide and replace with your own work
Add more pages to each section where necessary [you should be
doing this!]
Add visuals as you see necessary
This document will be added to as you progress through the pre-
production phase.
Remember, you need to give as much attention to your
sound planning as you do to your visual planning
3.
4. Use the story development resource to help structure your short
film with more detail
Not all the aspects have to be followed verbatim, use the
resource the plan out character, motivation, stakes and the arc of
your film, this will help to ensure that it works structurally
Proforma is on bb
Add a structural breakdown of each scene once you have done
this
5. Short Film Story Development
Title Mirror mirror in the Wardrobe.
Genre Thriller/Horror
What 3 visual conventions of your genre will you include?
. De-saturated colour
. Jump scares
Fast editing
What will you introduce early in the film to make the audience like/care about your character?
The fact that my character will be acting in normal behaviour, like putting on make up, hair, etc. This will make my character more
relatable to the audience.
What is the ending to your film?
A jump scare, classic the conventions of a psychological thriller. (Evil twin popping up behind)
Why is that your ending? What reaction are you hoping to elicit in the audience?
I wanted to use this ending to cause a slight twist to captivate my audience I found this to be important because it is a key
convention of a psychological thrillers, So it is important to scare/jump the audience.
What are the stakes for your character? What will happen if they don’t get what they want?
It is more like my character is psychologically teased and scared, rather than a plot where she gets what they want. I choose to do
this as it I found it to be a more of a interesting plot than the generic story structure.
6. What are the stakes for your character? What will happen if they don’t get what they want?
It is more like my character is psychologically teased and scared, rather than a plot where she gets what they want. I choose to do this as it I found
it to be a more of a interesting plot than the generic story structure.
3 Act Structure; Define each act
Act 1 Make up scene, Wardrobe is harmless.
Act 2 Strange noises to entice audience
Act 3 Final scare.
Dan Harmon’s Story Circle: Reference how your film follows it
A character is in a zone of comfort- Character doing makeup in home.
But they want something- Not necessarily, and that potentially my character is caught of guard with gradual scares.
They enter an unfamiliar situation
Whilst walking off hearing scary noises. (Increases tension more)
Adapt to it
After checking wardrobe, seeing nothing to harm, my character adapts to reality/normality again. (Walks off)
Find what they wanted
Opens wardrobe to see demented twin. (obviously scares twin)
Pay its price
Turns around and sees demented twin. For the final scare
And go back to where they started
Finishes on scare
7. Breakdown your film into it’s basic sections [e.g. via scene
breakdown or similar] and apply broad visual ideas to each
section. You should list the shots required
You can use this as the master template for your production, then
add more shots to each section when you develop your full visual
plan
From this you could work on a conventional script if you want, but
using the scene breakdowns should be enough
8. Scene No. or
section (e.g.
beginning, middle,
end, etc)
Approx timing What happens Visual notes Audio notes
Number 1 2 secs Starts with darkness.
Wardrobe opens, to twin
1.
Camera is as if it’s a
mirror
Slight tense music,
playing in the
background. Sound
effects of creaking door
Number 2 2 secs A shot of twin 1 looking
in the mirror doing make
up etc
Camera is as if it’s a
mirror
Slight tense music,
playing in the
background. Sound
effects of creaking door
Number 3 2 secs Twin 1 shuts wardrobe Shot of door shutting Music intensifies
Number 4 2 secs Shot of twin walking off Different shots of feet
and hands shutting and
walking
No sounds
Number 5 2 secs Loud bang Twin one freezes Big bang
10. This section is concerned with the visual planning of your film
You should use this section to develop the sequencing or your
video, establish the visuals look and sequencing of your film and
create a structure for you to follow when filming
It is important that you ‘pre-visualise’ the film before you make it; it
will make filming and production a more streamlined process
The following tasks are part of your visual planning
Pre-visualisation and concept boards
Storyboarding
Shot list
11. Your storyboard should bring your idea to life
Provide an idea of the sequencing of you film
Provides a basis for production
Suggested online storyboard creators are:
https://www.storyboardthat.com
http://www.pixton.com [very complicated]
http://www.storyjumper.com [allows you to insert your own images]
Alternatively, hand draw or photograph your storyboard and scan or
copy to insert it onto your slides
There are lots of tips collected together on Blackboard!
12.
13.
14.
15. Your shot list should contain the sequential breakdown of what
you need to shoot for your film
It should work in partnership with your storyboard
It will be your working document when you film
It should contain the shot number, scene number, shot
description, framing, cast/location info and action you will see
It should also have information on performers in the scene and
other props, etc
Shot list template is on Blackboard in the pre-production folder.
18. Include names, contact info, and defined roles at difference
stages of production, using a table is suggested
Kate Oliver-Twin 2 (actress)
Number-077935942807 Address- 32 Oxenby Place, Easingwold,
York.
Charlotte Oliver-Twin 1 (actress, producer, editor, director)
Number-01347821400 Address-32 Oxenby Place, Easingwold
York.
19. Who is going to be in your film, how and why have they been
deemed your best choice? Do you have any backup options?
Myself and my twin sister Kate Oliver, are acting within my piece.
I have chosen to do this because it is simply easier to do as we
live together and was perfect for my story line of evil sister etc.
I have a back up option of using Olivia Groom, as she lives in my
area and has knowledge of editing and creating a movie.
20. Information and images of your location[s] for filming
You should have address details, clearance/premissions for
filming, recce photos and floorplans [including camera, equipment
and cast/crew layouts]
Where possible, have a plan B fallback location option
Assess each location for any issues and suggest solutions
21. Address details- 32 Oxenby Place, Easingwold.
Floor plan. For where filming will
take place.
This is the wardrobe that will be
key for my piece.
This room is where filming will
take place.
Back up plan I will use Olivia
Grooms house. (also in
Easingwold)
Camera
and Tri
pod
22. Risk Assess each separate filming location using the provided
form in the pre-production folder on Blackboard and insert into
your powerpoint
Completing a generic filming assessment would be a start, then
you can add specialist/site specific risks as you progress your
production
Remember, a Risk Assessment is an ongoing document, you
should evaluate if anything changes in production and when you
put control measures in place
23.
24. Things go wrong
Your contingency plan is there to give you a backup or to
minimise the effect on production
You should consider the following areas: Technical, Location,
Personnel and Organisational areas [about 5 potential issues for
each]
Use the form in pre-production folder on Blackboard
25.
26. Provide an outline of what you will do on which days during
production
13/03/18- On this day I aimed to finish all my Pre-Production,
Research before filming I also booked my camera and equipment.
14/03/18- I added final touches to my written work and prepared
my call sheet.
15/03/18-Started filming my piece
16/03/18- Editing and adding audio
(in the next week also)
Half term evaluation.
27. Complete a call sheet for each production activity
Forms are on Blackboard
Insert into powerpoint here
28.
29. List, explain how you’ll acquire and provide an overview of
anything else you’ll need for your production – this is about
anything that isn’t cast, crew, technical equipment and
locations, but could be how those things will be moved to a
location, for example.
Costume-For twin 1 and 2, they’ll both have matching
costumes to live up to the story line. I will ensure this
happens
Props- I will place my own personal mirror in place.
My own wardrobe will also be used for filming.
The only thing I will put in place is the mirror within the
wardrobe, I will be assisted by my cast and crew for help with
this to ensure there is no health and safety issues.
31. These are sounds in
the environment, part
of the ‘world’ your
character experiences
– these can be
recorded on location,
produced afterwards
using foley
techniques, etc. Some
use of royalty free
sounds is permitted,
but you must list their
sources and
information
Consider what you
might need, how you
are going to get it, etc
You could reference
similar productions
and the effect of their
sound mix and
choices
Diegetic sound
These are sounds in the environment, part of the ‘world’
your character experiences.
-For example when my character opens the wardrobe
(creaking door) I could emphasise this sound during editing.
-Shuffling of feet toward the wardrobe, this can be heard by
my character.
The use of the key unlocking in the keypad within the
wardrobe. This also can be heard by the character.
-The loud ‘bang’ that is intended to scare a character.
However intend to emphasise this noise during editing.
-Noises of twin 1 picking up makeup and everyday uses.
This will not be edited.
32. These are the
sounds/audio
that the audience
experiences, but
are not part of
the ‘world’ of the
character[s], this
could be music,
sound cues, etc
Consider where
you are going to
get these, only
royalty free
sources and
original content
is permitted –
please track your
sources
You could also
produce your
own soundtrack
using
garageband
Non-Diegetic
-I intend to use creepy/scary royalty free music in the
back ground of my short film. I decided to use this
because my piece is non-scripted therefore the music
needs to be suited to the film. I can reach royalty free
music through forums such as YouTube.
-I also want to include my own sound effects/and music
that I have created myself. I can use garage band to do
this. This will also mean I don’t have to find
music/sound effects that are not royalty free.