This document provides a template and guidance for planning a short film production. It includes sections for visual planning, organizational planning, location planning, risk assessments, contingency planning, props, and soundtrack planning. The visual planning section includes templates for storyboards and shot lists. The organizational planning section provides guidance on casting. The location planning names a potential filming location. The document emphasizes pre-visualizing the film, planning for potential issues, and using free online resources for sound effects and music.

1. Ethan Hunter

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

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

8.  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

9. Scene No. or
section (e.g.
beginning, middle,
end, etc)
Approx timing What happens Visual notes Audio notes
Beginning Main Character
receives text message
from children Saying
that he needs to come
home soon.
Looking over the
characters shoulder
with the focus being on
the phone.
No music only the
sounds of the phone
receiving notifications.
Beginning Main character receives
mysterious text
messages from an
unknown number
regarding his location
and kids.
After showing the
phone, focus is on the
character looking
distressed and
confused. Then cuts to
a pov shot of the
character looking for
someone who could be
texting him in the
surrounding area
Sounds of phone,
sounds of movement in
nature. Character
starting to breathe
heavily.
Middle Character continues to
receive mysterious
messages and begins
to start walking quickly
out of the woods.
Following the character
around and showing
shots of the
surroundings to find the
person texting.
Lots of sounds of
movement. Character
breathing heavier.
Middle Character catches a
glimpse of a mysterious
figure in the woods and
receives a text
message confirming
that what he saw is
what is sending the
messages, so he starts
running away
Shot of the mysterious
figure and also the
characters reaction.
Following the character
through the woods like
a chase.
In-human sounds and
even more movement
and even more
breathing.

10. Scene No. or
section (e.g.
beginning, middle,
end, etc)
Approx timing What happens Visual notes Audio notes
End Character finds a place
to hide and thinks he's
safe from the thing
chasing him.
Very dark, close up on
the characters face only
being lit by phone
backlight.
Extremely quiet other
than the characters
heavy breathing which
is incredibly loud.
End Character is called by
the same unknown
number and when he
answers the screen
goes black then cuts to
his children calling him
but with no answer.
Continues to be close
up to the characters
face with a shot of the
phone as it rings.
When the screen goes
black the same in-
human sound from
before is heard and the
characters breathing
stops. The phones
ringtone is very loud.

11. Visual Planning

12.  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

13.  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!

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.

17. Organisational Planning

18.  My film has a very small cast of only one person. The film
revolves around the unknown and so in doing this I am able to
create the illusion of a second character whilst only having one
physical actor. I have chosen somebody who I know well and that
I can rely on to help me with my production. They are a student
on the same course and has already finished their short film and
so will be able to help me if needed. We also both studied drama
at GCSE level in the same school and so have chemistry when it
comes to performing as we have had to do it many times before.

19. Skipwith Common National Nature Reserve,
Skipwith,
Selby,
YO8 5SH
This location provides everything that I need to film my
short film. There are no events occurring in this area on
the day I have chosen to film. There are animals that
reside in this nature reserve and so because of that I will
have to be careful and will respect them and their
habitat.

20.  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

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

27.  I am planning to film the entirety of my film in one day, 05/02/18,
and so I will use my shot list as a basis of what I need to film.
However if something is to go wrong on the day, bad weather for
example, I will need to finish or start filming on another day.
However I don’t have a production schedule as I will most likely
film my shot list chronologically.

28.  The only prop I will be using for my production is a mobile phone
for the main character to receive the messages to further the plot
of the film. All equipment will be transported via public transport
and on foot.

29. Soundtrack Planning

30.  All my diegetic sound will be original and recorded with a
handheld sound recorder. This will give my film a more realistic
feeling as all the sounds will be familiar sounds to the audience.
This also means that I can use sounds in the characters “world” to
add atmosphere and tension to my final product.

31.  The majority if not all of my non-diegetic sound will be royalty free
sounds and music from the internet. This is to make sure that I
create the right atmosphere for my film without having to spend
lots of time on creating it. This gives me more time to focus on
filming and editing my film which should result in a better final
product.