This document provides guidance for students creating a compelling design and pre-production plan for a short film. It outlines 8 sections to be included: 1) a visual treatment, 2) conventions of the genre, 3) location scouting, 4) test shots, 5) scripting and storyboarding, 6) font choices, 7) visual effects, and 8) revisions. For each section, detailed requirements are provided around visual and audio aspects, conventions, locations, test shots, scripts, fonts, effects, and allowing for revisions. The goal is for students to demonstrate effective design choices and planning to capture an audience's attention.

2. Achievement Achievement
with Merit
Achievement with
Excellence
Produce a
design for a
media
product that
meets the
requirements
of a brief.
Produce a
convincing
design for a
media product
that meets the
requirements
of a brief.
Produce a
compelling
design for a
media product
that meets the
requirements of
a brief.

3.  Produce a design involves completing concept, treatment,
and pre-production activities that demonstrate design
choices that meet the requirements of a brief and show
evidence of reflection and/or refinement.

 Produce a convincing design involves completing concept,
treatment and pre-production activities that demonstrate
deliberate selection of design choices to engage an audience.

 Produce a compelling design involves completing concept,
treatment, and pre-production activities that demonstrate
effective selection and application of design choices to
command and capture audience attention.

4.  This assessment activity requires two
students to work individually to produce a
compelling design and plan for a short film
that fits the requirements of a brief.

5.  Compelling means you will show a high level
of media knowledge and experience when
making design choices for the creation of a
media product along with effective and clear
use of conventions for the genre.

6.  Your ability to make and apply design choices in
developing a concept, treatment and pre-production
activities that:
 Meet the requirements of a given brief
 Effectively incorporate the key features of the genre
into a coherent whole
 Effectively select technology required and impact of
practicalities, and details how these will enable
and/or constrain the completion of the finished
product
 Effectively identify milestone dates, dependencies
and allocate required resources to complete pre-
production activities
 Effectively demonstrate evidence of on-going
refinement of ideas through reflection and reworking
 Allow you to complete a media product which would
capture the audience‟s attention

7.  As your media products are being created to
fit a brief, it means that they are most likely
to be shown in public! Therefore some
guidelines need to be followed
 See “Film Making Guidelines” document on
the level 3 Moodle page.

8. Digital or physical, I don‟t care
as long as you keep up and
don‟t lose anything!!
(I would actually prefer digital!)

9.  Brainstorm and develop your initial concept
 The concept must include an outline of the
short film. It should introduce character, the
setting, and the situation as well as the
inciting incident which engages the audience.
 Write an outline of your concept and include
the following:
◦ The main character‟s name
◦ The dramatic premise
◦ The inciting incident
◦ The rising tension

10.  Jamie is the lone survivor of the teen zombie
apocalypse in Nelson. She has hidden out in
her old school as no teenager is going to go
there. One day, she notices a mess in the
food tech room – bread, peanut butter, a dirty
plate, and knife and… crumbs. She didn‟t
make the mess which means someone else
did. Jamie searches the school, she finds
nothing of note until her OCD becomes her
greatest asset and she finds more crumbs.
Literally following a trail of breadcrumbs
Jamie makes a frightening discovery

11. Visual Treatment

12.  1. Visual treatment: a treatment is a detailed
description about how you will visually create
your short film. This should be completed
focusing on the visual aspects of media
production that you and your group want to
use to make the media product. This will
include mise-en-scene, editing pace and
rhythm, visual effects and any font or
secondary media you want to incorporate.
1

13.  1. Visual treatment:
◦ Explain in detail the kind of atmosphere/tone you
will create visually and how you intend to use
equipment and conventions to create this style. For
example, in an action film, rapid shot transitions
will convey a sense of atmosphere to the audience
◦ Explain in detail why your Visual stylistic
approaches are appropriate for your target
audience, and how it will appeal to them
1

14.  2. Conventions of the Medium/Genre:
 You must identify, describe and explain in
detail AT LEAST FIVE specific conventions
associated with you genre. More may appear
in your short film, but you will only need to
write well on at least five.
 For EACH convention, explain in detail how its
use is appropriate for, and will appeal to your
target audience.
2

15.  3. Location Scouting:
 Prepare a brief profile on each location that
you wish to use. Have photos of each location
included with the details of the location.
These photos do not count as test shots and
as such, these can be from Google maps or
any time of the day.
 Discuss why you are using this location, and
how it will be used to contribute to the mood
of the story.
3

16.  4. Test shots:
 Complete test shots of relevant locations for
your film. Test shots are actually testing the
look and feel of the location as it would
appear in your film. The idea here is to try
out your location and how all the elements
might come together when you shoot. You
should do test shots at each location to check
for composition or lighting issues. This is a
good opportunity to try things and see what
works and what needs revising. Spending
time on this process will make your shoot go
more smoothly 4

17.  5. Scripting and Story boarding:
 Using Celtx, develop the story from your
concept into a script. Remember to include a
mode developed version of the following:
◦ The main character
◦ The dramatic premise
◦ The inciting incident
◦ The rising tension
 Remember to use Scene headings, Character
names, Dialogue, Action and Parentheticals
5

18.  5. Scripting and Story boarding:
 Prepare a range of shot templates of key
scenes in your short film. You can use the
sketch tool in Celtx, Photoshop resources, or
hand draw them if your wish.
 You should focus on having a good range of
shot types, angles, and movements in your
short film and use shots appropriate to your
purpose.
 For the purposes of assessment, a section of
your film storyboarded into 24 frames is all
that is required.
5

19.  6. Font choices:
 Compile a range of different fonts from
dafont.com that you are likely to use for the
titling in your short film. Present each font in
a black 16:9 mock-up so it‟s easy to see
legibility, clarity, style, and impact for the
audience. The fonts should complement the
style and tone of your short film.
6

20.  7. Visual effects:
 Compile a selection of tutorials, screen grabs
or web-links for visual effects you hope to
include in your short film. These can be
simple examples of colour grading, in-
camera effects, plug-ins for premiere or full-
blown animated sequences. The effects
should reinforce the style and tone of your
short film.
7

21.  8. Revision and reworking:
 Revise any aspects of your plan as a result of
test shots or other technical, practical,
aesthetic or story considerations.
 In practice, revision will be an on-going
process right through all the stages of the
production.
 And you are being assessed on re-working!
 Be flexible! 8

22. Audio Treatment and Pre-production

23.  1. Audio Treatment:
 This treatment is a detailed description about
how your film will sound. This should be
completed focusing on a audio aspects of
media production that you want to use to
make the media product. This will include
soundtrack, volume, editing pace and
rhythm, sound effects and any voiceover or
secondary media you want to incorporate.
1

24.  1. Audio Treatment:
◦ Explain in detail the kind of atmosphere/tone you
will create audibly and how you intend to use
equipment and conventions to create this style. For
example, in an action film, fast pace music with a
heavy base sound will contribute to the
atmosphere.
◦ Explain in detail why your audio stylistic approaches
are appropriate for your target audience, and how it
will appeal to them.
1

25.  2. Music samples:
 Compile a selection of copyright free music
you think will fit the tone and style of your
short film as discussed in your audio
treatment. With these, formulate a comment
justifying your choices. This selection should
include about 6 tracks. Remember these
don‟t have to be lyrical songs, they can be
instrumental tracks which may better serve to
create mood and meaning. Alternatively, you
can create your own music using Garageband
or similar. (or a musical instrument!) 2

26.  3. Sound effects:
 Compile a selection of sound effects you
think will fit the tone and style of your
product as discussed in your audio treatment.
Most of these can be found on the internet,
though some are preloaded onto the R-drive,
or are available if you use Garageband.
Formulate a comment justifying your choices.
This selection should include at least 6-8
samples. Alternatively you can record your
own Foley effects using a microphone. 3

27.  4. Production schedule:
 Complete a detailed production schedule
showing how and when you will complete the
necessary steps to enable a successful and
quality short film. In your Production
log, consider in detail the practicalities of
available resources, time, access to
technology and equipment, and locations.
 Make any necessary changes to your
treatment and write a comment where you
critically reflect on the impact of the changes
to your production. 4

28.  5. SWOT Analysis:
 This is a detailed analysis of the factors which
could make or break the production of your
short film. Use the following headings to help
you complete this analysis:
 Strengths: these are the immediate factors of
your production which will assist you in
making the best short film possible. For
example: easy access to a good location, your
cousin is Emma Stone, etc. 5

29.  5. SWOT Analysis:
 Weaknesses: these are immediate factors of
your production which interfere with you
making (or even completing) the best short
film possible. For example, sporting conflicts,
no driver‟s licence, you have a mutant ability
to destroy technology, etc.
5

30.  5. SWOT Analysis:
 Opportunities: these are possible factors you
can organise or have access to which may
assist you in making the best short film
possible. For example: someone in your
extended family has a bach or office which
would be in the perfect location, there‟s an
event in the school calendar that would be a
good chance to create a crowd scene, Weta
Workshop just called saying you could borrow
their equipment for a week post-production,
etc. 5

31.  5. SWOT Analysis:
 Threats: these are possible factors you may
not have control over which could interfere
with you making (or even completing) the
best short film possible. For
example, shooting outdoor scenes in Term 3
could be ruined by winter weather, your lead
actors are a couple and could break up before
production is finished, etc.
5

32.  5. SWOT Analysis:
 Strategies: these are ways in which you will
overcome the weaknesses and threats you
have identified in order to make the best
short film possible. For example, having a
second script ready to move outdoor scenes
indoors due to bad weather, changing your
production schedule so that your cameraman
can head off for tournament week, etc.
 Answer all the „What if…?‟ questions!
5

33.  6. Production lists and paperwork:
 Crew and talent: secure services of crew and
talent as appropriate. Prepare a master list of
team members and include home phone
numbers if the production involves work out
of school hours.
 Props and costumes: prepare a master list of
props and costumes required and where you
will source them. Include names and phone
numbers of suppliers
6

34.  7. Permissions :
 Locations: secure the permission to use any
location through the owner of the location.
Pay careful attention to identifying safety
issues and actions to prevent injuries from
occurring.
 Talent: you will need to secure agreement
with your cast members for them to appear in
your short film. This becomes a contract for
them to be involved. Be sure that they have
copies of the production schedule and know
what is required of them. 7

35.  8. Revisions :
 Revise any aspects of your plan as a result of
audio changes or other technical, practical,
aesthetic or story considerations.
 In practice, revision will be an on-going
process right through all the stages of the
production.
 And you are being assessed on re-working!
 Be flexible!
8

36. And „break a leg!‟