Get on it!

Its Sunday night.  I'm thinking most of you are not thinking about your film, but you should be.  What can be shot tomorrow?  Why not tomorrow?  Or why not rehearsal tomorrow?  Do you have film that you can edit and organise?  Have you worked and reworked your script?  Perhaps your script needs a grand reworking.

Get a plan, lets shoot some film tomorrow.

Phone a Friend

You know what you guys. I want more. Some of you consider yourselves done and to be honest, I don't blame you. I feel like at this point there is little more that Jonne and I have to give you in the way of you telling your story and screen writing. That is why your next assignment is to find someone else to give your script a serious edit job. I know its painful to have someone look at your work but, no pain no gain.

Find someone, a fellow student, teacher, parent, sibling, a person whom whose feedback you deem valuable. Someone who has not seen the script or knows much or any of your treatment. Give that person a paper copy and a red pen and let them have at it. I would like 6 edited scripts due Monday. By the way, by "edited" I don't men find spelling errors, I want questions about the content of your stories. I want them to question your dialogue and your sense of logic, your plot, how well you develop important characters. Etc. Get on it.

Also Due 9/16 - Screen Test an Actor

By Thursday you need to write a screen test, film it in the studio, and give the camera to Mr. Wolotsky or Jonne Trees.

Here is an example of a short screen play. We model the whole thing in class and film it to.


Actors:
Dan W as Dan W
Spencer M as Spencer M

Scene: Mr.W is signing passes. He is sitting.
There is a line of kids. All kids should be waiting in line patiently and not talking.
Spencer is second.

Alternating camera shots
One camera should be behind desk and one to the side of the desk

Very affable, friendly conversation
First Kid:second
Mr. W There You go...
First Kid: Thanks
Mr. W Sure, see you in a bit

Conversation begins very friendly as did first conversation
Spencer: Hey, Can I get a pass for 1st?
Mr. W - Sure Man.(begins to fill out pass) Wait a minute(Mr. W grabs the ineligable list and looks at it)
Spencer, you are ineligable.

Spencer: after a short pause: I know I know.
Mr. W, now angry and disappointed: What for? That's rediculous.
Spencer, (embarrassed) Mr. Gorey, I owe him a few things
Mr. W, (frustrated now) Spencer, come on. Do you your homework.
Spencer: I know, I know.
Mr. W: Look man, (looks into the camera and speaks slowly)just, do your freaking home work.

Leads into words on screen "Do Your Freaking homework"

The Treatment

The "Treatment" - due 9/16

The treatment is nothing more than a preview of the script. By March 23rd, share with Mr. Wolotsky one idea in which you preview a possible script for the idea you are considering. This need not be the idea that becomes your final project. Please submit this to me via Google Docs(fishwhistle08@gmail.com) and be prepared to read your treatment aloud in class.

Your treatment will contain:

a possible title
a few words about main characters or players
setting
major events
perhaps logistics if important

Your treatment should not be too long. 75-150 words sounds good.

Welcome!

On choosing and developing your topic for a short film

-Go small, think snapshot, moment, don't get too complicated. -Choose a simple story you can tell completely.
-Subject yourself (Make you be the subject of the film). "Creating stories based on personal experience is a great way to ensure that your script will be unique and truthful, and therefore interesting.
-Unique experiences
-Seen or done something unusual?
-Know somebody cool?
-An encounter
-a twist of fate
-a surprise
-a disruption
-a dream

Once an appealing idea is found, put it away for a day, and pick it up again and see if it still seems like a good idea.

Your Assignment- Due Tuesday.

Post four ideas as a comment to this blog. Be prepared to share one idea with our class. Your four ideas can be described in a sentence or two. You do not need to go into great detail.

Urgent Message About Your Screenplay

Ok everyone, after speaking with Jonne Trees, I have agreed to EXTEND your due date for your screenplay to April 29. This both worries me and makes me feel better. Extending the due date worries me because some of you just need "to do your freakin homework". I am worried that by extending the date you will only put it off and waste time.

I feel good about extending the due date because I know that some of you are honestly crunched for time and want to do a good job. So, we are going to give everyone the benefit of the doubt, and extend the date for all.

No one will be allowed to shoot their films until their sreenplays are done. We want to emphasize planning. If you get your screenplay done on time you can begin to shoot. The more time you have to shoot, the better off your film will be. If you have any questions feel free to email, call, or text.

Due Friday April 2

Due by Friday.

Please add on to your treatment which you submitted via google docs.

Add the following if you have not done so:

1. a Title

(title your short story right article)

2. a Logline (click here for some help) (more logline examples)

See, call, or email Mr. Wolotsky or Jonne Trees.
Jonne: 207-607-3151 channel7@brctv.org

3. Expand on your treatment. In effect, make an outline to use as a diagram for your screenplay.

So far everyone has received full credit for all work. I am afraid that to encourage you to give this some serious thought I am going to grade your work. I feel the need to kick you guys in the butt on this, I guess. So far, you have received 45 points for your PSA screenplay, treatment, and gathering 30 seconds of video.

This particular assignment will be graded and count 50 points. You will be graded based on the effort that is evident in the work.

Mr. Wolotsky's PSA

PSA Do Your Freaking Homework

Actors:
Dan W as Dan W
Spencer M as Spencer M

Scene: Mr.W is signing passes. He is sitting.
There is a line of kids. All kids should be waiting in line patiently and not talking.
Spencer is second.
WE WILL USE AT LEAST TWO CAMERA SHOTS FOR THIS ENCOUNTER

Alternating camera shots
One camera should be behind desk and one to the side of the desk

Very affable, friendly conversation
First Kid:second
Mr. W There You go...
First Kid: Thanks
Mr. W Sure, see you in a bit

Conversation begins very friendly as did first conversation
Spencer: Hey, Can I get a pass for 1st?
Mr. W - Sure Man.(begins to fill out pass) Wait a minute(Mr. W grabs the ineligable list and looks at it)
Spencer, you are ineligable.

Spencer: after a short pause: I know I know.
Mr. W, now angry and disappointed: What for? That's rediculous.
Spencer, (embarrassed) Mr. Gorey, I owe him a few things
Mr. W, (frustrated now) Spencer, come on. Do you your homework.
Spencer: I know, I know.
Mr. W: Look man, (looks into the camera and speaks slowly)just, do your freaking work.

Leads into words on screen "Do Your Freaking homework"

Human Rights PSA 2

Another Human Rights PSA to watch for ideas

Human Rights PSA

A Human Rights PSA from: http://www.youthforhumanrights.org/watchads/index.html

watch for Ideas for making our own Public Service Ad

Script Writing

Here are a few examples of scripts. You can click on them to see them better. The first script is from a dramatic production and the second is from a documentary. Please notice the elements in each.

The more details you put in the script the more prepared you and your film team will be.

The "Treatment" - due 3/23

The treatment is nothing more than a preview of the script. By March 23rd, share with Mr. Wolotsky one idea in which you preview a possible script for the idea you are considering. This need not be the idea that becomes your final project. Please submit this to me via Google Docs(fishwhistle08@gmail.com) and be prepared to read your treatment aloud in class.

Your treatment will contain:

a possible title
a few words about main characters or players
setting
major events
perhaps logistics if important

Your treatment should not be too long. 75-150 words sounds good.

My Notes From "Filmmaking for Teens: Pulling off Your Shorts" by Troy Lanier and Clay Nichols

On choosing and developing your topic for a short film

-Go small, think snapshot, moment, don't get too complicated. -Choose a simple story you can tell completely.
-Subject yourself (Make you be the subject of the film). "Creating stories based on personal experience is a great way to ensure that your script will be unique and truthful, and therefore interesting.
-Unique experiences
-Seen or done something unusual?
-Know somebody cool?
-An encounter
-a twist of fate
-a surprise
-a disruption
-a dream

Once an appealing idea is found, put it away for a day, and pick it up again and see if it still seems like a good idea.

Welcome Everyone!

Welcome, to one of your final classes here at BRHS. As of now, these are the students signed up for this class; Anni, Katrina, Dan, Wyatt, Britt, and Joe S.

I will post all relevant information here. In today's first class, Jonne Trees and I will answer your questions about the class and the short film you will be expected to create. We will also check out the new equipment purchased for you and give some tips on gathering video and audio content.

By Friday, you will need to have gathered video content that contains something that is worth sharing with your classmates.