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.