Unit 24 Assignment 2 - Scene by Scene

INT Ben's parents house
Ben
Wake up late for work and speeding out of the house

EXT Outside of Ben's house
Ben
Rushing out of the door

EXT Train station
Ben
Missing the train

EXT Outside of the train station
Ben
Missing bus

EXT Through the streets
Ben
Running through the streets

EXT Ally way
Ben, Thug, James
Scuffle happens then the thug runs away and James offers Ben a lift

INT James' car
Ben, James
Ben and James drive to work

EXT Outside work
Ben, James
They go into work

Unit 24 Assignment 2 - Treatment

The initial idea for my short film is a fast paced action based story from start to finish.

The story starts out with Ben Smith, a dull man, who doesn't stand out in any aspect of life. The most exciting thing that has happened to Ben is that time when he complained about something at the cinema and got a free movie ticket. He clocks in clocks out at the same time everyday, but this day was different. Something felt different to Ben as he woke up, why was he so well rested? He looked at his alarm clock, panic stricken he stumbles out of the house, his mundane daily routine is interrupted as his race against the clock begins.

He is met with his first dilemma as he runs to the train station, thinking he's in the clear, when he see's the train just disappear from his viewpoint, he's missed it.

Hope of getting to work on time is fading fast as he is faced with his second dilemma, the bus he was going to let whisk him away to work speeds past him, leaving him with only one option.

In a flash he decides that if he is determined enough he could definitely make on time for work if he runs faster than he's ever ran in his life, so he sets off.

On his way, twisting and turning through the busy streets he's met with his final and biggest dilemma a rugged looking man is after his money luckily his work colleague swoops in to save the day.

His last glimmer of hope shines through as he's offered a lift to his final destination. He has won, his race against the clock ends.

My story only has three characters in it. The main dilemma, the resolution and the main guy.

Ben Smith is quite a ordinary generic 19 year old guy. He goes out with his mates on the weekend, goes to work on the weekdays. Tends to keep his head down. His routine is basically the same every week. He's okay with this, he's content with his life. He wears suits on the weekdays and jeans and a t-shirt on the weekends. Typical clothing for him.

The thug is very rugged and rough, he's quite slim which is why he wears thick heavy clothing and big boots to toughen his look up a bit. He wields a knife incase he needs to use it to help him out in situations.

James Howarth (The work colleague) is basically a carbon copy of Ben Smith. Very average, boring, doesn't stand out. Wears suits to work, jeans and a t-shirt on the weekends. Goes out with his friends. But he is very generous,  kind and enjoys helping people out whenever he can.

My script will appeal to young people around ages 13 to 19, males and females of all ethnicities. I'm trying to show how important it is to try your hardest in any given situation. I'm sure that young people will see this and be able to relate to it because waking up late for work (or college) is a very common thing. So that would draw them in and then they can see the deeper meaning. The psychographics of my film are Explorers, I know this because this film is all about adventure and discovery, people who watch this film are looking to be enlightened. If they do look deep into it and see the hidden message.

Treatment notes

Overall ideas

• Use exciting language
• Sell your idea
• No bullet points
• Use sentences and paragraphs 
• Spelling and Grammar 

Content

• Plot synopsis (ask questions in it) (Talk about characters need, talk about lowest ED)
• Describe the characters + setting
• Who the script appeals to - target audiences
• No technical stuff just one page not a lot of detail

Make sure they understand the story but not so much that you're just writing the story out. 

Scene by scene

Scene structure of script. Don't give scene numbers till very end. 

Int and Ext - talk about what the scene is like E.G : 

Is the scene int or ext, where is the location. Who the characters are in it and what happens in the scene? 

Every scene must drive plot/character forward

Unit 24 Assignment 2 Research Diary

Cast and Crew, Research Diary:

Ben Smith: Played by Freddie Poole

The Thug: Played by Liam Michael Klawza

The work Colleague played by James Howarth

Timetable:

Ben Smiths work starts at 8am.
He wakes up at 7:20am.
The train he gets comes at 7:30am.
It takes him 10 minutes walking to get to the train station from his house.
He usually wakes up at 6:30am.
When he gets to the train station the time is 7:35am.
He has 25 minutes to get to work.
His journey usually takes him 20 minutes by train.
It takes him 25 minutes by bus.
He misses the bus so he has 25 minutes to get to work.
Running would of taken him at least 40 minutes depending on his pace.
He gets a lift from his work colleague at 7:50am.
The traffic on the route they take isn't busy seen as they go down many back roads.
They make it to work at 7:59am.

Questions to inform the script:

£5.03 an hour is Minimum wage for an 18 to 20 year old. (X)

Since all he does is work he does have quite a bit of money, but he will live with his parents still seen as he doesn't really have that much money to move out. (Plus him being 18 there is no pressure or rush for him to move out from his parents.) His parents won't be in since his Mum is out visiting her Mum and his Dad works a night shift so he will be in bed. 

Trains cost £3.20ish for a single (Based on routes from Victoria train station in Manchester to Ashton train station.) His train route is irrelevant seen as he never gets on the train but since we would be filming in Gee Cross or Ashton it would be Hyde train station or Ashton train station going to Manchester Piccadilly (X)

He works in a shop in Hyde Mall so he will wear a suit. In Hyde mall there aren't many fancy shops but there are a few pawn brokers. One in particular that looks quite fancy called H&T PawnBrokers. People in that store have always been seen wearing suits. I know that this store has been hiring people before so it is quite feasible that a 19 year old could have a job at this Pawn Brokers. You would of finished College by 19 so he could have the necessary qualifications to work there. (Source: Common knowledge of Hyde) 

Locations

Hyde, Market Street near the Hyde train station for the missing train and bus scene (Publicly available):

Dowsen road for the alley way mugging scene (publicly available): 

Around Gee Cross for the car scenes. 

The workplace (Hyde Mall, he could work inside Hyde Mall we're just not shown what shop he works in.): 

Audiences:

My target Audience are teenagers. Around ages 13-20.

I know this because I know that this is the age group that tends to give up most after they are faced with something tough they tend to give up. My film is aiming to show them that even though it is hard you should try your best to succeed and never underestimate ability of your friends to get you through your problems.

I also know this because the film Unstoppable (X) has similar theme elements to the film I'm doing. It's got a guy who has a dilemma and needs to sort this dilemma out in a certain amount of time and he manages to do it by the help of his friend. The film Unstoppable is aimed at young people I know this because the film is rated a PG-13 and it has lots of explosions and fast action. So it's mainly aimed at male youngsters. But my film is aimed at young people in general.

The psychographics of my film are Explorers, I know this because this film is all about adventure and discovery, people who watch this film are looking to be enlightened. If they do look deep into it and see the hidden message.

The other Psychographics for my film are Mainstreamers. I know this because if you don't look into the hidden meaning of the film, it's a very generic, point A to point B in a certain amount of time film. Most people will enjoy this because it's what they are use to.

Unit 24 Assignment 2 - 3 Act Structure

ACT 1 

Story: We see Ben Smith wake up in his double bed, he's sleeping in the middle alone. He stretches, yawns and sits up slowly. He looks towards his clock and we have a minute of silence before he realises that he's late. Suddenly he jumps up, runs to the wardrobe, throws on his suit, grabs his tie and puts it around his shoulders untied, falls backwards onto the bed as he tries to put his socks on quickly. He grabs his shoes and slips them on. He grabs his coat and runs out of the door fixing his tie.

Camera shots:

Ben waking up the camera will be either a birds eye view so we can see his face and body lay down, or a side angle view of the side of his face facing upwards. Either that or he is lay on his side so we can see his full face.

When he stretches, yawns and sits up the camera will be a wide/mid shot from the bottom of his bed looking at the headboard and him.

We get a shot of him looking at the clock then the camera lingers on a close up of his face for a while before he jumps up and panic ensues.

We get a mix of different camera shots each changing rapidly to portray the stress and quick pace of the scene.

We get a shot of the house from the outside the scene is quiet and silent before Ben bursts out of the house, the shot stays the same we then get a wide shot of the back of Ben running.

ACT 2

Story: We see Ben Smith run to the train station, missing it by seconds. (First dilemma) We see him look at his watch and then run to the timetables. The next train to this particular location isn't for a while. (Second dilemma) We see him run outside and run in one direction towards the nearest bus stop. A bus passes him as he runs, it's the one he needs (Third dilemma) he stops, out of breath and leans against a wall hands on his knees so he can catch his breath. He looks around not willing to accept he is going to be late for work. He glances at the time again and we see where his work is compared to where he is. He gets up from the wall looking determined. Then he sets off running, tie flailing behind him in the wind. Pushing past a bunch of people, knocking things over, stumbling every now and again, sliding around the corners of walls.

Camera shots:

Ben Smith running into the train station, the camera is angled to the side so that when he runs in you can see the side view of him then he disappears.

A front view of the train and a back view of Ben as the train drives off without him.

A close up of his watch.

Another mid shot from the side angle of him running to the timetables.

A close up of the train station timetable or a close up of the back of his head and him pointing to a certain time in order for him to see it better but also to point it out to the audience.

Another side shot of him running out of the train station this time.

A back view of Ben with the camera following him as he runs to the bus stop and as the bus passes him.

Same shot but the camera slowly stops with Ben as he leans against the wall catching his breath.

The camera switches to a front view of this scene

As he looks around we get wide shots of where he's looking with a close up on his face as he turns it

We get a close up of his face looking determined and then an extreme close up of the watch.

We get a close up of his face looking down the street, then the camera moves to the right and goes to where his work is (as if someone is walking to it in first person view but sped up)

We cut back to a close up of his face and then going back to the front view of him, speeding off to the right.

We get a mid shot of a blank wall and then Ben runs past the scene.

We get different types of shots of him pushing past people, knocking things over and stumbling everynow and again.

ACT 3

Story: He gets stopped by a big man as he runs into an alleyway (a shortcut that he knows) the man stops Ben because he looks quite smart, rich and young. (Anyone in a suit looks pretty rich.) A scuffle happens when someone comes to save the day (somehow), maybe a work colleague of his. He leans against the wall again as the work colleague puts his hand on Bens back the man has run off by this point, they don't think it's worth calling the police (explain in more detail or their motives for not wanting to call the police maybe?) and motions towards a car asking him if he wants a lift. Ben gets up and accepts the lift pointing to his watch and saying what time he has to be there, they run to the car and then drive to the place of work. We see the clock one last time and the film ends.

Camera shots: 

We get a shot from behind Ben as he runs into the ally way, we can see the man blocking the other side.

We get a variety of camera shots when they have the scuffle in the ally to show the panic of it.

The shot cuts to a view of the ally facing the street outside, when a car pulls up and the colleague jumps out and runs to them. Ben and the thug are still in camera shot but out of focus.

We get a shot of the thug and Bens head turning to work colleague (close up of Ben and the thugs face)

We get a wide shot of the action and then a close up as the thug pushes Ben against the wall then it flips back to the wide shot as he runs off

We get a front view of ben leaning against a wall and then the colleague consoling him. That shot continues on until Ben motions to his watch

We get an extreme closeup of the watch.

We go back to the front view as the colleague motions to his car. We get a mid shot of the car.

We get a few different shots of them walking to the car then the shot cuts to them arriving at the place of work.

We get a wide shot of the workplace from far away and we see a car (Ben and the colleagues car) pull up.

We get a mid shot of ben and the colleague getting out of the car.

We go back to the wide shot (or we follow them) as they walk into the building.

We get a close up of the clock or a clock that is outside or near the building or another closeup of bens watching showing us that he has made it on time.

Unit 22 Assignment 1 - SCP article

Do you know anything about single camera productions?

A single camera production is a production that only uses one camera for the entire filming session, SCP are usually filmed on location. There are many different reasons as to why we use single camera productions, for one it's cheaper. We know this because a single camera production, (obviously) requires less cameras. It's also cheaper because you don't have to hire as many staff, one camera means less equipment means less people required to run said equipment. In SCP's the performance of the actors are enhanced due to the fact that there is only one camera so the Actors who aren't on screen have time to prepare their bit and then work up their emotion and then when the camera is on them they can really go for it and release all of the emotions they have been storing because the camera hasn't been on them so they haven't been needing to act 24/7. It helps the creative process because they know when it's their time to act.

A multi-camera production is a production that uses more than one camera.

An example of a SCP TV show is '10 things I hate about you'

SCP's don't always use just one camera. Sometimes they'll use multiple to film a certain scene, for example a car crashing. They'll use multiple cameras for this because they can't really do that stunt over and over again filming it from different angles. Plus it will look different everytime SCP are usually filmed on location, this because some locations aren't meant to have multiple cameras on them. One camera means they can get in more places and get better shots without having to worry about lots of different cameras breaking.

There are many different formats of SCP's for example a serial drama, a serial drama is something that runs for 3 or 4 nights and then it ends. For example Black Mirror.

A series is something that runs continuously. Lizzie McGuire is an example of a SCP series. In this episode we can see them using jump cuts (9:40-11:00), this is effective to show both of the actors reactions in the show, also making it look like they had more than one camera to film it. It's also easy to get from one shot to another shot. Also at (11:01-11:26) They put two shots on one screen. This helps the flow of the episode go smoother so that they don't have to keep jumping back and forth between two people. You nearly always see this happen in phone calls on screen. This is best suited to a SCP because again it makes it look like there is more than one camera, also with a SCP you can't really get as much action on screen as you'd like without continuously jumping back and forth, so this helps it show more action at once.

A one-off film is just a normal film that has no sequel or prequel, most films are SCP's. An example of a one-off SCP (short) film is Coming of Age. This is a Drama.

Documentaries are usually SCP's too.

I think that all formats of these formats are best suited for a SCP. Mainly the serial drama one. I think this because a serial drama will only run for so long then it will stop. People don't want to spend a bunch of money on a production where the end product will only have so many episodes. (Like 5/6) So making it a SCP will save them a bunch of money and time in that they don't have to hire as many crew members.

SCP's have a lot of different ways that they can structure their narrative. One being Linear. Linear is where the story starts from the beginning and runs all the way through to the end in order. Which means that Non-Linear is a narrative structure that doesn't run from beginning to end, it starts in the middle. An example of a non-linear narrative is Utopia. Another one is realist. This is where narratives can be set in the real world.

There are two different types of endings that can happen, and open ending or a closed ending. An open ending is also sometimes described as a cliff hanger. Where there's still questions left to be answered that can either be answered in the next episode/film or that the audience has to try and answer itself. Closed ending is basically where the episode/film has a conclusion, all questions are answered and there is a final ending as such.

Narratives follow a 3 act structure. The first act is usually the introduction, then it goes into the rising action (which starts in the second act.) then act 3 is the crisis. It goes: Act 1, Set up. Act 2, Confrontation then Act 3, Resolution. The 3 act structure can be shown in a graph, where they set specific plot points to show a major event.

Filmmakers can tell stories through technical codes. This is usually the set up of the scene or the camera to tell a story without actually having to use dialogue or making it obvious to the viewers. The technical codes are, camera, editing, sound, lighting and mise en scene.

You can change the camera shots to show the viewers differences between characters. For example if you wanted to show that in a scene between two people, one of them was the stronger one and one of them was the weaker one. You would position the camera at a low angle when looking at the stronger one, because this gives him an air of power and makes him look bigger because we're looking up at them.  

Sound can play a very key part when trying to show a story. It's very easy to make the audience feel a certain way with certain sounds. If you wanted to build a scene up and create tension, it's simple to do this through sound. You'd play a quiet, dramatic backing track that would either build up or stay as it is to create suspense.

My opinion on Single-Camera productions is that they're a lot better than Multi-Camera productions in a lot of ways. It shows how high everyones skill level is, for example the editor would have less footage to work with so they're gonna have to try cut it all together to tell a story in an interesting way with lots of different cuts and edits. This brings us onto the filmmaker themselves, we would be able to see that they are very skilled with the camera and that they can use a wider variety of shots using just one camera. I feel like all in all SCP look better in the end than MCP

This is all you need to know about Single Camera Productions

Notes single camera production

2. Describe the different formats of single camera productiofns Find some examples Why these formats are best suited for the single camera process

3. Describe narrative structures - linear/non linear, open/closed, flashbacks, 3 act structure Choose 2 examples and discuss their narrative Highlight plot points - inciting incidents, obstacles, mid point, lowest eb, climax, twist, resolution 

4. Explain different ways film makers tell stories through technical codes - camera, lighing, sound, editing, MES Pick 2 good examples (scenes) from a single camera production, analyse and compare them My opinion on single camera productions.

Unit 24 Assignment 2 - Character Bios

Character bios:

Main character:
Name: Ben Smith
Aged: 19

Appearance: He is an Asian male around 5"10. He has tired brown eyes and quite messy black hair, as if he's just woken up and rolled out of bed. He doesn't stand out at all, he's quite a generic dull looking person. He wears a slightly creased suit and his tie is done up quite tightly. He wears smart, patent black shoes with laces that looked as if though they had been done up by a 3 year old learning to tie their shoes for the first time. On his wrist he wears a chunky silver watch with a square face that displays the time digitally. He has a slight stubble on his chin, it's obvious that he's woken up late.

Relationships: He is the son of a woman named Alice Smith and a man named John Smith. He has no girlfriend and has been single.


Secondary Character:

Name: James Howarth

Aged: 19

Appearance: He is a White male around 5"11. He has brown eyes and brown hair. He wears a freshly ironed, smart, clean pristine suit. He wears smart patent black shoes. He doesn't have anything on his wrists. He uses his phone for a watch.

Relationships: Work colleague to Ben Smith. In a relationship with a girl called Anna Hobbit. Parents are called Victoria Howarth and Paul Howarth.

Thug:

Name: Unknown

Aged: 20

Appearance: He is a white male around 6"0, slim but he wears very heavy, thick strong red boots. He wears a leather jacket and a t-shirt and jeans. He looks quite rugged and not very well groomed. He holds a knife in his hand.

Relationships: N/A