Transcript File - DHHS Theatre

Film Appreciation Notes
The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences Curriculum
Unit 1
Classroom
Unity
Freedom
Writers
Unit 2
Intro to
Film History
The Jazz Singer
Singing in the Rain
The Wizard of Oz
The Artist
Unit 3 – Screenwriting
Screenwriting Definition:
The Language of Film - “Script”
How can I remember this definition?
Give it a beat, melody and/or a physical action…
“Memory Aides”
Music Recall Demonstration #1
Name Game Example
(1:45 minutes)
http://www.natgeotv.com.au/videos/braingames/name-game-2397.aspx
Music Recall Demonstration # 2
Music Recall Demonstration # 3
Screenwriting Definition:
The Language of Film - “Script”
Teach little song / action
The Academy has produced a variety of
study guides that will focus on the different
branches of the Academy. This guide focuses
on the art of writing, one of the many craft
areas involved in creating a motion picture.
Program Objectives
1. To enhance student interest in and knowledge about the motion picture
development and production process.
1. To encourage students to use critical thinking, creative writing and
language skills as they learn how writers contribute to the process of
creating a motion picture.
1. To engage students in an exploration of film as a medium of communication.
1. To help students become more visually literate (the ability to interpret and
make meaning from information presented in the form of an image).
Structure of a Screenplay
Every good film starts with a good screenplay, or visual story.
1. Story = Beginning, middle, end
2. Plot = Exposition, Rising Action, Climax, Resolution - teach memory aide
Unlike a novel, where the action unfolds in the mind of the main character, or a play, where the action unfolds through
the words of the characters, film is a visual medium. The viewer must be able to see the action unfold.
Some writers begin their work by writing the ideas for their scenes on index cards.
Others begin with an outline. Still others start with a treatment — a summary of what
happens in the story. Regardless of format, each approach takes into consideration
character descriptions, central story conflicts and key plot points.
Treatment = a brief summary that tells the core of the story.
Steven Spielberg – “It’s all about the story…”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wpevTh7Ve9A
The following films have won Academy Awards for
screenwriting and have been suggested by the
Academy for students to view:
Forrest Gump
(adapted screenplay, 1994)
Dead Poets Society
(original screenplay, 1989)
Howards End
(adapted screenplay, 1992)
Ghost
(original screenplay, 1990)
The following films were nominated for Academy Awards
and are also suggested by the Academy to view:
Shine (original screenplay, 1996)
Toy Story (original screenplay, 1995)
Babe (adapted screenplay, 1995)
Apollo 13 (adapted screenplay, 1995)
Field of Dreams (adapted screenplay, 1989)
E.T. The ExtraTerrestrial (original screenplay, 1982).
Adapted Film vs. Original Film?
Adapted Films
Adaptations are original works
in themselves, but they begin
with the previously published
material as their source.
Adaptations can be from a…
BOOK
Adapted Films
PLAY
Steel Magnolias, Lost In Yonkers
Adapted Films
SHORT STORY
ARTICLES
MAGAZINES
Peter & The Wolf – Julie & Julia
Adapted Films
COMIC STRIP
Orphan Annie – The Amazing Spiderman
Adapted Films
HISTORICAL EVENTS
NOTE: Adapting a work can be a challenge
because the writer must not only create a
story that is compelling in its own right,
but he or she also must remain true to the
original source (book, play, story etc…)
Titanic Example = No Sinking?
Surprise.!
What are 5 Adapted films (from books) that YOU know…
Group Discussion
In what ways did the film and the book differ?
Why do you think the screenwriter made the
changes he or she did?
Do you think the adaptation was successful?
Why or why not?
Book to Film
Adaptations
Original screenplays come from no other source or text – they are original!
What are 5 Original Films that YOU know…
Group Discussion
No other source
Original Films
Screenwriting Definition
Structure of a Screenplay (plot) = E, RA, C, R
“Treatment” or Summary
Original vs. Adapted Screenplays
Next Class - Formatting Guidelines for Screenplays
End of Day 1
Day 2
After creating the treatment
(summary), the screenwriter
then begins to work on the
screenplay itself. In doing so, he
or she uses a very specific
structure:
In the beginning (usually about
30 minutes), the writer sets up
the story and establishes the
relationships between the
characters.
In the middle (usually about 60
minutes), the main character
must face a series of crises or
overcome obstacles that keep
him from achieving his goal.
Finally, there in the end (generally about 30 minutes), the crises or conflicts are resolved.
What does that mean?
That means the screenwriter must set the story up in about 30 pages,
develop the conflicts or complications in 60 pages, and resolve the
conflicts and tie up the loose ends in the last 30 pages
Totaling = 120 pages minimum
Why does it say “120 pages minimum”?
Because one page of screenplay is equal to about one minute of time in the film.
Some films are longer then 120 minutes.
“Gone with the Wind”
is 3 hours and 58 minutes long!
Minutes in an hour = 60
60 x 3 + 58 = 238 page script!
What does that mean?
If you want to go into movie making then you better enjoy writing,
revising, grammar, structure, punctuation and more…
because you can expect LOTS AND LOTS OF IT in an effort to get your
movie idea off the ground, into a script and ready for production.
Short Pixar Film – Can YOU identify basic story elements?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4frsp-rR6c
Group Discussion
1 - How is the story set up? How are the characters introduced?
2 - What is the conflict in the film? How does the conflict develop?
3 - How is the conflict resolved?
Formatting the Script – Rules to Follow
- Both types of screenplays (adapted and original) follow the
same standard screenwriting format
- Type in 12 point Times New Roman and/or Courier
- Center dialogue on the page in lines of about 3 inches
- Character names are typed in CAPITAL LETTERS
- Descriptions of how a character is to speak the lines and
what he or she does as they speak are enclosed in
parentheses.
- Scene headings or “slug lines” appear in capital letters.
- Descriptions of settings and the action that takes place are
typed in lines of about 6 inches long.
- Film Making = class emphasis
* See script to the left from “Good Will Hunting” for an example.
How to Format a Screenplay Video = 6 minutes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZszextv6yE
Unit 3 = Screenwriting
Screenwriting Definition
This unit focuses on the art of writing
Understand how writers contribute to the process of creating a motion picture
Film is a visual medium
Story = BME
Plot = E, RA, C, R
“Treatment” or Summary
Original vs. Adapted Screenplays
Screenwriters execute A LOT of writing – 1 minute of film time = 1 page of text
Understanding of basic screenplay formating rules (video)