1. Get 5 pieces of A4 blank paper and pens.
2. Put one sheet to the side of you, the other 4 sellotape together in a rectangle.
This is your ideas board.
3. On the single sheet, jot down 3 films you like and think about why you like them, characters, plot (what happens), how they start and end.
4. In the top middle of your big blank ideas board write the THEME word and start writing down and doodling what ever comes to mind. Think of 3 questions WHERE? WHO? WHAT?
5. When you have some ideas walk around the house looking for places you can use to film Can your garden be a jungle? Is under your bed a cave? Your shower a space shuttle?
6. Back to our board after our 5 min break to think again about the 3 questions.....
WHERE? = WORLD BUILDING
WHO? = CHARACTERS
Past, present, future / castles, shops, jungles. Where it is set will help decide characters who live there.
Who is the main character? What do they want? Is there a villain, or people to help?
WHAT HAPPENS? = PLOT
Start with your character having a normal day then something happens that is an obstacle they need to overcome, then another big event, then a showdown and your character ends either getting what they want or learning a lesson about themselves. A story is all about your main character being out of control.
STORY IDEAS 1 (6-9)
STORY IDEAS 2 (6-9)
STORY IDEAS 3 (6-9)
STORY IDEAS 1
STORY IDEAS 2
STORY IDEAS 3
"And then... and then.....and then..zzzz"
PLOT & SCrIPT
PLOT is what happens in your story, beginning middle and end. SCRIPT is writing it down on the page so everyone understands it clearly and you have a plan to film, you have written down what the actors say and props you need and then put it all in the right order when you come to edit it.
1. DON'T BORE YOUR AUDIENCE by writing loads of lines for your actors, unless it drives the action in your story forget it!
2. When we say action, we are not talking chase scenes and explosions, but giving your characters reason to get involved with what's going on.
3. Even Jurassic World gives us time in between the dinosaur attacks to enrich the story, so try changing the pace a few times that leads up to action then a chance for your characters to reflect "what just happened?"
4. Think of a good ending and work towards it. Does your lead character get what they want and how do they feel about it? Is there a celebration or someone looking at what they have gained or learned.
4. Make your other characters interesting and think about all of them having their own story, this will help them ask questions of your lead character.
Title and version (V1) is my first version
when finished put (FINAL)
Describe the scene briefly
time of day, where? Who? What?
Any sound effects or audio not what is being said but help the scene put as a note for the editor in italics and brackets with SFX which stands for sound effects.
Align your dialogue (what the characters say) to the middle. Type names in CAPITALS, and under what they say. If you want them to do an action like 'eat an apple' you put that under their name in brackets and italics so it looks different.
You can also put how the scene ends if it needs them to act or helps the editor like. End with a shot
To learn more about
story ideas
and story arc plot points.....
PASSWORD: SPACE
SCRIPTING 1 (6-9)
SCRIPTING 2 (6-9)
SCRIPTING 1
SCRIPTING 2
SCRIPTING 3
STORYBOARD
A storyboard is turning your script into the shots you want to film.
It can be rough but showing what is needed in the scene
and the shot sizes.
A storyboard should have rectangles, think of it like a comic book but put the little descriptions under the box that reference the script like .... OUTSIDE PALACE / QUEEN COMES TO THE DOOR. This helps you film the shots you need for each scene.
Download blank storyboard sheet
Fantastic work!
You now have something prepared to film so follow me into PRODUCTION
STORYBOARD 1 (6-9)
STORYBOARD 1
