Workshop
Module overview
- Tutor: Dave Thomas
- Readings to be done in preparation each week
- Additional readings of scripts will be helpful
- Lots of script readings and acting sessions in class
- Went through the module guide with Dave
- Must pay attention to both tutor and peer feedback
- (16th is reading week)
- Recommends taking a notebook around to note good lines for dialogue; ideas etc.
- Read at least one whole script by week 2
Assessments
- 30% Portfolio
- 70% Creative Project
Introduction exercise
- Talked with a parter about most recently watched films, and what we liked about them.
Short film watching
- Dust, starring Alan Rickman about the tooth fairy - very little dialogue and changed genre from creepy thriller to fantastical
- The Man Who Cut Down a Tree (or something like that) - conflict filled, amateurely made
- Amateur - dialogue filled with 2 main characters, plot twist at very end
- Sexlife - really great dialogue filled scene about a married couple with a newborn. Conflict resolves by end
- Short films are like a sketch, with just one main punchline or plot point, as opposed to a full narrative of a feature.
Reading analysis
- Don't shoot yourself in the foot by trying to make a bad idea work. The story and script can be changed, while the idea can't.
- Watch the film 'Adaptation,' as it has a relevant and useful premise. Watched a short clip in class from YouTube. One character based on Robert McKee. Nicholas Cage is playing Charlie Kaufmann (director).
- Never put 2 people in the same scene who agree with each other - Social Network is a great example of conflict.
- Watched an interview with David Lynch about ideas and inspiration.
- Make multiple ideas and let the best one rise to the top, rather than being stuck with just one.
- Watched trailer for Dave's own film. About 2 brothers who have to live together. Updating a classic story: Cain and Abel. Influenced by own life experiences (brotherhood, travelling).
- Make sure you like your own idea yourself and your head and heart are in the right place to write
Practical
Acting exercise
- Two people acted out first 3 pages of Whiplash script.
- Characters are described as dressed in black and white: marks opposition from outset
- Conflict between two characters
Final Draft
- All screenplays formatted in the same way; through final draft. makes them legible and also non dependent on good-looking layout.
- 1st part: INT. or EXT. setting.
- 2nd part: Establish further the setting.
- 3rd part: Introduce character, mention age, give short description.
- Had to write one page of script based on real life experience. One person from the class had theirs printed and read out by others.
Group exercise
- Paired together, and asked to brainstorm script ideas.
- Picked out 1 photo each from a pile and used these for basis.
- Supposed to write one page of script of a full piece for homework, then get together in following class and either combine or compare them.
Homework
- Write one page of script based on the group exercise, and develop notes about the working title, the full story's beginning, middle and end, and print out these.
- Print out the piece of script we made in class through final draft for review next session.
- Readings
