As I am going through the scripts and decide on which one I like, I thought of what the lecturer said in class - "Think about the shoot-abilities of the script":
Is it possible to get a character like that?
Can your actor/actress conveys the exact feeling?
Is it possible to get props required in the script?
Location - I read an interesting murder script that takes place in an office. But, how are we going to get an office and do our shooting? (unless one of our group members's parent owns a company)
Other than that, I also came across a script that takes place in many different locations - which is quite impossible to shoot them in just ONE day.
All these criteria and considerations makes script selection much easier.
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Screenwriting
When I went to consult Mr. Robin about my drafted screenplay today, I was all nervous and terrified that it would be rejected.
Cause:
The tutors pointed out the two key problems in my story last week during tutorial - which is the difficulty to show the size of the unmatched lingerie, and the boobs enlargement massage oil solution. It was hard for audiences to believe that the main actress would be satisfied with the outcome.
So, my drafted screenplay hasn't have much improvement from my synopsis, other than writing out the details of the story.
I was pretty glad that I consulted Mr. Robin. We worked out a couple of extra ideas in the story to make it more interesting and feasible.
And most importantly, we got rid of the quite-dumb-boobs-enlargement-oil part, and replace it with another event.
Screenwriting isn't an once-complete kind of writing. It REALLY requires multiple times of editing, editing and editing to enhance the quality of the story and improve details.
It took me long enough to come out with this 5 minutes story... I wonder how long those auteurs and screenwriters took to complete their 90 minutes films...
Cause:
The tutors pointed out the two key problems in my story last week during tutorial - which is the difficulty to show the size of the unmatched lingerie, and the boobs enlargement massage oil solution. It was hard for audiences to believe that the main actress would be satisfied with the outcome.
So, my drafted screenplay hasn't have much improvement from my synopsis, other than writing out the details of the story.
I was pretty glad that I consulted Mr. Robin. We worked out a couple of extra ideas in the story to make it more interesting and feasible.
And most importantly, we got rid of the quite-dumb-boobs-enlargement-oil part, and replace it with another event.
Screenwriting isn't an once-complete kind of writing. It REALLY requires multiple times of editing, editing and editing to enhance the quality of the story and improve details.
It took me long enough to come out with this 5 minutes story... I wonder how long those auteurs and screenwriters took to complete their 90 minutes films...
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
My Lenny Exercise :D
I think the sound gets a bit weird till the end of the video as there are a lot of environment noises. Couldn't really edit them out, but I've adjusted the sound between clips..
It definitely teaches to me look out for environment sound / sound recording during the shooting. and as a Mac new learner, I am quite glad I've learned to use more shortcut keys on Final Cut Pro :)
e.g. a - Select ; b - cut
Rolling (2008)
Rolling (2008) is a unique name for romantic comedy like that. I really LOVE it! Even though the plot is a bit cliche (boy likes girl, boy do something extraordinary for girl, girl fell in love with boy), but the way the screenwriter presents it is so dramatic!
Especially when the film crew did make an effort to collect A LOT of toilet papers for the short film, it makes the film even more watchable.
And omg, the way of the film cut, I think it's so amazing that the editor / director / screenwriter has thought of doing so. It aroused audiences curiosity!
The main character also played his role well, particularly the part where he said "hmm...fif....ty.. fif..ty.. sou..nds... gre...at..!". He did the expression and eye movements so well, I felt like I was watching a Hollywood film! Okay. May be I have exaggerated it. But compared to the film I did during my study in KDU College, Malaysia, my actors and actresses can NEVER deliver the RIGHT feeling I wanted..! Actions were still okay. The main problem lay on the facial expressions and eye movements, which was perfectly delivered in ROLLING(2008).
On the other hand, I realized that there's a flaw in the film - the lighting in the beginning of the film, when the guy is talking to himself (while moving forward with the camera) in the supermarket. It changed from whitish bright light to yellowish light whitish bright light again, and it has repeated till the end of the scene.
Anyway, I'll still rate ROLLING(2008) four out of five stars! :)
Good job, people!
Especially when the film crew did make an effort to collect A LOT of toilet papers for the short film, it makes the film even more watchable.
And omg, the way of the film cut, I think it's so amazing that the editor / director / screenwriter has thought of doing so. It aroused audiences curiosity!
The main character also played his role well, particularly the part where he said "hmm...fif....ty.. fif..ty.. sou..nds... gre...at..!". He did the expression and eye movements so well, I felt like I was watching a Hollywood film! Okay. May be I have exaggerated it. But compared to the film I did during my study in KDU College, Malaysia, my actors and actresses can NEVER deliver the RIGHT feeling I wanted..! Actions were still okay. The main problem lay on the facial expressions and eye movements, which was perfectly delivered in ROLLING(2008).
On the other hand, I realized that there's a flaw in the film - the lighting in the beginning of the film, when the guy is talking to himself (while moving forward with the camera) in the supermarket. It changed from whitish bright light to yellowish light whitish bright light again, and it has repeated till the end of the scene.
Anyway, I'll still rate ROLLING(2008) four out of five stars! :)
Good job, people!
Monday, March 15, 2010
"Plotting is hardwork"
"It's like roller-coaster - keep inching your audience up, up and up through plot and character devices."
Sounds easy, but REALLY hard to achieve. I have just experienced it.
I had a hard time trying to expand my story from my previous one-liner. Except from that little long-lost-brother-surprise, I can't seem to deliver any other elements to make the film interesting, like what Christine said in the lecture - "like roller-coaster". And because the previous idea sounds a little too unbelievable (a lot of my friends love it though), I have decided to change my story - from going-to-marry to just-married; and long-lost-brother to cheating-husband. Very very very, extremely, awfully cliche. sigh.
However, since Christine said that we should give our characters some extraordinary traits, the wife is a psychotic woman who sharpens the knife when she thinks her husband is cheating on her - the film does not quite focus on that, but still.
As for character's 'WANT' and 'NEED', I guess Sarah needs her husband to be loyal to her? and she wants to find out if he is really cheating on her?
Well, my verdict after half of the screenwriting process:
I can come out with a little bit of surprising elements here and there. But, I'm not someone who can deal with screenwriting very well.
My synopsis (vomit.):
Should be up to 250 words with more detailed descriptions of character, story, location and style.
The happy newlywed has just gone back from the honeymoon. Situated in their lovely home, Sarah (wife, 25) prepares breakfast for David (husband, 26) while he gets ready for work. David then grabs a sandwich on the table and rush out in a hurry, with a kiss from his wife. After Sarah finishes her breakfast, she decides to unpack the messy luggage in the room. As she tidies up the room and unpacks the luggage, she discovers a gift box resting under the bed. In amazement, Sarah opens to find a set of matching lingerie in it. Sarah delightedly thinks that it is a surprise gift for her. But when she takes it out of the box; she realizes that the size does not match hers. Sarah is immediately stunned. She is totally stroked by the thought of her husband cheating on her. At that very moment, Lovey, Sarah’s best friend calls. In tears, Sarah brokenheartedly describes the incident. Lovey then comforts her and suggests her to confront David. Sound of knife being sharpened can be heard after the phone call.
That evening when David steps into the house, the whole house is in dark. As David switches on the light, he realizes that Sarah is sitting on the dining table (facing the front door) waiting for him. Sarah starts to question him. David explains that the set of lingerie is actually a gift for Sarah and that he has also bought a boobs-enlargement-massage-oil for her.
Little did Sarah know that David has a guilty but relieve smile at the same time as she joyfully hugs her husband.
(I love giving audiences surprises at the end of film :D)
Rogers, Christine, “Film & TV.” RMIT University. 16 March 2010.
Sounds easy, but REALLY hard to achieve. I have just experienced it.
I had a hard time trying to expand my story from my previous one-liner. Except from that little long-lost-brother-surprise, I can't seem to deliver any other elements to make the film interesting, like what Christine said in the lecture - "like roller-coaster". And because the previous idea sounds a little too unbelievable (a lot of my friends love it though), I have decided to change my story - from going-to-marry to just-married; and long-lost-brother to cheating-husband. Very very very, extremely, awfully cliche. sigh.
However, since Christine said that we should give our characters some extraordinary traits, the wife is a psychotic woman who sharpens the knife when she thinks her husband is cheating on her - the film does not quite focus on that, but still.
As for character's 'WANT' and 'NEED', I guess Sarah needs her husband to be loyal to her? and she wants to find out if he is really cheating on her?
Well, my verdict after half of the screenwriting process:
I can come out with a little bit of surprising elements here and there. But, I'm not someone who can deal with screenwriting very well.
My synopsis (vomit.):
Should be up to 250 words with more detailed descriptions of character, story, location and style.
The happy newlywed has just gone back from the honeymoon. Situated in their lovely home, Sarah (wife, 25) prepares breakfast for David (husband, 26) while he gets ready for work. David then grabs a sandwich on the table and rush out in a hurry, with a kiss from his wife. After Sarah finishes her breakfast, she decides to unpack the messy luggage in the room. As she tidies up the room and unpacks the luggage, she discovers a gift box resting under the bed. In amazement, Sarah opens to find a set of matching lingerie in it. Sarah delightedly thinks that it is a surprise gift for her. But when she takes it out of the box; she realizes that the size does not match hers. Sarah is immediately stunned. She is totally stroked by the thought of her husband cheating on her. At that very moment, Lovey, Sarah’s best friend calls. In tears, Sarah brokenheartedly describes the incident. Lovey then comforts her and suggests her to confront David. Sound of knife being sharpened can be heard after the phone call.
That evening when David steps into the house, the whole house is in dark. As David switches on the light, he realizes that Sarah is sitting on the dining table (facing the front door) waiting for him. Sarah starts to question him. David explains that the set of lingerie is actually a gift for Sarah and that he has also bought a boobs-enlargement-massage-oil for her.
Little did Sarah know that David has a guilty but relieve smile at the same time as she joyfully hugs her husband.
(I love giving audiences surprises at the end of film :D)
Rogers, Christine, “Film & TV.” RMIT University. 16 March 2010.
Thursday, March 11, 2010
One Liners Discussion
It was so interesting to see all the one liners. They are so creative and dramatic!
http://media.rmit.edu.au/filmtv10/?p=24#comments
Here's my favorite!
"Sandra is a psychologist who suffers from hormone imbalance. She discovers that she has run out of her hormone stabilising medication. This is unfortunate because side effects of not taking medication include increased libido and nymphomania; and her next appointment has just arrived."
And this is my one-liner:
"David is about to marry his girlfriend after maintaining a long distance relationship with Sharol for 5 years. As they were digging out old pictures for their wedding video, Sharol is surprised to find David’s childhood photograph resembling her long lost elder brother who went missing when her family traveled to England."
I was late for the tutorial (because I couldn't find the editing suite!) and missed the part when the class discussed my one-liner.. which was quite depressing!
But later when I asked, they suggested that it is a little too unbelievable, as the couple would somehow noticed that David is actually the brother before the wedding..
What if.. David is actually a girl?!
or
he turned out to be a psychotic killer?
or
he has double personality?
-One side he's a guy and the other one is a girl?
http://media.rmit.edu.au/filmtv10/?p=24#comments
Here's my favorite!
"Sandra is a psychologist who suffers from hormone imbalance. She discovers that she has run out of her hormone stabilising medication. This is unfortunate because side effects of not taking medication include increased libido and nymphomania; and her next appointment has just arrived."
And this is my one-liner:
"David is about to marry his girlfriend after maintaining a long distance relationship with Sharol for 5 years. As they were digging out old pictures for their wedding video, Sharol is surprised to find David’s childhood photograph resembling her long lost elder brother who went missing when her family traveled to England."
I was late for the tutorial (because I couldn't find the editing suite!) and missed the part when the class discussed my one-liner.. which was quite depressing!
But later when I asked, they suggested that it is a little too unbelievable, as the couple would somehow noticed that David is actually the brother before the wedding..
What if.. David is actually a girl?!
or
he turned out to be a psychotic killer?
or
he has double personality?
-One side he's a guy and the other one is a girl?
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Clown Train
I really like it when I first read the screenplay. It's interesting, engaging and there are dramatic struggles in it. All the descriptions of the actions of the clown makes me terrify. From the screenplay, I can imagine the boy's feeling and the tenses in the atmosphere. My phobia of clown got
The film, however, was a little bit diverse from the original screenplay. The director has removed most of the unimportant part and gather interesting scenes together, which made quite a satisfying short film. Effects of the train's light going off looks real and it was freaky when the clown moved closer to the protagonist.
There was no music used in the short film, but its sound effects came out on the right spot at the right time - creating spookiness. There is, nonetheless, an imperfection. In the beginning of the film, the clown did not perform a dangerous, wicked expression in his eyes well. Rather, he looks indifferent.
The ending of the short film was my favorite part. It ends with clown's evil laugh and an unnerving line “Nevermind, i'll tell you that on Friday". Not only it gives audiences goose bumps, the unresolved ending also provides the story opportunities to expand.
The film, however, was a little bit diverse from the original screenplay. The director has removed most of the unimportant part and gather interesting scenes together, which made quite a satisfying short film. Effects of the train's light going off looks real and it was freaky when the clown moved closer to the protagonist.
There was no music used in the short film, but its sound effects came out on the right spot at the right time - creating spookiness. There is, nonetheless, an imperfection. In the beginning of the film, the clown did not perform a dangerous, wicked expression in his eyes well. Rather, he looks indifferent.
The ending of the short film was my favorite part. It ends with clown's evil laugh and an unnerving line “Nevermind, i'll tell you that on Friday". Not only it gives audiences goose bumps, the unresolved ending also provides the story opportunities to expand.
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Opening of the TV 1 Blog.
Welcome!
This is actually a blog i created specially for Film & TV 1.
It's really great that I can reflect myself and record things I've been through in the process of learning in Film & TV 1. And the best of it is that I'll get to review them in the future with my grandchildren on my laps :P
The first lecture was merely introduction and a little bit of screenwriting session. We got to read a screenplay and watch a movie that was made based on the screenplay - The Big Tree. I was quite surprised to see a different version of outcome, especially the tree. The film was about 2 children playing under a mysterious tree and objects disappeared when they were thrown into the big tree. It was amusing to see the children's expressions when objects are not falling. But i think the tree itself was definitely a mistake.
This is how a mysterious tree should look like.
Rather, the filmmakers cast a middle-sized tree with insufficient leaves on it. I guess that was the only disappointment in the film.
I totally love the ending. It was unanticipated! One of the kids climbed up the tree and disappeared as his brother called out his name and eventually ran away with his bike.
This is actually a blog i created specially for Film & TV 1.
It's really great that I can reflect myself and record things I've been through in the process of learning in Film & TV 1. And the best of it is that I'll get to review them in the future with my grandchildren on my laps :P
The first lecture was merely introduction and a little bit of screenwriting session. We got to read a screenplay and watch a movie that was made based on the screenplay - The Big Tree. I was quite surprised to see a different version of outcome, especially the tree. The film was about 2 children playing under a mysterious tree and objects disappeared when they were thrown into the big tree. It was amusing to see the children's expressions when objects are not falling. But i think the tree itself was definitely a mistake.
This is how a mysterious tree should look like.
Rather, the filmmakers cast a middle-sized tree with insufficient leaves on it. I guess that was the only disappointment in the film.
I totally love the ending. It was unanticipated! One of the kids climbed up the tree and disappeared as his brother called out his name and eventually ran away with his bike.
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