Quiz 11 Flashcards
Ava DuVernay
- Origin + Selma
- 13 –> docu about the ramifications of the 13th amendment leading to mas incarceration
Nicole Williams
Administrative assistant
animated film development
Dreamworks
Worked on Wild Robot + Dogman
Nicole Williams on pitching
research and look at company brand
- dreamworks = comedy w heart
- disney = heart w comedy
having a variety of sample
passion for animation
the dropout: from podcast to tv series (compelling how)
- mixed a famous fraud + romance
- features vivid, flawed characters and iconic picturesque settings
- becomes a complex narrative
- explore timeless themes: people who promise thing that are often too good to be true, with a twist that she’s a female entrepreneur
an FTV Pitch communicates…
Basic content information
and
Basic appeal information
Basic content information
- title
- log line
- “its like sentence”
- key details of the main characters + conflicts
log line
1-2 sentences explaining the show in a nutshell (~25 words)
- main characters/protagonists
- context
- inciting incident
- main conflict/antagonist
potentially genre or goal but NO resolution (spoilers)
basic appeal information
- timeliness of the story
- fit at the network where you’re pitching —> expected audience
“its like sentence”
a brief summary of what the film or show is like, via comparison to other well-known films
- communicate genre + emotional tone
- must start with “it’s like”
Network fit means…
network identity, network demographics, premium cable platform identity
HBO Max identity
- first known for second-run movies
- then became “prestige TV”
- often violent/sexual contect
- viewers = well educated and high income (varied ages)
Hulu
- began as streaming site for old TV shows VOD
- own shows + shows from networks like FX
- avg age = 31
amazon prime
- past film collections for rental
- produces its own shows (diverse)
- ex: transparent, the underground railroad, and As We See It
brains in screenwriting
left = analytic (structure screenplay)
right = intuitive (develop characters, dialogue, pictures)
screenplay
the written story created in the early development phase of a film project
- used to get main players on board
premise
your original story is narrowed down to just one or two sentences
- named hero
- want of hero
- what prevents their success
- ending
act 1
establishes the real world and embarks the hero on their journey
the set yp
hero, setting, time period, genre, status, central question, incident, first turning point
act 2
raise stakes and challenge hero
character growth, deeper relations
mid point
darkest hour
act 3
“ticking clock” or “race to the finish”
hero is faced with their greatest challenge and loose ends are wrapped up
the climax - central ? answered
conclusion + theme
narrative devices to manipulate time
flashback
flashforeward
set-up/payoff
montage
series of shots
character development?
- character arc
- avoid stereotype trap –> fixed image of a particular type of person
AVOID hitting it on the nose –> explicit communication of feelings/thoughts
Across 1614 creators
10 are female directors
42 are female writers
300 are female producers
10 are female composers
only one composer and one speaking character were non-binary in 2021
Timeliness in Screenwriting
Morning show using a broken script to make the show more relevant to current events (george floyd + pandemic)
screenwriter’s role in TV
staff writer
story editor (hired + contracted) –> original script for 1 episode
freelancer
showrunner
showrunner
executive producer and lead writer
- most coveted role in TV
- oversee script selection, writing, casting, visual look, etc
screenwriter’s role in film
writing on spec
writing under contract
rewriting (scott frank)
scott frank
well known writer (and showrunner of the Queen’s Gambit
- script doctor for Saving Private Ryan and the Hunger Games
- “Vantriliquist” for adapting his sty;e to the needs of the script
- $300,000 a week (?)
- still gets rejected sometimes
- New: Mr. Spade
Basic screenplay format
Slug Line
Action description
Dialogue
all scripts user 12 pt courier font
Slug Line
Brief description of each scene’s location IN ALL CAPS
INT/EXT, location, time of day
what is genre
the different categories into which we group films and tv shows (and other media) based on shared characteristics established by previous works in the genre
world building through genre
“rules” of the world
stories and plotlines
character types
settings
visual image
worldbuilding sci-fi
futuristic + space
special powers, robots, elders, warriors
morality (science bd mysticism)
high tech, exotic sets
worldbuilding in melodramas
- women attracted to dangerous men + dysfunctional families
- strong female lead, romantic vulnerability
- luxurious sets
- idealized lifestyles
- neo-noir, bold colors, strong shadows
