Quiz 5: Shorts Flashcards
shorts
Scale
Budgets
Only a few locations
Fewer characters
Shorts
Shooting Techniques
of takes is limited
Lighting is less complicated and expensive
The number of takes is limited
Shorts
Character Design
Less expository information
Play more with unsympathetic characters
Shorts
Distribution
Film Festivals
- Cannes
- Venice Film Festival
- Berlin International Film Festival
- Sundance
Shorts Structure: Act 1 or the setup
- Sometimes the inciting incident happens OFF SCREEN before the film begins
- Start strong with a visual hook (as opposed to a build-up of exposition)
- Character and POV must be established quickly
- Conflict is introduced quickly
Shorts Structure: Act 2 or the point of no return
- The conflict is dealt with
- Point of no Return- the moment we watch the character make a choice that takes them so deep into the drama that there is no going back
- This shift in a character is universally regarded as a rule
Shorts Structure: Act 3 or resolution/payoff
- Not much time for a lengthy resolution/denouement
- The character has gone through a major shift and change
- The conflict is “resolved”
- Your audience wants to feel changed by watching your work so give them something here
who gives script coverage?
- Studio, exec, producer script coverage.
- Manager, agent script coverage.
- Paid coverage from a reputable script consultancy
- Contest coverage
Script Doctor
hired by the studio to fix up a script when the original writer isn’t available
Script Consultant
gives a in-dept analysis and line-by-line notes (does not take credit for the end product)
Story Analyst
provides coverage and writes a synopsis of the film.
Professional Script coverage
Film Festivals:
- Thessaloniki International Film Festival, Greece
- London Film Festival, Unite Kingdom
- Edinburgh International Film Festival, United Kingdom
- Dinard Film Festival, France
- Rochester International Film Festival, Minnesota, New York
- Austen
- Nashville
- Slamdance
Professional script coverage
Companies:
- Black list
- Bulletproof
- WeScreenplay
- ScreenCraft
Screenplay Labs:
- Outfest Screenwriting Lab
- Sesame Street Writers’ Room
- WeScreenplay Diverse Voices
- ScreenCraft Screenwriting Fellowship
- Film Independent Episodic Lab
- The Writers Lab (Meryl Streep)
- Nicholl Fellowships
- Sundance Screenwriters Lab/Intensives
Character
In your own words, what are the characters’ wants and obstacles? Does the character change and how? Is the character authentic? Are the motivations clear?
Structure and Pacing
Does the story have a clear beginning, middle, and end? Does it drag on or have lulls? Does it move too quickly? Where? How?
Conclusion
How does the film end? Is it satisfying for the audience? What is the meaning?
requirements for coverage
- Be super detailed in the summary section
- Find the perfect balance between detailed and not going overboard
- Often your boss won’t read the screenplay but will read your coverage before going into a meeting and deciding the project’s fate
- Coverage is a quality filter. Be careful with what you pass forward. Don’t recommend everything. Be critical, but professional.
- Make sure you can show your taste and knowledge of film in the sample coverage, but also that you can think about it from a commercial/ industry perspective
Log Lines and Tag Lines:
Logline
brief (one to two sentence) summary of a movie or TV show that hooks the reader in and describes the central conflict of the story
* Ex: Silicon Valley- “A shy Silicon Valley engineer tries to build his own company.”
* Ex: Get Out A Black photographer reluctantly visits his white girlfriend’s parents’ house for the weekend, but uncovers dark secrets that put him in danger.
Tagline
Short text which serves to clarify an idea for, or is designed with a form of, dramatic effect
* “Slogans”- reiterate phrases associated with the film.
* Ex: Silicon Valley- “Where everyone wants to be an icon.”
Premise
the central concept of a story expressed as simply as possible. A little more detail than your logline, less focused on “selling” the film or grabbing attention.
“Elevator pitch”
Linda Cowgill’s Premis Statement Formula- The protagonist wants something and takes action. They meet conflict until the climax occurs followed by a resolution.
Ex: Get Out- After luring a young Black Photographer to their country home, a white family uses hypnosis to paralyze victims and send them to the Sunken Place where screams go unheard.
Synopsis
brief summary of a film usually written as a one-page document.
* Typically to give an overview of a story
* Focuses on main plot points, characters, ideas, and concepts being explored in the story.
* You would use a synopsis when you want to give a brief overview of a story, which could be helpful when trying to sell your story to a studio. Shows the deeper meaning and the relevance of the story.
Summary
- A condensed version of the story.
- Explain the film’s storyline, major plot points, and key characters
- Define each act and the moment that marks each act break so the structure is clear
- Includes the ending
- Establishes the tone of the screenplay
- Can be 1-5 pages for a feature film.
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