no9. EX1 / EX2 / ASSIGNMENT - BRIEFS & DEADLINES

REMINDER!!!
Email & Print EX1 & EX2 on time.

1. Ex 1 - DUE 5 SEPT 2011 (MON)
- character study
- Individual - key character
- Group - supporting character

2. Ex 2 - DUE 5 SEPT 2011 (MON)
- Story 4
- a good 1-sentence summary
- story suitable for animation
- keep it simple - even children can understand and enjoy
- keep to 1 location (no location possible too)
- key character is NOT human - can be animal, plant, thing, object, imaginary, etc

3. Assignment - Read Brief, think of your story in 1 Sentence

ps: if you're not sure, download & read the briefs!
use lesson slides & template as guides.

download: https://sites.google.com/site/nafawrites/downloads

thanks and have fun!!
jt
29/8/2011

no8. WHAT'S YOUR STORY?

Alright, i see you're all struggling with the 1-Sentence Summary. you'll also need to master getting the 3 ACT STRUCTURE right before you can write the Storyline!

no uh-oh... so how?

PRACTICE :)

let's do some class exercises together.

Watch the following videos, then work out the
> 1 SENTENCE SUMMARY
> 3 ACT STRUCTURE
> STORYLINE
> SCENE BREAKDOWN & BEATS



IT'S MY LIFE - BON JOVI
Boy, rushing to meet girl at live gig has to overcome obstacles to reach his destination.

FOR THE BIRDS
Group of small birds sitting on a wire try to chase away a friendly but different bird.
OR A friendly bird tries to make friends with a tight group of small birds but finds that it's not welcomed as an outsider.

SNOWMAN
A snowman stuck in a decorative shaker tries to get out to join the other toys.

 

Flamingo
A flamingo, obsessed with his yo-yo is being pressured by the rest of the group to behave and focus on group dance.

 

Jurassic Fart
A T-Rex, small dino and a pig have a farting contest. Pig wins.
(NOTE: NO LOCATION INDICATED)

Interesting Notes:
 
1. Location - kept to 1 location for most clips

Dino fart - no location 
- why?! it's not important to the story!

2. Key Characters can be a group eg. for the birds

3. Simple motive = simple story (one main motive)

no7. WRITE THE AV

WRITE THE AUDIO & VISUAL

Sample Story: excerpt, Robert Ludlum “The Sigma Protocol”

The street was deserted, though music played
from one house, a tv from another, and a foghorn
sounded in the distance. She crossed toward the
house.

Suddenly, a pair of high-intensity headlights
appeared out of nowhere. They blinded her,
growing larger as a vehicle roared toward her. With
a scream, Anna lunged toward the curb, unseeing,
desperately trying to get away.

The car was barreling toward her! There was no mistaking
it, the car wasn’t slowing, wasn’t moving straight down the
road, like an automobile simply going far too fast. It veered
toward the shoulder of the road, toward the curb, heading
right at her. Anna recognized the vertical chrome grill of a
Lincoln Town Car, its flattened rectangular headlights
somehow giving it a predatory, shark-like appearance.

MOVE!

The car’s wheels squealed, the engine at full throttle, as
the maniacal car bore down on her.

no6. NOTES - Click on the image to see larger image

EX2 STORY2 - LOCATIONS

EX2 – STORY2 (DUE WEEK4)

Choose a location that you know, example from childhood.

Write your story – characters at this place.

Notes: Locations can help evoke and add on to human emotion.
for example, think of a park.
sunny, crowded park with children playing = happy park
birds singing in the park at dawn = soothing, tranquil park
misty, shadowy park at night = scary, dangerous, eerie park


think of a location that has lots of cliches and you won't need to explain or describe the location. if you need to describe a location, THE DESCRIPTION OF YOUR LOCATION, IF NEEDED, MUST BE CRUCIAL TO YOUR STORY. eg. blood-splattered leaves at the park. all descriptions must be useful for your story.


Apply 3 ACT STRUCTURE to your story. 
- Add hooks & drama. then up the stakes.
- Make sure your key character's motive is clear. 
- Create setup, turning points, confrontation & resolution.

What is drama? know how to use drama.
think of a tv drama serial, eg chinese/korean drama. 
what makes them so "drama" and why is drama addictive?


 

no5B FRASIER S1 EP1

CASE STUDY:
Read the script, storyline & watch the show.
Use the 3 ACT STRUCTURE to outline story for Frasier S1 Ep1.

source: http://www.videozer.com/video/0gWMKLC7
swf link: http://www.videozer.com/flash/0gWMKLC7.swf


Interesting Point: 
Eddie is a member of the cast & considered an actor, not just a dog. WHY?

no5. LESSON3 - STORY TO SCRIPT

FROM STORY TO SCRIPT

1. 1 Sentence Idea

2. Synopsis

3. Character Bio (or Character Bible) & Story Angle
- character motives 
- situations, outcomes, key message
- dramatic sequence - one thing leads to another / chain reaction

4. 3 Act Structure
- identify setup, plots & sub plots 
- create a hook/teaser
- turning points
- climax

5. Storyline 
- follow 3 Act Structure
- use beats
- use scene breakdown

6. Script - Draft1
- use standard format

7. Story & Script Editing


CASE STUDIES:
- Select 3 movies you've seen.
- identify the above points - from point1 to point5
- go to wikipedia to research and see how they write the storyline

is your 1-sentence idea/storyline/plots/character bios same as wiki's?


STUDY: some existing scripts, synopsis & storylines:

read the synopsis, the script, then watch the show to get a better idea... 
the actors' & crew's performances affect the script too!

script: http://catsnguitars.wordpress.com/scripts-archive/
synopsis: http://www.tv.com/shows/frasier/the-good-son-7226/
season synopsis: http://www.tv.com/shows/frasier/season-1/
show creator: http://kenlevine.blogspot.com/2010/07/for-frasier-script-fans.html
watch: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4FI0BwUXTxQ

ref: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Good_Son_%28Frasier%29

READINGS:
Please read books & do your own research on scriptwriting / screenwriting.



FRASIER - SEASON1, EPISODE1 "THE GOOD SON"

 

(note: PART 2 is Blocked)

Character Study:

EDDIE - a member of the family at Frasier's

nature - dog, personality - human-like

USING EDDIE AS A KEY CHARACTER IN THE SERIES:
He becomes a plot point in the episode.

a strong character relates to the target audience:

other: http://www.frasierx.net/season1/season1.html

other: http://www.videozer.com/video/0gWMKLC7

no4. WORK!!! EX1, EX2, ASSIGNMENT

1. ALL WORK TO BE SUBMITTED ON TIME, IN ENGLISH 
& USING THE TEMPLATE (MS WORD).
template to download: https://sites.google.com/site/nafawrites/downloads

2. SUBMIT SOFT COPY (MS WORD OR PDF) BY EMAIL
- scan notes in your notebook - upload to your blogs
- use your blog to jot down notes from class
- work in doc file / MS Word
- tell me your blog link/address

3. SUBMIT HARD COPY (PRINTED)
USE TEMPLATE
PRINT & HAND ME WORK DURING CLASS BEFORE DEADLINE

4. DEADLINES HERE:
https://sites.google.com/site/nafawrites/schedule

5. BRIEFS HERE
https://sites.google.com/site/nafawrites/downloads

6. SUMMARY OF WORK

EXERCISE1 - Character Study - Individual & Group

- use template
- submit softcopy by email, hardcopy by deadline

1. Read 2 books: The Twits & The Little Prince

2. Individual - Study Key Characters x2
- Key Character1 - Choose Mr or Mrs Twit
- Key Character2 - The Little Prince
- Write notes about the 2 Key Characters (point form)
- Write about the 2 Key Characters (maximum 500 words each)

3. Group - Study Supporting Character x1
- Choose 1 supporting character from The Little Prince

- all groups to be different supporting characters. 

do not study the same supporting character as another group in your class.

- Present with powerpoint

EXERCISE2 - Storywriting - 5 stories, 1 story per week (weeks 3,4,5,6,7)

- use template, max 500 words per story
- email softcopy by deadline
- print and hand up hardcopy by deadline

Week3 - Story1
Week4 - Story2
Week5 - Story3
Week6 - Story4
Week7 - Story5

ASSIGNMENT - From 1 Sentence Idea to Script

- use template
- submit hard copy in ring files

Based on a story developed in your blog entry, you are to develop a 5-page script.

§  WK3 – Write a 1 sentence pitch & Logline

§  WK4 – Write Character Bio & Synopsis in point form

§  WK5 – Write the Storyline, Beats & Scene Breakdown

no3. LESSON2 - CHARACTERS IN SITUATIONS

STORY-TELLING =

you create characters (with motives),

put them in situations (to reach an outcome)

to communicate your key idea/message (moral of the story) 

All characters have motives.

One storyline can have many plots & subplots.

Keep your story simple!

What are situations for?
- situations allow viewers to know your character better
- situations allow you to hook your audience
- situations allow characters to reach a resolution for their motives
- situations help stories move forward from Act1 to Act3
- situations allow chain reactions, making your story more interesting


Case study1: Mulan

mulan in situation#1: http://youtu.be/TkmsyhSEaWc

mulan in situation#2: http://youtu.be/JQayrEE-gpw

Case Study2: The Money Pit 
http://youtu.be/nJPju1f6p0E

Situations - One thing leads to another, reaching an outcome: 

(things go wrong during major renovations)

Study the Chain Reaction in these video clips

One sentence scene description: (Kitchen Scene)

It's a scene where Tom Hanks (playing Walter Fielding Jr.) is cooking and heating up water for a bath in the renovation-bomb house he bought with his wife - things don't go quite as planned...

1 sentence scene description:

When Walter (Tom Hanks) gets stuck in a hole in his dining room floor, he inadvertently insults the inspector, losing any chance of getting his permits.

Case Study3: Tampopo
http://youtu.be/38m-wnbHPLA

all stories can be summarized into 1 sentence!

write your story in one sentence.

examples:
- mulan in one sentence 
- the money pit in one sentence
- tampopo (old woman scene) in one sentence
- white chicks in one sentence
- jurassic park in one sentence
- final destination in one sentence


In Lesson 2, i will brief you on:
EXERCISE #1
EXERCISE #2
ASSIGNMENT

Homework in your notebooks & blogs:

Research & Write the meanings of these terms in your
notebook & blog:

- 1 
SENTENCE 
PITCH

- LOGLINE

- SYNOPSIS

- CHARACTER
 
BIO

- STORYLINE

- SCENE 
BREAKDOWN


- BEATS

- PLOTS

 / SUB PLOTS
- TURNING 
POINTS
 
- CLIMAX (GRAND FINALE)
- SCRIPT
 

All situations/plots can have these:
- HOOK / TEASER
- MOTIVE
- CONFLICT / OBSTACLES
- DRAMATIC SEQUENCE
- RESOLUTION
- OUTCOME


Learn the 3 ACT STRUCTURE for storytelling
Ref: Syd Field
http://www.sydfield.com/featured_theparadigmworksheet.htm



List & Learn the following terms used in the 3 Act Structure, then identify these terms in movies/tv shows that you've watched before.


- Paradigm
- ACTS - Act1, Act2, Act3
- Set Up
- Confrontation
- Resolution
- Plot Points
- Motive
- Conflict
- Dramatic Entertainment

BRIEF - ready for download:
Exercise 1, 
Exercise 2 
& Assignment 


(use a template for your work.)


- pls download brief & template from
https://sites.google.com/site/nafawrites/downloads

no2 WHAT YOU THINK A STORY IS :)

WOW!! many of you have GREAT answers to "what you think a story is"!

stories are about us and for us - even if the character in the story is a cat or a sponge or an orange! that's why people simply love stories.

remember that when you are the storyteller, you need to tell your story according to who is listening to you. so if you had a story to tell, for example, you just saw an accident happen right in front of you, how will you present this story to:

1. children
2. your friends
3. your parents & grandparents
4. a policeman
5. yourself

all of you have got what it takes to tell a story.

now i challenge you to learn & master how to tell an awesome story!

so, read, read, read (including research)
& write write write (including re-writes)
& have some fun along the way!

no1 LESSON1 - WHAT IS A STORY? HOW DO I CREATE A CHARACTER?

Link to website: http://sites.google.com/site/nafawrites/home

What do you think a story is?

A STORY HAS:
1. character(s)
2. situations / outcomes
3. key idea / key message (moral of the story)

CREATE A CHARACTER

1. Give your character a name

2. Know your character (you can also draw your character)

3. what does your character want?

4. how does your character behave and react in a situation?

KNOW YOUR CHARACTER
1. Physical - how he/she/it looks like, talks, walks, etc
2. emotions. attitudes, thoughts, values, beliefs
3. behaves, actions/reactions
4. likes, dislikes, interests, pet peeves
5. nature & personality
6. experiences
7. relationships - how are they with other people??
8. strengths & talents / weaknesses
9. MOTIVES & OBJECTIVES - What does your character want?

CLASS EXERCISE

1. Think of 2 persons you know
2. Write down their characters - Get to know your characters
3. Put them in a situation

Situation:
your 2 characters are in a very crowded hawker centre.
they're looking for a seat.
they see a seat.
they both reach the empty seat at the same time.
then they see a tissue paper on the empty chair.
write a short story of how your character will react to the situation.
how will they relate to each other?
after a while, the owner of the tissue paper comes.
what happens then? write the outcome.

Keep your story short ok?


GROUP DISCUSSION

Characters
‐‐>
Situation
‐‐>
Outcomes
/
Message


1.
List 
5
 movie/tv
 characters 
(all 
different
 types)

2.
Choose
 1 
character
 as hero with a motive/objective
3.
Put
 2 
of
 your
 5
 characters
 in 
a 
situation

4.
Present
 your
 story

5.
What 
is
 your
 story’s 
message?
 (the 
moral
 of 
the 
story
 is...
?)


INDIVIDUAL HOMEWORK (USE YOUR NOTEBOOK)
create
 & 
write 
your 
own
 character
 in your notebook
*
1 
sentence 
summary

*
3 
paragraphs


Don't forget to read the books: 
The Twits, The Enormous Crocodile & The Little Prince.
more info on https://sites.google.com/site/nafawrites/