How to write a script

Fade in : The very first thing on any first page should be be these words

Scene Heading : This is usually a one line description of the location and time of day of that scene , it is also a one line description of the location and it says if it is inside or outside this is also k own as the slugline and this should also be put in capital letters .

Character's First appearance:  A description of the character's name should be in capital letters

Character : A character's name always appears above the dialogue

Action : The narrative description of  events that happen in that scene

Transition : These are the film editing instructions

Dialogue : These are lines of speech for every character, dialogue format  is used at anytime a character is speaking even when they are off screen and voice overs .

Learning Camera Techniques

Learning Camera Techniques

Camera that we will be using - Nikon D2000

On the top of the camera there is a dial with lots of different camera settings on it the green button on the top sets it to auto .

On the side of the lens make sure it is set to auto as well , this lets you be able to auto focus the camera. Above the button used to focus if you turn the dial it lets you turn the camera off or on . The back of the camera has a button this allows you to see what you are taking a picture or video of.

On the camera display you will see a red square by using the arrow keys put the square over a person or object that you would like to be in focus. Then gently hold down the silver button as this lets you focus on whatever is in the red square , when it is in focus the square will go green then when it is focused hold down the button fully to take your picture.

Filming language

Filming Language

5 seconds 
Action - said by the director at the start of a scene .

Five seconds after lines are said 
Cut Said by the director at the end of a scene to stop the actors in the scene and to tell the actors that the scene has finished.

5 seconds
'?" - Actor

Rolling   - said by the camera operator before the director says action  as  the camera operator has to make  sure that the camera is recording .

Turns off  -  The camera operator turns of the camera after the scene is finished

Key Media Theory

Key Media Theory

Narrative

Todorov's Theory

Todorov introduced a theory in 1869 this was one that he thought could be applied into any film , his theory was that he believed that most films followed the same narrative pattern. Todorov thought that there were five stages to his pattern .
1. Equilibrium - This where the audience first meets the characters .
2. Disruption- Where something happens to change the characters lives.
3. Realisation- Where the characters realise that they need to fix this situation
4. Dis-equilibrium - The characters then have to deal with the situation and then have to try and solve it.
5. New equilibrium - Everything is fine and back to the way it was or in a better state than how it started.

Equilibrium 

This is where we first get introduced to the characters and find out who is who and what they are called .

Disruption

This is where they realise that they need to get out of the junkyard and how the obstacles they come face to face with over time.

Realisation

Realising they need to stick together to get out of this situation

Dis - equilibrium 

Solve it by using a claw to get them out of the junkyard how the characters respond to a problem

New equilibrium 

Got out of the problem and everything goes back to how it has started .

Barthes Enigma and action codes 

Roland Barthes was paid to look at texts and to think how they were put together.  Roland's idea was that texts could be open and unravelled in different ways and closed where there is only one thread to pull on . Barthes then decided that the threads you pull on to try and un ravel meaning are called the Narrative codes . These include Action and Enigma codes. 

Action codes 

 Action codes are certain events that move on the narrative towards a particular direction , it means that any action that implies a further narrative action , for example a gunslinger draws his gun at someone to fire so the audience get reeled in as we wonder what will happen next .

Enigma Codes 

Enigma codes place questions on the audience which then become answered later on in the film . For example who is she? where is he going ? why is she doing that? . They refer to any particular element in the story that is not explained and therefore creates an enigma for the audience creating questions that need an explanation .

Strauss - Binary oppositions 

Levi Strauss believed that the world was split into a series of binary opposites , this means that he thought that only one thing can be defined in relation to something that it isn't. 

Example a hero is only a hero if there is villain in the story as well. 

Representation types 

• Age
• Gender
• National /regional/identity
• race
• disability
• class

Age

 

Gender




National / regional / identity






Race













Disability

Class




 

Media techniques sound

Media Techniques Sound

Diegetic Sound
This is where sound is visible on a screen this means that the audience can hear the voices of the characters in the film , the audience can also hear sounds and music coming from the film .  Diegetic sound can also be on or off screen this depends on what image is inside or outside the frame.

For example this scene from divergent where



Non Diegetic Sound

This is sound that is not visible on screen and is not implied to be present in action  non diegetic sound is represented as a source outside a story space.

Synchronous Sound

Synchronous sounds is a sound that is matched to particular movements that are happening in that scene  some examples of this are when footsteps link to people's feet walking .  Synchronous sounds help the audience to interact with the characters in the film  for example the click of a door being opened in a horror movie creates that eerie atmosphere for the audience as you don't know if it is the killer or not.

Asynchronous Sound

Asynchronous Sounds are sounds that match an action being performed however it is not synchronised with that action , asynchronous sound is normally used when the director wants to create tension the audience cant hear the sound that the character in the film can hear . Then the camera pans or tracks to capture a clear shot of the sound this then makes it clearer for the audience to see what the sound is .


Sound Motif

This is a sound effect or a wide spread of sound effects that are linked to that particular character , setting , situation , which is shown throughout the film . The sound motifs prepare the audience for any arrival or actions of a particular character .

  Sound motifs can be very useful in a rough cut when they are trying to help decide the narrative functions of the characters and when they are trying to work out the right sounds for each individual character as the audience moves through the story .

Sound Bridge

Sound bridge can lead in or out of a scene this can happen at the beginning of a scene when the sound from a previous scene is still going before the sound from a new scene begins .

 However this can happen at the end of a scene when the sound from the next scene is heard before the image appears on the screen , sound bridges are a common transition of an continuous editing style and a sound bridge can stretch the connection between the two scenes as their mood suggested by the music is still the same.

 Score

This is the musical component of a movies soundtrack . Most scores are written for that movie by a group of composers .

Incidental Music

Incidental music is music that is played during a film or a broadcast to create a specific mood for the audience .

Ambient Sound

Ambient sound are background sounds which are present in a scene or location , the types of ambient sounds are wind , water, birds, crowds and traffic.

 Ambient sound is very important in film work because it helps provide audio continuity between shots , it also helps to prevent an unnatural silence when no other sound is there  , and they help to establish or reinforce a mood .

 There are several types of ambient sounds used in film these are matching ambient sound this is where any ambient sound is recorded to match a scene. Wild sound this is where background noise with more than one sound is not synchronised with the main  idea for example children playing in a playground .

Media techniques -Shot types

Media techniques-Shot types

Extreme wide/establishing shot
This lets the audience sees the location and to set the scene for the audience .

Harry potter and the deathly hallows part two sets the scene as it lets people see the school in a slightly more eerie background and it lets the audience see what is going on .

Wide shot 

Show the whole of the person and the location around them and shows the audience what they are wearing .

Medium Shot 

This is anything from the head to the waist down























Medium close up 

This allows the audience to see the head and shoulders of the character.

Close up 

Lets the audience interact with the characters as they can see the expressions and feelings on the characters face through particular scenes.


Extreme close up

This is where you only see the persons eyes and nothing else  this lets the audience see what is going through the characters eyes and what they are thinking .

Two shot 

This lets the audience see relationships between the two characters whether that is a loving realationship like these two characters in the picture or a violent relationship it lets the audience be able to be on the same level as the characters and their storylines .

Over the Shoulder shot 

This shows two characters that are interacting with each other but it shows the audience who the character is looking at  and what emotions they may be feeling .

Point of view 
To show what the character is looking at and it helps to show the audience see what the character is doing in this situation .


High angle shot 










Lets the audience see a character maybe looking weak and tells the audience what they look like and how scared the character looks in a particular scene.

Low angle shot 
Lets the audience see how powerful a character is and it can be used to make a person look taller  for example this camera shot was used to make Hagrid look taller  than he usually is.

Tilted Angle
This is where the camera is put in a tilted position and it lets you how the panic in a characters eyes .

Birds eye view 
This is where you hold the camera from above and focus on the character or on a building  to set the location for the audience.

Pan 
Pan angle is when you move the camera around so the audience can see the whole shot .

Tilt
This is where you film something whilst tilting the camera and this is used to create a slow and smooth motion of the camera
Crane
You put the camera on something like a tripod to get high angles and to draw the audience in more .

Zoom 
When you zoom the camera in to get a more close up of the character or object and it helps to make the audience feel sympathy for the character

Handheld
This is where the camera is held by something like a tripod .

Foreground / Background
When coming up with a shot remember to keep in mind that the action in the foreground and the background.

Framing 
Keep the rule of thirds in mind when coming up with your shot . The audiences eye is drawn to the crossections of the frame , this is where your action needs to be taking place . However this is not saying things can break this rule but normally it is just to create an dramatic effect .

Deep and shallow focus
Depth of field is a range of focus in an image and how much it comes across as being sharp and clear to the audience . In deep focus is the foreground , middle ground and background and where everything in the frame is in focus.

Shallow focus is a camera technique incorporating a small depth of field . In shallow focus is where the image is in focus while the rest is out of focus . Shallow focus is used to emphasize one part of the image over another .

Vladimir Propp - Character Codes 
Vladimir Propp developed a character by studying media text and productions , he came up with 7 character types  with 100 tales that he analysed.

The hero 
In most stories there is a major character with whom the audience will bond with more strongly and who is the main  person who the story is based around.

The villain 
The strongest contrast against the hero is a villain who finds it hard to directly go against the hero. The villain is usually bad , highlighting the goodness of the hero.


The princess 
She might be an object who normally falls in love with the hero and normally gets caught by the villain then tells the hero where the villain was hiding her.







Character Types 
The character types are based on old fashioned stories that can be remembered of by heart, for example it is very common for a female to be the hero role which could make a man play the princess / love interest role .

The helper 

The helper supports the hero on his or her quest and the helper usually appears at any critical and dangerous moments to provide support . 

The donor 

The donor is a person who gives the hero something useful and
special for example a magical weapon or some particular wisdom .














The Dispatcher 
Usually has an early role in the story to send the hero on a mission.



The false Hero 
A variant on the villain and then creates a complication on the plot . Their motives may be good at first but as the story goes on it soon becomes clear that they have the villains evil traits or they are maybe working for the villain .

The princess's Father 

Lastly there is the princess's father he is the character who forbids the princess to do certain things and helps the hero on his quest to save the princess.

opening scene analysis one

Carrie

This story is about a teenaged girl called Carrie White played by Chloe Moretez who  is bullied by her classmates at high school and her mum Margaret White  played by Julianne Moore  is a paranoid woman . When Carrie has her first lesson she does not understand what is happening to her and her classmates humiliate her in the changing rooms.


















The opening title of the film sets the mood for the audience as it has a black background the colour black  symbolises death and  is an effective colour to use for the background of a film because it helps to create an eerie atmosphere  for the audience whereas the red writing connotes danger and blood .
The spacing of the letters could symbolize how alone she feels and how she feels that no body understands her and that she feels trapped and is crying out for help and attention .

 The font is quite big this could suggest that the story gets intense the further it goes along into the story as it cold get more dramatic as weird things are about to happen  to Carrie  as her life may be turned around .  The transition of the writing is that it fades quickly and the screen goes black before cutting straight into the first scene of the film. And  the sound is fast paced and tense  before going straight into a direct cut.

 











The scene above  is the opening scene of the film and it shows how scared Carrie  looks at school and it , also shows how lost she may be feeling inside and that she is not sure what to do ,  the characters facial expression could also suggest how she is thinking of something to say and carrie's body language makes her come across as shy and not very confident and it makes the audience feel a bit sorry for her . Comparing this to other characters in horror films this is showing  how  they are basing her around the typical horror background as in most horror films you have the less intelligent one who gets killed first then you have the smart one and the shy one and they have tried to bas this film around the stereotypical horror conventions. and the clothes Carrie is wearing she may feel judged as she may feel like she doesn't fit in with the other girls because of what they are wearing and maybe how they act . There is no dialogue in this scene but there is dramatic and sense music playing and the framing of the shots show that they are only focused on the head and waist of the character and that nothing else is relevant in the shot .

In this scene it shows how embarrassed she feels and that she may not how to swim and it also helps the audience as it gives you a bit of background image on the character and how she acts it also shows you that Carrie is quite a shy person and it shows you how easy of a target she is for the other girls to bully and pick on because she is so shy that they may feel like she cant stick up for herself properly . This compares to characters from a typical super natural thriller as most horror films follow the typical representation types of the shy character which in this case is the position the Carrie plays and then you have the smart character , and the characters that die first in the film  and slowly the character types beginning to rank up from the characters with small roles to the characters with main roles .
















It shows how the other girl makes her feel hurt and lost about who she is it also shows how she struggles with school and people in her year group and how it is all too much for her this scene is effective because it shows how she goes through a lot of emotions in these three scenes and how she handles each individual situation. Also it allows the audience to interact with the characters in the scene more as it allows the audience to show sympathise  to Carrie.  The editing is slow pace and some example of continuity editing has been shown.

Media techniques - editing

Editing

Continuity editing 

Continuity editing is often known as the dominant editing technique which is found in a narrative feature like films , television shows  and web content . 

It is normally used to put together a series of shots into a scene that plays in a logical fashion . This editing is usually smooth and  continous  but it appears to be invisible  during the film . 

This is the part that makes films different as the editing allows the audience to see a wide cut to a close up which is something our eyes don't see in real life . 

However this could make a story hard to follow but with the help of continuity editing combined with  contructive planning it allows the audience to gain an interest for the film .

Types of continuity editing 

Spatial editing shots 

Establishing shots 

Long take 

Non- Continuity / Discontinuity Editing 

 Non Continuity editing is the effect that any choices made are supposed to be invisible to the audience watching . Discontinuity editing tends to be invisible  , these effects create attention and change the audiences expectations of continuity . 

Eye Line Match 

Eye line match is where the audience will want to see what the character on the screen is looking at , the eye line match then begins with the character looking at something off screen , followed by a cut to the object or person at which the character is looking at .

For example a man is looking off screen to his left and then the film gets cut to a the television that he is watching .

The 180 Degrees Rule 

The 180 degree rule is where you create an imaginary line across your set but you do not cross this with the camera .  The  actor on the left side of the frame and the actress is on the right side of the camera they will stay in those established positions throughout the entire scene . If the camera crossed the line and the actress was moved to the left of the frame and the actor moved to the right of the frame then this would cause the audience to become more confused as the spatial continuity has been changed .

But once the spatial distance and positions have been established you should not mess with it if you want to still maintain that continuity .

Match on action 
 Match on action is a editing technique for continuity editing this is where one shot cuts to another short showing the action of the subject in the first shot.

Equipment analysis

What equipment i will be using

• Light panel
• Camera 
• Tripod

We will also  be using a Nikon D3200 camera

Camera set up  

On the side of the lens make sure that it is set to A which is auto on the back of the camera like the LV button to turn on the display as this allows you to see what you are taking a picture of .

Gently hold down the shutter button when taking a photograph to focus the camera on what you are taking a picture of your chosen subject.

Tripod 

You can extend the legs to how tall and low you want a shot , you have to make sure that the tripod is set up properly and that everything is locked into place otherwise the camera might fall off . make sure the hot shoe is fitted on to the camera properly before putting the camera on .