Hellen session 17th March 2017

Title:
-Choose a title for your film- usually y agree a 'working title' until the film is progressed to the point where a final tile is agreed.
The title is important as it:
-Sells your film to its audience- 'tease'.
-Encapsulates what your fil is about.

The Treatment
-Your treatment need be no more tan a page, but anything up to 3 or for pages, outlining HOW you intend to tell the story.
-Main characters/ interviewees
-Locations
-Style/ format
-narrative Structure
-Whether using a presenter.


Treatment should include;
-transmission ('TX') time and channel/ platform


Scripting:
-Sequences
-Interviews
-Reconstructions and dramatizations
-Actuality Cutaways/ GVs
-Sync
-Commentary
-music
-Archive/ stills
-Graphics


-NB documentary films should be as much about the pictures as any other film.


Scripting stages:
Shooting Script:
-Witten prior to filming.
-This forms the template for your finished film.
-It should be informed  your research ad allow you to effectively think through your film's picture.
-Summarise answers.
-Write to pictures.
Pix= The Picture
Sync/ Comm= Sound/ ambience, dialogue questions and responses.


Starting;
-Always start by writing your commentary and interweave with a summary of each person's sync eg. Fred describes his like in London (research informs your commentary)


Scripting conventions:
-eg. Write Comm or V/O for commentary
-SEQ- Sequence
-ACT- Actuality
-C/A- Cutaway
SYNC- Interview Clips
-SFX- Sound Effects
Commentary- is usually in italics/ in bold- also help during voice over record if they are numbered.
-Line and a half spacing- makes it easier to read.


Finding the film's narrative:
-A central thread of some kind will hold your story together eg. day in the Life/ journey of exploration.
-The central thread could involve the process of investigating the answer to a particular question or theory.
-The film's narrative is influenced by the characters, location, period of time it is covering and the events presented.
- BEWARE- time based narratives cannot be fractured- ensure you check the logic of your story and keep to it!


Light and Shade and Tension:
-Consider how you will inject LIGHT AND SHADE- it is important to coincide the overall experience of watching your film.
-Tension- this is a key element of storytelling, adding suspense and drama. these should be identified during the research process if possible.
Ways to create tension:
-Scripting (V/O)- emphasise dramatic moments and tease.
-Bringing together opposing groups/ individuals within the film.


Narrating styles:
-There are a number of narrative styles which can be sued in documentary filmmaking.


Actuality Driven narrative vs Sequenced narratives
Actuality driven:
- More observational whose structure and story develops how it happens.
Sequenced narratives:
-Planned


Subject driven and character driven films explained:
-When choosing your subject y might find I seems a little 'dry'.
-If the result takes over the drive of the film, it needs to change.


-Edit Prep


-Final script


Copyright:
-Copyright applies to all artistic works which have been created and preserved in some lasting way. eg. Written work, film, video, photographs, theatrical works, music, paintings, sculptures, images...