Feb+18+-+Step+1,+2,+3,+4

Step 1 - **PROPOSAL*** ** DUE Thursday, February 24, 2010 ....before class so that I review & approve. ** Each proposal will.... - have a topic/working title - provide a brief outline of your ORIGINAL idea... - explain/describe in detail the MAIN PURPOSE or the MAIN MESSAGE of your PROJECT: what information you will cover... what you want the audience to KNOW... what you want your audience to DO... HOW will you communicate your message? - mention some ideas/visuals/techniques that you are thinking of using in your project...

Read a few tips on Developing a Good Short Film Idea.

Step 2 - **SCRIPT*** Write out your script so that it deals with and describes EVERYTHING that will be SEEN and HEARD in your film. Formulate your ideas and shape them into your story. Remember you need 3 minutes of finished film so write your script to include all the information you need to storyboard and to produce your finished film. How long should your script be? An average rule of thumb is **TWO PAGES of script produces ONE MINUTE of FINISHED FILM**. A sample page from the 'The Godfather' film script shows its formating and how a script provides the following information: - scene title, setting information... eg. location, time of day/year etc. etc. - character/s... WHAT they SAY and/or DO, HOW they say and/or do it.. eg. in a soft whisper, gives an angry look, places it on the table gently, sighing etc etc. - camera angles, framing, compositional information, camera movements, - shot information describing sounds, music, voiceover/narration, dialogue eg. tone of voice, character's gestures/movements... eg. character walks in the room, slams the door etc. etc. - scene transitions - stage/film directions... eg. knock on the door, phone ringing... etc etc.

HINT: Consider the BASICS of plot/dramatic structure (even if your film won't have a plot) to **create interest** in your audience (introduction, rise of action, climax, falling action, denouement/resolution). Climax is when the audience interest is at its highest point or most intense... so, to keep your audience interest... position the climax or most intense moment towards the last quarter of your film. If your climax is too early your film will seem too long and/or boring.

READ the following 4 short paragraphs: Shooting Script, Scene Headings, Special Scene Headings, Narrative Description.
 * HOMEWORK:**

Step 3 - **STORYBOARD*** Carefully plan out your project and resolve all the story/plot, timing/shot length, visual, framing/compositional/shot, colour, design and sequence issues. Also think about... settings/backgrounds, characters, visual interest, typography?, sound, transitions from scene to another, E & P of design (eg. unity, texture, line, colour, shape, contrast, etc etc). Use a variety of cinematic techniques to make your film project interesting... but be careful not to use too many or your film will come across as too chaotic and incoherent. You can print out the "[|animation storyboard.pdf]" file and use it with post it notes or you can use the pdf digitally. Working with postit notes allows you to easily "edit" your storyboard by changing or reordering the sequence of scenes.

See the [|"Creating Comics" pdf]for some information that will help make your storyboard interesting. Story Flow - page 12 < These 3 pages will be VERY helpful for your storyboard. Visual Depth - page 13 Exploring the Angles - page 14

Step 4 - **PRODUCTION** With a finished and approved storyboard... you are now ready to CREATE your animation in Flash... and all the hard work you put into your script and storyboard will now pay off. Your storyboard will provide all the visual and directional information you need to start creating your artwork. Create a different layers for anything you want to move separately eg. backgrounds, characters, eyes, objects, fade in/out boxes, titles or credits or text... etc etc. Keep in mind that simplicity can be effective, efficient and impactful. Use emphasis to your advantage... eg. only where needed : )


 * EACH** step needs an approval by your executive producer (Ms Gulia) before you can proceed to the next step.