Video Tutorial: 180 Degree Rule
I was going to write out a lengthy post explaining the very important 180 degree rule but rather than try to explain it with words, I searched on Youtube for a video example that is very easy to understand. So watch the following video closely and remember to follow the rule!
Be realistic about what you can and cannot accomplish
We all have these amazing ideas in our heads with crazy effects and shots that would blow people’s minds. The epic riot scene where 100s of extras destroy a city street and a fight against the local authorities breaks out. As cool as that scene sounds, there is no way that you, as a student, would be able to accomplish that.
Your budget while in film school is probably $10 that goes toward some MiniDV tapes. Everything else is probably borrowed from your school and you must make the most out of what you have available. If your school has light kits, use them. If your school has microphone kits, for the love of God, use them!
Production roles explained
If you’ve ever paid attention to a film’s credits, you will have noticed that the word producer comes up a lot in various versions. And if you’re like me, you’ve wondered what exactly those people do. Below you will find info on all the major producer roles:
Executive Producer - Usually credit given to someone who invested their own money into the project. They may also be involved in the day to day creative workings of a film by providing guidance but are not as involved as the producer.
Producer - The person in charge of the production from start to finish. The producer is in charge of raising funds, hiring people, getting the film distributed, etc. They are involved in every phase of the film’s process. Producers are also involved in the creative process of the film.
Q&A: Difference between Story By, Screenplay By and Written By
Question: What’s the difference between Story By, Screenplay By and Written By?
Answer: If a person wrote only the story (plot, characters, etc) but did not write the actual screenplay, that person will get the “Story By” credit. If a person only wrote the screenplay, then they’ll get the “Screenplay By” credit. Lastly, if a person wrote both the story and screenplay, they’ll get the “Written By” credit.
Shoot for the Edit
A tip that I always pass along to my friends/aspiring film makers is to ’shoot for the edit’. What this basically means is that you should film as much footage as you can from as many different angles as you can and then let the magic happen when you edit the movie together.
For example, let’s use a home movie. How many times have you seen a very boring home video where it’s an hour of footage that could easily be edited down to 15 minutes? That person, unknowingly, shot for the edit — except they didn’t edit it. That hour long footage gives that person a ton of footage to choose from to put together a short, tight piece that will impress and interest more people than an hour of boring, two minute shots of a monument.
Also, make sure that one of your shots is a wide shot, that has the entire scene and actors in view. This wide shot will be then cut with mid-shots and closeups. And last but not least, remember to film a few seconds before the scene starts and a few seconds after the scene ends. These extra seconds give the editor extra footage to work with to make cuts better.
But remember, your footage is the most important. If your shots are garbage, no amount of editing will make them better. Garbage in, garbage out.
Got a question? Email me!
If you have a certain question about film making, please feel free to email me and I’ll try my best to answer it. Now keep in mind that I am not a professional. I am currently a film student. But just because I’m a student doesn’t mean I can’t help.
Send emails to filmschooljournal at live.com — I’ll write up a post with your question and my answer. Thanks.
Differences between Spec Scripts, Treatments and Pitches
Here’s a question that every screenwriter will seek the answer to when they first begin to write:
“What’s the diffrence between a spec script, treatment and pitch?”
The answer is really quite simple.
A spec script is a screenplay that a writer has written on his own without getting paid for it. The ultimate goal for the writer would be to sell his completed screenplay. Another reason would be to have something to show potential employers. They want to see a sample of you work.
A treatment is pretty much an outline of the screenplay’s plot. Treatments are usually written in paragraph form and don’t include dialogue. Treatments vary in length. Sometimes a potential employer will ask for a treatment of your screenplay.
A pitch is an oral presentation where the screenwriter pitches his movie to studio execs. If the execs like it, congrats, you’ve got yourself a paid job!
Reality is your greatest inspiration
I find it that the best way to get ideas for a story and characters is to open one’s eyes and look around. The world around you is the best inspiration. You’d be surprised how the people that surround you can easily translate into a character in your screenplay. Your neighborhood can also be a source of inspiration for a location in your screenplay.
I guess the point I am trying to make is that if you’re stuck, take a break and head outside and pay close attention to your surroundings. I would suggest heading to a mall, sitting down at the food court with pen and paper and start writing what you see. Observe the people and how they act, how they walk and talk. This will hopefully spark something in your brain.
Get an honest opinion from your true friends
If you’re working on a screenplay that you want an opinion on, the best people to ask are your friends. And I’m not talking about your friends from work or your classmate friends, I’m talking about your lifelong friends. The friends that you would get into a fist fight for. They’re the ones who will give you their honest opinions because no matter what they say, you’ll still be friends. The “other” friends will try not to hurt your feelings or burn a potential bridge.
Writing Exercise: Create a story with random images
Here’s an exercise for you. Take a bunch of random images that you find online or in a magazine and write a story about them. Give the people in your images names and personalities. Use the items in the images as props that they interact with. Create a conflict.
For example: Say you randomly choose the following 4 images — 1) A lady under an umbrella, waiting for the bus. 2) An image of a candy store. 3) An image of an empty house. 4) An image of a big building.
