A2 - the formats of pre-production processes

templates for scripts (written/dialogue/sound)

• a screenplay is a written version of a movie. it's a bit like a blueprint, it's not the final product, it's a set of plans to guide the team of artists, craftspeople, and engineers as they produce the film. 
• the three main components of a screenplay are: a slug line, action, and dialogue.
• a slug line is written in all caps and acts as a code to convey information to the crew.
• the different elements of the slug line are all to do with location and timing. the first part consists of either the letters 'INT' or 'EXT' which indicate whether the scene will take place inside or outside. the second part is the name of the location you're using. this is important for the crew to know where they have to be. lastly, the end of the slug line tells you what time of day the scene takes place.
• information like the slug line is key to production because without it, no one would have set information about any of the scenes that need to be filmed. 
• when writing about the action, there's one main rule which is to show, not tell. in simpler terms, you have to show the audience what you want them to see rather than telling them what's going on. this is key with showing emotions of characters. 
• a correctly timed screenplay can majorly effect the speed of production. it ensures that filming can be scheduled in the most efficient way. for example: if you have multiple scenes shot in the same area, you can film them in the same gap of time instead of going back and forth from sets/locations.
• the amount of action and dialogue in a screenplay can vary. certain scenes may have very little amounts of it while others have quite a large amount. this, in turn, effects the length of the screenplay as a whole. 

make notes on the conventions which must be followed in order to format a screenplay to an industrial standard:

• for a script to be of industrial standard, there are many aspects that need to be considered and included. there are the simple things like correct grammar and layout within your writing all the way to detailing a description of each scene. when a character is first introduced in a script, their name must be in all capitals, from there onwards, their name can be written as normal, in lower and upper case letters. the term 'CUT TO:' may be used in some scripts to indicate the sudden change in scene, although not commonly used by directors, this method can be very effective when done right. often you'll see that scenes have their own headings. this shows whether the location is an interior or exterior location and if it's day or night. scene descriptions are extremely important, they indicate the need-to-know parts of information for each scene. for example: the setting, characters in that scene and which actions are taking place n that scene. character cues is the name given to the character who speaks the line of dialogue that follows.

written or visual storyboards

a storyboard is a visual representation of your story which is animated in each part. bits to include in your storyboard:

• any character movements 
• who's in each frame
• any dialogue
• time gap between frames
• camera angles 
• distance

creating a storyboard is very helpful when you start to visualise what your film will look like. it takes you through the film frame by frame so it's easy to show to your team and make changes if necessary.

storyboard language:

• close up - a close range of distance between the camera and the subject.
• dissolve - a transition between two shots, as one shot fades away, another fades in.
• fade - this is where one scene slowly fades into darkness while another fades in through brightness.
• high camera angle - a camera angle which makes the subject appear to be small or insignificant.
• jump cut - a quick transition from one frame to the next, disrupting the flow of time or movement during a scene.
• level camera angle - a camera angle which is at an even level to the subject. also known as a neutral shot.
• long shot - a long range of distance between the camera and the subject, often showing off more of the surroundings.
• low camera angle - a camera angle which makes the subject seem larger and important.
• pan - a steady sweeping of one point of the scene to the other.
• pov - a shot which is understood to be seen from the point of view of a character within the scene.
• reaction shot - a shot of someone clearly looking off screen and showing a reaction to something. it can also be facial expressions when dialogue can't be heard.
• tilt - using a camera on a tripod, moving in any direction to follow the action.
• zoom -  use of the camera lens to move closely towards the subject.

the benefits of storyboarding:

• it saves a large amount of time as you've made an entire plan for each scene.
• improves your overall understanding of your project.
• simplifies the experimentation you could have to change the storyline.
• integrates audio, video, and graphics in a deliberate way. 
• makes closed-captioning easier as you will have a script. 
• increases the likelihood that you will deliver the message you want.

evaluate the impact of not having a storyboard prior to production:

for most films made, having a storyboard before production is essential. apart from the fact that it saves a large amount of production time, it also maps out each scene for the team which makes for a more efficient process. there will always be an element of experimenting when it comes to eventually filming a scene but it's beneficial to have a strong idea to start with. creating a storyboard lets you visualise your ideas before bringing them to life. if you have an idea for a scene in your head, its always helpful to make a storyboard so you can see roughly how it'll look on screen. this means you'll waste less time when you're filming, going through various possible ideas. usually, directors want to pass on a certain message when they produce their films, making storyboards along the way ensures that you have a basis of how you want to do that and if that method will work with your production. they are key to have prior to production as they help to avoid many issues that you'd have without one. two main examples would be a waste in time and a waste in the production's overall budget. 

written or visual storylines

definitions:

• a storyboard is a sequence of drawing, typically with some directions and dialogue, representing the shots planned for a film or television production.
• a sketch is a rough or unfinished drawing or painting, often made to assist in making a more finished picture.
• a photo board is a simpler version of a storyboard, instead of the combination of words and images, it just consists of the photos inspiring the look of what you want each scene to appear like on screen.
• a visual storyline can fall under the term 'narrative'. the story may be told by using  photography , illustration, or video, and can be enhanced with graphics, music, voice and other audio. 
• treatment refers to something used as a step between scene cards and the first draft of a screenplay for a motion picture, television programme, or radio play. usually happen to be longer than an outline and may include minor details in the style.
• a screenplay is the script of a film, including acting instructions and screen directions.
• a written storyline is the basis of your story. it mainly surrounds the plot and builds off of that. its an all written explanation of your story without the use of images to assist it.

notes:

• directors can come into the job from many various backgrounds of work. they all arrive with different skillsets. in terms of creating storyboards, each director will have a certain level of detail that they'll add to it, it all depends on the person. 
• storyboards are essential to the production of any film. they are effectively the blueprints for the entire end product. apart from the script, this is one of, if not the most important aspect of pre-production. they contain immense amounts of detail surrounding the film's design elements. this can include the following: cinematography, production design and art direction. 
• scripts contain a lot of information that a storyboard won't necessarily be able to convey, such as, the full dialogue and any additions to audio.
• collectively, they both make the majority of the process that helps to visualise the product. for most directors, both elements are needed for the film to be successful. in other words, it's rare to have one without the other.