MASTERWRITERZ > WHAT HAVE WE LEARNT SO FAR

Wednesday 15 February 2012

no12. ASSIGNMENT - DM2C

ASSIGNMENT BRIEF FOR DM2C
DEADLINE: WK 13 
(START EARLY, FOCUS ON 1 SENTENCE)



Deliverables:
1. Production File (storyline 500words or max 1000 words)
2. Script (5 pages or max 10 pages)
3. Presentation Board (5 boards, A4)


Scope of Work:
= Suitable for ANIMATION
= Suitable for your FYP
= must follow this brief (see below)


Target Audience: 
Family
(what do they want to watch in a screenplay?
what issues/topics are they interested in?
what kind of genres & presentation style do they prefer?)

Genre:
ANIMATION (MUST) & (your choice)


Character Bios: (YOU MUST USE THE SAME NAME & STEREOTYPE TRAITS)

USE NON-HUMAN CHARACTERS
Hero - JACK >> NERD
Heroine - JILL >> MS SUNSHINE
Villain - ALEX (male/female - up to you)
Comic Relief - BOB / CHERRY (male/female - optional)


Add in other traits/info into your character bio, according to your story. Especially characterization below:



Characterization: (YOU TELL ME WHO THEY ARE, WHAT THEY ARE LIKE, LET ME GET TO KNOW THEM - USING YOUR SCRIPT)
- Special Voice, behaviours, actions
- X-Factor
- Item (eg Mr Bean's green mini, teddy bear)
- Cliches / Stereotypes
- Antagonist /  Protagonist / Supporting


story-telling techniques: (MUST USE AT LEAST 1 TYPE, YOU CAN MIX AS WELL)
1. journey / quest or goal-achievement / education
2. rivalry / testing
3. discovery / coming of age
4. love / forbidden love
5. problem-solution / question-answer


building story design: (MUST USE BELOW)
premise - use a statement
concept - how do you want to tell your story? ref to: ministry of silly walks, spam, sample tvcs, etc.
theme - themes & issues relating to target audience
meanings - making sense > what is your key message

designing the visual world through: (OPEN)
characters
situations
location/sets
scenarios
atmosphere
colours
costumes/hair/make up
props
language
music & sound effects
---------------------------

Some Tips:
> Who are you writing for?


------------------------------------------------------------------


CLASS DISCUSSION 2 March 2012 fri

1. TA: Family
What kind of topics are they interested in?



- comedy, drama
- parenting
- children
- teenagers & parents relationship
- family holidays


examples of family oriented shows:


freaky friday 
- mother-daughter relationship >> generation gap 
- understanding teenhood & adulthood


parent trap


the incredibles
- family responsibility/duty
- each member of family has a role to play
- conflict?
- experiences of each member
- internal conflict


finding nemo
- single parenthood/fatherhood
- independence of children
- internal conflict > to overcome
- friendship - dory (comic relief)
- father-son bond
- peer pressure (friends in tank)
- making friends - marlin - dory, sharks, turtles, whale
- making friends - nemo - friends in the fish tank


cheaper by the dozen
simpsons
parenthood
addams family 

monsters inc


shrek





2. Characters: 
What kind of conflicts do they experience?





USE NON-HUMAN CHARACTERS
Hero - JACK >> NERD
Heroine - JILL >> MS SUNSHINE
Villain - ALEX (male/female - up to you)

Comic Relief - BOB / CHERRY (male/female - optional)



JACK - NERD
- knowledgeable and loves to share facts
- UNCOOL?
- look nerdy >> wardrobe, hair/makeup
- usually gets bullied for being "weak?" / 'uncool"
- unattractive to a trendy person
- often ignored
- teachers LOVE him




JILL - MS SUNSHINE
- popular
- always happy
- chatty
- optimistic
- talks too much at the wrong time
- talks inappropriate topic
- naive (in what way?) >>> trusts people 
- happy at the wrong time




watch dexter's laboratory


(dexter & dee dee)









3. Situations/Motive:
What kind of situations can they get into?
Find that one motive to drive your story.



MURPHY'S LAW
what can go wrong WILL go wrong >> conflict & drama



HAVE YOUR STORIES BY WEEK 10!
> 1 sentence summary
> synopsis
> character profile/bio
(to discuss with rest of class)

no11. ASSIGNMENT - DM2L/3E/3K

ASSIGNMENT BRIEF FOR DM2L/3K/3E

DEADLINE: WK 13 
(START EARLY, FOCUS ON 1 SENTENCE)|
Deliverables:
1. Production File (storyline 500words or max 1000 words)
2. Script (5 pages or max 10 pages)
3. Presentation Board (1 board, A4)


Scope of Work:
= Suitable for Video Production
= Suitable for your FYP
= must follow this brief (see below)


Target Audience: 
late 20's to 30 somethings (25yrs-39yrs) 
(what do they want to watch in a screenplay?
what issues/topics are they interested in?
what kind of genres & presentation style do they prefer?)

Genre:
Video/Live Action (MUST) & (your choice)


Character Bios: (YOU MUST USE THE SAME NAME & STEREOTYPE TRAITS)
Hero - ADAM >> HAPPY GO LUCKY
Heroine - SARAH >> FUSSY
Villain - RYAN / SAM (male/female - up to you)
Comic Relief - BEN / GWEN (optional)


Add in other traits/info into your character bio, according to your story. Especially characterization below:



Characterization: (YOU TELL ME WHO THEY ARE, WHAT THEY ARE LIKE, LET ME GET TO KNOW THEM - USING YOUR SCRIPT)
- Special Voice, behaviours, actions
- X-Factor
- Item (eg Mr Bean's green mini, teddy bear)
- Cliches / Stereotypes
- Antagonist /  Protagonist / Supporting


story-telling techniques: (MUST USE AT LEAST 1 TYPE, YOU CAN MIX AS WELL)
1. journey / quest or goal-achievement / education
2. rivalry / testing
3. discovery / coming of age
4. love / forbidden love
5. problem-solution / question-answer


building story design: (MUST USE BELOW)
premise - use a statement
concept - how do you want to tell your story? ref to: ministry of silly walks, spam, sample tvcs, etc.
theme - themes & issues relating to target audience
meanings - making sense > what is your key message

designing the visual world through: (OPEN)
characters
situations
location/sets
scenarios
atmosphere
colours
costumes/hair/make up
props
language
music & sound effects
---------------------------

Some Tips:
> Who are you writing for? 

-----------------------------------------------------------------
CLASS DISCUSSION 2 March 2012 fri


1. TA: late 20's to 30 somethings (25yrs-39yrs)
What kind of topics are they interested in?

sex and violence
single/married/divorced
career - moving up to top management or stuck in career path, slaughtered in career, switch career, backstabbing office, etc
money - credit cards, debts. bills, overspending, gambling/financial investments/stocks
illness - loss of hair, cancer, hiv/aids, OD, anorexia, drugs
accident & injury - amnesia, handicap
internal conflict - addiction, anti-social/shy, self confidence, weight


2. Characters: 
What kind of conflicts do they experience?

Hero - ADAM >> HAPPY GO LUCKY
Heroine - SARAH >> FUSSY
Villain - RYAN / SAM (male/female - up to you)
Comic Relief - BEN / GWEN (optional)

ADAM - HAPPY GO LUCKY
- boh chap
- cheerful

- optimistic
- simple? 
- carefree
- careless - money, time, friends, words
- insensitive
- oblivious


SARAH - FUSSY
- picky - food, job, hygiene, people, hairdo, appearance, 
- pet peeves - cannot stand certain behaviour
- whiney/criticise a lot
- uptight
- perfectionist
- loud??

3. Situations/Motive:
What kind of situations can they get into?
Find that one motive to drive your story.


MURPHY'S LAW
what can go wrong WILL go wrong


HAVE YOUR STORIES BY WEEK 10!

no10. ASSIGNMENT - DM2B

ASSIGNMENT BRIEF FOR DM2B
DEADLINE: WK 13 
(START EARLY, FOCUS ON 1 SENTENCE)

Deliverables:
1. Production File (storyline 500words or max 1000 words)
2. Script (5 pages or max 10 pages)
3. Presentation Board (1 board, A4)


Scope of Work:
= Suitable for ANIMATION
= Suitable for FYP
= must follow this brief (see below)


Target Audience: 
20 somethings, young adults
(what do they want to watch in a screenplay?
what issues/topics are they interested in?
what kind of genres & presentation style do they prefer?)

Genre:
Animation (MUST) & (your choice)


Character Bios: (YOU MUST USE THE SAME NAME & STEREOTYPE TRAITS)
Hero - MARIO >> LOSER
Heroine - LUCY >> BLOND BIMBO
Villain - SAM (male/female - up to you)
Comic Relief - BOB (optional)


Add in other traits/info into your character bio, according to your story. Especially characterization below:



Characterization: (YOU TELL ME WHO THEY ARE, WHAT THEY ARE LIKE, LET ME GET TO KNOW THEM - USING YOUR SCRIPT)
- Special Voice, behaviours, actions
- X-Factor
- Item (eg Mr Bean's green mini, teddy bear)
- Cliches / Stereotypes
- Antagonist /  Protagonist / Supporting


story-telling techniques: (MUST USE AT LEAST 1 TYPE, YOU CAN MIX AS WELL)
1. journey / quest or goal-achievement / education
2. rivalry / testing
3. discovery / coming of age
4. love / forbidden love
5. problem-solution / question-answer


building story design: (MUST USE BELOW)
premise - use a statement
concept - how do you want to tell your story? ref to: ministry of silly walks, spam, sample tvcs, etc.
theme - themes & issues relating to target audience
meanings - making sense > what is your key message


designing the visual world through: (OPEN)
characters
situations
location/sets
scenarios
atmosphere
colours
costumes/hair/make up
props
language
music & sound effects
---------------------------

Some Tips:
> Who are you writing for? 
> What's your Key Message/Idea as a scriptwriter? 
> KEEP IT SIMPLE S:) > motive & key idea


-----------------------------------------------------------------
CLASS DISCUSSION 1 March 2012 thu


1. TA: 20 Somethings/Young Adult
What kind of topics are they interested in?


career + money
preparations for weddings
singlehood
want to enjoy life > travel / car / lifestyle / friends
romance / love interest


2. Characters: 
What kind of conflicts do they experience?





Hero - MARIO >> LOSER
Heroine - LUCY >> BLOND BIMBO
Villain - SAM (male/female - up to you)
Comic Relief - BOB (optional)



MARIO THE LOSER can struggle with
- life in general - reality bites
- love life
- work
- internal conflicts (low self esteem? does he know he's a loser?)
- coping with being a loser


LUCY THE BLONDE BIMBO
- struggles with intelligence
- gorgeous and she knows it!
- popular
- helpful and friendly but screws up when trying to help
- sexual harrassment at workplace


3. Situations/Motive:
What kind of situations can they get into?
Find that one motive to drive your story.


MURPHY'S LAW
what can go wrong WILL go wrong


HAVE YOUR STORIES BY WEEK 10!

Wednesday 8 February 2012

no.9 Story Design

story-telling techniques:
1. journey / quest or goal-achievement / education
2. rivalry / testing
3. discovery / coming of age
4. love / forbidden love
5. problem-solution / question-answer

building story design:
premise - use a statement
concept - use an idea
theme - use a thematic storyline
meanings - making sense


designing the visual world through:
characters
situations
location
sets
atmosphere
colours
costumes / hair / makeup
props
language
music/sound effects


CASE STUDIES:

 


 


MORE CASE STUDIES:

Observe Story & these:
GENRES
CHARACTERS (IN SITUATIONS)
CLICHES
STEREOTYPES
THEMES / KEY MESSAGE
MAKING ABNORMAL NORMAL
STORY DESIGN