11 Lecture 13: What and How Professor Daniel Cutrara

2 Previous Lesson Adaptation 300 –From graphic novel to film. Chicago –From musical to film

3 This Lesson What do they want? –Marketing to the buyer How do you make it stronger? –Development Notes Assignments

44 Marketing Lesson 13: Part I

5 Buyers for Television The Television Market Fragmented Network, Cable, Pay TV Content –Channels cater to a particular audience –Know what they’re looking for.

6 Buyers for Film Studios Production Companies with studio deals Independent Production Companies Hollywood Creative Directory

7 A Buyer’s Guide What the Buyer’s are looking for: –Concept –Castability –Setting –Budget –Spectacle (film)

88 How to Make it Stronger Lesson 13: Part II

Development Notes for Film Developing the script- notes for revisions Make sure to review Garfinkel’s appendix on Development notes. Keep an eye on the positive. Always point out what is working in the script. 9

10 Story Analyst’s Checklist Creative Concerns –Concept –Character & Dialogue –Structure & Plot –Tone & Theme Commercial Concerns –Marketability –Audience –Budget –Castable 10

11 The Concept High Concept or not? –“Universal” appeal Intriguing or not? –Most often you run into scripts that rehash concepts already overdone.

12 Plot As you review the plot ask yourself the following questions. –What is the conflict about? What major complications arise? –Do(es) the protagonist(s) have a major goal? Does the goal change over time? –Are there any major twists or reversals? –Does the world of the story have coherent rules? –Is there an urgency to the storyline? –Are there any plot holes? 12

13 Plot - 2 Subplots –Is the main storyline complicated by subplots? –Do the subplots help the plot to develop character and or theme? –Are the subplots structured: spawned from, intersecting with, and resolving with the main plot? 13

14 Structure As you review the structure ask yourself the following questions. –Does it follow a Three Act Structure? If not, does the alternative structure work? –Does act one set up the problem and introduce the characters sufficiently? Is there an inciting incident, does it happen in a timely manner? –Does act two build appropriately? Does it have a midpoint? Does it end on a major reversal? –Does act three unfold in an engaging way? 4

15 Character As you review the character development ask yourself the following questions. –Is the protagonist sympathetic or otherwise engaging? –Are the protagonist’s wants and needs clearly defined? –What is at stake for the protagonist if he/she doesn’t achieve his/her goals? –Are the characters well rounded or do they feel one-dimensional? 15

166 Character - 2 –Do the characters experience a wide range of emotions? –Is the protagonist active or passive? –Is the story motivated by the protagonist’s needs?

17 Dialogue As you review the dialogue ask yourself the following questions. –Does it sound natural given the characters and world of the story? –Does it help define the personality of the characters? –Does the dialogue work for the screen? E.g. stage plays have much more latitude on the length of speeches and stylized nature of the speech. 17

18 Theme What is the message of the film? –Is it too superficial? –Is it too dark? –Is it provocative? –Is it so engaging that you overlook other flaws in the story? 18

19 Tone, POV, and Pay Off As you review the script ask yourself the following questions. –Is the tone consistent? –Is the Point of View consistent and or working for the story? –Does the final climax and resolution payoff the story? 19

20 Final Concerns As you review the script ask yourself the following questions. –Does the action description guide the reader’s imagination as opposed to telling the director how to do his/her job. –Do you have any concerns in terms of the script’s representation of race, gender, class, sexuality, religion? 20

21 The Wrap Up Who is buying? How to improve the product. The demands of Art and Business.

22 Assignments Lesson 13: Part III

23 E-Board Post #1 Approximately 500 words. Feedback is due on your peer assignment.

24 End of Lecture 13 End of Lecture 13 Next Lecture: Breaking the Envelope