Script Writing, Story Boarding, and Site Selection Issues MachinEVO Week 2

Scriptwriting Benefits Filming and editing become much easier since less takes and cuts are needed.

Scriptwriting Benefits Finding an appropriate set/sim, costumes, and props is easier.

Scriptwriting Steps Step 1: Prewriting—Brainstorming your goal and how to achieve that goal.

Example Goals * Illustrate: A grammar point—past tense, conditionals . . . A language function—expressing anger, ordering from a menu . . . Vocabulary terms—body parts, idioms, . . . * Tell a story for students to understand or draw conclusions from. * Record students acting out a script. * Having students use English in an intense way while creating videos on a topic you or they choose.

Scriptwriting Steps Step 2: Creating an outline—the major actions that need to be covered in the different scenes of the script.

Scriptwriting Steps Step 3: Pitch—especially useful for your students to do since it requires them to present their ideas to the class.

Scriptwriting Steps Step 4: The script—the setting and dialog for your scenes.

Scriptwriting Steps Step 5: The storyboard—simple drawings that illustrate camera angles and essential costumes and props.

Useful Scriptwriting Tools Story Generators: Roleplay Scenarios

Useful Scriptwriting Tools Story Generators:Story Dice

Useful Scriptwriting Tools Story Generators:Opening Lines

Useful Screenwriting Tools Screenwriting Software:  https://story.adobe.com/en-us/index.html www.moviedraft.com/

Useful Screenwriting Tools Screenwriting YouTube Video: Scriptwriting by AFI ScreenNation http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2JcJNul9y4k&feature=share&list =PLna7STDz_DyLBdlzcNWhChpCBZ5QVSG6u

Useful Screenwriting Tools Basic Scriptwriting Conventions Interior/Exterior -- Location -- Time of day Description of where characters are and what they are doing Identify speaker Speaker’s lines Other film-making notes

Useful Screenwriting Tools Basic Scriptwriting Conventions INT. – BEDROOM – AFTERNOON Jenner leans on the wall next to the bed. James is in bed; his mother stands over him. She smiles a slight smile. MOTHER Doctor Jenner, could you please come here for a moment. DISSOLVE TO JAMES’ FACE. JENNER (V.O.) Just a second. FADE OUT.

Useful Screenwriting Tools Basic Scriptwriting Conventions = 1 minute of screen time

Story Boarding: Why Bother? Storyboarding helps you:  1. Discover problems before you start filming 2. Make sure everyone is on the same page about what needs to be done 3. Analyze what shots and angles you want (wide establishing shots, close-ups, cutaways, etc.) 4. Think about the purpose, props, dialogue, and action you need in each shot 5. Make it evident when you are repeating ideas already covered by previous action or dialogue. 

Storyboarding Examples Use a simple form.

Storyboarding Examples Draw right on your script.

Storyboarding Examples Use comic software, like Comic Life, to make your storyboard.

Storyboarding Examples If you absolutely don’t want to draw, at least use a detailed Excel sheet.

Storyboarding Aids Tips in “Cinematic Storytelling” document

Storyboarding Aids You Tube Videos Storyboarding by AFI ScreenNationhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWPjjoOFIu8&featur e=share&list=PLna7STDz_DyLBdlzcNWhChpCBZ5QVSG6u  Zero Budget Storyboarding http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vcXfgBLRv_E&feature=share&list= PLna7STDz_DyLBdlzcNWhChpCBZ5QVSG6u Storyboarding Tutorial  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4ekzThzjj0&feature=share&list=P Lna7STDz_DyLBdlzcNWhChpCBZ5QVSG6u Alfred Hitchcock On Mastering Cinematic Tension http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPFsuc_M_3E&feature=share&list =PLna7STDz_DyLBdlzcNWhChpCBZ5QVSG6u

Storyboarding Aids You Tube Videos detail types of shots and much more.

Storyboarding Aids You Tube Videos detail types of shots and much more.

Storyboarding Aids You Tube Videos detail types of shots and much more.

Storyboarding Aids You Tube Videos detail types of shots and much more.

Storyboarding Aids You Tube Videos detail types of shots and much more.

Storyboarding Aids You Tube Videos detail types of shots and much more.

Storyboarding Aids You Tube Videos detail types of shots and much more.

Storyboarding Aids You Tube Videos detail types of shots and much more.

Storyboarding Aids You Tube Videos detail types of shots and much more.

Storyboarding Aids You Tube Videos detail types of shots and much more.

Storyboarding Aids You Tube Videos detail types of shots and much more. A rule-of-thirds shot

Site Selection Criteria Partial list of factors: 1. Is it necessary to get permission to film? 2. Is the sim voice-enabled? 3. Are there useful or annoying background sounds? 4. Are there avatars on the sim that might be useful as extras or problematic? 5. Is it possible to shoot several different type of scenes on the same sim?

Site Resources: Historic or Culturally Rich Sims Ancient Rome, King Arthur’s court, the Wild West, Parisian catacombs, Berlin in the 1920’s, modern New York, outer space colonies, underwater cities, etc. Visit SL Destinations to choose the best place for your machinima: http://secondlife.com/destinations?lang=en -US

Site Resources: EduNation Holodecks A holodeck stores Second Life scenes and lets you load them from a menu whenever you want.  Scenes can include any prim object, including furniture, pose balls, and particle generators. The following links give more information on holodecks: http://insidethisworld.com/the- holodeck.html  http://wiki.secondlife.com/wiki/Ho lodeck 

Site Resources: Simple Cube Sets Sample--easy to alter or build from scratch

Machinima Open Studio Project Machinima Open Stage Project Blog: http://machinimasl.blogspot.dk/ MOSP Welcome Area: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/LEA20/130/125/22 Sound Stage 1: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/LEA20/31/110/1204 Sound Stage 2: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/LEA20/38/105/1492 Sound Stage 3: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/LEA20/38/105/1667 Sound Stage 4: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/LEA20/38/105/1843 Peaceful Valley: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/LEA20/114/167/23 New Orleans: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/LEA20/139/123/2746 Gypsy Camp: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/LEA20/222/219/723 Night Beach: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/LEA20/46/125/3007 Corporate Office: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/LEA20/129/125/2031 Beach Walk: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/LEA20/93/32/21 Streets and Subway: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/LEA20/34/100/1005 Stone Ruins: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/LEA20/224/226/814 Park: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/LEA20/224/229/501 Shadow Lands: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/LEA20/19/231/3701

Suggested Work to Complete Before Next Week: 1. Form film-making groups. 2. Prepare scripts/story boards. 3. Take photos of your sets/sims and costumes.

Additional Resources PowerPoint illustrating SL basics: http://www.slideshare.net/bmcqueen2/sl-how-tos-16128694

Additional Resources PDFs on SL Basics: SL Basics.pdf SL Basics Part 2.pdf

Additional Resources