UNIT III: ADVANCED APPLICATIONS CHAPTER 9: Features and Long Form CHAPTER 10: Directing CHAPTER 11: Marketing and Distribution CHAPTER 12: Professional and Career Opportunities Career Opportunities

CHAPTER 9 FEATURES AND LONG FORM

CHAPTER OBJECTIVES Examine various approaches to Examine various approaches to Feature-length Production; Introduce the structure and format of Professional Screenwriting; Introduce the structure and format of Professional Screenwriting; Explore Budgeting and Financing; Explore Budgeting and Financing; Review Crew Positions and Elements of the Production Process for features. Review Crew Positions and Elements of the Production Process for features.

THE STUDIO SYSTEM First Full-length Feature was First Full-length Feature was The Story of the Kelly Gang (1906) First half of 20th Century studios First half of 20th Century studios Vertically Integrated Rise of Television in the 1950s created More Competition Rise of Television in the 1950s created More Competition

THE STUDIO SYSTEM 1960s through the 1980s, Independent Producer powerful force in TV 1960s through the 1980s, Independent Producer powerful force in TV 1990s Consolidation of Ownership 1990s Consolidation of Ownership Video capture for Long Form: Video capture for Long Form: Attack of the Clones (2002)

TELEVISION FORMATS 30-minute Episodes 30-minute Episodes (22 min. of programming) 60-minute Episodes 60-minute Episodes (44 min. of programming) Made-for-television Movies Made-for-television Movies (90 min. of programming in 2 hr. slot) Executive Producer - “showrunner” Executive Producer - “showrunner” Pilots Pilots Syndication Syndication

SCREENPLAY STRUCTURE Act I: Act I: Story established; Characters developed (30 pages) Act II: Act II: Introduces a Major Complication (60 pages) Act III: Act III: Resolves the Story (30 pages)

SCREENPLAY STRUCTURE One Page Per Minute One Page Per Minute Plot Points Plot Points First 10 Minutes: self-contained First 10 Minutes: self-contained Dramatic Unit Dramatic Unit

TELEVISION WRITING Act structure defined by Act structure defined by Commercial Breaks 60-minute episode: 60-minute episode: Four Acts plus Teaser and Tag 30-minute episode: 30-minute episode: Two Acts plus Teaser and Tag

TELEVISION WRITING The A-story is the Main Story The A-story is the Main Story The B-story is a Sub-plot, The B-story is a Sub-plot, focusing on supporting characters The C-story is usually lighter in tone, The C-story is usually lighter in tone, called the Runner

WRITING TIPS Backstory Backstory Every scene should move the story Forward Every scene should move the story Forward Try writing a scene by Starting at the End – you will know where you are going Try writing a scene by Starting at the End – you will know where you are going

SCREENPLAY FORMAT Title of the Project Title of the Project Name of the Author Name of the Author “SCENE 1.” “SCENE 1.” “EXT.” or “INT.” “EXT.” or “INT.” Identify the Location Identify the Location Example: “EXT. PARKING DECK – NIGHT.”

SCREENPLAY FORMAT Descriptive information Single-spaced, Block Left or Indented Five Spaces Descriptive information Single-spaced, Block Left or Indented Five Spaces Put a new character’s name in All-caps – Put a new character’s name in All-caps – First Time Used! Technical information in All-caps Technical information in All-caps

SCREENPLAY FORMAT Dialogue indented spaces under the character’s name Dialogue indented spaces under the character’s name Character’s name before dialogue indented spaces Character’s name before dialogue indented spaces If a scene continues onto the next page, “(CONTINUED)” If a scene continues onto the next page, “(CONTINUED)”

BUDGETING Script Breakdown Script Breakdown Above-the-line Expenses Above-the-line Expenses Below-the-line Expenses Below-the-line Expenses The Producer’s Masterguide The Producer’s Masterguide Union and Non-Union Projects Union and Non-Union Projects Tax Incentives Tax Incentives

FINANCING Private Investors Private Investors Fundraising Fundraising Shares Shares High-risk and High-yield Venture High-risk and High-yield Venture Trade Shares for Services Trade Shares for Services

FINANCING Control Cash Flow - service in kind Control Cash Flow - service in kind Deferments Deferments Completion Guarantee Completion Guarantee Retaining Ownership Retaining Ownership Product Placement Product Placement

THE PRODUCTION PROCESS FOR FEATURES AND LONG-FORM The Producer Financial producers Financial producers Practical producers Practical producers Creative producers Creative producers “Executive Producer” “Executive Producer”

THE PRODUCTION PROCESS FOR FEATURES AND LONG-FORM Preproduction Unit Production Manager (UPM) Unit Production Manager (UPM) Production schedule Production schedule Stripboard Stripboard Shooting schedule Shooting schedule Liability insurance Liability insurance Replacement coverage Replacement coverage

THE PRODUCTION PROCESS FOR FEATURES AND LONG-FORM Preproduction Purchase orders (P.O.) Purchase orders (P.O.) Studio space Studio space Location scouting Location scouting Permits Permits Location releases Location releases Equipment reservations Equipment reservations

THE PRODUCTION PROCESS FOR FEATURES AND LONG-FORM Production Principal actors Principal actors Supporting actors Supporting actors Bit players Bit players Extras Extras Stand-ins Stand-ins Stunt doubles Stunt doubles

THE PRODUCTION PROCESS FOR FEATURES AND LONG-FORM Production Actor breakdown sheet Actor breakdown sheet Extras breakdown Extras breakdown Line producer Line producer Daily production report Daily production report Daily hot cost Daily hot cost Script supervisor Script supervisor

THE PRODUCTION PROCESS FOR FEATURES AND LONG-FORM Postproduction Locking the program Locking the program Spotting the program Spotting the program Composing the score Composing the score Automated dialogue replacement (ADR) Automated dialogue replacement (ADR) Sound effects Sound effects Visual effects Visual effects Mastering Mastering

SAMPLE EXERCISES 1. You are given One Million Dollars to create a feature. How will you Budget this money to get the job done? 2.Outline a Feature-length Project. Make the first ten minutes of your feature a Stand-alone Dramatic Journey as well as an introduction to the larger questions of your story. Script the First Ten Minutes of this feature using the Formal Screenwriting Format. 3.Produce a Short Test Program based on the 10- minute Script you composed for Exercise #2. Copyright 2008 Taylor and Francis