Short Film: About a girl (YouTube)
Filmman Cine Mix (2014), About a girl, Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JV1_TXm0XHs , Accessed: 04.02.2017
Short Film: The Gunfighter (YouTube)
Tanvir Akhtar (2014), The Gunfighter, Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TXfltmzRG-g , Accessed: 05.02.2017
Short Film: The Expert (Youtube)
Lauris Beinerts (2014), The Expert, Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKorP55Aqvg , Accessed: 06.02.2017
Short Film: Alone (YouTube)
Ruffneck101 (2013), "Alone", Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wbTc81JmQTs , Accessed at: 15.02.2017
Short Film: The Heist (YouTube)
Alex Greene (2013), The Heist,, Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUjZV_Xt1xc&t=330s , Accessed: 22.02.2017
Book: Adobe Premiere Pro CS6 Classroom in a Book: The Official Training Workbook from Adobe Systems (Classroom in a Book (Adobe))
Adobe Creative Team (2013), Adobe Premiere Pro CS6 Classroom in a Book: The Official Training Workbook from Adobe Systems (Classroom in a Book (Adobe)), San Jose: Peachpit
Wednesday, 29 March 2017
Wednesday, 22 March 2017
Script
Story about a generic person on an every day walk to work. However, the usual, mundane interactions between individuals on a typical journey are exaggerated and blown out of proportion for comic effect for character development. After all obstacles are 'overcome', a change of events with the protagonist being overtaken shifts the character's perception to be more in line with the norm.
FADE IN:
EXT. MAIN STREET - MORNING
A large street lined with houses, with no cars going down the road, instead lining the streets to show morning
PROTAGONIST, caucasian male young man, happy and spry walks into frame and starts walking bouncily
Ooh, who's this up ahead? Looks like we've got our first challenger everyone! Ha, just a little granny, with shopping bags too! I could do this with my eyes closed...
Dream Sequence:
PROTAGONIST closes eyes, continue walking for a few seconds, then insert car horn and a crash noise
PROTAGONIST: Ok, maybe not, still though, nice to have a little hurdle to warm up the overtaking feeling. (Short breath to pump up) let’s do this. On your marks, get se - Nah, let’s do 321 for a change, it's good to keep myself on my toes.
Bumps into bin
PROTAGONIST: Gah, stupid day dreaming, getting me distracted.
Old lady turns around
PROTAGONIST: No lady, turn around! I'm the one in charge, I look at you! Who puts bins out on the street anyway? How are you going to put stuff in it if it's outside?! Now where was I? Ah yeah, just speed up... 3, 2, 1 and GO!
Quickly passes old woman
PROTAGONIST: Yeah! Exactly lady, and I was so fast not a single hair on her head was harmed. Speaking of
Checks hair in a car window while walking
PROTAGONIST: Amazing as always, but that's to be expected when it's, you know, me. Heh, thank god no one was in that car, I've had more than a few awkward experiences with that (shudders) ugh prolonged eye contact, the scourge of all great fast walkers, throws us completely off our stride.
Crossroads with traffic lights ahead
PROTAGONIST: Cross road traffic lights, the scourge of all great fast w - oh wait I've already said that. Anyway, screw these things, all they do is help cars. Seriously, isn't it some common fear that machines will overthrow humans, well there's proof right there! People roaming the streets like me should be put first. I've got a few tricks up my sleeve though, wouldn't be at the level I am today without knowing how to deal with these bad boys.
Character quickly spins around 'stylishly', pressing the closest button as they do so
Protagonist: The ol' 'Spin 'n' Press', gets 'em every time.
Before carrying on to wait at the further lights
PROTAGONIST: That ol' classic saved me those extra few seconds back when I was a fresh faced newbie to this game, but really, only a novice walker actually waits at lights. Just have to wait until...
Dream Sequence:
Character looks both ways, but forgets to check behind him. Car almost hits him but stops just before.
PROTAGONIST: Damn it! A lot of car trouble today... So that didn't work, first time for everything I suppose.
Looks at phone
PROTAGONIST: 2 minutes behind now. C'mon traffic, don't you have better stuff to do than drive down this one road?! I swear...
Lights change
PROTAGONIST: Yeah about time! Huh, all this anger has got me all hot and sweaty, wearing a coat probably doesn't help though. I wonder if I can put it in my bag without slowing down...
Ahead of the character, a person with person steps out of their house and starts walking in the same direction
PROTAGONIST: Looks like that's going to have to wait. Sorry ladies, you can't see me in my shirt and tie just yet, because out of nowhere a new opponent has appeared! Let's see,
(Zoom and Distort transition to denote zooming in and analysing)
PROTAGONIST: Tall - which most likely means an above average stride, no music, so no soothing tunes to slow 'em down, oh no, trainers! Really man? Who wears trainers with a suit? They'll have way better traction and bounce than my dumb dress shoes. He's wearing usiness dress, which will restrict movement but as I'm wearing it that's moot. Mm mm mmmm, I see an opponent worthy of my attention. Battlestations!
Dream Sequence/Compilation of getting himself ready, Scott Pilgrim vs The World-esque:
Putting earplugs in
Kicking each leg to warm them up
Puffing out chest
Ends with character walking away, appearing like they're going fast
Cuts to long shot of character doing them all at once, looking ridiculous and uncoordinated, the opposite of how they think it appeared
Shows character's face
PROTAGONIST: Let’s do this.
Dramatic, fast paced movements to appear fast:
PROTAGONIST: Go on me, you can do it
PROTAGONIST:: I'm not catching them, engage thrusters
Dodging past trees/bins/other
PROTAGONIST: It's a minefield out here!
Continuing chase, but music changes randomly to a calm, uninspiring song
PROTAGONIST: Agh, comms have been disrupted. Don't listen to it, just push through.
Continue
PROTAGONIST: Slow down friend, you're not going to win. Quit and spare yourself your pride!
Almost there, almost there...
Character passes other, both appear calm, contrasting previous scene
PROTAGONIST: That's what I thought mate, sit down! Some people think they're so cool because they walk faster than average, but it's the humble people that are the real champions of the pavement. Oh great, now I'm going to have to walk this fast for ages. Why can't he be a gracious loser and slow down, it's only polite since I was such a civil winner. Ah, he'll probably turn off soon anyway, I should think about something else.
[Comments about weather, which varies depending on how it is in relation to the previous time they did it, e.g. looks like the classic English drizzle is sticking with me until the end, good, the grey provides a cinematic backdrop to my incredible feats of speed]
Bus passes
PROTAGONIST: Yeah bus people, you're so cool for sitting down and paying to get places. (Mutters) Good luck with being unfit and... fat in a few years. Buses can't be that much faster than me, right? I mean they've got all that traffic slowing 'em down, while I can overtake anyone, and everyone, that gets in my way.
Shows person with buggy
PROTAGONIST: Ha, speaking of, I swear, some people must think this was staged. But then again a buggy isn't exactly fast most of the time, so I doubt this'll be very interesting...
Dream Sequence:
Attempts to pass but the buggy proves too big, taking up most of the pavement (find narrow street)
PROTAGONIST: C'mon lady, get a smaller buggy, these pavements are narrow as it is! Might have to try another route...
Dream Sequence:
Attempts to pass again via the gutter, but when they step off the pavement they step into a large pile of wet leaves/mud. As they're wearing posh shoes, they character doesn't accept this:
PROTAGONIST: No, no, no, these shoes are way to posh to get ruined, I can't afford another pair...
Dream Sequence:
Finally decides to cross the road, but heavy traffic stops him, aggravating him
PROTAGONIST: Really?! I knew traffic was stupid but c'mon, let a guy cross the road. *Sighs Guess I'm just going to have to wait this out. Wait, I can't get too close though, if they look back that'll be waaay to awkward. But then again, I can't get too far away, just in case some space opens up and I can sneak through. Aaaah buggies are so annoying, but nothing the, what was it again, Messiah of Movement or something? Nothing I can't handle.
Buggy turns down a side street
PROTAGONIST: Finally, ugh, I know slow and steady wins the race but you don't have to take it that literally. Well at least now I can get back up to speed, hopefully with no more interruptions.
Moment of silence
Hears footsteps behind
PROTAGONIST: Hang on...
Footsteps continue
PROTAGONIST: It can't be...
Footsteps continue
PROTAGONIST: Is that the guy from before? No, I left him behind ages ago! Can't look back and check in case they're looking at me, the last thing I need right now is awkward eye contact. I'll wait 'til a car passes and watch it go past, should get a sneaky look at him there.
Shows lack of cars
PROTAGONIST: The one time a pedestrian wants traffic and none comes, brilliant. Don't you know who I am, I'm the king of these streets, so someone drive down them! No? C'mon please. Pretty please? Uh, how about foot traffic on the other side? Let’s see...
Starts to see someone walking on the opposite pavement
PROTAGONIST: Oh hello, someone's coming. Now just to wait until they're near enough...
Character looks over, showing the old woman from before the character looks dumbfounded
PROTAGONIST: B, but how? You were so slow! Oh quick, look back before they notice.
Shows the same character as before, quickly coming towards the camera
PROTAGONIST: And now you're back. Awesome, just awesome. Why couldn't you just accept defeat like everyone else, it's not hard, or so I've been told, I never actually have. How should I handle this? Is he too close for me to speed up...?
Dream Sequence:
Character does the battlestations compilation, but halfway through the man passes them
PROTAGONIST: Yep, too close now to speed up, and he'll notice and think I'm trying to stop him overtaking me, which I would be, but I don't want him to know that, way too awkward. Huh, now that I think about it, there are a lot of ways to make walking awkward. I wonder if that's just me... No, concentrate. Battlestations is out of the question. *Sighs Looks like I'm going to have to face it... He's going to overtake me. Ladies and gentlemen, I have been DETHRONED! Anarchy will sweep the pavements, there will be no distinction between curb and road, and the green man will lay dead forever! But I'll be generous in defeat, let him pass without competition...
Character bends down to tie their shoe lace
PROTAGONIST: Incoming. 3, 2, 1...
Man passes
PROTAGONIST: Actually, that wasn't that bad. Almost... freeing. Now I don't have to worry about being usurped I can actually enjoy the journey.
PROTAGONIST: Hey, I've never noticed that tree before! And that car! Or that house! Wow, there's a whole new world out here, who would've thought. I might not enjoy my job, and working on Friday sucks, but this might've made it worth it.
Speak of the devil, there's work now.
Tries to open door but fails
PROTAGONIST: Huh, should probably check how late I am, maybe they lock the doors or something after a certain amount of time. I guess I'd never know; I've never been late before.
Ends with PROTAGONIST not being able to get into their work building. Checks phone, realises it's Saturday. PROTAGONIST goes 'Oh -', connoting an expletive, but then it ends.
FADE IN:
EXT. MAIN STREET - MORNING
A large street lined with houses, with no cars going down the road, instead lining the streets to show morning
PROTAGONIST, caucasian male young man, happy and spry walks into frame and starts walking bouncily
PROTAGONIST: Ah yeah, another day another walks to work. Don't worry, loyal
subjects, the Walking Warrior, the Crosswalk King, the Pedestrian... Well I'm back.
And what a lovely day it is, uum, classic British weather. Nothing better to
get the legs going at the end of the week, to reclaim my title as the perfect,
PERFECT PEDESTRIAN! Yeah, I'm the perfect pedestrian, I like that.
Ooh, who's this up ahead? Looks like we've got our first challenger everyone! Ha, just a little granny, with shopping bags too! I could do this with my eyes closed...
Dream Sequence:
PROTAGONIST closes eyes, continue walking for a few seconds, then insert car horn and a crash noise
PROTAGONIST: Ok, maybe not, still though, nice to have a little hurdle to warm up the overtaking feeling. (Short breath to pump up) let’s do this. On your marks, get se - Nah, let’s do 321 for a change, it's good to keep myself on my toes.
Bumps into bin
PROTAGONIST: Gah, stupid day dreaming, getting me distracted.
Old lady turns around
PROTAGONIST: No lady, turn around! I'm the one in charge, I look at you! Who puts bins out on the street anyway? How are you going to put stuff in it if it's outside?! Now where was I? Ah yeah, just speed up... 3, 2, 1 and GO!
Quickly passes old woman
PROTAGONIST: Yeah! Exactly lady, and I was so fast not a single hair on her head was harmed. Speaking of
Checks hair in a car window while walking
PROTAGONIST: Amazing as always, but that's to be expected when it's, you know, me. Heh, thank god no one was in that car, I've had more than a few awkward experiences with that (shudders) ugh prolonged eye contact, the scourge of all great fast walkers, throws us completely off our stride.
Crossroads with traffic lights ahead
PROTAGONIST: Cross road traffic lights, the scourge of all great fast w - oh wait I've already said that. Anyway, screw these things, all they do is help cars. Seriously, isn't it some common fear that machines will overthrow humans, well there's proof right there! People roaming the streets like me should be put first. I've got a few tricks up my sleeve though, wouldn't be at the level I am today without knowing how to deal with these bad boys.
Character quickly spins around 'stylishly', pressing the closest button as they do so
Protagonist: The ol' 'Spin 'n' Press', gets 'em every time.
Before carrying on to wait at the further lights
PROTAGONIST: That ol' classic saved me those extra few seconds back when I was a fresh faced newbie to this game, but really, only a novice walker actually waits at lights. Just have to wait until...
Dream Sequence:
Character looks both ways, but forgets to check behind him. Car almost hits him but stops just before.
PROTAGONIST: Damn it! A lot of car trouble today... So that didn't work, first time for everything I suppose.
Looks at phone
PROTAGONIST: 2 minutes behind now. C'mon traffic, don't you have better stuff to do than drive down this one road?! I swear...
Lights change
PROTAGONIST: Yeah about time! Huh, all this anger has got me all hot and sweaty, wearing a coat probably doesn't help though. I wonder if I can put it in my bag without slowing down...
Ahead of the character, a person with person steps out of their house and starts walking in the same direction
PROTAGONIST: Looks like that's going to have to wait. Sorry ladies, you can't see me in my shirt and tie just yet, because out of nowhere a new opponent has appeared! Let's see,
(Zoom and Distort transition to denote zooming in and analysing)
PROTAGONIST: Tall - which most likely means an above average stride, no music, so no soothing tunes to slow 'em down, oh no, trainers! Really man? Who wears trainers with a suit? They'll have way better traction and bounce than my dumb dress shoes. He's wearing usiness dress, which will restrict movement but as I'm wearing it that's moot. Mm mm mmmm, I see an opponent worthy of my attention. Battlestations!
Dream Sequence/Compilation of getting himself ready, Scott Pilgrim vs The World-esque:
Putting earplugs in
Kicking each leg to warm them up
Puffing out chest
Ends with character walking away, appearing like they're going fast
Cuts to long shot of character doing them all at once, looking ridiculous and uncoordinated, the opposite of how they think it appeared
Shows character's face
PROTAGONIST: Let’s do this.
Dramatic, fast paced movements to appear fast:
PROTAGONIST: Go on me, you can do it
PROTAGONIST:: I'm not catching them, engage thrusters
Dodging past trees/bins/other
PROTAGONIST: It's a minefield out here!
Continuing chase, but music changes randomly to a calm, uninspiring song
PROTAGONIST: Agh, comms have been disrupted. Don't listen to it, just push through.
Continue
PROTAGONIST: Slow down friend, you're not going to win. Quit and spare yourself your pride!
Almost there, almost there...
Character passes other, both appear calm, contrasting previous scene
PROTAGONIST: That's what I thought mate, sit down! Some people think they're so cool because they walk faster than average, but it's the humble people that are the real champions of the pavement. Oh great, now I'm going to have to walk this fast for ages. Why can't he be a gracious loser and slow down, it's only polite since I was such a civil winner. Ah, he'll probably turn off soon anyway, I should think about something else.
[Comments about weather, which varies depending on how it is in relation to the previous time they did it, e.g. looks like the classic English drizzle is sticking with me until the end, good, the grey provides a cinematic backdrop to my incredible feats of speed]
Bus passes
PROTAGONIST: Yeah bus people, you're so cool for sitting down and paying to get places. (Mutters) Good luck with being unfit and... fat in a few years. Buses can't be that much faster than me, right? I mean they've got all that traffic slowing 'em down, while I can overtake anyone, and everyone, that gets in my way.
Shows person with buggy
PROTAGONIST: Ha, speaking of, I swear, some people must think this was staged. But then again a buggy isn't exactly fast most of the time, so I doubt this'll be very interesting...
Dream Sequence:
Attempts to pass but the buggy proves too big, taking up most of the pavement (find narrow street)
PROTAGONIST: C'mon lady, get a smaller buggy, these pavements are narrow as it is! Might have to try another route...
Dream Sequence:
Attempts to pass again via the gutter, but when they step off the pavement they step into a large pile of wet leaves/mud. As they're wearing posh shoes, they character doesn't accept this:
PROTAGONIST: No, no, no, these shoes are way to posh to get ruined, I can't afford another pair...
Dream Sequence:
Finally decides to cross the road, but heavy traffic stops him, aggravating him
PROTAGONIST: Really?! I knew traffic was stupid but c'mon, let a guy cross the road. *Sighs Guess I'm just going to have to wait this out. Wait, I can't get too close though, if they look back that'll be waaay to awkward. But then again, I can't get too far away, just in case some space opens up and I can sneak through. Aaaah buggies are so annoying, but nothing the, what was it again, Messiah of Movement or something? Nothing I can't handle.
Buggy turns down a side street
PROTAGONIST: Finally, ugh, I know slow and steady wins the race but you don't have to take it that literally. Well at least now I can get back up to speed, hopefully with no more interruptions.
Moment of silence
Hears footsteps behind
PROTAGONIST: Hang on...
Footsteps continue
PROTAGONIST: It can't be...
Footsteps continue
PROTAGONIST: Is that the guy from before? No, I left him behind ages ago! Can't look back and check in case they're looking at me, the last thing I need right now is awkward eye contact. I'll wait 'til a car passes and watch it go past, should get a sneaky look at him there.
Shows lack of cars
PROTAGONIST: The one time a pedestrian wants traffic and none comes, brilliant. Don't you know who I am, I'm the king of these streets, so someone drive down them! No? C'mon please. Pretty please? Uh, how about foot traffic on the other side? Let’s see...
Starts to see someone walking on the opposite pavement
PROTAGONIST: Oh hello, someone's coming. Now just to wait until they're near enough...
Character looks over, showing the old woman from before the character looks dumbfounded
PROTAGONIST: B, but how? You were so slow! Oh quick, look back before they notice.
Shows the same character as before, quickly coming towards the camera
PROTAGONIST: And now you're back. Awesome, just awesome. Why couldn't you just accept defeat like everyone else, it's not hard, or so I've been told, I never actually have. How should I handle this? Is he too close for me to speed up...?
Dream Sequence:
Character does the battlestations compilation, but halfway through the man passes them
PROTAGONIST: Yep, too close now to speed up, and he'll notice and think I'm trying to stop him overtaking me, which I would be, but I don't want him to know that, way too awkward. Huh, now that I think about it, there are a lot of ways to make walking awkward. I wonder if that's just me... No, concentrate. Battlestations is out of the question. *Sighs Looks like I'm going to have to face it... He's going to overtake me. Ladies and gentlemen, I have been DETHRONED! Anarchy will sweep the pavements, there will be no distinction between curb and road, and the green man will lay dead forever! But I'll be generous in defeat, let him pass without competition...
Character bends down to tie their shoe lace
PROTAGONIST: Incoming. 3, 2, 1...
Man passes
PROTAGONIST: Actually, that wasn't that bad. Almost... freeing. Now I don't have to worry about being usurped I can actually enjoy the journey.
PROTAGONIST: Hey, I've never noticed that tree before! And that car! Or that house! Wow, there's a whole new world out here, who would've thought. I might not enjoy my job, and working on Friday sucks, but this might've made it worth it.
Speak of the devil, there's work now.
Tries to open door but fails
PROTAGONIST: Huh, should probably check how late I am, maybe they lock the doors or something after a certain amount of time. I guess I'd never know; I've never been late before.
Ends with PROTAGONIST not being able to get into their work building. Checks phone, realises it's Saturday. PROTAGONIST goes 'Oh -', connoting an expletive, but then it ends.
Saturday, 4 March 2017
Questionnaire Question Ideas
What is the most important feature/part of making a short film? Editing, lighting, camerawork etc.
What editing techniques should I use to implement the 'dream' non-continuity sections of my film?
What camera techniques are essential for creating a short film?
How can I include narration effectively in my short film, as it's a large part of the narrative?
A key part of my film is the inclusion of 'dream sequences'. Would it be more effective to include this in a 'Secret Life of Walter Mitty' style (no distinction of dreams and reality until revealed afterwards) or a more VFX focussed style (different colouring, sounds, camera movements etc to show distinction between reality and dreaming)?
What experience do you have creating short films, specifically comedy?
In regards to the general creation process of short films, how do you go about casting, scripting and creating storyboards? Which document do you deem the most essential, and which do you complete first?
As my film will be taking place almost exclusively outdoors, do you have any advice on how to properly light such scenes? Would this mainly be done through editing or on set?
What editing techniques should I use to implement the 'dream' non-continuity sections of my film?
What camera techniques are essential for creating a short film?
How can I include narration effectively in my short film, as it's a large part of the narrative?
A key part of my film is the inclusion of 'dream sequences'. Would it be more effective to include this in a 'Secret Life of Walter Mitty' style (no distinction of dreams and reality until revealed afterwards) or a more VFX focussed style (different colouring, sounds, camera movements etc to show distinction between reality and dreaming)?
What experience do you have creating short films, specifically comedy?
In regards to the general creation process of short films, how do you go about casting, scripting and creating storyboards? Which document do you deem the most essential, and which do you complete first?
As my film will be taking place almost exclusively outdoors, do you have any advice on how to properly light such scenes? Would this mainly be done through editing or on set?
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