script writing, story boarding, and site selection issues

MachinEVO Week 2

Script Writing, Story Boarding, and Site Selection Issues

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 Benefits

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

Scriptwriting Steps

* 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.

Example Goals

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.

Scriptwriting Steps

Story Generators: Roleplay Scenarios

Useful Scriptwriting Tools

Story Generators: Story Dice

Useful Scriptwriting Tools

Story Generators: Opening Lines

Useful Scriptwriting 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

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 ToolsBasic Scriptwriting Conventions

Useful Screenwriting ToolsBasic Scriptwriting Conventions

= 1 minute of

screen time

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. 

Story Boarding: Why Bother?

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.

Tips in “Cinematic Storytelling” document

Storyboarding Aids

• Storyboarding by AFI ScreenNation http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWPjjoOFIu8&feature=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=PLna7STDz_DyLBdlzcNWhChpCBZ5QVSG6u

• Alfred Hitchcock On Mastering Cinematic Tension

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPFsuc_M_3E&feature=share&list=PLna7STDz_DyLBdlzcNWhChpCBZ5QVSG6u

Storyboarding AidsYou Tube Videos

Storyboarding AidsYou Tube Videos detail types of shots and much more.

Storyboarding AidsYou Tube Videos detail types of shots and much more.

Storyboarding AidsYou Tube Videos detail types of shots and much more.

Storyboarding AidsYou Tube Videos detail types of shots and much more.

Storyboarding AidsYou Tube Videos detail types of shots and much more.

Storyboarding AidsYou Tube Videos detail types of shots and much more.

Storyboarding AidsYou Tube Videos detail types of shots and much more.

Storyboarding AidsYou Tube Videos detail types of shots and much more.

Storyboarding AidsYou Tube Videos detail types of shots and much more.

Storyboarding AidsYou Tube Videos detail types of shots and much more.

Storyboarding AidsYou Tube Videos detail types of shots and much more.

A rule-of-thirds shot

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 Selection Criteria

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: Historic or Culturally Rich Sims

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/

Holodeck 

Site Resources: EduNation Holodecks

Sample--easy to alter or build from scratch

Site Resources: Simple Cube Sets

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

Machinima Open Studio Project

1. Form film-making groups.

2. Prepare scripts/story boards.

3. Take photos of your sets/sims and

costumes.

Suggested Work to Complete Before Next Week:

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

Additional Resources