Getting Started: Team of Five Film-Maker’s Checklist

Group Members:

Development

Writer Writes script

Director Leads brain-storming

Camera Researches visual imagery

Editor Leads research

Producer Pitches project

Pre-Production

Writer Creates scene breakdown

Director Creates storyboards

Camera Creates shooting schedule

Editor Creates equipment and contact lists

Producer Creates budgets

Production

Writer Records sound

Director Determines what to shoot

Camera Operates the camera

Editor Log field footage

Producer Creates production reports

Post-Production

Writer Writes narration if required

Director Finds additional sounds and music

Camera Finds additional photos and video

Editor Operates editing system and determines final editing decisions

Producer Schedules editing equipment and assists team with editing and organizes test screenings

Distribution

Writer Writes press kit information

Director Organizes interviews

Camera Creates stills from videotape

Editor/Producer Produces promotional ‘trailers’

Source: The Director in the Classroom by Nikos Theodasakis

Use this sheet to assign roles and responsibilities during the film-making process.

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Step 1: Tell a story you care about: Movie Project Planning Sheet!

Group Members:

Date: Group#: Project (Working Title):

Group Members:

Subject: (Describe your movie in one or two sentences, so that someone who has no other information would have an idea of what your movie will be about.)

Audience: (Who do you want to watch your movie? For example, you might be making this movie for your friends, for your parents, or for yourself. You may want it to appeal to a wide audience or to a very narrow audience.)

Purpose: (Why are you making this movie? What do you want this movie to accomplish?)

Project Duration:

Project Deadline:

Source: The Director in the Classroom by Nikos Theodasakis

Use this sheet to determine the purpose and focus of your film.

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RES

OLU

TION

: How

does your story end?

RIS

ING

ACTIO

N: Events before the clim

ax; Character attem

pts to solve the problem but

fails.

1.Setting

2.Character(s)

3.Conflict

EXPO

SITIO

N: H

ow does your story begin?

CLIM

AX: The turning point.

FALLIN

G A

CTIO

N:A

ction and events that occur after the clim

ax.

SO

URCES

: http://ww

w.readw

ritethink.org/; http://genius.com/

Step 3: Write a Story: Story Arc

Use this plot diagram

to map out the events in your story.

Step 3: Write your Script: Story Arc

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Sou

rce: http

://ww

w.read

writeth

ink.o

rg/

Step 4

: Make a

Pla

n: U

ndersta

ndin

g a

Film

Scene

Gro

up M

em

bers: _

__

__

__

__

__

__

__

__

__

__

__

__

__

__

__

__

__

__

__

__

Use th

is chart to

ou

tline a scen

e fro

m an

existin

g film. D

escribe all o

f the fo

llow

ing elem

ents:

TITLE:

CH

AR

AC

TERS:

The ch

aracters in th

is scene are…

Describ

e them

:

Ho

w d

o th

ey help

the sto

ry?

SETTING

: Th

e locatio

n o

f this scen

e is…

Ho

w d

oes it h

elp th

e story?

CA

MER

A:

Wh

ere was th

e camera positioned? W

ere there any camera m

ovements?

Ho

w d

oes th

at help

tell the sto

ry?

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Sou

rce: http

://ww

w.read

writeth

ink.o

rg/

OB

JECTS:

The o

bjects in

the

scene are

…

Ho

w d

o th

ey help

tell the sto

ry?

MO

OD

: Th

e mo

od

of th

e scene is…

Ho

w is th

e mo

od

created?

(use o

f colo

r, texture, ligh

ting, etc.)

SOU

ND

: W

hat kin

d(s) o

f sou

nd

or m

usic is

used

?

Ho

w d

oes it h

elp th

e story?

AC

TION

: Th

e action

is…

Ho

w d

oes it h

elp tell th

e story?

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Sou

rce: http

://ww

w.read

writeth

ink.o

rg/

Gro

up M

em

bers: _

__

__

__

__

__

__

__

__

__

__

__

__

__

__

__

__

__

__

__

__

Use th

is chart to

create a new

mo

vie scene

. You

r ou

tline sh

ou

ld in

clud

e all of th

e follo

win

g elemen

ts:

TITLE:

CH

AR

AC

TERS:

The ch

aracters in o

ur scen

e are…

Describ

e them

:

We

cho

se them

becau

se…

SETTING

: Th

e locatio

n o

f this scen

e is…

Becau

se… C

AM

ERA

: U

se a blan

k page to

draw

the scen

e and

pu

t an X

from

wh

ere the cam

era is sh

oo

ting. Illustrate any cam

era movem

ents. How d

o th

e camera

po

sition(s) h

elp tell th

e story?

Step 4

: Make a Plan: W

riting Yo

ur O

wn Sce

ne

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Sou

rce: http

://ww

w.read

writeth

ink.o

rg/

OB

JECTS:

The o

bjects in

ou

r scene are

…

We ch

ose th

em b

ecause…

MO

OD

: Th

e mo

od

of o

ur scen

e is…

Describ

e ho

w yo

u are creatin

g the

mo

od

. (Use o

f colo

r, texture, ligh

ting,

etc.)

SOU

ND

: Th

e sou

nd

s or m

usic w

ill be…

Ho

w w

ill it help

tell the sto

ry?

AC

TION

: Th

e action

in o

ur scen

e is…

We ch

ose th

is becau

se…

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Group Members:

Source: The Director in the Classroom by Nikos Theodasakis

Project Title: Date: Scene Name:

Description: Crew Role

Cast Stunts Extras/Atmosphere

Extras/Silent Bits

Step 4: Make a Plan: Scene Breakdown

Use this sheet to plan the details of your film shooting for each scene.

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Source: The Director in the Classroom by Nikos Theodasakis

Special Effects Props Vehicles/Animals

Wardrobe Make-up/Hair Sound Effects/Music

Special Equipment

Production Notes

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Step 4: Make a Plan: Story Board

Group Members:

Source: The Director in the Classroom by Nikos Theodasakis

Step 4: Make a Plan: Story Board

Use this sheet to plan your story visually.

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Step 4: Make a Plan: Storyboarding

SCENE: SHOT: PANEL:

SCENE: SHOT: PANEL:

SCENE: SHOT: PANEL:

DIALOGUE:

ACTION:

OTHER:

DIALOGUE:

ACTION:

OTHER:

DIALOGUE:

ACTION:

OTHER:

SOURCES: http://karenjlloyd.com/blog/

Step 4: Make a Plan: StoryboardingUse this sheet to plan the details of your story and the visuals that go with it.

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Step 5: Start Shooting: Basic Call Sheet

Group Members:

Project Title: Shooting Location:

Shooting Date:_ Shooting Time:

Scenes Scheduled:

Scene # Scene Description Estimate Time

Crew

Name Roles

Notes:

Source: The Director in the Classroom by Nikos Theodasakis

Step 5: Start Shooting: Basic Call Sheet

Use this sheet to plan your film-shoot and keep track of your crew.

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Source: The Director in the Classroom by Nikos Theodasakis

Group Members:

Title:

Recording Source/File Description (eg. iPad#1, Day1): Date Recorded:

Time Scene Take Comments:

Step 5: Start Shooting: Field Footage Log

Use this sheet to keep track of your film footage.

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Step 6: Editing Department Team Tasks

Group Members:

Development

o Research ideas related to editing styles

Pre-Production

o Consult Storyboards and become familiar with the editing intent of the production

o Make a list of audio, video and photographic materials required for editing separate fromwhat is being recorded (for example: stock footage, music, sound effects)

o Create department schedules and budget

Production

o Find or produce the additional materials required for editing

o Work with sound department to record additional sounds required for editing

o Work with camera department to record additional video where required

Post-Production

o Ensure footage logs exist of all materials

o Create paper edito Import camera footage into editing systemo Assemble rough cuto Create picture cut with visual transitions and titleso Add soundtracks containing music, sound effects or narrationo Export project for test screeningo Produce final edited versiono Export project for distribution

Distribution

o Work with unit publicist to create electronic press kits

Source: The Director in the Classroom by Nikos Theodasakis

Step 6: Editing Department Team Tasks

Use this chart to assign roles and responsibilities during the editing process.

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Skills That’s a Wrap! (Accomplished)

Action… (Getting There)

Cut! (Needs Improvement)

Using filmmaking vocabulary during the process

Used proper terminology often while working on activities

Used some proper terminology while working

Rarely or never used film terms

Filmmaking terms in the final product

Used proper vocabulary consistently in the film

Used some proper vocabulary in the film

Little or no relevant vocabulary used in the film

Filmmaking definitions and examples in the final product

Used definitions and examples that accurately conveyed the meaning of the terms

Used definitions and examples that conveyed the meaning of the terms with some accuracy

Used definitions and examples that did not adequately convey meaning

Collaborative work in filmmaking

Worked well as part of a group, cooperated, and participated

Worked well but could cooperate or participate more often

Had difficulty with cooperation and participation

Digital editing Exhibited skill in most digital editing and was able to crop/cut, add music/sound effects, use visual effects, apply transitions, add titles and credits

Was able to do some of the following: crop/cut, add music/ sound effects, use visual effects, apply transitions, add titles and credits

Needs improvement with indicated skills: crop/cut, add music/sound effects, use visual effects, apply transitions, add titles and credits

Film skills in the final product

Showed knowledge of appropriate shots, angles, music, sound, titles, credits, transitions

Showed some knowledge of appropriate shots, angles, music, sound, titles, credits, transitions

Showed little knowledge of appropriate shots, angles, music, sound, titles, credits, transitions

Step 7: Share your work: Filmmaking rubric

Use this rubric to assess your work.

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