Point of View Shooting
As we've seen, True Grit preferences the Point of View of one character - Mattie Ross. It is Mattie's story. In Knowing and Understanding, you explored how the film's storyline and characters serve to privilege Mattie's point of view.
In our class lesson, we also discovered how the film's PRODUCTION STYLE, using Point of View Shots in the Camera Techniques, works alongside the storyline to highlight this point of view.
Your task:
Create a short and interesting narrative film scene in which one character is created and, through camera techniques, their point of view is presented to the audience. This scene must run for a length of between 30 seconds - TWO minutes, and must create a small scene for what could be a larger film, if it was expanded.
Complete the pre-production (preparation) for the scene. This must include: Title, Synopsis, Storyboard, Screenplay
In our class lesson, we also discovered how the film's PRODUCTION STYLE, using Point of View Shots in the Camera Techniques, works alongside the storyline to highlight this point of view.
Your task:
Create a short and interesting narrative film scene in which one character is created and, through camera techniques, their point of view is presented to the audience. This scene must run for a length of between 30 seconds - TWO minutes, and must create a small scene for what could be a larger film, if it was expanded.
Complete the pre-production (preparation) for the scene. This must include: Title, Synopsis, Storyboard, Screenplay
Task 3 - Title and Synopsis
Think of a title for your short scene, and then write a Synopsis explaining the context of the scene if it were to appear in a larger film. A SYNOPSIS is a summary of the action that explains to an audience what is happening and, in this case, how this would fit into a larger story. It includes the setting, the characters' names in CAPITALS, a brief description of characters, and an outline of the action that will appear in the brief story. Your Synopsis can either be for a scene that could be shot here at school, or for one that could only be shot away from Preshil.
Examples:
Synopsis: THE BIG GAME (example of a scene that could only be filmed off-campus)
This scene is imagined to be part of a larger film that follows a young 8 year old boy - JAMIE - and the story of his life in suburban Melbourne. In this scene, he is taken to the football by his father - DAD.
It begins with JAMIE and DAD getting off the train at the station near the ground. After seeing them among the bustling crowd of football fans all in their scarves and club colours, we alternate shots between the third person view of Jamie and Dad, and shots from Jamie's point of view. These shots show us Jamie's experience, and capture his feelings. They approach the stadium, get tickets, go in through the entrance gates, walk up the stairs to their seating level, find their seats, and sit down to watch the start of the game. Point of view shots show Jamie, smaller than the adults around him, seeing all the other people involved in these different actions. Often, he sees only the lower backs of adults. But, we also see some young people the same height as Jamie; he sees them eye-to-eye. Finally, we see the game begin from his point of view. The final shot is third person; a long shot of Jamie and Dad in their seats excitedly watching the game as it begins.
Synopsis: NEW SCHOOL (example of a scene that could be filmed on campus here at Preshil)
This scene is imagined to be part of a larger film showing the coming of age story of MELANIE, an urban Australian teenage girl, 16 years old.
MELANIE is about to begin her first day at a new school. She is walking into the school gates, and seems tentative and a little worried. Several OTHER STUDENTS are shown to be quickly looking at her, then turning away. She approaches a set of lockers to put her bag away, and is confronted by STU, a loud and almost unfriendly boy of her age. He demands to know who she is. TWO OTHER BOYS, Stu's friends, look on as if ready for some entertainment. A girl nearby, JANE, sees this and intervenes, telling the boys to "back off" and helping Melanie out. Jane then takes Melanie off to the first class, where we again see other students along the way as they walk through the school.
Examples:
Synopsis: THE BIG GAME (example of a scene that could only be filmed off-campus)
This scene is imagined to be part of a larger film that follows a young 8 year old boy - JAMIE - and the story of his life in suburban Melbourne. In this scene, he is taken to the football by his father - DAD.
It begins with JAMIE and DAD getting off the train at the station near the ground. After seeing them among the bustling crowd of football fans all in their scarves and club colours, we alternate shots between the third person view of Jamie and Dad, and shots from Jamie's point of view. These shots show us Jamie's experience, and capture his feelings. They approach the stadium, get tickets, go in through the entrance gates, walk up the stairs to their seating level, find their seats, and sit down to watch the start of the game. Point of view shots show Jamie, smaller than the adults around him, seeing all the other people involved in these different actions. Often, he sees only the lower backs of adults. But, we also see some young people the same height as Jamie; he sees them eye-to-eye. Finally, we see the game begin from his point of view. The final shot is third person; a long shot of Jamie and Dad in their seats excitedly watching the game as it begins.
Synopsis: NEW SCHOOL (example of a scene that could be filmed on campus here at Preshil)
This scene is imagined to be part of a larger film showing the coming of age story of MELANIE, an urban Australian teenage girl, 16 years old.
MELANIE is about to begin her first day at a new school. She is walking into the school gates, and seems tentative and a little worried. Several OTHER STUDENTS are shown to be quickly looking at her, then turning away. She approaches a set of lockers to put her bag away, and is confronted by STU, a loud and almost unfriendly boy of her age. He demands to know who she is. TWO OTHER BOYS, Stu's friends, look on as if ready for some entertainment. A girl nearby, JANE, sees this and intervenes, telling the boys to "back off" and helping Melanie out. Jane then takes Melanie off to the first class, where we again see other students along the way as they walk through the school.
Task 4 - SCREENPLAY
Note: It is only necessary to write a screenplay if dialogue occurs in your scene.
If you have dialogue:
Write a short SCREENPLAY of your scene. (See the documents shared with you: Preshil SCREENPLAY Instructions for how to do it, and Preshil SCREENPLAY Template for the document to use.
You'll need to go to File, Make a Copy to get a template to begin using for yourself.
NOTE: Use the hotkeys! Don't be afraid!
If you have dialogue:
Write a short SCREENPLAY of your scene. (See the documents shared with you: Preshil SCREENPLAY Instructions for how to do it, and Preshil SCREENPLAY Template for the document to use.
You'll need to go to File, Make a Copy to get a template to begin using for yourself.
NOTE: Use the hotkeys! Don't be afraid!
Task 5 - STORYBOARD
This must be at least SIX different shots.
If you are aiming higher in your performance in this class, and/or if you are taking DP Film next year, you should do more than the minimum of six shots.
If planning a scene that could be shot here on campus, you must go outside and plan your locations, then complete your storyboard images based on the locations you choose.
This storyboard must feature point of view shots mixed in with standard third-person shots, to emphasise one character's point of view who the audience is encouraged to empathise with in the scene.
NOTE 1: The Storyboard can be completed digitally, as photographs, if you prefer not to draw.
If you choose to draw, you must do this in pencil, and with some care. No stick figures! .
NOTE 2: To refresh your skills for Storyboarding, go to the Year 9 Hitchcock Auteur unit on this Weebly. Look at the Developing Skills page again; there are many great resources to help your storyboarding skills, including some excellent video clips.
If you are aiming higher in your performance in this class, and/or if you are taking DP Film next year, you should do more than the minimum of six shots.
If planning a scene that could be shot here on campus, you must go outside and plan your locations, then complete your storyboard images based on the locations you choose.
This storyboard must feature point of view shots mixed in with standard third-person shots, to emphasise one character's point of view who the audience is encouraged to empathise with in the scene.
NOTE 1: The Storyboard can be completed digitally, as photographs, if you prefer not to draw.
If you choose to draw, you must do this in pencil, and with some care. No stick figures! .
NOTE 2: To refresh your skills for Storyboarding, go to the Year 9 Hitchcock Auteur unit on this Weebly. Look at the Developing Skills page again; there are many great resources to help your storyboarding skills, including some excellent video clips.