LO5 — Reflection

LO5 REFLECTION

For this Unit, I was asked to conceptualise and create a script for a short movie (integration with Unit 41).  Since I was on my own, I didn’t have to work with others so any ‘meetings’ would be just be self-reflections in order to improve the script.  I outlined several different ideas before hitting an idea I found to be solid.

My target audience is pretty wide.  Due to the nature of putting short films out on the internet, people who stumble upon the film be, by default be part of Vimeo’s target audience.  Male Female split ratio, classes B to C/D, people who would take time out of their day to watch short films they come across.  My film specifically appeals more to a more hardboiled science-fiction crowd, if people liked Twilight Zone, Ex Machina etc, they may appreciate this.  All in all, people who have had a history of consuming science fiction media with some appreciate for it (books would include William Gibson, Iain M Banks, Larry Niven).

I was very happy with the reaction to the script and the things that I wanted to nail were what was most complimented on (ambition, world-building, flow etc).

However, in order to really get the marks, I have to change up the writing style a bit in the script.  My standard approach to writing script prose is to write short snappy lines that give a audience enough visual stimulation.  The audience become the directors of a visual style, whilst following the certain action elements included in the script.  However, for this Unit. the script is required to be in the format of a production script.  This means inclusion of technical directions such as transitions, camera angles, time of day and the ways sounds are presented.

Using a real screenwriting program with the right template and possessing a history of reading tons of tons of scripts, I’m confident that the script matches the layout conventions of an actual screenplay. This doesn’t include just the margins and and placement of different script elements.  All the conventions found across all screenplays are found in the script I produced. 12-point courier (though I use Prime, a new standard as it offers better readability, especially for voice actors).  All other elements are included.  ACTION, a hybrid between present tense novel prose and technical directions.  CHARACTER & DIALOGUE inserts, to indicate who is talking and what they will say. SCENE-HEADINGS will show what place we are. As a prefix, it’s established if it’s inside or outside (or a mix if it involves moving IN to OUT in a single shot) via the use of EXT. or INT.

Language-wise, I’d say it leans on a writing house style common in fiction novels. Problem is, with screenwriting, there’s not a lot of place to inject the script with colloquialisms, seeing that you’re too focused on nailing the technical directions rather than having personalised prose.

In regards to Legal and Ethical, there isn’t a lot of specifics about what I couldn’t do.  For a short film that will be uploaded online, I can’t infringe on copyright, despite the film not made for any kind of profit.  The way I can infringe on the writing aspect is to make references or acknowledge that the world takes place in some existing franchise, but even then that’s unlikely due to the popularity of fan-films done in a short-film formula.  On the production side, infringing copyright would relate to the use of music that isn’t licensed for projects like this.  However, I’m using soundtracks whose authors have said that they can be use for projects like these as long as profit isn’t being made.

Ethical wise, I don’t want to make a film that’s out to anger or offend people, but in other scenarios, I’m not certain if that should be a downside anyway if someone IS offended. Maybe if this was a project created for a large studio, there will be limits to what can be done, but for the sake of doing a school project, I’m not creating any grotesque content in that regard. From this I should note that in the end, based on my aim, and the feedback from those who have seen the film, the BBFC certificate would be a 15 (Strong Language, Disturbing themes).