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Film Production – Screenwriter’s Journal

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screenplays being sold on the street
screenplays being sold on the street” by Scott Beale is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 . 

A screenwriter’s portfolio will be focused on the pre-production stage more than most other roles. Finding the idea, research, treatment, and finally script development as the project moves through pre-production will be the focus of much of the commentary. The student should be sure to include samples of research, of how drafts of the script developed, and how other parts of the pre-production phase (such as the creation of storyboards) affected the development of the script. Casting may also be significant and other preparation may be central to development of the script.

The screenwriter’s commentary should present a complete picture of the production process as well as present the student’s work in his or her chosen role. Among other observations, the artistic and logistic analysis of the finished film will require all students, regardless of their role, to participate throughout the entire production process. It is likely that some details of the collaboration with the director, at least, will be presented.

If a student is taking on the writing role, the script should (in almost all cases) have dialogue as an aspect of the work. With a silent film there is so much work focused on the creation of image by others that the screenwriter role will be hard to assess. Evidence for the role of screenwriter in this assessment task might involve (but is not limited to) the following. – Film Assessment Clarification Document 2015 (PDF)

Goal

  • Create a journal documenting each stage of film production

Product

  • Create blog posts (3 total) with embedded media evidence for each of the three production stages.

Examples

Explanation

  • Students need to conduct extensive research for the IB Film projects and need experience moving through the workflow of producing films

Production Steps Evidence Requirements

Pre-production Blog Post

Include all of the following requirements as evidence in your blog post:

  1. Brainstorm with the team regarding IDEAS, GENRE, CONCEPTS, and GROUP INTENTIONS.
  2. Research the chosen GENRE and any INFLUENCES for the production of the film, IDENTIFYING CONVENTIONS and DEVELOPING STYLE for the film.
  3. Collaborate with the director on the VISION or CONCEPT behind the film and use this as a guiding point for all decisions.
  4. Plan CHARACTERS and decide how they will DEVELOP DURING THE FILM.
  5. Write a PITCH.
  6. Write a TREATMENT.
  7. Write a correctly FORMATTED SCRIPT with DIALOGUE.
  8. Attend any auditions and assist with DECISION-MAKING REGARDING CASTING.
  9. Produce MULTIPLE DRAFTS of the SCRIPT and EXPLANATIONS regarding DEVELOPMENTS or CHANGES.
  10. Assist the director with ACTOR REHEARSALS to ensure that they are PREPARED for the PRODUCTION DAYS.

Production Blog Post

Include all of the following requirements as evidence in your blog post:

  1. Contribute to changes in the shooting script.
  2. Keep track of MULTIPLE DRAFTS of the SCRIPT with EXPLANATIONS of DEVELOPMENTS or CHANGES.
  3. Assist the director when working with actors, including READING LINES and REHEARSALS.
  4. Collaborate with the director regarding any ON-SITE REWRITES during production.
  5. Ensure the core production team has the MOST CURRENT VERSION OF THE SCRIPT.
  6. Keep NOTES of any CHALLENGES faced during shooting, and HOW THEY WERE SOLVED.

Post-production Blog Post

Include all of the following requirements as evidence in your blog post:

  1. Collaborate with the director and editor to provide FURTHER INPUT, such as ADDITIONAL DIALOGUE.
  2. Collaborate with the director and make a NOTE of ANY CHANGES that were made between the INITIAL SCRIPT and the FINAL VERSION, as well as an EVALUATION and JUSTIFICATION of the CHANGES.
  3. Attend a TEST SCREENING to a new audience and make a NOTE of REACTIONS and SUGGESTIONS to the final cut.

Schedule

  • Pre-production
  • Production
    • Create a blog post titled, PROJECT NAME Film Production – Screenwriter’s Journal
      • Create headings for:
        • Summary
        • Evidence of Contribution to the Shooting Script
        • Challenges Faced During Shooting
        • On-site Re-writes During Production
        • Assistance Given to the Director
        • What I Learned
    • Assist in filming script, making changes to the script as necessary – Production
    • Fill in evidence for each heading of the blog post
    • Publish blog post
  • Post-production
    • Create a blog post titled, PROJECT NAME Film Post-Production – Screenwriter’s Journal
      • Create headings for:
        • Summary
        • Evidence of Further Input
        • Evaluation of Script
        • How I Could Have Improved The Film
        • What I Learned
    • Assist in editing the film – Post-production
    • Fill in evidence for each heading of the blog post
    • Publish blog post

Film Language Resources

  • Film language research from Cinematic Storytelling by Jennifer Van Sijll
    • 5. Time
      • 26. Expanding Time through Pacing
      • 27. Contrast of Time (Pacing and Intercuttingl
      • 28. Expanding Time — Overlapping Action
      • 29. Slo-Motion Raging
      • 30. Fast-Motion (Time Compression)
      • 31. Flashback
      • 32. Flashforward
      • 33. Freeze-Frame
      • 34. Visual Foreshadowing
    • 13. Color
      • 86. Coding Character
    • 14. Props
      • 87. Props (Externalizing Character)
      • 88. Props (Externalizing Character)
      • 89. Repurposing Props
      • 90. Contrast
    • 15. Wardrobe
      • 91. Wardrobe
      • 92. Repurposing Wardrobe
      • 93. Contrast of Wardrobe
    • 16. Locations
      • 94. Defining Character
      • 95. Location as Unifying Element
      • 96. Location as Theme
      • 97. Moving Locations
    • 17. Natural Environments
      • 98. Climate
      • 99. Seasons and the Passage of Time
      • 100. Physical Phenomena

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Posted in Le DucTagged Cinematography, Film, Film Production, IB, Production, Screenwriter, Screenwriting, Script, Workflow