ADV3M1 / ADV3O1 – Summative Assignment 30% Final Grade

We looked at three types of film in class:

• silent film
• musical
• mockumentary

You are responsible for scripting, and filming, and editing a movie using one of these three types of movies. Your subject matter / plot can be on anything you’d choose, so long as it is appropriate as a final assignment for the Toronto District School Board.

The final film must be between five and fifteen minutes in length. There is no penalty for “only having a five minute film.” So long as the movie lasts between five and fifteen minutes they will be evaluated equally.

It may be beneficial to have a sorter film, as often times the longer a movie goes, the less cohesive it becomes.

Part A: Due Wednesday

Script /30 marks

Knowledge	Thinking	Communication	Application
- elements of properly formatted script demonstrated - subject matter is appropriate for assignment	- dialogue is well written / believable - stage direction is appropriate to communicate desired results	- proper grammar and spelling illustrated in work	- script is appropriate that a director (not yourself) could film independently.
/10	/10	/5	/5

Part B: Due Friday

Movie Poster /10 marks

Knowledge	Thinking	Communication	Application
- important aspects of movie communicated on poster (title, director, actors, etc…)	- poster is eye catching, engaging, and evokes a desire to view the film.	- proper grammar and spelling illustrated in work	- poster is appropriate for public display in any movie hall
/4	/3	/2	/1

Part A: Due Monday

Movie /60 marks

Knowledge	Thinking	Communication	Application
- film is made up of many scenes / cuts - an understanding of iMovie / the editing process is shown in final feature	- dialogue is delivered well - stage directions from script match the final project	- a well thought out location / locations are used in the final product - characters costumes are appropriate	- film has an appeal that would allow it to succeed outside of the classroom environment
/30	/15	/10	/5

Genre Analysis: Mockumentary

Watch the following videos, and answer the questions below.

God’s Game http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7VSGmR_LWI

The Majestic Plastic Bag http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GLgh9h2ePYw

1. In what way are Mockumentaries different from "traditional" films?
2. Aside from "Mockumentary" what Genre would these films fall into?
3. How are Mockumentaries different from Documentaries?
4. What is the cinematography like in these films? (i.e. do you notice quick jump cuts, or long drawn out one-shots?)
5. For what purpose might Mockumentaries be used?
6. List two subjects you might create a Mockumentary about.
7. What are two well known Mockumentaries? (Google is your friend here.)

Genre Analysis: Musicals

Watch the movies below, and answer the following questions.

A Very Potter Musical http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmwM_AKeMCk&feature=&p=C76BE906C9D83A3A&index=0&playnext=1

Private High Musical http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TNTwIxtqF98

1. What aspects of the musical stand out as different from a "traditional" movie?
2. How does dialogue in musicals differ from a "traditional" movie?
3. How do the songs impact the story being told?
4. In musicals do you find the subject matter different than in traditional features?
5. How is cinematography used in musicals to enhance their specific form?

Genre Analysis: Silent Films

Watch the two films linked below, and answer the questions provided.

The Headache http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yj2vC9EiMt4

Nosferatu (1922) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rcyzubFvBsA

1. What are the key elements of "Silent Film"? In other words, what makes silent films different from the modern movies we are used to?
   
2. How do these elements affect your understanding of the characters / story?
   
3. What are the drawbacks to the limitations of Silent Film?
   
4. What are some of the advantages Silent Film offers over modern film?
   
5. Do you find the "title cards / dialogue" takes you out of the film watching experience, or does it help / not affect your viewing experience?
   
6. How do you think the soundtrack affects the film?
   
7. Do you think the film would work as a truly silent piece without even the piano?
   
8. Comparing this version of Nosferatu to another vampire film you are familiar with, how do the two match up?
   
9. Do you think that a silent film could be made today, using the same conventions?
   
10. What would be the challenges of making a silent film today?

Script Reading Assignment

We've looked at writing our own scripts - but there comes a time in every writers life when they've really got to ask themselves, are they ready - ready to stay steady with what they've written?

There is one great way to improve. It's the same advice writers have been getting for years. If you want to be a better writer, you need to read, read, read.

Point your web browser to The Internet Movie Script Database (http://www.imsdb.com) and choose three scripts. Any three scripts that you want. If so much choice is mind boggling, leaving so much room to indecision, may I suggest the following?

Matrix: 1996 Draft

Ghost World: Draft

High Fidelity: Draft

Now you'll notice that all of these are drafts. Yes, even the professionals write draft after draft after draft. And if you want to see one film that ended up radically different from the original idea, they you might be interested to view the original Back to the Future script. It's shocking. Shocking, I say.

Now you don't need to read the entire pages. Just read the first five to ten pages. Don't let me stop you though - if you feel as if you need / want to read it all, then that's exactly what you'll do!

Once you've looked through the scripts, I want you to answer the following questions, for each script.

1. What is the title / URL (link) for your script?
2. What information appears on the first page / top of the script?
3. How is the script formatted? Specifically how is dialogue different from stage directions, and location information?
4. Is the dialogue believable? Is it something you could imagine transpiring in a real conversation? Is it something that sounds believable coming from a fictional conversation?
5. Do characters talk in long drawn out soliloquies, or do they mostly have short, chopped, lines?
6. How much attention is paid to stage directions? Does the script include most movements, or is it predominantly focused on the talking?
7. What type of actions are expressed through the stage directions?
8. How often does the location change / is every room mentioned, or are the only differences between different interior / exterior locations?
9. Do the stage directions take into account the potential budget of the film, or are they written for a 'best case scenario'?
10. Would you be able to film this movie using the script provided?

When you have finished these ten questions for the three scripts you chose, please remember to submit them.

Now, using that information you've just gained - or already knew, and - of course - had implemented from the beginning, you can tighten up your script. Get to it.

Filming to begin shortly.

Filming Your Movie

In groups of 1 - 3 (one to three people in total) you are to choose the best script written from the previous assignment. Your mission now? Film the thing.

That's right - you'll be taking the cameras, shooting your footage, and transferring it to iMovie. Using all the same skills you learned when editing pictures, you'll put the footage together. Well timed cuts with music, and shots fading in, out, dissolving. They'll all find a place here. Perhaps even a silly Video FX or two.

That's your mission. Get to it. It's pretty straight forward.

Your marks will be based on the following:

Evidence of iMovie skills demonstrated in final product /30

Well written script filmed in an engaging way /60

Video appropriate for you tube /10

YouTube Review / Thoughts

You are to find four videos on YouTube that you think are well made.

Submit the links to the four videos, along with a one paragraph write up for each video. In the paragraph you should explain what makes the videos better than all the others, and explain why you chose it.

Finally, you will submit a one paragraph submission explaining the outline of the video you would like to make for class.

Hand in:

Four links

Four video paragraphs

One paragraph explaining your future video