Story Telling Unit-Pitch Practice and Screen Writing

At the start of the day we split up into groups of 2 (A and B). Being in group B, my first lecture was taught by Simon. We set off watching a short film called 'Sundance'. I made some initial notes when watching it, and we then went onto talking in depth. My first impressions were that this was a typical short film based on gang culture- something rather generic. However, as the film progressed I realised there was more to it than this. The beginning was filmed on a mobile phone, so you could tell this was a modern piece produced around 2007. This became more significant later on when the camera kept switching from a professional high quality lens to the low quality, amiture phone footage. I also found the fact that the establishing shot was the same as the closing shot. It was almost as though after all the drama everything resumed as normal for the rest of the world.
When it came to working as a group to analyse this short film we found the following:
Genre:
Drama/suspense short film
Setting:
Modern/urban
Characters:
Father/son and gang of thugs-mother is spoken about but not actually there
Conflict:
Fear/pride/power/emotional conflict
Change: 
Change in morals and character
Role reversal with a loss of respect from the father
Theme:
Coming of age
Father/son relationship
Karma-bullies get bullied

I also wrote a short pitch for the shor film:
In an urban drama, a father/son relationship is tested when confronted by a gang threatening their sanctuary.

Afternoon

In the afternoon we were given a lecture from a well established screenwrtier-Stephen Coops. I spoke to us about the art of screenwriting and I learned a great deal from this. After all, the best education is to watch the masters a work.
The key to writing a good script is to use verbs (doing words) and not adjectives
Long liner-one sentence
Bible- characters, outline features (first draft of the script)

A screen play is like the foundations of a house. It has a cheap proposal for an expensive project.

5 Golden rules on structure
1) Tell the audience what they need to know- a screenplay doesn't follow at the viewers pace
2) Show don't tell
3) Know your ending -clarity, clarity, clarity! To a worthwhile destination
4) setup- destruction, punchline- like a joke
5) Count your moments- memorable so the audience has something to talk about at the end in their own minds or to each other 

 George Orwells 'Animal Farm' is a metaphor for the Russian Revolution- could have a hidden meaning and it is symbolic of this without even mentioning it


And finally..... 
MAKE SURE THE ACTORS BRING MAGIC TO THE PIECE 


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