SUMMATIVE: SHort Film

While many important issues can be tackled with the power of film, your film must be positive and school-appropriate. The following content is not allowed:

Drugs/Paraphernalia/Criminal Activity
Weapons/Violence/Gore/Physical Abuse
Vulgarity/Inappropriate Language/Verbal Abuse/Crass humor
Racism/Sexism/Other Discrimination
Excessive Intimate Affection/Nudity/Sex
Suicide/Self-Harm
Copyright Infringement (all music must be copyright free - include info in credits)

Pre-Production / Pitch

Go to the Pre-Production (Google Doc)
Complete each section:
- Logline
- Story Arc
- Audio
- Script

Story Arc Review & Example

Set-Up/Plot

Set up the story by giving a snapshot of the setting.
Only give what's absolutely necessary to make the next scene clear.
The beginning is the place the audience will decide whether to invest any more time in the story.

Inciting Incident

An event that sets the main character on a journey
Typically upsets the balance within the character's world

Rising Action

A series of events that enhances conflict and leads up to the most exciting part.
Creates tension or suspense and keeps the audience invested.
Get to know the main characters better.
You’ll see characters making difficult decisions, and you’ll see their flaws, which helps you relate to them.

Climax

- The most important part, the moment of greatest tension.
- The height and peak tension of the story.
- The outcome is still in doubt.

Falling Action

Tension decreases and the story moves toward its conclusion.
It's common to see the characters themselves relax a little.
The falling action sometimes introduces a new conflict.

Resolution

The end of the story and/or the conclusion of the story's plot.
Resolutions depend on what the main conflict of the story was: in a mystery, the criminal might be thrown in jail, while in a romance, the lovers might get married.
Resolutions aren't always happy, and sometimes they don't give the audience a feeling of complete closure.
Always make it clear that the story is drawing to an end.

Example

Set-Up: We meet our two main characters, Jake and Alex, who are in the cafeteria of their school. They strike up a conversation about their favorite types of cheese, which leads to a debate about cheddar cheese versus American cheese.

Inciting Incident: Jake and Alex's debate starts to get more intense, drawing the attention of other students in the cafeteria who begin to take sides.

Rising Action: The debate between Jake and Alex escalates as they bring up various arguments in favor of their preferred cheese. The other students start to take sides and the tension in the room increases.

Climax: The debate comes to a head as Jake and Alex become so focused on their argument that they accidentally knock over a tray of food, causing a big mess in the cafeteria.

Falling Action: The chaos dies down as the students realize what's happened and start to clean up the mess together. Jake and Alex come to a realization that their argument over cheese wasn't worth causing such a disruption.

Resolution: In the end, Jake and Alex come to a mutual agreement that both cheddar cheese and American cheese have their own unique qualities and are equally delicious. They share a laugh and continue their day as friends.

Pitch to Executive Producer

Open your Pre-Production Google Doc on your iPad
Explain your entire pre-production / pitch document to the Executive Producer (Mrs. Hodges)
Fix if needed

Download Pre-Production / Pitch as a PDF

Go to "File" > "Download" > "PDF Document (.pdf)"
Open Finder and go to your "Downloads"
Drag your downloaded PDF to your Creative Cloud Files

Pitch to Group

Once you have been approved by the Executive Director:

Pitch your story to your camera group.
Listen to everyone else's pitches.

Choose Who's Film to Produce

Once everyone has pitched their stories:

Vote on who's short film you will produce.
- Remember you only have 3 days to film and edit so don't spend too much time deciding.

Production

As a group, film all your scenes.

Post Production

As a group, edit your video. Everyone should be crowded around one computer, making decisions together.

Transfer Videos to iMac

If you used a school camera, use the SD card reader to transfer your video files to your Creative Cloud Files folder.
If you used your iPad, AirDrop your videos to your iMac

Gather/Download Audio

Music

Go to https://pixabay.com/music/
Find a song for your film and click "Download"

Sound Effects

Go to: https://pixabay.com/sound-effects/
Find 3 sound effects that work with your video and click "Download"

Dialogue

If you need to record narration, do so with your Voice Memo app on your iPad

Name Premiere Pro Project

Open Creative Cloud in your dock
Under the "Apps" tab, find Premiere Pro and click "Open"
Click "Open" to the right
Click "New Project"
Next to "Project name" in the top left, name your project: "Short Film"

Edit

Trim your clips so there are no unnecessary parts of your clips shown
Add your audio (music, sound effects, voice tracks), tag, and duck your music
Add Text Layers
1. - Movie title
  - Credits (list director, actors, etc.)

Screenshot Editing Timeline

Screenshot your editing timeline area:
1. On your keyboard click "cmd" + "shift" + "5" at the same time to bring up the screenshot screen
2. Adjust the rectangle around your timeline and click capture

Export Your Video

In the top tabs, click "Export"
Rename the "File Name" to "Short Film"
Make sure the blue hyperlink next to "Location" says "Creative Cloud Files" at the end. If it doesn't:
- Double-click on the blue hyperlink next to "Location"
- In the pop-up:
- In the "Where" area, select "Creative Cloud Files"
- Click "Save"
Click Export in the bottom right corner.

Upload to Canvas

Go to the Canvas Assignment
Submit the following:
- Your personal "Copy of Pre-Production_Pitch.pdf" (PDF file)
- Your group's Final Video (MP4 file)
- Your group's Editing Timeline Screenshot (PNG file)
Submit your 3 files to Canvas