Major Project: Critical Reflection

My final year focusing on my major project has definitely been a journey. I worked on three projects in total, where two failed. It wasn't until a couple of months ago that I decided to forget about doing a film and write a script. I had many complications with other projects, that I thought it would be better to work by myself where I didn't need to rely on anyone.

I knew it wouldn't be easy to come up with a story and write a feature film script in the time that I had. There were many obstacles when writing this script, my nan passing away and other issues that didn't make this writing process an easy one.

I kept pushing myself and had to remind myself that once I got through this project, that I could move on to my next stage which was finishing uni and entering the real world.

Overall I'm so proud that I was able to hand in all my work on time, especially because of the struggle I have had over the year.

I'm going to miss my time at uni, but I'm also excited about making my next steps towards my career.

Major Project: Pre-Writing - Script Research 'Legend'

Brian Helgeland is an American screenwriter, director and producer.

Brian has written a variety of drama and action film scripts. He's written many screenplays including, 'Legend' (2015), 'A Knight's Tale' (2001) and 'Robin Hood' (2010).

 

One of Brian's script that I looked at was 'Legend', as it was a drama based in the time of the Kray's which was the early 1960's, similar to the time period I'm writing for in my script.

In the screenshot above, is the opening scene to the script. The first sentence describes what we as an audience would see on the screen, in this case the city streets of East end London. When it came to reading this script for research, I struggled to start off the script and was looking for ways to come up with something that sounded visually appealing as well as was short and sweet. For me as I was setting this script in Italy, I wanted the opening scene to be of a scenery of something that we would relate to Italy, in this case that was farmers working on a vineyard. 

The way Brian wrote the opening scene for Legend, was done cleverly as he was able to give an idea of what we would see on screen but without detailing everything; which was a common problem that I did. From this example I was able to come up with this opening scene for my script, 'Panning down from a clear sky and blaring sun onto a vineyard, dotted with a field of workers.' 

When writing scripts, it's always best to look at other film examples that you can watch on the screen to see how the writing is portrayed on screen. However depending on the director will depend on the camera angle, the lighting, and other creative aspects, but with still getting what is said in the script across onto screen.

Major Project: Pre-Writing - Location of Story

For my story I based it on a location that I knew very well. My family home in Italy, in a small village called, 'Sassofortino'. My nan was born and lived there until her early twenties, I felt that this location was perfect for this story; which was inspired by a story my nan told me.

By using a location that I already knew, made it easier when it came to writing my script. The village is small and resides on the top of a mountain in Grosseto, Tuscany.

This is the village from afar.

One of the back cobbled streets in the village, a few years ago.

The main town square in the village, along this main road is the high street, where the grocers and tailors are in the script.

It was nice to write a script in a location that I have many memories in. It made this script a lot more sentimental to me and more interesting for me to write for.

Major Project: Pre-Writing - Kelly Marcel

Kelly Marcel is a British writer and actress.

She has written a variety of drama scripts for the film industry. Including 'Saving Mr Banks', 'Bronson' and 'Fifty Shades of Grey'.

One of the reasons I looked at scripts that Kelly Marcel wrote was because there were a few in the style that I was writing mine in, which was biographical/period drama. For example 'Saving Mr. Banks'. This particular script was co-written with Sue Smith, who brought the screenplay for Kelly Marcel to re-write.

There were scenes in this script that inspired me when it came to to writing the start of my script.

Here's a screenshot from the script, 'Saving Mr. Banks'. At the beginning of the scene the main character, P. L. Travers is arriving at the Beverly Hills Hotel. The description for this hotel is cleverly used, to interest the reader who is reading this script. The scriptwriter has taken something that we would see on screen boring, to imagine it in an interesting way.

Within my script I did something similar. There was a line where a character is on her way to her friends home. I wanted to describe what the character was wearing without listing it down. This is what I ended up writing, 'The bright yellow of her dress, makes her look like a firefly glowing in the dark.'

This sentence gives the reader an idea on her dress colour and that this character is out in the evening by the metaphor use of the firefly. This small sentence was about to give all that information as well as be said in an interesting way, making it more interesting for the reader to read.

Overall the main purpose I looked at 'Saving Mr. Banks', was because it was a period drama, the same genre as my script, but also because it was set in the early 1960's, also similar to my script setting. Looking at this script was research into what it would've been like in that time period but also gave me an example on how to format description and action in between dialogue. Not only did this script help me with how to write specific scenes, but also on how a script should be formatted and look, as this was a hollywood film.

Major Project: Pre-Writing - Three Act Structure

Within pre-writing and going back to basics to learn about character archetypes and basic plot lines, I also had to research into what should happen within a film script, to help with development of the storyline. This is called 'the three act structure'. This is where a fictional narrative is divided into three acts, Act I - the setup, Act II the confrontation and Act III the resolution.

I found a lot of information in many film books as well as websites on the three act structure, each book and website had a different way of giving example on where a particular obstacle should be or when the character should be at their most weakest point.

I came across this website, that gave a few different example on what could happen, however I liked the fact that it mentioned what should happen within the first 10 pages and when to know page wise where Act 1, 2 or 3 should start/finish.

http://www.filmscriptwriting.com/the-three-act-structure/

For my particular script, as I am writing a feature length drama I looked at other scripts and found that I would need between 100-120 pages. Script writers, advisers and general industry recommend that if you were writing a script that under 100 pages would be seen too short, but a script with over 120 pages to be too long. However the limit for the script can vary depending on the genre of the film.

Act I consists of 25-30 pages. Within this Act you need to set up the location, your main character and what their goal is. Giving the reader a sense of who we are going to follow within the film. Also when writing this Act, you have to remember to include a sense of mood and tone, for example is the character unhappy with where they are or are they enjoying their life. A sense of the genre should come across too. The first step within Act I is to give a hook, this is call the inciting incident where, the main characters world has turned upside down. In other words a major problem occurs, from this the main character should know what their goal is whether its to fix this problem or run away.

Plot Point I - Near the end of Act I another huge even happens, driving the story along on a journey.

Act II is the longest part of the script, it is roughly 50 pages. Within this act the main character has to come face to face with a variety of obstacles. Each obstacle getting bigger and bigger. This will show what risks the main character will have to take to achieve their goal. This act is all about conflict and confrontation, nothing should be easy for the main character.

Halfway through Act II is the midpoint, there needs to be another turning point by this point, however this time it helps the main character step up a notch and sharpens their focus on what they truly want.

Plot point II - near the end of Act II and beginning of Act III we come to a crisis point. The main character should be sick and tired of everything they have had to go through. This point should force the main character to take action, also they should be aware that time is running out. This should also show the characters ultimate goal.

Act III is short, similar to Act I with 25-30 pages long. The main characters time has run out and this is the biggest obstacle for the main character to face. By the end of this Act all problems should be solved and tie up all lose ends.

The climax is the biggest scene in the movie - the final battle, this could make or break your characters goals.

Overall by doing thorough research for the three act structure, I have a better sense on how to plan out my story, such as when to include obstacles, when the biggest point/ challenge is for the main character and how roughly long each Act should be. As a script writer having this advice helps with the writing process a lot.

Major Project: Pre-Writing - Coming Up With a Story

     My first challenge for writing this script was to decide on what it would be about. I've already looked into how to come up with a concept, but I also wanted to look at basic themes and plot lines within a story to help me come up with a solid story idea.

I came across a website that showed the basic themes an plot lines for a story.

http://lenwilson.us/seven-stories/

On the site it listed the basic themes that can be found within a story. In some situations by coming up with a theme for a story, it can you as a writer look into until you can come up with a plot line and there you have you story.

Here are the basic themes that can be found within film, television, literature and art.

Man against man

Man against nature

Man against himself

Man against god

Man against society

Man caught in the middle

Man and woman

As I was going to be writing a feature length film I looked at examples of these themes in film, to help me gather some ideas on what my story could be about.

For example, I looked at each theme seeing what previous films would fit into their category. Using the man and woman theme as an example, this theme could be used to focus on the male and female character in the story, whether they are enemies like in the film 'Mr and Mrs Smith' (2005) or whether the characters are trying to find a way to be together like in the film 'Romeo and Juliet' (1996).

After I had a better understanding on what themes can be used within stories, I then looked at basic plot lines that have been used for years within film and television.

These basic plot lines are:

1. Overcoming the Monster - The hero learns of a great evil and goes on a journey to destroy it.

2. Rags to Riches - A sad beginning that leads to a happily ever after.

3. The Quest - Where the hero goes on a journey to find something unknown and unseen.

4. Voyage and Return - Where a character is taken to a new world but ultimately wants to return home.

5. Comedies - Where two or more people can't be together creating all sorts of antics. In the end it gets figured out.

6. Tragedies - Similar to riches and rags where there is a sad beginning, however in the end the villain wins.

7. Rebirth - Where the hero realises their error before it's too late.

By researching into basic themes and plot lines I now have a broader knowledge on what direction I would like to take my film in. I have used a combination of what would interest me as a writer but also as a viewer, to choose a story line that had a basic theme or plot line, but was still interesting enough to be an original idea.

For my particular story I have decided that the main character wants to go on a journey to get her dream job. I have already decided that I want to set this story in the 1960s and still need to do more of a thorough research before deciding what my characters dream job is as well as how easy/hard it would've been for someone from a quiet town to go into big city to achieve this goal.

Major Project: Pre-Writing - Story Inspiration

When I first decided to take the route of writing a script for my major project I had in mind to write a story based on the horror genre, however as time went on I couldn't come up with a story that would fit that particular style and theme. On an off chance I went to my grandparents upset on where I was at with university and my nan decided to cheer me up by telling me stories of what happened to her when she was younger.

A boy she was dating decided to go away to go travelling to America, and that she cried and cried, begging him not to go and then asking if she could go with him. Anyway a year or so later he came back to the village to come back for my Nan. My Nan at the time was there visiting her parents, as she left the country and met someone who she married and had children with. My Nan was so furious to see him that she threw a wine bottle at his head – luckily not knocking him out, but enough for him to leave.

She described the story in such a comical way that I remember being in stitches at the result. After my pervious projects fell through I started to think about a simple story that I could do and this story came back to me. It felt right for me to write a story lightly basing it on my nan, but also setting it back in the 1960 around the time when she was younger. I felt that by changing the time period and location, that it would tell a different story on someone else perspective and lifestyle in that era.

By setting it in the 1960's it would also make it easier for me to gather research material as I had my nans first hand experience in that time to correct me on what would have or wouldn't have happened. I will also be doing separate research on the 1960's, such as looking at other film scripts set in that time, as it will also expand my knowledge on the era as well as possible ideas for scenes in the film.