Maine Film Association 2020 Preproduction Bootcamp Background Resources
Table of Contents Preproduction Bootcamp Agenda 2
2020 Preproduction Bootcamp Script 3
Preproduction Vocabulary 4
Loglines 6 Logline Prereading 6 Sample Loglines 6
Film Treatments 7 Creating a Dramatic Short Film Treatment 7 Elements of a Strong Film Treatment: 7 Sample Film Treatment 7
Script Breakdown 8 Feature Script Samples 8 Sample Script Breakdown 8 Script Breakdown Color Legend 11 Script Breakdown Sheet Template 12
Shot List Template 14
Cast List Template 15
Shooting Schedule Templates & Samples 16 Stripboard Instructions 16 Stripboard Template 16 Stripboard Sample 17 Stripboard Template Options 17
Sample Short Film Budget 18
Call Sheet Template 21
Additional Helpful Resources 22 Script Writing 22 Script Breakdown 22 Budgeting 22
MFA Preproduction Bootcamp Background Resources 2
2020 Preproduction Bootcamp Agenda Sunday, February 23, 2020 • Maine College of Art
8:30 am Arrive, settle in
9:00 am Crew Call Time: Welcome & Instructions
9:30 am Morning Work Session to: ● Edit script ● Create treatment ● Develop initial pitch
11:00 am First Pitch Session
12:15 pm Working Lunch
12:45 pm Afternoon Orientation
1:15 pm Afternoon Work Session to create: ● Script breakdown ● Shot List ● Production Schedule ● Budget ● Casting call
3:30 pm Final Pitch Session
4:45 pm Q&A & Bootcamp Evaluations
5:00 pm Wrap
MFA Preproduction Bootcamp Background Resources 3 2020 Preproduction Bootcamp Script We will be using the following script as the basis for the 2020 Preproduction Bootcamp:
It's the Landlord
Akira walks in.
AKIRA Wasn’t that the door? Aren't you going to get that?
CODY Shhhh! Come here.
Cody beckons Akira over to a hiding place against the wall.
AKIRA What’s going on? Are you hiding?
CODY Yeah. Just be quiet.
AKIRA Who from? An ex?
CODY It’s the landlord.
AKIRA The landlord? Why do you need to hide from the landlord?
CODY Shhh… We’re behind a litte on rent.
AKIRA How is that possible? I paid you my half.
CODY I know. I just missed a payment or two.
AKIRA You at least have my part, right? Just open the door and pay her some.
CODY I… Uh… Yeah, it’s complicated.
AKIRA I had a feeling about you as a roommate, but things seemed to be going so good.
CODY Yeah, always trust your gut, now shhh! MFA Preproduction Bootcamp Background Resources 4
Preproduction Vocabulary Courtesy of Wikipedia, Vimeo, New York Film Academy, Rice University Film Glossary, Columbia University Film Language Glossary, No Film School, Storyboard Class, PremiumBeat.com
Basic Film Shots: Close Up: A detailed view of a person or object, usually without much context provided. Tight Shot/Tight Framing: Usually in close shots. The mise-en-scène is so carefully balanced and harmonized that the subject photographed has little or no freedom of movement. Medium Shot: A relatively close shot, revealing a moderate amount of detail. A medium shot of a figure generally includes the body from the knees or waist up. Over-the-shoulder Shot: A medium shot, useful in dialogue scenes, in which one actor is photographed head-on from over the shoulder of another actor.
Blocking a Scene: Blocking a scene is simply “working out the details of an actor's moves in relation to the camera.” You can also think of blocking as the choreography of a dance or a ballet: all the elements on the set (actors, extras, vehicles, crew, equipment) should move in perfect harmony with each other.
Call Sheet: The daily call sheet is a filmmaking term for the schedule crafted by the assistant director, using the director's shot list. It is issued to the cast and crew of a film production to inform them of where and when they should report for a particular day of filming.
Casting Call: In the performing arts industry such as theatre, film, or television, a casting (or casting call) is a pre-production process for selecting a certain type of actor, dancer, singer, or extra for a particular role or part in a script, screenplay, or teleplay.
Cold reading: Theatrical cold reading is reading aloud from a script or other text with little or no rehearsal, practice or study in advance. Sometimes also referred to as sight reading, it is a technique used by actors and other performers in theatre, television, and film performance fields.
Film treatment: A film treatment (or simply treatment) is a piece of prose, typically the step between scene cards (index cards) and the first draft of a screenplay for a motion picture, television program, or radio play.
Logline: A log line or logline is a brief (usually one-sentence) summary of a television program, film, or book that states the central conflict of the story, often providing both a synopsis of the story's plot, and an emotional "hook" to stimulate interest. A one-sentence program summary in TV Guide is a log line.
Production budget: A film production budget determines how much money will be spent on the entire film project. It involves the identification and estimation of cost items for each phase of filmmaking (development, pre-production, production, post-production and distribution).
Production schedule: The production schedule is a project plan of how the production budget will be spent over a given timescale, for every phase of a business project.
Script breakdown: A script breakdown is an important filmmaking process that allows you to identify all the script elements needed to prep, schedule, and budget a film production. A breakdown happens at a scene level.
MFA Preproduction Bootcamp Background Resources 5
Shot List: A shot list is a full log of all the shots you want to include in your film; essentially it is a checklist filled with minute details that will give your film a sense of direction and efficiency. ... Scene Number + Shot Number help to break down a scene into a certain number of shots.
Pan Shot: A pan shot or panning shot is when you turn the camera on a fixed head. It is a technique where you follow a moving subject, and you can shoot this with a slower shutter speed to create a feeling of speed or action.
Push In Shot: A push in shot is sometimes also referred to as a zoom in shot. The camera physically moves towards the subject in the film, getting closer to them and tightening in on the subject and the scene. This can also be done with certain lenses instead of moving the camera.
Push Out Shot: A push out shot is also called a pull back shot or a zoom out shot. The camera physically moves back, or a special lens does, from the subject. The push out is used to reveal a larger picture for the audience.
Truck Shot: A tracking, or trucking, shot is one in which a camera is mounted on some kind of conveyance (car, ship, airplane, etc.) and films while moving through space. Tracking refers to the practice in studio filmmaking of filming from a wagon set on specially placed lengths of railroad tracks.
Tilting: Tilting is a cinematographic technique in which the camera stays in a fixed position but rotates up/down in a vertical plane. Tilting the camera results in a motion similar to someone raising or lowering their head to look up or down.
Shooting Schedule: A shooting schedule is a project plan of each day's shooting for a film production. It is normally created and managed by the assistant director, who reports to the production manager managing the production schedule. Both schedules represent a timeline stating where and when production resources are used.
Stripboard: A traditional production board, stripboard, or production strip is a filmmaking term for a cardboard or wooden chart displaying color-coded strips of paper, each containing information about a scene in the film's shooting script.
MFA Preproduction Bootcamp Background Resources 6
Loglines
Logline Prereading How to Write a Logline that Sells, Writers Store
Sample Loglines
THE GODFATHER: The aging patriarch of an organized crime dynasty transfers control of his clandestine empire to his reluctant son.
FOREST GUMP: Forrest Gump, while not intelligent, has accidentally been present at many historic moments, but his true love, Jenny Curran, eludes him.
REAR WINDOW: A wheelchair bound photographer spies on his neighbours from his apartment window and becomes convinced one of them has committed murder.
APOCALYPSE NOW: During the U.S.-Vietnam War, Captain Willard is sent on a dangerous mission into Cambodia to assassinate a renegade colonel who has set himself up as a god among a local tribe.
AMERICAN BEAUTY: Lester Burnham, a depressed suburban father in a mid-life crisis, decides to turn his hectic life around after becoming infatuated with his daughter's attractive friend.
WILD STRAWBERRIES: After living a life marked by coldness, an aging professor is forced to confront the emptiness of his existence.
MFA Preproduction Bootcamp Background Resources 7
Film Treatments
Creating a Dramatic Short Film Treatment This two-page document should read like a short story and be written in the third person, present tense. It should present the entire story including the ending. Do not write in screenplay form. While it should read like a short story, keep in mind that it is not a short story. It is a film. Write down only what the audience will see and hear.
Elements of a Strong Film Treatment: ● A clear beginning, middle and end. ● The treatment should have a clear theme – a premise that creates the structure of the narrative or a theme that emerges from the story’s resolution. ● The main idea should be clear – what is the story about? ● Who is the main character and what does he/she want? What is his/her goal? What are the impediments or obstacles to that goal (dramatic conflict)? ● What are the stakes? What action does the character take? ● How is the conflict resolved? ● How does the character change? What is different at the end of the film?
Sample Film Treatment A Short Film Treatment/Synopsis: The Lunch Date
A well-attired and seemingly elegant white matron arrives at Grand Central Station after shopping in New York City. Hurrying through the concourse, she bumps into a well-dressed black man knocking her purse out of her arms, her possessions spilling out all over the floor. Refusing his attempt to help, she quickly picks up her personal effects and runs to her track, only to just miss the train. She checks her purse and finds that here wallet is missing. She seems lost and close to tears.
With time before her next train, she buys a salad with her remaining small change at a nearby cafeteria. She places the salad and her packages at a booth and goes back to the counter for a fork. She returns to discover a homeless black man eating her salad. Indignant, the woman plants herself in the booth and grabs for her salad, but the man refuses to let go. Gathering her courage, she spears a piece of lettuce with her fork and glares at him. When he ignores her, she keeps picking at it, and they share the salad. He walks away, and she prepares to leave, but he reappears, carrying two cups of coffee. He offers her sugar. She smiles and drinks the coffee. This is their “lunch date.”
The woman hears her train being called and gets up to leave. On her way to the platform, she realizes that she has forgotten her packages and rushes back, only to find the homeless man and her packages gone. Pacing back and forth, the woman finally sees that her untouched salad and packages were at the next booth the whole time. Realizing what happened, she grabs the packages and heads for the train, hurrying by a black panhandler. This time she makes the train.
MFA Preproduction Bootcamp Background Resources 8 Script Breakdown
Feature Script Samples Never seen a screenplay before? Check out these famous features’ scripts to get an idea of script format. (No need to read every inch of them-- these are just to give you an idea.)
Pulp Fiction The Dark Knight 12 Years a Slave
MFA Preproduction Bootcamp Background Resources 9 Sample Script Breakdown
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MFA Preproduction Bootcamp Background Resources 12 Script Breakdown Color Legend Credit: StudioBinder
Type Color Description Script Examples
All Main cast in a scene, speaking or not. Don't Cast Red All talent with spoken lines of dialogue. forget non-speaking characters in the scene.
Individual Extras that are silent but separate Extra Silent Yellow 1- Bartender, 1- Waitress from a group.
Extras that are part of a group, also known as Extra Atmosphere Green 10- business people, 8-patients in waiting room BG Background.
"slips on stairs, climbs up tree/ladder, swings Stunts Orange All possible stunts. on rope, falls off bike"
Explosion, Fire, Rain, Gunfire, Squibs, Bullet Special FX Blue Any practical effect that occur on set. hits, Collapse
All practical sound effects that will be added in Sound FX & "Elevator dings, Phone rings, Alarm sounds" or Brown post but that actors need to react to in real Music music performance. time. Includes any music playing live on set. remember parked vehicles in driveway that Vehicles & may be required but not identified in script for Pink All Picture Vehicles / animals listed in script. Animals EXT shots. "family dog, birds outside window, rodents in a cage, fish in bowl"
Any props handled by actors or referred to in "They look at the clock. She throws the book. Props Purple the script or description. They leave the keys. He fills the dog bowl'
All referenced wardrobe that appear in the "He puts on hat, she takes off jacket, he grabs Wardrobe Circle script related to action, all needed wardrobe scarf, he changes shoes' doubles b/c actor gets wet, dirty or bloody. "Her nose is bloody after the fall' - keep bloody All referenced make-up special effects. Scars, Make-up & Hair Asterisk nose in all scenes with this actor until the blood Blood, Bruises, Prothetics, Aging. is cleaned up
Special Steadicam, Condor, Crane, Dolly, Underwater Box Around Equipment specifically needed to get a shot. Equipment gear, Slo-mo
Any notes production notes needs to be aware Production Notes Underline of, could be related to scheduling, meals, prep -- time, etc.
Additional Categories (Optional)
Landscape elements, can be real or fake that Greens TBD are added to stage/studio or real location.
Wranglers TBD Usually for animal heavy project MFA Preproduction Bootcamp Background Resources 13
For Production Design heavy projects. Ie. Set Dressing TBD period pieces, fantasy etc.
Weapons TBD Good for an action film.
Horses TBD Good for a western or period piece.
Good for big crews or complex transpo Transportation TBD systems.
Script Breakdown Sheet Template Credit: StudioBinder
BREAKDOWN Page # Date: SHEET: Count:
Prod.
Company:
Project Title:
Scene Scene #: INT/EXT: D / N: Name:
Script Page: Location Name:
Description:
EXTRAS/ATMOSPHERE CAST (red) STUNTS (orange) (green)
EXTRAS/SILENT (yellow)
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SPECIAL EFFECTS (blue) PROPS (purple) VEHICLE / ANIMALS (pink)
SOUND EFFECTS & MUSIC WARDROBE (circle) MAKEUP/HAIR (* asterisk) (brown)
SPECIAL EQUIPMENT (box PRODUCTION NOTES (underline) around)
MFA Preproduction Bootcamp Background Resources 15 Shot List Template
Camera Shot List
Production Title Sheet No. Director Date Location Scene Camera
Shot # Shot Size/Angle Movement Notes
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MFA Preproduction Bootcamp Background Resources 17 Cast List Template Credit: StudioBinder
Cast List
CAST ID CHARACTER NAME ACTOR NAME
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
12
MFA Preproduction Bootcamp Background Resources 18 Shooting Schedule Templates & Samples Credit: StudioBinder
Stripboard Instructions
Stripboard Template
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Stripboard Sample
Stripboard Template Options These are industry-familiar colors often used in Film Scheduling Software like MovieMagic or StudioBinder.
Daybreak: Marks the end of the shoot day. Often combined with the date, total page count, and total estimated shoot time. MFA Preproduction Bootcamp Background Resources 20 Banner: A "Banner" is a note that you can rename and use as needed. It is often used/renamed as "COMPANY MOVE" or "MEAL BREAK." MFA Preproduction Bootcamp Background Resources 21 Sample Short Film Budget
Production Budget $6,739.29 Total Budget $9,734.22 Spent $0.00 Remaining $9,734.22
Quantity/ Category Specifics Daily Rate Days Budget Actual To Do Items / Notes Production Cast Actor SAG $75 2 $178 $50/day deferred, includes P&H Actor SAG $75 2 $178 $50/day deferred, includes P&H Actor Non-union $50 2 $100 Actor Non-union $50 2 $100 Cast (total): $556 $0
Above the Line Assumes you're directing it Director $0 2 $0 yourself, or getting a volunteer. Producer $0 2 $0 Screenwriter $0 2 $0 ATL Other (total): $0 Above the line total: 14 $556 $0 The LINE Camera Department Camea, lenses, Cheaper if you can borrow lighting, grip truck $500 instead of rent. DP $150 2 $300 1st AC $75 2 $585 2nd AC $75 2 $150 Gaffer $100 2 $525 Key Grip $75 2 $150 Total Camera: 10 $2,210
Art Department Props, Costumes, Art Materials $500 MFA Preproduction Bootcamp Background Resources 22 Production Designer $100 2 $200 Art Asst 1 $75 2 $150 Total Art: 4 $850
Wardrobe Costume Designer $100 2 $200 Costume Materials $150 Total Wardrobe: $350
Makeup Makeup $100 2 $200 Total Makeup: $200
Other Crew Sound Mixer $200 2 $400 AD $0 2 $0 PAs $0 4 $0 On-set photographer $100 1 $100
Other Costs Location Rental $300 Insurance $500 Permits $75 Cheap in Chicago :) Drives $99 Misc $200 Total Other: 9 $1,674 $0
2 meals per Food day $18 50 $900
Below the Line total: $6,184 $0 Post-production Editing $500 Color and FX $350 Sound design/FX $350 Composer $300 Music Licensing $0 MFA Preproduction Bootcamp Background Resources 23 Post-production Total: $1,500 $0 Marketing Website $110 Advertising $0 Festival submissions $500 VOD Distribution $0 Marketing Total: $610 $0
Thru end of production: $6,739 $0 Thru Distribution $8,849 $0 Contingency $885 Total Budget: $9,734 $0
Remaining: $9,734
Investment & Income Investment Your Savings $2,000 Grants $3,000 Crowdfunding $5,000 Investors $0
Total Investment: $10,000
Net: $266
Budget Instructions Customize the budget numbers and the days needed for each person on set. The days needed feeds into formula for the food budget, which updates automatically based on $18/day to feed 1 person twice. Budget Assumptions A rough $10k budget. 2 days of filming, 12 hours a day. Using the SAG Short Film Agreement (mixed cast & deferrals allowed). You are paying most people. Not a bare-bones production. MFA Preproduction Bootcamp Background Resources 24 Does not include festival travel expenses. MFA Preproduction Bootcamp Background Resources 25 Call Sheet Template
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Additional Helpful Resources
Script Writing Seven Basic Steps to Writing a Screen Play Top Box Office Loglines Example How to Write a Logline that Sells Simply Scripts – Screenplay Examples
Script Breakdown Script Breakdown 101 Studio Binder Scheduling Template How to Breakdown a Script
Budgeting 10K, 100K, 500K Budget Compared Micro budget Feature Production Ultimate Screen Budgeting Guide