Film Studies & Cinematography

24.9.2024 - .10.2024 / Week 1 - Week
Adriena Tan Yan Zi / 0351236 / BA of Design (HONS) in Creative Media
Film Studies & Cinematography
Project 1

Lectures

Week 1:

Week 2:

This week, the lecturer explained to us the elements that consist in basic good story. He also brief us about the art of storytelling so we have a better idea how to map out the spine of a good story.

We tell stories that hold a special place or made us feel some type of way that we would like to share with people. So through writing and telling the story, we hope that we can get our story across to the viewers hoping they would understand what we feel while writing this story. Will take many tries until we get the storyline perfect.

We were shown a video called Purl, where a ball of yarn is trying to fit into an office environment.

We were shown another video of a dog and a cat befriending each other and find ways to live in a better way in a loving family that adopted them.

Week 3:

Creating a fully developed character is like making a new life from scratch. When a character is fully developed, you can imagine them in any settings. Internal and external of the character, how does the character looks like, design, what they're wearing. Internally is like their personality, how do they think and how do they tend to act in different settings and scenario.

Character that has fears are direct obstacles. Character with flaws makes them interesting and relatable.

Character - obstacle - goal.

Week 4:

Act 1:

1. Once upon a time

2. Everyday

3. Until one day

Act 2:

1. Because of that

2. Because of that

3. Until finally

Act 3:

1. and ever since that

(moral of the story)

Week 5:

For character you use heading 1, dialog we use heading 2.

Requirements:

Scene Heading = Title
Action lines = Subtitle
Character = Heading 1 (Ctrl-Alt-1 or Cmd-Option-1)
Dialog = Heading 2 (Ctrl-Alt-2 or Cmd-Option-2)
Parentheticals = Heading 3 (Ctrl-Alt-3 or Cmd-Option-3)
Transition (Film Editing) = Subtitle, manually align right

Week 6:

Usually in the rule of third, the characters usually take up about 3 to 4 square in the scene.

What do you want the audience to know and what do you want them to feel.

Exercise of storyboard:

During the class, when the lecture was finished, sir asked each of us to attempt to draw the first act/ scene of our storyboard to practice our understanding.

After i am done with the first arc of my story, i showed it to sir so he could give me his feedback. He said the drawing quality is good, could be less simple but good. He advised me to work on my rule of third as the background and my character look very flat, the proportion go the frame and the character is a little off.

Format

Font: Courier New

Font Size: 12

Cover Page:

Title (All Caps), by [Name]
Contact
Address

How to write:

INT. LOCATION - TIME OF DAY - WRITE ONE OF THESE EVERY TIME YOU CHANGE LOCATION OR TIME OF DAY - WRITE IN ALL CAPS

Place your action lines here. Use these lines to describe what the viewer will be seeing when he or she watches your production.

CHARACTER 1

(Dryly to audience)

Write your character's dialog here. Dialog will automatically wrap.

CUT TO:

EXT. NEW SCENE LOCATION - NEW TIME OF DAY

CHARACTER 1 (CONT'D)

More dialog.

CHARACTER 2

It formats me for dialog.

Instructions

Project 1

PROJECT 1: DEVELOP SHORT STORY

Requirements

1. This project requires you to develop a 2 minute short story that is going to be an animation as the final output.

2. Develop the story from each week activities progressively:

a. Story Ideas - get ideas on various techniques such as write what you know, what if statement and character & world.

b. Character Development - from your ideas, develop your main character by giving his or her obstacles (external & internal), goal, want vs need, character arcs.

c. Setting - putting the character into the right setting such as era, world

d. Story Arcs and Theme - inciting incident, 3 acts structure, log line

3. Deliverables:

a. Write a report in word document which consist of:I) Story Title

II) Logline
III) Synopsis
IV) Theme
V) Character Description
VI) World Description
VII) Script

b. Export as pdf
c. Update all the progress in e-portfolio

4. Deadline for submission is by Week 6

Story Exploration

In week 2, after learning about what goes in to creating a basic good storyline, I brainstormed and tried to come up with a few. I knew i wanted to make my story related to a fantasy but I'm not sure from which part of fantasy i should start with as the genre fantasy can be so varied. But then, sir reminded us that it would be easier to relate the story to ourselves. Treat it like we're telling a story about ourselves, so that the emotions in the story runs more truly where the audience can relate to. I came up with these 3 stories based on the 3 more common fantasy creatures like vampires, werewolves and the last one was because I've always been curious about magic. Anything about magic peeks my interest as they can be so wonderful and dangerous when handled wrongly as well, therefore I wrote a story based on how i feel about mag

Idea 1: Vampire (3)

A mysterious legend about the vampire that lives deep in the woods was spreaded in every nook and cranny of the town. Legend has it that this vampire stood apart from his kind as he was the only descendant of the great vampire named ”lucifer” who is pure blood. Pure blood vampires are outstriking stronger than all the other mixed blood vampires. They are rumoured to be cruel, gruesome and evil. However, Rex, the only pure blood vampire crosspath with one of the villagers that fainted due to a fall while trying to collect herbs. He hesitantly saved the human and nursed him back to health which he then introduces himself as a herbologist that happened to specialise in potion making. As a token of thanks, the herbologist offered to make a potion that would temporarily transform the vampire into a human.

Longed to be human (asked herbalist to make potion)

Idea 2: Werewolf

The story is about a lone wolf that stands apart from his pack as he can only stay in human form after his first shapeshifting experience and couldn't figure out how to shift back. He used to be the strongest in his pack but was later outcast after months and months of trying to shapeshift back into his original form. One day while he was staring at his reflection by the river, a man hood appeared and told him that he knows of this curse and a cure to it as well. This young werewolf was destined to find his purpose, one thing that only he could do to break this curse. The man in the hood then disappeared. Just then, he heard a voice of someone humming a tune by the river bank while cleaning. He was about to run and hide but with his new clumsy body, he tripped and made sounds that got him spotted by that figure. The figure called out and rushed towards Kein thinking he was in danger, however quickly realised that he was just minding his own business just like him. They quickly got close as conversation sparks and Kein even told him his secret. They both set out on an adventure to find his purpose and soon discover that Kein was supposed to bring his kind and the human kind together.

Idea 3: a witch

A witch that excels in magic at the young age of 5 stands out with her unique personality of being as curious as a cat that is prone to causing rebelling streaks. As she ages, so does her magic grow stronger and stand her apart from all the other young witches. Nova has always been enthusiastic when it comes to learning new spells and accidentally stumbling across ancient magic would just be in her delight. Her parents to support her passion had given her access to the dungeon of wisdom which contains all kinds of magic spell books that allows Nova to explore to her heart's content under one condition from her parents, that is to never cross to the forbidden zone which contains some of the most dangerous magics of all, black magic. Nova grew an obsession with black magic and started learning them actively and secretly, but soon was found out by her parents. As punishment, her parents confined her with a magic infused dungeon to reflect. However, knowing already has prior knowledge to black magic that she learned, she tried to cast a spell outside her dungeon to distract the guards so she could have enough time to undo the spell on the dungeon. The magic she casted went out of control and went haywire, hearing her parents screaming got her nervous. S oon, a pool of lava seeps in and burns her to death. c.

Story Structures:

After consulting sir and proposing all the 3 story idea I had written, he picked the 3rd one to be the most interesting sounding one. From there, I developed the story arc of act 1, 2 and 3 to map out the story flow in the more detailed manner than the previous idea pitch statement. I was making sure that i included the format that was taught in class so that the flow of the story would be smoother and make more sense.

Act 1:

1. Once upon a time

2. Everyday

3. Until one day

Act 2:

1. Because of that

2. Because of that

3. Until finally

Act 3:

1. and ever since that

(moral of the story)

Act 1: The Gifted Witch and the Forbidden Temptation

Introduction to Nova: Nova, a brilliant young witch, excels in magic at the tender age of five. From her first incantation, it’s clear that she possesses a natural gift far beyond her peers. Her insatiable curiosity makes her eager to explore the magical world around her, always pushing the boundaries of what is known. Her personality is much like a curious cat, drawn to the unknown and prone to rebellion. As she grows, so does her power, standing her apart from all the other young witches in her village.

The Dungeon of Wisdom: To support her magical growth, her parents—respected witches themselves—give her special access to the Dungeon of Wisdom, a vast and ancient library filled with spell books of all kinds. Here, Nova can explore to her heart's content, learning and practicing new spells. However, there is one strict rule imposed by her parents: never cross into the forbidden zone “The precinct of dark desires”, an area within the dungeon that contains dark, dangerous black magic.

Act 2: Discovery and Punishment

The Temptation of Black Magic: As Nova explores deeper into the dungeon, her natural curiosity pulls her toward the forbidden zone. She hears whispered rumors of the immense power black magic holds, and despite the warnings, she becomes fascinated with it. Her enthusiasm for learning pushes her to sneak into the forbidden zone late at night, finding ancient relic filled with dark spells. The more she studies black magic in secret, the more obsessed she becomes with its allure, all the while keeping her actions hidden from her parents.

Caught in the Act: Despite Nova’s efforts to conceal her newfound obsession, her parents—perceptive and powerful—soon discover the dark path their daughter has taken. Furious and frightened by the dangerous forces she has begun to dabble in, they confront her. Nova, defensive and rebellious, refuses to admit any wrongdoing, believing that she can handle the power of black magic just as she has mastered all other forms.

The Consequence: Seeing the risk their daughter poses not only to herself but to those around her, Nova’s parents take drastic action. As punishment, they confine her in a magic-infused dungeon, a mystical prison designed to block her powers and force her into isolation. They hope that this will give her time to reflect on her choices, to understand the gravity of the path she has chosen.

Nova's Rebellion: However, Nova’s rebellious spirit does not fade. Angry at her parents for not trusting her abilities and filled with frustration, she decides to escape. Using the dark magic she had secretly learned, she begins plotting a way out. In the dead of night, she attempts to cast a spell from inside the dungeon, targeting the guards who watch over her confinement. Her plan is to distract them long enough to break the magic barriers and free herself.

Act 3: The Catastrophe

The Spell Goes Haywire: As Nova begins casting her spell, something goes wrong. Everything seemed to be working well until she heard screams from outside the dungeon. The energy she summons spirals out of control, twisting and warping in ways she hadn’t expected. The dungeon shakes violently, the walls crack, and the air fills with a suffocating dark mist. Nova, panicking, tries to undo the spell, but the magic she has unleashed is too powerful to stop.

Her Parents’ Screams: Suddenly, from outside her cell, Nova hears her parents screaming. Realization crashes down on her—her spell has not just affected her prison, it has spread to the entire dungeon. In her desperation to escape, she has unleashed a magical disaster. A pool of molten lava rises from the depths, the result of the destructive magic she had tried to manipulate.

Tragic End: Fear grips Nova as the lava seeps into her cell. She tries one last time to cast a spell to save herself, but it’s too late. Her lack of control over the dark magic she thought she could master leads to her ultimate demise. As the lava engulfs her, Nova’s last thoughts are of her parents’ warnings, and a single, painful realisation: her curiosity and rebellion had led to her own destruction.

Epilogue: The Dungeon of Wisdom, once a place of learning and exploration, now stands in ruins, scorched by the black magic that consumed it. Nova, once a prodigy, fell victim to her own reckless pursuit of forbidden power. Her story becomes a cautionary tale among witches for generations to come—reminding them that magic, no matter how tempting, must be respected and understood, or it will destroy even the most talented among them.

Script

I consulted Mr. Kamal again with the story arc I developed, and he was pleased with it. However, he asked if I could keep Nova’s parent alive instead of having them die. I felt that this change would undermine the lesson I wanted Nova to learn—that even the most powerful witches face significant sacrifices, and that true strength requires wise use of power.

With that in mind, I moved forward with drafting my script using the provided document in the correct format. I held off on adding character dialogue since I'll need to find voice actors for the roles; I don't feel confident enough in my own ability to do the voice acting.

Final Project 1: Story Development

Feedback

Week 3: The stories ideas are nice, sir suggested that I could either go for the 1st or the 3rd idea. He said that if he had to pick one he would like to see how I develop the third story as the ending is a little controversial.

Week 4: The story arc is looking good, sounds interesting.

Week 5: The script looks good but maybe i can make the parents come alive and save nova instead of have them dead.

Week 6: The script looks and i can start adding logline line and all that into the report.

Reflection

I really enjoyed developing a story for this project, as it allowed me to tap into my creativity and base the narrative on themes and genres we both enjoy. Coming up with three different story ideas was a lot of fun, though I occasionally struggled with finding the right ending. I looked up several examples to help me craft conclusions that would connect meaningfully to the climate theme. For most of the story ideas, I began with a prompt and developed it until I reached a final scene and lesson for both the characters and the audience to take away. Mr. Kamal’s advice to make the story relatable to ourselves was really helpful—it allowed me to express emotions and feelings in a way I was actually experiencing.

Writing the script in the given format was a bit more challenging, as I needed to make sure it followed a clear story arc and presented everything in a way that wouldn’t confuse the audience. I revised and refined the script a few times before finalizing it, ensuring each story arc flowed naturally and connected well. Then, working on the logline, character and world description really made me understand the nature of each of the characters better as well.

Overall, this project has been an enjoyable journey, as I learned so much about what goes into crafting a compelling story that can capture and hold the audience's attention. It takes a lot of thought and hard work to create a story that effectively conveys emotions the audience can connect with.

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ADRIENA TAN YAN ZI (0351236)