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Saturday, April 28, 2012

My new camera slider

I recently bought a new camera slider for 80 bucks. Works great, but my tripod can't handle the weight of my camera when I slide it on the tripod. Been shooting with the sony fx-7. I have been having trouble with grainy footage, even with the grain level set a zero. Not sure what I am doing wrong.



First attempt: gun shot wound make-up

I few pictures of my first make-up attempt. I created a gun shot wound to the forehead of my wife.

Thursday, April 26, 2012

My short film.

I have been sitting on a script I wrote for about 4 months now. When I thought I was ready to start filming I ran into screenplay problems. I decided to add more to my story, just so the audience would better understand my character. I ended up writing an extra three pages to the script. I feel this made the story better, but then I found myself running into a bigger problem.

When I planed on making this film, I had no plans to buy anything for this film. If I stuck to the original script I would'nt have spent a dime. Here I am now, and have not started filming yet, for the reason of the money needed to buy all my props, costumes, and make up. Already, I have spent over $200.00 on things I need, and still need about $200.00 more, just for a two miniute scene.

It has become a huge headache, and not because of the money. It is for the reason that I just want to film. It gets my heart pumping thinking about it. I want to be a film maker, and get my work out for everyone to see. I am planning to have this short film done by the end of May, so I can try to get it into the Blue Water Film Festival. I only hope at this point to just start filming, because thats my real passion.

Friday, April 20, 2012

Basic Script Writing Elements.


Scene Heading: The scene heading can also be referred to as, Slug line, Heading, or Scene Caption.

The Scene Heading use abbreviations EXT. for exterior, and INT. for interior. This explains where the scene is taking place.

EXAMPLES:

INT. WAREHOUSE – DAY
EXT. PARK – DAY

(Everything in the scene heading is capitalized.)

Scene Headings can be simple, or if more detail is needed you can add more. For instance:

EXT. PARK – DAY – 2PM

When writing a script keep in mind that you never want to end a page with a scene heading. Move it to the top of the next page; also, never go straight to dialogue after the scene heading. You have to explain what is going on: (ACTION LINE.)

Example:

EXT. PARK – DAY

RYAN is seen standing in front of the swing set. – (Action Line.)

PRIMARY SCENE HEADING, AND SECONDARY SCENE HEADING.

INT. WAREHOUSE – DAY (PRIMARY SCENE HEADING.)

When writing a script, and your character moves throughout different rooms of the same building use a Secondary Scene Heading instead.

OFFICE (SECONDARY SCENE HEADING.)

RYAN grabs the files from his desk.

In the Scene Heading you can add flashbacks/fantasy sequence/dream sequence.


EXAMPLE:

INT. WAREHOUSE – DAY (FLASHBACK)

(Then when you exit the flash back.)

INT. WAREHOUSE – DAY (PRESENT)

WHEN TO USE CAPITALIZATION IN YOUR ACTION LINES.


When introducing a character for the first time in the script you want to capitalize the name.

EXAMPLE:

·      KYLE enters the lobby. (ACTION LINE.)

Capitalize any sounds, books, or anything you want the audience to read and hear.

EXAMPLE:


  • ·      The gun SHOT silences the room of people.
  • ·      Ryan opens the letter. It reads: I HAVE BEEN WATCHING YOU!

LETS MOVE ON.

DIALOGUE.

Dialogue is what a character is saying.

VOICE OVER DIALOG:

A voice over is when a character is off screen, or in another room narrating parts of a scene.

Voice over = (V.O.)

EXAMPLE:

                 RYAN (V.O.)
     My name is Ryan I live
     here in Michigan.



OFF SCREEN/OFF CAMERA DIALOG.

Off screen, or off camera dialog is when a character is physically in the scene, but not seen by the audience. An example would be a character that is not on camera calling to someone who is on camera.

EXAMPLE:

               RYAN (O.S.)
    Breakfast is done.

PARENTHETICALS.

These are used when you have multiple people in a scene, and a character is speaking to one specific person.

EXAMPLE:

               RYAN
       (To George)
   We need leave here pretty soon.



This is the basics on getting to know how a script is written.