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Chapter 1

Working out an idea

Scene 1 - Vox Pops introduction to the characters.
INT. COMMUNITY CENTRE - DAY
cast - all (separately)

Each character does a short piece to camera introducing themselves and explaining what they are looking forward to about filming. Each character has their own preferences, Pat likes organising so she will be a good producer. John likes planning, he will be good at storyboarding and scripting. Andy likes filming, and already has some experience. Jo likes graphic design so she may take to editing.

Scene 2
INT. COMMUNITY CENTRE -COFFEE BAR- DAY
cast - all

The group meet in the coffee bar before the session. Joanne and Andy don't know what it is all about, Pat has organised it so is telling the others a bit more detail. This scene establishes their characters, relationships and history a little. We establish Joanne is addicted to chocolate bars, there is one left and she practically snatches it before John can get it!
John and Pat have a conversation about him fixing her car, she asks him very nicely and this doesn't go unnoticed by Andy and Jo.
John feels he already knows plenty about video making having already made hours of super8 footage about his favourite hobby, trains (he's a bit of a spotter!)
Pat is keen to learn but very nervous about the new technology, she can't program the video recorder and has never recorded anything on it, she doesn't have a computer at home. Andy acts like he doesn't care but is actually a bit nervous as he feels he might show himself up a bit as he is keen to impress Joanne!

Scene 3
INT. COMMUNITY CENTRE - TRAINING ROOM-DAY
cast - all

Michael is already in the room when they walk in, he has a flip chart! They all sit and Michael takes them through communication, the first chapter, he gets them to talk about why they are a community group, what brings them together, though they don't really know! Andy isn't being helpful. They brainstorm ideas and Michael tells them not to be judgemental, Andy's first suggestion is to get a celebrity to endorse their video which John dismisses, Michael reminds John not to be judgemental!
Michael says he will write up the key issues to cover and leave the group to work out their ideas.
The group have a discussion about what kind of film they want to do, John starts off in a very teacher like fashion( a bit like The Office, enjoys the power too much) and Andy starts heckling straight away, Pat intervenes and leads the session brilliantly and diplomatically!
She takes them through the questions Michael has left on the board,
what is the message/issue?
Who exactly is the audience?
What is the best way to reach them (using multiple channels) How will you asses that?
Andy wants to make a music video based around skating though he moans there are no decent local facilities.
John wants to make a video about how much money the council are making from the new parking scheme which isn't going back into the community, making the streets safer for yps as they promised it would and specifically into the centre.
Joanne also wants to make a video about the lack of facilities and telling people about the center.
Pat gets them to discuss the common points, then through the discussion they realise they all want to make a video promoting the centre to get more people involved and raise funds and awareness, most of the above elements make it into the final draft.

Chapter 2

Planning a video

Scene 4
INT. COMMUNITY CENTRE - TRAINING ROOM - DAY
cast - all

Michael takes the groups through 2 types of filming, Documentary and Fiction. Discussing Documentary Michael covers, Observational, Standard and Drama, then he goes on to cover Fiction films mentioning the 3 act structure. Then they go through planning, they learn how to storyboard and they plan their video.

Chapter 3

How to film

Scene 5
INT. COMMUNITY CENTRE - TRAINING ROOM - DAY
cast - all

Michael talks about how to use a camera, basics of holding it recording, zooming, tripod use, lighting (referring to 3 point lighting which will be discussed later), recording sound and interviews. The script for this can be taken from level 2 chapter 3 of toolkit.
Michael talks the groups through shooting a scene by breaking it down into a series of shots. Michael talks about how most amateurs, when asked to film a scene of a man walking into a room, picking up some keys, and walking out would film it in a single shot. However if you ask them to storyboard it as a Hollywood movie they would talk about close ups etc. So people know about the language of film but fail to apply it without planning. (at this point they go off to storyboard the keys sequence which they then film, see scene 7 and 8)

How Not To Film a Sequence

Scene 6
INT. COMMUNITY CENTRE - TRAINING ROOM-DAY
cast - Andy and Joanne

Andy and Joanne are doing the man picking up keys sequence mentioned in scene 6 planning a video. Andy rushes through the exercise and starts filming almost straight away. Whilst very dynamic (the camera doesn't stop moving and is hand-held throughout!) he films a sequence which shows how not to break it down in one shot, ie in a single unbroken clip!

How To Film a Sequence

Scene 7
INT. COMMUNITY CENTRE - TRAINING ROOM 2 - DAY
cast - Pat and John

Pat and John are doing the man with keys storyboard exercise, John insists on doing it right! John is shown through montage preparing the storyboard and a schedule, call sheets, budget and department breakdown and permission release forms for this 10 second sequence! Several hours appear to pass, including both looking the worse for wear, night falling and Pat bringing inordinate amounts of coffee as the cups mount ever higher, however this turns out to be a dream sequence in Pat's head while John is in reality only spending 5 minutes on the planning though it is very thorough!

They shoot a film which is a great example of breaking it down into sequences. Each shot exactly matches their storyboard.

Chapter 4

Editing a video

Scene 8
INT. COMMUNITY CENTRE - TRAINING ROOM - DAY
cast - all

Michael takes them through editing and what you can do with it. He explains the layout of the software using Windows Movie Maker. He shows them how to connect to the computer to digitize the footage. The group then has a go themselves, Pat is a bit lost, John takes over but it becomes apparent he doesn't know his firewire from his USB and Joanne works it out, Andy plays with his mobile!

LEVEL 3 SCENES

Scenes after this point are based on the idea that the group are filming their own video now and are a bit more advanced, the techniques are based on what they learned in the sessions with Michael but are more advanced as in the difference between levels in Toolkit.

The Tuck Shop Run

3 Act Structure

Scene 9
INT. COMMUNITY CENTRE - COFFEE BAR TUCK SHOP - DAY
cast - all

3 Act Structure. Joanne wants a chocolate bar from the tuck shop but realises they don't have any! Andy sees his chance to get to the local shop before it closes in 2 minutes...

Scene 10
EXT. STREET AND SHOP - DAY
cast - Andy

...Andy runs to the shop having to overcome the old lady with the dog and the busy road, but does he make it before they close?

Scene 11
INT. COMMUNITY CENTRE - COFFEE BAR TUCK SHOP - DAY
cast - all

Andy presents his chocolate bar to Joanne who accepts it and his offer of a night out with an unexcited "yeah". Andy turns to camera to rapturous applause, pulling his t-shirt over his head! This is the end of the 3 act structure.

Full 3 Act Structure Video.

Documentary Theory

John's Documentary

Scene 12
INT. COMMUNITY CENTRE - COFFEE BAR - DAY
cast - all

Observational documentary. John is trying out the camera and has decided to secretly film Joanne and Andy as they make a cup of tea in the kitchen. Whilst they talk and flirt he does a voice over talking about the mating rituals of young people("Homos persons youngus"), he predicts how Joanne will touch her hair and neck and she does exactly on cue, Andy hitches his jeans up by his crotch as John predicts. John talks a bit like a snooker commentator. The question is will Andy get to touch Joanne , this builds right till the end when he does touch her elbow and John's commentary goes into overdrive as if he has scored a major goal!
Drama Documentary. Andy and Jo spot John and in fun, re-enact Pat and John's conversation of the first scene where Pat asks John to look at her car as it keeps stalling, only they do it in a way which ridicules them, John catches on and stops filming after a bit!
Standard documentary. Pat comes in and and wants to interview Andy about what the centre has done for him. John insists on filming, Joanne tells him he can't get good sound without using the microphone, she puts it on the boom pole and does the recording.

Camerawork

Andy's Advanced Camerawork Session

Scene 13
EXT. SKATEBOARD PARK - DAY
cast - Andy

Andy shows us how to do good camera work at a skateboard park. Andy does the voice over in a Hip Hop Stylee! He talks us through more advanced techniques, like wides, cutaways, close ups of details like the graffiti and wheels turning and how to use a tripod to do pans and tilts.

Editing Tips

Editing With Joanne

Scene 14
INT. COMMUNITY CENTRE - TRAINING ROOM - DAY
cast - Andy and Joanne

Editing session with Joanne explaining to Andy why the edit John has done doesn't work with her choosing the better shots and changing the edit to make an interview that works.

3 Point Lighting

John's 3 Point Lighting Session

Scene 15
INT. COMMUNITY CENTRE - TRAINING ROOM - DAY
cast - all

John explains to the others he has done some research into 3 point lighting and will demonstrate it, he turns off the house lights and then turns on the "key light", then the "back" and the fill (he uses a white paper sheet to reflect fill light), then the fuses start to go so he explains (trying to cover up) in reverse until the final bang and blackout.