Pre-production

1) Script You need to write a complete script for your two-minute extract and format it like a real TV script (see picture on the right). There is lots of help out there for top-quality screenwriting. A good place to start is the BBC Writers' Room which has top tips, a whole script library of real examples (like the Doctor Who script pictured) and more ideas for turning your concept into a real TV script. Make sure you include both stage directions and dialogue - and as you can see from the example, often the stage directions are much more detailed than the dialogue. Try and make your script look like a professional example in terms of layout - either in your blogpost or on a linked Google Doc. [SCREENPLAY TITLE] Dark Deception By [AUTHOR] Remy [Your/agent’s Company Name] [Address] [Phone Number] [Email Address] FADE IN: [INT/EXT.] [LOCATION] — [TIME OF DAY] [Action] [character #1 NAME] [EXTENSION] [DIALOGUE] [CHARACTER #2 NAME] [PARENTHETICAL] [DIALOGUE] [SUBHEADER] [CHARACTER #2 NAME] (CONT’d) [DIALOGUE] [TRANSITION:] THE END 2) Shot list Once you have a full script you are happy with, you can turn it into a shot list containing EVERY shot you plan to film for your TV drama AND additional shots to create flexibility when editing. You'll know from your preliminary exercise that missing a shot, continuity errors or not having enough material makes editing much more difficult. A good shot list will help you avoid this. In particular, make sure you plan lots of extra shots that you may not need but can help you with editing. These additional shots are often close-ups, cutaways, alternative angles or similar. I advise using a simple table on Google Docs to set out your shot list - you can find an example here for a student film shot list. It makes sense to write your shot list by scene or location (like in the example linked) rather than a huge list of every shot in the extract in chronological order. Boxing club Shot No. Shot Filmed? 1 Wide shot of boxing ring, slow zoom into s face. Yes 2 Over the shoulder (OTS) of .... staring into .... soul. Yes 3 Reverse shot to shot 2 – OTS of runner from behind . Yes 4 Close up of feet running at fast pace. Yes 5 Medium shot of punch combination. 6 Extreme close up of ’s face dripping sweat. 7 Wide shot of whole forest with club in background. Yes 8 Close up of ’s face in pain. Yes 9 Medium close up of wiping sweat off head with glove. 10 OTS shot of trainer speaking dialogue. Yes 11 Long shot of trainer dialogue Yes 12 Close up on trainer speaking dialogue – “NO PLEASE NO NO NOOO”. Yes 13 OTS of trainer sweating trying to keep up with . Yes 14 Close up on ’s feet. Yes 15 Extreme close up of ’s eyes – concentration, desire Yes 16 Extreme close up on characters eyes – concentration and anger of demon Yes 17 Close up on body when chasing Yes 18 Medium shot of capturing both characters Yes 19 Close up on face zoom in Yes 3) Mise-en-scene What iconography or mise-en-scene are you including to ensure your audience understands your drama as fantasy? Plan your cast, costume, make-up, props, lighting and setting. This can be simply completed using your blog or on a Google Doc - the key aspect is to have planned all the critical details. Remember the mise-en-scene mnemonic: CLAMPS. Costume: Mask. Long grey scientist coat. Scientist wig. Brown cloaked hood cape Lighting / time of day: Evening. 4pm Actors - casting, placement, movement: Make-up and hair: Wig. Props: Stick Setting: Forest Important note: You CANNOT film anything involving anything that could be mistaken for a weapon in any public place. Media students from a school in North London were arrested by armed police after filming a scene with a replica gun in a public place. Remember this when planning your coursework!