production assignment - things to know/do

Experimental Film: Production Project

This assignment asks students to work in pairs preparing and producing a two to three minute long, experimental video. The assignment will involve the preparation and presentation of a storyboard (5%) and shooting script (5%), and the production of the video project itself (15%). The storyboard and shooting script will be submitted November 5/6. The video work will be produced in class November 19/20 and screened in class November 26/27

The production of an in-camera work requires careful preparation and planning. Before shooting you and your partner must have decided on the subject and theme of the tape, how it will look and sound, where it will be shot, what props, actors and/or actresses you will need and the final sequence for the story. A storyboard and shooting script are essential tools for organizing the project.

The storyboard is primarily visual, with a small amount of written description. It sketches the essential details needed to communicate the information in each scene. The shooting script, on the other hand, provides a written account of the story, in greater detail. The shooting script includes the following components: the location and time of day for each scene; a narrative description of the entrance, exits and emotional states of the characters; narrative descriptions for the actions, settings and props; and dialogue (see reverse for an example of a page of script). Camera direction should be used sparingly. Instead, let the description indicate the camera angles or movement. Each change of scene/location/character requires a new header and narrative description. Use the format guide on the reverse side of this sheet to help you format your script. (One page of script represents one minute of film time.)


Step 1: Development: Brainstorming and Idea Generation
Step 2: Flesh out the idea by identifying key scenes
Step 3: Write the script
Step 4: Prepare the Storyboard
Step 5: Production