Telling a Story Telling a Story through Filmthrough Film

The Five Basic Steps of The Five Basic Steps of Film Production:Film Production:

Script developmentScript development النص النص كتابه كتابه

PreproductionPreproduction االنتاج قبل االنتاج مرحلة قبل مرحلة ProductionProductionاالنتاجاالنتاج PostproductionPostproduction االنتاج االنتاج بعد بعد DistributionDistributionالتوزيعالتوزيع

What is a script?What is a script?

Your script must be well craftedYour script must be well craftedوضعوضع before production can begin. Think before production can begin. Think of it as a blueprintof it as a blueprintمخططمخطط for the final for the final film – the instructions for making film – the instructions for making your film. your film.

Where do scripts come Where do scripts come from?from?

IdeasIdeas ConceptsConcepts ImagesImages CharactersCharacters DreamsDreams Real eventsReal events FantasiesFantasies MemoriesMemories

Historical eventsHistorical events PlacesPlaces Social issuesSocial issues Real-life Real-life

experiencesexperiences News storiesNews stories Magazine articlesMagazine articles Adaptations of Adaptations of

short storiesshort stories

What is the story about?What is the story about? What do you feel after you read the story? Why does What do you feel after you read the story? Why does

the story move you? the story move you? Whose story is it? Do you identify with the main Whose story is it? Do you identify with the main

character? character? What actually happens? Do you identify with the plot? What actually happens? Do you identify with the plot? Is there a relationship between the main character Is there a relationship between the main character

and the plot? and the plot? Does the plot tell us something about the main Does the plot tell us something about the main

character? character? What does it say about the human condition? Do you What does it say about the human condition? Do you

identify with its theme? identify with its theme? How much of the story is developed through internal How much of the story is developed through internal

thoughts and feelings? thoughts and feelings? Are you able to tell what happens in the story in one Are you able to tell what happens in the story in one

sentence?sentence?

Find your plot and Find your plot and characterscharacters

To find the plot (what actually happens), To find the plot (what actually happens), strip the story of its dialogue and strip the story of its dialogue and internal monologues (what the internal monologues (what the characters are thinking and feeling). characters are thinking and feeling). This will reveal the dramatic “through This will reveal the dramatic “through line” of your story. Once you’ve line” of your story. Once you’ve eliminated what you can’t see and hear, eliminated what you can’t see and hear, what do you have? Do you have a plot? what do you have? Do you have a plot? Does the action reveal something about Does the action reveal something about the main character? the main character? Is there a Is there a beginning, middle, and end?beginning, middle, and end?

General story guidelines:General story guidelines:

Do not cut and pasteDo not cut and paste Be willing to reinventBe willing to reinvent If adapting, make the story yours, If adapting, make the story yours,

not the author’snot the author’s Be true to the essence and spirit of Be true to the essence and spirit of

the storythe story Keep it simpleKeep it simple Be aware of economy of time, place, Be aware of economy of time, place,

and actionand action

Basic guidelines for the Basic guidelines for the short formshort form

Length – Is there an ideal length for a Length – Is there an ideal length for a short?short?

The best length is the one that allows The best length is the one that allows you to adequatelyyou to adequately كاف نحو كاف على نحو and , and ,علىconciselyconciselyاختصاراختصار, tell your story. The , tell your story. The length may be predeterminedlength may be predeterminedسلفاسلفا due to the submission guidelines of due to the submission guidelines of the intended market though.the intended market though.

* Important ** Important *

We are often very anxious We are often very anxious قلققلقabout about wanting to impress people with our wanting to impress people with our talent and skill, and can tend to try to talent and skill, and can tend to try to say or do too much with our short films. say or do too much with our short films. When in doubt, if the scene is not When in doubt, if the scene is not essential in revealing the message of essential in revealing the message of your film, cut it. Don’t just keep stuff your film, cut it. Don’t just keep stuff because it “looks cool,” etc. You don’t because it “looks cool,” etc. You don’t want to distract the viewer with too want to distract the viewer with too much. Keep it simple. much. Keep it simple.

The Central ThemeThe Central Theme

The central theme is what the story is The central theme is what the story is all about. It represents why you all about. It represents why you wanted to make the film in the first wanted to make the film in the first place – what you wanted to say. All place – what you wanted to say. All scenes in your film should contribute to scenes in your film should contribute to the main theme. As a good rule of the main theme. As a good rule of thumbthumbابهامابهام, if someone should ask you, , if someone should ask you, “what is your film about,” you should “what is your film about,” you should be able to answer in one or two be able to answer in one or two sentences. sentences.

ConflictConflict

A basic element common to all visual A basic element common to all visual drama is the need for a specific and drama is the need for a specific and identifiable conflict. Conflict creates identifiable conflict. Conflict creates tension. Tension engages the tension. Tension engages the viewer’s emotions until the conflict viewer’s emotions until the conflict is resolved and the tension relieved is resolved and the tension relieved at the end of the piece.at the end of the piece.

What is conflict, and how is What is conflict, and how is it created?it created?

Conflict is realized through the Conflict is realized through the characters. Most narrative stories characters. Most narrative stories begin by establishing a problem,, or begin by establishing a problem,, or goal. Someone wants something or goal. Someone wants something or is unhappy or unfulfilledis unhappy or unfulfilled بها الوفاء يتم بها لم الوفاء يتم لم in some way. The process of in some way. The process of working out this issue defines the working out this issue defines the drama.drama.

The Basic Conflicts:The Basic Conflicts: Individual vs. Self (internal)Individual vs. Self (internal) نفسه مقابل نفسه الفرد مقابل الفرد Individual vs. Individual (personal)Individual vs. Individual (personal) الفرد الفرد

اخر شخص اخر مقابل شخص مقابل Individual vs. Society (social Individual vs. Society (social

environment)environment) المجتمع مقابل المجتمع الفرد مقابل الفرد Individual vs. Nature (physical Individual vs. Nature (physical

environment)environment) الطبيعة مقابل الطبيعة الفرد مقابل الفرد- Each one of these conflicts, alone or in - Each one of these conflicts, alone or in

combination, draws our attention to the combination, draws our attention to the plightplightمحنهمحنه of the main character (or of the main character (or protagonistprotagonist الروايه الروايه بطل .( .(بطل

The Dramatic ArcThe Dramatic Arcالقوسالدرامى القوسالدرامى

Every story should have a beginning, Every story should have a beginning, a middle, and an end. Most stories a middle, and an end. Most stories can be reduced to the basic can be reduced to the basic formulaformulaالصيغةالصيغة of of goal/obstacle/resolution, creating goal/obstacle/resolution, creating this progression:this progression:

Beginning (setup)Beginning (setup) Middle (development)Middle (development) End (resolution)End (resolution)

Dramatic ArcDramatic Arc

This formulaThis formulaالصيغةالصيغة creates the natural creates the natural arc of all narrative and non-narrative arc of all narrative and non-narrative drama. All stories follow this drama. All stories follow this progression. The problem is progression. The problem is introduced, developed (dealt with), introduced, developed (dealt with), and then resolved. When the and then resolved. When the resolution has been reached, the resolution has been reached, the story is over.story is over.