by skripsketch
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Film Classification vs Genre

Genre (in film) is about theme, category. Old films/movies has very little group of genre compare to nowadays, we have films that have several combination genre in one film - which shouldn't be a problem.

However, combination genre confuses me, a lot! Is it drama? Is it comedy? Then drama-comedy-romantic? And, horror-comedy is consider a genre?? Really? I hate combination genre - I couldn't get the mood! It's like, "..uhh, I should get ready to be scared and also get ready laughing during watching this/that movie"?

 Here in Malaysia, it's over-done (I think) in "developing" genre. Becomes ridiculous and messy! Or, maybe it's the trend?
Film genre year 2000, 2003, 2005, 2011

Like it or not, it happens..

OK, back to basic, in Malaysia, we have 
  • Lembaga Penapis Filem (LPS) or Film Censorship Board which under Kementerian Dalam Negeri (Ministry of Home Affairs); and 
  • FINAS (National Film Development Corporation Malaysia)
who provided the basic guideline for film production; called film classification

Generic film classification in Malaysia

I think, those two are literally not guiding in what genre/category of film to produce; instead, put "label" on the produced film into generic "category" for the audience. Their concern are only on audience/viewer. Whilst filmmaking, is about telling story (should be any kind); and somehow it falls in a genre (or more than one genre). 

 Which part of "control mechanism" (U, P13, 18) is practical albeit film already censored (cut/chopped) earlier before being distributed?

 A curious boy/girl (or even adult) easily finding "things" from the internet.
by skripsketch
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Concept and Genre

Film Genre definition from wikipedia
Storytelling definition from wikipedia
Basically, from what I understand, 
  • genre is to choose the theme in helping storytelling in a film. 
  • writers need to articulate with on groundwork of the genre that want to be written. 
  • having genre may drive the concept, at least making it simpler to define
  • help outline the story and character archetypes
  • genre helps attract a producer, especially when it comes to assessing potential market
  • casting is much facilitated -- many film stars fit one genre or another
  • audiences go for genre as much as for stars, and genre gives critics a framework for their commentary
Overall, following are some standard/general genre (find a long list of List of Genres from wikipedia) which each item stands on itself.

 Among main genre are..
  • Action
  • Adventure
  • Comedy
  • Crime/Gangster
  • Drama
  • Epics/Historical
  • Horror
  • Musical/Dance
  • Science Fiction
  • War
  • Western

Also, some mix-genre like,
  • Animation
  • Biography
  • Family
  • Film Noir
  • Mystery 
  • Romance (or call it chick-flick)
  • Sport
  • Thriller (or call it suspense)

Sub-genre and Mix-genre
Often a film represents a mix of genres. Some argue this is always the case as romance is generally mixed in; like
  • action-adventure
  • action-thriller
  • romantic-comedy
  • 'dramedy' (drama+comedy)
  • musical comedy, etc. 

Even when combining types, the benefits of starting from the perspective of an accepted genre apply.

 Selecting Genre in Writing
  • Go with that one first time out (no need to overly load yourself up with challenges as a nubie); later, to branch out -- step out of your 'comfort zone'
  • Consider the type of story -- to what extent will one genre over another help tell that story?
  • type of person (and writer) you are -- Not everybody can (or should) write a film noir or a detective-mystery, for example. Some should simply stick to the character-driven drama.
  • check out some examples of movie genres, and see which ones might match your planned project

Things to Consider in Writing in Specific Genre
  • the concept to the dialogue
  • character archetypes might be clearly outlined -- how they talk and the things they do
  • some genres--film noir and romantic comedies, for example--even come with generally-accepted story structures.

Writer to Play with Genre
  • writer to set the world of film genre on edge, or merely use well-established conventions and 'rules' help you along in your quest for greatness.
  • many popular films have been made by parodying a given genre; especially, the teen horror flick, or the western
  • others take a genre as a starting point before taking it in new directions, thereby redefining the style.

Writer to Think About..
  1. Consider the mix of genres in CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON (2000). What can you learn about selecting/creating a film genre for your project?
  2. In what way does UNFORGIVEN (1992) play with the western genre? How might it considered an 'un-western'?
  3. What genres are mixed in THE THIN BLUE LINE (1988)? How successful is this mix in helping to make the point?
  4. In what genre would you categorize THE PRINCESS BRIDE (1987)? In what way would this film present a challenge to those promoting it?
  5. In what direction does BUTCH CASSIDY AND THE SUNDANCE KID (1969) take the western? Should it really be called a comedy instead? What impact did it have on the genre?
by skripsketch
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Proses Treatment

Definition of Treatment from Wikipedia

 This treatment process somehow related to developing synopsis. A synopsis can be a story guide for writing your screenplay, to be be written afterward the final draft of the script; or after establishing the idea.

 A synopsis with several paragraphs in 1-2 pages (approx. 550 words) is turning into a treatment when a studio would ask a writer to read a novel the studio had optioned or purchased and to write down how he or she would treat the novel as a screenplay. Treatments are in a short story format and typically about 40 pages long.

 Having a treatment is more common in tv, where a head writer assigns members of a team to write specific scenes; that keeps everyone in the same story - but still not a coverage (the story notes written by a production company reader when evaluating a screenplay).

 How to Work with Treatment

  • alternative the treatment into scene cards, typically handwritten on 3×5 index cards.
  • each story beat in a screenplay is written on one card to represent one scene in the film, representing about two and a half minutes of screen time
  • for a 100-page screenplay (approx. 100 minutes of screen time); = 40 scene cards
  • there aren’t so many 120-minute movies anymore.

Sample 5 Scene Cards for a Film
  1. Los Angeles Koreatown – Night: Lot, carrying The Book of Z in his briefcase, is ambushed by Gasso and his henchmen ninjas.
  2. Max’s Apt. – Night: Max yells out the window, “Leave that old man alone!”.
  3. Koreatown – Night: Max races to fight and touches The Book. Gasso scared away by fire engine.
  4. Max’s Apt. – Night: Lot washes up. Max phones Lot’s suspicious daughter Nichi.
  5. Palace of Tae Kwon Do – Night: Gasso rallies ninjas, “Attack!”

Each scene cards as one document, like the above, it becomes a step outline.
Develop the Summary

 Sample

 One-paragraph summary of Transformer
For centuries, two races of robotic aliens – the Autobots and the Decepticons – have waged a war, with the fate of the universe at stake. When the battle comes to Earth, all that stands between the evil Decepticons and ultimate power is a clue held by young Sam Witwicky. An average teenager, Sam is consumed with everyday worries about school, friends, cars and girls. Unaware that he alone is mankind’s last chance for survival, Sam and his friend Mikaela find themselves in a tug of war between the Autobots and Decepticons. With the world hanging in the balance, Sam comes to realize the true meaning behind the Witwicky family motto – “No sacrifice, no victory!”

 A shorter-summary of Beowulf
In a legendary time of heroes, the mighty warrior Beowulf battles the demon Grendel and incurs the hellish wrath of the beast’s ruthlessly seductive mother.  Their epic clash forges the timeless legend of Beowulf.

 Or, even a brief summary of Chicken Run
In this escape movie parody, the hens of Tweedy Farm form an elaborate plan to breakout of their chicken coop prison.

 Note the logline set expectations by naming the genre first.
Empowering Synopsis
Sample from Balls of Fury:
[HERO] Down-and-out former professional Ping-Pong phenom Randy Daytona is sucked into this maelstrom when [SIDEKICK] FBI Agent Rodriguez [INCITING INCIDENT] recruits him [MISSION] for a secret mission. Randy is [PERSONAL GOAL] determined to bounce back and [REDEMPTION] recapture his former glory, and to [JUSTICE] smoke out his father’s killer, one of the [AUTHORITY] FBI’s Most Wanted, [VILLIAN] arch-fiend Feng.
[OBSTACLE] But, after two decades out of the game, Randy can’t turn his life around and avenge his father’s murder without a team of his own. [TEAM] He calls upon the spiritual guidance of [MENTOR] blind Ping-Pong sage and restaurateur Wong, and the training expertise of Master Wong’s [LOVE INTEREST] wildly sexy niece [FAMILY] Maggie, both of whom also have a [SECRET] dark history with Feng.
[LOCATION] All roads lead to Feng’s mysterious jungle compound and [BATTLE] the most unique Ping-Pong tournaments ever staged. There, Randy faces [ADVERSARIES] such formidable players as his long-ago Olympics opponent, the still-vicious [NEMESIS] Karl Wolfschtagg. [QUESTION] Can Randy keep his eye on the balls? [QUESTION] Will he achieve the redemption he craves while wielding a paddle? [QUESTION] Is his backhand strong enough to triumph over rampant wickedness?

This complete Balls of Fury synopsis is only 3 paragraphs long. And, it’s a teaser. It ends on a question rather than explicitly stating the ending.
  • A synopsis need not take long to write 
  • can save you time when writing your screenplay. 
  • helps to be clear about story. 
  • help to decide if even want to write a particular screenplay. 

Scene cards or a step outline 
  • can also be written quickly
  • may help most in the second or third act where writers without a firm idea of their story often get lost.
  • at 40 pages, creating a treatment is a much bigger investment. 
  • need to consider whether really need it, or whether synopsis or scene cards are enough to guide.

[source: WritersDigest]
by skripsketch
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Idea Brainstorming

Start with hook and logline which is actually pointing a unique situation - which is a high concept.

Example
Example of Logline from Wikipedia
  • There's situation, concern and interestingly want to know further
  • It's a situation, not a story but it promises a lot!

Faults in Developing the Idea
  • writer takes the situation into predictable or familiar direction
  • writer trying to avoid the predictable and lead the story to different way and drop the early promises
  • writer comfortable with writing in specific genre and style; and can't change into other groundwork/genre

 Tips on How to Make Idea Works
  • Change the perspective from other person's point of view -- explore the reaction, emotion, etc.
  • Decide at which point the story start -- ie. start with tragic incident
  • Change the protagonist undergoes -- films there’s a “character arc.”  

[source: WritersDigest]
by skripsketch
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Establishing Structure (in General)

Is all about building up the foundation.. [source: WritersDigest]

  • Jump in and start writing is totally bad idea - unless you're incredibly lucky. 
  • Without firm structure, the possibly will not get produced - remain inside producer's drawer

IMPORTANT!
Unlike completed novels, screenplays are not the end 
of the creative process, but the beginning. 
They are not designed for reading; 
they are designed as narrative blueprints for films.

  • visualizing the primary characters, their appearances, determining their goals, and how they will advance the story or create conflict. 
  • envision their interactions with each other, hearing how they speak.
  • repeat this process, mentally editing and re-thinking until ensure the story has a solid framework
  • establish and lock in the ends of the first two acts of the script.
  • without getting bogged down in screenplay jargon, the ends of acts one and two are the most important turning points in any feature script

  • at some point between 20 and 30 minutes into the film, after the environment and atmosphere have been established, main characters introduced, and potential conflicts and sub-plots foreshadowed, some event or action occurs that spins the story into a new direction
  • This is where act one ends and act two, the main body of the story, begins.
  • Similarly, towards the end of the second act, normally between pages 80 and 90

  • having a structure is a way to stay on track and focused as the story unfolds - like a map
<<above sound not really helpful... need to dig more info...*sigh..>>


by skripsketch

What Producers Want?


Here area my findings..
  • Producers always, always looking for the hook
  • Producers looking for big idea, universal/wide appeal, driven by great characters 
  • Each produces have own background and interest - this to lead various genre. 
  • Some maybe like original story, and maybe some like to experiment with adaptation (from a novel or just from an article he/she just read, for example).
  • There area producer with passion/interest (ie. science, history, politic-drama, etc.) or maybe just plain business (following the trend and make money -- like it's a supply-demand kinda business? Really?)
  • Most producers already have several idea in their head.
  • Decision could be from one producer or maybe more.
  • Making big decision - take the script to big screen or, just to local tv drama channel instead.
  • Producers already have a list of screenwriters to work with and love.
  • Producers don't really know about scriptwriting (technically) as they always refer to proposal and synopsis to evaluate


 Producers expectation from writers
  • capability to write particular genre
  • meeting and discussion among screenwriter/producer/crew - sharing idea
  • writer with his/her own style, taste and maybe concern
  • into the near of present tense, shorten the descriptions, and externalize/express visuals
  • deliver the material as planned
  • flexible in changing/re-write script

<<more inputs to be updated along the way..>>
by skripsketch
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Plot and Sub-plot

PLOT



"Plot (narrative)" definition as in wikipedia
My understanding, plot adalah pembinaan/pengwujudan cerita/event yg disusunatur bermula dari point A ke point seterusnya/penyudahnya. 

Other definition..

"Plot is the full flow of your story---
what happens from the beginning to the end. 
The plot provides the main characters, 
their goals and motivation and their conflicts—
the obstacles that keep them from reaching their goal. 
The plot is where you’ll find the story’s theme or main idea. " 

Still, I really don't know exactly what plot is..and even sub-plot?

Plot, in general, consists of 6 events (I think, this is the what we call "plot structure")
  1. Introduction - revealing characters and settings
  2. Rising Action - story starts complicated, reveal conflict
  3. Climax - highest point that make reader wonder what happen next? can resolve or not?
  4. Falling Action - complication start resolve, reader knows what happen next..
  5. Resolution - conclude falling action by revealing or suggesting the outcome of the conflict
  6. Narrative Hook - author catches the reader's attention by presenting interesting problems or situations


SUB-PLOT

"Subplot" definition from wikipedia

"Sub-plot is a secondary plot (or side story) that is unfolding in your story. 
The subplot adds complications and puts obstacles in the way 
of the main character and therefore becomes a story conflict. 
Sometimes a subplot will mirror the struggle of a main character, 
and though the character has wisdom for her friend's issue, 
she can’t relate it to her own until something happens 
to help her see that she has the same problem and now has the answer. "

Why need sub-lot?
Sub-plot provide layers...
  • prove your protagonist’s life
  • weave into the situation
  • take the pressure off the story
  • add complexity
  • reveal growth and change
  • flesh out the story
  • provide context
  • add to tension/suspense
  • deepen characters
  • drive the story

EXAMPLES PLOT and SUB-PLOT

Example subplot from wikipedia

Example from WritingFictionRight

<<there are a lot more to explore in this area.. like,
Cliché, Climax, Conflict, Dialogue, Dramatic Structure, Exposition, Plot Device, Plot Twist, Reveal, Subplot, Trope>>

by skripsketch
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Script Breakdown Process

Role: SCRIPT SUPERVISOR (who will assist the Director)

 Task (in general)
  • a personal checklist that covers all
  • to make sure everyone brings the things they need to bring
  • start figuring out what equipment and sets and wardrobe and special effects and visual effects and locations and makeup and so on
  • considering production schedule and budgeting
  • are familiar with essential props  
  • filtering how many characters need to be cast
  • knows what the sets, locations, props, and wardrobe are supposed to look like
  • key grip know what the lighting and composition and colors are supposed to look like
  • special or visual effects are planned for and designed in advance
  • goes through the script page by page with highlighters of various colors - representing the concerns of a specific department, and highlights passages to be extracted - standard for which color highlighter - such as ‘locations’, ‘props’, ‘equipment’, and ‘special/visual effects’

Sample from script

INT. SHOP - NIGHT
ED, a fifty-year old car salesman, enters his shop with a LOADED REVOLVER and a SUICIDE NOTE. His shirt is stained with tears. He sits at his cluttered desk and sets the note on his computer. The gun goes off, spraying the window behind him with red.

 get ready for Location : GREEN
PROP MASTER to get ready for Props : YELLOW
ART DIRECTOR to get ready for Equipment : BLUE
VISUAL EFFECT SUPERVISOR to get ready for Special/Visual Effect : ORANGE
get ready for Wardrobe : PINK

 All is about to express the character, situation, condition and background. And all above affect the budget.
Also, worth reading.. 
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