MachinEVO Week 2
Script Writing, Story Boarding, and Site Selection Issues
Filming and editing become much easier since less takes and cuts are needed.
Scriptwriting Benefits
Finding an appropriate set/sim, costumes, and props is easier.
Scriptwriting Benefits
Step 1: Prewriting—Brainstorming your goal and how to achieve that goal.
Scriptwriting Steps
* Illustrate:
A grammar point—past tense, conditionals . . .
A language function—expressing anger, ordering from a menu . . .
Vocabulary terms—body parts, idioms, . . .
* Tell a story for students to understand or draw conclusions from.
* Record students acting out a script.
* Having students use English in an intense way while creating videos on a topic you or they choose.
Example Goals
Step 2: Creating an outline—the major actions that need to be covered in the different scenes of the script.
Scriptwriting Steps
Step 3: Pitch—especially useful for your students to do since it requires them to present their ideas to the class.
Scriptwriting Steps
Step 4: The script—the setting and dialog for your scenes.
Scriptwriting Steps
Step 5: The storyboard—simple drawings that illustrate camera angles and essential costumes and props.
Scriptwriting Steps
Story Generators: Roleplay Scenarios
Useful Scriptwriting Tools
Story Generators: Story Dice
Useful Scriptwriting Tools
Story Generators: Opening Lines
Useful Scriptwriting Tools
Screenwriting Software:
• https://story.adobe.com/en-us/index.html• www.moviedraft.com/
Useful Screenwriting Tools
Screenwriting YouTube Video: Scriptwriting by AFI ScreenNation
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2JcJNul9y4k&feature=share&list=PLna7STDz_DyLBdlzcNWhChpCBZ5QVSG6u
Useful Screenwriting Tools
Basic Scriptwriting Conventions
Interior/Exterior -- Location -- Time of day
Description of where characters are and what they are
doing
Identify speaker
Speaker’s lines
Other film-making notes
Useful Screenwriting Tools
INT. – BEDROOM – AFTERNOON
Jenner leans on the wall next to the bed. James is in bed; his mother stands over him. She smiles a slight smile.
MOTHER
Doctor Jenner, could you please come here for a moment.
DISSOLVE TO JAMES’ FACE.
JENNER (V.O.)
Just a second.
FADE OUT.
Useful Screenwriting ToolsBasic Scriptwriting Conventions
Useful Screenwriting ToolsBasic Scriptwriting Conventions
= 1 minute of
screen time
Storyboarding helps you:
1. Discover problems before you start filming
2. Make sure everyone is on the same page about what
needs to be done
3. Analyze what shots and angles you want (wide
establishing shots, close-ups, cutaways, etc.)
4. Think about the purpose, props, dialogue, and action you
need in each shot
5. Make it evident when you are repeating ideas already
covered by previous action or dialogue.
Story Boarding: Why Bother?
Storyboarding Examples
Use a simple form.
Storyboarding Examples
Draw right on your script.
Storyboarding Examples
Use comic software, like Comic Life, to make your storyboard.
Storyboarding Examples
If you absolutely don’t want to draw, at least use a detailed Excel sheet.
Tips in “Cinematic Storytelling” document
Storyboarding Aids
• Storyboarding by AFI ScreenNation http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWPjjoOFIu8&feature=share&list=PLna7STDz_DyLBdlzcNWhChpCBZ5QVSG6u • Zero Budget Storyboarding
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vcXfgBLRv_E&feature=share&list=PLna7STDz_DyLBdlzcNWhChpCBZ5QVSG6u
• Storyboarding Tutorial
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4ekzThzjj0&feature=share&list=PLna7STDz_DyLBdlzcNWhChpCBZ5QVSG6u
• Alfred Hitchcock On Mastering Cinematic Tension
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPFsuc_M_3E&feature=share&list=PLna7STDz_DyLBdlzcNWhChpCBZ5QVSG6u
Storyboarding AidsYou Tube Videos
Storyboarding AidsYou Tube Videos detail types of shots and much more.
Storyboarding AidsYou Tube Videos detail types of shots and much more.
Storyboarding AidsYou Tube Videos detail types of shots and much more.
Storyboarding AidsYou Tube Videos detail types of shots and much more.
Storyboarding AidsYou Tube Videos detail types of shots and much more.
Storyboarding AidsYou Tube Videos detail types of shots and much more.
Storyboarding AidsYou Tube Videos detail types of shots and much more.
Storyboarding AidsYou Tube Videos detail types of shots and much more.
Storyboarding AidsYou Tube Videos detail types of shots and much more.
Storyboarding AidsYou Tube Videos detail types of shots and much more.
Storyboarding AidsYou Tube Videos detail types of shots and much more.
A rule-of-thirds shot
Partial list of factors:
1. Is it necessary to get permission to film?
2. Is the sim voice-enabled?
3. Are there useful or annoying background sounds?
4. Are there avatars on the sim that might be useful as extras or problematic?
5. Is it possible to shoot several different type of scenes on the same sim?
Site Selection Criteria
Ancient Rome, King Arthur’s court, the Wild West, Parisian catacombs, Berlin in the 1920’s, modern New York, outer space colonies, underwater cities, etc.
Visit SL Destinations to choose the best place for your machinima:
http://secondlife.com/destinations?lang=en-US
Site Resources: Historic or Culturally Rich Sims
A holodeck stores Second Life scenes and lets you load them from a menu whenever you want.
Scenes can include any prim object, including furniture, pose balls, and particle generators.
The following links give more information on holodecks:
• http://insidethisworld.com/the-holodeck.html • http://wiki.secondlife.com/wiki/
Holodeck
Site Resources: EduNation Holodecks
Sample--easy to alter or build from scratch
Site Resources: Simple Cube Sets
Machinima Open Stage Project Blog: http://machinimasl.blogspot.dk/
MOSP Welcome Area: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/LEA20/130/125/22
Sound Stage 1: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/LEA20/31/110/1204
Sound Stage 2: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/LEA20/38/105/1492
Sound Stage 3: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/LEA20/38/105/1667
Sound Stage 4: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/LEA20/38/105/1843
Peaceful Valley: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/LEA20/114/167/23
New Orleans: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/LEA20/139/123/2746
Gypsy Camp: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/LEA20/222/219/723
Night Beach: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/LEA20/46/125/3007
Corporate Office: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/LEA20/129/125/2031
Beach Walk: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/LEA20/93/32/21
Streets and Subway: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/LEA20/34/100/1005
Stone Ruins: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/LEA20/224/226/814
Park: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/LEA20/224/229/501
Shadow Lands: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/LEA20/19/231/3701
Machinima Open Studio Project
1. Form film-making groups.
2. Prepare scripts/story boards.
3. Take photos of your sets/sims and
costumes.
Suggested Work to Complete Before Next Week:
PowerPoint illustrating SL basics:
http://www.slideshare.net/bmcqueen2/sl-how-tos-16128694
Additional Resources
PDFs on SL Basics: • SL Basics.pdf • SL Basics Part 2.pdf
Additional Resources
Additional Resources
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