Preparing for your shoot

AGENDA:

• Shot sheets
• Call Sheets
• Project and Time Management 

Preparing for the shoot, watch this movie!

SHOT SHEETS
See handouts with examples of shot sheets.

Please read the following excellent article about preparing for a production shoot.
This article is authored by Valentina Valentini, and follows a number of indie filmmakers, including Robert Ballo, Senior Lecturer at USCs Schools of Cinematic Arts.

As individuals please respond to the following questions in a google doc to share with me at shsmap2013@gmail.com (and with your team mates):

1. “With shot lists, it’s a creative give and take as to what each person feels they need in order to cover the scene effectively to tell the story,” explains Ballo. What do you think you personally need in order to execute a shot within a scene? Are you the kind of person that needs organization and likes working from lists in an organized manner? Are you someone who likes to work more creatively open-ended? Do you fall somewhere in between the two extremes?
2. “It’s about having the shot list ready with probably a little more than you need, and then it’s about being confident and flexible enough to deviate from that,” says Ballo. What benefit might a detailed shotlist provide? What is the risk if your team follows the shot list to strictly and does not allow for creative flexibility along the way?
3. How well do you think you know your script? Do you feel that you can visualize the story in your head, in a scene by scene fashion, or not?
4. Like Ballo, Liford believes that being prepared is key. “I usually always know what I need and want going into it,” he adds. “I think it’s a good idea to go into it all with a solid plan, because that gives you room to experiment.” Do you agree with Liford? Do you believe that as a student of film still learning the ropes that being overly prepared is beneficial?
5. What is your interpretation of Mollner's description of the Scorsese or Kubrick school of filmmaking? What is Mollner really saying? It appears he says he doesn't use floor plans, but he spends much time with the script to establish visual images in his head. What does his shot list consist of, or become, rather than just a 'list of shots'? Do you feel experienced enough to approach a project in this manner?

------Once finished with the self-analysis, discuss as a group differences you may have with each other over style. Do some members like organization, while other members may prefer a more free-style approach  with lots of flexibility? How will you reconcile your different approaches to project development? 

Read this linked article for a quick and simple explanation of blocking a shot. Discuss blocking your shots with your group. This requires you to determine shot type, camera angle, position and movement of actors, lighting, and stage set up with props. Take your most complex shot within a scene and discuss how you will block and stage the shot within your group. Be prepared to discuss your ideas with Mrs. L.

CALL SHEETS 
Look at these samples. 
Lost
James Bond
Roswell (Fox Television)
Template

Call sheets are an essential part of professional productions, Film, TV, Commercial, Music Videos etc. Based on looking at the example call sheets answer the following within your groups:

1. How do you think a Call Sheet benefits productions, both large and small? 
2. How is a call sheet different than a Shot List?
3. Discuss with your group if a call sheet would help you manage your production or not? List one way in which you might find a call sheet useful, you can use a provided sticky for idea collection and sharing.

SCHEDULE

Google App-watch demonstration. Director should start to fill out and finalize Thur, end of class. Share with group and teacher (shsmap2013@gmail.com).

Assignments due Thursday April 18th, end of period

1. Final script shared with me (shsmap2013@gmail.com)
2. Shot sheet-defining scenes, shot within scene, cam angle, movement, notes/comments (For our purposes, include location and actors in shot sheet if you do not intend to use a call sheet. If using a call sheet, you can put locations and actors in the call)
3. Storyboard panels for specific scenes
4. Call sheet-consider whether useful for your production. Create at least 1 call sheet, simple format, for some important aspect of your movie. (This could be the scene with inciting incident,  as example).
5. Schedule of production backward planning from Fishbowl. Include:

• Planning
• Production (all production shoots-break this down into as much detail as possible, listing all shoots required)
• Research, sourcing material to be used in movie
• Editing
• Effects or Animation (if needed)
• Audio editing
• Integration of audio
• Final Render
• Assign roles and dates work will be done.
• Identify days that are light and days that are heavier in terms of workload. What can be done on lighter days to keep the project moving forward.
• Every class period needs an assignment for each student in your group. If you cannot do this, there are too many people in your group.
• Assign dependencies (as in, editing is dependent upon what, what must the editor have to perform that job?)