Screenplay. Timing and motion. Martin Constable October 23, RMIT Vietnam

Screenplay Timing and motion Martin Constable October 23, 2017 RMIT Vietnam

The Storyboard

A storyboard is made before a movie is shot (i.e. production). A storyboard: Indicate how the story will be told. This is done on a scene-by-scene and shot-by-shot basis. Helps in the development of an idea. So... many people working together may use a storyboard as a thinking and developing tool. Identifies the most significant moments in a film. Is used to convey the ideas of a film to the production team. Above all, addresses movement and change. This is done in whatever way is most suitable. 1

Motion

Film is time and motion working together to make change. Change is the DNA of narrative. In a movie, there are two kinds of motion: In-camera motion: motion in front of the camera Camera motion: motion of the camera Frequently these moments support and echo each other (e.g. a shot where both the camera and the hero are in rapid motion) 2

In-camera motion In-camera moment involves anything in front of the camera that is moving. For example: The actor walking into a scene The actor shaking their head Trees swaying in a strong wind 3

In-camera motion In-camera moment frequently works together with camera motion. For example: The actor walking into a scene and the camera following them The actor shaking their head and the camera moving towards them Trees swaying in a strong wind and the camera shaking 4

In-camera motion We can broadly classify in-camera motion: Motion laterally across the frame ( X and Y axis). This sort of motion supports development. Motion into the scene ( Z axis). This sort of motion supports drama. Narrative motion (e.g. hand waving, head shaking, bag packing). This sort of motion supports story. In filmmaking, this is usually referred to as action. Static motion (movement that presents as a texture, for example a tree swaying, a crowd walking, sea rising and falling). This sort of motion supports location. 5

Camera motion We can broadly classify camera motion: Motion on the camera axis Motion relative to the scene These are described in the following two slides... 6

Motion on the camera axis Motion on the camera axis is analogous to the motion of the head. The two main forms of camera axis motion are Pan (shaking the head) and tilt (nod). 7

Motion relative to the scene This is analogous to the motion of the body. It comes in two main forms: dolly (moving forward or backwards) and truck (shuffling sideways). 8

Motion relative to the scene Motion relative to the scene may be in reference to a point in a scene, which we may treat as a pivot. It may rotate around the pivot (e.g. a camera movement called a crane front to top ) The pivot itself may be in motion (e.g. a dolly where the camera is not in a fixed position, or a pan where the camera is in a fixed position) 9

Remember: every film shot should have a clear (and clearly different) beginning, middle and end. In the clips I have given you, look out for these. Also, every shot should serve a purpose. 10

Framing

Framing refers to how the scene is contained within the limits of the edges of the shot. It is most frequently described in reference to whatever object or character the camera scene is containing. 11

Point of view Point of view indicates whether the camera is looking up or down or straight ahead. A birds-eye shot is an example of an extreme point of view. 12

Fill Fill indicates (for example) the difference between a close up (where a select portion of the object or character fills the frame) or a long shot (where the object or character presents as a small feature within the frame). 13

Screen direction Screen direction refers to the left/right ( X axis) directionality of a movie, which is expressed with reference to the edges of the frame. The left and the right edges of the screen are frequently treated very differently to each other, with each serving a different purpose. For example: bad guys enter from right, good guys enter from left. 14

Y axis Y axis refers simply to whether the Y axis of the camera is in line with the world Y axis. Or more simply, if your camera is tilted relative to the horizon. Changes in X or Z axis are, to our eyes, generally acceptable. Changes to the Y axis may seem strange but have to potential to convey strong drama and/or motion. 15

Staging Staging (usually) refers to how the actors are arranged in a scene. Many actors may be engaged in related activities (or different activities) within one shot. This may be classified: Depth staging. Here the differences are maintained across many planes, all at different positions relative to the camera. Planer staging. Here the difference are maintain within a single plane. 16

Annotations

On their own, drawings are too ambiguous to convey all the information needing in a storyboard. For very specific information, text is required. Most usually, such annotations indicate camera motion and framing. However, they can also serve to indicate just about anything that is happening in front of the camera. 17

Abbreviations in filmmaking In addition to the camera motion terms already described, the following terms and abbreviations are also used: EXT. exterior shot INT. interior shot E.C.U. extreme close up M.C.U. medium close up M.S. medium shot L.S. long shot... 18

Abbreviations in filmmaking Camera abbreviations continued... E.L.S. extreme long shot W.S. wide shot E.W.S. extreme wide shot Handheld a handheld camera or Stedicam Fade in/out 19

Good Examples of Storyboards

The following storyboards are all very different in style. They use a number of different strategies to do the job. 20

Jurassic Park Here 3D arrows have been used to indicate in and out motion (i.e. Z axis). See also how elements of the drawing extend out of the frame, thereby supporting the action. 21

Gladiator More 3D arrows, this time also indicating a curved track. 22

Snow White and the Huntsman In the last frame, the array of arrows work together with the zoom lines to indicate downwards motion. The action is supported by some text indicating plot ( SW. W. & E. look up to see... ) and action (rocks falling). 23

X-Men 3: The Last Stand In the first frame the whiz lines indicate an actor turning their head. 24

Edge of Tomorrow Here the figure breaks the frame, indicating dramatic in-camera motion. 25

The Dangerous Bleem Here the strange marks around the frame in the middle of the last column indicate camera shake. 26

No Country for Old Men Here the figure breaks the edges of the frame, indicating in-camera motion. 27

Spider Man 2 Here the word bam is used to indicate violent action (narrative motion). 28

Bad Examples of Storyboards

The following storyboards are all very poor student responses to storyboard assignments. 29

Dreadful storyboards Here is a dreadful response to a storyboard assignment. Everything about it is wrong. There are no annotations, the formatting is non-existant and the execution is sloppy. It explains practically nothing about the shots. 30

Dreadful storyboards This is a bit better, but the frame (i.e. format) has been hand drawn, which looks sloppy. Also, the text is too hard to read. 31

Dreadful storyboards This incredible chase sequence from Lord of the Rings (D. Peter Jackson), with its huge camera sweep... 32

Dreadful storyboards...was translated onto this lousy, lazy single frame by someone who (believe it or not) wanted to be a filmmaker. 33

Templates

A storyboard is usually done within a pre-printed template. Amongst other things, this ensures that the format is consistent from shot to shot. 34

Storyboard organization This storyboard template is very highly organized, with lots of information... 35

Storyboard organization This storyboard is simply a bunch a drawings, with no annotations or non-visual information. However, the format of the frame is consistent (i.e. template-driven). 36

Storyboard template The storyboards that you do for this course, I expect to be drawn using a template. There are many templates out there... 37

Storyboard template 38

Storyboard template 39

Storyboard template 40

Storyboard template 41

Storyboard template For this course you should design your own template. This is easy to do in Photoshop, Illustrator, etc. You can even use Microsoft word. Above all, the format of this frame should be correct. In other words, the proportions of your movie should match the proportions of the storyboard frame. I will show you how to do this in class. 42