Documentary Planning

1
Documentary Planning

• How to Write a Script
• Script Elements

2
How to Use This PowerPoint

• As a planning guide
• As you plan out your documentary, use these
  slides.
• Answer any questions in detail right on the slide.

3
How to Submit This PowerPoint

• Save the PowerPoint
• The file name should be LAST names.FIRST
  name.class.Script planning.
• Email it to jbomeisl_at_cfsd16.org or airdrop it.

4
Script Elements

• You will be planning
• Story
• Visuals
• Sound

5
Story Elements - Plot summary

• On this slide, briefly summarize your plot.
  Remember a plot has a beginning, middle and
  end. What is your main idea? How will you
  present it?

6
Story Elements - Backstory

• What background that occurred before the start of
  your film might the audience need to know?

7
Story Elements - the Beginning

• A good beginning
• Creates an audiovisual hook. What will be your
  hook?

8
Story Elements - the Beginning

• A good beginning
• Establishes the core assertion of the film. What
  is the purpose/thesis of your film? (Write it as
  though you were writing a thesis statement for an
  essay.)

9
Story Elements - the Beginning

• A good beginning
• Creates curiosity among the audience. How will
  you do this?

10
Story Elements - Beginning

• A good beginning
• Shows change or the promise of change. What
  change are you advocating?

11
Story Elements - Beginning

• A good beginning
• Creates the element of consequence - cause and
  effect directs the audience and increases
  understanding. What cause and effect might you
  use?

12
The beginning Inciting incident

• Inciting Incident causes conflict, causes change
• What is YOUR inciting incident? (Note sometimes
  this is your hook as well.)

13
Story Elements - the Middle - Common Issues

• Concept, idea, thought - each sequence is related
  through common issues. What are the common issues?

14
Story Elements - the Middle - Opposing Viewpoints

• What are the opposing viewpoints you will use?

15
Story Elements - Middle - Settings

• Setting - use common locations or different
  locations within a common, larger setting. What
  settings will you use?

16
Story Elements - Middle - Mood

• Mood - can make sequences relate to each other -
  comparison OR contrast. Can you get the audience
  emotionally involved? What mood(s) will you
  utilize?

17
Story Elements - Middle Pacing

• How will you pace your film? Linear? Non-linear
  time? (See your notes from previous lessons.)
• If non-linear Scriptwriter must know audience
  well in order to use non-linear. Why will this
  work for your audience?

18
Story Elements - The Middle Pacing

• Transitions - What ones will you use? Visual?
  Sound?

19
Story Elements - The End

• The End Must be inevitable and unexpected. Which
  type will you use?
• Two types of ending
• Closed end - all questions and emotions raised in
  story are satisfied. No doubt or question is
  left.
• Open end - leaves one or more questions
  unanswered, some emotions unfulfilled. Does NOT
  leave audience hanging, but offers alternatives
  and choice.

20
Story Elements - POV

• Plot The Point of View (POV) determines the
  narration.
• Which will you use?
• First person POV is most common. Characters talk
  in terms of I, film records their experiences
  through their eyes.
• Second person POV - narration directly addresses
  audience as you- often used in television video
  magazines and news stories
• Third person POV - more common in classical
  documentaries. Told from perspective of someone
  unknown by audience, a god-like omnipresent
  person.

21
Story Elements - POV

• Plot Point of View
• Who is telling the story to the audience?

22
Visual Elements - plan yours!

• Visual elements The Sequence - What type(s) of
  sequences will you use? Describe them. When will
  you use them?

23
Identify Plan Other Visual Elements you could
use

• The Montage
• Talking Heads

24
Identify Plan Other Visual Elements you could
use

• Archival film footage or photographs.
• Graphics
• Ranactment

25
Identify Plan Other Visual Elements you could
use

• Visual Metaphors Describe ones you might use.
• Special effects

26
Sound Elements - what will you use? Give examples

1. Narrative commentary
2. Voice over
3. Talking heads
4. Music
5. Ambiance sound
6. Sound effects
7. Silence