The Magic of Movies

What are the key mistakes short films make in their stories?  How can these be fixed? A key mistake a lot of people can make is having no philosophical conflict. Philosophical conflict is the backbone of storytelling. Without it you won't get why the character is doing what they're doing or what the characters believe. The problem with this is philosophical conflict is the foundation to a great story.  Character action needs to be motivated by beliefs, if there are no beliefs the story tends to fall flat. This can be fixed by asking yourself first what does my character want? What does my character believe? 

What are the key points to keep in mind when writing a short film?  What is philosophical conflict?  What is attaching beliefs and action structure? A key point I found was getting ideas/finding inspiration. Find a concept, or genre and start organizing and developing your story. Philosophical conflict is the different philosophical moral or ethical beliefs that are in conflict within your story. Once you establish your philosophical conflict it's time to attach beliefs to your different characters. You have to attach them onto your character and your characters will hold different points of view. Action structure relates to screenplays and tv. Story structure matters just as much in a short script as it does in a feature-length screenplay. The most effective way to go about it using the Dan Harmon story circle or Joseph Campbell's hero's journey. 

What is supposed to happen in the middle of your story? What are some ways to construct the middle of it? This video goes over exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, denouement. The middle part talks about climax. Your characters should have a clear goal and should be actively pursuing it in the first half of your story then being completely derailed at the midpoint. They should react AGAINST the midpoint until they achieve their goal. That's what should be happening in the story.  Some ways to construct the middle of it is probably adding obstacles such as a threshold guardian they prevent the protagonist from moving forwards, at least that's what their goal is. 

What should you be thinking about when writing a scene for the first time?  What does this video have to say about this?  What should you be thinking about re-writing a scene?  What does this video have to say about that?  When you're writing your scene the first time you want to keep it simple. Mixing it with different rules and tactics will only slow you down. When you're rewriting the scene take your time, analyze your work in more detail. Correct your incorrections make your words and sentences flow and sound better. You want to answer the question about what does your character want, both in the scene and the story. What happens in this scene that changes the story and moves it forward? Those two questions are very important. I learned that you have to know exactly what the motives are for your written/created characters in order to push and move the story forward. 

After touring California State University San Jose's film production facilities, what aspects of their program or resources stood out to you, and how do you think these could influence your approach to future film projects? I found the campus to be amusing and very put together. The trip really had me reconsider what kind of career I want for my future it was a wake up call for me. When it came to their film program it definitely seemed their film program was lacking in equipment and space. I felt very grateful that I have access to much more convenient and updated equipment. It influenced me in a way that I realized I have it better than some film students who are probably paying thousands of dollars to be a program that wasn't put as much funding into to make it worth the price. I will be a lot more cautious with what I have. 

What are set-ups and pay offs?  Why are they so important in the screenplay you are writing? Setups are essentially a series of obstacles. It's a tool that makes the story feel dissatisfying because it resolves the conflict without any meaningful contribution by the characters or using the established rules of the story world this is why it's so important to implement setups and payoffs. They can create a sense if inevitability and logic within a story making the resolution earned and justified. They're so important in a screenplay because without a setup and payoff there isn't really a beginning or ending to your story.                                                              

Explain what each of the following parts of a script are and why they are essential: DUAL DIALOG Portraying two characters characters speaking at once. Their lines display next to each other in a script. Thus giving impression to the reader that both people are talking at the same time it's a nice way of visually representing that. A great example is Batman he plays a hero and a regular man named Bruce Wayne.  DAY OR NIGHT/DAWN & DUSK To show the reader what time of the day it is but to be more specific if you're shooting for a certain time.  CAMERA NOTATIONS Camera notations are pretty much the terms they use such as POV shots, OTS, CU, and when to indicate it.  You're kinda getting into a cinematographers job.  MUSIC CUES A music cue be very careful just like camera notations use music cue to only explain when it has to do with the scene. NOTIONS A screenplay, also known as a script, is a written document that outlines a movie or TV show's story, characters, di...

What does this video have to say about focusing your story? What are some key points it as to say about why scripts are too complex? A great story will handle one maybe two ideas and then they stick to that and look at that specific idea. Some key points as to why scripts can get too complex is when you add multiple ideas which lead to a whole lot of plot holes. Another reason a script can become unorganized is when theres too many characters with too many stories. Not saying to only always have a small amount but know how long your film is and acknowledge realistically how many characters you would be able to fit. Another important thing is your film should focus on one specific idea. Leave the audience with one specific question at the end. 

How is Dan Harmon's Story circle similar to "The Hero's Journey" mono myth cycle you've learned about?  How is it different?  Which system do you prefer?  Why Dan Harmon has the story circle which has 8 essential points to making a whole story. It's different form the Hero structure because it is less focused on a hero arc and more of a general character arc. I'd say Harmons version is much more simplified as well because it more clear, more direct. Hero's journey is not the only story structure you can use there is are more structures out there. Many directors believe it is an old structure that doesn't work for every single kind of film while some whole heartedly believe it is the most valuable structure to making a good story. I honestly prefer Dan Harmon's story structure his is just more to the point in my opinion and I can see myself using his more in the kind of films I make. 

What storytelling patterns does this video discuss, and what significance do they hold when you are writing a short film? This video discusses the patterns in films that were put together and are now known as the hero's journey.  At it's core this describes a hero leaving their normal everyday world to an unknown one full of mysteries and potential conflicts. This also means the hero leaving and returning with something valuable or learned. The hero's journey consists of different archetypes the hero, the herald, the mentor, threshold guardian, shape shifter, trickster, and the shadow. Normally all or one of these elements will come into play in your short film. They are crucial elements to having a good 3 act structure for a short film.  

Was the Hero' Journey the only thing that influenced George Lucas when he created Star Wars?  Watch the following video that does a fantastic job discussing film history, George Lucas and the great Akira Kurosawa: George Lucas was a racer but then he got into an accident that distanced him from competitive racing to wanting to pursue film. He went to a premiere watched Kurosawas Akira 7 samurai film and was inspired by it. At this time film school wasn't a thing because the way to move up in old Hollywood was apprentice in the studio system not watching old forward movies and actually studying filmmaking. Hollywood needed something new thats when Martin Scorsese, Francis Coppola, Steven Spielberg, and George Lucas came in. Everyone makes their magnum opus while Lucas finds inspiration is Kirasawas, and he names his Samurai Jedi Ji Geki models. That's how Star Wars started. 

What do you notice when watching this video example of the hero's journey in these films?  How is it represented in each film? While watching this video I noticed the reoccurring themes of the hero stumbling upon an unknown world/environment, having some sort of realization and coming to conclusion learning a lesson about themselves coming out stronger and better than before. The patterns are universal but the themes are unique. Each time in place has its own unique manifestations of conflict contradiction and duality. Often themes are confronted about its obstacles. They're all represented in a unique and different way with the same sort of structure of arch-types but in different forms. Hero's find purpose in a world in which meaning and purpose are not given. 

What is the hero's journey?  What parts of the structure stand out and seem the most important to you? The Hero's journey as MasterClass quotes "A lonely hero who is trying to find himself. A sudden and unexpected journey, promising adventure and peril. A test of character, strength, and skill. An ultimate battle that tests the hero’s resolve. A triumphant return home." The parts of the structure that I found out about was the departure, the hero leaves the familiar world behind. The initiation the hero learns to navigate the unfamiliar world. The return the hero returns to the familiar world. The act that stands out most to me is the hero learns to navigate around the unfamiliar world. It's most interesting to me because you have so much to make from that part of the structure I feel the second structure is the most important to have established because it's kinda what completes the rest of the story. 

Which archetype seems easiest to write?  Which do you think seems the most difficult?  Why?  What archetype do you understand the least?  Why?  What kind of hero's do you like telling stories about? An archetype that seems easiest to write to me is the the purpose of the mentor. "Mentors provide heroes with motivation, inspiration, guidance, training, and gifts for the journey. Their gifts often come in the form of information or gadgets that come in handy later." The mentor's like a god, a guide, a voice I feel it's easiest to write because they usually have a lot less conflict going on for them.  The one that seems most difficult is Overcoming the Threshold Guardian. You would need to come up with a good background for each guardian, and I feel its also just harder because there would have to also be a lot of time into each characters want and need. Shapeshifters seems confusing to me because I'm not sure hwta it means by (the male element in the female c...

Summarize each of the six different kinds of conflict.  In your own words, describe what makes each of them different.  Which is your favorite?  Describe in depth why it's your favorite. Person vs self is the conflict where a person has mental struggles or you could say their "inner demons". Person vs person is a conflict where it's often a disagreement between two people who have different views, morals, values in something. Person vs nature is someone going against the natural laws of a planet and trying to survive the obstacles that come with it. Person vs society is someone who goes against social regulations/rules. Person vs supernatural is someone who goes against inhuman identities/forces. Person vs fate/gods is someone who goes against their beliefs, their destined fate, etc this is conflict because they know they're not supposed to do this and they know it has consequences. What makes each conflict different is that they all have different stakes and risk...

Summarize two of the most interesting laws in this article. How do they help create engaging visual stories? One of the laws that stood out to me is make sure every character has a unique voice. Avoid stereotypes, surprise us with quirks and unusual traits, create someone an actor will love to play. I find it important to be able to identify different people in films because if they all seem the same it's just a bland story. I also think its important to try and make their journey difficult, it's simply boring if they dont. The second law I found quite interesting was know what your hero wants (the goal), what happens if he doesn’t get what he wants (the stakes), and who/what is preventing him from getting what he wants (the villain). If your film fails to answer the questions above your film is bound to fail and nobody will talk greatly of it. They help create engaging stories because they provide good storytelling elements, and an immersive environment. 

Pick two of these plot types that most interest you and write about them.  Why does each of these plot types interest you?  What makes them seem more interesting than the other ones?  Which two of the plot lines out of the seven would you like to use for a future video project?  Why? The rags to riches plot line interests me a lot because it's someone who goes from having everything to nothing. It's kind of like an underdog storyline that I find to be very engaging for me personally. I find it to be very interesting because you have a lot you can do with the character arc, and characters in general. I also like the quest plot because its a more compelling storyline. I find it interesting too because the characters go through lots of risky temptations and obstacles. Their goal is to reach an important objective or location and face complications along the way. I would love to use the rags to riches plotline just because I know I can play more around with the character...