Proposal

CCT422 Advanced Video Production PROJECT PROPOSAL

Project Proposal and Production Plan 20% of Final Grade Due: Start of Class Five

Description of Project For this project you and your team will be asked to: Develop an outline, treatment and production plan/proposal for an approximately 5 minute (max.) “mini-drama” video to be produced/completed for your Final Video. Your goal is to “sell” the project and make it CLEAR to us what your intentions are.

Project Specifics: Production Plan Format for Production Plan • Cover Page (Names, date, course, title of work, chosen genre/story type, index) • Overall Project/Story synopsis/summary/vision. This should include a Story Statement, Story Ending, Plot Synopsis/Summary, any issues/aims you would like to address in your work. (minimum 2 pages) • Character List (types/wants – this should be developed) • Treatment (The What and Why your video will look and sound like!!) – This is incredibly important – spend time on it! This includes sound, Camera shots, music, lighting, SFX, costumes, make-up, props, mise-en-scene etc.. For this section you may wish to discuss particular scenes in detail. Minimum 2 pages. You may include images for support. • *Storyboard (One Scene – this will help with visual support) • Script (approximately 5 pages – usually 1 minute per page. NOTE: this does NOT need to be an original script). • *Location Plan/Survey (at this stage it may still be a list of ideals) • Schedule (must include a formal equipment request schedule) • Contingency plan

Be sure to clarify headings for each section. This can be done in POINT FORM and short sentences – CLARITY IS KEY (you don’t need to approach this as an essay)! Your intent should be to convince your peers and faculty of the value, relevance, viability and preparedness of your project.

Plot Synopsis/Summary (minimum 2 pages) Story Statement A one to two sentence statement that should state what the story is about. It should be based on the main character of the story.

Story Ending A one to two sentence statement which should state how the story ends.

Plot Summary

A plot synopsis is a description what the scene is about, whom the scene focuses on, the general intent of the scene, and what happens (key visual and audio points).

Many novice directors are unable to shoot a scene because they can't clearly state what goes on in the scene. You need a plot synopsis so that you and your crew will understand how the various parts relate to each other.

See how this example, below, gives you a very good idea of what the story is about. As you read it, you will probably have clear visuals already in your head, which means the director has passed their vision on to you:

Mike and Martha discover that Aunt Jane's house is really a front for a group of mutated spiders plotting to overthrow the Post Office. Before they are able to contact the authorities using their special two-way radios, they are netted by militant spiders who drag them off to a sacrificial chamber in preparation for the crowning ceremony of the Queen Spider.

Character/Cast List List of main “characters” and a description of them (Who are they? What do they look like, talk like, dress like? What do they WANT? What is their current circumstance? How will they change? - If you have actors already it would be good to include their names)

Treatment (minimum two pages) Description of techniques you (the director) will use and why you will use them. It explains why the director has chosen to shoot the scene in a particular way.

You should include sections for camera shots; music; lighting; exterior sound and/or sound effects; costumes; makeup, props (including vehicles and animals); special effects; and so on, as appropriate.

Check out the sample below and notice how you gain more understanding about the "look and sound" of this show from reading this partial treatment (NOTE YOURS WILL BE MORE DETAILED)

Camera shots:

What: Many camera positions are very low using a wide-angled lens. Most of the action is choreographed within a static frame. Occasionally the director uses traditional establishing shots and close ups typical of the genre. Why: These shots normally make the principal performer appear to be dominant and important. In this case however, the wide angle, low camera position distorts the ill-fitting cowboy boots of the performer and makes him seem comical and uncomfortable. The director is paying tribute to a genre of cowboy picture in order to show the absurdity of his protagonist in comparison to traditional cowboy heroes.

Music:

What: The music is a variation of the theme song for Bonanza done in a minor key using tubas as the melody instruments. Why: The reference to Bonanza, a television icon, establishes the Western genre but gives it a twist. The minor key shows that the performer is sad. The use of the tuba as a lead instrument is humorous and accentuates the clumsiness of the lead performer.

Lighting:

What: This exterior scene uses natural lighting as well as reflector boards and a bank of soft lights. The interior of the saloon has strong flickering amber lighting and hanging lanterns outside the swinging doors. Why: The soft lights and reflector boards are used to reduce the harsh shadows on the faces of the characters. The amber light of the saloon contrasts with the harsh blue natural light on the street. The saloon lighting is warm and inviting helping us understand that the performer would sooner be inside the saloon than outside in a gunfight. The lanterns indicate that the evening is approaching and foreshadow the fire that is about to break out in the straw.

Script (approximately 5 pages – NOTE YOU DO NOT NEED TO WRITE YOUR OWN SCRIPT!!!) There are four (4) headings which appear at the beginning of every scene: the scene number the INTERIOR/EXTERIOR indicator appears at the left hand margin the exact location appears in the middle the time of day (MORNING, EVENING NIGHT, etc.) appears at the right hand margin

The TRANSITION is shown at the bottom of each page, and is usually CUT TO or DISSOLVE TO.

All of these headings and footer are in UPPER CASE. See the examples below for how it should look, before and after being marked up by the director.

The content of each scene contains the following: the characters who appear in the scene the lines to be spoken by the actors and any off-screen narration a description of the action and the environment in which the action takes place special effects which are part of the action within the scene

The master scene script is the work of a screenwriter. As such any information to camera angle or type of shot does not appear at this stage. It is the director of the video or film who has the responsibility to perform the visualization task. The writer's imagination, however, can be of great assistance to the director and will in many instances ensure that the writer's vision will come to fruition.

• see posted examples

For this assignment you will only need to hand a storyboard of one scene (approximately 2 pages). (Eventually you will need completed storyboards for all scenes (to be done for final shooting). Storyboards are developed during the pre-production stage and used throughout the production and post-production stages. A storyboard is a series of diagrams that are used to depict the composition of a video segment. Each diagram consists of: a sketch of the video image; a brief description of the visual; notes for the camera operator; the details of the desired audio that will accompany the visual; and an estimate of how long the segment will be.
 * Storyboards

When viewed as a sequence, the storyboard pictures should act as a guide for the production and post-production stages of producing a video. Without a well defined storyboard collection, the director's job becomes unmanageable.

The storyboard becomes a valuable tool for everyone involved with the production. When the director, camera operator, talent, and editing team all have the same understanding of the goals of the video, a quality production becomes obtainable.

Creating a storyboard also allows the production team to experiment with different ideas and sequences before taping any segments. Individuals can sketch and explain their visions of what the flow of presentation should be. During the pre-production stage, adjustments can be made to the projections of the completed video, which will save valuable production and post-production time. The production and editing teams do not need to guess as to what type of footage might be needed and how it might all fit together. If the proper segments are recorded, as called for by the storyboard, the editing process should flow smoothly.


 * see posted storyboard form and example.

This is a ist of where you intend to shoot and a location survey for each location. As well as a layout drawing of your locations. (This may be done in rough form as some locations may not yet be completed) You should always include the following elements: walls, doors, windows and furnishings the performers (each labeled with an initial or name) and their movements the camera setup position and its setup number the lighting fixtures' positions, and what type of fixture they are the shots to be obtained from the set up the electrical outlets for your lights
 * Location Plan/Survey

if there are windows involved or if it is an outdoor shoot, the direction of North (because the sun will move across the sky over the course of the day and you want to know whether this will interfere with your lighting or cause shadows).

Important: unless the production is very simple, put only one camera setup on each location plan. This means that you will have to draw a master plan, make photocopies, and on each copy show the camera setup, lighting plan, and performer's positions and movement for that particular setup.

Tip: Use different plans if you need to! You will notice that in the example given, there is an "overview" of the whole shooting site, and then there is a "close up" version for the setup. This is because the multiple setups in our sample production happen all over the shooting site, so each setup needs to be shown in much greater detail than the big overview plan would allow us to do. Don't squish your setup in a little space onto your big overview plan!


 * see posted location plan

Things To Consider When Doing Your Location Survey

Audio What are the acoustics of the room? Are there any extraneous background noises? (tip: close your eyes while on location, and just listen. This means your brain will not be distracted by visual stimuli, and can hear the extraneous noises much more clearly.) What kind of mic’s will you need to get the sound you want?

Lighting Are there windows (which will be a colour temperature consideration for you), and which direction do they face (and therefore will be a consideration as to how the light is coming in at a specific time of day)? Could they be masked out if necessary, and if so, how? Which way is North? Are there any other light sources (e.g., overhead fixtures and can they be turned off)? Can they be used to advantage during the shoot? What colour are the walls and ceilings (e.g., if they're white, can I bounce light off them)?

So from all of the above, what are the prevailing lighting conditions at the time of day that you will be shooting? Daylight, tungsten, fluorescent, mixed? (It's often easier and more efficient to work with the predominant light source at the location.) What are the ceilings like (e.g., can I add clamps to the ceiling to hang lights from?), and where are the sprinklers and heat detectors?

Power What is the location and number of AC outlets...and are they working? How many circuits are there, and where is the circuit breaker box or fuse box if you need to get to it, should overload a circuit?

Permission Do you have permission of the person in authority to shoot at the location? This means: the owner of the apartment building (not the superintendent) street shooting permits for locations outdoors and off school property Security notification for areas not normally used by our labs etc.

Schedule An outline of your production and post production schedule including lists of equipment as tied to specific dates. YOU MUST INCLUDE ALL EQUIPMENT REQUESTS AND BE ABLE TO DISCUSS/DEFEND THE REASON FOR USE (WE WILL COLLECTIVELY DISCUSS NEEDS AS EQUIPMENT MUST BE SHARED) YOU WILL BE GIVEN A FORM FOR THE EQUIPMENT LIST.

Contingency plan Do you have a plan if things go awry?

Format 12 point font, double spaced Microsoft Word Document or PDF

Project Hand in Specifics:

(Finder Menu>Go>Connect to server>Elara (sign in as guest)>SAAD faculty folders> Kathleen Hearn > CCT422> Hand in folder>

Hard copies and e-copies due at start of class.

Your e-Files Must use the following naming protocol: names must be listed in alphabetical order of last names.

Use the following naming convention for handing in: • Your Project Production Plan (text material) Named: last name (team member 1)_first initial_last name (team member 2)_first initial etc._Pp.doc (or pdf)