Hi Everyone, this page will be an ongoing resource for our meetings and discussions. If we’ve forgotten anything, let us know!

Connect!

• instructors@adventurefilmschool.com
• students@adventurefilmschool.com
• By Phone: 425-244-6449

Contents:

• Google Hangout 1/5/16 – Story Development
• Google Hangout 01/12/15 – Visualization & Cinematography Basics
• Google Hangout 10/19/16 – Script, Shotlist, Storyboard

Google Hangout 1/5/16 – Story Development

Thanks so much for the call  last night. We’re looking forward to working with you to develop your ideas further! Notes and link to the information we discussed are below! If you’re looking for a specific section, we’ve linked the timecodes below in the agenda for you.

Agenda

• Schedule What to expect from the course and logistics
• What makes a good story? What makes a film memorable or your favorite?
• Three Act Structure Rising and falling actions.
• Heros Journey
  • What Makes a Hero?
    
  • Jurassic World 
• Archetypes Universal themes and character types

• Brainstorming Techniques
  • By topic or style of film. What excites you? What are you curious about?

Resources

• 3 Act Structure (PDF)
• Brainstorming Methods (PDF)
• The Building Blocks for Story. (click the below images to view full image)

Whats next? 

Pre-production mtg 1/12 @7:30PM PST

• The Hook. What makes you want to keep watching in the first 1-2 mins?
• Discuss group story ideas
• Treatment. What it is and how to write one

Homework

1. Hook: Find an example of a hook from your favorite gear sponsor films (i.e. Patagonia, North Face, etc.) and determine if it is a strong hook or a weak hook  and why?
2. Brainstorming: Time to put the pen to the paper and write out your brainstorming ideas, whether it be a visual brainstorming image (photo/pdf) or a document, make sure you have something to discuss at the next meeting.

If you complete brainstorming, here’s a preview of the next step.

Google Hangout 01/12/15 – Visualization & Cinematography Basics

Smaller class in our last session, but after chatting with you at various points, everyone is in a similar place. GOOD NEWS! Whether or not it feels like it, you’re on the right track.

Writing & story development can be difficult – especially when learning a new technique or skill. If you have felt unsure, bogged down, or not sure how this is going to come together, you’re in the right place. That is part of the process. Like all great ideas, most don’t come with instant clarity. They are crafted and honed over time. It’s a clay block needing to be shaped. This is why we continually ask you what your story is.

The process of writing it and saying it will continue to sharpen and refine your idea. So tell your friends, your family, or a random stranger who asks about your day. Practice. Remember – The art of creating, is a muscle that must be developed and exercised. Only then does it become easier. The KEY and most important thing is to continue pushing. What you’re writing now, even if it will be thrown out or is a muddled mess — it is the way forward. So keep going. You’re doing the exact-right-thing. To add more food for thought, take a look at the talk by Austin Kleon below.

We discussed visualization & cinematography basics. This is the foundation for where we are heading, and how you will evolve your story into a film. Don’t be too overwhelmed with all that’s said here. We will continue to review these concepts. Right now, familiarize yourself with the terms and start studying films. Steal like an artist.

AGENDA

• The Hook. What makes you want to keep watching in the first 1-2 mins?
  • Good and Bad hook discussions
    • Road from Karakul (good)
    • Lady of the Mountain (bad)
    • Eclipse (good)
    • Salute Sweep (bad)
• Checkpoint on story development. Brainstorming techniques and progress
• Developing Treatments
  •  Title
  • Logline – 1-2 sentences, includes main objective/concept with a big hook, unique/compelling circumstances/content with payoff and entertainment
  • The typical treatment = write your story as an audience would experience it. Who, What, When, Where, Why. If you get stuck, just write. Don’t worry about format or what it is/isn’t doing. You can always clean it up later.
  • Different Formats: Loose vs Professional
    • Student- Joel F
    • Professional- Hollywood
• The Exposure Triangle
• Depth of field & DOFSimulator.net
• Visualizing the Story:
  • Types of shots.
    • Sundog

• Getting Coverage
  • Shot Sequence. Shooting for the Edit
    • CU hands – WHAT is happening
    • CU face – WHO is doing it (show both eyes)
    • Wide – WHERE it’s happening
    • OTS – link the three previous
    • Unusual, side/low – story-specific context

• Sequence formulas.
  • Establisher: W, M, CU
  • Establisher: M, CU, W
  • Reveal: CU, W or Medium
  • Match on Action
  • Reaction
  • Same Frame
  • Perspective Shift
• Rules of Thumb
  • 30-45 degree shots
  • 180 degree rule
  • Rule of thirds
  • 10 second rule
• Homework
  • Written treatment due by Tues. Jan. 19th
    (emailed to us)
  • Shoot 5 shot sequence & edit it – private link on YouTube/Dropbox

Films Referenced:

• The Warmth of Winter, Ben Sturgulewski
• Every Moment Counts, Preston Kanak
• 35, Nasa Koski

RESOURCES

• The Arc of Storytelling
• Tips for Writing a Killer Treatment
• Loglines and Treatments: How to Write Them
• Spice Up Your Videos With Shot Sequence, Wistia
• 5 More Shot to Add Variety to Your Videos, Wistia
• Story, Scheduling, & Scouting, Preston Kanak <<< highly recommend watching this

BOOKS

• Cinematography: Theory & Practice: Image Making for Cinematographers & Directors, by Blain Brown
• The Five C’s of Cinematography: Motion Picture Filming Techniques, Joseph Mascelli
• In the Blink of An Eye, Walter Murch
• 99 Ways to Tell a Story: Exercises in Style, Matt Madden

We will check-in this week for updated progress. Send us drafts as you have them.

Google Hangout 10/19/16 – Script, Shotlist, Storyboard

AGENDA

• Treatment Review
• How to plan for a shoot
• Script
  • Best for heavy dialogue
  • Create from treatment
• • Shot list is created from script
  • Final Draft
• Shot Sequence/ Shot list
  • Key shots for the arc
  • Priority shots vs wish list
  • Things to think about:
    • Getting scene to scene.
    • Day vs. Night.
    • Inside vs. Outside.
    • Continuity.
    • Screen Direction.
• Examples of Shot Lists
  • The point of the shot list isn’t the format. It’s about tracking your ideas during production and communicating with your crew. Certain productions may require more or less detail.
  • For this course: Focus on identifying key shots that make/define your story. Plan your days loosely. When will it be best to do interviews? Do you need sunrise/sunset? Do you need timelapses? Do you need props? People? Can you group use of props/people/location to make shooting more efficient?
  • A range of shot list styles provided below:
    • Blackroot– Narrative Film
    • Vimeo(example)
    • National Geographic Manifesto – The Short
• Examples of Storyboards 
  •  Commercial- Discussion
    • McDonalds
  •  Hollywood- Discussion
    • No Country for Old Men
    • Psyco
  •  Narrative- Discussion
    • Ruined
  • Student Example- Discussion
    • Elle H
• Storyboard Art Lesson
  • Simple shapes
• 5 Shot Sequence -Review
• Homework
  • Rework/finalize Treatment
  • Create a shot list
  • Storyboard one crucial scene of your story
  • If interested in scouting here are some apps we recommend checking out.
    • Recommend apps: Sunseeker, Moonseeker

Next week is the final meet up before heading into the field! We will be going over gear lists, reviewing shot list/storyboard progress, scouting and tying up any other loose ends.

Google Hangout – Pre-production Wrap Up

• Shot list/Storyboard Review
• Scouting
  • Recommend apps: Sunseeker, Moonseeker, & PhotoPills
  • Using Google Earth 
• Post-Production
  • Media management
  • Editing
  • Music
    • Marmoset
    • Mobi Gratis
    • Premium Beat
    • Audio Network
    • Audiosocket
    • Vimeo (free)
    • You Tube (free)
  • Film Festival
    • 3pm render time
• Housekeeping Items/Reminders
  • 2/2 Start hydrating!
• Gear Prep
  • In town gear and logistics 
• Wrap-up
  • Homework
    • Pack-up
    • Refine story as needed/shoot anything ahead of time that’s needed for story
    • Think about music selection
    • Watch Hut Orientation series videos
    • Every Frame a Painting
      • Using Quadrants – extension of rule or thirds & how basic rules and lead to advanced techniques