162MC Developing a Narrative

1. 162MC Developing a Narrative

2. 162MC Narrative • Pitching a writing short script • Producing a/the short • Editing the short film • The first 5 sessions cover the progressive aspects of screenwriting • These are….

3. 162MC Narrative • The Pitch • From the Pitch to the Outline • From Outline to Treatment • From the Treatment to the Screenplay • And…..Rewrites….

4. The Pitch • Each week we will deal with one of these aspects. • This week…… • Pitching!

5. Familiar? • Don’t go in the water… • In Space no one can hear you scream • A long time ago in a galaxy far far away

6. Familiar?

7. Familiar?

8. Pitch these movies

9. The Pitch • Beware, these are Taglines not Pitches, a tagline only exists after a movie is made and is often devised by the marketing department not the writer or even production team. • A tagline is the poster sentence to ‘sell’ the movie

10. The Pitch • The Pitch is important because it is the first time you tell someone your idea. • It is also the only time a verbal presentation of your idea is made. • It I also often made to a complete stranger • Occasionally to a panel of complete strangers

11. 162MC Narrative • The Pitch is important as it can save you a lot of time later. • If you have already written a complete screenplay be wary of telling a producer this is the case. • Why do you think this is?

12. The Pitch • How long is a pitch? • Really you should be able to condense a pitch for your screenplay idea into a minute or so. • After this, if a Producer or Commissioning Editor is interested you will/can elaborate for much longer • It is not easy to pitch to complete strangers • …..for anyone regardless of their career

13. The Pitch

14. The Pitch • Two movie clips form the Industry • The Producers perspective • The Writers perspective

15. The Producer • Insert video clip

16. The Writer

17. The Pitch • Try to think about what your movie idea is about and then encompass the idea into only a few short statements. • Make it engaging and intriguing, after all you want people to invest time and money and talent into your ideas.

18. Pilgrim • Below is a pitch for a short film: • A stranger in an unknown land braves many dangers as he strives to fulfill his function. • What story does the above Pitch suggest?

19. The Mild Bunch • Three men, unknown to each other, try to rob the same bank at the same time. • What kind of movie does this suggest? • The film was made based on the above pitch and has screened all over the World in Cinemas at film festivals on TV and even on airlines

20. Pitching • Because not all of you have script writing experience we are going to give you the scenarios that we want you to develop through each stage into a script. • Some will be made but not all but you all have to write a script • And an individual edit of a film that is made.

21. Based on the Assignment handout scenario • Devise and develop your Pitch and post it on your blog • Get feedback from your peers, practice verbal pitching • When you feel it is ready email it to me: • c.stewart@coventry.ac.uk

22. The Pitch • In the UK writing is predominantly a solitary activity • We do not have team writing like they do in the USA • There are over 70 people on this module, there will be 70 different interpretations of the Assignment