The screenplay is a black and white blueprint for what you’ll see on screen. Every single element of the film must first be on the page. But the long journey from script to screen is a road paved with many decisions. Those decisions start in the script breakdown. The process of breaking down a script is critical in determining what a scene needs. Missing scene elements could wreak havoc on your schedule and budget. But they don't have to. Let's break down a scene and determine the hidden elements hiding in plain sight. Continue reading “Hidden Elements” in a Script…
Staging a fight scene is an undertaking all its own. But once the vision is realized, incredible preparation and planning goes into filming action scenes. Your entire shooting schedule could be affected by these fight scenes and what they demand. There are hidden elements that could prove to be a nightmare in the scheduling process. So what is the best way to schedule a fight scene? Using script breakdown software, we can make the task of scheduling your fight scene a less daunting task. In this post we’ll break down the epic fight scene from Black Panther and learn how…
Everyone has an opinion about your script. In the rewrite stage, you or your producer will find things that don't work. Many of these things will be your babies. These are the scenes, or lines of dialogue, even vague ideas, that you should move to the boneyard. "The Boneyard" is a place to put the ideas that aren't working right now. A screenwriter, or assistant director, can keep track of them, and keep them safe, for later use. Let's see how beneficial using the boneyard is for creating near masterpieces. Continue reading Tales From The Boneyard: Knowing Where the Scenes…
In every script, there are elements that can go unseen. Sometimes even hiding in plain sight. If overlooked for too long, this misstep could affect your scheduling and budget. Hidden elements can make a huge impact on your bottom line and schedule. It is the producer’s job to find these elements before they become a surprise in production. We’ll discuss how to find the most common hidden element in any script: characters. And we will use script breakdown software to do it. Continue reading How to Properly Identify Cast When Breaking Down a Script
Background talent has been a staple of the movie industry since the early days of filmmaking. The need for background continues today on sets in Hollywood. But now, union rates and minimum wage laws means that it's costly to use a cast of thousands, even when the project calls for just that. But producer’s on a budget and indie filmmakers don’t have to reign in the scope of their imagination or productions. The film industry has evolved to find a way to satisfy the need for crowds in some clever and cutting-edge ways. Now, the savvy producer can multiply a…
There are dozens of filmmaking techniques that require special consideration. From tracking shots to dutch angles, each of these cinematic gems helps to tell a story in a creative way. Each technique also comes with its own set of rules and logistics. One such technique that has evolved over time is Day for Night.There are many ways to achieve this cinematic effect of Day for Night. But, that doesn’t mean that getting it right is necessarily a cake walk. This is especially true when it comes to scheduling. Come along as we take a look at everything you need to…
