Langara College Spring archived

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1 FLMA_1181_Outline COLLABORATION: THE ACTOR, WRITER AND DIRECTOR Instructor: Byron Lamarque & Garwin Sanford Tel: (604) Class Time: Locations: Monday 4:30-5:25 (1 hour) Wednesday 1:30-5:25 (4 hours) A311 Monday and Wednesday Class A346 - Additional Class Space A348 Additional Class Space A256 Additional Class Space Office Hours: By appointment Course Calendar Description This course will concentrate on narrative/dramatic elements of cinematic storytelling for the writer. Writers will practice their pitching, writing, and rewriting skills in collaboration with the actors and directors. Writers will create original concepts and be teamed up with the directors and actors to produce their short films and film scenarios. Course Objective To provide students with the skills they need to collaborate successfully with writers, directors and actors within a creative narrative storytelling environment. Learning Outcomes: After taking this course the students will be able to: Describe the different areas of expertise for actors, writers and directors Construct a collaborative working relationship with the other disciplines Determine strategies for effective collaboration Critique the work of others to effect a creative dialogue amongst collaborators Write, act and direct with confidence in their knowledge and skills This course will be a "hands on" exercise where all students will be involved in creating and filming short scripts with each film short being conceived, written, directed and acted by the participants. Course Format (3 CREDITS) 1:4:0 1 hour of Lecture and 4 hours of Lab per week. Course Text: DIRECTING FEATURE FILMS: The Creative Collaboration between Directors, Writers and Actors by Mark Travis Page 1 of 11

2 WEEK 1 MONDAY, JANUARY 8: (All Streams) TOPIC: Introductions and Loglines HANDOUT: Loglines Assignment (writers): Writers come to class on Wednesday with three, two-hander CLASSROOM loglines. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 10: DUE: Writers hand in their three 1180 CLASSROOM loglines to instructor Readings: The Director and the Script p.1-24 Terms and Definitions p The Nine Steps p TOPIC: Getting to the Story Robert McKee s Story Triangle The script analysis template Identifying the passion The Three Act Structure Objectives and obstacles The writers meet with all the directors and actors to pitch and discuss their 1180 CLASSROOM scene loglines. Directors and writers are teamed up. HANDOUT: Script analysis Templates Assignment (directors): Directors prepare script analysis with writers for CLASSROOM scene and pitch for Monday. Assignment (writers): Writers submit original, two hander 1180 CLASSROOM scene (max 3 pages) on Monday Page 2 of 11

3 WEEK 2 MONDAY, JANUARY 15: (All Streams) DUE: Directors hand in their script analysis for their 1180 CLASSROOM scenes and pitch to actors DUE: Writers hand in their 1180 CLASSROOM scenes to instructor TOPIC: The Pitch * The core of your scene The Directors pitch their 1180 CLASSROOM scenes to the class. Actors submit a list of which 1180 CLASSROOM scenes they wish to work on. This list will be used to create teams for Wednesday class. Assignment (writers): Writers prepare four loglines for their 1180 SHORTS to be handed in and pitched on Monday next week. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 17 Readings: The Rehearsal Process p TOPIC: Rehearsals The Nine Basic Steps First rehearsal and read through Staging (Blocking) Teams are created. The teams read through, rehearse and block their 1180 CLASSROOM scenes in preparation for presenting them to the class next week. HANDOUT: Script analysis Template for Actors Assignment (all): Prepare 1180 CLASSROOM scenes for presentation next Wednesday Assignment (actors): Actors prepare script analysis for their 1180 CLASSROOM scenes to be handed in next Wednesday. Page 3 of 11

4 WEEK 3 MONDAY, JANUARY 22: (Class may go longer today) DUE: Writers hand in their four 1180 SHORT loglines and pitch them. Readings: Working with Writers p TOPIC: Getting to the story The Writer/Director Collaboration Establishing the Genesis of the Story Melding the Writer s Vision and the Director s Vision Readings as part of the Script Development Process The writers pitch their 1180 SHORT loglines to the directors who vote collectively on the strongest ones. Assignment (writers): Write 1180 SHORT outline (max half a page) and prepare pitch to directors for Monday s class. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 24: DUE: Presentation of 1180 CLASSROOM scenes DUE: Actors hand in script analysis to the instructor CLASSROOM Scene Presentations The groups present their 1180 CLASSROOM scenes to the class. Directors watch with an eye to shooting the scenes on Wednesday Feb 8 th. Recording location sound workshop QUIZ: In-class recording location sound Assignment (writers): SHORT outlines to all students and instructors before Monday s class so they can print up copies for themselves Assignment (directors): Directors prepare shooting plans for 1180 CLASSROOM scenes for Wednesday Feb 7th class Page 4 of 11

5 WEEK 4 MONDAY, JANUARY 29 DUE: Writers SHORT outlines to all students and instructors before today s class so they can print up copies for themselves TOPIC: The Writers Pitch Writers pitch their 1180 SHORT treatments to the directors. Directors submit a list of which writers they wish to team up with. Assignment (writers): Writers prepare 1180 SHORT scripts (max 5 pages) for next Monday s class WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 31 Readings: The Script Breakdown p TOPIC: Actor Interviews What is the Story Really About? Character Objectives and Obstacles Character Arcs Defining the Acts A visit Writer/Director teams interview actors to get their feedback on the 1180 SHORT outlines. Assignment (writers): their 1180 SHORT scripts (draft one max 5 pages) to everyone before Monday s class so they can print up copies for themselves Page 5 of 11

6 WEEK 5 MONDAY, FEBRUARY 5: (All Streams) DUE: Writers their 1180 SHORT scripts (draft one max 5 pages) to everyone before today s class so they can print up copies for themselves Readings: Production p TOPIC: Preparing for Production Working with the writer and the actors on the set Meeting actors on the set Rehearsal on the set Assignment (directors): Directors don t forget your shooting plans for 1180 CLASSROOM scenes for next class WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 7 WEEK 6 DUE: Directors hand in shooting plans for 1180 CLASSROOM scenes TOPIC: Shooting the 1180 CLASSROOM scenes Groups shoot their 1180 CLASSROOM scenes. Assignment (actors): Actors prepare a list of which 1180 SHORT scripts they wish to work on by next Wednesday s class. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 12 TOPIC: Preparing Sides Writer/Director teams prepare sides for Wednesday mock audition. Assignment (writer, directors): Prepare sides for Wednesday s class. Assignment (directors): Present 1180 CLASSROOM Scenes Feb 26th Page 6 of 11

7 WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14 DUE: Writer/Directors submit sides to all the actors DUE: Actors submit their 1180 SHORT acting preferences to the instructors Readings: WEEK 7 The Casting Process p No More Acting, No More Directing p TOPIC: The Audition Selecting the Casting Director Selection of scenes Preparing the actors for the reading The audition process The link between obstacles and staging The actors greatest obstacle A fresh look at the rehearsal process Assignment (actors): actors do a character script analysis of two of their favorite scripts from 1180 Shorts MONDAY, FEBRUARY 19 TOPIC: The Audition List Writer/Director teams create the Audition List. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 21 (Class may go longer) TOPIC: The Auditions Actors are auditioned. Assignment: Writers, Directors and Instructors negotiate teams for 1180 SHORT projects. Assignment (writers): their 1180 SHORT scripts (final draft max 5 pages) to everyone before Monday s class so they can print up copies for themselves Page 7 of 11

8 WEEK 8 MONDAY, FEBRUARY 26: (All Streams) DUE: Directors present their 1180 CLASSROOM scenes to the class. DUE: Writers their 1180 SHORT scripts (final draft max 5 pages) to everyone before class so they can print up copies for themselves Directors present their 1180 CLASSROOM scenes to the class. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 28 WEEK 9 Readings: The Creative Team p TOPIC: Rehearsal and Improvisation Continued Your collaborators as storytellers Sharing your vision Team members who have been pre-selected Rehearsal for Teams A and B Assignment: Teams A and B shoot their 1180 SHORTS this weekend. MONDAY, MARCH 5 TOPIC: Feedback from Writers and Directors Writers and Directors from teams A and B provide feedback on their experiences. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7 TOPIC: Rehearsal for Teams C to F Teams C to F prepare their projects for filming over the weekend. Assignment: Teams C to F shoot their 1180 SHORTS this weekend. Page 8 of 11

9 WEEK 10 MONDAY, MARCH 12 TOPIC: Feedback from Writers and Directors Writers and Directors from teams C to F provide feedback on their experiences. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 14 TOPIC: Rehearsal for Teams G to J Teams E to H prepare their projects for filming over the weekend. WEEK 11 Assignment: Teams G to J shoot their 1180 SHORTS this weekend. MONDAY, MARCH 19 TOPIC: Feedback from Writers and Directors Writers and Directors from teams G to J provide feedback on their experiences. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 21 Readings: Post-Production p TOPIC: Editing Feedback Editing as a rehearsal process All students should participate in screenings of the rough cuts of the 1180 SHORTS in the vault over the next week before fine cut screenings next Wednesday. Assignment (directors): Directors prepare fine cuts of 1180 SHORTS for next Wednesday s class. Page 9 of 11

10 WEEK 12 MONDAY, MARCH 26 NO CLASS WEDNESDAY, MARCH 28 DUE: Directors come to class with fine cuts of their 1180 SHORTS. TOPIC: Review of Fine Cuts Groups review1180 SHORT fine cuts and provide constructive feedback to the Directors. Assignment (directors): prepare final cuts for next Wednesday s class. Assignment (actors): write self-critique of performances in 1180 short films for next Wednesday s class. WEEK 13 MONDAY, APRIL 2: (All Streams) Readings: Reconsiderations and Recapitulations p TOPIC: Review of Fine Cuts It s just storytelling Only the characters can tell the story Assignment (directors): don t forget your final cuts for next class. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 4 DUE: Directors come to class with their final cut of the 1180 SHORTS. Final Presentation of 1180 Shorts Page 10 of 11

11 Grading Writers: Script for 1180 classroom scene 10% Sound recording quiz 05% 1180 classroom project 05% Final 1180 script 25% Final 1180 short 15% In-Class Exercises and Participation 40% Total 100% SPECIAL NOTE: The Major Assignments for this class are the 1180 SHORT films. It is expected that everyone in the class will be available to help with the shooting of these films on the following dates: TEAMS A & B: MARCH 3-4 TEAMS C TO F: MARCH TEAMS G TO J: MARCH Page 11 of 11