Friday 28 March 2014

Storyboard of my short film

As this storyboard I have been worked for three whole days since last Friday, but I found some problems of it, I didn't draw on it just writing instead, and I didn't write every exact dialogue on it. Every shot just written by words. Next time I will draw the storyboard instead of words. And sorry about I'm writing in Chinese because I think its easy to express what I want, so I will explain something detail to my tutor on Monday. Here's my storyboard













Wednesday 19 March 2014

Revisions from Roger's class

Two weeks ago in Roger's class, we were separated into two groups to make a short scene. I was separated with Aris, Kelly and Mu, we shot in a studio outside the Broadway Cinema. We only used one red-head and a smaller light, we tried to get the lights like the film Skyfall (2012), just two eyes can be seen on James Bond's face, others are in dark, so as to make a suspense atmosphere.

In last week, Roger got us to do post-production on what we shot the week before, and all of us used the Macbook Pro. I was not so familiar with the OS X so I did it not very quick as I was using the Windows. Some of the shortcuts are different from the Premiere Pro in Windows version. The vital thing is how to make the shots together, Aris and I did the short scene together and we made a tricky shot at last about the man actor got angry and left immediately. We used three different shots to change, and it looks smoothly. So in my opinion, more shots are used for telling one thing, the more information can be given and the shots are not very simply.

Revisions from Roger's class


From last 2 sessions of Roger's class, Roger found some actors from TV Workshop in Nottingham to perform for us. Each group got one script and we were the directors and got them to perform. And finally they performed like that in videos.

From this class, I know that there are something needed to improve about us, the first is group members are better to gather all suggestions and elect one of us to be the main director, if not, the actors will be confused that they don't know whose suggestions are better. The second thing is directors are better not just tell the actors how to perform in detail, they could tell the actors more about the characters, and get them to have good comprehension of the characters. So the actors can perform naturally and they will not be confused. 

Tuesday 18 March 2014

New version of my script


          INT. INSIDE THE BOOTS LIBRARY                                    
                                                                           
          Mike is glancing at the rows of the books.                       
                                                                           
          Mike takes them one by one and picks one of them.                
                                                                           
          Mike walks out of the bookshelves.                               
                                                                           
          Mike glances at the seats beside windows.                        
                                                                           
          Mike walks to there and asks the girl (Mary) the seat is         
          available or not, then he sits down.                             
                                                                           
          Mike begins to read the book he just borrowed.                   
                                                                           
          Mike talks to Mary.                                              
                                                                           
          Mike takes his phone out of pocket and marks down Mary’s         
          phone number. And he phones back Mary                            
                                                                           
          Mary leaves.                                                     
                                                                           
                                                                           
          EXT. OLD MARKET SQUARE - DAY (FLASHFORWARD)                      
                                                                           
          Mary opens her arm then hugs Mike strongly.                      
                                                                           
          Mike holds her hand and takes her baggage and they go away.      
                                                                           
          Mary turns around and kisses Mike.                               
                                                                           
                              MARY                                         
                    I love you.                                            
                                                                           
                                                                           
          INT. INSIDE THE BOOTS LIBRARY                                    
                                                                           
          Mike smiles.                                                     
                                                                           
          Mike leaves the seat.                                            
                                                                           
                                                          DIP TO BLACK     
                                                                           
                                                                           
          INT. LIVING ROOM - EVENING                                       
                                                                           
          Mike is watching a film on his laptop.                           
                                                                           
          There are many books about Marketing on his desk.                
                                                                           
          The mobile phone alarms and the screen shows "tomorrow is        
          Valentine’s Day".                                                
                                                                           
          Mike pauses the film.                                            
                                                                           
                                                           (CONTINUED)     
                                                                           
          CONTINUED:                                              2.       
                                                                           
                                                                           
                                                                           
          Mike presses his mobile phone and sends a text message to        
          Mary                                                             
                                                                           
          Mike begins to smile.                                            
                                                                           
          The screen displays a message from Mary "See u tmr at 3pm in     
          Old market square, p.s. I love you".                             
                                                                           
                                                                           
          INT. NEWTON BUILDING FIRST FLOOR - DAY                           
                                                                           
          Mike is walking.                                                 
                                                                           
          Mike sees Johnny standing beside the glass.                      
                                                                           
                              JOHNNY                                       
                    Hey, How’s your essay? Is that OK?                     
                                                                           
                              MIKE                                         
                    Essay? What’s that?!                                   
                                                                           
                              JOHNNY                                       
                    From last tutorial he gave us.                         
                         (shock on his face)                               
                                                                           
                              MIKE                                         
                    I gotta go now, see you later.                         
                                                                           
          Mike walks in a hurry.                                           
                                                                           
          Mike nearly crashes onto the big column.                         
                                                                           
                                                                           
          EXT. OUTSIDE THE LITMUS BUILDING - DAY                           
                                                                           
          Mike walks quickly.                                              
                                                                           
          Mike opens the door and rushes into it.                          
                                                                           
                                                                           
          INT. INSIDE THE LITMUS BUILDING GROUND FLOOR - DAY               
                                                                           
          Mike rushes to the second door of the building which is          
          nearly closed.                                                   
                                                                           
          The second door closes.                                          
                                                                           
          Mike crashes into the door.                                      
                                                                           
          Mike takes his key to open the door again.                       
                                                                           
                                                                           
                                                                           
                                                                           
                                                                           
                                                                           
                                                                  3.       
                                                                           
                                                                           
          INT. LIVING ROOM - DAY                                           
                                                                           
          Mike walks quickly to his computer desk and opens his            
          computer.                                                        
                                                                           
          Mike creates a new document, and he sighes.                      
                                                                           
          Mike sees his watch.                                             
                                                                           
          Mike phones his group mate Sarah.                                
                                                                           
                              MIKE                                         
                    Sarah, I need your help about my                       
                    essay. Could you come to my room?                      
                                                                           
                              SARAH                                        
                    Sure, see you in 15 mins.                              
                                                                           
                              MIKE                                         
                    See you                                                
                                                                           
          Mike breathes deeply.                                            
                                                                           
                                                                           
          INT. INSIDE THE LITMUS BUILDING CORRIDOR - DAY                   
                                                                           
          Sarah is walking with her portfolio                              
                                                                           
          Sarah knocks at the door.                                        
                                                                           
                                                                           
          INT. LIVING ROOM - DAY                                           
                                                                           
          Sarah walks in.                                                  
                                                                           
          Sarah takes a seat beside him.                                   
                                                                           
                              SARAH                                        
                    How’s going with yours                                 
                                                                           
                              MIKE                                         
                    Look. Nothing.                                         
                                                                           
                              SARAH                                        
                    Wow, it’s difficult to finish                          
                    within today.                                          
                                                                           
                    Look, I show you my structure. And                     
                    it may helps.                                          
                                                                           
                              MIKE                                         
                    Yeah, maybe.                                           
                                                                           
          Sarah inserts her Usb flashdisk into Mike’s laptop.              
                                                                           
                                                           (CONTINUED)     
                                                                           
          CONTINUED:                                              4.       
                                                                           
                                                                           
                                                                           
          Sarah opens her essay for him.                                   
                                                                           
          They discusses.                                                  
                                                                           
                                                                           
          EXT. OLD MARKET SQUARE - DAY                                     
                                                                           
          Mary stands beside the fountain with a handbag.                  
                                                                           
          Mary takes her phone from her handbag.                           
                                                                           
          Mary phones Mike                                                 
                                                                           
                                                                           
          INT. LIVING ROOM - DAY                                           
                                                                           
          Mike’s mobile phone is receiving a new call from Mary and        
          its screen is flashing but without any ring and vibrate.         
                                                                           
          Mike is concentrated on writing his essay with Sarah. So he      
          doesn’t see his mobile phone.                                    
                                                                           
                                                                           
          EXT. OLD MARKET SQUARE - DAY                                     
                                                                           
          Mary takes down her phone from her face and she looks her        
          mobile again and again.                                          
                                                                           
          Mary doublechecks the signal of her mobile phone.                
                                                                           
          Mary sends a text message to Mike, but still no reply.           
                                                                           
          Mary walks in a hurry.                                           
                                                                           
                                                                           
          EXT. OUTSIDE THE LITMUS BUILDING - DAY                           
                                                                           
          Mary walks quickly.                                              
                                                                           
          Mary takes her mobile phone from her handbag and looks her       
          mobile phone again, but it’s still nothing.                      
                                                                           
          Mary gets to the door and pushes it, the door is locked.         
                                                                           
          Someone comes nearby and opens the door, Mary follows him to     
          get into the building.                                           
                                                                           
                                                                           
                                                                           
                                                                           
                                                                           
                                                                           
                                                                           
                                                                           
                                                                           
                                                                           
                                                                  5.       
                                                                           
                                                                           
                                                                           
          INT. LIVING ROOM - DAY                                           
                                                                           
          Mike and Sarah are sitting together and looking some article     
          on the desk.                                                     
                                                                           
          Showing the article on the desk.                                 
                                                                           
          Mike’s head is closing to Sarah’s head.                          
                                                                           
          Mary walks into the room.                                        
                                                                           
          Mary stops and keeps remains silent.                             
                                                                           
          Mary returns back to outside the door quickly.                   
                                                                           
          The door makes a great noise.                                    
                                                                           
                              MIKE                                         
                    Oh, is the door remained unlock?                       
                                                                           
          Mike gets up to lock the door.                                   
                                                                           
                                                                           
          EXT. OUTSIDE THE LITMUS BUILDING - DAY                           
                                                                           
          Mary is walking out of the building.                             
                                                                           
          Mary uses tissue to wipe her tear on her face.                   
                                                                           
                                                                           
          INT. LIVING ROOM - DAY                                           
                                                                           
          There are 4 new calls and 3 new text messages on Mike’s          
          mobile phone.                                                    
                                                                           
          Mike takes up his mobile and opens these messages, the last      
          one displays "Break-up, don’t contact me again".                 
                                                                           
          Mike sits down and calls back Mary, but Mary rejects his         
          call again and again.                                            
                                                                           
          Mike presses his mobile phone in a hurry and sends a text        
          message to explain with Mary.                                    
                                                                           
          Mike drops down his phone to the desk, and he keeps silent       
          for a long time.                                                 
                                                                           
                              MIKE                                         
                    I have something urgent to do now                      
                    and see you next class.                                
                                                                           
                                                                           
                                                                           
                                                                           
                                                           (CONTINUED)     
                                                                           
          CONTINUED:                                              6.       
                                                                           
                                                                           
                                                                           
                              SARAH                                        
                    Alright, see you.                                      
                         (Sarah leaves.)                                   
                                                                           
          Mike takes his mobile phone and looks it again, but no           
          replies.                                                         
                                                                           
          Mike phones Mary again and the call is rejected by Mary          
          again.                                                           
                                                                           
          Mike turns around and rushes out the room suddenly.              
                                                                           
                                                                           
          EXT. OUTSIDE THE STAIRS OF RAILWAY STATION - DAY                 
                                                                           
          Mary opens her bag and takes out her phone, and she presses      
          her phone and rejects Mike’s call and puts it into her bag.      
          And                                                              
                                                                           
          Mary is waiting for crossing the zebra line.                     
                                                                           
          Mike hugs Mary from behind suddenly.                             
                                                                           
                              MIKE                                         
                    I’m so sorry about I didn’t see my                     
                    phone. It’s just in silent mode.                       
                                                                           
                              SARAH                                        
                         (very angry)                                      
                    How about the girl? Who’s she?!                        
                                                                           
                              MIKE                                         
                         (pretends nothing happened)                       
                    Who?! What are you talking about?                      
                                                                           
          Sarah gets rid of Mike hardly and crosses the road.              
                                                                           
          Mike remains there and he doesn’t says anything.                 
                                                                           
                                                                           
          EXT. OUTSIDE THE BROADWAY CINEMA - DAY (FLASHFORWARD)            
                                                                           
          Mary carries her handbag and holds Mike’s hand.                  
                                                                           
          Mary takes a chocolate from her bag suddenly and stands in       
          front of Mike.                                                   
                                                                           
          Mary gives it to Mike.                                           
                                                                           
                              MARY                                         
                    Happy Valentine’s Day honey, I love                    
                    you forever.                                           
                                                                           
                                                                           
                                                           (CONTINUED)     
                                                                           
          CONTINUED:                                              7.       
                                                                           
                                                                           
                                                                           
                              MIKE                                         
                    Wow thanks! I love you too, baby.                      
                                                                           
                                                                           
          EXT. OUTSIDE THE STAIRS OF RAILWAY STATION - DAY                 
                                                                           
          Mike shows frustration on his face.                              
                                                                           
          Mike leaves.                                                     
                                                                           
                                                                   END 

Thursday 6 March 2014

Something learned from the script

From the three scripts which are written in Roger's class, something I have learned.

From the first one, I have learned that how to write action in scripts. Everything in script can be seen by audiences, so something emotional can not be written in script. These emotional things can only be written in making characters.

From the second one, I have learned that how to write dialogs in scripts. Every sentence is not exceeded for 6 words. And some of the parenthentical can be used in dialogs like shrug, thinking.

From the third one, it is the composite one. It combined what I have learned from the script 1 and 2. I have written the thing that I have experienced in the airport. I found that my language is not native enough, like what Roger said, "Every sentence is no grammar mistake but it's strange". And this script is not easy to achieve, because many actors needed and I need to go to the East Midland Airport, it's not easy as other's like filming in Tesco or somewhere nearer.

Story of the script

Characters: Mike: 23, university student, busy in writing essay, studying Marketing, everything can be shown on his face.

Mary: 21, university student, not very busy, likes shopping online, self-willed, easily being raged.

Sarah: 23, Mike's group member.

Situation: Mike and Mary fell in love for about half a year. But they live in different cities. They had made an appointment for traveling to Scotland, but failed. Because Mike was busy in group work with his member Sarah.

Story: Before the day, they had made an appointment that they would go to a park and get together. But on Valentine's day, the young man finished his class this morning and his tutor let him finish an essay which is required to be handed in before 12am the next day. He found that he had forgotten this task, so after his class, he went back to his apartment in a hurry. When entered home, Mike opened his computer immediately and created a new document. When he faced to an empty document, he felt exhausted suddenly. So he phoned his group mate Sarah for help, and half an hour later, Sarah came into his apartment. So they began to discuss about his essay. Suddenly, Mary gave him a text message and told him that she had arrived in Nottingham. But Mike ignored it and carried on his essay. Mary waited for a long time but no reply and called him, but still no one answer the phone. So she decided to go to Mike's apartment and find him. When she entered his apartment, she found that Mike was sitting beside Sarah and he was armming Sarah's neck. Mary was shocked but she remained keeping silent and watched them for a period of time. After that she rushed out the door and great sound was made by the door. Mike heard that and he realized that his door was unlocked, then he stood up and locked the door. After a short while, he found that there are some new text messages and his mobile phone was in silent mode, he realized that he had already forgotten this appointment with Mary. So he phoned Mary but she rejected his calling. A few moments later, Mary sent a text message that she wanted to break-up with Mike because of Sarah, and Mike began to feel upset about that. So Sarah began to comfort him but made no sense, because Mike was still thinking something and he ignored Sarah's existence, after a while, Mike found that Sarah had left his room.

Script of Valentine's Day


          INT. LIVING ROOM - EVENING
          A man is watching a film, suddenly he receives a message
          from LINE, then he pauses the film and begins to chat with
          his girlfriend via LINE, after a while, he begins to smile.
          The screen displays "See u tmr and I love you". MIKE (23),
          an university student and major in Marketing, busy in his
          studies and everything can be shown on his face.

          EXT. OLD MARKET SQUARE - DAY
          A lady opens her arm then hugs Mike strongly, then Mike
          takes her baggage and they go away. At the same time, the
          lady begins to arm Mike's hand. Mary (21), Mike's
          girlfriend, an university student and not very busy, likes
          shopping online, and she is self-willed and easily being
          raged.

          INT. LIVING ROOM - EVENING
          Mike is still smiling, he puts down his mobile phone and
          carries on watching the film. 

          INT. NEWTON BUILDING FIRST FLOOR - DAY
          Mike is talking with his group member Johnny.
                              JOHNNY
                    Hey Mike, u alright?

                              MIKE
                    Yeah, it's good.

                              MIKE
                    I'll meet my girlfriend later.

                              JOHNNY
                    Oh, sounds great.

                              JOHNNY
                    How's your essay? Is that OK?

                              MIKE
                    Essay? What's that?!

                              JOHNNY
                    From last tutorial he gave us.

                              JOHNNY
                    You forgot it.

                              JOHNNY
                    Today is the deadline, before
                    midnight.

                              MIKE
                    What the hell?!

                              MIKE
                    Why don't I know about that?

                              MIKE
                    I gotta go now, see you later.

                              JOHNNY
                    Good luck, see you.

          Mike walks out of the door of the building in a hurry, and
          he nearly crashes onto the big column.

          EXT. OUTSIDE THE NEWTON BUILDING - DAY
          Mike walks quickly and he drops his portfolio to the ground
          by accident, but he still walking quickly.

                              PASSER-BY
                    Excuse me, is it yours?

                              MIKE
                    Oh, I don't know it is dropped

                              MIKE
                    Thanks.

          Then Mike carries on his way home.
          EXT. OUTSIDE THE LITMUS BUILDING - DAY
          Mike walks quickly and arrives the building of his
          apartment. Then he opens the door and rushes into it.

          INT. INSIDE THE LITMUS BUILDING GROUND FLOOR - DAY
          Mike rushes to the second door of the building which is
          nearly closed. But not until he arrives, the door closed. He
          crashes into the door because of running too fast. Then he
          takes his key to open the door again.

          INT. INSIDE THE LITMUS BUILDING CORRIDOR - DAY
          Mike opens the door and get into his apartment.
          INT. LIVING ROOM - DAY
          Mike walks quickly to his computer desk and opens his
          computer.

          Mike creates a new document, and he sighes.
          Mike sees his watch.
          Mike phones his group mate Sarah.
                              SARAH
                    Hi Mike, are you ok?

                              MIKE
                    Sarah, I need your help

                              MIKE
                    I have done nothing on my essay.

                              SARAH
                    What?! You are meeting the
                    deadline.

                              MIKE
                    Yeah, I know.

                              MIKE
                    Could you come to my apartment now?

                              SARAH
                    Sure, see you in 15 mins.

          Mike breathes deeply.
          INT. INSIDE THE LITMUS BUILDING CORRIDOR - DAY
          Sarah is walking to Mike's apartment with her portfolio,
          then she knocks at the door.

                              MIKE
                    Come in.

          INT. LIVING ROOM - DAY
          Sarah walks to Mike and she takes a sit beside him.
                              SARAH
                    How's going with yours

                              MIKE
                    Look. Nothing.

                              SARAH
                    Wow, it's difficult to finish
                    today.

                              SARAH
                    Look, I show you my structure. And
                    it may helps.

                              MIKE
                    Yeah, maybe.

          Sarah inserts her Usb flashdisk into Mike's laptop and opens
          her essay for him. Then they begin to discuss.

          EXT. OLD MARKET SQUARE - DAY
          Mary stands beside the fountain with a baggage, then she
          phones Mike.

          INT. LIVING ROOM - DAY
          Mike is writing his essay with Sarah, he ignored that his
          mobile phone is getting incoming call from Mary.

          EXT. OLD MARKET SQUARE - DAY
          Mary is still calling but no answer. So she sends a text
          message to Mike, but still no reply.

                              MARY
                    What's happening?

                              MARY
                    Go to his home.

          Mary walks to his apartment in a hurry.
          EXT. OUTSIDE THE LITMUS BUILDING - DAY
          Mary gets into the building by following others quickly. She
          looks her mobile phone again, it's still nothing.

          INT. INSIDE THE LITMUS BUILDING CORRIDOR - DAY
          Mary is walking to Mike's apartment and opens the door.
          INT. LIVING ROOM - EVENING
          Mike and Sarah are sitting together, and Mike's hand is
          arming Sarah's neck.

          Mary comes into the room, she gets shocked but remains
          silent. She looks for a while, and she returned back to
          outside the door.

          The door makes a great noise.
                              MIKE
                    Oh, is the door remained unlock?

                              SARAH
                    Yeah, maybe. I just opened it
                    directly.

          Mike gets up to lock the door.
          EXT. OUTSIDE THE LITMUS BUILDING - DAY
          Mary is getting out of the building with some tear, she uses
          tissue to wipe it.

          INT. LIVING ROOM - DAY
          Mike finds that his mobile phone has 4 new calls and 3 new
          text messages, he takes his mobile and opens these messages,
          the last one displays "Break-up, don't contact me again".

          Mike sits down and calls back Mary, but Mary rejects his
          call again and again.

          Mike drops down his phone to the desk, and he keeps silent
          for a long time.

                              SARAH
                    Mike, what's wrong with you?

                              SARAH
                    Say a word, what's happened?

          EXT. OLD MARKET SQUARE - DAY
          Mary opens her arm then hugs Mike strongly, then Mike takes
          her baggage and they go away. At the same time, Mary begins
          to arm Mike's hand.

          They walks to the tram station, and Mike hugs her neck from
          behind, and they are talking with smile.

          INT. LIVING ROOM - EVENING
          Sarah stands up quickly with anger and walks out of the
          apartment, and she shut the door heavily.

          Mike is still remains silent and thinking about something,
          without any movements.