Depict! Evaluation

Review and reflection is a vital part of any production (and indeed any work that you will ever do), as it gives you the opportunity to obtain feedback, to look back over the contributions you have made and to make adjustments to your working practices, if you feel there is room for improvement. It also offers the opportunity to celebrate everything that was successful - this is often forgotten and people tend to focus on the negative.

Tasks:

1. Begin a new post and give it the title 'Depict Evaluation' and add it to the Depict label.

2. Embed your final Depict video on your post (embed code copied under HTML tab)

3. Below the video, respond to the following questions (writing in full sentences, focusing on spelling, punctuation and grammar and using appropriate media terminology).

Each of the following bullet points should be presented as an individual paragraph:

• What was the task?
• What was your idea?
• What planning documentation / processes did you have to complete and how much input did you have? Did you 'pull your weight'?
• Did your finished work reflect the planning you had completed?
• What changes did you make from your planning and why?
• What do you think is the most successful aspect of the project? Print screen at least 2 stills from your video and explain your choices fully.
• What would you change or do differently if you were to undertake the task again? Use at least 2 print screens here too.
• What did you enjoy most about the project?

Pre-Production Requirements

Depict Research (Part of U1 GC2)

This is the Depict website: www.depict.org
Go to 'Watch Films' on the left to see hundreds of previous entrants and winners.

Task 1:
Watch a range of Depict entries, both past and present and shortlist your 5 favourites.

Task 2:
Once you have chosen 5, please justify why you like them, using media terminology at every opportunity.

Do this on a Word or PowerPoint document and ensure that you save a link to each video that you are analysing, along with a print screen or two from each video (you will need to snip the image, 'save as' and insert image).

You can focus on:

• Narrative (the storyline)
• Camera (shot types and angles - how is the camera used? Does it move or stay still?)
• Sound (what sound is there and how it's used, e.g., music, sound fx, dialogue)
• Lighting (bright or dark, saturated or full of shadows?)
• Genre (what type of short film is it? Comedy, drama, horror, documentary, etc.)
• Editing (pace, transitions, etc.)
• Style (is it stylised? Is it made to look 'in the style of...')
• Themes and tone (dark, moody, happy, bright, tense, hopeful, etc.)

Task 3: 

Start thinking of an idea for a Depict entry.
What is your favourite genre and what would you want to make a film about? 90-seconds is not very long, so it's a tricky task, but it's really fun to come up with ideas for very short-form films.

Initial Planning: Idea Generation

In class

Before you can make your first assessed video, you will need to have an idea to work on! Today you will be generating ideas and shaping them into viable 90-second short film concepts.

Step 1: Individual Ideas
Come up with 2 ideas for short videos - think about genre, narrative, themes, tone, characters and give some consideration to cinematography and the style of the look.

Step 2: In Groups
Pitch your ideas to the rest of your group and collect feedback (you will need a pen and paper to note down the feedback).

Step 3: Make changes to your favourite idea and write up a formal synopsis (beginning, middle and end) with details about the genre, narrative, themes, tone, characters and cinematography / look.

Step 4: Pitches
Pitch your idea to the rest of the class and make notes of any final feedback.

Independent study task

Step 1: Put your 2 ideas on your blog (title - Initial Planning: Idea Generation)

Step 2: Add the group feedback

Step 3: Put your final idea synopsis on your blog (with any final class feedback).

Storyboard Guidance - a useful website

How to Draw for Storyboarding

In simple terms, the Rules of Thirds states that there are certain "hotspots" - areas of intensity that exist within any given image, and if one were to align the subject within the range of influence of these hotspots, it will make for a more energetic and interesting composition.

Storyboarding Guidance and 'How To'

Assignment Brief - Unit 1: Pre-production Techniques

Unit 1 Specification: Depict

The Pre-Production Process on Civvy Street

Requirements for Production Handbook (U1 GC1)

Click here for a list of UK based Film Distribution companies.

Click here for a selection of media rate cards. 

Click here for a list of film set accidental deaths.

Click here for the BFI website and section on funding through the Lottery.

Click here for an article about Megan Ellison, financier of three films at Cannes in 2012.

Click here for information on filming in public (be aware that this varies depending on location).

Click here for information on finding locations. 

2013 Depict! Shortlist E/F

E & F block students - please take this survey: Click here to take survey

Depict! 2013 Shortlist C/D

C & D block students - please take this survey:Click here to take survey

Depict Pre-production Paperwork (part of U1 GC2)

You should have the following paperwork on your blog (REDACTED) before you begin filming:

• Synopsis / treatment
• Shot list
• storyboards
• Recces
• Location releases
• Talent releases
• Prop & costume list (can be incorporated into the budget sheet)
• Budget sheet
• Script (if relevant)
• Risk assessment
• Email to police (if relevant)
• Production schedule

Depict Textual Analysis Blog Post

The final part of your work for the Depict Assignment is to demonstrate your understanding of the technical conventions of moving images by exploring the following.  Do a blog post called “Depict Video Textual Analysis”.  Try to include screenshots where appropriate, and explain WHY you used particular shots/techniques. 

Camera Use

Shot Distance
Camera Angle
Camera Movement
Composition (eg rule of thirds)

Editing

Cuts/Fades/dissolves
Continuity System (establishing shots, 180 degree rule, eyeline match cuts, match cuts on action)
Identification devices (reaction shots, POVs, CUs on main character etc – this is where editing and camera use cross over)

Sound

Diegetic (synchronous and asynchronous)
Non-Diegetic
Ambient

 Mise-en-scene and lighting

Props
Settings
Ambient
Motivated
Low Key/High Key

 

 

Requirements for production report - useful websites & links

Click here for an actual media rate card.

Click here for a list of film set accidental deaths.

Click here for information on filming in public (be aware that this varies depending on location).

Click here for information on finding locations and negotiating fees. It is London specific, but still helpful.

Click here for the BFI website and section on funding through the Lottery.

Click here for an article about Megan Ellison, financier of three films at Cannes in 2012.

Pre-production paperwork checklist

Open publication - Free publishing - More btec

Storyboard

Adult Release

Open publication - Free publishing

Budgeting

Open publication - Free publishing

Location Recce

Open publication - Free publishing