Download - The script’ exam
QU
ESTIO
N O
NE
Why are some directors
driven to write their own
scripts?
Some directors are driven to write their own
short film and script out
of frustration and the
desire to get on with
making something.
QU
ESTIO
N T
WO
You shouldn’t make an
intense character study if
you are scared of what?
You shouldn’t make an
intense character if you are
scared of actors or develop
an action story that will
require stunts – if you know
you only have 5K to make it.
QU
ESTIO
N
TH
REE
What should you be careful of if you only
have 5K to make your
film?
You should be careful to
not have an action story
that will involve stunts,
car chases and special
effects.
QU
ESTIO
N
FOU
RIf a feature film might be
described as a novella, how
might a short be described?
A short can be described as
a Haiku – they only explore
one idea.
QU
ESTIO
N F
IVE
What are the length boundaries different film
festivals stipulate in their short sections?
Most festivals will except
as a short anything less
than 30 minutes, but
may find it difficult to
longer short films which
are over 20 minutes.
QU
ESTIO
N S
IXIf the function of your short
is to make your audience
laugh, how long should it
be?
It should be 2-3 minutes
maximum.
QU
ESTIO
N
SEV
EN
What are the three basic
elements any kind of
dramatic story requires?The three basic elements for any dramatic story is – A
world, a character, a
problem.
QU
ESTIO
N
EIG
HT
Why can it be useful to set
your film around a familiar
event/ ritual?
Because you can take for
granted the audiences
familiarity with the situation,
also it gives a story a finite
time frame.
QU
ESTIO
N N
INE
Why can literal journey
be a good setting for a
short film?
A literal journey can be a
good setting because
the story inevitably takes the character on a
metaphorical emotional
journey and it can work
well.
QU
ESTIO
N T
EN
What are the 5 most important
questions to ask when you begin
to develop your story?
-Who is the main character?
-What is their problem?
-How will the audience recognise
the problem?
-Are the stakes high enough?
-Am I telling the story from the
best point of view?
QU
ESTIO
N
ELE
VEN
One of three things must
drive your character
through the story. What
are they?
-A want-A need
-An obligation
QU
ESTIO
N
TW
ELV
EWhat crucially must
accompany this element?
Something that is making it
hard for the character to
pursue their want, need or
obligation.
QU
ESTIO
N
TH
IRTEEN
Why are a lot of short
films about children and
teenagers?
A lot of short films are
about children and teenagers because their
age and lack of experience of the adult
world provide a rich source of universally
recognisable problems.
QU
ESTIO
N
FOU
RTEEN
What is one of the most
important ways that you can
demonstrate your skill as a
filmmaker and not just as a
story teller?
The way in which you turn your
characters inner problem into
the heart of your film and
demonstrate your skill as a
filmmaker and not just a story
teller.
QU
ESTIO
N
FIFT
EEN
What does ensuring that
something is at stake in
the story mean the audience can do?
Ensuring that something
is at stake in the story
means the audience can
understand what the
character stands to lose if
they do not solve their
problem.
QU
ESTIO
N
SIX
TEEN
How can a different point of view change a
story?
The meaning of the story is largely involved
with who the story is being told through and
what happens to them in the end. •A different
point of view can change how the entire story
of a film is presented to the audience, how the
audience responds to the style of the story
being told and can change the entire out come
of the story in comparison to who the original
POV may have been. E.g. changing from a
protagonists POV to a minor antagonist, or the
antagonist themselves, can in fact change the
purpose of the film all together, for instance,
change it from fairy-tale to cautionary story
QU
ESTIO
N
SEV
EN
TEEN
Why do many short film
scripts fall down?They fall down because
they have chosen a main character whose
journey does not chime
with what the writer is
trying to say.
QU
ESTIO
N
EIG
HTEEN
Why does an awareness of the
meaning inherent in your story
matter?
Scripts aren’t written with the
moral and meaning immediately
known and understood. However
having a clear indication of its
meaning can help you make
important choices whilst refining
and developing your script.
QU
ESTIO
N
NIN
ETEEN
What is tone intimately
connected to and what
are the implications of
this?
Tone is intimately connected to genre, in a
short film you simply
don’t have time to make
shifts in tone.
QU
ESTIO
N
TW
EN
TY
How does tone emerge in a
film?
The tone emerges from the
way in which each element
supports the underlying
‘meaning’ of the story.
QU
ESTIO
N
TW
EN
TY-
ON
E
What is a common flaw of
most short scripts submitted for funding?Most scripts have had far
too little development so
it is imperative to iron out
the bumps; interrogating
friends and family is a
good place to start.
QU
ESTIO
N
TW
EN
TY-T
WO
What is the tent point plan
to test the spine of your
story?
Ten point plan:
Title, genre/tone, setting,
main character,
want/need/obligation,
opposition, catalyst for
change, climax, resolution
and theme.
QU
ESTIO
N
TW
EN
TY-
TH
REE
What point does Marilyn
Milgrom make about
unity?
Every scene must be
revealing something
that increases our understanding of the
character and their probem.
QU
ESTIO
N
TW
EN
TY-FO
UR
How can we make sure that
what happens in the end
could not have happened
earlier?
Each scene must MOVE THE
STORY ON.
QU
ESTIO
N
TW
EN
TY-
FIV
E
What is the step outline and
what does it ensure?Step outline is a way to check
you have no slack in your
film: one sentence that
summarises what happens,
what is revealed that is
significant to the plot, what is
revealed that is significant to
the audiences understanding
of the characters, is there any
indication of significant
theme.
QU
ESTIO
N
TW
EN
TY-S
IXEvery scene of significant
action should deliver
something on at least two out
of three possible fronts. What
are these fronts?
Fronts: Plot, Character,
Theme
QU
ESTIO
N
TW
EN
TY-
SEV
EN What is signified by the
order in which to tell the
story?
The most effective order
in which to tell the story:
beginning, middle, end.
QU
ESTIO
N
TW
EN
T-EIG
HT
What do audiences
instinctively know?
They know when something is
pretentious or dishonest.
QU
ESTIO
N
TW
EN
TY-
NIN
E
As a writer what is the
crucial thing you are
looking to ensure?You are looking for a way
of telling the story that
adds to its meanings
and keeps the audience
engaged.
QU
ESTIO
N
TH
IRTY
How do we establish a world
and the character?
Establish the world and the
character with maximum
speed and minimal dialogue.
QU
ESTIO
N
TH
IRTY-
ON
E
What advice is given for
making the film CINEMATIC once you
have a good story?Use cinematic devices
such as parallel action
and montage to build
tension and move the
story forward with maximum economy.
QU
ESIT
ON
TH
IRTY-T
WO
What final advice is given for
ensuring that a short is more
cinematic, less televisual
feel?
Dialogue should always be
the last thing you write, and
the less of the more
cinematic and less like
television your film will feel.
QU
ESTIO
N
TH
IRTY-FO
UR
How can you help the reader
SEE the film you are
intending and not get
irritated?
Follow the screen writing
conventions, read scripts,
avoid writing camera
directions and stuff that is
going on inside the
characters head.