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Weaselling your Way Into
Your Students HeartsScreenwriting and movies for education and training
Gareth J Johnson
Weasel Televisual Enterprises(and University of Leicester )
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FILM 1
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Creating movies for training, education or promotion
Considering the educational power of humour
Going from script to screenSome of the practicalities
…Fade In
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All role-playing will be me only
…no, I’m not going to make you work with puppets
Feeling The Fear Role-playing Puppetry
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Started filming in 2007 for funBought a camera and editing software
Moved on to developing short films
Started using videos in (some) teaching and training
Made freely available
Genesis of the Weasel
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Where do humour and librarians meet?◦A powerful a communication tool as
rhetoric or repetition Makes it engaging
◦A key goal for any education or marketing
Makes it memorable◦Audiences will remember serious points
made Makes it digestible
◦Sugar coating for difficult topics
A Comedy Tonight
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How can this be educational?◦Breaks the ice◦Change of focus, raises attention levels◦Re-enforcement of core message◦Provides respite for the speaker◦Available for local and distance learners
Won’t click for everyone◦Neither do other forms of instruction or
promotion◦Another weapon in the arsenal
Educating Weasel
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A video short should contain 1 core concept◦ Concept encapsulated in 25 words or less
Start simple with message then plot then dialogue
Choose your artistes with care◦ Dull inflection/intonation bring death on swift
wings◦ Availability can be the key factor
Get someone else to film it if you can… Block out plenty of time the first time
Video: Planning
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Remember the hook◦ The opening line has to grab the audience’s
attention Get someone else to read/review the script
◦ Spot the best bits and polish your diamonds◦ Helps avoid major clangers
Write for your audience◦ Brevity, clarity and punch
Basic screenwriting techniques will help◦ Not a simple migration of words to screen◦ Use or adapt a template style or format
Keep thinking message, message, message
Video: Scripting
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A need to make use of a visual grammars◦ The lexicon of movement and reaction◦ Show don’t tell at the heart of best practice◦ Fewer words and more movement
Don’t over rely on cliché◦ Bookshelves back drop can be a major turn off◦ Talking heads looking straight into the camera◦ …but can be a handy visual shorthand
Breaking the rules◦ What works for me, might not work for you◦ Experiment – it might just work
Video: Finessing
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FILM 2
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1. Outline a movie concept in 25 words or less Think about the central message Think about your audience & stakeholders Use the plotting template
Group Exercise
2. Plan 2 or 3 scenes (or more) in detail Think of locations, situations and actors Think about practicalities of the shoot Script the opening line(s) of dialogue
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Screen writing formats◦ Useful as a guide but don’t follow strictly◦ See references and handouts for suggestions
Writing effective and engaging dialogue◦ Two heads can be better than one◦ An interrogative between two speakers is best◦ Question and response format works well
Rules of thumb on the page◦ 1 page/1 minute◦ The Speaking script and the shooting script are
strictly two different entities
Script to Screen
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Videos are a non-trivial creation exercise A 3-5 minute movie might well take
◦Plotting, scripting, planning 1-2 hours◦Set up, shoot and re-shoot 1-2 hours◦Editing & polishing 2-3 hours
May not be consecutive periods◦Helps if are relatively close together◦Need for script approval can increase times
Timing is Everything
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Be wary of information overload◦Tempting to cram too much in -
◦One or two core messages only
◦Remember clarity, pacing and engagement
Shooting tips◦Always consider simple backgrounds
◦Avoid busy backgrounds
◦Make sure it’s well lit
◦Shoot once, shoot twice, shoot thrice
◦Be prepared for reshoots after rough cut
Your Name In Lights
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Keeping it on track◦ Complex/long scripts make for more time
consuming shoots and editing◦ A little each day is a more manageable approach
Good editing can save weak movie making◦ Can sharpen by trimming dead air
Daily rushes & rough cuts◦ Screen to a small audience & listen to their
feedback or comments◦ Be prepared to make (minor) changes or reshoots
Outputs in multiple formats◦ Lower res for web, higher res for DVD & archive
Editing: Saving It In The Mix
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Get someone else to read the script out loud
Do multiple takes of every scene Be aware of backgrounds and lighting Use what ever software you are happy
with Make & watch a rough edit as quickly as
possible Produce low & high quality final versions Back up your original footage
The Golden Rules
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Keep thinking…◦Message, message message
Fade Out…
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Contact◦[email protected]◦0116-252-2055
Twitter◦www.twitter.com/llordllama
Videos◦www.youtube.com/llordllama
Facebook◦tinyurl.com/weaselchums
After the Film