Film-plansteps & strategies

1documentnoun \d-ky-mnt, -ky-\

to document (verb): to record or report in detail to furnish with documentsto support with evidence or proof

from Latin documentum a lesson,from docre to teach

it is a choice:

be an archivist & document reality

or

be an artistic creator of unseen perspective(s)

as every film is a constantsuccesion of ideas...

try to control a few of the many variables far ahead of shooting

a few of the manyformal aspects to decide upon:

2 main building blocks:

Key-sentence/Premisse

Film-idea

a Key-Sentence / Premisse:Nucleus/focus of the filmPosition/interpretation of the filmmakerEcho/mantra

Key-Sentence / Premisseaim:

attractive and daring a new perspective something overlooked by others

Key-Sentence / Premisseto start active, challenging:... transform it into a question (...to investigate its truth,and whether that sustains)

try to define premisse/key-sentence of:

Grizzly ManDarwins NightmareFahrenheit 9/11

Film-idea

consists of 2 components:

Ultrashort descriptionof subject or story

in combination with

the organizing mechanism thatcontrols/structures your story

the organizing mechanism ->

the unity of

placeand/orformand/or action

define unity of .... in:

Roger & MeEtre et AvoirFive Broken Cameras

* On the bases of your film-idea and premisse, your proposal can be judged if there is a possible film worth financing/making

as for the storyStory-line(s): possible developmentMulti-layeredKey scene(s)Entrance and Exit of your film

Know the classic structures.... but try to twist and turn the options

Casting

The dramatic role of your characters

Replace follow -> film

Other tools on your shopping list:Which genre?(name min 10)

Style: everything is allowed(name min 20 style terms)

Know all the tools you can choose from, and describe them accurate and simple

What is at stake?

for subject / for filmmaker

(are those agendas in sync?)

Story perspective + the role of the filmmaker

Determine the films perspective(s)?

Modes of representation of filmmaker:Poetic (highly subjective)Expository (voice of God, narration, guiding viewer)Observing (pretence of objectivism)Participatory (interactive - subjective)Reflexive (incl process and quality of the film itself)Performative (mixes modes objective finding truth)

Writing procesFilm dreamingMagnify what is importantDepict it as larger than LifeRestrictions to get a clear plan. (delete unnecessaries & give constraints)

Your film-plan is like a baby to the film:

try to raise it properly

(or get stuck with an unmanagble fiend)

Not only use the cinematic tools with which you can tell your film...

..find out some new ones along the way

Then you contribute to the development of the documentary medium as a cinematic art