20 AFV Winter 2013.pub - Federation of Australian Movie Makers

Making MoviesThe Beginner’s NarrativeBy David FullerGetting Our Heads in GearOK, a "narrative" movie is one that tells a "story." It has actors in it. They speak lines, on location and it comes upwith a "yarn" with a "point" to it. It's structured with a beginning, middle and an end. As Club members, we have torecognize that our human and physical resources are limited, so whoever writes an original screenplay or acquires ascript from another source has to think the production through. "Is this production feasible for us?"Do we have a good chance of pulling it off ? Yes, we'll give it a go. The driving force behind the Narrative Shoot,will probably become the "Director" and if he remains enthused and he has a modicum of successful experience, he'llbe able to work through the steps of getting his actors and crew "knowing the screenplay", its plot and the personasof the characters.This preliminary "getting the artistic dimension sorted out" and understood by the actors and camera people is anessential part of "getting our heads in gear." Pressing the red button lies ahead. I stress "our" because the productionhas to be a team effort; the director has a "vision" and the team has to develop a matured "feeling" for the movie. Remember,unlike our professional counterparts, we don't have a "big dollars" budget . We're out to have fun togetherand make a movie that our members and friends will enjoy. Entering the movie in a contest - perhaps.Who the Characters "are"Let's say a budding director comes up with a story in his mind and then an actual screenplay. Reading over thescreenplay together with the actors and crew is next. The director's insights, vision and interpretations of personas arecritical. And he has to possess a desire and an ability to "have a go" at delivering each actor's lines himself and/orassigning the task to a member of the "round table". He has to get out of his head his "vision" so as everyone can seeand hear it. A screenplay isn't much without "believable" characterization. Who IS Ramona, a female character?What motivates her? What's her character flaw or strength? How do the other characters and their personas relate toher?Believable characterization is the essence of a narrative.“Dry” RehearsalsStart Early in the Shoot Day. Get the Set ready the night before. Present the Screenplay to the team previously. Do afew "read overs" - refreshers. Secure commitment. Prepare everyone for a long Shoot day, with the possibility of anotherhalf day.The Director sits with his actors, on location, and works them through the screenplay, line by line. It's nice for him tohave, following "first" rehearsal, a sidekick who can go at it independently, one on one, refine, and confirm personas.While this informal rehearsal is proceeding, the Director and camera-people work through how each line will be shot- profile, head-on, hands occupied or not, "facials" of actors responding to how the lines are delivered. It's nice if theDirector can have faith in his camera-person's judgement and his flair for getting the best angles.Using What Talent You Can Come up With - CastingThe Club may be able to persuade a few members of an amateur stage group to come and join the Shoot. If not, we"do with what we've got."I hasten to add that the audience will be aware of the fact that a beginners' production is "just that." However, you'llbe pleasantly surprised how your vision and your patience as a director can "extract" a good degree of credibilityfrom actors drawn from the Club membership or "just friends". Patience, small increments, some repetition till youget the best from them.Keep The "Tech" Things as Simple as PossibleFor a Set involving just a few pieces of furniture - e.g., table and chairs - the simplest and quite effective lighting isto point one 500w bulb in a reflector at the white ceiling and allow the light to diffuse evenly around the room. Audiocapture by a boom mike. And if you're taking a string of close-ups, profiles and head ons, on-camera mikes,Page 30 AUSTRALIAN FILM & VIDEO—VOL 20 WINTER 2013