INTOTHEIBFILM

Routine: Make writing and generating ideas something that you do on a regular basis,

 

Write What You Know: Drawing from your own experiences is a sure-fire way to create believable scenarios and authentic characters. Dig into your past and ask yourself if there are any instances that could be the basis for a film.  Once you have a scenario or storyline you can then embellish detail events to make more visually interesting

 

Game of Opposites: Take a well-known concept and flip it on its head. This is a playful way to brainstorm ideas that go against the grain.

 

Watch Other Films: This one is self-explanatory. Being a good consumer of art makes you a better artist. It's a great way to mine for ideas. Keep in mind that very few, if any, ideas are truly original. Don't feel bad about taking somebody else's concept and putting your own spin on it. Chances are the filmmaker you're borrowing from did the exact same thing.

 

Take Batman as an example - the raid/raid 2 - Judge Dredd - Spiderman reboot 100 as feature film examples)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Magic Notebook: Ideas often come at the worst time: in the shower, when you're out with friends, when you're cooking dinner. It doesn't have to be a physical notebook, but having a way to capture spontaneous ideas as they come to you is essential.

 

Research: Start doing research about a topic that interests you. Along the way, you'll almost certainly come ac

 

List Your Resources: As independent filmmakers, our resources are often limited. By listing out the resources you have, whether it's certain locations or props, you can generate ideas that you know you can make.

 

Keep It Simple: For short films, it's often better that the concept is something extremely simple. Stop thinking about complex plot lines and characters, and instead try building a film around a simple idea.

 

Live a Little: This goes along with #2. It's much easier to write what you know if your life is somewhat interesting.

 

 

In Short:  

 

1. Think of a simple idea/scenario centred around single emotion, event or thought for eg buying a coffee in starbucks.

 

2. Work out whether your character is male or female - what kind of person are they.

 

3. Build on a situation that might take place from a simple act of walking into a starbucks to buy a coffee.  (the obvious one in this case is he/she is caught in the middle of a robbery.

 

4.  At this point, list your resources, is this actually a viable option? do you have access to a starbucks, or a gun or even that many actors/actresses. if no, go back to the storyboard.

 

5.  Once you have an idea break it down into a 5 act structure, the final act involving if need be a some form of twist.

 

6.  Even in the darkest stories there is light at the end of the tunnel, it may be sick or controversial but for the character it is light.

 

7. Don't be over ambitious, though don't be lazy - find that fine line between entertainment and exploration.

 

8. If you have an idea but don't know where to go with it, do some research on the topic it revolves around, something werid is bound to come up which you may find inspirational.

 

8.5. If you have your idea/topic that you wish to discuss, see if you can turn it on it's head to give it your own individual spin.

 

9. Take this seriously, and get to it asap 50% of your grade is huge - some of you are taking this very lightly as if to say "i'll pass, it will be fine" you will fail with this attitude, film is time consuming and involves your upmost creative skills in order to achieve, i stress again do not take this lightly.