1: Creating Your Short Film
- Page ID
- 287331
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)In this course, you will work in self-selected teams of three to create a 2 to 8-minute short film (including titles and credits). If your project requires more hands, you can propose a larger team by presenting a detailed production plan. While each group will focus on its own film, collaboration and mutual support across projects are encouraged to foster a creative community.
At the heart of this project is a deeper appreciation of film and its connection to Tokyo. You will recreate, adapt, or craft a new scene inspired by the films we analyze, using Tokyo as your creative playground. This process isn’t about technical mastery—it’s about embracing the art of experimentation, playing with storytelling techniques, and finding your own voice within the world of cinema. By engaging with these films, you’ll explore how they capture the essence of Tokyo, not just as a backdrop, but as a character within each story.
Filming a Scene:
Your group will recreate, adapt, or design a scene inspired by one of the films analyzed in the course. You are encouraged to use Tokyo’s rich variety of locations as a backdrop for your film, incorporating your surroundings to enrich your visual storytelling.
- Recreate a Scene: Faithfully recreate an iconic scene from one of the assigned films, focusing on how you can replicate its cinematography, lighting, and mood.
- Adapt a Scene: Take inspiration from a film and modify its setting, characters, or tone to create something fresh while staying true to the original's core themes.
- Create a New Scene: Design a completely new scene inspired by a film’s style or narrative, showcasing your unique interpretation of the film's mood or visual language.
Project Development Stages:
Pre-Production:
- Group Formation: Choose your team and brainstorm ideas for your film, considering the technical challenges and creative possibilities.
- Greenlight Process: Pitch your concept and production plan to an instructor, who will act as your producer. Your project must be approved before moving forward.
- Pre-Production Materials: Develop and submit your script, storyboard, and shot list. If applicable, create an animatic to visualize the pacing and composition of your scene.
Production:
- Filming: Begin shooting your scene(s) based on the storyboard and shot list. Pay attention to camera work, lighting, and the overall visual composition, ensuring the film captures the style of the source material or your adaptation.
- Cinematography & Directing: Work with your team to direct actors, manage the set, and ensure that each shot aligns with the vision outlined in your pre-production materials.
Post-Production:
- Editing: Edit your footage using techniques such as color grading, sound design, and visual effects where necessary. Apply editing styles from pastiche or postmodernism if relevant to your scene.
- Final Cut: Submit the polished final version of your film, which must include titles, credits, and any additional post-production elements such as special effects or sound enhancements.
Educational Goals:
- Technical Skills: Apply the filmmaking techniques learned in class, including cinematography, editing, and sound design.
- Creative Interpretation: Engage with iconic scenes, adapting or recreating them through your own creative lens.
- Collaboration: Develop skills in team collaboration, communication, and problem-solving, essential for a successful production.
- Portfolio Development: Produce a finished short film that showcases your filmmaking abilities, which you can include in your professional portfolio.
Requirements:
- Collaborative Participation: Each student must assist with another group’s project for at least two hours, whether as cast or crew.
- Pre-Production Deliverables: Submit a script, storyboard, shot list, and any additional production schedules or materials required for your project.
- Film Submission: Your final film must be between 2 to 8 minutes (including titles and credits) and submitted in 720p MP4 format. The film should demonstrate your grasp of cinematography, storytelling, and the filmmaking process, with a focus on capturing the essence of the scene you are recreating or adapting.
Evaluation
Your project will be assessed based on your process, experimentation, and creative exploration, not on technical mastery. This course prioritizes engagement with the filmmaking journey, your ability to adapt and respond to challenges, and how you apply what you've learned through a spirit of collaboration and exploration. Each step is about growth, not perfection.
At each stage—pre-production, production, and post-production—you will receive feedback from your producer to guide you, and checkpoint approvals are necessary to ensure you stay on track.
Grading Criteria:
- Process and Exploration: How deeply did you engage with the process of filmmaking? Did you try new things, explore different ideas, and embrace the creative uncertainty of the project?
- Creative Adaptation: Your ability to experiment with recreating or adapting a scene—whether through inventive changes, original interpretation, or reflective analysis of the source material. It's not about precision but about bringing your unique voice to the material.
- Collaboration: How well did your team work together, share ideas, and help others succeed? Collaboration is central to this project, not just within your group but in supporting your peers in their filmmaking journey.
- Reflection and Growth: Demonstrate how the experience helped you grow as a creator. Your final film should reflect your journey of experimentation and learning, not just the end product.
Final Submission:
The final film is due by 11:59 p.m. on May 26th. Alongside the film, you will submit a self-evaluation (due by May 28th) reflecting on your contributions, challenges, and lessons learned throughout the production process. You may submit this evaluation in written, oral, or video format.
Final Thoughts:
This project is designed to let you experiment and explore the possibilities of filmmaking. Whether you're recreating a high-energy action scene or crafting an emotional moment, the focus is on the creative journey. Dive into the process, try new things, collaborate with your peers, and most importantly, enjoy the exploration. Your final product is a reflection of that adventure, not a technical demonstration.