Step 1. “WEAVE A TALE” AND CREATE YOUR STORY
First things first. Watch The Writing Process movie so Tim and Moby can take you through the process of writing, step by step.
Start to build your plot. Makes sure it has structure – a clear beginning, middle and end. Make sure your plot has a purpose and that your characters are interesting.
Watched that movie? Have an Oscar worthy story and plot? Good. Now onto Step 2.
Step 2. PUT THOSE WORDS INTO SOUND & MOTION – ADAPTATION
Next you need to adapt your story so it can be filmed by creating a script and storyboard.
Script writing
Writing convincing dialogue is one of the toughest aspects of script writing. We suggest you get some great script tips from the Writing Dialogue movie.
Remember: the script should include stage directions too. You should consider what you will need to bring your script to life – try to think of props, actors and settings. Don’t forget to include the time of day (midday and midnight are tonally two very different times!), set the location, and actions of the characters in the scene.
This is an excellent guide to creating a professional looking movie script: How to format a screenplay .
TOP TIP! You can learn about what it takes to make a movie from our Film making movie.
Storyboarding
When the script is ready, a storyboard can help you set out the main parts of the plot to record. We use storyboards when we make a new BrainPOP movie.
TOP TIP! Download and print this blank storyboard to get started: BrainPOP UK storyboard.
Step 3. EQUIP YOURSELF – TIME TO GET TO WORK
There are a few ways you could choose to approach this.
- Live acting: You’re going to need a camcorder or phone with a camera function to record your movie, actors, a studio space and costumes. And find someone to shout “CUT!”
- Green screen: You might also want to use chroma screen technology (here is a guide to using chroma key with Windows Movie Maker and a great blog post by Sheffield South Learning center).
- Stop motion animation: You could use claymation like Wallace and Gromit, papercraft like “Star Wars in 2 minutes” or using physical objects like the amazing “Dot. The world’s smallest stop-motion animation“. Have a read of this wonderful guide to stop motion animation for beginners on Photojojo.
- Audio play: If you don’t have access to a camera, you could just record your script as a podcast play – a fun challenge on its own! Try Podium.
- Digital animation: There are lots of amazing animation tools online. Try Anithings (animations), Zooburst (3D pop up ebooks), Xtranormal (you type and the characters talk) and Comic life (make a comic form your images) and many more. Or you may be a Flash guru.
Do you have any tips for aspiring young Spielbergs?
