Film Terms to Learn

Camera: (helps create POV, just like in fiction!)
Shots: long shot, medium shot, close-up

• Long shots are often used to establish setting
• Medium shots are used during dialogue
• Close up shots are used to show reaction/expression of an actor, or an important detail

Angles: bird's eye angle, eye-line match, high angle, low angle

Lighting: (helps create tone/mood, just like in fiction!)
High key lighting (bright, full light, often warm)
Low key lighting (low light; shadowy and dark, very cool or cold)

Music/Sound FX: (helps create tone/mood, just like in fiction!)
Diegetic (sound/music that characters can hear)
Non-diegetic (sound/music that only the audience can hear; the characters in the world of the film do not hear or react to non-diegetic sound)

Character: (creates character)
Acting (acting is the skill of portraying a character believably; good actors are convincing as their characters)
Costumes (complimentary colors show compatibility; contrasting colors show opposition/conflict)

HOMEWORK: None. Have a nice holiday break!

Catch Up Day; Historical Fiction: Film

During period 3, please do any of the following tasks in the lab:

• Turn in your play draft to me if you have not yet done so. I'm missing a few groups. 
• For Ms. Gamzon: please complete your study guide
• For Ms. Gamzon: please complete your historical fiction draft
• For Ms. Gamzon: complete your iMovie projects
• Submit work to Scholastic (from yesterday)
• Spend your time writing in your portfolio

During 4th period, after I've assessed where we are, we'll head next door to discuss a few film terms, camera shots, and watch a historical fiction film.

HOMEWORK: None.

Play Script Project: Day 3

Please complete your play script projects today in class. Use the time in the lab to complete your plays. Plays should:

• Be written in the standard playwriting format (see previous handouts)
• Have a title (your title goes on your 1st page or cover page with your name)
• Have 2-4 characters (characters should be identified on the cover page as a cast list)
• Have a short description of setting. A description of setting (location, time, and set) usually goes before dialogue starts in a script
• Include at least one monologue. Monologues can take the place of difficult scenes that would be hard to produce on stage (like driving in a car or being shot in a war) or to develop character by providing a backstory or history for the character.
• Your play should have a definite beginning, middle, and end. The ending of a play usually leaves the audience with an image or wraps up the major action of the play.
• Should be between 4-10 pages.

Rubric: 

A: Play is written in correct format with very minor or few errors. Creative idea supported by effective and specific language; author uses a variety of effective literary devices (metaphor, simile, symbol, theme, dynamic characters, conflict, alliteration, plot, etc.); includes all components from the bulleted list above; play is thought-provoking and produceable on stage.
B: Play is written in correct format, with some errors, but nothing that distracts the reader too much. Creative idea, but we may have seen this kind of thing before; language use is not as sharp as "A" but pretty good overall. Some grammar errors distract the reader; some literary devices are used but with uneven success; includes most of the requirements from the list above; play is produceable on stage. Script is an "A" but late.
C: Play attempts play format but format is incorrect or there are many errors making reading difficult. Idea is hackneyed or cliche: we've seen this sort of thing before and the author does not offer us a new or creative experience; theme or meaning may be missing; may attempt literary devices but there are gaps or problems; may be missing some of the requirements from the list above; may not be produceable or best for a stage play (may be too cinematic). Play is a "B" but late.
D: Play script is too short or unfinished. Otherwise like "C" above. Play is late.
F: Play script is not turned in or completed.

HOMEWORK: See previous post. If you did not finish your script, please do so. Go see Annie (extra credit).

Zoo Story; Short Play Project: Day 2

Please continue writing your play scripts.

For a visual representation of the format for plays, please refer to the handout this morning.

Each period (3 & 4), please try to write at least 2 pages. If you do, you will have the minimum length for your play script. We are aiming for about 10 pages in script format, with 7-8 being a good standard length.

--Your play requires a monologue (use monologues to develop characters or to remove difficult to stage scenes)
--Your play requires 2-4 characters. If you are writing with a partner, please "play" one or two characters, allowing your partner to "play" one or two characters. Share the responsibility of the writing.
--Limit your stage directions. Remember: you are not the director, designer, or actor--let these people use their knowledge, skill, and artistry to add to your really cool and effective dialogue. Your job as a writer is to create an interesting, creative play--not to direct.

HOMEWORK: For extra credit: please read Albee's The Death of Bessie Smith and the Sandbox as other examples of absurdist theatre. Be prepared to be a little shocked and confused. This is natural with Albee's work. See below:

The purpose of absurdist theatre is to metaphorically or figuratively comment on some aspect of the human condition in symbolic terms. Often, in absurd plays, the meaning reflects the existential philosophy of the playwright (which can be bleak sometimes).

Part of the fun of Absurdism is the dream-like quality of the story (which doesn’t always make sense at the moment). After reading these two plays, respond to them as a reader and writer. Consider what surprised or pleased you, what frustrated you with the style or characters, what you would do differently, what you understood and got out of the play, etc. Your response is extra credit and is also due on Thursday, Dec. 11. I'll even take it on Monday, Dec. 15 since that's my birthday. 

Play Script Project; The Zoo Story

This morning, please finish reading The Zoo Story if you did not do so already. If you did (and answered the questions--see the handout I gave you last class! & turn this in if it's complete)--you may pick a partner or work alone to complete the project below:

PLAY SCRIPT PROJECT (instructions: please READ!)

Read and follow the steps below to complete this project:

1. Plays are meant to be performed by live actors (the dead ones are not as animate).

2. Playwrights (play wright, as in wheel wright or crafter) craft their plays around intense CONFLICT.

3. As stated previously, there are four types of conflict:

a. Person versus Person
b. Person versus Self
c. Person versus Nature
d. Person versus Society or God (a force larger than themselves)

4. The best plays include conflict. Usually, characters often create problems or conflict for each other. But conflict in characters may also include conflict within themselves as they struggle with their own morals or beliefs about a situation, trying to work it out verbally in the presence of other characters. The most important point is that characters communicate this conflict. They must speak! At different times in the play, The Zoo Story includes many conflict types: A, B, and D, specifically. When we talk about conflict C (nature) we often mean HUMAN nature or how humans react to the natural world.

5. You are going to create your own short play following the standard playwriting format. The standard playwriting format is the following:

a. Stage directions are usually italicized and enclosed in (parenthesis).
b. A character who speaks a line has their name in CAPITAL LETTERS.
c. The character’s name is centered on the page.
d. Lines that are spoken (dialogue) are NOT centered.
e. A directional comment is placed in italics and parenthesis next to the name of the character speaking, if relevant. Many playwrights try to avoid these unless the dialogue is cryptic. Technically, the dialogue needs to indicate the emotion, not the stage direction.
f. Short actions or stage directions that indicate physical activity are enclosed in parenthesis and italicized when the action occurs during the spoken line (usually the beginning).
g. Long or complex actions that include technical information can either be off-set as its own stage direction (in parenthesis and italicized) or embedded in the line of dialogue.
h. Scripts are NOT double spaced. There is always a skipped blank line (one of these only) between lines of dialogue.

If you get lost or confused, take a look at the format in the book you are reading. Being observant helps.

6. Your “play” should be fewer than 10 pages and longer than 4. (7-8 is preferable, but for some of you I'll take what I can get.)

7. You should set your play in one setting only. Do not change scenes yet. In Zoo Story for example, there's only one setting: the park. Choose only one setting for your play! You may choose a single setting from your brainstorming done last class! Handy, ain't it?

8. Pick a setting that reflects your characters, their motivation or what they want or desire, the conflict (see #3), or the mood of your scene.

9. Include no more than four (4) characters. If you are writing with a partner, each of you should "play" these characters by writing the dialogue only for these 1-2 characters. You may also pick these from the pre-writing you did last class. Or start fresh. Just get on with it. Each character should have a name and an occupation or a main physical, mental, or social trait.

10. For each character you add, give a short description about them in the beginning of the script. See pg. 11 in The Zoo Story as an example.

11. Describe the initial action and situation of the play. What is happening when the lights go up or the curtain rises? Again an example of this can be found in the play you just read (The Zoo Story) on page 11-12.

12. Your play MUST include at least one monologue. Monologues are effective in developing characters. For a good example of this, see the story of 'Jerry and the Dog' (pages 36-44).

13. Due date is set for Thursday, Dec.11. Get writing today!

NOTE: I suggest saving your work on your Google Drive so that you can share your work with your partner or get your hands on it when you are not in school or in this lab! Good idea!

Homework: Please go ahead and read The Death of Bessie Smith and the Sandbox as other examples of absurdist theatre. Be prepared to be a little shocked and confused. This is natural with Albee's work. See below:

The purpose of absurdist theatre is to metaphorically or figuratively comment on some aspect of the human condition in symbolic terms. Often, in absurd plays, the meaning reflects the existential philosophy of the playwright (which can be bleak sometimes).

Part of the fun of Absurdism is the dream-like quality of the story (which doesn’t always make sense at the moment). After reading these two plays, respond to them as a reader and writer. Consider what surprised or pleased you, what frustrated you with the style or characters, what you would do differently, what you understood and got out of the play, etc. Your response is extra credit and is also due on Thursday, Dec. 11. I'll even take it on Monday, Dec. 15 since that's my birthday. 

Zoo Story

Read out loud, together.
Answer the questions on the sheet (individually)