Assignment 2 Ken Burns Script

Note: I have yet again changed my idea for the Ken Burns assignment because I thought the earlier one was still too cheesy.

The link to my script is here.

Presentation 3 (Scripting)

Select a minimum of 5 pages from each script and analyze them:

[In this blog post, I will be adding screenshots of the script to illustrate my observations of the scripts.]

1. Up

Being a major Pixar fan, I decided to focus this week's question on the animated feature film Up. I really liked how Pixar painted his story emotionally, artistically and visually.. so it was really a treat to be able to read this script.

The link to the script is here. (Up)

My focus will be from pages 1 to 10, the beginning part of the film.
I chose this portion because it's one of my favourite parts of the movie - the background story of the protagonist Carl.

Pages 1 to 10 of the script shows Carl's young interest (which was indeed his life-long interest!) in exploring and how he's a die hard fan of Charles Muntz. Carl also meets a girl named Ellie, also passionate about exploring, who enthusiastically befriended him..and unintentionally landing him in hospital.

The script ends just about the time when the film moves onward to the montage of how they got married and grew old together.

I was hoping to be able to obtain some clips from Youtube to compare between the script and the final product, but there wasn't any useful ones I could find, so.. I guess we'll have to make do without them. Go watch the DVD!

1. Which are the characters/roles in this script?

It is clear to see that the characters are usually given a bit of an introduction, and then highlighted just before their dialogue (i.e. the words they are supposed to speak). In notation, they are usually bold, capitalized and center-aligned.

1st character: Charles Muntz

Here, Muntz is described as a dashing young adventurer.
In here, the Newsreel Announcer isn't a character, but I think he has a role to play in the script, i.e. the voice over. Is there such a thing as a voice over character? Off screen character?



2nd character: Carl Fredrickson


Carl is also given a small introduction (about his age, so that the artists know how to design him) and then given a dialogue here.



3rd Character: Ellie

Ellie is given a more detailed description here.

Point out the voice over

Voice overs are noted using "(V.O.)" in this script.

O.S. stands for "Off Screen", which means that the voice belongs to a real character in the scene, and not just a narrator. The voice exists in the film's world and also IN THE SCENE, just that he/she has not appeared yet.

Point out the camera movement

I've looked through most of the script carefully and there isn't any camera movement for this script, sadly. But there are quite a few in Avatar, which I will talk about and show later.

Point out the transition

Denotes a "dissolve" or "crossfade" video transition.


These denote a "cut" to the next scene.

Usually, a change in scene happens when the surroundings are different, which can be seen in e.g. "EXT. SMALL TOWN NEIGHBOURHOOD STREET" and "INT. CHURCH - DAY", which I will explain in the next question.

How does it present place and time?

In these cases (and also throughout the script and most other scripts), INT. means an interior setting (or indoors) and EXT. means exterior (or outdoors).

Then, the exact place is specified, e.g. "Small Town Neighbourhood" or "Carl's Room".

Next, the time is specified, e.g. "Day" or "Night"

Of continuous, here's what I got off a website: some writers use "KITCHEN - CONTINUOUS" to emphasize the regular flow of time. But that's not necessary. Instead, CONTINUOUS is best used for stylized scenes where a conversation or action continues right across several Locations.

2. Avatar

The link to the script is here.

My focus of the analysis will be from pages 53 to 58.

Characters

Just like in the script for Up, the characters are center-aligned and highlighted in bold for their dialogue. Otherwise, they are presented in just caps in action/details paragraphs (i.e. non-dialogue).

Character: Tsu-Tey (Tribe warrior)

Character: Trudy (Military woman)

Characters: Jake (main character), Grace and Norm
In here, also note that their names appear in CAPS in the action/details paragraph.


Character: Neytiri (tribe princess) & Tsu-Tey

Character: Max


Characters: Jake, Colonel Quaritch and Selfridge

Voice Over

There aren't much voiceovers in these scenes.. In the movie, I think the only voiceovers occur when Jake was doing his video log. So this is just one of it.

The voiceover is denoted with a (V.O.).

Transition

The following snapshots show the video transitions. (consists of mostly Cuts)

Here, we have a Cut To the next scene.

A series of jump cuts - probably to drive home the point that Jake keeps falling and failing for many many times. This series of cuts also happen quickly (no pauses).


A cut to the next scene.
"OPS CENTER - NIGHT" refers to the place/time of the next scene.

Camera

Here are some camera angle notations in the script.

A wide aerial camera angle of the Samson among the floating islands. This wide angle shows the vastness of the place (although CG generated).



A tight shot of the horse's tendrils. A tight shot also refers to an extreme close up.


The camera focuses on Norm, a character.


The camera points at Jake, the main character.


Here, we have camera angles from Jake's point of view (POV) and the camera pointing at him.



A close up (CU) on Jake's Avatar.


The camera shooting at an angle on Max. Probably a high or low angle.
Together with a Cut transition to the next scene.

Place/Time

The following show the various place/time of the different scenes

Difference between scripts before production vs ready for production?

Well, I haven't been able to find a substantial answer online, but I guess upon observation of the scripts in IMSDB, I think that there is a difference.

Firstly, I noticed that the scripts in IMSDB are labelled with "Draft", "Shooting Script" etc. which I assumed that there are indeed different stages in script writing.

Ok, so just to zoom in and illustrate the differences using examples, I found Addams Family (shooting script..which I think would be the script that is ready for production) and Hancock (draft).

Well..... I guess the main difference between the two is that normally, in drafts, we don't find camera information (i.e. how to camera ought to behave when shooting etc..whether it's wide angle, or close up etc). Like in the previous question, the script for Up is also a draft and there isn't any camera information there.

I think the purpose of the draft would just be for the directors/producers etc to know how the story will unfold in detail. I suppose it also gives actors/crew to know roughly how the film is going to be like without too much details (kinda like the flavour of the movie). In fact, I think (just guessing) that before the actual shoot, actors come together to voice out their dialogues to see how they fit together and set the mood, hence they might be using the draft version for this case. Obviously, there won't be a need for the full script with camera info for this.

It will also be best to note that not all drafts in IMSDB are without camera info as in fact some do, e.g. Clash Of The Titans.

Assignment 2 Update - Newest Idea

Ok, so right now after my previous failures in generating ideas for this assignment, I've come up with a new idea! It might sound just a little bit cliche...but I think it's more interesting than any of my previous ideas.

The title is gonna be:
"What Do You Want?"

Here's a rough script (I'll tighten it up and add some storyboards later):

• "Do you wanna make friends? Enlarge your circle? Or find that special one?
  [show pics of friends, networking and romance!]
  
  
• "Do you crave challenges? Seeking opportunities to get a taste of the outside world?"
  [show pics of internship]
  
  
• "Do you want to have recreational time, doing things you love alongside academics?"
  [show pics of CCA, sports, etc]
  
  
• "Do you like to excite your tongue? NUS offers a variety of cuisine and lowered prices so you get to enjoy good food without burning a big hole in your pocket!"
  [show pics of food]
  
  
• "Are you a big fan of nature? Do you want to be in an environment surrounded by fresh air and greenery?"
  [show pics of nature around NUS]
  
  
• [ending]
  "For academics, friends, activities and recreation, XXX people have chosen NUS. What about you?"
  

Assignment 2 Update

Apologies for not being able to have a detailed concept earlier on.. but I guess CNY's no excuse!

So anyway, the class decided that I should go ahead with idea #2, but maybe jazz it up a little.

Which I then thought of using a song, changing the lyrics for my script...
BUT BUT BUT
Julian said it's not possible!
I've already written out 85% of the lyrics....

T-T
Ok, this means I've really really gotta brainstorm for ideas........
Dear God, help me!

My Ken Burns (ideas) - in point form

I have 2 ideas:

1)
NUS "ROCK"
R - Rapport (Friends)
O - On the ball (mugging)
C - Cheap Food
K - Keep fit (climbing stairs, walking from block to block)


2)
My 4 years (more honest!)

1st year - Orientation photos, CCA, STRESS, learning how to bid on CORS

2nd year - Decided to persevere, appreciate the food, explore more of NUS

3rd year - Make more friends, getting used to CORS

4th year - Getting the hang of modules, more project work, internship & GRADUATION!

Will probably end with a quote:
"Life in NUS may not be a bed of roses,
but I learnt through the thorns..."