Filmmaking Basics/List of lessons

Courses in Filmmaking →
Course #1:
Basic filmmaking (pre-production)
Course #2:
Practical narrative film editing
Course #3:
Film scoring for dramatic scenes
Exercise:
Script writing for high school dramas
Future:
Poser / DAZ Studio animation




Lessons in Basic Filmmaking Course
Lesson: Formatting the Script
Pop Quiz: Pop Quiz - What is the first shot?
Lesson: Creating the thumbnail storyboards
Lesson: Creating the 3D storyboards
Free disk: A simple DVD-Video Editing Workshop
Lesson: Learning about camera lenses
Lesson: Record the dialog for the animatic
Lesson: Intro to narrative filmmaking
Lesson: Draw the movie poster for "Star Wars"
Lesson: Understanding dailies
Lesson: Create a matte painting
Lesson: Understanding editing
Pop Quiz: Pop Quiz - Creating the moods (film scoring)
Lesson: Understanding "L-Cuts"
Lesson: Create the animatic





List of filmmaking lessons
Your Current Location
Page: List of lessons
Course: Course #01 - Basic Filmmaking
Department: Narrative Film Production
Division: Film and Television
Portal: Fine Arts Portal
School: Art and Design
Faculty: Humanities
University: Wikiversity (English)

List of Lesson in WikiU Film School Course #01 - Basic filmmaking at Wikiversity

2


This school is:
Wikiversity Film School - Narrative film production
This course is:
The basics of narrative filmmaking
This lesson is:
Formatting the script
Pages of this lesson:
Page 1 - Lesson summary & the story
Page 2 - Analyze the story
Page 3 - Learn Final Draft
Page 4 - Type the script
Conclusion - Is it perfect?



Homework
Homework
The formatted scripts from the lesson on "Script Formatting"


Version: The Live-Action Script
Note: The instructions in the lessons are only a guide. Here is an excellent example of creative script formatting. Converting the story into a script can be done with a great amount of originality. Great job, Capt. Mike!
"D" says: I wasn´t sure if could make all this changes in the story but here it goes! (Ps: sorry if the script its not fluid or something but though english its not my native language I wanted to give it a try anyway.)
  • MilesR has completed this assignment (pdf). 10 points. (5 May 2007) Remember to set each line to the correct format. This is very easy in Final Draft.
  • Krishna Datta has completed this assignment (pdf). I used MS Word and converted the script to PDF using a PDF Convertor. I am not able to install the Tool as I am using a restricted Computer where I don't have permission to install any software. I think this will suffice.6 points. (23 July 2007)
  • Astroboi has not completed this assignment (pdf). Please use the free demo of Final Draft to format this script.
  • Igor Popovski has completed this assignment (pdf) using the free Final Draft demo. This was done using a TV format rather than a motion picture. The differences are very interesting. 8 points - (03 November 2007)



Click on the word assignment to see the actual pdf document.



Version: The Animation Script
  • Special Note: This is the first script to get the scene numbering correct!!!!
  • Special Note: This is the second script to get the scene numbering correct!!!!




Unique scripts



Completed assignment - Script formatting

June 3, 2010 -- Macurik has formatted the script with Free Final Draft 8. You can download it at Media:Macurik_Seduced by the dark side.pdf. xxx


filmmaking
filmmaking
Narrative Film Production:
Course #01: The Basics
Lesson:
Lesson #002: Understanding Filmmaking - Study the Way Movies are Filmed in Hollywood
Pages of this Lesson:
Page 1 - Introduction
Page 2 - Watching how real scenes are broken down and filmed in Hollywood.
Page 3 - Analyzing the movie George Lucas in Love
Page 4 - The Basic Filmmaking Process

3

4

Homework
Homework
Thumbnail storyboards from the lesson on Thumbnail storyboarding



Click on the image to see larger version.

Kasturika has completed this assignment (pdf) (23 May 2007) Good job! 10 points

Kasturika says, "I used the Microsoft paint application.

I took a screen shot of the storyboard, converted it into bitmap image, made the frames separately and pasted them.

Then I used OpenOffice.org Draw to export the bitmap image as PDF."


assignment
Click on the image to see larger version.

Niri0n in Sweden has completed this assignment (png). Click on the image to see larger version. (23 May 2007) Good job! 10 points


assignment
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Wachapon2 has completed this assignment (png). Click on the image to see larger version. (2 June 2007) Good job! 10 points


assignment
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Tunderboy9 has completed this assignment. (13 July 2007) Good job! 10 points



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Vijay Singh has completed this assignment. (17 July 2007) Good job! 10 points


This is the first storyboard which looks like a movie.

The figures are positioned as in a movie. The size of the figures are as in a movie.

Yet, these are still very simple thumbnail storyboards. Please look at these storyboards!!!!


Click on the image to see larger version.
Mok has completed this assignment. (21 July 2007) Very good job! 10 points


Here is a very artistic thumbnail storyboard.

Click on the image to see larger version.
Fred has completed this assignment. (5 August 2007) Very good job! 10 points

assignment
Click on the image to see larger version.

Mpftmead has completed this assignment (png). Click on the image to see larger version. (6 August 2007) 10 points




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Izwah has completed this assignment. (6 August 2007) 10 points

assignment
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Refardeon has completed this assignment (png). Click on the image to see larger version. (13 August 2007) 10 points


assignment
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Noblerinthemind has completed this assignment using GIMP (png). Click on the image to see larger version. (16 August 2007) 10 points



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KinnetiK has completed this assignment (JPG). Click on the image to see larger version. (23 August 2007) 10 points



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Sushant has completed this assignment (JPG). Click on the image to see larger version. (01 September 2007) 10 points



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Tharun Bhascker has completed this assignment (JPG). Click on the image to see larger version. (5 September 2007) 10 points



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Moraistelmo has completed this assignment (JPG). Click on the image to see larger version. (7 September 2007) 10 points



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Elisia Johnson has completed this assignment (PNG). Click on the image to see larger version. (01 October 2007) 10 points




Click on the image to see larger version.
Sibte Hassan has completed this assignment. (6 October 2007) 10 points



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Mattjames17 has completed this assignment. (30 October 2007) 10 points



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Cristiana has completed this assignment. (08 November 2007) 10 points



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William Lewis has completed this assignment. (13 November 2007) 10 points



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Manuelciosici has completed this assignment. (05 December 2007) 10 points




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Pruthvirajg has completed this assignment. (10 December 2007) 10 points




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Davidmp4 has completed this assignment. (21 December 2007) 7 points




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Alideniz has completed this assignment. (01 January 2008) 10 points



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Sereyaco has completed this assignment. (03 January 2008) 10 points



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Marcus Mac has completed this assignment. (28 January 2008) 10 points




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Mike305 has completed this assignment. (01 March 2008) 10 points




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Vikram_Acharya has completed this assignment. (30 March 2008) 10 points




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Eldorino has completed this assignment. (05 April 2008) 10 points


Completed assignment - Creating the thumbnail storyboard

June 12, 2008 -- Rick14 has created a thumbnail storyboard.



Click on the image to see larger version.


5

6

audio
audio
Narrative Film Production:
Course #01: The Basics
Lesson:
Lesson #006: Recording the dialog for the animatic.
Pages of this Lesson:
Page 1 - Introduction
Page 2 - The software
Page 3 - The hardware
Page 4 - The room
Page 5 - The recording session procedure

7

8

9

10

3D Figures
3D Figures
Narrative Film Production:
Course #01: The Basics
Lesson:
Lesson #010: 3D Storyboarding
Pages of this Lesson:
Page 1 - Introduction to FrameForge 3D Studio 2 Demo
Page 2 - Building our movie set inside FrameForge
Page 3 - Sample 3D Storyboard from FrameForge
Page 4 - Sample 3D Storyboard from FrameForge

11

Painting
Painting
Narrative Film Production:
Course #01: The Basics
Lesson:
Lesson #011: Making the Movie Props - The Star Wars Poster
Pages of this Lesson:
Drawing the Star Wars Poster

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13

14

15

16

|}

Old List of Lesson in WikiU Film School Course #01 - Basic filmmaking at Wikiversity

→Click here for shortcut to lessons


Lesson 1. Formatting the Script

Development

WikiU Film School → Lesson #001 - Formatting the Script

This is the first lesson of the Course #01 - Learning the Basics of Filmmaking. You are given a very simple story for a short movie (60 seconds) called Seduced by the Dark Side!. Your first step is to format this script. People in Hollywood expect a movie script in a specific format. If you cannot format your script properly, you will be ignored. Being ignored in Hollywood is not good!
  • Also, this lesson is an introduction to the script typing and formatting program called Final Draft. This program is available in a FREE demo version which is fully working for short scripts... including saving and printing (with watermarks) short scripts. This program comes with a tutorial to show you all the features of Final Draft. Download the free demo version and take a look.
The pages of this lesson…
Title Page - About this lesson & a brief look at our immediate plans and goals Start Here to begin the WikiU Film School.
Page 1 - The story for Seduced by the Dark Side!
Page 2 - Analyze the story for Seduced by the Dark Side!
Page 3 - Learning Final Draft
Page 4 - Typing the script


Homework
Homework
The formatted scripts from the lesson on "Script Formatting"


Version: The Live-Action Script
Note: The instructions in the lessons are only a guide. Here is an excellent example of creative script formatting. Converting the story into a script can be done with a great amount of originality. Great job, Capt. Mike!
"D" says: I wasn´t sure if could make all this changes in the story but here it goes! (Ps: sorry if the script its not fluid or something but though english its not my native language I wanted to give it a try anyway.)
  • MilesR has completed this assignment (pdf). 10 points. (5 May 2007) Remember to set each line to the correct format. This is very easy in Final Draft.
  • Krishna Datta has completed this assignment (pdf). I used MS Word and converted the script to PDF using a PDF Convertor. I am not able to install the Tool as I am using a restricted Computer where I don't have permission to install any software. I think this will suffice.6 points. (23 July 2007)
  • Astroboi has not completed this assignment (pdf). Please use the free demo of Final Draft to format this script.
  • Igor Popovski has completed this assignment (pdf) using the free Final Draft demo. This was done using a TV format rather than a motion picture. The differences are very interesting. 8 points - (03 November 2007)



Click on the word assignment to see the actual pdf document.



Version: The Animation Script
  • Special Note: This is the first script to get the scene numbering correct!!!!
  • Special Note: This is the second script to get the scene numbering correct!!!!




Unique scripts



Completed assignment - Script formatting

June 3, 2010 -- Macurik has formatted the script with Free Final Draft 8. You can download it at Media:Macurik_Seduced by the dark side.pdf. xxx



Lesson 2. Study the Way Movies are Filmed in Hollywood

Development

WikiU Film School → Lesson #002- Understanding how movies are made Under Construction

This Lesson can be described as "Watching Movies" and Lesson #3 can be described as "Making Decisions".
In this lesson, we watch movies (edited and unedited) to study the filmmaking process and to get ideas.

Watching movies is a tough job... but someone has to do it. It might as well be you!!!!

The pages of this lesson…
Title Page - Very short introduction
Page 1 - The Basic Filmmaking Process
Page 2 - Analyzing the movie George Lucas in Love
Page 3 - Watching how real scenes are broken down and filmed in Hollywood.

Lesson 3. Decide How the Movie will be Made ↔ Script Breakdown

Development

WikiU Film School → Lesson #003: Planning the Movie Under Construction

To plan a movie, you need to decide how the movie will be filmed and such mundane tasks as the aspect ratio, the frame size and the lenses.
The pages of this lesson…

Lesson 4. The Most Important Step - Drawing the thumbnail storyboards

WikiU Film School → Lesson #004: Creating the Thumbnail Storyboards

The most important steps is storyboarding. And the simplest storyboards of all is thumbnail storyboards. You make all the important decisions for the movie when you create the thumbnail storyboards so this is the most challenging lesson of our course.
Lesson #004 - The Thumbnail Storyboards


This lesson should take only 15 minutes to draw the thumbnail storyboards with pencil and paper.
Problem

It takes too long to get the thumbnail drawings into the computer.

Solution #1

Mail me your pencil and paper storyboard sketches.

Solution #2

Tell me the numbers of the Thumbnail Examples which match your storyboards.



Special Note: The first ten students who complete a good set of totally original thumbnail storyboards will received a free copy of the "Follow Dave?" Editing Workshop CD from the Star Movie Shop which hopefully works on both the Macintosh and Windows. The "Follow Dave?" Editing Workshop CD is a good introduction to film editing for narrative motion pictures with scripted dialog.

Thumbnail storyboards from the lesson on Thumbnail storyboarding



Click on the image to see larger version.

Kasturika has completed this assignment (pdf) (23 May 2007) Good job! 10 points

Kasturika says, "I used the Microsoft paint application.

I took a screen shot of the storyboard, converted it into bitmap image, made the frames separately and pasted them.

Then I used OpenOffice.org Draw to export the bitmap image as PDF."


assignment
Click on the image to see larger version.

Niri0n in Sweden has completed this assignment (png). Click on the image to see larger version. (23 May 2007) Good job! 10 points


assignment
Click on the image to see larger version.

Wachapon2 has completed this assignment (png). Click on the image to see larger version. (2 June 2007) Good job! 10 points


assignment
Click on the image to see larger version.

Tunderboy9 has completed this assignment. (13 July 2007) Good job! 10 points



Click on the image to see larger version.
Vijay Singh has completed this assignment. (17 July 2007) Good job! 10 points


This is the first storyboard which looks like a movie.

The figures are positioned as in a movie. The size of the figures are as in a movie.

Yet, these are still very simple thumbnail storyboards. Please look at these storyboards!!!!


Click on the image to see larger version.
Mok has completed this assignment. (21 July 2007) Very good job! 10 points


Here is a very artistic thumbnail storyboard.

Click on the image to see larger version.
Fred has completed this assignment. (5 August 2007) Very good job! 10 points

assignment
Click on the image to see larger version.

Mpftmead has completed this assignment (png). Click on the image to see larger version. (6 August 2007) 10 points




Click on the image to see larger version.
Izwah has completed this assignment. (6 August 2007) 10 points

assignment
Click on the image to see larger version.

Refardeon has completed this assignment (png). Click on the image to see larger version. (13 August 2007) 10 points


assignment
Click on the image to see larger version.

Noblerinthemind has completed this assignment using GIMP (png). Click on the image to see larger version. (16 August 2007) 10 points



Click on the image to see larger version.

KinnetiK has completed this assignment (JPG). Click on the image to see larger version. (23 August 2007) 10 points



Click on the image to see larger version.

Sushant has completed this assignment (JPG). Click on the image to see larger version. (01 September 2007) 10 points



Click on the image to see larger version.

Tharun Bhascker has completed this assignment (JPG). Click on the image to see larger version. (5 September 2007) 10 points



Click on the image to see larger version.

Moraistelmo has completed this assignment (JPG). Click on the image to see larger version. (7 September 2007) 10 points



Click on the image to see larger version.

Elisia Johnson has completed this assignment (PNG). Click on the image to see larger version. (01 October 2007) 10 points




Click on the image to see larger version.
Sibte Hassan has completed this assignment. (6 October 2007) 10 points



Click on the image to see larger version.
Mattjames17 has completed this assignment. (30 October 2007) 10 points



Click on the image to see larger version.
Cristiana has completed this assignment. (08 November 2007) 10 points



Click on the image to see larger version.
William Lewis has completed this assignment. (13 November 2007) 10 points



Click on the image to see larger version.

Manuelciosici has completed this assignment. (05 December 2007) 10 points




Click on the image to see larger version.

Pruthvirajg has completed this assignment. (10 December 2007) 10 points




Click on the image to see larger version.

Davidmp4 has completed this assignment. (21 December 2007) 7 points




Click on the image to see larger version.
Alideniz has completed this assignment. (01 January 2008) 10 points



Click on the image to see larger version.
Sereyaco has completed this assignment. (03 January 2008) 10 points



Click on the image to see larger version.

Marcus Mac has completed this assignment. (28 January 2008) 10 points




Click on the image to see larger version.

Mike305 has completed this assignment. (01 March 2008) 10 points




Click on the image to see larger version.

Vikram_Acharya has completed this assignment. (30 March 2008) 10 points




Click on the image to see larger version.

Eldorino has completed this assignment. (05 April 2008) 10 points


Completed assignment - Creating the thumbnail storyboard

June 12, 2008 -- Rick14 has created a thumbnail storyboard.



Click on the image to see larger version.



Lesson 5. Creating the Temp Score

Pre-production

WikiU Film School →Creating the music (rough) Under Construction

To calculate the timing for this movie, you must first create the narrative music for this motion picture.
The pages of this lesson…

Lesson 6. Recording the Dialog

Pre-production

WikiU Film School → Recording the dialog for the animatic Under Construction

We are going to create an animatic from the 3D storyboards. This is a movie created from the still artwork. To do this, we need voices of the characters in the animatic. This is only very rough, not necessarily the voices needed for production.
The pages of this lesson…

Lesson 7. Editing the Animatic

Pre-production

WikiU Film School → Editing the animatic Under Construction

To create an animatic from the 3D storyboards, we need to edit it like a slide show.
The pages of this lesson…

Lesson 8. The Camera Lens creates the Mood - All about Camera Lenses

Development

The computer model Victoria photographed with three different lenses
using the amazing DAZ Studio full version
which you can download absolutely free

(Warning to parents: the optional FREE Victoria model comes without clothing and a very well-defined female body.)
200 mm face
24 mm
Mood is cold and distant
50 mm
No distortion is boring
200 mm
Mood is warm and close
Can you see the difference?

.

WikiU Film School → All about Lenses Under Construction

Using a program like DAZ Studio which is free, you can learn how the selection of the lens for a shot will effect the mood of the shot.
The pages of this lesson…

Look at the three pictures to the right above. Can you see the difference? More importantly, can you feel the difference between the two outer images? The first image is filmed with a 24 mm lens (a very wide angle lens which makes things look cold but bold), the second is filmed with a 50 mm lens which has no distortion, and the third was filmed with a 200 mm lens (a strong telephoto lens used for dramatic portraits which makes things seem warm and close.) Note: The focal lengths of the lenses are based on 35 mm still camera lenses.


Lesson 9. 3D Human Models, 3D Costumes, and Movie Set for the Animated Version of Our Movie

Pre-production

WikiU Film School → Selecting the models for the animated version Under Construction

We have to select the models for the animated version of this movie.
The pages of this Lesson…

Lesson 10. Creating 3D Storyboards

Pre-production

WikiU Film School → Creating a 3D Storyboard Under Construction

Using FrameForce 3D Studio 2 demo version, you can create very useful 3D storyboard artwork.
The pages of this lesson are…

Lesson 11. Movie Props - The Star Wars Poster

Pre-production

  • Making the props - The Star Wars poster - The movie set has a poster from Star Wars. We will not use a real Star Wars poster for two reasons. One is the problem with rights. The other problem is a detailed posters will be too hard to view. We need a very simple poster that looks like a Star Wars poster but is not.
The pages of this Lesson…

Lesson 12. Marketing campaign to potential distributors

Sales and Exhibition

The pages of this Lesson…

Pre-production


Production


Production


Post-production


Post-production


Post-production


Post-production


Post-production


Live Action

Pre-production


Pre-production

  • Financing the Live Action - Financing the live action version of this movie]] - We have to determine how much money we need and then we have to find it. Next Year

Pre-production

  • Constructing the Movie Set - Planning and constructing the movie set for a live action shoot]] - We have to build a movie set. Next Year

Pre-production

  • Lighting the Movie Set - Selecting the lights for the movie set for a live action shoot]] - We have to light the movie set. Next Year

Pre-production

  • Hiring the Crew - Selecting the crew for a live action shoot]] - We have to find a crew for this movie. Next Year

Production


Production


Production

  • Edit the movie - We have edit either the live action or the animated version of the movie. In both cases, this is done the same way. Next Year

Post-production


Post-production


Post-production


Post-production


Post-production


Post-production


Distribution/Exhibition

Sales and Exhibition

  • Creating the titles - We have to create the titles and credits for both the animated and the movie. Next Year

Sales and Exhibition


Sales and Exhibition


Sales and Exhibition

  • Authoring the disk - We have to create layout and design of the DVD-Video release. Next Year

Sales and Exhibition


Sales and Exhibition

  • Accounting - We have to account for the finances of the movie. Next Year


Reference materials

Reference materials for Seduced by the Dark Side! that you might need.


WikiU Film School Activities

Your Teachers at the Wiki Film School



Short Cut to Lessons

Portal:Filmmaking:Wikiversity

Filmmaking Courses at Wikiversity

Course #01 - Basic Filmmaking - All the steps of making a short motion picture
1. Start this course with the lesson for script formatting using the free demo version of Final Draft.
We have a very simple story and it must be formatted into a movie script. Learn how! Short and easy. Your first step at learning filmmaking.


. Start Here: . . . Lesson #01: The Script Formatting Lesson.

.


Course #02 - Film Scoring - An introduction to film scoring for non-musicians
1. The first lesson is to create the sound of "Fear!" with GarageBand and Jam Pack:Symphony Orchestra, etc.
The basic film score music is musical sound effects using the instruments of the symphony orchestra. If you have the right software, this is extremely easy.

Course #03 - Script Writing - Filmmaking for high school drama departments
1. The first lesson is to script writing assignment for high school drama classes.
We need extremely short stories for junior high schools and high schools to turn into motion pictures. Must be a play that can be filmed like a movie.

Course #04 - Film Editing - Fundamentals of narrative film editing
1. The first lesson is an overview of a narrative film editing workshop which shows the basics of how a conversation with scripted dialog is edited for motion pictures and television dramas.
The only way to learn film editing is to edit scenes from real motion pictures and television dramas. It is better to start with conversations than action scenes.

Filmmaking software reviews and recommendations: Free ArtRage2 Free · FrameForge 3D Studio 2 Demo Version · DAZ Studio · Victoria · Audacity · Finale NotePadNot FreeJam Pack: Symphony Orchestra · Poser · Disk 2 - "24 Unedited Scenes" · Disk 1 - "Follow Dave?" Editing Workshop CD · Disk 9 - "Hearing Voices" Editing Workshop DVD-Video · "Fireworks Display" Editing Workshop DVD-Video · MOTU Symphonic Instrument