Selasa, 26 Mei 2009
Bengkel Penulisan Skrip Drama TV By Martias Ali
Berlangsung pada 14 Dec 2008 lepas, penulis skrip TV tersohor di Malaysia, Martias Ali mengadakan kursus/bengkel penulisan skrip Tv di Mini Pawagam Finas, dengan sambutan yang amat memberangsangkan. Terima kasih di atas sumbangan beliau dalam memperkayakan industri ini.
Isnin, 25 Mei 2009
THE ART OF PITCHING
THE ART OF PITCHING
Make no mistake; pitching is an art. Every screenplay begins with an idea and if you want to write a screenplay based on your idea, then the chances are you're going to have to pitch it to someone; it could be a producer, a director, a production executive, an agent or anyone in the business.
A pitch is nothing more than a verbal presentation of a notion, concept, situation, idea, or story. It can be augmented with photographs, casting suggestions, newspaper articles, clippings, or anything else that will help you in the "selling" of your idea.
When we talk about pitching, we're talking about the presentation of an idea. That means it's your responsibility to convince a production executive (s), or agent, or producer, whoever it might be, that your idea is so good, so unique, so hip, that they want to develop it into a screenplay and pay you for doing it.
When you pitch, you've got to remember that you're pitching story, and while character and action may be the glue that holds everything together, it all starts within the context of story.
In any pitch meeting you've got about 15 or 20 minutes to do your stuff. That means knowing the key structural points of your story. How you're setting up the story, who the story's about, the changes that he or she goes through; in other words, what is it about your story that will make an audience plunk down the cost of admission to see your movie.
Before you even begin to present your idea, your story line needs to be structured into the key elements from beginning to end. It means knowing the personalities and intricacies of your characters. It means rehearsing your presentation so the person you're pitching is hanging on every word. It's your job to keep the listener, the buyer in this case, perched on the edge of his or her seat.
Your idea must be presented with passion, clarity and confidence. You need to know the beginning, middle and end of your story. Can you name three actors or actresses who could play the lead? Two or three directors who you think would respond to the material. Can you reference your idea with a few movies that have been successful, including the amount of monies those films have grossed. These are valuable aids in the pitching process.
What do studio executives look for in a pitch? That's a question I posed to several top film executives and they all agreed; they want to hear something interesting, something they can turn around and sell. So your manner of presentation, your attitude, even the clothes you're wearing, goes into the whole package of what makes a good pitch.
One executive shared that "when a writer pitches me, I'm always thinking - would I want to see this movie? Is it different than anything I've seen before, or is it the same old thing only with a slight twist? I want to see something original, not a variation on a film that's already out there. I want to see how well the story is worked out. Does the writer know their material cold and, most importantly, is he or she really committed to it. Don't think you're going to sell something to me that you're not committed to, no matter what, because I can smell it. Then I say to myself, if they're not committed to it, how can I be? I look for someone who believes in what they're saying."
Words to think about.
Nobody is immune to the pitching process. Writers pitch to executives. Executives pitch their executive team. Then to the head of production. Then the head of production has to pitch to the CEO. And, so it goes.
What does a "normal" pitching session look like?
"Fifteen or twenty minutes," says one studio executive. "That's the longest. I have writers come in who are wonderful, and they go on and on for forty-five minutes. Sometimes I just cut it short because it's obvious they're rambling. Pitching is the style of presentation; you have to win someone over with the energy and theatrics of it."
In a typical pitch meeting you'll schmooze for a few minutes while waiting for an opportunity to say I'd like to tell you about my idea. Then introduce the idea by telling a few lines about the overview of the story. For example, this is a story about a private detective who's hired by the wife of a prominent man to find out who he's having an affair with. In the process, he becomes involved in several murders and uncovers a major water scandal. That's how the pitch for Chinatown began.
Once you've got your opening three-sentence story line, you can establish the structural dynamics of the story; the beginning, middle and end. Plot Point I and Plot Point II. Design your story line in a way the executive can "see" the story. Now, what's the resolution of the story? Not the specific scene or shot, but the solution; does your character live or die, succeed or fail, win the race or not, get married or not? Perhaps the executive will suggest another ending - what do you do then? Can you get behind it?
Remember, a good pitch is something that gets bought. To walk out of that room and say, that was a great pitch meeting, and then they pass on your project, what does that do?
So, here's some key reminder points from a top production executive at a major motion picture company:
• Pitching Etiquette - be on time and be prepared to wait.
• Impress your audience - you're hoping to start a business relationship. So, dress appropriately, prepare your presentation, and look for any pitching aids, like photographs.
• See if you can read your audience.
• Things to expect and anticipate - the executive on the other side of the desk taking phone calls during your pitch, or having several other execs in the room, etc.).
• First impressions...what's the best way to handle the introduction (including the all-important pitch on who you are, and what your background is).
• Improvisation - what do you do when you fumble the pitch - how do you recover? .
• When the exec's eyes glaze over, are you ready to move to "Plan B." Or, "What else do you have?"
• "The leave behind" - a one or two page summary - setting up the follow up time to call....
To summarize: The executive looks for a "great idea." Think about the passion and manner of your presentation. Your writing ability always comes in second. Everybody's a buyer and seller in Hollywood. It is the Town of Sell, built on a foundation of hype, fear, greed, insecurity and ego. Pitching something just because you think it's commercial is a real trap. The trick is to find a commercial idea that you really want to write; not because it's commercial, but because you love the idea.
Yes, pitching is an art. How well you do it depends upon two things: the idea behind your screenplay and how well you present it.
Good luck.
Jumaat, 22 Mei 2009
Pitching a story By JOE GRIMM
By JOE GRIMM
Detroit Free Press
Recruiting and development editor
Even after 25 years of newspapering, I pitch ideas that never make it to the plate. When that happens, I have to try someone else, or go back, re-evaluate what I'm pitching and try again. Sometimes I have forgotten my own advice for pitching a story. It is:
• Pitch ideas, not topics. While the maxim is "if you can't write your idea on the back of a business card, you don't have one," editors need more than that. "Rave parties" is not a story idea. "Garage sales" is not a story idea. These are topics. A fully fleshed story idea has a news peg and answers the question, "Why are we doing this now?" The answer "because we never did it before" is lame. A story idea has news elements -- currency, importance, conflict or resolution. Editors do not deal in three-word ideas. They deal in budget lines. Get a look at the news budgets used at the newspaper for story meetings. See how the stories sound on there. Develop a budget line for your story idea.
• Prepare your pitch with a little reporting. Talk to some people. Search the newspaper's library. Is this really a new idea? You don't want to be pitching a story that was written six months ago. Do some reporting to flesh out the idea. Who is behind the story? What make it news? How is it developing? Why does it matter to our readers?
• Make the case. You want to pitch a story about a quirky little diner that is shutting after a short but successful run. It doesn't sound like much of a story -- unless you can say that the diner attracted a large clientele from the city's legal community. Or was the only place where homeless people and business people ate, side by side. Or was the only place in the city that served gazpatcho, and now people will have to drive a hundred miles to find it. Or the owner is closing shop because she is going to take the profits and sail around the world. Do enough reporting so that the editor can take this story into a news meeting and talk it up to other editors. Don't blurt out a story idea on your hunch alone. Poke around. Chances are your instincts are good, but you need to deliver some specifics.
• Understand what the newspaper is looking for. If you come up with a story that connects to one of the newspaper's key initiatives, you have something. They say they care about the well-being of children and you have a story about children having no safe place to play. You're onto something. Find a child who exemplifies that and who could be the lead for your story.
• Look at it from the editor's point of view. This is not selling out or "playing the game," this is framing your idea in a way that will strike the right chords with the newspaper and get your story into print.
• Try another angle. You've sharpened, focused and retooled. No dice. There may be another avenue. Sometimes you're pitching the wrong editor. If the metro editor won't take it, will the features editor? Could it be a photo story? There's more than one way to get an idea into print.
• Finally, explain why you think the story is important. You and the editor may have different perspectives, but you're not from different planets. Listen to the editor's questions. Find out what it will take to move your idea to the story stage. Be willing to explain, negotiate and sharpen the idea.
If your pitch falls flat, it's easy to blame it on an editor. Too easy. If your story matters to you, find a way to recast it and pitch it again so that the editors can see what you have. Don't drop the idea at the first obstacle. If you really have a good idea, it deserves more than a half-hearted pitch.
And, remember. Even I, after 25 years in the newsroom, many as an assigning editor and news editor, sometimes can't get my ideas into the paper. But I don't stop trying.
DANA PEMBANGUNAN SENI FILEM & MULTIMEDIA
DANA PEMBANGUNAN SENI FILEM & MULTIMEDIA
PENGENALAN
Dana Pembangunan Seni Filem & Multimedia diwujudkan bertujuan melahirkan karya filem Malaysia yang bermutu tinggi yang diiktiraf di peringkat antarabangsa serta menggalak pertumbuhan bakat dan memajukan tahap profesionalisme para penggiat dan pengamal filem. Skim ini dikendalikan oleh sebuah Jawatankuasa yang terdiri dari kalangan karyawan dan penggiat filem.
OBJEKTIF
* Meningkatkan kuantiti dan kualiti penerbitan filem terutama filem pendek, dokumentari & animasi.
* Menempatkan industri filem Malaysia ditahap yang sewajarnya diperingkat antarabangsa.
* Menghargai karyawan dan seniman filem Malaysia mencapai kejayaan di peringkat antarabangsa.
* Menampilkan kemampuan pembikin filem tempatan di peringkat antarabangsa.
SKOP
Pembiayaan bagi menerbitkan filem pendek / dokumentari / animasi yang bermutu tinggi termasuk pembangunan skrip
TERMA PEMBIAYAAN
Jumlah Pembiayaan – Bantuan Penerbitan
Tidak melebihi RM20,000 untuk penerbitan video pendek (tidak melebihi 30 minit)
Tidak melebihi RM50,000 untuk penerbitan dokumentari / animasi (tidak melebihi 60 minit)
KELAYAKAN PEMOHON
* Warganegara Malaysia berumur 18 tahun ke atas
* Persatuan / Kelab Perfileman yang diiktiraf
* Karyawan yang dikenalpasti oleh Jawatankuasa
KAEDAH PERMOHONAN
Bantuan Penerbitan
Bagi permohonan penerbitan, kertas kerja mestilah disertakan dengan dokumen-dokumen berikut :-
* idea / konsep cerita
* anggaran kos produksi;
* cadangan artis / krew filem;
* pelan pemasaran / promosi;
* kenyataan sumber modal tambahan; dan
* latarbelakang dan pengalaman perfileman pemohon
Permohonan Yang Lengkap
Borang & permohonan yang lengkap di alamatkan kepada :-
Urusetia
Dana Pembangunan Seni Filem & Multimedia
Perbadanan Kemajuan Filem Nasional Malaysia (FINAS)
Lot 1662, Batu 8, Jalan Hulu Kelang
68000 Ampang, Selangor.
( u.p. Unit Dana & Insentif )
Pemilihan
Jawatankuasa akan membuat penilaian terhadap semua permohonan yang lengkap dan memenuhi kriteria. Permohonan akan dijemput untuk menghadiri sesi temuduga / pitching. Pemohon akan dimaklumkan keputusan melalui surat.
Isnin, 18 Mei 2009
10th Gerak Khas
Isnin, 11 Mei 2009
Telemovie Ihsan Part 1 of 8
LATIHAN MEMBACA SKRIN TELEMOVIE
Anda dikehendaki membuat simple treatment untuk cerita ini.
TELEMOVIE : IHSAN
Kisah mengenai seorang anak yang durhaka kepada keluarganya terutama ibunya...
TREATMENT
(Lihat Lampiran)
PELAKON UTAMA
ZAMARUL - Nordin
DYNAZ – Anita
ZAFRUL – Zamri
KARTINA AZIZ – Mak Timah
ABU BAKAR JUAH – Koperal Mansur
PELAKON PEMBANTU
KISMAH JOHAR – Ibu Zamri
SHAFIQ – PO Saiful
AZRUL – Malik
ZUBAIDI – Ayah Anita
ROHANI AHMAD – Mak Anita
DINI JURI – Imam
PELAKON TAMBAHAN
MOHAMAD RAMZLI
ERMAN RIZLAR
NORNASNIMAH JAAFAR
NORI ABDULLAH
SKRIP – ZABIDI MOHAMED
PENGURUS PENERBITAN – AZMAN BACHIK
PENOLONG PENGARAH – CHE YUN MUTALIB
PERALATAN – COMEL
PEMBANTU PERALATAN – AZMI JEFRI
KESINAMBUNGAN – DYNA
PEMBANTU AM & PERALATAN – KABIR
AGENSI PELAKON – ZUL TALENT AGENCY
UNIT PENGAMARAN – NUR TV PRODUCTION
PASCA PENERBITAN – LAYAR CONSULT SDN. BHD.
JURUKAMERA – MOHD. YUSRI AYOP
PEMBANTU JURUKAMERA – MOHD. AZUAN ABDUL HALIM
JURU LAMPU – MOHD. RAZALI
PEMBANTU JURU LAMPU – CHE MAT
JURU AUDIO – SUNNY A. SAMAN
SUNTINGAN – FAUZEE YAHYA
PEMBANTU PENYUNTINGAN – MOHD. HAFEZ HARUN
ADUNAN AUDIO – FAUZEE YAHYA
PENERBIT PENYELARAS – MOHD. YUSRI MOHD YUSOF
PENERBIT EKSEKUTIF – ABDUL HALIM CHE PA
PENERBIT – HJ. ABU HASSAN MORAD
PENGARAH – MURALI ABDULLAH
Note: Cerita ini ditayangkan & dibincangkan utk tujuan pembelajaran semata-mata
Filem Animasi Pendek - Burung oh Burung
Kami harap anda mampu melihat dari sudut seorang Penulis Skrip mengenai File Animasi Pendek ini yang bertajk "Burung Oh Burung".
Selasa, 5 Mei 2009
KRISIS DAN KONFLIK DALAM FILEM
Pengenalan
Krisis dan konflik merupakan 2 elemen penting dalam filem kerana tanpanya filem itu tidak mungkin mempunyai sebarang elemen dramatik. Filem dan drama tempatan hanya berfokus kepada konflik yang merupakan hanya sebahagian daripada elemen dramatik. Oleh demikian, filem dan drama tempatan kelihatan kurang hebat jika dibandingkan dengan filem dan drama luar negara.
Krisis
Dalam filem krisis merupakan Satu detik atau situasi amat genting atau menentukan atau satu turning point. An Unstable Condition (keadaan mencemaskan) dalam pergerakan politik, social dan ekonomi yang mendesakan perubahan. Perubahan drastik secara tiba-tiba dalam kehidupan, pengurusan atau penyakit yang mencemaskan.
Satu event yang memberi tekanan emosi atau satu perubahan traumatik dalam kehidupan sebuah negara, masyarakat, keluarga atau individu. Satu detik dalam drama di mana konflik tiba di kemuncak ketegangan dan memerlukan keputusan. Dalam Bahasa Cina Krisis dikenali sebagai weiji. Wei (危) bermaksud "danger, dangerous (bahaya); endanger, jeopardize (membahayakan); perilous (amat berbahaya); precipitous (curam), precarious (dalam keadaan bahaya dan mencemaskan); high (tinggi); fear, afraid (ketakutan)".
ji (機) bermaksud "machine, mechanical (mesin atau mekanikal); airplane (kapal terbang); suitable occasion (keadaan selesa); crucial point (saat genting); pivot (pasak)(; incipient moment (detik permulaan); opportune, opportunity (peluang); chance (nasib baik); key link ( hubungan utama); secret (rahsia); cunning (licik)".
Contoh Krisis: Krisis Keluarga, Rumah tangga, Krisis ekonomi / perniagaan, Krisis masyarakat, Krisis Negara, Krisis Dunia, Krisis psikologi, Krisis identiti, Krisis kesihatan, Krisis kesukanan, Krisis politik, Krisis agama, Krisis pertanian, Krisis remaja, Krisis warga emas, Krisis jalan raya / kapal terbang, Krisis bencana alam, Krisis penyakit / penyakit berjangkit dan lain-lain.
Soalan: Apakah krisis atau krisis dalam objective dan subjective storyline anda?
Konflik
Konflik adalah satu perseteruan yang sedang berlaku atara 2 pihak (individu atau kumpulan) apabila pihak-pihak itu mempunyai matlamat berbeza dan cuba mempengaruhi atau menggagalkan usaha pihak yang lain. Konflik berbeza dengan persaingan walaupun konflik mungkin muncul akibat persaingan.
Konflik wujud disebabkan perbezaan kepentingan, nilai-nilai, ideologi, tindakan atau matlamat.
Contoh konflik: Konflik antara invididu (interpersonal), Konflik emosional, Konflik antara kumpulan, Konflik dalam atau antara komuniti, Konflik negara (perang saudara, kempen pilihan raya, dll), Konflik antarabangsa, Konflik dengan alam sekitar, Konflik ideologi, Konflik diplomatik, Konflik berbentuk ekonomi, Konflik tentera dan Konflik berdasarkan agama.