WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE? Suggestion

Hey, guys. Real quick, I just wanted to say thanks for picking this up. Like the other writers, I really don't care what you have to cut from the script to make it work. I do suggest having Mitch on board for the process but other than that I'll be standing on the sidelines, keeping track of your progress. And I'll be first in line to shell out some dough for the DVD.

Good luck!

Be Well,
Shane

PS: For the record, I love the retro, grainy handheld look displayed in the promo.

Well I'm committed so please let people know in the meeting for me

I'm up for a skype meeting, tonight is best for me....

Alright, who-ever is wanting to come to this meeting on Friday 21st November, please do this "homework" to make the proccess easier.

Copy and paste this document into excel (The first few fill-outs are as an example)
http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=pjfjaLS2rqhOykQnv72kgEg

Read the Script below and as you do, tick the corresponding boxes to what you feel should be done to that segment.
http://pc.celtx.com/project/WjNMg8vs3P0j/view/http://celtx.com/res/1kEqvojZWTHA

The meeting will be split into two sections accoridng to the relevant items: Finalising the Script and Filming.
If you have absolutely no clue about the script, It would be an idea to not turn up at all, since this meeting is gonna be pretty full-on and you may well just be sitting wondering what the hell we're going on about. However, if you've got a knowledge of the discussions made in the past topics made in the scripting section and got a reletaviley good understanding of the characters and filming and stuff, then by all means do come.

We'll post a report on what was discussed afterwards and the community can then give input on what they think of it and adjust our plans accordingly.

Here's the Plan for the Meeting (more can be added if aspects do turn up):

THE WELCOME

- What we're gonna do
- Say what each Item is gonna be, yadda yadda

ITEM 1: THE SCRIPT

1 = Shortening the Script
i) Brief Overview of the script and it's acts.
ii) Shortening and removing segments
2 = How to increase the importance of the Vlogs / give meaning to the plot.
i) Possibilities: Lots of vlogs or fewer, more developed vlogs
ii) How to utilise these Vlogs to assist the story
3 = Inclusion of Vlogs / extra vlogs
i) Where these Vlogs are included
ii) Their length (on average)
4 = Assign Script Team, leave them to sort it out

ITEM 2: FILMING

1 = Locations
i) Alley Filming
ii) Corner-Shop
iii)Legal rights for streets, etc
2 = Filming Dates
i) When to Start Filming
ii) How often?
iii) Filming Techniques
3 = Cast and Crew
i) The cast - commitment?
ii) The crew - commitment/right equipment/skills

THE CONCLUSION

1 = Summary of what's been decided
2 = Final Words
3 = Arranging next meeting

Remember, please set up Skype (and add me, see the icon under my avatar for it) and a google docs account.

*Collapses on keyboard* 3.5 hours of this planning, now I'm off to play L4D! XD

WOULD IT KILL TO HAVE AN EDIT BUTTON?!?!! D:

Please please please drop me a PM saying if you can come, so I can prepare milk and cookies.

I'll be there. I suggest we have an informal "catch up" for the first 10 minutes that anybody who has any questions can attend. It's hard to keep up to speed on the forums.

My Skype User's Curranpete. If you're on the sidelines with this thing or trying to get involved, I suggest getting in on this if you can.

So its agreed the meeting is tonight - try to get on at 2045 UK time to set up and do a catch up on the events so far.

Hope to see y'all there.

I'm afraid I don't have Skype, or know what it is but here are my thoughts after reading the script on the main plot.

#1 Two acts

In terms of the main plot I think you really want to cut it down to two acts, everything before they leave the apartment being the first act and the escape as the second act. What is in the first section seems far too long to me and could be cut down a lot. For example do we need to see the autopsy and attack at the station twice? IT would be much easier with both to just have it seen first by the viewer when Ben sees it.

#2 Ben's story

It seems to me that this is mainly Ben's story and it should really focus on him so I'd be inclined to cut out Kia and Angela as they don't really have an affect on Ben and what happens to him. Kia could easily be included via the VLOGs sections but doesn't seem connected to the main plot.

I really liked the stuff with the VLOGs and how the pad out the story showing what is happening in the rest of the world. I'd see the film as Ben & co providing the back bone of the movie with VLOGs branching off to show different reactions and results of zombie disaster.

I hope this helps and isn't seen as hating.

Skype is an instant-messaging and audio conferencing program for Mac and Windows.

My thoughts on your ideas:

1: Having a two-act film makes no narrative sense. It needs to be cut, but it would still need three acts, as they are usually used in terms of "Beginning, middle, end" when speaking of films. The first act is where the "universe" of the film is introduced and the status quo is broken, the second involves a turn in emotional direction and actions that culminate in the resolution (or not) of the conflicts of the film, which is what happens in the third act.
That's more or less what acts in films are for. more or less. I agree that the main story needs to be cut heavily, but you can't just remove an act.

2: Kai and Angela represent the internationality of the situation. They represent the rest of the world in a similar but more focused and "polished" fashion than the vlogs. The Autopsy is only MEANT to be shown once. It is referenced more than once in the script, but that doesn't mean it will be shown to the audience more than once. Not everything in a script has to be literally translated to the screen. If I specify that a tube of toothpaste is on Ben's floor in the script, providing it's just set dressing and not actually part of the plot, it might just be in the corner of a single shot, or it might not even show up at all. The director interprates the script and decides what needs emphasis and what doesn't. More likely than not, the director will not show the entire autopsy video twice.

I hope that helps to clarify.

I don't think we should cut out Angela or Kai completely.
In terms of V logs they already have loads of precedence in the script.

Certain phrases written for English characters in the script feel quite American, so I feel in the non action scenes (i.e flat scenes) we could experiment with a little bit of improv just to make the relationships between the characters more real and the dialogue feel more natural. Mike (Ben) is a funny guy.

getfrank wrote:I don't think we should cut out Angela or Kai completely.
In terms of V logs they already have loads of precedence in the script.

Hey Frankie,
This is simply a matter of practicality and that people seemed to think that they were kind of superfluous to the main plot, but mainly it's a practicality thing. To get more material filmed in different countries is a hell of task. Even harder than getting stuff filmed in the UK, which is hard enough itself

getfrank wrote:...a little bit of improv just to make the relationships between the characters more real and the dialogue feel more natural. Mike (Ben) is a funny guy.

Don't see why not, the more natural the better I say. The only caveat being that we've a lot of material to film, so going off on too many tangents may be counter productive (just playing devil's advocate here, I don't think it's really that much of a big deal). Pete said the scenes in the flat can be filmed quite quickly and the nature of them is that they are far less logistically intense than the action stuff, so improv here is probably a good idea. Again anyone - feel free to shoot me down in flames

I can't start new topics in this part of the Forum, so there's an update here with the results of last night's meeting, and where we go next:
Link
(It's in Chats and Meetups)

hi there just a thought
thought what is the army doin during the zombie outbreak? if you wanted i am near london and i can do a segment involving a group of survivors.
I have the people available the clothing and the geat that i need to film it but i need a director and camera man.
What do you think?
I am also a chef if you need any food doing but i want to help in any way i can
please let me know wat you think
thanks
james nicholson

Curranpete wrote:I can't start new topics in this part of the Forum, so there's an update here with the results of last night's meeting, and where we go next:
Link
(It's in Chats and Meetups)

Just looking never know there was a meeting. Anyways i'm still here to help really help we can finish the movie.

am I going to be notified if my footage gets put in the final edit or not? Because in all honesty, I am really getting sick of getting ignored on this project, and I would at least like to know if the footage that I spent time to make will even be looked at. All I'm asking for is a yes or no answer, if that's not too much to ask.