Project 1: Story Development

29/09/2023 – 06/10/2023 

Name: Joan Chiam Zi Woei 

Student ID: 0350211

Film Studies and Cinematography

Project 1: Story Development

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Instructions:

Module Information Booklet

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Lecture

WEEK 2 — MASTERING THE ART OF STORYTELLING

Story Elements

1. Character
2. Setting/World/Environment
3. Conflict
4. Internal: Beliefs/Philosophy

• External
• Plot/Structure
• 3 Act Structure
• Beginning
• Middle
• End

    5. Theme: Lesson Learned (Summarizes all)

•     Introduction to Storytelling
• Idea Generation
• Techniques
• What If Scenarios
• Integration of Character and World
• Drawing Inspiration
• Learning from Existing Shorts
• Establishing Emotional Connections
• Crafting a Relatable Story

WEEK 3 — DEVELOPING COMPELLING CHARACTERS

• Creating Audience Attachment through Challenging Situations
• Exploration of Characters through External (Design, Clothes, Appearance) and Internal Features (Insecurities, Personality)
• Incorporating Authentic Human Emotions and Experiences
• Drawing Inspiration from Real-Life People and Situations for Unique Characters
• Emphasizing Character Desires as Driving Forces
• Distinguishing Between Character Wants and Needs
• Character Wants Drive Actions and Behaviors, While Needs Propel Growth and Success, Shaping the Plot
• Recognition of Obstacles as Elements Hindering Character Goals
• Obstacles Triggering Confrontation with Fears, Leading to Fight or Flight Responses
• Optimal Obstacles Reflecting Character Flaws and Shortcomings, Prompting Reflection on Wants and Needs

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Process

This project necessitates the creation of a 30-second to 1-minute short story for a 2D animation as the final output. The story development will progress based on activities conducted each week:

1. Story Ideas:

Utilize various techniques, including writing what you know, exploring "what if" scenarios, and combining character and world elements to generate ideas.

2. Character Development:

Develop the main character derived from generated ideas. Define external and internal obstacles, establish goals, distinguish between wants and needs, and craft character arcs.

3. Setting:

Place the character in a suitable setting, considering factors such as era and world, enhancing the narrative's context.

4. Story Arcs and Theme:

Structure the story with an inciting incident, following the three-act structure. Summarize the narrative through a logline and explore the underlying theme.

Deliverables:

Create a comprehensive report in a Word document, incorporating the following elements:

• Story Title
• Logline
• Synopsis (3 Acts)
• Theme
• Character Description
• World Description
• Script/Screenplay

To commence the project, Mr. Kamal advised watching various Pixar shorts or other animated works. This serves as an inspiration to initiate the ideation process and craft a compelling narrative.