Moving Images, Understanding Media

240 Moving Images: Making Movies, Understanding Media

the preceding subjects you listed, consider whether or not there is

any chance to pursue the possibility of making a non-fi ction motion

picture based on that subject matter.

1. Appropriate – Is the topic acceptable in relation to school or
   sponsor guidelines?


2. Accessible – Is treatment of the subject possible in relation
   to guidelines or agreements that may be dictated from
   outside sources, whether they be school-based, corporate
   driven, or subject approved? If you are unsure of this, you
   will incorporate a timeline for approval and initiation of the
   project.


3. Size – Is your topic too small? Mark down the ways in which
   you can examine the topic and make sure that the subject
   matter is signifi cant enough to hold the viewer’s interest.
   Essentially, it depends on the proper treatment of the topic
   and how you can imagine its study; the “smallness” of a topic
   depends greatly on our own conception of it.


4. Scope – Is your topic too big? Th is presents far more of a
   challenge than a topic that is “too small.” If you can’t imagine
   a way of treating the topic satisfactorily, then there is a good
   chance it might be a bad idea to select it as a central subject
   of a motion picture. Ask yourself: Is there any way to tackle
   one aspect of the topic? In addition, a topic that centers on
   an idea—and not an observable activity, event, or narrative
   involving people—can be quite diffi cult to treat eff ectively.
   It is very useful to determine in advance your approach with
   an idea-based topic. (Examples: teen gambling; senioritis;
   dating; etc.)
   C. Development – From the preparatory work you have done so far,
   select one of the topics. You will now draft a piece of writing to initiate
   the development of this project.


5. For this piece of writing, you will choose the most
   appropriate and useful type of material for the topic and your
   needs. Pick from the following choices:
   a. Pitch – Draft a letter to a prospective investor.
   b. Subject – Compose a letter to a subject of or involved
   participant in the project.
   c. Crew – Write a mission statement that will be shared with
   the production team.
   d. Blueprint – Write a “script” for the movie that includes
   re search for voice-over or written information for the
   screen.

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