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To Seript or not to Seript (cont~d)
FAMILY
I. Holiday; 2. Garden; 3. Wedding; 4. Party; 5. Sports.
TUTORIAL or FACTUAL
I. Citizenship (road drill, etc.); 2. Cultural (Ballet, Amateur Dramatics
mime only); 3. Recording (or material for analysis); 4. Coaching in
Sport.
From the above headings, the garden family film provides a simple script
that could form the basis for an inexhaustible variety.
GARDEN (Family)
This is the type of film that hundreds of people take every week-end with
varying results. The theme-the family against a background of the garden.
MENTAL NOTES
I. Introduction of family.
2. Family behaving naturally.
3. Final conclusive shot.
NOTE.
The family will either be very conscious of the cine camera and give em-
barrassed peeps at the lens or else, having seen Dad use his camera many times,
feel that they are really natural and act in a blase mock could-not-care-less
attitude which does not convince anyone and is far more serious to overcome
than the shy peepers. Show the family the scri.pt beforehand and ask them to
behave naturally not act naturally. Occasionally one sees films (usually com-
petition entries) which are made by keen camera operator types who yearn to
direct masterpieces, but who forget to show the family the script before com-
mencing shooting. As soon as the camera starts turning, he begins yelling
complicated instructions which (a) causes the camera to shudder and (b) converts
the family into a flock of nervous sheep, with the inevitable result that Dad
the camera operator director becomes annoyed and yells even more complicated
instructions with devastating effect.
DISCUSS the proposed shots with all the family and arrive at the script
which may be like this.
I. Shot of rockery-camera pans round to family sitting in deck
chairs conversing.
2. Various shots of family - patting dog - lighting cigarettes and
occasionally smiling naturally.
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