The following tasks will lay out what you need to do in terms of developing your ideas for your production.
- Evidence of initial idea generation-plot ideas, characters, locations, genre, themes, props. Produce 3 mind maps for different ideas. Give each idea a working title- e.g A Dark Thriller; A British High School Comedy etc
- Select one film to develop further. Show development through adding more detail to initial ideas; researching any required info for the story.
- Create a mood board for selected film. Think of a mood board as a visual reference for the overall look and themes of your idea. It should give someone an idea of the content and style and will include images of the types of things you wish to include. Include examples of locations, characters, key props, images from similar films and even a poster or two. Avoid drawing too much from the same text or film- vary your sources. Aim to include at least 15 images. It might be an idea to group these e.g locations, characters or you may prefer to be more random.
It would also be a good idea to include key words that relate to genre and themes e.g revenge, pursuit, forbidden love etc 
4. Write up synopsis of your film idea. This will include the following:
- The Logline: The logline is at most two sentences that sum up your screenplay. You can think of the logline as the description you might read on the website of a movie theater or in the information box of the program guide on your television.
e.g FORREST GUMP LOGLINE – Vietnam, Sixties counterculture, Watergate. A Southern simpleton has a bumbling hand in some of the 20th century’s biggest events in this touching story of love, courage over adversity and snappily-named shrimp chains.
ROMEO AND JULIET- In medieval Italy a young man falls in love with the daughter of a sworn enemy. They elope with tragic consequences.
Paranormal Activity (2009) – After moving into a suburban home, a couple becomes increasingly disturbed by a nightly demonic presence.
Mad Max (1979) – A vengeful Australian policeman sets out to avenge his partner, his wife and his son whom were murdered by a motorcycle gang in retaliation for the death of their leader.
The Blair Witch Project (1999) – Three film students go missing after traveling into the woods of Maryland to make a documentary about the local Blair Witch legend leaving only their footage behind
- How to write loglines-
http://thescreenplaywriters.com/screenwriting-tips/how-to-write-a-logline
- (Don’t do this bullet if doing film studies) If you can, follow the logline with a paragraph describing why your screenplay is attractive from a filmmaker’s point of view. For example, if it can be shot on a small budget using a limited number of locations in the local area, your movie may be more attractive than one that will require weeks on location, elaborate sets or a lot of special effects.
- The Concept/Introduce the concept in more detail: Introduce the main characters and setting in one paragraph. Include the names (who), their occupations (what), where they live and work (where), the time period of the story (when), and the reason you are telling their story (why).
- Type the names of the characters in all capital letters the first time their names appear. Thereafter, type the character names in the usual way.
- Characters that should be included in the synopsis are the protagonist (hero) and if required the antagonist (villain), the love interest, and any important allies of the protagonist. Less important characters can be left out or not named in the synopsis.
- The Set Up: What happens in the opening of your film? Describe in a few sentences the details of the opening scenes of your film which establish scenario, character and location.
- The Rising Action: Describe all the conflicts faced by your characters that lead to the crisis, the ultimate conflict that will change the course of your characters’ lives/the narrative climax of your film.
- Falling Action and Resolution: Describe how the ultimate conflict ends and what happens to the characters afterward. In the short film format this may only be the final frame or be very ambiguous.
- http://www.wikihow.com/Write-a-Screenplay-Synopsis
5. Audience research based on concept/to aid development
Create a questionnaire based on your concept OR create a questionnaire to help initial development. Make sure you create questionnaires which will be useful- ie you will be able to react to the responses and utilise what you find out. But remember you do not have to necessarily follow what the responses point to ie you might still use a certain title even if the responders prefer another one. Google Forms via Google Drive is a really good tool to use for this task. You should create questionnaires of at least 5 questions. Questions can include some of the following:
Developing your idea:
Which genre do you prefer?
Why?
Do you prefer a certain gender for main characters?
Do you prefer films with both genders represented?
Do you prefer films with a comedic element?
Your concept:
Preferred title (offer a choice)
Specific questions relating to the appropriateness of elements – e.g characters, locations, props
Specific questions relating to the premise- is it compelling etc?
Open ended questions- How would you change it etc?
Would it be preferable if this character were a different gender?
7. Present the results of your questionnaire, using charts where possible, and write up a short analysis of each set of responses. What have you learnt? What might you do as a result?
8. Appraisal of film concept
Write a list of pros and cons relating to your film concept.
e.g Pros: minimal dialogue should aid production; hand held phone footage style should be straightforward to film; one location to be used and will be well cut off from public
Cons: A large cast; multiple locations; dialogue heavy; may be tricky to create necessary gore
9. AT THIS STAGE- YOUR RESEARCH AND APPRAISAL MAY WELL MAKE YOU DECIDE TO CHANGE YOUR PROPOSAL- REDRAFT IT AND ADD YOUR SECOND DRAFT TO YOUR BLOG. These changes may well be minor. You will keep the first draft too. Create a narrative arc diagram of your idea to add.
10. Genre Analysis
Create a presentation or report which explains some of the typical characteristics and conventions of your chosen genre and which illustrates how your film will fit in with this.
Target Audience
Themes
Plot
Character
Locations
Props
Media Studies 