Assignment
The work-up is an early stage to describe the movie or game that you are creating for class. The work-up is primarily a business document, geared to people who might buy your project so they can quickly grasp the essentials and assess the associated cost. Parts are likely to change or evolve as your rethink your project. This assignment is making two big exceptions to the work-up you would write if you were starting from scratch. First, some parts have already been filled in for you. They're specified below. For others, you have a limited choice, specifically media form, page/word count, narration, dramatic structure, story structure, and plot. Second, some underscored parts are added to help you learn. An exemplar for Pointe of View (a good example) follows.
1. Project title: Explain why you chose the title. It can change.
2. Target audience: It's the rare movie or game that appeals to everyone. Pick the age group(s) you aim for: 5-12, 13-17, 18-24, 25-54, 55+. Pick your societies or cultures: for example, North America, Europe, Asia, India, black, Hispanic. Pick your gender(s).
3. Media form: For this class, it can only be a film or game.
4. Page/word count: For this class, the answer is 120 pages (you won't write them all, but that's the standard number for a full-length movie, with one page converting to one minute of screen time).
5. Narration: For this class, there are two choices: first person and third person. It is almost definitely third person for a film; it is probably third person for a game, although it might be first person.
6. Dramatic structure: For this class, the project must be be three-act.
7. Story structure: For this class, there are four choices. The hero's journey or Save the Cat are most likely, and you can also chose Field's paradigm and Daniel's sequences.
8. Time: For example: today, during the U.S. Civil War, five years from today.
9. Location: Indicate where most action takes place, such as the suburbs, a fairy tale kingdom, or a harsh desert world.
10. Log line: This short summary compares your work to something similar - with a creative twist. It's often a very early concept. You see work-ups all the time in the listings for streaming services.
11. Plot: What is the overall arc for your hero? Your choices: Hero grows, hero declines, hero wins, hero loses, hero learns, hero fails to learn, hero self-destructs.
12. Overview: Summarize what happens from start to end, including any gimmicks and surprises. Plot the whole movie or game that you are creating. Explain any spoilers.