Pre-Production
We’re just getting started with this resource. Throughout Term 1 and Term 2, we’ll be adding new examples, behind‑the‑scenes insights, and interviews with past finalists. Think of this space as a growing hub - so check back in and for fresh inspiration!
You have a great idea, now what?
The first step in making a film is called pre-production. This is where you plan everything before you start filming.
Script development
Script development is the stage where filmmakers turn their ideas into a clear, written plan for the story. It includes shaping characters and mapping out what happens in each scene so everyone on the team knows exactly what they’re creating.
This resource focuses on developing a three-act structure, but you don’t have to stick to it. If your idea works better in a different format, that’s completely welcome. There’s no single ‘right’ way to structure a short film, but many filmmakers use a simple three-act structure and if you’re new to filmmaking, this is a good place to start.
The three-act structure breaks the story into three parts:
| Act 1: Beginning | Meet the main character/s and learn about their everyday world. Inciting Incident: Something happens that creates a problem or challenge they must face. |
| Act 2: Middle | This is the longest part of the story. The character/s try to solve the problem but run into obstacles. Turning Point: Things get worse, and the character/s face their toughest moment. |
| Act 3: End | Climax: The biggest challenge or final showdown. Resolution: The problem is solved. Life returns to normal, but the character/s have changed or learned something. |
Use the worksheet below to plan your three-act structure.
Trop tip: Hook the audience quickly by making the character’s motivation clear, build tension by introducing obstacles that grow harder, use twists and surprises to keep viewers guessing, and think carefully about pacing so you choose the right moments to reveal information.
Script writing
A script is the written plan for a screen story. It explains who is speaking, what is happening in each moment and where the story takes place.
Scripts keep a production organised and on track. They guide what characters say, how they move, when they enter or leave a scene and how events unfold. Without a script, it would be very hard for actors, animators and crew to know what happens next.
One page of a script generally equals one minute of screen time so your script should be no longer than 6 pages and this includes your cover.
Script writing elements
Most scripts include three main elements:
| Scene headings | Scene headings tell us where and when a scene takes place. They help the audience understand changes in location or time. |
| Big print or action | These describe what the characters are doing. They might describe movement, facial expressions or important actions that happen during a scene. |
| Dialogue | This is what the characters say. Dialogue shows personality, helps move the story forward and can create humour, tension or emotion. |
Use the template below to create your script.
Stay tuned - we'll be adding a ready-to-use screenplay template.
To explore scriptwriting in more detail check out the below resources:
Story Building and Screenwriting Resource
Suitable for Years 5-8, this learning resource shares interviews with creatives to explore the process of story building and screenwriting from the Australian children's television program, MaveriX.
Comedy Scriptwriting Resource
This resource unpacks examples from The Inbestigators, Hardball and Little Lunch through short clips, script excerpts, a recorded virtual workshop and engaging writing prompts.
Visual storytelling tools
You have developed the story you want to tell, now what? When planning your film, camera angles, shot size, framing and lighting is key. They help tell the story, set the mood and show the audience who the characters are.
Visual storytelling definitions
| Camera angles and movement | Where the camera is placed compared to the subject. Moving it up, down, or to the side changes how we see the character and the mood of the scene. |
| Shot size | How much of the subject and setting is shown in the frame. This changes how close or far the camera feels and can influence the audience's relationship to the subject. |
| Framing | How things are arranged in the shot. It decides what’s in the frame and what’s left out, guiding the audience’s attention. |
| Lighting | How light is used to create mood, focus attention, and add depth. It includes brightness, direction, colour, and whether the light is hard or soft. |
Low angle: Makes a character look powerful or intimidating and helps build tension in a scene.
High angle: Makes a character look small or vulnerable and shows when they are at a disadvantage.
Dutch tilt: Tilts the camera to create tension or show that something in the scene feels unusual.
Eye level: Gives a neutral view that helps the audience connect with the character naturally.
Over the shoulder: Shows one character from behind another and helps the audience follow their conversation.
Pan: Swivels the camera left or right from one spot to reveal information or follow the action.
Tilt: Moves the camera up or down in one place to show height or reveal something slowly.
Zoom: Moves the lens in or out to change how close the subject feels and to shift focus or tension.
Track / Dolly: Moves the camera smoothly through the space to follow a character and draw the audience into the action.
Handheld: Uses a held camera to create a shaky look that adds energy or makes the scene feel realistic.
Establishing shot: Shows the location of the scene to help the audience understand where the action happens.
Long shot (LS): Shows the full body and setting to highlight space or show when a character feels small in their environment.
Full shot (FS): Frames the character from head to toe so the audience can see movement and body language clearly.
Medium shot (MS): Shows a character from about the waist up and is useful for dialogue and action.
Medium close-up (MCU): Brings the audience closer to the character and helps show clear emotions.
Close-up (CU): Focuses on a character’s face or an important object to highlight feelings or detail.
Extreme close-up (ECU): Frames a very small part of a face or object to draw attention to something important.
Two-shot: Frames two characters together to show their connection or conversation.
Wide shot (WS): Shows characters within a large area and helps the audience see how they fit into the setting.
Tight framing: Shows the subject filling most of the frame to create focus or show strong emotions.
Loose framing: Gives the subject more space in the frame to show freedom or highlight the setting.
Rule of thirds: Places the subject along imaginary grid lines to make the shot look balanced and interesting.
Centred framing: Puts the subject in the middle of the frame to give a clear, strong point of focus.
Foreground framing: Uses objects at the front of the shot to frame the subject and add depth or interest.
High key lighting: Uses bright, even light to create a cheerful or calm mood with very few shadows.
Low key lighting: Uses strong shadows and darker tones to create tension or a more dramatic feeling.
Backlighting: Places the light behind the subject to create a glow or silhouette that adds mood or mystery.
Side lighting: Lights the subject from one side to highlight textures or show contrast between light and shadow.
Natural lighting: Uses sunlight to give the scene a realistic look and help the audience feel grounded in the setting.
Storyboard
A storyboard is a series of simple pictures that show each step of your film so you can plan what will happen on screen. It helps you plan which visual storytelling tools you’ll use in your production.
Use our storyboard template to help you plan the visual elements of your story.
Trop Tip: Film is an audio-visual medium. Use actions, images, behaviour and subtext to reveal the story. If it can be shown instead of spoken - show it.
Logistics
You have developed your idea and figured out how you want to visually tell your story. How do you actually tell it?
Crewing/Casting
The people who help make a film are called the crew. Filmmaking is all about teamwork. The best stories happen when you share ideas, use each other’s strengths and support one another.
The size of a crew can change depending on the type of film you’re making. Here are some common roles:
Writer: Creates the story and script
Director: Guides the vision and makes creative decisions
Cinematographer: Handles the camera and lighting
Sound Recordist: Records sound
Production Designer/Costume Designer: Designs sets and costumes
Assistant Director: Helps the shoot run smoothly and efficiently
Actor: Brings the characters to life
In your film, some people might do more than one job or a few people might share the same role.
Production limitations
Sometimes having limits is a good thing when making a film. It pushes you to be creative and use what you have. Instead of worrying about what you don’t have or can’t do, focus on what you do have and how it can help tell your story.
For exmaple, you might not be able to film on a real alien spaceship, but what can you use what's around you to make it look like one? You could:
- Use everyday objects to create a futuristic set.
- Choose sounds that feel mysterious or otherworldly.
- Add noises like beeps or hums to make the scene feel high-tech.
Equipment
You don’t need to have the fanciest equipment to make a good film! Use what you have access to and remember that a good script is the foundation to great storytelling.
You don’t need a fancy camera to make a great film. A smartphone or tablet works well because they’re portable, easy to use and lightweight. If you don’t have access to a camera or smartphone, ask your school, local library or community centre.
If you don’t have a tripod, get creative! Lean your phone against books or boxes or stand with your feat shoulder width apart and lock your knees and arms in tight to become a tripod yourself. You could also sit in a rolling chair and have a friend slowly (and safely) push you for smooth tracking shots. Rubber bands, tape, binder clips, phone mounts and selfie sticks can also help hold your device in place to achieve desired visual storytelling elements.
Good sound is just as important as good visuals. You can always recorded sound at the same time as your footage to use the camera audio but if you want to get a bit more tehcnical you can record sound seperately and match it up in post-production. You could use a voice memo app or a free recording recording app on a seperate device to do this. It's a good idea to record audio in two places, incase one does not work out. Try your best to record in a quiet space so your audience can clearly hear the characters. If you are filming in a shared area, you can politely ask others to keep noise down while you record.
You can create great lighting using things around you, like natural lighting (sunlight), a desk lamp, a torch or even your phone screen. By adding simple objects, you can change how the light looks and make your shots more interesting.
Try experimenting with different materials. For example,
Baking paper: Tape it in front of a lamp to make the light softer.
Coloured plastic: Use transparent coloured sheets or plastic envelopes to change the colour of the light.
Shadows: Shape cardboard to block light for dramatic shadows.
Bouncing light: If the light is too bright, point it at the ceiling or a wall to soften it.
Shot list
A shot list is a planning document that outlines every shot you need to film or animate for your short film. It usually includes the visual storytelling elements listed above: shot angle and movement, shot size, framing and lighting as well as what happens in the scene and any important notes you need to remember when filming.
Use the shot list below to plan your production.
Trop Tip: Try to set your film in just one or two locations. Limiting the number of settings keeps the story focused and helps your audience stay engaged with the characters and the narrative.