What's inside Part One of Developing Digital Short Films?

Chapter One: Digital Storytelling
• Basic Three Act Structure for short films explained.
• How Character, Plot and Theme are the buildings blocks for stories.
• In depth explanation of how to develop visual themes in your film.
48 Feature Films listed with corresponding themes for you to study.
• 12 Famous short films listed with corresponding themes for you to study.
• A unique 15 step-by-step story idea brainstorming process
• 64 Famous actor essences to attach to your characters.
• 90 Possible occupations for your characters.
• 37 different “story flavors” or genres for you to consider and combine.
• 100’s of narrative ideas for using digital effects to tell stories.
• Tips on using the brainstorming exercises to produce enough ideas for a feature film or series of broadcast shows.
• 10 Ways to adapt famous films, books, comic books and stories.
• 100 Possible plot goals for your characters.
• 35 Antagonist ideas
• 6 Essential things to include in A 30 second Elevator Pitch
• 10 Pitching tips to help you pitch like a professional.

Chapter Two: Creating Original Characters, Themes, and Visual Metaphors
• 3 Basic types of action oriented characters
• 3 Ways to define a character in order of importance in a story
• 2 Types of character goals for your protagonist to consider
• 33 Types of theme goals to assign a character
• How a character’s theme goal relates to the theme of the film
• Using character theme goals to decide the climax of film
• 17 Character identification techniques
• 5 Types of character flaws
• 38 Specific ideas for adding character flaws
• 15 Digitally enhanced superhero qualities
• 11 Character history questions
• 9 Character psychological profile questions
• 21 Types of fear to assign your characters
• 10 Ways to show a character overcoming fears
• Learn how to construct characters with both universal and unique qualities
• 15 Questions to develop unique qualities
• 12 Areas to develop for backstory information
• The Goldman Five Character Trait System
• 136 Possible Character Traits
• 16 Ideas on how to show film themes visually
Using 4 different types of metaphors and symbols to tell visual stories
• 12 Places to put metaphors and symbols in your film
• 25 Animal symbols to use in your film
• 9 Plant symbols to use in your film
• 8 Weather metaphors to use in your film
• 34 Object symbols to use in your film
• 16 Metaphorical occupation to assign to your characters
• 6 Metaphorical scene activities
• Using numbers as symbols to design digital film worlds
• 12 Visual metaphors to show character history
• 5 Visual metaphors to show backstory information
• 8 Visual metaphors to show character traits
• 15 Visual metaphors to show character states
• 10 Ways to use symbolic nature shots in your film
• 18 Ways to show theme in your film using metaphors and symbols
• 8 Ways to create an engaging puzzle in your film

Chapter Three: Developing Plot Points
• How to create Aristotelian drama stories
• 43 Different character arcs
• 14 Ways to show a character changing in your film
• 11 Ways to use metaphors and symbols to show character growth
• How to create hero myths
• 23 Forms of death for your character to experience
• 15 Hero journey plot points
• 11 Ways to use metaphors and symbols in a hero journey
• 10 Basic flavors of hero journey myths
• 2 basic types of tragedy stories
• 5 Visual sacrifices using metaphors and symbols
• How to create Documentary film ideas
• How to create Mockumentary film ideas
• Plot structure for Personal Anthology film ideas
• 4 Types of City Symphony film ideas
• 3 Types of Ensemble film ideas
• 5 Types of Science Fiction film ideas
• 7 Backstory areas to develop for Science Fiction films
• Creating Mad Libs for plot point structures
• How to craft dramatic climaxes and twists at the end of a short film
• 48 Types of plot twists to include in your short film
• 4 Ways to use characters goals to craft surprise endings
• 3 Ways to add an extra punch to Act 3
• 14 Ways to use Setups/Plants with Payoffs in your story
• 9 Essential plot points for short films
• 40 Plot points for a feature film
• 34 Symbolic locations to attach to plot points
• How to write a treatment

Chapter Four: Writing Scenes, Conflict and a Short Script
• Three act structure for developing scenes
• 10 Things to include in every main scene
• 5 Different forms of conflict
• 18 Ways to layer conflict in a scene
• 6 Scene shapes to control the pace of your story
• 7 Ways to create stunning scene transitions
• 11 Scene reversal ideas and why you need these
• 6 Ways to use foreshadowing in your film
• 12 Foreshadowing techniques using metaphors and symbols
• 2 Ways to add elements of shock
• 4 Ways to add dramatic irony
• 24 Techniques for incorporating subtext into your films
• 7 Questions to ask while thinking about subtext in each scene
• 3 Basic ways to give each character a unique voice in your script
• 13 Dialogue techniques to make your characters sound real
• Top 10 overused cliché dialogue lines to avoid using in your script
• 6 Basic types of monologues
• 6 Tips on writing your script
• 6 Tips on getting feedback from others
• 6 Screenwriting exercises to practice applying techniques
• 13 Final short script checklist items to make sure you have in your film
• Brainstorming tips on writing short scripts

Part One | Part Two | Part Three| Articles