EDWARDS MEDIA — THE SCREEN LAB WORKBOOK

Course outcome: A visual bible, a six-shot plan and a finished 45-second proof of concept.

LESSON NOTES

MODULE 01: Story for screen

Find the visual turn
Practice: Write a 100-word scene brief with aim, obstacle and change. Cut any sentence that only describes style.
Your response:


What I will change after self review:


Map the beat sequence
Practice: Make a six-card beat board. Under each card, write what new information the viewer receives.
Your response:


What I will change after self review:


MODULE 02: Visual system

Write a look bible
Practice: Create a one-page look bible with four fixed rules and two references. Label what can change between shots.
Your response:


What I will change after self review:


Plan the camera
Practice: For each beat, choose shot size, movement and duration. Remove one camera move that adds no information.
Your response:


What I will change after self review:


MODULE 03: Production

Choose models and budget
Practice: Plan one low-cost test shot. Note model, required inputs, expected duration, current price source and a stop condition.
Your response:


What I will change after self review:


Generate for continuity
Practice: Make a shot ledger with columns for version, fixed references, change requested, result and decision. Review a frame before the next request.
Your response:


What I will change after self review:


MODULE 04: Post and delivery

Edit for comprehension
Practice: Make a rough cut without music. Ask one viewer to explain what happened. Revise the first point of confusion.
Your response:


What I will change after self review:


Finish and clear rights
Practice: Complete a rights sheet, watch the export from beginning to end, then list three changes for the next iteration.
Your response:


What I will change after self review:


FINAL PROJECT
Finish a 45-second sequence with six purposeful shots. Deliver a one-page scene brief, a visual reference sheet, a shot ledger, the edited sequence and a rights checklist. Watch once without sound and once without picture; revise what each pass exposes.

Deliverables:
- Story brief: A 60–90 second scene with one visible change
- Production plan: Shot board, visual rules and reference sources
- Rough cut: An assembled sequence tested without music
- Delivery: Playable export, rights sheet and one-page review

Self review:
- Story: a first-time viewer can understand the scene’s turn.
- Continuity: setting, character, light and screen direction agree across shots.
- Production: model, settings, source assets and approximate cost are recorded.
- Delivery: the exported scene plays correctly and its rights are documented.

One strength:

One uncertainty:

One next revision:

Sources and rights checked: