Thursday, 25 November 2010
Animatic
For our coursework we have to produce the title sequence and opening two minutes to a film that we have written, filmed, edited and produced. I drew this storyboard and added the captions in this animatic I produced using iMovie, with the help again of my working partner Caledonia. We photographed the drawing and uploaded them to use in this short clip. I hope it makes sense the drawings are not too hard to understand.
Ideas & Treatment - Outline to the Story of My Filming Coursework - The Dark
IDEAS
TREATMENT
I am working with Caledonia Quigley to produce our title sequence and opening scenes to the coursework filming project. our film is titled "The Dark" which we have vaguely based on the book entitled with the same name.
- Adventure
- Good Story Line - Could be achievable
- Interesting Location - Hard to achieve
- Costume (Relation to Location) - Hard to achieve, expense
- Action
- Large Budget (Stunts & Chases) - Not achievable
- Fast Pace - Achievable, editing
- Good vs Bad - Achievable, easy storyline
- Crime/Gangster
- Costumes - Hard to achieve, expense
- Stunts & Fights - Not achievable, expense & danger
- Mystery - Achievable, storyline
- Dark/Sinister (Film Noir) - Achievable, shooting & editing
- Comedy
- Light Hearted Plot - Achievable, storyline
- Funny - Extremely hard to achieve, script
- Horror
- Fright/Scare/Fear - Achievable, storyline
- Mystery - Achievable, storyline
- Low Budget - Very achievable
- (Special effect may be expensive) - Not achievable, not necessary
- Drama
- Realistic Characters - Hard to achieve, good actors
- Good Storyline - Could be achievable, time
- Sci-Fi
- Special Effects - Not achievable, expense
- Futuristic/Fantasy Location - Not achievable, expense
Due to achievability, availability and time consumption the genre we are going to go down the route of will be Horror. This is because of the low budget and easy ability to create a storyline that will scare or fright the audience as well as provoking questions that will leave the audience wanting more.
TREATMENT
I am working with Caledonia Quigley to produce our title sequence and opening scenes to the coursework filming project. our film is titled "The Dark" which we have vaguely based on the book entitled with the same name.
Our film is set around a babysitter who has strange thing happen to her and the audience is not quite sure why. our first scenes show her going to the house to babysit but it set in and eerie manner. After she has checked the baby and is then watching TV, these loud noises start to occur, she ignores them at first but then as they become louder she begins to panic. After ensuring her safety by locking the door she climbs the stairs again to check the baby. However this time the baby is not in the cot.
We have decided to make a brief plan as to what would happen later on in our film if we were to continue and produce the whole thing. After she does not see the baby where it was before she starts to panic but chooses to ignore it. Later when checking the third time the baby is replaced and all is fine. However strange unexplainable things happen throughout this girl’s life, similar to this, which end in twisted ending that will explain all.
Preliminary Task
This is my preliminary exercise, which I filmed, edited and stared in, with the help of my working partner Caledonia. In this task we had to film a conversation between two people as well as showing camera and editing skills like, walking through a door, and using shot, reverse shot in the filming of the conversation. This will be used as part of our coursework to show some of our ability. I am not completely convinced with our acting skills, however this is marked on our filming and editing skills, which, I must say, I am not displeased with.
Friday, 19 November 2010
Garage Band Lesson
In our lesson on garage band I learnt about how music is used in films to add to the complete effect a film has on its viewer. I learnt that music is used to create an atmosphere or just add to compliment movement. For example music can create dramatic tension by the use of one instrument, a single drum beating as an example. In this lesson we drew some graphs to represent what is going on in the music in correlation with the film. Along the x axis would be the time of the film, and the y axis would be the volume of the music, in my idea of the graph, you could change the y axis to pitch but I will stick me volume. So the total graph length is the total time of the film including the highest peeks to be the loudest points in the music and the lower one the quieter parts.
One film I have looked at to discuss its music in relation to the film is: The Black Hole
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5_Msrdg3Hk
This short film would not have a very interesting music time graph however it can help us to understand how it works. When the noise of the photocopier is being used the graph would have a small raise in the it. This is continuous throughout the film so the graph would have little bumps for the beep all the way through. Although some people would not say this is music its continuous beat creates the effect of music however it is just one noise repeated. Another noise we hear often through this short film is the noise when the “black hole” is being used, the humming. This is then set in our minds when the hole is used, so we may not even have to see the hole being used but hear the sound and we will know what is happening. Toward the end move and more is happening so the noise level is raised, so our graph will start to look as if it is climaxing. And this is where it finishes, at the peek of the climax, the loudest point of this film is the point of which it ends.
Not many films do this, most short films will climax in the middle and then gradually fall back to a normal level to finish on. But I believe for this film the music is well suited and creates an atmosphere that I believe was meant to be portrayed in this piece.
One film I have looked at to discuss its music in relation to the film is: The Black Hole
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5_Msrdg3Hk
This short film would not have a very interesting music time graph however it can help us to understand how it works. When the noise of the photocopier is being used the graph would have a small raise in the it. This is continuous throughout the film so the graph would have little bumps for the beep all the way through. Although some people would not say this is music its continuous beat creates the effect of music however it is just one noise repeated. Another noise we hear often through this short film is the noise when the “black hole” is being used, the humming. This is then set in our minds when the hole is used, so we may not even have to see the hole being used but hear the sound and we will know what is happening. Toward the end move and more is happening so the noise level is raised, so our graph will start to look as if it is climaxing. And this is where it finishes, at the peek of the climax, the loudest point of this film is the point of which it ends.
Not many films do this, most short films will climax in the middle and then gradually fall back to a normal level to finish on. But I believe for this film the music is well suited and creates an atmosphere that I believe was meant to be portrayed in this piece.
What have I learnt on iMovie?
What have I learnt on iMovie? Well I had never used iMovie before I started my Media course, so I have learnt quite a lot! First I have learnt how to upload a film clip. This may seem really straight forward but I can be quite complicated for a first time user. After getting all my clips on screen, I then learnt how to view my videos and able to select which clips to use and which clips not to in a new project. After this I was shown how to crop and cut my shots, which was extremely straight forward compared with the uploading. After editing my clips to the standard I wanted, I added the finishing touches like credits and an title opening. I then saved my project and copied my video onto my memory stick.
Breakfast Club Filming
In one of our latest lessons we looked at a sequence from the film “The Breakfast Club”. the sequence we looked at involved meeting the characters and them arriving at school to complete their unwanted detention on a Saturday morning. Here, by body language and a small amount of dialogue, we find out different characters behaviour and a feel for their attitudes, so we had to try and portray this in our piece too. I took the role, with a few others, as the director. This was a hard task as we had the final say and the final look was more or less down to us. However I think we managed to pull it off. Although we didn’t have the same location we tried to create a similar look to the layout of the classroom to the film.
On of the key pieces of information I learned complete ling this task was the fact that it takes a long time to film a small section. This is created by allowing seconds before and after each shot to edit with, and how many times a shot has to be shot to get the desired effect. I also learnt that although you have to work as a team, as it would be extremely hard to produce yourself, the direct has to have the final say to get the job done. This can mean saying things which may seem bossy, and at school, to your friends, as well as keeping the whole production working to actually do what you came there to do.
On of the key pieces of information I learned complete ling this task was the fact that it takes a long time to film a small section. This is created by allowing seconds before and after each shot to edit with, and how many times a shot has to be shot to get the desired effect. I also learnt that although you have to work as a team, as it would be extremely hard to produce yourself, the direct has to have the final say to get the job done. This can mean saying things which may seem bossy, and at school, to your friends, as well as keeping the whole production working to actually do what you came there to do.
Comparing Two Film Title Sequences
Media Studies
Max Hill
Comparing Film Title Sequences.
In this essay I am going to contrast two different films based on their title sequence's. I am going to analyse the title sequence of Saw (I) and contrast this to the title sequence of Love Actually. I will be mainly looking at the way in which the opening supports the genre or target audience of each film, camera shots used, voice, how the music enhances emotions, and if I believe it is successful or not to capture the audience.
The first Saw film was released in 2004. It’s genre is Horror/Mystery, and it is mainly aimed at adult males who seek thrills and shock (18-30). I believe the title sequence for this film and genre is very successful. Not to much information is given but enough for the view to want to ask them selves questions that they hope they will find the answers to later.
The title sequence starts with the companies who made the film, Lions Gate Films and Twisted Pictures, then we hear a scream in pain or of suffering I would guess as we also hear a whip crack which I presume has created the scream. As this is happening there is a blackout and the music begins. Blackout are usually used to create suspense or show time passing, so to fit with the genre and the scream this is defiantly here to create tension and suspense. There is then a flash of scribbled writing which reads “Twisted Pictures presents” which then is places in top left corner of the extreme close up shot of a stop watch counting down to 0. This then makes you wonder want this stop watch/timer is for and why is it counting down? There is then another scream but the eerie music is played though the whole sequence.
Throughout this title sequence there are lots of references to time, a clock with the second hand stuck, and more extreme close ups of stop watches counting down. We also have some shots of newspapers, with titles such as ““Jigsaw” Killer Still at Large” and “Missing Man Discovered at Bizarre Murder Scene” so from this we can guess that this will have something to do with later events, and we ask ourselves more questions due to this.
Toward the end of the sequence we see some location shots of what looks to be a warehouse, a name of a street with a warehouse on, and a sign saying “Caution Raw Sewage” so we now have some more idea of location but not completely so more questioned have been raised in our minds. There is also a TV screen with images from a security camera on, so we could make assumptions that someone is watching this or will link to what we have seen so far. Between these shots there are black outs with these strange white scribbley line, and the names of produces, directors and other persons who have created this film. At the end of the sequence the name of the film is revealed in this scribble writing “SAW”.
Love actually was released in 2003. It’s genre is Romantic Comedy, and it is quite a main stream audience but possible aimed at families with elder children. I’m not too sure if this title sequence is completely suitable for the rest of the film. However there are some great aspects of truth in it. The title sequence is extremely different to the rest of the film as it is not staged. It is filming of really people and their true emotions.
The sequence starts with the companies how made the film, Universal Studios, Studio Canal and Working Titles. After this we cut across to the arrivals gates at Heathrow Airport, we know this because of the voice over run through this scene. There is very sombre music playing throughout to add to the drama and emotions. We see lots of families and friends reunited, and showing their love to one another by kissing and hugging. The audience really can draw on these emotions and I think this is emphasised by the true emotions shown and the way is it shot, in a sort of spying hidden camera way which highlights the rawness shown.
Another way that audiences emotions are played on is the voice over done by Hugh Grant. He speaks of true events, and how love was shown and shared during them. One example he talks about is the attack on the twin towers and how none of the phone calls from the people on the plane were of hatred but of love and affection to another person. At the end of the sequence we finishes on the line, “If you look for it, I have a sneaky feeling you’ll find that love actually is all around.” and the part ‘love actually is all around if then shown on the screen and the word ‘is’ is coloured red, differently to the white the other colours are typed in.
These two title sequences are very different to each other in their own rights. The Saw title sequence is very relevant to the rest of the film it builds up lots of questions in our minds that we want to be answered as well as giving us a small insight to what the film is going to be about. The Love Actually title sequence is more about giving information to the audience and not so many questions raised as of this. However the themes of both are relevant to the genre of each film. Saw is extremely eerie relating to it’s horror genre. Where as Love Actually has a very romantic and joyous theme to it’s title sequence which is closely related to it’s Romantic Comedy genre.
In conclusion I have found out that both of these films title sequences are relevant and can be related to the rest of the film or their genre. Although, in my opinion, one is more affective than the other, they both work well for their target audience and this is what really matters in terms of their film being successful. The title sequence is the first part of the film we see and need to create and impact on us to make the audience want to stay tuned.
Saw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ccZnOc0hbd4&feature=related
Love Actually
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_saCHD4Wzqk
Max Hill
Comparing Film Title Sequences.
In this essay I am going to contrast two different films based on their title sequence's. I am going to analyse the title sequence of Saw (I) and contrast this to the title sequence of Love Actually. I will be mainly looking at the way in which the opening supports the genre or target audience of each film, camera shots used, voice, how the music enhances emotions, and if I believe it is successful or not to capture the audience.
The first Saw film was released in 2004. It’s genre is Horror/Mystery, and it is mainly aimed at adult males who seek thrills and shock (18-30). I believe the title sequence for this film and genre is very successful. Not to much information is given but enough for the view to want to ask them selves questions that they hope they will find the answers to later.
The title sequence starts with the companies who made the film, Lions Gate Films and Twisted Pictures, then we hear a scream in pain or of suffering I would guess as we also hear a whip crack which I presume has created the scream. As this is happening there is a blackout and the music begins. Blackout are usually used to create suspense or show time passing, so to fit with the genre and the scream this is defiantly here to create tension and suspense. There is then a flash of scribbled writing which reads “Twisted Pictures presents” which then is places in top left corner of the extreme close up shot of a stop watch counting down to 0. This then makes you wonder want this stop watch/timer is for and why is it counting down? There is then another scream but the eerie music is played though the whole sequence.
Throughout this title sequence there are lots of references to time, a clock with the second hand stuck, and more extreme close ups of stop watches counting down. We also have some shots of newspapers, with titles such as ““Jigsaw” Killer Still at Large” and “Missing Man Discovered at Bizarre Murder Scene” so from this we can guess that this will have something to do with later events, and we ask ourselves more questions due to this.
Toward the end of the sequence we see some location shots of what looks to be a warehouse, a name of a street with a warehouse on, and a sign saying “Caution Raw Sewage” so we now have some more idea of location but not completely so more questioned have been raised in our minds. There is also a TV screen with images from a security camera on, so we could make assumptions that someone is watching this or will link to what we have seen so far. Between these shots there are black outs with these strange white scribbley line, and the names of produces, directors and other persons who have created this film. At the end of the sequence the name of the film is revealed in this scribble writing “SAW”.
Love actually was released in 2003. It’s genre is Romantic Comedy, and it is quite a main stream audience but possible aimed at families with elder children. I’m not too sure if this title sequence is completely suitable for the rest of the film. However there are some great aspects of truth in it. The title sequence is extremely different to the rest of the film as it is not staged. It is filming of really people and their true emotions.
The sequence starts with the companies how made the film, Universal Studios, Studio Canal and Working Titles. After this we cut across to the arrivals gates at Heathrow Airport, we know this because of the voice over run through this scene. There is very sombre music playing throughout to add to the drama and emotions. We see lots of families and friends reunited, and showing their love to one another by kissing and hugging. The audience really can draw on these emotions and I think this is emphasised by the true emotions shown and the way is it shot, in a sort of spying hidden camera way which highlights the rawness shown.
Another way that audiences emotions are played on is the voice over done by Hugh Grant. He speaks of true events, and how love was shown and shared during them. One example he talks about is the attack on the twin towers and how none of the phone calls from the people on the plane were of hatred but of love and affection to another person. At the end of the sequence we finishes on the line, “If you look for it, I have a sneaky feeling you’ll find that love actually is all around.” and the part ‘love actually is all around if then shown on the screen and the word ‘is’ is coloured red, differently to the white the other colours are typed in.
These two title sequences are very different to each other in their own rights. The Saw title sequence is very relevant to the rest of the film it builds up lots of questions in our minds that we want to be answered as well as giving us a small insight to what the film is going to be about. The Love Actually title sequence is more about giving information to the audience and not so many questions raised as of this. However the themes of both are relevant to the genre of each film. Saw is extremely eerie relating to it’s horror genre. Where as Love Actually has a very romantic and joyous theme to it’s title sequence which is closely related to it’s Romantic Comedy genre.
In conclusion I have found out that both of these films title sequences are relevant and can be related to the rest of the film or their genre. Although, in my opinion, one is more affective than the other, they both work well for their target audience and this is what really matters in terms of their film being successful. The title sequence is the first part of the film we see and need to create and impact on us to make the audience want to stay tuned.
Saw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ccZnOc0hbd4&feature=related
Love Actually
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_saCHD4Wzqk
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