Tagline:-Her parents didn’t know; now they never will…
Pitch:-
When a young and neglected Amy is taken, her parents go on a mission to find her, only to find themselves in a twisted game of neglect and perversity leading to the shocking truth of her daughter’s whereabouts. Will the Toymaker win more importantly will the parents lose?
Treatment:-
Amy, a pretty young girl neglected by her hardworking parents, has a daily routine. When her parents leave for work every morning she would make her breakfast and feed the cat down the street. Lonely and isolated she is easy prey for a deranged Toymaker.
After he takes her and leaves an “Amy-like” doll in her place, her parents, race against time to find their lost daughter and to win the game of the Toymaker. The Toymaker leaves a clue on the back of the doll left in Amy’s place that leads the parents to more doll’s and shocking revelations about their daughter’s location. When her parents find the last clue it chillingly reads “I Win”.
After conceding to the belief that Amy is gone forever her parents realise that they didn’t do the best by her, they leave to live with family in Scotland to grieve for their daughter. Some time later they see a news report of a series missing girls from their home town generating the need for them to help the other parents and hopefully get closure about their daughter.
The mother, soon returns to her hometown and is haunted by uncanny doll of her daughter in an abandoned toy shop window. Curious, she breaks into the shop, only to discover dozens of these life-size dolls hanging on the old shelves. When she goes to get a better look at the replica of her daughter, she notices the exact beauty spot, which Amy had on her cheek. Stunned and scared she alerts the police, and they discover the sick truth behind the disappearance of Amy in the Toymakers deadly playpen.
Tuesday 15 December 2009
Tuesday 1 December 2009
Opening Title Research
Saul Bass is famous for creating the most successful and interesting title sequences to date. Seeing as the genre for my group's film is horror/psychological thriller it makes sense to focus on these types of opening sequences. I am now analysing closely the opening titles of numerous horror films because by doing this i gain more ideas about what i want our original film to entail. Additionally, the more interesting the opening titles are the better our film will look. Moreover, the titles have to link with the key themes and meanings behind the film and the best way to make sure our film has these key elements, is to analyse other successful openings.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tek8QmKRODw
Hitchcock's Psycho uses the famous Saul Bass essence (as he created the opening titles) by using the signature lines. The opening titles on a whole work so well because the eerie music is parallel to the lines and text onscreen. When "Psycho" pops up and is then made distorted; this links to the idea that the mind of the psycho in the film is sketchy and messed up.
Due to numerous reasons, we have had to think of alternative ideas in case we cannot shoot what we had originally planned. So, we thought of the idea that because we have a Toymaker as a main character in our film, we could use some of the time in the opening sequence to show a man building a doll, or creating some sort of mechanism before actually getting into the scenes of the little girl actually being snatched. A very influential clip of opening titles that follows the basis of our idea is from the film Se7en.
The distorted images and blackouts to show the titles are the sorts of aspects we would like to include in our film, so this was a very useful opening to analyse.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jtyuc2Rz2mQ
The above opening sequence is chilling, unexpected, confusing and just plain eerie. Perfect for what we're looking for our opening sequence to be! The use of music and children's photographs is just what we want to portray to the audience that there is a child involved in the film, and there is also a villainous character "watching" and "plotting" around the idea of children. I think it's a very relevant clip to have as part of our film's research.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tek8QmKRODw
Hitchcock's Psycho uses the famous Saul Bass essence (as he created the opening titles) by using the signature lines. The opening titles on a whole work so well because the eerie music is parallel to the lines and text onscreen. When "Psycho" pops up and is then made distorted; this links to the idea that the mind of the psycho in the film is sketchy and messed up.
Due to numerous reasons, we have had to think of alternative ideas in case we cannot shoot what we had originally planned. So, we thought of the idea that because we have a Toymaker as a main character in our film, we could use some of the time in the opening sequence to show a man building a doll, or creating some sort of mechanism before actually getting into the scenes of the little girl actually being snatched. A very influential clip of opening titles that follows the basis of our idea is from the film Se7en.
The distorted images and blackouts to show the titles are the sorts of aspects we would like to include in our film, so this was a very useful opening to analyse.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jtyuc2Rz2mQ
The above opening sequence is chilling, unexpected, confusing and just plain eerie. Perfect for what we're looking for our opening sequence to be! The use of music and children's photographs is just what we want to portray to the audience that there is a child involved in the film, and there is also a villainous character "watching" and "plotting" around the idea of children. I think it's a very relevant clip to have as part of our film's research.
Friday 27 November 2009
A Phantom Films Production
Tagline:-Her parents didn’t know; now they never will…
Pitch:-
When a young and neglected Amy is taken, her parents go on a mission to find her, only to find themselves in a twisted game of neglect and perversity leading to the shocking truth of her daughter’s whereabouts. Will the Toymaker win more importantly will the parents lose?
Treatment:-
Amy, a pretty young girl neglected by her hardworking parents, has a daily routine. When her parents leave for work every morning she would make her breakfast and feed the cat down the street. Lonely and isolated she is easy prey for a deranged Toymaker.
After he takes her and leaves an “Amy-like” doll in her place, her parents, race against time to find their lost daughter and to win the game of the Toymaker. The Toymaker leaves a clue on the back of the doll left in Amy’s place that leads the parents to more doll’s and shocking revelations about their daughter’s location. When her parents find the last clue it chillingly reads “I Win”.
After conceding to the belief that Amy is gone forever her parents realise that they didn’t do the best by her, they leave to live with family in Scotland to grieve for their daughter. Some time later they see a news report of a series missing girls from their home town generating the need for them to help the other parents and hopefully get closure about their daughter.
The mother, soon returns to her hometown and is haunted by uncanny doll of her daughter in an abandoned toy shop window. Curious, she breaks into the shop, only to discover dozens of these life-size dolls hanging on the old shelves. When she goes to get a better look at the replica of her daughter, she notices the exact beauty spot, which Amy had on her cheek. Stunned and scared she alerts the police, and they discover the sick truth behind the disappearance of Amy in the Toymakers deadly playpen.
Tagline:-Her parents didn’t know; now they never will…
Pitch:-
When a young and neglected Amy is taken, her parents go on a mission to find her, only to find themselves in a twisted game of neglect and perversity leading to the shocking truth of her daughter’s whereabouts. Will the Toymaker win more importantly will the parents lose?
Treatment:-
Amy, a pretty young girl neglected by her hardworking parents, has a daily routine. When her parents leave for work every morning she would make her breakfast and feed the cat down the street. Lonely and isolated she is easy prey for a deranged Toymaker.
After he takes her and leaves an “Amy-like” doll in her place, her parents, race against time to find their lost daughter and to win the game of the Toymaker. The Toymaker leaves a clue on the back of the doll left in Amy’s place that leads the parents to more doll’s and shocking revelations about their daughter’s location. When her parents find the last clue it chillingly reads “I Win”.
After conceding to the belief that Amy is gone forever her parents realise that they didn’t do the best by her, they leave to live with family in Scotland to grieve for their daughter. Some time later they see a news report of a series missing girls from their home town generating the need for them to help the other parents and hopefully get closure about their daughter.
The mother, soon returns to her hometown and is haunted by uncanny doll of her daughter in an abandoned toy shop window. Curious, she breaks into the shop, only to discover dozens of these life-size dolls hanging on the old shelves. When she goes to get a better look at the replica of her daughter, she notices the exact beauty spot, which Amy had on her cheek. Stunned and scared she alerts the police, and they discover the sick truth behind the disappearance of Amy in the Toymakers deadly playpen.
Sunday 8 November 2009
Film genre research: HORROR
Horror films take our deepest fears, those ideas and thoughts that are just so scary that we can't contemplate them becoming real, and ask the question "What if?" The fear of the unknown has to be the strongest human emotion and a good horror film can make us feel like we are experiencing our worst nightmare.
Tuesday 3 November 2009
Group feedback on my fairy tale adaptation
Today in lesson we were split into the groups we will be working with for our main task and i have been paired with Yasmin and Matthew. I was so pleased as i have worked with both students at a GCSE level and i feel we produce high quality work together. Anyway, the objectives of today's lesson was to listen to one each others stories and give an analysis of the new film idea. We needed feedback about four keys points:
- Thematic Unity
- Logical Causality & Narrative development
- Character motivation
- Key plot points (3 Act Structure)
Both Matt and Yasmin agreed that my story seemed very "American" if that makes sense. They said "it definitely has logical causality but it's to the extent of predictability." I knew once i had pitched my story and heard their ideas that i definitely limited myself with this task and in hindsight i wish i had thought about a more different approach to a new film. Instead of falling into the typical high school romance genre! However, having said that, Yasmin noted that my character Becky had believable reasons for feeling lonely (due to the death of her mother) and this showed strong character motivation for my main character. Thus meaning Becky could really develop throughout my story.
- Thematic Unity
- Logical Causality & Narrative development
- Character motivation
- Key plot points (3 Act Structure)
Both Matt and Yasmin agreed that my story seemed very "American" if that makes sense. They said "it definitely has logical causality but it's to the extent of predictability." I knew once i had pitched my story and heard their ideas that i definitely limited myself with this task and in hindsight i wish i had thought about a more different approach to a new film. Instead of falling into the typical high school romance genre! However, having said that, Yasmin noted that my character Becky had believable reasons for feeling lonely (due to the death of her mother) and this showed strong character motivation for my main character. Thus meaning Becky could really develop throughout my story.
Sunday 1 November 2009
Mind Over Matter
My fairy tale adaptation is called "mind over matter" and it deals with themes of love, good conquering over evil and the confusion/isolation teenagers face (or think they face) within society. I based my idea on the tale "the bronze ring" and the battle between the gardeners' son and the prime ministers' son for the princess's hand in marriage. It made me think about the lengths males are willing to go through in order to get the girl they want so i took this simplistic idea and threw it into a school environment in this day and age. So, my protagonist is a girl aged 15 named Becky and she lives with her Father as her Mother is unfortunately deceased. She often feels lonely without a Mother to talk to about life problems she faces. Becky is down to Earth and gets along with everyone she meets and this includes her being loved by all at her school. She has a lot of responsibilities from being head cheerleader to managing the Chess club, she is constantly faced with physical and mental challenges any teenager would breakdown at but she copes. My other two main characters are males of the same age as Becky; one named Eugene and the other named Max. Eugene is the kind hearted mathematics nerd who falls for Becky the second he sees her in the hallway. However, Max is the bad boy everyone loves to hate, including Becky. Although being faced in a sticky situation that brings all three characters together they soon learn to love one another, and Becky will face her biggest matter yet.
Fairytale Research
Bella Venezia: An italian tale by Italo Calvino
An innkeeper named Bella Venezia asked her customers whether they had ever seen a more beautiful woman than herself. When they said they had not, she cut the price for their stay in half, but one day, a traveller said that he had seen such a woman: her own daughter. Bella Venezia doubled the price of his stay instead of halving it, and had her daughter shut up in a tower with a single window. Then one day Bella asked again whether her customers had seen a woman more beautiful than herself, and a traveller said that he had seen a more beautiful woman, looking from a tower. Bella Venezia asked the kitchen boy if he would marry her, and promised to do so if he killed her daughter. The kitchen boy led her daughter into the forest and killed a lamb in her place.
The daughter wandered until she saw twelve robbers order a cave open and shut: "Open up, desert!" and "Close up, desert!" She sneaked inside and cleaned up the place, and then stole some of their food before hiding. The robbers set watch, but each robber waited outside, for the person to sneak in, and so did not catch her, until the chief robber waited inside and saw her. He told her not to be afraid: she could stay and be their little sister. But one day a robber went to Bella Venezia's inn, and told her that a girl they had with them was more beautiful than Bella.
A witch begged every day from the inn, and Bella Venezia promised her half her fortune if she could put an end to the daughter. The witch went into the forest as a pedlar, persuaded the girl to let her in, and while showing her a hair pin, thrust it into the girl's head. The robbers found her body, wept, and buried her in a hollow tree.
One day, a prince went hunting, and his dogs sniffed out the tree where the girl was buried. He took her body back to the castle and could not bear to be away from her. His mother was angry and said that he could at least fix her hair. This revealed the pin. When it was pulled out, the girl awoke, and the prince married her.
- This definitely reminded me of snow white and the seven dwarfs but intrigued me in the way that it's from Italy?
- The tale covers the themes of jealousy, vanity and death due to greed and vanity.
- Has the typical fairytale ending. the signature "Happy Ever After."
THE BRONZE RING - Middle East/Central Asia
The king despairs because his castle is surrounded by wasteland, instead of a fruitful garden. Advised that the remedy is a head gardener. Under this gardener’s care the land does flourish, but a new problem arises.
The princess loves the gardener’s son – and will marry no one else. After she refuses her father’s choice of a husband (the prime minister’s son), he contrives a contest to settle the matter: the two men must go to a far destination and the first to return shall marry the princess. They do not go off on an equal footing. The Minister’s son is equipped with a fine horse and gold, while the gardener’s son is given a lame horse and copper.
Traveling swiftly, the minister’s son encounters a woman in rags. Weak and starving, she begs for his help. He spurns her.
The gardener’s son then encounters the woman. Generously, he gives her his purse and invites her to ride behind him. At the next city, heralds announce that the sultan is sick, and that whoever cures him can name the reward. The woman instructs the boy: find and slay three particular dogs, burn them and collect their ashes, then make way to the sultan. Place the dying sultan in a cauldron over a roaring fire, and boil him right down to his bones. Finally, arrange the bones properly and scatter the dogs' ashes over them. The gardener’s son does all these things and the sultan revives, in full hearty youth. Exactly as the witch suggested, the gardener’s son chooses the bronze ring for his reward. This ring contains a djinni who grants any wish. Now the gardener’s son continues his journey in a fabulous sailing ship, with a cargo of gems, sails of brocade and a hull of gold, crewed by a dozen handsome sailors, each dressed as richly as a king – all gifts of the bronze ring.
Eventually he meets his rival, who has spent all his fortune. Unrecognized, the gardener’s son offers to supply his rival with a ship - on the condition that the skin of his back be branded with the imprint of the bronze ring, heated in a fire. Once that is done, the gardener’s son asks the ring to prepare a ship with half-rotten timbers painted black, ragged sails and a maimed and sickly crew. In this ship the prime minister’s son returns, and claims his bride from the king.
As the unhappy princess’ wedding is being prepared, the king looks out on the harbor and wonders at the gleaming gold ship sailing into it. He is so taken by the sight of its captain (the gardener's son) that he invites him to the wedding and, after closer inspection, actually invites him to give away the bride.
The gardener’s son agrees, but when he sees the intended groom he objects, telling the king that the man is not worthy of the princess, being nothing more than his own slave. The prime minister's son denies this, but the brand of the bronze ring on his back serves as proof of the claim. The gardener’s son marries the delighted princess that day with the king's blessing. They have a short period of happiness.
Meanwhile, a student of the black arts has come to learn about the genii of the bronze ring. When the prince sails off for a trip in his golden ship, he persuades the princess to trade him the ring for some red fish. Once he has the ring, he wishes the prince’s boat from gold into rotten wood, his crew from princely appearing men into hideous slaves, and the cargo of gems into ravenous black cats. (In the first edition of 'The Blue Fairy Book', reflects racist European stereotypes of the times, the magician is a crafty Jew and the debased crew become Negroes.)
Realizing that an enemy must now have his bronze ring, the prince sails on until he comes to an island inhabited by mice. The Mouse Queen sends an envoy to ask that the ship sail away with its terrible cargo of cats. The prince agrees, on the condition that his bronze ring be found and returned to him. The Mouse Queen contacts all the mice of the world, three of whom know that the magician keeps the bronze ring in his pocket when awake, and in his mouth when asleep. The three go to retrieve the ring. One of them tickles the sleeping magician’s nose with her tail, and he expels the ring from his mouth with a sneeze. After some misadventures, the mice manage to return the ring to the prince, who restores his golden vessel and hurries home to the princess. He captures the magician and has the man broken into pieces by being tied to the tail of a savage mule.
- i really liked this story as it reminded me a lot of Aladdin and the themes of betrayal linked with love and wealth. It sounded very busy when i first read it what with the witch then the sickness of the sultan and then the student of the black arts? However, i feel it worked well in portraying the morals of the story; which were clearly to be the good simaritan in any given situation. As Karma will come around in your favour as it did for the garderner's son. However, if/when the greed gets the better of you (introducing the student of the black arts) you will recieve your just deserts.
CLEVER MARIA - A Portuguese Fairy Tale
A merchant had three daughters, and the youngest, Maria, was the most beautiful. The king gave each daughter a pot of basil and forbade them to receive visitors. One day, the king came with two friends. Maria said she and her sisters would get wine from the cellar. The king said they were not thirsty. The sisters said they would not go. Maria said she would go just the same. Then she ran to a neighbour's and stayed there the night. The king was angry, but her basil did not wither, as her sisters' did.
The daughters looked over at the king's garden, and the oldest daughter asked Maria to climb down a rope and steal some fruit for her. A gardener caught her, but she escaped. The next day, the second daughter asked her to steal a fruit basket for her, but this time the king caught her. He questioned her, she denied nothing, and he told her to follow him to the house. Though he turned to make sure she followed him, she managed to escape. He fell ill.
Meanwhile, her two sisters had married the king's friends and had babies. Maria took the babies to show the king.Maria went about, calling for someone to give the babies to the king, who was sick of love. The king bought it and was infuriated that he held the babies. He knew the merchant had returned and ordered him to bring him a coat of stone or lose his head. Maria told him to take the fabric to the castle and demanded to measure the king. The king changed his order: he had to bring not the coat but his daughter Maria. Maria told her father to make her a doll of herself, with strings so she could make it nod and shake its head. Maria went to the castle and hid behind the doll.
When the king recounted her misdeeds, she made the doll nod. Because she was mocking him, he cut off the doll's head. Its head fell toward him, and he said that the man who killed her deserved to die and turned the sword on himself. Maria jumped out to stop him. They married and lived happily.
- This particular story stopped very suddenly. There were a lot of different events that took place that i didn't immediately understand however i can clearly see that love is a key theme in this tale. I also noticed that Maria is the youngest and the most beautiful of the three daughters and she is the one who the King takes a liking to. I liked how this story shows women having brains alongside beauty and still turns out to have a happy ending.
DONKEYSKIN - French Fairy Tale told by Charles Perrault
A king had a beautiful wife and a rich castle, including a marvelous donkey whose droppings were gold. One day his wife died, after making him promise not to marry except to a woman whose beauty and attributes equaled hers. The king grieved, but was, in time, persuaded to seek another wife. It became clear that the only woman who would fit the promise was his own daughter.
She went to her fairy godmother who advised her to make impossible demands as a condition of her consent: a dress the color of the sky, a dress the color of the moon, a dress as bright as the sun, and finally, the hide of his marvelous donkey. Such was the king's desire to marry her that he granted all of them. The fairy godmother gave her a marvelous chest to contain all she owned and told her that the donkeyskin would make an excellent disguise.
Illustration by Gustave Doré: as a servant
She fled. Eventually, she found a royal farm where they let her work in the kitchen, despite her ugliness in the donkeyskin. On feast days, she would dress herself in the fine gowns her father had given her, and one such day, the prince came by her room and peeped through the keyhole. He fell in love at once, fell ill with his longing, and declared that nothing would cure him but a cake baked by Donkeyskin, and nothing they could say of what a dirty creature she was dissuaded him.
When Donkeyskin baked the cake, a ring of hers fell in it. The prince found it and declared that he would marry only the woman whose finger it fit. Every other woman having failed, he insisted that Donkeyskin try, and it fit. When she had dressed herself in her fine gowns, his parents were reconciled with the match. Donkey-skin later found that her father had remarried to a beautiful widow and everyone lived happily ever after.
- This story reminded me a lot of Cinderlla but with different and more negative twists. Instead of marrying a horrible stepmother; the king married a beautiful widow who i'm assuming has been through the same sort of grief the king has. Additionally, the daughter fled and was able to live happily in the end even though she was away from her family. Also, the biggest similarity between donkeyskin and cinderella is the use of the fairy Godmother.
- Themes in this story include love and death. The fantasy comes from the fairy godmother and the happily ever after between the prince and Donkeyskin at the end.
After analysing numerous fairytales from around the world (not all i have illustrated here) i now feel that i have a lot more ideas of what to base my main task on. I have gained from this work the knowledge of cultural stories and ways in which to make a typical storyline or a predictable theme a lot more interesting. I also found that these stories differed greatly to the ones i was used to growing up yet at the same time a few of them seemed familiar as i read on.
An innkeeper named Bella Venezia asked her customers whether they had ever seen a more beautiful woman than herself. When they said they had not, she cut the price for their stay in half, but one day, a traveller said that he had seen such a woman: her own daughter. Bella Venezia doubled the price of his stay instead of halving it, and had her daughter shut up in a tower with a single window. Then one day Bella asked again whether her customers had seen a woman more beautiful than herself, and a traveller said that he had seen a more beautiful woman, looking from a tower. Bella Venezia asked the kitchen boy if he would marry her, and promised to do so if he killed her daughter. The kitchen boy led her daughter into the forest and killed a lamb in her place.
The daughter wandered until she saw twelve robbers order a cave open and shut: "Open up, desert!" and "Close up, desert!" She sneaked inside and cleaned up the place, and then stole some of their food before hiding. The robbers set watch, but each robber waited outside, for the person to sneak in, and so did not catch her, until the chief robber waited inside and saw her. He told her not to be afraid: she could stay and be their little sister. But one day a robber went to Bella Venezia's inn, and told her that a girl they had with them was more beautiful than Bella.
A witch begged every day from the inn, and Bella Venezia promised her half her fortune if she could put an end to the daughter. The witch went into the forest as a pedlar, persuaded the girl to let her in, and while showing her a hair pin, thrust it into the girl's head. The robbers found her body, wept, and buried her in a hollow tree.
One day, a prince went hunting, and his dogs sniffed out the tree where the girl was buried. He took her body back to the castle and could not bear to be away from her. His mother was angry and said that he could at least fix her hair. This revealed the pin. When it was pulled out, the girl awoke, and the prince married her.
- This definitely reminded me of snow white and the seven dwarfs but intrigued me in the way that it's from Italy?
- The tale covers the themes of jealousy, vanity and death due to greed and vanity.
- Has the typical fairytale ending. the signature "Happy Ever After."
THE BRONZE RING - Middle East/Central Asia
The king despairs because his castle is surrounded by wasteland, instead of a fruitful garden. Advised that the remedy is a head gardener. Under this gardener’s care the land does flourish, but a new problem arises.
The princess loves the gardener’s son – and will marry no one else. After she refuses her father’s choice of a husband (the prime minister’s son), he contrives a contest to settle the matter: the two men must go to a far destination and the first to return shall marry the princess. They do not go off on an equal footing. The Minister’s son is equipped with a fine horse and gold, while the gardener’s son is given a lame horse and copper.
Traveling swiftly, the minister’s son encounters a woman in rags. Weak and starving, she begs for his help. He spurns her.
The gardener’s son then encounters the woman. Generously, he gives her his purse and invites her to ride behind him. At the next city, heralds announce that the sultan is sick, and that whoever cures him can name the reward. The woman instructs the boy: find and slay three particular dogs, burn them and collect their ashes, then make way to the sultan. Place the dying sultan in a cauldron over a roaring fire, and boil him right down to his bones. Finally, arrange the bones properly and scatter the dogs' ashes over them. The gardener’s son does all these things and the sultan revives, in full hearty youth. Exactly as the witch suggested, the gardener’s son chooses the bronze ring for his reward. This ring contains a djinni who grants any wish. Now the gardener’s son continues his journey in a fabulous sailing ship, with a cargo of gems, sails of brocade and a hull of gold, crewed by a dozen handsome sailors, each dressed as richly as a king – all gifts of the bronze ring.
Eventually he meets his rival, who has spent all his fortune. Unrecognized, the gardener’s son offers to supply his rival with a ship - on the condition that the skin of his back be branded with the imprint of the bronze ring, heated in a fire. Once that is done, the gardener’s son asks the ring to prepare a ship with half-rotten timbers painted black, ragged sails and a maimed and sickly crew. In this ship the prime minister’s son returns, and claims his bride from the king.
As the unhappy princess’ wedding is being prepared, the king looks out on the harbor and wonders at the gleaming gold ship sailing into it. He is so taken by the sight of its captain (the gardener's son) that he invites him to the wedding and, after closer inspection, actually invites him to give away the bride.
The gardener’s son agrees, but when he sees the intended groom he objects, telling the king that the man is not worthy of the princess, being nothing more than his own slave. The prime minister's son denies this, but the brand of the bronze ring on his back serves as proof of the claim. The gardener’s son marries the delighted princess that day with the king's blessing. They have a short period of happiness.
Meanwhile, a student of the black arts has come to learn about the genii of the bronze ring. When the prince sails off for a trip in his golden ship, he persuades the princess to trade him the ring for some red fish. Once he has the ring, he wishes the prince’s boat from gold into rotten wood, his crew from princely appearing men into hideous slaves, and the cargo of gems into ravenous black cats. (In the first edition of 'The Blue Fairy Book', reflects racist European stereotypes of the times, the magician is a crafty Jew and the debased crew become Negroes.)
Realizing that an enemy must now have his bronze ring, the prince sails on until he comes to an island inhabited by mice. The Mouse Queen sends an envoy to ask that the ship sail away with its terrible cargo of cats. The prince agrees, on the condition that his bronze ring be found and returned to him. The Mouse Queen contacts all the mice of the world, three of whom know that the magician keeps the bronze ring in his pocket when awake, and in his mouth when asleep. The three go to retrieve the ring. One of them tickles the sleeping magician’s nose with her tail, and he expels the ring from his mouth with a sneeze. After some misadventures, the mice manage to return the ring to the prince, who restores his golden vessel and hurries home to the princess. He captures the magician and has the man broken into pieces by being tied to the tail of a savage mule.
- i really liked this story as it reminded me a lot of Aladdin and the themes of betrayal linked with love and wealth. It sounded very busy when i first read it what with the witch then the sickness of the sultan and then the student of the black arts? However, i feel it worked well in portraying the morals of the story; which were clearly to be the good simaritan in any given situation. As Karma will come around in your favour as it did for the garderner's son. However, if/when the greed gets the better of you (introducing the student of the black arts) you will recieve your just deserts.
CLEVER MARIA - A Portuguese Fairy Tale
A merchant had three daughters, and the youngest, Maria, was the most beautiful. The king gave each daughter a pot of basil and forbade them to receive visitors. One day, the king came with two friends. Maria said she and her sisters would get wine from the cellar. The king said they were not thirsty. The sisters said they would not go. Maria said she would go just the same. Then she ran to a neighbour's and stayed there the night. The king was angry, but her basil did not wither, as her sisters' did.
The daughters looked over at the king's garden, and the oldest daughter asked Maria to climb down a rope and steal some fruit for her. A gardener caught her, but she escaped. The next day, the second daughter asked her to steal a fruit basket for her, but this time the king caught her. He questioned her, she denied nothing, and he told her to follow him to the house. Though he turned to make sure she followed him, she managed to escape. He fell ill.
Meanwhile, her two sisters had married the king's friends and had babies. Maria took the babies to show the king.Maria went about, calling for someone to give the babies to the king, who was sick of love. The king bought it and was infuriated that he held the babies. He knew the merchant had returned and ordered him to bring him a coat of stone or lose his head. Maria told him to take the fabric to the castle and demanded to measure the king. The king changed his order: he had to bring not the coat but his daughter Maria. Maria told her father to make her a doll of herself, with strings so she could make it nod and shake its head. Maria went to the castle and hid behind the doll.
When the king recounted her misdeeds, she made the doll nod. Because she was mocking him, he cut off the doll's head. Its head fell toward him, and he said that the man who killed her deserved to die and turned the sword on himself. Maria jumped out to stop him. They married and lived happily.
- This particular story stopped very suddenly. There were a lot of different events that took place that i didn't immediately understand however i can clearly see that love is a key theme in this tale. I also noticed that Maria is the youngest and the most beautiful of the three daughters and she is the one who the King takes a liking to. I liked how this story shows women having brains alongside beauty and still turns out to have a happy ending.
DONKEYSKIN - French Fairy Tale told by Charles Perrault
A king had a beautiful wife and a rich castle, including a marvelous donkey whose droppings were gold. One day his wife died, after making him promise not to marry except to a woman whose beauty and attributes equaled hers. The king grieved, but was, in time, persuaded to seek another wife. It became clear that the only woman who would fit the promise was his own daughter.
She went to her fairy godmother who advised her to make impossible demands as a condition of her consent: a dress the color of the sky, a dress the color of the moon, a dress as bright as the sun, and finally, the hide of his marvelous donkey. Such was the king's desire to marry her that he granted all of them. The fairy godmother gave her a marvelous chest to contain all she owned and told her that the donkeyskin would make an excellent disguise.
Illustration by Gustave Doré: as a servant
She fled. Eventually, she found a royal farm where they let her work in the kitchen, despite her ugliness in the donkeyskin. On feast days, she would dress herself in the fine gowns her father had given her, and one such day, the prince came by her room and peeped through the keyhole. He fell in love at once, fell ill with his longing, and declared that nothing would cure him but a cake baked by Donkeyskin, and nothing they could say of what a dirty creature she was dissuaded him.
When Donkeyskin baked the cake, a ring of hers fell in it. The prince found it and declared that he would marry only the woman whose finger it fit. Every other woman having failed, he insisted that Donkeyskin try, and it fit. When she had dressed herself in her fine gowns, his parents were reconciled with the match. Donkey-skin later found that her father had remarried to a beautiful widow and everyone lived happily ever after.
- This story reminded me a lot of Cinderlla but with different and more negative twists. Instead of marrying a horrible stepmother; the king married a beautiful widow who i'm assuming has been through the same sort of grief the king has. Additionally, the daughter fled and was able to live happily in the end even though she was away from her family. Also, the biggest similarity between donkeyskin and cinderella is the use of the fairy Godmother.
- Themes in this story include love and death. The fantasy comes from the fairy godmother and the happily ever after between the prince and Donkeyskin at the end.
After analysing numerous fairytales from around the world (not all i have illustrated here) i now feel that i have a lot more ideas of what to base my main task on. I have gained from this work the knowledge of cultural stories and ways in which to make a typical storyline or a predictable theme a lot more interesting. I also found that these stories differed greatly to the ones i was used to growing up yet at the same time a few of them seemed familiar as i read on.
Bella Venezia
An innkeeper named Bella Venezia asked her customers whether they had ever seen a more beautiful woman than herself. When they said they had not, she cut the price for their stay in half, but one day, a traveller said that he had seen such a woman: her own daughter. Bella Venezia doubled the price of his stay instead of halving it, and had her daughter shut up in a tower with a single window. Then one day Bella asked again whether her customers had seen a woman more beautiful than herself, and a traveller said that he had seen a more beautiful woman, looking from a tower. Bella Venezia asked the kitchen boy if he would marry her, and promised to do so if he killed her daughter. The kitchen boy led her daughter into the forest and killed a lamb in her place.
The daughter wandered until she saw twelve robbers order a cave open and shut: "Open up, desert!" and "Close up, desert!" She sneaked inside and cleaned up the place, and then stole some of their food before hiding. The robbers set watch, but each robber waited outside, for the person to sneak in, and so did not catch her, until the chief robber waited inside and saw her. He told her not to be afraid: she could stay and be their little sister. But one day a robber went to Bella Venezia's inn, and told her that a girl they had with them was more beautiful than Bella.
A witch begged every day from the inn, and Bella Venezia promised her half her fortune if she could put an end to the daughter. The witch went into the forest as a pedlar, persuaded the girl to let her in, and while showing her a hair pin, thrust it into the girl's head. The robbers found her body, wept, and buried her in a hollow tree.
One day, a prince went hunting, and his dogs sniffed out the tree where the girl was buried. He took her body back to the castle and could not bear to be away from her. His mother was angry and said that he could at least fix her hair. This revealed the pin. When it was pulled out, the girl awoke, and the prince married her.
An innkeeper named Bella Venezia asked her customers whether they had ever seen a more beautiful woman than herself. When they said they had not, she cut the price for their stay in half, but one day, a traveller said that he had seen such a woman: her own daughter. Bella Venezia doubled the price of his stay instead of halving it, and had her daughter shut up in a tower with a single window. Then one day Bella asked again whether her customers had seen a woman more beautiful than herself, and a traveller said that he had seen a more beautiful woman, looking from a tower. Bella Venezia asked the kitchen boy if he would marry her, and promised to do so if he killed her daughter. The kitchen boy led her daughter into the forest and killed a lamb in her place.
The daughter wandered until she saw twelve robbers order a cave open and shut: "Open up, desert!" and "Close up, desert!" She sneaked inside and cleaned up the place, and then stole some of their food before hiding. The robbers set watch, but each robber waited outside, for the person to sneak in, and so did not catch her, until the chief robber waited inside and saw her. He told her not to be afraid: she could stay and be their little sister. But one day a robber went to Bella Venezia's inn, and told her that a girl they had with them was more beautiful than Bella.
A witch begged every day from the inn, and Bella Venezia promised her half her fortune if she could put an end to the daughter. The witch went into the forest as a pedlar, persuaded the girl to let her in, and while showing her a hair pin, thrust it into the girl's head. The robbers found her body, wept, and buried her in a hollow tree.
One day, a prince went hunting, and his dogs sniffed out the tree where the girl was buried. He took her body back to the castle and could not bear to be away from her. His mother was angry and said that he could at least fix her hair. This revealed the pin. When it was pulled out, the girl awoke, and the prince married her.
Tuesday 20 October 2009
Audience feelings Vs. Directors Aims
In class we have been studying further what makes a good opening to a film and the effect that it has on its audience. We have now progressed even more to analyse what the director had in mind to make the audience feel. I have looked at a few case studies independently, one of them being a favourite of mine. The Notebook. The opening of this film in my opinion is very calm and relaxing but the music has an essence of sadness to it and it seems that the director wanted to communicate this for a reason because even though the location is beautiful, the actual story may not be as tranquil. Additionally, the clip i have selected shows a distant relationship between the two characters that are introduced and as the audience i felt interest as to how these characters are connected; and i think that's exactly what the director wanted the audience to feel.
Instead of going on to focus only on films that i favour, i decided to analyse a film that was very successful in the film industry but more one that wouldn't immediately spring to mind when considering the opening sequence. That's when i thought of TITANIC. (coincidentally this is still one of my favourites!) Unfortunately i couldn't get an embedded clip to show however the opening is very effective at getting the audience to think and question it. It includes numerous long shots, mid shots and pans of the individuals on board the famous TITANIC, and it is all shot in an off black and white effect. (sepia i think the actual effect is called) This shows that the footage is representing the past and whilst the images show happy passengers waving to the observers on land, there is music in the background. The signature theme song that everyone will associate with the film, however it contrasts to the images on screen. This made me question the outcome of the film and also made me want to keep watching. As the clip played, the shots from the ship faded into the surface of dark water and the name TITANIC was displayed. This made me feel as if something bad had happened and the director's purpose was to illustrate that the ship, once so happy and exciting, did in fact sink. The only negative point i can pull from this is that the storyline was exposed so early on? Why would the director show us this? Surely we already know what happens in the end now? On the contrary, this made me want to keep watching to see what the main focus was because clearly, it was not so much the event of the ship sinking, but more the love story that was ripped at the seams due to the ship going under. Obviously, i cannot tell this from the beginning; and so the urge to keep watching gave me that information. Therefore, proving this opening was successful in questioning directors' aims.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-UORiMTOJk
This task made me think a lot about the importance of the opening of different films and how the director would want the audience to feel in contrast to how they actually respond. I have learned that even though the beginning of a film can be over within the first two minutes, this is the most vital two minutes to set the theme, atmosphere, character relations etc.
Instead of going on to focus only on films that i favour, i decided to analyse a film that was very successful in the film industry but more one that wouldn't immediately spring to mind when considering the opening sequence. That's when i thought of TITANIC. (coincidentally this is still one of my favourites!) Unfortunately i couldn't get an embedded clip to show however the opening is very effective at getting the audience to think and question it. It includes numerous long shots, mid shots and pans of the individuals on board the famous TITANIC, and it is all shot in an off black and white effect. (sepia i think the actual effect is called) This shows that the footage is representing the past and whilst the images show happy passengers waving to the observers on land, there is music in the background. The signature theme song that everyone will associate with the film, however it contrasts to the images on screen. This made me question the outcome of the film and also made me want to keep watching. As the clip played, the shots from the ship faded into the surface of dark water and the name TITANIC was displayed. This made me feel as if something bad had happened and the director's purpose was to illustrate that the ship, once so happy and exciting, did in fact sink. The only negative point i can pull from this is that the storyline was exposed so early on? Why would the director show us this? Surely we already know what happens in the end now? On the contrary, this made me want to keep watching to see what the main focus was because clearly, it was not so much the event of the ship sinking, but more the love story that was ripped at the seams due to the ship going under. Obviously, i cannot tell this from the beginning; and so the urge to keep watching gave me that information. Therefore, proving this opening was successful in questioning directors' aims.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-UORiMTOJk
This task made me think a lot about the importance of the opening of different films and how the director would want the audience to feel in contrast to how they actually respond. I have learned that even though the beginning of a film can be over within the first two minutes, this is the most vital two minutes to set the theme, atmosphere, character relations etc.
Monday 19 October 2009
What makes a successful opening of a film?
Within lessons, we have been discussing and debating what makes a good opening sequence for a film and after doing a lot of research, and contributing my own opinions, i have found the following key elements:
- An interesting way to give an idea of what the film is about
- All the essential information within the titles eg. director, editor etc.
- Something that will grab the audiences attention enough to want to proceed watching
Especially after watching previous years' work i had a better understanding of what our future coursework wanted. This then made my research a lot more important and relevant to my course.
In this opening, there is 100% animation to illustrate the important theme of the film. The different shots and images flowed from one into the other into the other which was very original and eye catching. In addition to this, the music that accompanied it was mysterious and fitted well with what was happening on screen. I felt that the constant change of costume of one of the animated characters implied that he was the person running from authority and so, within the first few minutes of the film it is clear of what the film is about in relation to the name; "Catch me if you can." Although i did think this was a very interesting opening sequence, i wanted to look at a variety of films because i knew that when it comes to making my own opening in class, it would be filmed and not animated. I found a very good example of sex and the city: the movie, and how the opening established the film was set in New York, followed the lives of four young, successful, beautiful women and part of their history. I was able to get all of this information from just the opening. Also, considering mise en scene, the use of costume was appropriate for the characters as well as the high key lighting used as they walk down the street. Unfortunately due to certain content of the sequence (particularly the part about Samantha Jones) i felt it inappropriate to post a video illustrating its use of various shots and ability to introduce the film.
Instead i thought of one of my favourite films of all time! Forrest Gump! This opening sequence consists of the camera following a feather float and glide through the sky until eventually landing at the feet of the main character. Before, i never realised how effective this is, but now i have analysed the sequence i have seen how a concept so simple can work to introduce a film. Especially how Forrest Gump himself is a character who floats from one situation to the next throughout the film. Although it may not be the most interesting opening ever made, or include a multi-million explosion with special effects; it's still a different way to begin a film. Additionally, the music ties in perfectly with its tranquility.
- An interesting way to give an idea of what the film is about
- All the essential information within the titles eg. director, editor etc.
- Something that will grab the audiences attention enough to want to proceed watching
Especially after watching previous years' work i had a better understanding of what our future coursework wanted. This then made my research a lot more important and relevant to my course.
In this opening, there is 100% animation to illustrate the important theme of the film. The different shots and images flowed from one into the other into the other which was very original and eye catching. In addition to this, the music that accompanied it was mysterious and fitted well with what was happening on screen. I felt that the constant change of costume of one of the animated characters implied that he was the person running from authority and so, within the first few minutes of the film it is clear of what the film is about in relation to the name; "Catch me if you can." Although i did think this was a very interesting opening sequence, i wanted to look at a variety of films because i knew that when it comes to making my own opening in class, it would be filmed and not animated. I found a very good example of sex and the city: the movie, and how the opening established the film was set in New York, followed the lives of four young, successful, beautiful women and part of their history. I was able to get all of this information from just the opening. Also, considering mise en scene, the use of costume was appropriate for the characters as well as the high key lighting used as they walk down the street. Unfortunately due to certain content of the sequence (particularly the part about Samantha Jones) i felt it inappropriate to post a video illustrating its use of various shots and ability to introduce the film.
Instead i thought of one of my favourite films of all time! Forrest Gump! This opening sequence consists of the camera following a feather float and glide through the sky until eventually landing at the feet of the main character. Before, i never realised how effective this is, but now i have analysed the sequence i have seen how a concept so simple can work to introduce a film. Especially how Forrest Gump himself is a character who floats from one situation to the next throughout the film. Although it may not be the most interesting opening ever made, or include a multi-million explosion with special effects; it's still a different way to begin a film. Additionally, the music ties in perfectly with its tranquility.
Friday 16 October 2009
Sunday 11 October 2009
The task we had to do in class consisted of planning and filming a sequence in a matter of minutes; under 60 minutes to be precise! However, the task on a personal level, was more about working with people who we wouldn't normally choose to be in our groups. Additionally, to highlight the importance of pre-production! I felt that the task didn't run smoothly at all because we were under a limited time that wasn't very realistic. I have now learned that ten minutes is no where near long enough time to plan a storyline, draft a script and storyboard or even begin to discuss the various camera shots, movements and angles we should use. I've come to the realisation that the final product's success depends entirely on the success of planning. The more prepared/aware of what it is you want and what you have to do to get it, the more likely it is that production will be less stressful. Furthermore, one big problem my group faced during production is that the whole class decided to film around the same area. In hindsight, it seems so simple now to walk to an entirely different location at the beginning of filming, so that even though it may take 5 minutes to get there, we can still get the shots we need without another member of the class yelling "ACTION" in the background. That does tend to get annoying after the first three times it happens! As far as my group goes (Noriane, Esma and myself) we thankfully agreed on everything and all shared the same ideas of how we pictured the sequence to look. I felt this was an achievement considering our rushed storyboard was not clear in the slightest. Overall, i found this task quite challenging; we were under strict time limits and the lesson's pace in general seemed to hit fast forward from the word ACTION!
Wednesday 7 October 2009
Preliminary Task Evaluation
This task consisted of working in pairs to produce a short film of walking through a door, using a variety of shots and angles. In pairs, we had to plan our plot using a storyboard, script the sequence, devise a shooting schedule and use two other members form our class as our cast. I worked with Sharon and we met the day the task was set so it was fresh in our minds and so we would stay up to date with our work. We both worked on a simple script and storyboard to ensure we had interesting shots and a variety of them. However, when it came to devising a shooting schedule, I did not have the storyboard to know when and where would be most efficient to shoot first because Sharon had taken it home. So Sharon did this and I printed scripts for the cast instead. I feel that we worked very well as a duo because we were both very strong minded about what we wanted the outcome to be like. Our shared passion to be successful in this task meant that when it came to shooting we acted responsibly, getting at least two takes of every shot and not wasting any time. The only problem we really faced was the issue with the shooting schedule. Although we worked around it I still feel that I should have contributed more and will consider that for the future each member of the group will need a copy of everything, to avoid one person doing the work alone.
Throughout the whole of our planning, I felt we were being very thorough and detailed, however in hindsight I think we could have looked more into the problems we could face. For example, when it came to the location, we thought of angles and different shots from memory but we didn’t actually go to the location and act out what it was we pictured. I thought that was the benefit of a storyboard? So, when it came to filming within the leisure centre I didn’t even consider that there could be members of the general public in there! I will learn from this by doing a location recce next time and this should make things easier when it comes to filming, as we’ll know what to expect. That way, with a clear storyboard picturing what we would film and having the reassurance that the location and surroundings were appropriate, the planning process would help the filming process run a lot smoother. Additionally, through the duration of preproduction we found that neither of us could draw very well! So this resulted in a stickman storyboard, which Sharon and I both understood and imagined similarly. With this in consideration, when we were on set, we envisioned the actual shot differently. From this I learned that the storyboard does not set the shot in stone; it’s more of a rough guideline that allows individuals to picture a camera shot as you do.
The technological equipment that we used at first seemed expensive and fragile. Now that I have worked with it I know that my first impressions are stronger than ever, however I still felt confident about setting up the camera on a tripod to get a stable picture. I learned that practice makes perfect when it comes to setting up the tripod to the correct height and doing everything systematically. The more you do it, the more routine it becomes, and the final checks before filming included an appropriate height for the director (Sharon) and if we did have to adjust the tripod for low angle and high angle shots, the spirit level was always adjusted too. I didn’t really face many major problems with the camera, although the first one we were given as a group would not function for us to put the tape in. We worked around this by swapping cameras with one that did and everything ran smoothly after that. After having an experience of actually being out, independently filming I came to the realisation that as a sixteen year old student I am very lucky to have this opportunity to work with such technology. However, now that we have analysed the basis of independent films, it has become more apparent how easy it is to produce your own films.
Whilst planning, we had to consider any possible problems we may face, so that we would be fully prepared to handle or even avoid them. We had to plan which camera shots and angles to use in order to have a variety and we then discussed how they would fit into our short film. To do this, we looked at characters and decided that seeing as our location would be somewhere around school, the most appropriate roles would be a pupil and a teacher. We then knew this would work well as a teacher has more authority then a pupil, so a low angle and high angle shot could easily be used to make it interesting and still link well to the status of the characters. Additionally, when devising our shooting schedule we had to take into account what would be the best way to film the different shots that saved the most time and in the least amount of takes necessary. In order to do this, we looked at every shot that would be in the leisure centre and worked through those, and then analysed which exterior shots were left to do. During planning I think it was quite rushed but not intentionally. By this I mean that, personally, I was so eager to get out and begin filming that I didn’t take the planning procedures as seriously as I should have. For example, when it came to the issue of continuity I had the frame of mind that when we actually got out there to film, we would realise that someone was meant to have a prop or that a characters’ hair wasn’t supposed to change. In hindsight though I now have learned that it would only help to right elements like that down; to make sure you do not jump from one shot of someone running along their hair all over the place, to the same person all of a sudden sitting in a room not even a little bit flustered. Whilst actually shooting, we had to come to terms with the fact that we were trying to film scenes in a public place. Although it was very annoying and frustrating, there was nothing you could to about someone walking into the background of your shot; how were they to know they were obstructing someone filming? This is why in the future a location recce will take place because if the problem persists that much, the simplest way to avoid it would be to change locations. During post production (also known as editing) both Sharon and I had to take into account that we had never used this software before and so patience was vital! I must admitt, it was very frustrating having the software up and running one day, and then not being able to do a single thing the next due to the convinience and reliability of modern technology! Additionally, we payed very close attention to each of the steps Ms. Bundy outlined in order to make our assemble. When digitising (capturing) our rushes and transferring them from the camera to the computer, we made sure we had enough time at the beginning and end of a shot to edit it further. However, a problem we faced was that when actually filming a shot, we hadn't left enough time after cutting. So, to be particular, the "DETENTION" scene cuts off the end of Thelma's speech. We tried to resolve this by looking at other takes, however we only recorded one during digitising. Therefore, i will learn from this in future by recording at least two good takes so i have more to wrok with. The final problem i can recall was making the whole sequence more interesting. We overcome this by slowing one scene down - trying to make it last longer - however, because we slowed it down and there was dialogue within the scene, it made Thelma's voice low and authoritive. This was surprising as the outcome was unintentional but it worked to our advantage.
I think that the partner I worked with (Sharon) made a great impact on how well the sequence went. Working together felt very dynamic and consistent; why she would film a shot in the leisure centre I set up the tracks outside ready for the next set of shots. I trusted that she would make sure we had enough takes and that we could edit them easily. I believe that the running shots we did worked very well – especially considering we had only had a limited amount of practice using the tracks! It made our sequence look a lot more interesting in comparison to just having a static long shot. Furthermore, to my knowledge we did not break the 180 degree rule. When filming the conversation between Esma and Thelma, there was a point when I suggested to Sharon that we do another take from a different angle; thankfully she pointed out that this would be breaking the 180 degree rule and would make the sequence look disorientated and confusing. I liked the fact that within our group, we were teaching each other things as well as learning from our own mistakes. We incorporated reverse over the shoulder shots during the conversation which was part of our task and this wasn’t as hard as we first anticipated. The main problem I can recall is forgetting a shot once we thought we had finished. So, we had to quickly set everything back up and with literally two minutes left of our designated hour, we had to shoot a close up of a clock, and so what conveniently happened? The clock stopped working! When we went to edit this rush, we came to the conclusion that there was really no point in using it. It looked pathetic and would bring the impact of the entire sequence down so we worked around it by using a shot of Thelma waiting instead. Obviously, when shooting, you see the frames on a camera and so that is the only judgement you have to go by. When you transfer the shots onto the computer the sequence becomes a lot more realistic and really starts to come together. In hindsight, the main problems i can avoid all originate in the planning process. In one of the shots, there are people within the background of a frame and this did work at first, although when we went to the next shot there wasn't as much noise so the continuity was slightly interrupted. We could have avoided this by doing a location recce and being aware of these problems before filming.
I have learned numerous things from completing this task. Firstly, planning is essential if you want your final product to be successful. I wish now that I had looked into every aspect and possible problem that could occur, although if I had, I probably wouldn’t have learned as much. Secondly, if you do not communicate within your group/pair you will never get anywhere with any task! Thankfully this wasn’t a problem with my group/pair but I know that if we didn’t talk and discuss different issues, we would not have worked as well together. As far as time management goes, I think it’s all a part of planning. If we had really sat down and analysed how long we’d take on each shot, which shots we may need more time on if it will be hard to get due to surroundings or panning etc. I’ve learned that how you manage your time is dependant on the importance of different shots within your sequence. A technical factor I have learned is that if the spirit level is not level; neither is you shot in the frame! One problem we came across was the positioning of the camera that was actually on a slight slope. Before we actually recorded the shot, we realised this and adjusted the spirit level however, during the rehearsal of the shot we didn’t notice. I have also learned that the continuity sheet should be filled out quickly after the shots. There’s no point wasting ten minutes deciding what takes were useful or not because within that time, you could have easily taken another one. I do however, believe it to be useful in keeping up to speed with what shots you have and have not got. Overall, the main lessons I can take from this experience is that team communication is vital, all elements of planning are essential and that you should not celebrate a finished day of shooting once you’re sure you have all of the shots you need; because you’ll only feel greater disappointment when you realise you’ve missed one!
Overall, the editing side of production was fun because it felt good to see all of your hard work coming together and working well. Although, at times it was very annoying and sometimes tiring. I think that the more practice i get with the software the more able i will become. As i noted before, there was a problem within the first day of editing! During the first lesson where everyone was new to the program and everyone was testing out digitising, adding effects etc. Our computer worked fine. However, typically, the next lesson where we planned to finalise shots and create an assemble; the capturing window was "offline." After changing fire wire leads, cameras and even computers, we came to the realisation that it wasn't going to work for us. We had lost a whole hour where we could have begun pulling our rushes together, and so as a result of this we came back that day after school and what happened? The software decided to work. This was a lesson that thankfully i learned early on in my media studies course. The technology will not always agree with you but if you're patient enough, it will be worth it in the end! We only had to digitise shots after school to catch up with the class however we both decided we may as well carry on and finish what we can whilst the software was up and running. This worked to our advantage because the lesson after we were finished before other groups, even though we had lost a lessons worth of work. A strength i saw in both me and Sharon was the fact that we agreed on near enough everything. We knew when a shot looked good and we immediately understood when it didn't. I was so happy that we worked like this because it gave me the confidence to think that i can tell the difference between something that is worth using and something that isn't. For example, we both knew straight away that the clock close up was hopeless and we deleted it instantly. If we had disagreed on a rush i probably would have felt more like i didn't know what i was doing and my confidence would have been knocked, although this was not a problem. Our only weakness was that once we had completed our sequence, it felt like we were looking for problems. Almost as if we couldn't beleive all the filming and planning resulted in less than 30 seconds worth of a sequence, we started to get fussy and doubtful in our previous decisions. I think we both realised this because after trimming our shots we kept watching it over and over. I learned that it's better to watch a sequence with a fresh mind and so we had Esma and Thelma watch it, meaning their audience feedback was new and fair, because they had only watched it once. To conclude, i would say that the whole editing process is fun no matter how frustrating it gets. I have accepted this and will learn from my mistakes in future tasks. I also feel the project in general was an essential learning curve in preparation for our main task, and this hopefully will cut down mistakes and so give more time for making the final product a success.
Throughout the whole of our planning, I felt we were being very thorough and detailed, however in hindsight I think we could have looked more into the problems we could face. For example, when it came to the location, we thought of angles and different shots from memory but we didn’t actually go to the location and act out what it was we pictured. I thought that was the benefit of a storyboard? So, when it came to filming within the leisure centre I didn’t even consider that there could be members of the general public in there! I will learn from this by doing a location recce next time and this should make things easier when it comes to filming, as we’ll know what to expect. That way, with a clear storyboard picturing what we would film and having the reassurance that the location and surroundings were appropriate, the planning process would help the filming process run a lot smoother. Additionally, through the duration of preproduction we found that neither of us could draw very well! So this resulted in a stickman storyboard, which Sharon and I both understood and imagined similarly. With this in consideration, when we were on set, we envisioned the actual shot differently. From this I learned that the storyboard does not set the shot in stone; it’s more of a rough guideline that allows individuals to picture a camera shot as you do.
The technological equipment that we used at first seemed expensive and fragile. Now that I have worked with it I know that my first impressions are stronger than ever, however I still felt confident about setting up the camera on a tripod to get a stable picture. I learned that practice makes perfect when it comes to setting up the tripod to the correct height and doing everything systematically. The more you do it, the more routine it becomes, and the final checks before filming included an appropriate height for the director (Sharon) and if we did have to adjust the tripod for low angle and high angle shots, the spirit level was always adjusted too. I didn’t really face many major problems with the camera, although the first one we were given as a group would not function for us to put the tape in. We worked around this by swapping cameras with one that did and everything ran smoothly after that. After having an experience of actually being out, independently filming I came to the realisation that as a sixteen year old student I am very lucky to have this opportunity to work with such technology. However, now that we have analysed the basis of independent films, it has become more apparent how easy it is to produce your own films.
Whilst planning, we had to consider any possible problems we may face, so that we would be fully prepared to handle or even avoid them. We had to plan which camera shots and angles to use in order to have a variety and we then discussed how they would fit into our short film. To do this, we looked at characters and decided that seeing as our location would be somewhere around school, the most appropriate roles would be a pupil and a teacher. We then knew this would work well as a teacher has more authority then a pupil, so a low angle and high angle shot could easily be used to make it interesting and still link well to the status of the characters. Additionally, when devising our shooting schedule we had to take into account what would be the best way to film the different shots that saved the most time and in the least amount of takes necessary. In order to do this, we looked at every shot that would be in the leisure centre and worked through those, and then analysed which exterior shots were left to do. During planning I think it was quite rushed but not intentionally. By this I mean that, personally, I was so eager to get out and begin filming that I didn’t take the planning procedures as seriously as I should have. For example, when it came to the issue of continuity I had the frame of mind that when we actually got out there to film, we would realise that someone was meant to have a prop or that a characters’ hair wasn’t supposed to change. In hindsight though I now have learned that it would only help to right elements like that down; to make sure you do not jump from one shot of someone running along their hair all over the place, to the same person all of a sudden sitting in a room not even a little bit flustered. Whilst actually shooting, we had to come to terms with the fact that we were trying to film scenes in a public place. Although it was very annoying and frustrating, there was nothing you could to about someone walking into the background of your shot; how were they to know they were obstructing someone filming? This is why in the future a location recce will take place because if the problem persists that much, the simplest way to avoid it would be to change locations. During post production (also known as editing) both Sharon and I had to take into account that we had never used this software before and so patience was vital! I must admitt, it was very frustrating having the software up and running one day, and then not being able to do a single thing the next due to the convinience and reliability of modern technology! Additionally, we payed very close attention to each of the steps Ms. Bundy outlined in order to make our assemble. When digitising (capturing) our rushes and transferring them from the camera to the computer, we made sure we had enough time at the beginning and end of a shot to edit it further. However, a problem we faced was that when actually filming a shot, we hadn't left enough time after cutting. So, to be particular, the "DETENTION" scene cuts off the end of Thelma's speech. We tried to resolve this by looking at other takes, however we only recorded one during digitising. Therefore, i will learn from this in future by recording at least two good takes so i have more to wrok with. The final problem i can recall was making the whole sequence more interesting. We overcome this by slowing one scene down - trying to make it last longer - however, because we slowed it down and there was dialogue within the scene, it made Thelma's voice low and authoritive. This was surprising as the outcome was unintentional but it worked to our advantage.
I think that the partner I worked with (Sharon) made a great impact on how well the sequence went. Working together felt very dynamic and consistent; why she would film a shot in the leisure centre I set up the tracks outside ready for the next set of shots. I trusted that she would make sure we had enough takes and that we could edit them easily. I believe that the running shots we did worked very well – especially considering we had only had a limited amount of practice using the tracks! It made our sequence look a lot more interesting in comparison to just having a static long shot. Furthermore, to my knowledge we did not break the 180 degree rule. When filming the conversation between Esma and Thelma, there was a point when I suggested to Sharon that we do another take from a different angle; thankfully she pointed out that this would be breaking the 180 degree rule and would make the sequence look disorientated and confusing. I liked the fact that within our group, we were teaching each other things as well as learning from our own mistakes. We incorporated reverse over the shoulder shots during the conversation which was part of our task and this wasn’t as hard as we first anticipated. The main problem I can recall is forgetting a shot once we thought we had finished. So, we had to quickly set everything back up and with literally two minutes left of our designated hour, we had to shoot a close up of a clock, and so what conveniently happened? The clock stopped working! When we went to edit this rush, we came to the conclusion that there was really no point in using it. It looked pathetic and would bring the impact of the entire sequence down so we worked around it by using a shot of Thelma waiting instead. Obviously, when shooting, you see the frames on a camera and so that is the only judgement you have to go by. When you transfer the shots onto the computer the sequence becomes a lot more realistic and really starts to come together. In hindsight, the main problems i can avoid all originate in the planning process. In one of the shots, there are people within the background of a frame and this did work at first, although when we went to the next shot there wasn't as much noise so the continuity was slightly interrupted. We could have avoided this by doing a location recce and being aware of these problems before filming.
I have learned numerous things from completing this task. Firstly, planning is essential if you want your final product to be successful. I wish now that I had looked into every aspect and possible problem that could occur, although if I had, I probably wouldn’t have learned as much. Secondly, if you do not communicate within your group/pair you will never get anywhere with any task! Thankfully this wasn’t a problem with my group/pair but I know that if we didn’t talk and discuss different issues, we would not have worked as well together. As far as time management goes, I think it’s all a part of planning. If we had really sat down and analysed how long we’d take on each shot, which shots we may need more time on if it will be hard to get due to surroundings or panning etc. I’ve learned that how you manage your time is dependant on the importance of different shots within your sequence. A technical factor I have learned is that if the spirit level is not level; neither is you shot in the frame! One problem we came across was the positioning of the camera that was actually on a slight slope. Before we actually recorded the shot, we realised this and adjusted the spirit level however, during the rehearsal of the shot we didn’t notice. I have also learned that the continuity sheet should be filled out quickly after the shots. There’s no point wasting ten minutes deciding what takes were useful or not because within that time, you could have easily taken another one. I do however, believe it to be useful in keeping up to speed with what shots you have and have not got. Overall, the main lessons I can take from this experience is that team communication is vital, all elements of planning are essential and that you should not celebrate a finished day of shooting once you’re sure you have all of the shots you need; because you’ll only feel greater disappointment when you realise you’ve missed one!
Overall, the editing side of production was fun because it felt good to see all of your hard work coming together and working well. Although, at times it was very annoying and sometimes tiring. I think that the more practice i get with the software the more able i will become. As i noted before, there was a problem within the first day of editing! During the first lesson where everyone was new to the program and everyone was testing out digitising, adding effects etc. Our computer worked fine. However, typically, the next lesson where we planned to finalise shots and create an assemble; the capturing window was "offline." After changing fire wire leads, cameras and even computers, we came to the realisation that it wasn't going to work for us. We had lost a whole hour where we could have begun pulling our rushes together, and so as a result of this we came back that day after school and what happened? The software decided to work. This was a lesson that thankfully i learned early on in my media studies course. The technology will not always agree with you but if you're patient enough, it will be worth it in the end! We only had to digitise shots after school to catch up with the class however we both decided we may as well carry on and finish what we can whilst the software was up and running. This worked to our advantage because the lesson after we were finished before other groups, even though we had lost a lessons worth of work. A strength i saw in both me and Sharon was the fact that we agreed on near enough everything. We knew when a shot looked good and we immediately understood when it didn't. I was so happy that we worked like this because it gave me the confidence to think that i can tell the difference between something that is worth using and something that isn't. For example, we both knew straight away that the clock close up was hopeless and we deleted it instantly. If we had disagreed on a rush i probably would have felt more like i didn't know what i was doing and my confidence would have been knocked, although this was not a problem. Our only weakness was that once we had completed our sequence, it felt like we were looking for problems. Almost as if we couldn't beleive all the filming and planning resulted in less than 30 seconds worth of a sequence, we started to get fussy and doubtful in our previous decisions. I think we both realised this because after trimming our shots we kept watching it over and over. I learned that it's better to watch a sequence with a fresh mind and so we had Esma and Thelma watch it, meaning their audience feedback was new and fair, because they had only watched it once. To conclude, i would say that the whole editing process is fun no matter how frustrating it gets. I have accepted this and will learn from my mistakes in future tasks. I also feel the project in general was an essential learning curve in preparation for our main task, and this hopefully will cut down mistakes and so give more time for making the final product a success.
Tuesday 6 October 2009
How and why is it possible that anyone can be a film maker today?
In class i have been studying the film process, focusing on the three stages:
- Film production
- Film distribution
- Film screening
When i researched these stages within a group i found out a lot of interesting information. Firstly, a film originates from an idea or a concept that a writer comes up with. The script is then devised along with maybe some visuals of how the writer pictures the production to look. The writer then approaches a producer to fund the film, and in order to get a company on board he/she has to pitch the concept and persuade the company in order for them to get involved with the making of this movie. Once you have an established production company on board with your ideas, the actual production takes place. This includes scriptwriting, casting, shooting, the use of technical equipment, editing and the distribution of the film to an audience. In a particular case study, i researched finding nemo and the CGI incorporated in the film. Finding Nemo was produced by Graham Walters and the film is said to have set the "the high water mark" for computer animation.
This is a different way of making a film because the use of animation means less shooting and more research into the life in the ocean. Numerous visits to aquariums took place as well as lectures from fish zoologists. Additionally, the preproduction for this film began in 1997, but the final product was revealed in 2003. This goes to show that with a Hollywood budget and an original idea never encountered before, film production earns the success it's worth. For film distribution, i found that this is the middle process that creates the excitement and enthusiasm for a film. This can be done in many ways; through the selling of merchandise, competitions and prizes in relation to the film, even advanced screenings or previews to give an audience a teaser of what the film includes. Another part of film distribution is the selling of screenings to cinemas. The company behind a film can estimate how successful the film will be and go on to sell it to numerous cinemas. In general, the distribution of a film allows it to be successful before it's even been viewed. If this doesn't happen then the least it does is inform individuals of what feature length releases to look forward to. Finally, my research turned to film screening. This is the glamorous side to the film making process as it's the time period when all the hard work pays off and hopefully, the film that has been produced is popular and successful. Film screenings includes premieres and red carpet appearances for the films. Also, test screenings take place in order to get an audience reaction before general release to the public.
Throughout the whole of this research i thought i had covered all aspects of film making; from preproduction to post production and even the considerations of animation. I looked at the development over time. For example, the film industry has come along from silent films to "talkies" to animation and CGI. I took notes on the idea that we have gone from sketching films (Disney) to actually producing a feature length presentation on a computer.
Although, I never thought of the production of independent films. (Also known as "indie" films) Why is it that now days more and more individuals are taking on the film industry on their own without the support of a well known company? How is it that independent film makers progress to more recognition and establishment within the film industry? Being a media student myself, and beginning to take on filming tasks, how could i not think about the great minds behind the likes of Juno and Slumdog Millionaire? After a long and thorough discussion in lesson time, i have been thinking about indie films and how they work, in comparison to films that are made using millions of pounds. So, in all cases, the beginning of a film is the same; it needs an original idea and concept. However, instead of a writer going to a well established company, they can take matters into their own hands and literally make the film using their own resources. Independent film making is becoming more accessible and affordable in the way that hand held cameras are sold in many shops worldwide and you can purchase sound and editing software straight off the shelf. Furthermore, for independent filmmakers, time and money is less of an issue where they are in full control of the schedules behind filming and casting. You don't need massive Hollywood actors to make a good film just as you don't need out of this world special effects. Anyone can be shown how to use a camera, it's more how you capture the imagination of your audience and more importantly how you use your creativity to make an artistic and original motion picture. I have browsed the Internet for as many sources as possible to enforce the idea that independent films are becoming more and more popular. I came across this website FULL of independent film all of different genres and suitable for various ages. It's called, indiemoviesonline.com and it's free to view all of the films posted. This made me think that independent films get a lot of recognition from the Internet and this is beneficial as people can post comments, publish ratings of the film and you can get a lot of audience feedback. Additionally, a lot of amateur directors are discovered through independent films. A prime example, Quentin Tarantino with the film Pulp Fiction. Who would of thought the now renowned hollywood director began with an indie film?
Below i have posted a short clip from YouTube that briefly explains how to become a film director. There were many "how to" videos to choose from however i feel this one summed up what i am looking into the most.
Overall, i have analysed a lot of key aspects within the film process; ranging from different types of film and their history, to different directors and what an "indie" film entails. Personally, from this research, i have become a lot more interested in independent film making and cannot wait to experience the process myself, within the media course i am currently studying and maybe even outside of my compulsory education as well!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independent_film
http://www.filmmakers.com/features/indies/independent_film.htm
- Film production
- Film distribution
- Film screening
When i researched these stages within a group i found out a lot of interesting information. Firstly, a film originates from an idea or a concept that a writer comes up with. The script is then devised along with maybe some visuals of how the writer pictures the production to look. The writer then approaches a producer to fund the film, and in order to get a company on board he/she has to pitch the concept and persuade the company in order for them to get involved with the making of this movie. Once you have an established production company on board with your ideas, the actual production takes place. This includes scriptwriting, casting, shooting, the use of technical equipment, editing and the distribution of the film to an audience. In a particular case study, i researched finding nemo and the CGI incorporated in the film. Finding Nemo was produced by Graham Walters and the film is said to have set the "the high water mark" for computer animation.
This is a different way of making a film because the use of animation means less shooting and more research into the life in the ocean. Numerous visits to aquariums took place as well as lectures from fish zoologists. Additionally, the preproduction for this film began in 1997, but the final product was revealed in 2003. This goes to show that with a Hollywood budget and an original idea never encountered before, film production earns the success it's worth. For film distribution, i found that this is the middle process that creates the excitement and enthusiasm for a film. This can be done in many ways; through the selling of merchandise, competitions and prizes in relation to the film, even advanced screenings or previews to give an audience a teaser of what the film includes. Another part of film distribution is the selling of screenings to cinemas. The company behind a film can estimate how successful the film will be and go on to sell it to numerous cinemas. In general, the distribution of a film allows it to be successful before it's even been viewed. If this doesn't happen then the least it does is inform individuals of what feature length releases to look forward to. Finally, my research turned to film screening. This is the glamorous side to the film making process as it's the time period when all the hard work pays off and hopefully, the film that has been produced is popular and successful. Film screenings includes premieres and red carpet appearances for the films. Also, test screenings take place in order to get an audience reaction before general release to the public.
Throughout the whole of this research i thought i had covered all aspects of film making; from preproduction to post production and even the considerations of animation. I looked at the development over time. For example, the film industry has come along from silent films to "talkies" to animation and CGI. I took notes on the idea that we have gone from sketching films (Disney) to actually producing a feature length presentation on a computer.Although, I never thought of the production of independent films. (Also known as "indie" films) Why is it that now days more and more individuals are taking on the film industry on their own without the support of a well known company? How is it that independent film makers progress to more recognition and establishment within the film industry? Being a media student myself, and beginning to take on filming tasks, how could i not think about the great minds behind the likes of Juno and Slumdog Millionaire? After a long and thorough discussion in lesson time, i have been thinking about indie films and how they work, in comparison to films that are made using millions of pounds. So, in all cases, the beginning of a film is the same; it needs an original idea and concept. However, instead of a writer going to a well established company, they can take matters into their own hands and literally make the film using their own resources. Independent film making is becoming more accessible and affordable in the way that hand held cameras are sold in many shops worldwide and you can purchase sound and editing software straight off the shelf. Furthermore, for independent filmmakers, time and money is less of an issue where they are in full control of the schedules behind filming and casting. You don't need massive Hollywood actors to make a good film just as you don't need out of this world special effects. Anyone can be shown how to use a camera, it's more how you capture the imagination of your audience and more importantly how you use your creativity to make an artistic and original motion picture. I have browsed the Internet for as many sources as possible to enforce the idea that independent films are becoming more and more popular. I came across this website FULL of independent film all of different genres and suitable for various ages. It's called, indiemoviesonline.com and it's free to view all of the films posted. This made me think that independent films get a lot of recognition from the Internet and this is beneficial as people can post comments, publish ratings of the film and you can get a lot of audience feedback. Additionally, a lot of amateur directors are discovered through independent films. A prime example, Quentin Tarantino with the film Pulp Fiction. Who would of thought the now renowned hollywood director began with an indie film?
Below i have posted a short clip from YouTube that briefly explains how to become a film director. There were many "how to" videos to choose from however i feel this one summed up what i am looking into the most.
Overall, i have analysed a lot of key aspects within the film process; ranging from different types of film and their history, to different directors and what an "indie" film entails. Personally, from this research, i have become a lot more interested in independent film making and cannot wait to experience the process myself, within the media course i am currently studying and maybe even outside of my compulsory education as well!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independent_film
http://www.filmmakers.com/features/indies/independent_film.htm
Thursday 1 October 2009
Scene 1
Ext. Barking Abbey Comprehensive School
Esma has forgotten her P.E kit and is nervous to tell the teacher in addition she is also late to the lesson
Esma runs from the gates to the leisure centre
Int. Leisure centre
Esma: Hi Miss, I so sorry I’m late, I didn’t hear my alarm clock and... (Out of breathe and flustered)
Thelma: I don’t want to hear it just go get changed! (Interrupts)
Pause
(Esma looks down and doesn’t move)
Esma; I don’t have, my kit (stuttering)
Thelma; DETENTION! (Makes a loud grunt and puts her hands on her head)
Pause
(FADE TO BLACK)
Esma
(Sits alone in room writing lines)
End.
Ext. Barking Abbey Comprehensive School
Esma has forgotten her P.E kit and is nervous to tell the teacher in addition she is also late to the lesson
Esma runs from the gates to the leisure centre
Int. Leisure centre
Esma: Hi Miss, I so sorry I’m late, I didn’t hear my alarm clock and... (Out of breathe and flustered)
Thelma: I don’t want to hear it just go get changed! (Interrupts)
Pause
(Esma looks down and doesn’t move)
Esma; I don’t have, my kit (stuttering)
Thelma; DETENTION! (Makes a loud grunt and puts her hands on her head)
Pause
(FADE TO BLACK)
Esma
(Sits alone in room writing lines)
End.
Wednesday 23 September 2009
ANALOGUE Vs. DIGITAL
The basic difference between analogue and digital photography is that one of one is more modern than the other; to put it in the most simplistic of terms. Analogue photography consists of rolls of film rather than a tape or a memory card that saves your images as you go along. The analogue camera is still used today because of its immense picture quality. It is able to catch every glimpse of light and makes all images sharp. The main disadvantage is that after the images you have taken are developed they may not look the same way you thought they would.
Digital on the other hand is the more modern way to capture video/still images as all of your creations are at your fingertips. If you're not happy with the image you can delete it there and then and there's not as much fuss included. However, the shots you do get are not to the same quality of that of an analogue camera. As far as filming is concerned, analogue cameras are seen to be ideal as they are less expensive, although the amount of money a film maker would spend on rolls of film would add up to just as much as having a digital camera in the first place. The digital camera (concerning filming) is more equipped for change in weather conditions, and a lot more portable where as the analogue camera is seen to be "old fashioned."
The world of cinematography is changing through the lense of digital videography. More and more directors are using digital and even though analogue is said to produce sharper quality pictures, the unique elements of digital, such as the portability, make it preferable.
-The highest levels of image quality with both still photography and video.
-Audio technology through a built in mic and two external microphone inputs for the use of other microphones.
-The compact design enhances the portability of the camera.
-High speed zoom mode allowing fast zoom shots for video.
-Can be hand held or fixed onto a tripod.
-Numerous functions are included on the camera including playback and three different record buttons; the button you use will depend on what you are shooting.
CANON XH A1
Monday 21 September 2009
Thursday 17 September 2009
Codes and Conventions : British Television Dramas
-Characters
-Locations used
-Props used
-Camera techniques
-Basic story line
-Use of music, sound and dialogue
-Editing
-Lighting
Over the summer, i analysed the above elements in numerous television dramas to begin to understand what makes them sucessful. I noticed that in all different types of dramas, be they crime dramas, hopital dramas or teen soaps, they use the techniques specifically to the theme of the programme. For example, the characters in the hit teen soap "Skins" are mainly from London and all have the same interests; sex, drugs and alcohol. The characters are everyday students and easily relatable to its viewers. They give the impression that they were born to have fun and in the show they portray this perfectly. Using props such as cigarettes and locations such as the local college, the ideas and messages behind the drama, make it was it is. This can then be compared to the popular crime drama "The Bill" which uses authentic siren sounds along with numerous police officers in costume, to present to the viewers what it's really like to work in the police forces. I noticed in one of the episodes i watched that there was a panning shot of an officer chasing a criminal as he tried to run away from a crime scene. This made the episode very interesting as you could see the distance between them and knew the offender was going to get away.
The key element i noticed about all of the dramas i analysed was that, they all incorporate real life story lines and experiences and they are all adjusted so they fit the situation they should. By this, i mean that a hospital drama must be suited to real life casualties and accidents, and it's through the different techniques that this is carried out effectively.
-Characters
-Locations used
-Props used
-Camera techniques
-Basic story line
-Use of music, sound and dialogue
-Editing
-Lighting
Over the summer, i analysed the above elements in numerous television dramas to begin to understand what makes them sucessful. I noticed that in all different types of dramas, be they crime dramas, hopital dramas or teen soaps, they use the techniques specifically to the theme of the programme. For example, the characters in the hit teen soap "Skins" are mainly from London and all have the same interests; sex, drugs and alcohol. The characters are everyday students and easily relatable to its viewers. They give the impression that they were born to have fun and in the show they portray this perfectly. Using props such as cigarettes and locations such as the local college, the ideas and messages behind the drama, make it was it is. This can then be compared to the popular crime drama "The Bill" which uses authentic siren sounds along with numerous police officers in costume, to present to the viewers what it's really like to work in the police forces. I noticed in one of the episodes i watched that there was a panning shot of an officer chasing a criminal as he tried to run away from a crime scene. This made the episode very interesting as you could see the distance between them and knew the offender was going to get away.
The key element i noticed about all of the dramas i analysed was that, they all incorporate real life story lines and experiences and they are all adjusted so they fit the situation they should. By this, i mean that a hospital drama must be suited to real life casualties and accidents, and it's through the different techniques that this is carried out effectively.
Wednesday 16 September 2009
Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho
Alfred Hitchcock created the "mother" of all horrors when he directed the film Psycho in the year 1960. This was my chosen film to study in preparation for the World Cinema work we will be completing this year. The plot of the film begins with a man and a woman in a hotel room in Pheonix, Arizona. They are trying their best to see one another even though the man, named Sam lives in California. As the woman, Marion, returns to work that afternoon she is greeted by her boss and a businessman willing to pay $40,000 cash for a property as a present to his daughter. Marion, seizing this opportunity, steals the money and drives to Sam in the attempt to run away with him to live happily ever after. Although, the film wasn't named Psycho as a distraction! She becomes tired whilst driving and decides to pull over to a motel just off the main highway... That's where the story really begins! In this twisted motion picture, Hitchcock introduces to the world a truely disturbed character that may earn your trust at first, but certainly turns out to be the PSYCHO! Honestly, the best horror film i've seen that's filmed in black and white!
I am OBSESSED with the twilight saga
; the books and the films! Stephenie Meyer is a genius! New Moon (out in cinemas on the 20th of november) wasn't my favourite book but the more trailers i see from the film, the more excited i get about it! Anyone who has read the books or seen the first film "Twilight" will hopefully understand my point of view and share my anticipation for the rest of the film releases :) GO TEAM EDWARD!
; the books and the films! Stephenie Meyer is a genius! New Moon (out in cinemas on the 20th of november) wasn't my favourite book but the more trailers i see from the film, the more excited i get about it! Anyone who has read the books or seen the first film "Twilight" will hopefully understand my point of view and share my anticipation for the rest of the film releases :) GO TEAM EDWARD!
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