Saturday 12 May 2012

Evaluation of my Media Product (Question 7)

​Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to the full product?

In January, I could only edit to an amature level. Since then I have learnt to work with other people. By working with Callum I learnt that two heads are much better than one. This only worked because the two of us could rely on each other. In January I made a continuity edit with Will Higgins and Callum Hurley; I also learnt that a well edited sequence is one where the audience do not notice the editing. This is the main thing I have learnt with the help of Callum, Miss Stone and Mr Cunningham. Since my preliminary task I have learnt how to edit effectively.

I also learnt how to film effectively. I have, in the past, used my hand to film; like I did in one of my drafts. Again the skill of working in a team showed it's use. I decided, after pursuading, to re-film. Since my preliminary task my filming and editing has increased to a much higher standard.

Tuesday 8 May 2012

Evaluation of my Media Product (Question 6)

What have you learnt about the technologies from the process of constructing this product?

Evaluation of my Media Product (Question 5)

How did you attract/address the audience?
In order to attract and address the target audience, Callum and I had to decide which shots would appeal to which audience. The shot showing  poppies as Chris walks past would be likely to appeal to an older generation, as the poppies invoke imagery relaing to the first world war. The music I wrote also draws in the spectator and leaves them eager to continue watching. This is achieved through the use of shifting dynamics and textures. The music is in E natural minor which conjours up a sense of yearning. The first instrument is a harp which I chose for it's mellow and tranquil texture. A flute is then added, along with a piano, guitar and a synth in order to build and add a sense of motion.

Wednesday 2 May 2012

Evaluation of my Media Product (question 4)

​4.Who would be the audience for your media product?

The narrative of my film is similar in style to 'Saving Private Ryan' but more like 'The Dark Knight' in terms of cinematography. As a result of this my film appeals to the same demograph as 'Saving Private Ryan' and 'The Dark Knight' would. This would imply a predominatly male audience for my film, but the audiences age range could be around 18 to 40years because there are many aspects that might appeal to a wider age range. Films based around the cold war may attract an older audience than you would normally expect for an action film as the cold war was recent enough for the older generations to have been interested or involved.
 I have anticipated my demograph based on the ratings of revelant films. These two graphs are from IMDB 2nd May 2012. The target audience for our media product would be intellectuals at the ages of 18-40, while this may be a large age range, explicit violence is included hence the 18 age limit. The political aspects of war and how the nuclear arms race affected the world for the worst is not something that everyone will understand or appreciate which is why my product is aimed at a demograph likely to find history interesting. There are heavy action sequences similar to those in blockbusters. These would be likely to appeal to teenagers and blockbuster fans.

Tuesday 24 April 2012

Evaluation of my Media Product (Question 2 and 3)




2.How does your media product represent particular social groups?
My Media Product is a fictcious action/war film set in the 1990's. The protagonist is a cold war veteran, as are some of the other characters (Including the antagonists). Major Tom could be likened to a gangster in that he represents values such as respect, loyalty, affluence and family commitment. Capitalist ideology is implied in the subject matter that he discusses. From the name 'Major Tom' we can see that he has worked through the ranks of the army. This represents a familiarity with heirachies.

Our Film explores the transition from the military world to the business world, and how the ethics and politics translate from one to the other. In some ways, Major Tom could be compared to gangsters in films such as The Godfather. Loyalty factors heavily into his decicions and he will use any means to get a job done. In contrast to many gangster roles from other films, Major Tom's motives are alteristic.

3. What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why?


In terms of who might produce my media product, there are three specific production companies I was considering as candidates to produce my film. Two of them are major production companies whereas the other is an independent company. One of the two major production companies would be 'Sony Pictures' because they are currently producing action films such as Men in Black III. It is also plausible for my product to be produced by 'Warner Bros' because they are famous for producing action films (e.g. Batman Begins, The Dark Knight, The Matrix Trilogy). The third candidate is 'Studio Canal', an independant French company, which recently produced 'Tinker Tailor Solider Spy' which parrellels my film in that the cold war is a prominent theme.

These are also some of the Distribution Companies that could distribute my film and advertise it. I feel that either Sony Pictures or StudioCanal UK would produce and distribute my film, due to the films they have previously worked with or are in the process of making. Sony Pictures are working on the films Assassin’s Creed, Splinter Cell and Ghost Recon; all of which are incredibly similar to my film. StudioCanal UK recently produced and distributed Tinker, Tailor, Soldier Spy, which has a lot in common with my film. An example of this would be the way that villainous conduct is carried out by charracters used to millitary discipline.
Most companies (as shown in the images below) have many different variations of their own logo to represent the styles of the different films they release. This could be done with my own logo, or the production companies (if they were to distribute my film) could create their own variation of their logo.

Evaluation of my Media Product. (question 1)


1.In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?

My Film Opening (The Second Saga: Debriefing), uses many of the conventional techniques that can be seen in a modern day film. The narrative for my final product is non-linear (a film in which the narrative is not presented in a chronological order). This is a device commonly used in the media industry. We begin the film with the end of the plot, where it is revealed that a character has died and the protagonist has survived. The audience are shown a grave on which the name is concealed, which leaves them unaware of which character is going to die (Tragic hero [doomed hero]). We also challenged the convention that a lot of films follow, by opening with an emotional scene; most films of this genre try to open with an intense or thrilling scene to entice the viewers. We decided to use allternative devices to convey the intended emotions.

Wednesday 14 March 2012

Analysis of Opening Scenes- Saving Private Ryan/The Dark Knight/The Godfather

Saving Private Ryan
Saving Private Ryan
Analysis of Cinematography
Low angle shot of the American flag – makes the flag seem more powerful and dominant; the significant flag that it is socially and culturally recognised in our society. Close up shot of man taking photos – shows us he’s interested in the surroundings, engaging us to want to find out more, what could his motives be, what is the place, is it a well known day in history? Some unanswered questions to think about. Tracking shot of group walking – lets us follow them; see where they’re going, what their logic in being in this distinct place is. Long shot – shows all the graves and how many there are. Allows us to realise and immediately signify the vast numbers is known on a world wide scale. Extreme close up zooming into the (unknown at the time) main character’s face – shows his expression, the sadness in his eyes. How camera work is a representation – Shots of American flag, gives us a representation of patriotism, what the soldiers were fighting for. Gravestones marking the dead soldiers from the war, showing how many people died for their country.
Analysis of Editing
Slow editing between opening titles. Slow paced editing throughout the entire opening scene. Continuative editing. The pace of editing matches the music to create a sad atmosphere. Very few cuts throughout whole opening.
Analysis of Sound
The songs in Saving Private Ryan, are composed by John Williams and are performed by the Boston Symphony Orchestra. The opening instrumental piece is called Revisiting Normandy, hence the timing in the film. Main use of Brass and string sections. Ambient sound is key in this opening sequence. Very limited dialogue, we pick up more signifiers through the character’s actions and expressions. Soundtrack of similar compositions, made up of the same instruments, in the same style and structure as the music in the opening scene. Non-diegetic sound sets out the mood, atmosphere and gives us a subconscious idea of what the rest of the film is about.
Analysis of MISE-EN SCENE
American Flag- represents the film is about an important part of American culture/history. Trousers are creased – shows the character is involved in the military somehow. The elderly Gentlemen and the people who are with him are wearing smart clothing – meaning this is an important event for him. The character spots a French flag – showing the relation in history which America had with the French. The tombstones in the graveyard is similar to those that are featured in the war memorials – this proves that the film involves a war. The character passes a man who is wearing clothing showing that he was in the army as he is wearing the uniform and medals – the clothing and types of medals could suggest what actual war is from, thus what the film is about. The memorial is filled with hundreds of tombstones – giving more clues as to how many people died in that particular battle.


The Dark Knight
The Dark Knight is a fantasy movie that again, is grounded in reality. It's a story about and evil set around the comic book hero Batman. The Dark Knight begins with a bank heist, The Joker takes centre stage in this scene along with 5 other men who wear clown masks and slowly get killed off one by one throughout the clip.
It opens with title screens for Warner Brothers, Legendary Pictures and DC Comics, then we see a huge blue coloured fireball which then produces the Bat signal, along the Warner credit is a loud booming tune which acts as a motif. The sound is of Batman's theme from the first film so by using this it allows the audience to know what film they will be watching as they can associate it with this films predecessor. After this we see the Legendary pictures logo and following this is silence which, when following the loud booming motif on the logo before, gives the film a sense of eeriness. We then start to hear sound in the form of a ticking noise during the DC comics logo which seems to give the impression of a bomb timer which gives the film its theme of danger. All of the logos and Bat symbol are presented in a black or dark blue light, this combined with the bomb ticking, silence, loud booming and the Bat symbol rising from the fireball gives the audience the feeling that the film they will be watching will be very dark in tone.

It cuts to a long shot, which as acts an establishing shot, of a large building and the camera begins to quickly track in towards the windows of the building. As it cuts to this shot we again hear the sound of a boom noise followed by a tone that continues over the sound of the ticking. These combined give the impression that whatever will happen in this scene could be associated with danger as the slowly rising tone creates tension among the spectator. As we get closer to the windows suddenly one explodes creating a slight "jump" moment that confirms our thoughts about this scene beings associated with danger. It cuts to shot to the interior of this building and judging by the desk it is an office building. We then get to see our first character of the film however, he is wearing a clown mask and holding some sort of gun. Clowns are one of the biggest fears in the world so this combined with the fact he is holding a gun tells us that he is both an antagonist and that he has been placed in the film specifically the create fear upon the audience. As the window smashes the ticking noise continues however, it is a modified version of it. One of the clowns shoot a grapple hook over to an opposite rooftop. As we know that the clowns are likely to be the bad guys we think that they are planning to pull off some kind of dangerous act like a bank robbery.

The scene cuts to reveal a man standing with his back to the audience whilst the camera slowly tracks in to his back. He is holding a blue bag and a clown mask to tell the audience that this character is also one of the bad guys. Because we never see his face we automatically assume this person is a bad guy as we have nothing to identify him by, also as it cuts to this character the tense tune begins to start again possibly telling us that this person may be the leader. As it continues tracking in a car suddenly pulls up and allows him to get in. The tense tone stops completely and it cuts back to the people in the office building, allowing us to figure out that they are travelling in 2 groups.

The group in the office building attach a bag to their zip line and then go down themselves. As they go down the camera fallows them out the window and then quickly tilts down to show the way down to the street to create a feeling of uneasy upon the spectator, as it does the soundtrack suddenly makes a large boom noise and as it cuts again it carries on as we see long shot showing the clowns zip lining with the street beneath them. It cuts again to show them landing safely on the other side.

We see the other group of clowns in the car and hear our first line of dialogue. There are a total of 3 people wearing clown masks in the car. At no point during this part do we see any ones face. Although, the light outside is very bright the inside of the car is very dark to again tell the audience that the people in this car are the bad guys of the film. It cuts to a close up of one of the clowns although we do see the other two in the background. They are talking about the heist that they are doing and talk about a specific character known only as "The Joker". The two clowns that were originally inside the car are the only characters talking in this clip, however the character that entered the car is at the back although still slightly in shot so tyhe audience remembers that he is there as it is made obvious this particular chracter is important to this part of the film.

Then there is a parrallell action as the other group of robbers on the roof continue there conversation about "The Joker" and helps us know a little bit more about this character. After this it cuts back to the group in the car, they leave the car and approach a bank. The camera follows the third mysterious member of the group who is the only character we have seen who is yet to talk. There is a match on action as the robbers enter the bank and begins the shoot the air to worry the people inside the bank. The soundtrack still plays although is much quieter than before. It shows the bank manager as well to signal that he is going to be important to this character during this scene. The camera tracks around the bank and rarely stays still to keep up the speed of what is happening.

The music begins to pick back up as it again cross-cuts back to the group on the roof. Who are checking the alarm system. We then go back to the clowns who are now in control of the bank and see that the mysterious charcter is going around securing grenades to the hostages hands, he has still not spoken. We go back to the roof and it after one clown deals with the alarm the other clown shoots him. This is to tell us that these clowns are not to be trusted and are slowly killing each other to get a bigger share of the money. As he kills him the and runs downstairs the music plays what will later be known as The Joker's motif as it plays whenever he is on screen. He runs in to a room and the camera pans round to reveal a large vault, he hear the sound quiets down and begins to tick again suggesting this vault door is important to this scene. It cuts back to the main hall to show the audience that these robbers are now in charge with the unknown clown securing grenades to the hostages.

It cuts back to the vault to reveal one of the robbers breaking in to the vault with a large mechanical device. As it cuts back to the main hall we have a shot of on one of the more psycho clowns beating a hostage, we then get a close up of the bank manager with a rising tone in the background. The shots and music combined tell us that these 2 clips will be somehow connected, the rising tone creates tension among this scene. The bank manager shoots the clown and the music then kicks in to a kind of action tone as he walks out with the shotgun and the other clown's run in panic. The focus again is put on the mysterious clown as the back manager shoots at him the music slowly begins to tone back down as he shoots more bullets. We get a shot of the 2 clowns who are hiding behind a desk. The leader asks "He's out right?" to which the mysterious clown nods. The leader rises then gets shot by the bank manager. Through all the murders of the various clowns it tells the audience that a theme of the film will be betrayal. The mysterious clown rises up and shoots the bank manager. The camera then slowly tracks in to the mysterious clown to then possibly suggest that he is in fact the leader of the group. The music becomes gradually silent and then kicks in with the tone used previously to suggest that there is no more danger for the robbers.

The clown that was shot rises up to reveal that he was only wounded by the manager, he runs down to meet with the clown in the vault. One of the clowns opens the vault and after he is done gets shot by the other to again show the theme of betrayal. We then cut back to the main hall to reveal the mysterious clown who looks like he is now in charge of the whole operation as it seems he is now in control of the bank and hostages as it cuts the tense tone begins to rise up again. It cuts back to the other clown in the vault who begins taking money, then there is an ellipses that cuts from the clown taking the money to the main hall where the money is now collected. The clown who went to the vault then threatens the mysterious clown with a gun, again suggesting another theme of betrayal. The music here begins to repeat the same 2 notes over and over to build tension. In this part we hear the first line from the mysterious clown "No, no, no. I kill the bus driver" which confuses the audience as this is not what we would expect him to say due to what we have been shown so far. The scene concludes with a huge bus loudly crashing through the wall and killing the the other main clown, leaving the mysterious clown which has now confirmed suspicions that he is leader with him being the only one left and that he has planned this.

After the bus crashes through the wall we cut to reveal the back of the bus with yet another clown in the back who is now loading up the money. The music now resumes normal tone that it had before of The Joker's theme. After they load up the money the currently unknown clown gets shot by this clown we have been following. As he is about to leave we cut to the bank manager who is still alive and begins talking to the clown who then starts walking towards the bank manager. Here the tense shrieking tone again begins to pick up the close the clown gets to the manager. The clown remains silent on his approach and removes some sort of grenade from his pocket. We have a POV shot from the clowns persepctive looking at the bank manager. After the manager shouts "What do you believe in?" the clown shoves the grenade in to the bank managers mouth. The clown begins talking and the music begins to get louder and grows to a higher pitch as he replies "I believe whatever doesn't kill you simply makes you, stranger." When he says "stranger" we get a POV shot from the bank managers perspective to show the clown remove his mask and reveal a male covered in clown make-up. He has dark eyes and white face make-ep with a large red smile on top of some deep cuts on his cheeks, he also has long greasy green hair". To the audience this is easily recognised as The Joker who has all along been this clown and been in charge of this whole operation including slowly making his team kill each other. As he reveals his face the rising tone quickly drops to a much lower and darker town suggesting that this character is dangerous. It is a close up of his face and it is slightly disorientating to the viewer as it is quite unexpected he smiles at the bank manager and turns and leaves which is assisted by a weird sound that is also associated as being a dark sound. As The Joker leaves the tense rising sound slowly picks up as he leaves with the bank managers shotgun, there is a thread attatched to his waist which is connected to the grenade in the mouth of the bank manger. We start at his legs and slowly tilt up as he gets closer to the back of the bus. He climbs on to it slams the door shut and releases the thread from his waist. He climbs towards the front of the bus and we cut to the bank manager as the sound becomes diegetic and we hear the sound of the engine starting, the pin from the grenade detatches and he quiclky zoom in reveal green smoke to show the audience that the grenades used in the hiest were in fact duds and to reveal yet another theme of things not being what they seem.

This scene is relevant to our film as again it is a fantasy film that is grounded in to reality. The characters of Batman and The Joker do not exist in real life but the setting and the way it is film makes us believe that the events of this film could happen even though it is a fantasy, this is what me and callum aim to do with our film.

The Godfather
The opening begins with a very slow jazz soundtrack, which is typical of thrillers. A plain black background, which connotes wealth, death, mystery, and evil, is contrasted with white writing, which has connotations of coldness, fear, reverence, and again, death. The writing simply says 'The Godfather' with puppet strings attached to the word 'father'. This symbolises the control that the godfather in the film has, and, as the audience will discover, how he controls people below him like a puppeteer controls his puppets.

The title disapears and the audience is left with a black screen, emphasising the connotations of the colour black, and also adding mystery and suspense - we don't know what will follow. A male voice-over begins in an italian accent with the line "I believe in America", suggesting where the film is set, and we fade in to see the man who is speaking. The camera begins with a close up as he talks to the camera and the camera zooms out very slowly whilst he tells us about his daughter's rape. This is a thriller signifier as we instantly know a web of crime and corruption will be involved in the narrative. The mise en scene at this point is all dark, with only the man's collar being the only colour of white, reflecting the title screen with white contrasting with black. As we zoom out, however, we discover with the technique of an over the shoulder shot, that the man is infact talking to someone else. The shot now reveals brown mise en scene - a wooden table, with a couple of papers on, making it seem to the audience like some kind of office. The camera stops zooming out, and begins to cry, and is given a drink by another man (presumably alcoholic) which shows the audience the flaws of the protagonist - his emotion for his daughter, and his drinking habit. This sequence also reveals that our first thought that there was only one person present was incorrect - there are at least three men present, but it is still unknown where this is set and who the men are. The camera then tracks to focus on a close up of the two men whispering to each other, but we are unable to hear what they say.

After this sequence, the camera's position changes to show, using a close-up, the second man that was introduced. We see that he too is dressed in a black suit, and also can see typical thriller mise en scene, consisting of slatted blinds. The camera moves location again to show the entire scene - revealing four male characters, all dressed in suits, all brown mise en scene, and the only light coming from the slats in the blinds. Another over -the -shoulder shot is used to focus upon Vito, this time as a mid shot, and a red flower can be noticed clipped to his suit, giving connotations of disguised danger. We also see him playing with a grey cat, making him appear powerful as he doesn't give his full attention. The cat connotes cunningness, independance and suspicion, whilst the grey colour has connotations of respect, strength and wisdom.

Throughout the sequence, a range of shot types are used. These vary from slow zooms outwards, which draw the viewer in, to over the shoulder shots which are an innovative way of depicting a conversation. They add variety for the audience, as well as being very effective.

 The mise en scene is made up primarily of a brown palette, which represents wealth, fascism, and boldness. The brown palette is very typical of American Gangster thrillers, which hints to the audience the genre of the film. The lighting use is simplistic - only coming from the slatted blinds, and a small light to the right of the frame. The clothes the characters wear are suits, indication wealth, superiority and a kind of professionalism within them. It can be noted that the godfather, Vito is the only one to wear a red flower, and also can be noted wearing a wedding ring, suggesting that he is a trustworthy man, even though he seems to be the leader of this group of men, who appear to believe they are above the law, as Vito asks why he went to the police first to sort out his daughter's rape, rather than him. This, teamed with their accents, make it seem to the audience like some kind of mafia.

Overall, I found this opening very effective, as it set the scene well, and engaged the audience using its fantastic lighting (the prince of darkness) camera work and mise en scene.

Roles

Mine and Callums seperate roles are very clear:My Roles Are:
Camera Man
Co-Director (I came up with as many shots as Callum did)
Editor (of my own version)
Music Composer
Location Scouter
CGI Director (Title Sequence in my version)
Ambient Sound Capturing (Such as Bird sounds, footsteps ect.)
Extra Actor Recruitment (After some that we had recruited had dropped out)
Script Editor (Revising on the script where we feel it is needed)


Callum's Roles Are:
Main Actor
Writer
Editor
Director (However not Operating the camera)
Concept Artist (Creating Animatics to share his  vision)
StoryBoards
Actor Recruitment
Stage Set-Up (Second Scene that was eventually cut)
Voice-Over Director (Dubbing and Experiment Version)

My final Piece and my edit

This is my final piece and final edit. I wrote the music and changed all the sounds of footsteps with sound effects to increase the audio quality. I also added a quiet bird track in the background. All sound effects were from http://www.stonewashed.net/sfx.html free and copyright free. My edit is very similar to Callum's edit but we wanted very slight differences.

Callums edit and Final piece

I did the music and all the filming. Callum wanted the voices in the background like a memory giving clues for the plot but I liked the footage without the voices so I did my own seperate final outcome and my own edit. This is Callums version.

Friday 9 March 2012

Our attempt to drag out the first section of the sequence

This was before we re-shot the church scene

Our New Footage

I was the camera-man and I picked the shots. Callum Edited

The music needs to be re-done because the original track wasn't written for this length of footage time. Callum attempted to make it fit but this brought down the pitch and doesn't give off the effect I wanted as the musician.

Filming Day Review

On Tuesday 28th February, Callum and I decided to re-shoot the church, grave part of our opening sequence. We had tried various techniques to try and drag out the grave scene to take up the full two minutes. (which I will upload to the blog) . After much discussion with Miss Stone and Mr Cunningham, we realised that the only way we can keep the footage profesional while only using the grave scene, would be to re-shoot.

When we got to Ramsgate we immediatly went down to the Church at the back of Chatham House Grammar School and began filming. As at first we were replicating out previous draft of the scene, it was easy to re-shoot. In fact we loved how much better it looked. It was identical to the previous footage except that Callum had a black coat instead of a brown one and that the footage was filmed on a tripod not hand-held. This improved the profensionality. After we had completely re-shot the footage to a level we were happy with, we added scenes in.

We managed to get a passer by to fill in the role of the flashback character. I also suggested close ups. So I decided to film a close up pan across Callum's eyes and a close up pan across his face. I decided that instead of a straight cut to the flashback, we could build it up. I did this by tilting up from Callum's face, to a tree above him, then put in the flashback where it pans down from a different tree. I also got better shots of the grave. I did an HD shot where the focus goes from the grave to Callum's face as the camera pans around. On the way in we had noticed rememberence poppys which I suggested we film Callum walking past.

This was a much more productive and proffesional filming session.

Friday 24 February 2012

Font

The first font was too childish for the style of the film but I liked the handwritten effect like it was written in a hurry. It's also a bit too dificult to read.

The second font was too elegant. Though I liked how it looked so professional, it wasn't suitable for a war film.

This was my original final font idea but I decided it was too bold/blocky for the effect I wanted. So I decided to look at army stencil style fonts.

This font I thought was perfect. I like how clear each letter is and with the colourings I added it looks like a war is going on and the best elite fighters are involved.

Monday 20 February 2012

Final Outcome


Everything in the video is dubbed.There is not a single sound that was in the original recording. I am going to remove the dots after the titles on the opening sequence and try to change the opening to make the second half (from 1:22 onwards) of the video less like a trailer. The bullet sound and animation will most likely be removed or improved by making the bullet shot more realistic.

Mr Cunningham said that up to 1:22 I have produced (with Callum) a good opening but afterwards it becomes the start of the film. I'm going to try different edits out to see whether I can keep the film opening at a minimum of 2 minutes long by stretching out the first part of the video.

Final Music for the final outcome


I think the use of the harp appropriately sets the mood of the extract as calm and reminiscent. The flute enters creating a sense of security. The tension strings fade in through the flute and the music takes a more serious tone and builds up as the plot is set and the story begins.

Callum (who I'm doing the film with) said "the music fitted very well will the viusuals that are on the screen. The harp effectivly created the right mood and the fade from the flute to the chamber strings for tension was perfect."

Monday 6 February 2012

Feeback from Miss Stone

  • Time the credits from three or four ganster films, and mirror the same practice in my own film (storyboard, animatic). Needs to be planned before I edit.
  • Post my analysis on three blockbuster ganster openings.
  • Finished product by end of half term.

Friday 3 February 2012

Dubbing Callum and adding a Heartbeat

I have dubbed Callum's voice with a better recording done by Callum. I have also added a heartbeat and a reverb. I still need to add in gun sounds, music, and the sounds of getting hit and bruces reaction to getting hit.

Wednesday 1 February 2012

Dubbing Mr.Fenwicks voice with Bruce.

I still need to add in Callum's voice dub so that all the audio has the same level of clarity. I will also add in a gun-load sound effect, a heartbeat, music and other noises that take place in the scene.

Monday 30 January 2012

Review

Looking at the footage of the action sequence, too much of the plot is given away in Major Tom's speech. Me and Callum discussed several different techniques to sort that issue out such as an establishing shot of the scene and a high reverb so the audience can't hear the conversation and yet still fully comprehend that a conversation of importance is taking place. Eventually I decided for my edit I'm going to put a second audio track over of Callum's charracter's thought process, that way the audience doesn't hear the plot.

Another issue with Mr.Fenwicks speech was the lack of emotion and accent, we got Bruce Partleton to dub the voice of Mr.Fenwick.

Friday 27 January 2012

Feedback from Miss stone

  • I need to analyse three new opening sequence to do with ganster films
  • look into what production company would produce our film. is it a small niche film or a blockbuster film?

Rough cut for the first part of the opening sequence filmed by me.

Rough cut for the first part of the opening sequence filmed by me. I need to add music and credits. Also I need to change the cut from callum to me to someone else.

First section of the opening animatic

This is callums animatic for the first section of the opening. This was before I merged with him, we had a few different ideas for the actual clip.

Callums animatic

This is the plan to the action section of the opening sequence that I eddited and filmed. It matches pretty accuratly but I did pick a few other shots we didn't initially plan.

first draft edit of the action section of the opening sequence edited by me.


I'm going to dub Mr. Fenwick's voice with a more dramatic voice and cut down on the dialogue. Also Im going to add in a heartbeat and music. This sequence was filmed and eddited by me.

My animated logo

Monday 23 January 2012

Raw footage

This is the un-edited footaqe me and callum filmed. I will edit this part of the opening sequence and callum will edit the graveyard part, overal we both would have edited the two sections of the opening. I did all the camera work for this sequence including the positioning of the actors. I kept close to the storyboard but added a few extra camera shots.

Casting

Today me and callum went looking for actors for the flashback part of the opening. Callum is playing the main character (Chris Frost) but we still needed three actors. We went around school asking teachers.


Mr Fenwick
We first approached Mr. Fenwick. He looked like a fitting role for the main antagonist (Major Tom), we sorted a time in which we could film. We now needed other teachers whos free time matched up. 
Mr Rhodes



We then asked Mr. Rhodes and asked him to play one of the two men that work with the Antagonist. He agreed to be able to work but we eventually picked a more fitting actor. 

Mr Taimar



Mr. Partleton

We asked Mr Taimar but he was too busy. so were Mr. Simmons, Mr. Masters, Mr. Nicholson and Mr. Hislop. All of which asked if we could not show a photograph. We were running out of options but we found Mr. Partleton and Mr Smith (drama) to act in our film Thursday 19th, period 3.

Friday 13 January 2012

*IMPORTANT POST* Decicion to merge with Callum Hurley

Due to a mix of various different reasons (including feedback) I have known for a while that I have to change my opening to a daytime sequence instead of a nighttime sequence because of the camera lighting. This would mean I would have to re-write the storyline for my openning. Callum Hurley is a student in my media class who needs another person to join him to become a group so that he can act in his film instead of operating the camera. Callum and I have decided to merge to form a small two man group, I will operate the camera and compose/create/supply the music for his opening sequence.

Callum has written the storyline and created an animatic, rough cuts and storyboard. He has created his own music for the opening sequence but said he would prefer it if I could supply him with my own original composition. Callum and I will now work together to create an opening sequence which I can now have during the day and he can act it, and I can still keep the music I have worked on for my film. We both will edit the final opening sequence. He said that my music was more suitable because "It very much fits the action/sci-fi genre and works well with the atmosphere I'm trying to create. You music is better to use because it's more proffesional and my music was simple and didn't set a mood whereas yours makes you feel something when you're watching it."

It is better for me to use a daytime sequence because, mainly, the lighting in a nighttime sequence is difficult to see and it doesn't have as proffesional a look to it as a well filmed, well lit daytime sequence. I have looked at the storyboard and animatic with callum and have decided that, instead of the original low angle medium shot, there should be a new first shot which is a camera pan following callum as he walks past the camera which follows him and eventually pans up and tilts to show a church.

Tuesday 10 January 2012

Music first draft.


The music uses a cello, violin, chamber (synth), piano, synth lead and flute in a chromatic minor progresson modulating downwards to create a dramatic feel. I'm very happy with this draft but will probably move the key from C minor to E minor for a higher pitch for more drama.

Feedback from Miss Stone

I need to:
  • Produce my whole completed storyboard including credits
  • Confirm who would produce and distribute my film and actually look into why those companies produces films and what sort of film they produce
  • Further evidence of rough cuts or final opening sequence within the next week.
  • Upload the music and sounds that will be used. ✓

Digital Big Ben photo

 I'm going to digitalize Big Ben in my opening sequence to show that the film is set in the future.

Green screen fireworks to edit into my opening scene which takes place 'New Years Eve'

Monday 9 January 2012

My logo design.

I think the alliteration of clapperboard creations combined with the old film reel gives the logo an elegant appearance while keeping it obvious that it's a film production company.

Changes and reasons for change

In the practice phone-call sequence I'm very happy with the location the camera angles and the music which I wrote for my final peice. I used a composition in E minor modulating through C with a mixolydian tone to create an effective and dramatiuc peice which slowly picks up speed to build up to a climax, I think it worked effectivly and will keep it.


In the rough cuts I realised that I need to change the time of day. In the sequebce I noticed night is a bad choice of lighting to film in. Instead I'm going to film the final opening during the day. Also I'm going to write a more obvious script as the reasons events take place have to be clear and coherant.


I will also make sure that I have a reliable cast and crew to help me film as in the rough cuts I had to play a character while operating the camera because an actor dropped outl.

Practicing with the music I'm planning on using, also practicing camera angles and editing for a phone call sequence which will appear in my final opening.


I think for a nighttime sequence this is well lit and easy to see for the msot part but there are several moment where it is difficult to see what is going on. I think the music is appropirate due to it's build-up and think it effectivly reaches a dramatic climax.

rough cuts

Continuity