For this Prelim Task I was asked to film a character opening a door, crossing the room, sitting down opposite another character and exchanging a few lines of dialogue.
The plot for my film is: a police detective who pokes his nose too far into a crooks business, and feels the consequences of his actions.
To begin with I made a story board, but after trying to shoot the first few shots and having difficultly fulfilling the angles and camera movements I had set myself, I changed my mind on the whole production and decided to draw up a new one. This one would be in the police station rather than where the crook was holding the detective hostage. Fortunately I could use some of the original shots, but unfortunately most of them I had to re-draw. I reused some of the shots off of the first story board, cutting them up, but I didn’t think to photocopy it first, so all I have is my final story board.
In the end, some of the descriptions of what should happen in each shot have changed, like the camera angles and movement, even whole shots. In the original script the police detective is tied up in a room, and the crook comes in and talks to him. But the second story board shows the crook in the police station as he’s been called there. But I have mixed the two first shots on the boards together; my film starts in the future (a day later) with the detective tied to a chair, but then peels (an effect I used) to the present day with the crook walking into the room. I originally wanted the shot of the character tied up with the camera starting at the characters feet, and it to spiral upwards to his face. But this proved too difficult as we didn’t have the appropriate equipment for such a shot, so I changed it in the second board to a simple eye-level zoom out shot of the actors face. But when it came to the actual filming, I felt it would be better to zoom in on the characters face, rather than out.
After the opening two shots I was going to put a calendar into the film to show the day change fading slowly from the 7th to the 6th, but when I filmed it, I couldn’t figure out how to put a calendar, or something in that area that represented time had moved on, so I simply used a ‘peel’ effect, as I said above, but now I come to think of it I should have used a dissolve or fade effect.
The crook in the film is scarier than I portrayed her to be on the story board, but that’s how I asked her to play it, as it would fit in more with the Coppers kidnapping earlier in the film- well later if you go in logical time.
I’ve also added a shot which isn’t shown on the board, it’s a shot of the crook striding out of the room; it’s in between shot number 17 and 18. Furthermore on shot 18 the description of the edit says fade, but I’ve used a traditional cut instead, because a fade doesn’t keep up with the fast pace of the edits I have produced. Plus in shot 16 I have a used a high angle shot to show the two character arguing with each other, as the classroom I filmed this in wasn’t big enough to let me get both characters in, and I also didn’t use a MCU because the camera couldn’t zoom in that close and still get both characters faces in, so it was a mistake on my behalf.
Shot six, isn’t in my final piece, to the reason of we didn’t have the right equipment to produce a dark foreground and a light background resulting in a silhouette of the villain standing in the doorway. I wanted the shoot to be exactly like this, so the viewers didn’t see who the person was that had kidnapped the detective; so as it couldn’t be produced I left it out. There wasn’t a great need for the shot any way, if we would have been able to put music into the production diegetic tic or non-diegetic, then with atmospheric music and the silhouette of the person it would have created suspense, but as that wasn’t required of me to do the shot is easily left out.
I am happy with how the prelim task panned out. But if I was to do this again I would not be so ambitious with my shots and angles’, considering this is only a college, and doesn’t have all the facilities Hollywood does! So keep it simple!!
Tuesday 9 December 2008
Sunday 30 November 2008
Editing and Characters
Fourth entry!! By now you’d think that was I getting good at this….but I’m not. I really don’t know how to start. Once I’ve stared then everything’s fine and dandy, but it’s the getting started that’s the problem. Well here goes!
When we started on this subject I couldn’t believe how important and complicated- to my mind anyway!- the editing part in film and television is! I just thought that a plain old cut was used for everything, but had ’fade’ in front of it if it was to fade, or ‘dissolve’. Shows how little I knew!
Up till last week, I used to think that the moods and atmosphere was created just by the actors and their lines. But now in studying the editing from other dramas, I’ve realised how wrong I was. Well it only took 16 years for common sense to kick in!. Not bad huh?!
Editing creates character bonds. The camera angles and types of shots are a key feature to the succession of the editing process. Depending on where that edit has taken place, determines the relationship of the characters on the screen, to the viewers watching. So for example, if a character walks into a room, and there is a cut to another persons face. It shows that the two already know each other, or will know each other. It is then the actors work that portray each characters mood, from the facial expression and dialogue. So with the cut being where it was tells a part of the story. Showing us- the viewer- other angles and points of view of the same scene.
Editing also makes the programme interesting. Editors use editing to keep the viewer on the edge of their seat. This could be showing a characters face with a scared expression, but not showing us what he/she is scared of. Or showing us the back of a character doing something. But not what they are doing.
I think I may have wondered off track a bit. But I’m just sooo ecstatic that I’ve found out the true beauty of editing!!! (you could either portray that as sarcasm, or that I’m having problems with the actual task!) I’ve even tried to make the writing bigger, but that just looks to obvious!
Right, back to it. I think I’m going to have to have a look at my notes. Which is ruing my theme of doing things from memory! L
Ah! I know! Let me list all the editing types!
Cut- sudden change
Matched Cut- where characters maybe talking
Jump Cut- from I scene to another
Motivated cut- moving from one shot to another
Cutting rate- to set the pact of the scene
Cutting Rhythm- set the atmosphere
Cross-cut- Changes from one character talking to another replying,
Cutaway- Two shots at the same time
Reaction shot- showing a characters reaction to something
Insert- close-up shot into a larger context
Buffer shot- Same shot taken with two different cameras for the same scene
Fade, dissolve- gradual transitions; may be used to show time gone by
Superimposition- two images placed directly over each other
Wipe-optical effect, the image being ‘wiped’ from the screen
Split screen- see several smaller images on the screen at the same time
Stock shot- footage that’s been filmed before the scene- e.g. Old documentaries.
Inset-special visual effect, reveal close-up detail
So I’ve done the deed. That sounds like I’ve just murdered someone!J (the smile face isn’t at the thought of killing someone- though how tempting it is sometimes- its at the ‘deed’, just so there’s no confusion, and you don’t mistake me for some psycho!)
Well that’s all I can think of to write about the relationships between characters and editing.
“Ciao belle!” as the Italians would say.
Fourth entry!! By now you’d think that was I getting good at this….but I’m not. I really don’t know how to start. Once I’ve stared then everything’s fine and dandy, but it’s the getting started that’s the problem. Well here goes!
When we started on this subject I couldn’t believe how important and complicated- to my mind anyway!- the editing part in film and television is! I just thought that a plain old cut was used for everything, but had ’fade’ in front of it if it was to fade, or ‘dissolve’. Shows how little I knew!
Up till last week, I used to think that the moods and atmosphere was created just by the actors and their lines. But now in studying the editing from other dramas, I’ve realised how wrong I was. Well it only took 16 years for common sense to kick in!. Not bad huh?!
Editing creates character bonds. The camera angles and types of shots are a key feature to the succession of the editing process. Depending on where that edit has taken place, determines the relationship of the characters on the screen, to the viewers watching. So for example, if a character walks into a room, and there is a cut to another persons face. It shows that the two already know each other, or will know each other. It is then the actors work that portray each characters mood, from the facial expression and dialogue. So with the cut being where it was tells a part of the story. Showing us- the viewer- other angles and points of view of the same scene.
Editing also makes the programme interesting. Editors use editing to keep the viewer on the edge of their seat. This could be showing a characters face with a scared expression, but not showing us what he/she is scared of. Or showing us the back of a character doing something. But not what they are doing.
I think I may have wondered off track a bit. But I’m just sooo ecstatic that I’ve found out the true beauty of editing!!! (you could either portray that as sarcasm, or that I’m having problems with the actual task!) I’ve even tried to make the writing bigger, but that just looks to obvious!
Right, back to it. I think I’m going to have to have a look at my notes. Which is ruing my theme of doing things from memory! L
Ah! I know! Let me list all the editing types!
Cut- sudden change
Matched Cut- where characters maybe talking
Jump Cut- from I scene to another
Motivated cut- moving from one shot to another
Cutting rate- to set the pact of the scene
Cutting Rhythm- set the atmosphere
Cross-cut- Changes from one character talking to another replying,
Cutaway- Two shots at the same time
Reaction shot- showing a characters reaction to something
Insert- close-up shot into a larger context
Buffer shot- Same shot taken with two different cameras for the same scene
Fade, dissolve- gradual transitions; may be used to show time gone by
Superimposition- two images placed directly over each other
Wipe-optical effect, the image being ‘wiped’ from the screen
Split screen- see several smaller images on the screen at the same time
Stock shot- footage that’s been filmed before the scene- e.g. Old documentaries.
Inset-special visual effect, reveal close-up detail
So I’ve done the deed. That sounds like I’ve just murdered someone!J (the smile face isn’t at the thought of killing someone- though how tempting it is sometimes- its at the ‘deed’, just so there’s no confusion, and you don’t mistake me for some psycho!)
Well that’s all I can think of to write about the relationships between characters and editing.
“Ciao belle!” as the Italians would say.
Thursday 20 November 2008
My use of the media
I have found out that i am a Telly addict!!
On the average day i can watch around five hours of it; I didn't actually realise i was that bad! Its terrible, I'm slowly turning into a couched potato. I'm not like that just in my own house either; when ever i go round my friends, and we're stuck for something to do, i suggest that we should watch the television, whilst demanding to have total control of the remote.
I love the remote, its my best friend, i feel lost with out it! At my grandparents I'm even worse, if I'm not reading then I'll be glued to the screen. That shows exactly how much of a social life i have!
I don't really mind what i watch. It can be anything from old white and black films, to the news to dramas and factual programmes. I think my favourite is period dramas. or possibly reality shows, IE last choir standing.
I do think that there should be more historic programmes on 'normal' TV (BBC1 and 2, ITV1 and C4 and 5), as i don't have sky; i really enjoyed 'Prince John the Windsors secret' on Channel 4, it was a real insight into his life, and his families thoughts and feeling on his 'problems'. I feel that as a nation we don't know enough about our own history, and we should do, to unionise us.
Films, i love these more than television! Its not just the content and storyline of them, but the technical side and the people behind the product. Its fascinates me how someone can create and idea, put it to paper and film it. All the people involved, from the producers, to editors, and location scouts to costume designers; and all the contributions are put together, ending in a film. Its magical! The genres that i like are the same as the Television ones- Everything. My favourite used to be horror, but now i prefer thrillers, as they are more suspense orientated and jumpy, whereas horror's are mostly obvious as to what will happen. For example Saw is a really good thriller as you're never really sure as to what will happen, or who the villain is. But in Jeepers Creepers you know that the bus full of teenagers will break down, and that the creature will be on top of the bus when the students look out of the door. I don't like obvious films, i prefer ones that keep you in the dark until the very last minute. I'll watch anything from war films to comedy; though I'm not a big fan of romance because i think they are to unrealistic. They're for the day dreamers in society, who like to believe in things because it looks good. But its never going to happen in real life.
Films like V for Vendetta i love, as they're history with a twist.
Actually come to think of it, i do have a favourite film genre. Musicals. The Moulin Rouge is my all time love! The songs are captivating!
Spoofs are really
I don't think that there could be any different genres of films. Though a few more musicals wouldn't hurt!!!
I'm not really a music fan, i don't object to listening to it, but i don't find it that entertaining. This probably sounds strange since i love musicals so much, but that's me. Weird. I'll maybe listen to it once in a fortnight. I don't have a favourite type of music, though i wouldn't listen to rapping on my own accord, and i think that music with out words is just plain silly.
My grandparents listen to country, and all though i wouldn't admit this out loud i do actually really like it!
As you can tell from above i am more of a visual person than audible, I'm too lazy to visualise what music means if it has no images. You could watch the music channels on sky, but as I've said, i don't have it, so that may cause some technical difficulties!
As I'm writing about music, i may as well throw in Radio. I'm not a big fan of this either. The only time i listen to it, is in the car. And that's not religiously. If its on i listen, if its not i don't. When its on, its on the station 96.7 which translates to KLFM, this is my mothers doing, not mine. Radios are a good source of collecting knowledge of whats happening in your local are, or nationwide, when you are travelling.
Magazines. I go through stages where I'll have several in a month, or go with out for ages. I do like them, but I'm not in a life of death situation as to whether i have one or not. If you have too many, you are most likely going to be reading the same stories over again. When i do have one, i mostly read it cover to cover, and I'm not to particular as to which on i have, as long as they're for my age group (even though i do read my little sister's- Bratz, and my Nana's-My Weekly)
Newspapers. Before college i never really used to read them. But as for politics i have to know whats going on in the world, i do now. Though as my family are more 'Sun' or 'Lynn News' readers, i mostly read the than the Guardian' or 'Independent' which is tabloid news. Newspapers are good insights into the world events- if you read the right type of paper!
So to conclude, I'm a television remote hogger who loves films, but who doesn't really click with music and radio, and has a medium relationship with newspapers and magazines!
On the average day i can watch around five hours of it; I didn't actually realise i was that bad! Its terrible, I'm slowly turning into a couched potato. I'm not like that just in my own house either; when ever i go round my friends, and we're stuck for something to do, i suggest that we should watch the television, whilst demanding to have total control of the remote.
I love the remote, its my best friend, i feel lost with out it! At my grandparents I'm even worse, if I'm not reading then I'll be glued to the screen. That shows exactly how much of a social life i have!
I don't really mind what i watch. It can be anything from old white and black films, to the news to dramas and factual programmes. I think my favourite is period dramas. or possibly reality shows, IE last choir standing.
I do think that there should be more historic programmes on 'normal' TV (BBC1 and 2, ITV1 and C4 and 5), as i don't have sky; i really enjoyed 'Prince John the Windsors secret' on Channel 4, it was a real insight into his life, and his families thoughts and feeling on his 'problems'. I feel that as a nation we don't know enough about our own history, and we should do, to unionise us.
Films, i love these more than television! Its not just the content and storyline of them, but the technical side and the people behind the product. Its fascinates me how someone can create and idea, put it to paper and film it. All the people involved, from the producers, to editors, and location scouts to costume designers; and all the contributions are put together, ending in a film. Its magical! The genres that i like are the same as the Television ones- Everything. My favourite used to be horror, but now i prefer thrillers, as they are more suspense orientated and jumpy, whereas horror's are mostly obvious as to what will happen. For example Saw is a really good thriller as you're never really sure as to what will happen, or who the villain is. But in Jeepers Creepers you know that the bus full of teenagers will break down, and that the creature will be on top of the bus when the students look out of the door. I don't like obvious films, i prefer ones that keep you in the dark until the very last minute. I'll watch anything from war films to comedy; though I'm not a big fan of romance because i think they are to unrealistic. They're for the day dreamers in society, who like to believe in things because it looks good. But its never going to happen in real life.
Films like V for Vendetta i love, as they're history with a twist.
Actually come to think of it, i do have a favourite film genre. Musicals. The Moulin Rouge is my all time love! The songs are captivating!
Spoofs are really
I don't think that there could be any different genres of films. Though a few more musicals wouldn't hurt!!!
I'm not really a music fan, i don't object to listening to it, but i don't find it that entertaining. This probably sounds strange since i love musicals so much, but that's me. Weird. I'll maybe listen to it once in a fortnight. I don't have a favourite type of music, though i wouldn't listen to rapping on my own accord, and i think that music with out words is just plain silly.
My grandparents listen to country, and all though i wouldn't admit this out loud i do actually really like it!
As you can tell from above i am more of a visual person than audible, I'm too lazy to visualise what music means if it has no images. You could watch the music channels on sky, but as I've said, i don't have it, so that may cause some technical difficulties!
As I'm writing about music, i may as well throw in Radio. I'm not a big fan of this either. The only time i listen to it, is in the car. And that's not religiously. If its on i listen, if its not i don't. When its on, its on the station 96.7 which translates to KLFM, this is my mothers doing, not mine. Radios are a good source of collecting knowledge of whats happening in your local are, or nationwide, when you are travelling.
Magazines. I go through stages where I'll have several in a month, or go with out for ages. I do like them, but I'm not in a life of death situation as to whether i have one or not. If you have too many, you are most likely going to be reading the same stories over again. When i do have one, i mostly read it cover to cover, and I'm not to particular as to which on i have, as long as they're for my age group (even though i do read my little sister's- Bratz, and my Nana's-My Weekly)
Newspapers. Before college i never really used to read them. But as for politics i have to know whats going on in the world, i do now. Though as my family are more 'Sun' or 'Lynn News' readers, i mostly read the than the Guardian' or 'Independent' which is tabloid news. Newspapers are good insights into the world events- if you read the right type of paper!
So to conclude, I'm a television remote hogger who loves films, but who doesn't really click with music and radio, and has a medium relationship with newspapers and magazines!
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