Lesson Planning / Production Meeting

In this meeting everyone in Golden Giant Films came together (Tanya,Gigi and Praewa) to fill in paperwork and decide on the shooting date, editing date and plan out the whole process. As well as this we contacted our actors to let them know about the timing/location and transportation.

Gigi working on the storyboard (very intense)

Work Experience

Over the christmas break, I had the chance to experience the film industry, this included going through the whole process of producing a film. (It's Confidential, so this is very brief)

Once having gone through the storyboard and overall summary of what's going to happen, I headed of to the studio where 'fitting' and trying the shot in which the director thought was most difficult, so on the actual filming day we would know the blocking (where to stand), and how it should be shot. This took MANY takes.

During the day of going through scenes, I got to observe the studio, and the items that were used in the filming process, one of the camera's used was called 'Weissman' , all the controls looked extremely complicated and the camera itself was very heavy, from day 1 of filming there were many terms that the director used that I was unfamiliar with.
From day 1 the crew have been friendly, and very professional, and I know that this has taught me many things about the life on set/film industry and has been very eye-opening. I think that this experience has opened up many opportunities for me, and has been very eye-opening.

Lesson 4 (10-12-15) Pitching Ideas Lesson

In this lesson each of the groups had to pitch ideas to another group, from this lesson Gigi and I got a lot of feedbacks on what ideas were good but also what could be improved or changed. 

Lesson 3 (08-12-15) Lesson Planning

During this lesson, we finalised the plot, and the different shots we wanted. After having done that, we brainstormed ideas in terms of where, when, and who we wanted to film, as well as list out the different symbolisation we can use. 

Lesson 2 (04-12-15) Planning

Editing:

I also thought about the different effects and editing that could be interesting, there's the idea of double exposure which I got from watching true detective opening, as well as Taylor Swifts 'Style' music video. 

Lesson 1 (1/12/15) Planning

In this first lesson we got into our groups (pairings) : Gigi and I, to plan and discuss the genre of thriller we wanted to do.
We went through many processes to find inspiration and a unique plot. We did this by watching a few movie openings we thought was interesting and seeing whether we can combine it/and twist it so that it fits in with the thriller genre.

These are some of the trailers/openings that we watched:

Skyfall: From this opening we liked the idea of having a slo-mo underwater shot, it also got us to think about the soundtrack used, and since Gigi and I both have a passion in creating music, it inspired us to perhaps compose our own.

The Imitation game: From this trailer it gave us more insight on 'spies' and from this we will develop ideas and make it, so that it fits the 'thriller' genre.

Our first brief plan

Children of Men

Children of men is a 2006 science fiction film. When infertility threatens mankind with extinction and the last child born has perished, Clive Owen becomes the unlikely champion in the fight for the survival of Earth's population; he must face down his own demons and protect the planet's last remaining hope from danger.

From this opening of Children of men,the director creates and reveals to us a cold and lonely tone to the setting. This is first conveyed to us through the protagonist whom is presented as a 'monochrome character' evidence is when he orders black coffee. The theme loneliness is revealed to us through a group shot of the hopeless faces of people who are gathered in the coffee shop looking up at the main focus, which is the tv screen, which can be seen as the 'source of sadness'by using a group shot,this emphasises the dullness and depressing atmosphere in the cafe. The tone of the opening is further shown through the use of diegetic sound of the heartbreaking news and small silent sobs and gasps can be heard in the background, this clearly suggests to the audience the mood that it is conveying(sadness). 

                                       

In terms of editing, there's very limited, only one or two cut scenes, there is a very continuous flow with no dramatic changes in camera angles,thus creating as well as this the camera is hand-held therefore making it seem like we are following the protagonist and the situation, as if we too are chasing for hope.

Credit-Structure

Order of the credits based on the movie 'Panic Room'

SuperNatural Research on Audience

We used a website call YOUGOV to find out more about the different traits of audiences who watch this genre, more specifically these movies.

Sub-gere Film Preparation

For the su-gere film. Ear,Gigi, ad I decided to do 'Psychological,Horror Thriller'

Dexter Credits

Dexter is an American television Crime/Drama series based on Darkly Dreaming Dexter. Main character Michael C. Hall. 

Dexter is a sociopath who doesn't feel things like normal people. He's also a serial killer. He was adopted and raised by a police officer who recognised what he was and, after having a serial killer escape to kill more innocent people, taught him to channel it by only killing other serial killers. He taught him extensively how not to get caught and how to behave like he's normal. He has his adoptive father's teachings or "The Code of Harry" that he follows. He works as a blood splatter analysis with the police department and has access to inside information and knows the techniques they use to catch people. A lot of the show focuses on how it feels to be him and how challenging it is just to appear normal. 

Denotation is the first level of analysis: What the audience can visually see on a page. Denotation often refers to something literal, and avoids being a metaphor. 

Connotation which is the second level of analysis, being what the denotation represents. 


Examples:



Denotation: A Rose

Connotation: Passion and Love






Connotation and Denotation from Dexter's Credit

Thriller Sub-Genre

What are Thrillers?

Thriller conventions

• Crime- people going missing (Gone Girl) 
• Secrets to be revealed: NARRATIVE
• Suspension 
• Enigma- mystery or puzzle: NARRATIVE
• Jump scares (Physical response to a sudden change in sound/images) : TECHNICAL ASPECT
• Emotional Stimulation - fear,anger,confusion: AUDIENCE RESPONSE
• sound effects- to create tension, combination of diegetic and non-diegetic: TECHNICAL ASPECT

when does THRILLER become a HORROR: 

• Gore,Blood 
• Supernatural (?) 
• Lack of mystery- little manipulation of information 

when does THRILLER become a ACTION:

• Little Story
• Excuse for action (set pieces) 

The antagonist ensnares the protagonist in an increasingly complex web, until the protagonist feels isolated and helpless.

The narrative centres upon a crime e.g.. theft, murder 

The protagonist is fallible and has an achilles heal that is exploited 

Themes of identity are common mistaken identity, amnesia doubles/ gangsters 

Themes of seeing, reflection and mirroring- manipulation of perspective 

A series of animus are set up- only to be solved at the end 

The audience is placed in the ambitious position of 'voyeur' 

Protagonist will be in peril/danger 

The narrative present extra-ordinary things in ordinary situations and settings.The micro-element are used to build suspense

Rear Window - Suspense and Meaning

Rear Window Opening:

What do we learn about the location and the main protagonist (Jeff) with this opening shot?

Dead Dog:

What do we learn about the world of Rear Window from this clip?

What have Se7en and Rear Window got in common?

• Killer
• Victims 
• Urban Suburban 
• Male protagonist, vulnerable/flawed (Mills anger issue, Jeff broken leg) 
• Killer X Protagonist interact for short time 
• Cynical,cold, uncaring world  
• Killer in control

Scary Films / Creating Tension [03.11.15]

Why do we watch scary films : 

• Test yourself
• We know it's not real
• To get a think
• To have physical response: Heart Rate, Adrenaline, Sweat
• Vent, anger,frustration 
• Everyone is a masochist 

Glen D Walters

What makes a film scary -

1) Tension,Suspense : created using narrative and filming techniques 

2) Relevance- The fears explored are relevant to the audience. They 'Believe' 

3) Unrealism- We know we are safe. We can experiment X explore

REAR WINDOW:

-1954
-Characters:
Jimmy Stewart- Jeff
Grace Kelly - Lisa
Raymond Burr - Lars Thorwal
Ethel Ritter - Stella

Creating Tension :
Jeffs (subjective camera)
1) When the killer is returning Jeff knows, we know, Lisa doesn't
2) We know+ Jeff knows - helpless (guilt)
3) Call the police- we know the police are coming- do they get there on time?
4) We don't know what they are talking about, we do not know how Lisa's handling it. How far is the killer going to go.
5) The killer realises he's being watched- what is he going to do?

FEAR [ 03-11-15]

Se7en: Character

Anger scene 1 + 2 :



MILLS:

• Restless full of energy - wants to make stuff happen 
• Agressive,Attitude - Manhandles photographer (Impulsive- kicks door)
• Arrogant- Thinks he knows better 
• Big toddler - no control over emotions, lost and confused 

SOMERSET:

• Wise - wants to understand the meaning of the crimes
• Avoids confrontation 
• Emotionally mature (professional, doing job) 
• Classy 
• Calm 

Bar Scene:

MILLS: try hard, has hope

SOMERSET: hypocrite, tired, worn out (desensitised)

JOHN DOE:
- In lead of his emotions 
-Insensitive
-Believes the world can be a better place through his actions 
-Judges others 
-Cynical
-Methodical 

Se7en: Location X Setting

Scene 1: Exterior Scene

Location: Place (geographical) -
City (Newyork?), 90's. Diegetic noise and traffic)

Setting-
Raining- Dark mood. Buildings look dirty, musty, "dirty green" "dank"
Crime (diegetic sounds) -> 'You actively sort to assigned here?'
The "real world" - "realistic" - not hiding anything
Rough area- Bars on all window, people walk past as body gets carried out (like it's all normal) , Mills gets bumped into- no one apologises. (Aggressive)

Scene 2:

Location: Detective Somerset's Flat

Setting: Classy - antiques, furniture, neat and lives alone (no - family)
Knife- representing violence - protection?, further emphasises that it is a dangerous place, conniption 'crime'
Diegetic sounds- People talking/shouting,siren and traffic- personal space being invaded.

Scene 3: Tracey and Detective Somerset :

Location: Restaurant in the city

Detective says that bringing in new life is a bad idea because the world is such a "terrible" place.
Suggests she goes through abortion-(destroying the new life)

Pathetic Fallacy- The world of se7en weeping for another lost of life

 

Sound Editing: Point Break

In this lesson we went into the ICT room to experiment with sounds (diegetic sounds) and adding it to the movie point break. 

We were shown the video with sounds that have already been added and then we were told to do the task ourselves.

First we had to unlink the sound that was attached to the video,then we had to put in our ow diegetic sounds such as sounds of, car rakes, dogs arkig, running sounds, explosions and doors opening and shutting.

To complete this task we had to use commonsense as to which sounds est fit which clip, for example the scene where the actor is running, I had to choose the running sound which seemed to fit the paste and location of where the actor was running (pavement) 

Western Credits Friday 9th-10-15

1) Aims for the lesson:
This lesson we had to create a western style credit from the movie 'The good, the bad, and the ugly' using premier.

2) What was given?
We used premier, and we had 2 periods to experiment with the different functions,and create a small section of the western credit.



3) The process I went through:

One of the things I learned was how to use the colour matte to make backgrounds appear in different colours. As well as this I also had the chance to better understand the use of keyframes, in this lesson I learned how to make the logos rotate and move across the screen.
Lastly we added in the Titles, here I used the pen tool to create a star shape and played around with the many options that were provided, including font, colour,size and different choices of transition.

4) What I learned and what I found difficult:
This lesson I had learned how to make better use of premier, and the different tools. Once aspect that I felt I got out the most from this lesson was how to edit the sounds(pitch,volume,pace) However an area that I found most difficult and would still like to have another chance to play with would be the keyframes and the use of it aswell as how to use it so that I feel comfortable and that my work comes out the best quality it can.

screenshot of the workspace