http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2010/10/04/the-art-of-the-film-title-throughout-cinema-history/
http://petesmediablog.blogspot.com/
Thursday, 21 October 2010
Tuesday, 12 October 2010
The making of the preliminary task
When set our preliminary task from our teacher we were told a little bit on how to do it with a bit of advice to help us. We were also given a few things that it needed to do, for example, you have to show someone walking through a door.
Next, we got into small groups to film with. We discussed our ideas that we had and then came up with a story bored in the order we wanted to film in and the shot types we were going to use for each bit. We used this story bored throughout filming to make sure that we don't miss out bits and include all the necessary shots.
When we started filming we came across a few problems. For example, there was not battery life on the video camera that we were given, therefore we had to borrow a extension chord from the drama department at school. This meant that we couldn't do the first shot that we had originally came up with as it was in a outside location and so therefore we had to improvise and change the opening shot slightly, however overall this wasn't a problem as we used a pan shot, something that we wouldn't have been able to do in the other plan.
Once we had uploaded our footage on to the mac computer we had a problem with the dialogue, in which the cuts we're to quick and so that it was impossible to edit without being abrupt so after some time, we decide it best to re-film and because we knew exactly what we were doing, and had been over it before this didn't take much time at all and came out alot better then the first try as we knew now what not to do.
Next, we got into small groups to film with. We discussed our ideas that we had and then came up with a story bored in the order we wanted to film in and the shot types we were going to use for each bit. We used this story bored throughout filming to make sure that we don't miss out bits and include all the necessary shots.
When we started filming we came across a few problems. For example, there was not battery life on the video camera that we were given, therefore we had to borrow a extension chord from the drama department at school. This meant that we couldn't do the first shot that we had originally came up with as it was in a outside location and so therefore we had to improvise and change the opening shot slightly, however overall this wasn't a problem as we used a pan shot, something that we wouldn't have been able to do in the other plan.
Once we had uploaded our footage on to the mac computer we had a problem with the dialogue, in which the cuts we're to quick and so that it was impossible to edit without being abrupt so after some time, we decide it best to re-film and because we knew exactly what we were doing, and had been over it before this didn't take much time at all and came out alot better then the first try as we knew now what not to do.
Monday, 11 October 2010
Notes on institution and audiences
(Page 122-126 of textbook)
Convergence- This describes two phenomena: First, technologies coming together, for example, a mobile phone you can use as a still and moving image camera, download and watch moving images on, use as a MP3 player and recorder and access the internet with. Second, media industries are diversifying so they produce and distribute across several media- for example, a newspaper with an online version and audio podcasts or the coming together of videogames with films.
Institutions- When we use the term institutions in Media Studies, we usually mean the people who have a role in the production of media texts. That covers a huge amount of ground, as you can imagine. A brief list might include:
Companies/organisations
Producers
Distributors
Marketing.
So we're talking editors, directors, producers, scriptwriters, screenwriters and so on and so on.
Audiences- This is a huge area of Media Studies with many variant and competing approaches and so its important to be precise witth the focus on this section which is the relationship between audience and institution.
Convergence- This describes two phenomena: First, technologies coming together, for example, a mobile phone you can use as a still and moving image camera, download and watch moving images on, use as a MP3 player and recorder and access the internet with. Second, media industries are diversifying so they produce and distribute across several media- for example, a newspaper with an online version and audio podcasts or the coming together of videogames with films.
Institutions- When we use the term institutions in Media Studies, we usually mean the people who have a role in the production of media texts. That covers a huge amount of ground, as you can imagine. A brief list might include:
Companies/organisations
Producers
Distributors
Marketing.
So we're talking editors, directors, producers, scriptwriters, screenwriters and so on and so on.
Audiences- This is a huge area of Media Studies with many variant and competing approaches and so its important to be precise witth the focus on this section which is the relationship between audience and institution.
Wednesday, 6 October 2010
Notes on video production
(pages 31-37 of textbook)
Continuity- This is the thing that the audience can assume what happens between each shot or sequence. For example if the character was to get on the train is shot 1. Be seen reading the newspaper in shot 2. Be asleep with the newspaper folded on his lap in shot 3. Getting off the train in shot 4. Then the audience won't assume that the train journey was just really short, but that nothing significant to the plot happens in these shots, just that he's going to the next scene. However, the continuity will be broken if the character appears to move seats inbetween shots which would disrupt the flow of the sequence.
Story boarding- This is a set of cartoon charter's drawn to show each shot that will happen in the scene. It has to be in the order that it will be seen to by the audience when finally put together and have notes around it include things like the camera angles, the background and the props use. Its a visual thing that should help with continuity and although most people depart from using it once started, its very important to make one to see how it will all work together.
The shooting script- This accompanies the story bored and is basically the schedule for filming. It will most likely end up in unchronological order compared to the story bored as its more sensible to film everything you need from one location. This is very important in tightly budgeted films to take this into account and plan this very well so they don't have to revisit a location because they forgot about a later scene that needs to be there.
Notes for the preliminary task:
The preliminary task requires you to produce a piece of film in which a charter opens a door, walks across a room and sits down in a chair opposite another character and exchanges two sentences of conversation. There are three continuity principles to observe in this exercise:
- Match an action- Match on action occurs when an action that begins in one shot is continued or completed in the next
- Shot reverse shot- Shot reverse shot (or shot/countershot) is a film technique where one character is shown looking at another character (often off-screen), and then the other character is shown looking back at the first character. Since the characters are shown facing in opposite directions, the viewer assumes that they are looking at each other.
- 180degree rule- (see image below)
'It has to establish character and/or setting and to create enigma- to help the audience understand easily where we are, who is invloved but, fundamentally why we should be interested.'
Continuity- This is the thing that the audience can assume what happens between each shot or sequence. For example if the character was to get on the train is shot 1. Be seen reading the newspaper in shot 2. Be asleep with the newspaper folded on his lap in shot 3. Getting off the train in shot 4. Then the audience won't assume that the train journey was just really short, but that nothing significant to the plot happens in these shots, just that he's going to the next scene. However, the continuity will be broken if the character appears to move seats inbetween shots which would disrupt the flow of the sequence.
Story boarding- This is a set of cartoon charter's drawn to show each shot that will happen in the scene. It has to be in the order that it will be seen to by the audience when finally put together and have notes around it include things like the camera angles, the background and the props use. Its a visual thing that should help with continuity and although most people depart from using it once started, its very important to make one to see how it will all work together.
The shooting script- This accompanies the story bored and is basically the schedule for filming. It will most likely end up in unchronological order compared to the story bored as its more sensible to film everything you need from one location. This is very important in tightly budgeted films to take this into account and plan this very well so they don't have to revisit a location because they forgot about a later scene that needs to be there.
Notes for the preliminary task:
The preliminary task requires you to produce a piece of film in which a charter opens a door, walks across a room and sits down in a chair opposite another character and exchanges two sentences of conversation. There are three continuity principles to observe in this exercise:
- Match an action- Match on action occurs when an action that begins in one shot is continued or completed in the next
- Shot reverse shot- Shot reverse shot (or shot/countershot) is a film technique where one character is shown looking at another character (often off-screen), and then the other character is shown looking back at the first character. Since the characters are shown facing in opposite directions, the viewer assumes that they are looking at each other.
- 180degree rule- (see image below)
'It has to establish character and/or setting and to create enigma- to help the audience understand easily where we are, who is invloved but, fundamentally why we should be interested.'
Analysing a TV opening
TV drama: Nearly Famous
(http://www.channel4.com/programmes/nearly-famous/4od#2918453)
After looking in to a film opening, i now have looked at a TV one. Like before, I have taken print screens of what I can get out of the camera movements, but also will be adding notes about the sound, mise-en-scene and any anchorage I notice.
The camera movement, still in the same take, then moves around so we can see a better image of this character. The light shining down on him could be suggesting he's going to be important compared to the darkness of the rest of the room.
The pan shot then goes back to the charter we see at the opening shot, he has now put his hood up suggesting that he doesn't want to be noticed and we can see that he's being anti-social by not talking to anyone unlink that two girls either side to him who have their back to him and in conversation with others.
The music is then turned down slightly, however we can still here it faintly and we start to hear this man talk. The way they gave us a straight up close up could represent his importance and sturdyness towards the others that automatically puts him on the top of the hierarchy. The light that we see in the background could also help represent this, but also a way of thinking he's something from god. That this man we see is the only hope to get though the year.
A montage is used to flick over to see a girl running through what we assume from the mise-en-scene of garden benches and big buildings is a school environment. The man is still talking as we see the girl on screen
From here, a close up of dropped books. We know she's in a hurry and again this helps with the setting of a school for us to take in.
We flick back to the man where we see a full body shot and its a point of view shot from one of the pupils due to the circle he has around himself. The spot light is still directed on him and his hand gesture states his authority.
Back to the montage, as the girl is running though the building i noticed the difference to the room that the others are sat in. The colours outside are far more natural and bright with the people doing far more active things. Like this shot above, the dancers have the freedom to move around the room and express themself compared to the others sat in the dark being given a lecture.
The final shot to the opening; when the two montages meet. As the girl breaks open the door the light comes glaring though as if she's coming from another word where everything's different. We can see the close up of the man as he finishes his speech, and the girl in the background looking a bit lost and confused.
(http://www.channel4.com/programmes/nearly-famous/4od#2918453)
After looking in to a film opening, i now have looked at a TV one. Like before, I have taken print screens of what I can get out of the camera movements, but also will be adding notes about the sound, mise-en-scene and any anchorage I notice.
This is the first and the establishing shot that we see on the screen is this. As you can see the room is shadowy with little natural light and on the far left we can see a character looking round suggesting that the room he's sitting down in is as new to him as it is to us. The music also starts right at the beginging which stays the same during the entire opening. A relaxing acoustic sound is used with some lyrics.
A pan shot is then done, showing us people arriving into the scene. These are wearing a lot more brighter colours and pattern filled outfit witch connotes that their happy because of the bright colours contrasting with the black and that their all stylish and young.
Tuesday, 5 October 2010
Analysing a film opening
Film- Angus, thongs and perfect snogging.
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gyWpNjUGDiI)
I watched the opening to this film and noticed many things that the director has done to make us learn about the main character just from the first 4 minutes of the film. I found the shot types interesting- so i have print screened the best ones and will analyse this below.
This is the first shot that we see on the screen that last for just under 30seconds. We can here the girls voice talking to her dad driving the car (we know this because she refers to him as 'dad'.) The music that is playing is quite cheerful and yet simple as to not take attention away from the dialogue.
This is the next shot we see and the first of our main character. In the mise-en-scene, we can see that the car being driven is a pretty standard one with the houses being quite tightly packed shows there quite an average family. At this point we are also wondering why the girl is dressed in a massive olive green suit.
This shot is when she walks in to the party and it's a 'point of view'. Every one is staring at the girl (presumably because of her costume.) And the cheerful music stops for a second whiles the party is in shock staring at her.
The laughing begins now, as we can see from the groups point of view and how juxtapose she looks compared to the others in their stylish costumes.
The first close up we see- shows us the embarrassment that she must be feeling, and at the same time some anger that her friends didn't warm her.
Our 3 next main characters in the film are shown here. All in the same shot could show that their all important and have the same role in the film. The music is made lower which may symbolise how our main character is feeling by the let down of her friends.
A pan shot is used as we watch the desperate run away. The music is also changed to a resent song (scouting for girls) as she runs though town.
A birds-eye-view shot here. The green and red costume may have been used to symbolise the anger and jealousy she may be feeling toward's her friends.
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gyWpNjUGDiI)
I watched the opening to this film and noticed many things that the director has done to make us learn about the main character just from the first 4 minutes of the film. I found the shot types interesting- so i have print screened the best ones and will analyse this below.
Shows us the location of the film set, with the see looking lovely, and the day beautiful which is contrasting with how the main chacter is feeling as she runs home.
A side close up, showing the emotion (upset) of the character and her urgency to run away.
The last shot we see in the introduction to the film, a moody teenager lying on her bed because of her dramatic events in her life. It foreshadows more of being let down by her friends, not getting a boyfriend due to her social ways and arguing with her parents.
Sunday, 3 October 2010
How does ‘The Pursuit of Happiness' use of juxtaposition affect representation in the film?
Throughout the pursuit of happiness each character that we see in the mise-en-scene are represented in different ways to make us dislike, feel happy or sympathies for. Chris Gardner (Will Smith) represents a hard working, goal seeking person from the black society trying to make money for him and his family to get by.
The first scene we see in the film is Chris and his son Christopher (Jaden Smith) on there way to playschool. We see the two holding hands and in Chris’ other hand he is carrying a box which at this point, we are not introduced to. I think that this represents the two most important things in Chris’ life being held on either side of him. His son, showing his ability to be a father and the responsibility that comes with it. And this box, the thing that he’s sure is going to get him by and maybe even one day that he’ll live the American dream. It shows ambition, dedication and at this point in the film a steady income.
Linda (Thandie Newton) is then introduced on the screen looking unattractive and exhausted. The mise-en-scene that is used throughout the time we see Linda on screen during the film shows her in a grungy nurse’s uniform, wearing little makeup and never happy with the situation she’s in. I think the saying ‘the glass is half empty’ could be used to represent Linda’s view on life compared to Chris’ optimism in his choice of career. We know this because of the use of flashback when the machines were first being brought into the house; this shows the excitement and how much younger they look, being represented with bright lights and a sense of something good about to happen in their voices. The way Linda reacts when she first sees her husband in the film is forecasting the breakdown in her marriage and her leaving her son and husband behind.
The transitions of shots and tone of the music are changed when Chris is walking down a road with what we can assume from the mise-en-scene is in the middle of town, filled with well off, middle class business people. The shot shows all of them smiling which connotes that their happy with how their life’s going which is strongly juxtaposes with Chris’ life and how he has to walk though this part of the city to be turned down by what he thought would be a potential buyer of the bone density scanner which represents how much people with money matter to the character and how it could really help him.
The scene with the interview is probably the most juxtapose scene in the whole film because of the huge contrast between Chris and the rest of the interviewees in their designer suits and shaven faces compared to Chris’ covered in paint look, wearing jeans and a t-shirt. During the interview to the film there are a lot of point-of-view shots to put us in Chris’ position of being interviewed by these four intimidating men. I also noticed in this scene, the first proper bit of laughter in the film when Chris makes a jokes which results in us leading to positive thoughts and opportunities that might well come his way.
When this six month apprenticeship comes Chris’ way we see the best thing in his life happening in the worst time of his life. This career opportunity is probably the one chance he’ll get and yet his marriage is in pieces and his child’s educational needs aren’t being reached. Christopher represents the innocents and naivety to the harsh adult word and notices quite obvious things. For example when Chris manages to get a bone density scanner off the gypsy who stole it and their sitting on the bus with two he says ‘Your not meant to have any of them, you have two now’. These words would have been influenced by his mother and shows that there really is a halt of them not being sold.
Things are at the lowest point for Chris when he and his son are forced to sleep at the shelter due to being unable to pay the rent. I think that the film uses a stroke of irony when we see the cue for the shelter. In this, we see a lot of homeless, scruffy clothed and unshaven people. Then we see Chris, in his suit and looking tired from a hard day in the office however as it’s unpaid work he’s resulted to taking himself and his young son to this play filled with connotations of drug abusers and lazy workers. This scene puts Chris in the opposite position to where he was in his interview so shows that work has got better however the personal life is going down hill.
The last scene is very symbolic because Chris has just be given the opportunity of a life time, everything would be fine and he can bring his son up in a word where they wouldn’t have to scrape for every penny. We see the two walking in to the sunset, holding hands however this time Chris isn’t holding a big box in the other hand, but Christopher’s lunch box which symbolizes Chris being able to finally provide and take care of his child and finally be a proper father to his son.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)