My first shot whilst filming was of the young girl on the sofa reading a magazine. I decided to film the first scene of the opening first because as it the beginning of my opening, it may have given me ideas about how i wan her positioned or just other ideas for the movie in general. I changed i made to the first scene was i added more light because it was a bit dark for the scene as well as the camera.
Also i added an extra move for the actor. I decided that she was going to walk in and sit down, and from there continue to read her magazine . whilst she was sitting down, with the camera, i slowly zoomed in till it reached her face, where when i edit it it be cut as it reaches her face. Another part of my play that i filmed was the keys ((unknown object)). The keys in my film is meant to signify the mystery and thought of why it is being filmed, and how does it relate to the film. To achieve this feeling i decided to only get a shot of the keys once throughout the whole movie so then it it a question of why it was being shown. Also i zoomed in onto the keys a i did with the young girl to empathise the mystery around it.
For my final filming I decided that i was going to go with idea 3. The reason for my choice was because there is a cliffhanger and also the audience were unaware of what was about to happen, which left suspense and had an enigma to the plot. However i made a few changes the to the actually idea. For the first i decided that be packing her bags instead of just sitting in the living room, or i thought that she could be reading a magazine or a book, so that it gives the scene a bit of understanding.
Another change to the idea was as the end all different items are dropping and as she come to something usual the phone rings making her shout. In the last scene you a random person in black going towards the key holder and it slowly fades out.
Asset List
camera
tripod
clothing
interesting item
keys
telephone
house
rooms
key holder
book/magazine
Above is my asset list for my film. it is important to have an asset list because it reminds me of the things needed for my film. Also it helps me plan ahead as well as prepare for when i start to film my film opening.
For this task my group and i made a preliminary video of the following 3 shots , match on action, 180 degree rule and shot reverse. Before we started putting the shots to film, we first had to plan a plot(storyline) so the shots that were needed to be include followed with the story. Our storyline involved a boy and two girls. At first one of the girls and the boy are practicing for a play, but one of the girls receives a text message from her friend ( the other girl,practicing for the play wit them also) so she leaves to go and get her. But the twist of the play is that as the first girl and boy came to practice, she was holding a dress. The dress you see then is the same dress you see the boy dancing with singing Hannah Montana.
To understand how we were gonna film this we made sure that we had a storyboard and a shot list to follow so that our film looked neat and organised. Below is our storyboard and shot list of our film.
As we finally decided what our storyline was, we now had to find a suitable location in which would be appropriate for our filming and also was not a disruption to us. After searching we found that the media studio room, on school grounds was the perfect location to film our task. The reason we picked the media room was because it was spacious and also was supplied with lights in which was helpful to us because we was able to give the room more lighting which gave more of an affect to our film.
Following this we had to round up actors to play the following parts which were:
A Boy
2 Girls
As a group we decided that it's be easier if myself and another member of our group play the roles of the two girls. As for he boy role, we asked a friend who kindly accepted the role (dispute singing in a dress). Now that we had got a cast together we now needed a script in which they had to follow. Writing a script, as a group, we had to be sure that everyone had something to say and that the dialogue matched our storyline. The script below is the dialogue used during our filming.
Now that we had plan what it is we wanted our film to be, we then focused on the camera angles, shots, dialogue,sounding and lighting of the film. These were important factors because, as a group we all had to contribute in order to gain the quality of our film.
As an actor, there were many factors i had to consider whilst filming. One of the factors was the pronunciation of my lines. I had to be sure that the camera could hear what i was saying. Also it was important that i project my voice so i was heard on camera.
Another thing i had to be aware of whilst acting was my body angles. It was important that, along with my speech, i had to be aware of the position of the camera so that i did not block the camera as well as the actor. Being an actor was a challenging job simply because there were so many things you had to do i.e. memorising and remembering the dialogue, my body angle and my speech. Also because the person in our group filming wanted to be sure that we had enough shot, we also had to retake many scenes.
Retaking the same scene was important also because as a group when putting it together, we had to be sure that there was enough takes to pick from. so for example if one shot was blurry or had a part of the dialogue missing it would not have mattered as we had taken many shots of the same scene.
In addition to filming, i believe it was important to practice the three shots because to me, i have more knowledge of how to get a successful shot. Also it helped me with my camera angle and how i should position the camera if i wanted my audience to get a clear view of the shot within the scene.
When we finally finished, to edit our film, we used abode premiere pro. This helped us select the wanted shots and cut the unwanted parts of the scene. Also were able to unlink unwanted audio and video so that it was a clear cut film.
In conclusion making a preliminary task has helped me focus more on my techniques of my camera angles and also how to position the camera to ensure a clear but good film.
For my final idea I've decided to call it ''THE UNKNOWN''. so the plot or storyline as some may call it is, we have a young girl at home by herself. We then get some interesting shots of objects in her house. As the camera films back on her, we hear the phone ring. at this point we have an extreme close up of her and on the phone. Before she answers it we get a behind the shoulder shot along with a point other view. From here we film a key rack in the house. From here we are unaware of whats been said in the conversation, so just before she drops the phone down we catch a close shot of her doing it. At this stage we see a reaction from the girl, and from here she it the filmed running out of her house with out keys. so to the viewers we are unware of the unknown caller. It then ends with dissolve feature.
So for my second idea i've decided to go for a scary movie. first as the camera starts rolling we see a shots of dfferent rooms within a house with no-one inside of them. then the last shot of a room in a house will be the kitchen where you will come across the window. for this shot will be tracking towards the window as as you get closer, the next shot will be a match on action and you willbe looking from outside the house. as you come out of the gate you, the camera will turn the corner and as yout turn the corner youe see a car flashlight (BRIGHT) and beside a silhouette figure of a person all blacked out in clothing. As The Titles Come And Go.. As It comes back to the screen We See this Figure Getting closer and closer until we reach her eyes, as she blinks her last blink you hear an alarm clock in which you come to a next shot with a girl eyes wide home..and then an open view of her laying on the bed.
First And Formost The First Thing You Will See Is just a black screen but with over voices appering. The voices that you hear will appear to be of a family having fun or a day out. Next a flash from a camera will lead you to the next frame panning around as more photos drop on top of each other with over voices still there BUT the over voices clashes with voices of an argument as well as a little girl laughing and having fun..suddenly you hear a tyre screech which leads you to a white fade in also moving in towards a young boy who appears to be unconious on the floor. Then the noise of crying become the screen but blurred out as we get an extreme close up of the young boy's face.
After you hear the sound of ringing but as we getting closer frame on the boy's face moving towards his eyes (which are shut) We enter another scene where his eyes suddenly open.
As we first see the opening shot we are presented sound effects of minor whispers, with then come a feather which flows into the second shot of a panned shot of almost as if its is following the feather as it falls to the ground. As viewers we are currently opened to the film as it gives of a soft and calm feeling. At one point the feather remains in the air for a few seconds but as it begins to fall you are brought into another scene in which the camera is still panning within the shot. Whilst the camera is moving, we get a sense of an establishing shot alongside the panning shot.
The panning shot reveals a calm, and relaxed town, almost disequilibrium, as it is not an everyday thing for a town to be as quiet, especially if it is seen to viewed in the morning. Another thing within the film is at the beginning and throughout the shots a theme tune is being played. The music played sounds like the, high class relaxing music in which they learn to play on the piano from a young age. As the audience this gives of a warm and soothing feeling, as we watch the film.
In this shot, as the audience, we are presented from a bird’s eye view of actors and incoming cars. Also it may seem that this shot can also be said to be a wide shot as well as a long shot. This important when filming because it allows the viewers to see all that is going on and capture the items or objects which cannot be seen through a vertical shot.
Following this shot we see an over the shoulder shot as well as an point of view shot, which as the audience helps out knowledge of the directors imaginary of what it is he wanted the audience to see. This important not only as a director but as an audience to understand the plot or line up of the story or it could result in loss of viewers, of confusion of what it is we should understand at the point in timing.
Another taken in this film is the tilt shot in which it comes from the bottom and reveals its object or actor once it reaches the top. In this film we are presented with a tilt shot as the feather drops unto an unknown person wearing the trainers.To which reveals a man sitting on a bench. This shot is important because its gives an enigma of a mysterious feeling of what you are about to see. At times shot like these are cut shot so the mystery remains within the story.
As we draw closer to the end of the opening scene we are presented as a wide shot of the man sitting on a bench, which a bus passes him and he continues to view the town. This gives an impression of anxiety of what will be viewed to the audience next.
I Am Legend Is Acted By Will Smith. At the beginning of I am legend you are presented with a black screen, with an over voice, talking about curing cancer. This effect on the audience signifies that it is in the future, as, reality now; cancer is not being able to be cured. The black screen appearing gives of the enigma of the unknown, of who is speaking, and what had happened to the event of curing cancer. As the Person, unseen, in the black screen, finishes her dialect, an instance phrase appears, quoted from a survivor, of the unknown event.
This is significant to the film because, as an audience, we are still unaware of the events that have occurred. The colour font from the writing, white, stands out on the black screen, (WOB) which gives it enough stamina and boldness to the writing and is clear enough for the viewers to read. Whilst the writing appears your hear an sound effect also appear at the same time as the writing appears. This gives it more of an affect, almost a mystery of what is to happen next.
Next you hear a theme tune to which is played whilst the different shots of an unknown city are being showed. This gives of an emotion or feeling of isolation or loneliness. Again you hear an over voice, but this time of a man, claiming he is a ‘survivor’, the same word written in the phrase in the earlier shots of the film.
The first 2 shots presented are shown as a landscape to empathize that we as the audience are viewing a city. For example in this shot we are being viewed a dock, which may symbolize that, we are focused on city, which imports goods, a working town.
Following these shots we are presented with a wide shots, of the same city, but unaware of where it is. As a director this is a challenge as it is important that viewers watching are not confused enough to put up a wall to stop watching. Also the good impact this has is you are unaware of what is to come within the movie, almost as if its leaving a cliff hanger so were are more on edge about what is to happen.
Here in this shot you see a wide shot, also an establishing shot, and it may seem as if it has been taken from a high angle.This gives of the effect as a bird’s eye view almost as if we are the ones actually looking from a point of view, which gives the audience a feeling of being included within the film.
Towards the end of the opening we are presented with an extreme close up view of a mannequin, which is not being viewed through a shop window or in a retail store. To the viewers this could give of the impression of discomfort as it not equilibrium in an ideal world, which brings as to the cliffhanger of the film as we see the title of the film in white on a black screening, empathizing the anonymous and unidentified storyline of the film.
Thursday 14 October 2010
My Task for This project was to recreate an opening scene for a film, as well as trying to match the correct • Timing • Change of scene • Location • Clothing
Planning and Filming
During this task there were numerous jobs in which I had to complete in order for my film opening to look like the original. First I had to make sure I picked a film opening, which, for this project, was Footloose. Footloose opening mainly consisted of different types of shoes in which changed every time the screen changed. So my partner and I had to be sure to remember some of the key things of the video. For instance: • How many shoes where involved • How many beats per second were included • How many scenes where involved • The different types of shoes.
To prepare we had to be sure to organise ourselves, and the best way we thought was to create a shot list and a storyboard. This was important because it was an easier way to remember the next frame or the next shoe involved in the frame. Also it helped remind us about the type of shot, whether it is was a close up, long or extreme shot.
Location
In our remake, because we did not have many different shots, we had to be sure that the location we picked was suitable i.e whether, lightning space, to make our film a success. At times my partner and I thought that inside was a suitable because it matched the film we were remaking (Footloose). After Searching our options we decided to film in an enclose room in our school,the studio room. In This room to make it more appropriate for film we added a white back drop with a few spotlights to make it look more presentable.
Casting
After asking around for people to star in our film, my partner and i came to a decision whereby we thought it'd be easier for us to star in it, as it was footwork, and practicing and memorising the beat, we know and spend less time teaching it to others.
Timing
After we had made the storyboard and shot list, at this time round our main focus was the achieve the right timing as well as the correct the movement as close to the original. with this was the beats in the song in which every dance step had to match the beat of the song, or it would not mirror our remake. So to make this work we, as partners, decided that aside from 3 shots, every shot had 2 lots of 8 beats per shot. This was important to us because knowing the beat helped us to keep to the music which was important considering that our remake mainly consisted of footwork.
With us we had to have patience whilst filming simply because we had 23 shots to film which or consisted of keeping up with the beat within the film and changing costume in between. It was also important to keep time management because we had to be sure that if was not organised with the time, or set a date for when we should finish, it would have taken us longer because we would not have had the right mind map, to finish our goal.
Costume
For me, the costume department must have been the most challenging because instead of different items we had to prepare different pair of shoes. Although there were a few clothing items we had many shoes to bring in, because the shoes was what made the film opening.
For example this shot the costume involved included jeans which covered the military boots.
We had many shoes which were involved in making our film opening. The different shoes involved were the following below :
Heels (purple, white, black etc) Pumps Military Boots Males Work Shoes Converses Boots Trainers
And the different clothing items involved were the following below:
Socks Jeans Tights Leg Warmers
It was important that we has every item around in case we were to do more that two films of the same shot. This was because we wanted to be sure that we had enough to work with. Also, at times, because we had a shortage of the different shoes, we thought to recycle the shoes and use them for one or more shots, but the only difference in the shots was the type of clothing item the footwear had with it.
Editing
To edit our film we had to use the application abode premiere pro, which helped us to cut, resize, and remodel our video. To set up a work place on adobe we first had to capture all our filming from out of the camera onto the desktop where it would be save and in parts for my partner and I to put together to make a montage.
After capturing each scene for the opening we then had work cut out for us. following the capturing we than started to place each scene in correct order, (before cutting and adding any necessary features to it). When we had put all the scenes into correct order it was now time to use the cutting icon to cut scenes to fit it according to the original. When cutting it was important that we had cut the right amount of the scene otherwise it would have cut to much off and this would have affected the impact of the film. Cutting a scene was used frequently in our film because we had a lot of scenes in some cases went straight into the next scene.
For some parts of our task we had to unlink some audio and visual because some unwanted sound had appeared which we did not intend to capture. so to unlink the following we had to do this:
First You Right Clicked the mouse and click the unlink option. This enabled me to unlink the double footage which will then help me because it will not delete the entire footage but just apart of it.
Next we took the part of the footage that we wanted to delete so that we only had a single audio and visual footage for our scene.
After unlinking the remaining audio and visual scenes of the footage we were left with similar recordings to our film opening (footloose).
once we had set what our film opening was set out to be, we then decided that we had to adjust the framing and sizing of the film. this was because, it made it,visually, to see clearly out video and easy enough to compare it with our film opening with original.
That was another factor in which we had to be aware of. We had to be sure that everything we cut and pasted and resized. looked and sounded the exact same as the original.
The final part to our filming was adding the text. For this part we needed to make sure that the text we added appeared at the right time as the original as well as the correct font and size.
For this task I used adobe premiere pro which helped my knowledge for the production of my opening sequence. Whilst I was making my production I was able to cut and delete particular parts of my sequence and add other videos to make up a body of images. As well as cutting and I was also able to drag on images and edit the image within the sequence. After this I added audio sound in order for my video to be more affective as an opening. Next I decided to add transitions so that it had more of an appeal to the viewers. This helped the change of an image to the next, without going straight into it. For example some of the transitions used were dissolve, slide and fade.
Before finalising my opening sequence, my final edit to my sequence was including text. The text that I added was titled embrace which had a primary effect on my opening but was still relevant. I had to be sure that text added was bold enough to be seen and the colour of the text did not fade into the background of the image. This included me cutting and editing whilst deleting parts of which was not needed.
