Our group has hit a little bump in the road, as since we last filmed our location has drastically changed. Since the last we filmed the fence in the garden of our location has fallen down and cannot be repaired so we must now re-shoot all the scenes in which the fence can be seen (which is a lot of them). So shooting has ground to a halt for now but we have scheduled to re-shoot during the Christmas holidays. Even though we have had a few difficulties we will be back on track in no time and will hopefully have finished filming before the new year.
Once back from the holidays we plan to start editing and finish by deadline. We have developed our ideas and know most of what we will do in post production so when it comes to editing all should run smoothly.
I feel that this will not impact our final project too much as we have worked through the null and will be back on track soon.
On Thursday, November 19th we visited the BFI and attended lectures by Tom Woodcock and also met the awarded director of the new film The Hallow, Corin Hardy.
This was my first ever trip to the BFI and the experience allowed me to get an understanding on what things will enhance my grade in my film opening, it also allowed me to understand the importance of the opening credit, not just the people listed but the way it looks and fits into the picture. The opening credit in the first few films of all tome back in the 30s/40s all game at the beginning similar to end credits now, plain and simple and scrolled down the screen however after this the opening of films became exiting and innovative including animations and all sorts of different fonts. Saul Bass was one of the first to introduce new extraordinary opening credits. Bass was a graphic designer who worked with several very famous film makers to produce many of the most recognisable opening credits we know and love today:
We explored what an opening sequence can tell us, it can introduce characters, develop plot, establish genre and other things. We also viewed the work of previous years openings and then had to give them a band, this helped me to understand what I would need to do to get marked into the top band.
Overall this trip was beneficial to further my understand of the criteria and help in my knowledge of how to better my work.
For our opening film idea we got inspiration from a clip from donnie dark in which Donnie meets Franks which I have previously posted. Other clips we have taken inspiration from is the meeting scene in Moonrise Kingdom in which the main protagonists meet, this clip is inspiring as the two shot as they meet show their reactions to each other:
We also took inspiration from a Luther episode in which a man is hidden under the woman's bed, her obliviousness will match that of our protagonists and the shots are similar as they have point of view shots from the figure and then the figure is revealed right at the end of the clip:
In this clip the audience is aware that the woman may know that somethings is wrong by the way she looks over her shoulder towards her bedroom.
This is a point of view shot from the figure under her bed which hints to the audience that she is not alone in the room, we are using this shot in our film from the point of view of the figure stalking our protagonist.
This is when the non-deictic sound kicks in which makes this shot extra chilling as the music just adds to the eeriness. This is the tone we are aiming for with our project.
We have decided between the three of us that the most appropriate place to film our opening is Megan's house as it is quite open and has a large garden area in which we can see the figure. This location also has all the rooms we need to do the shots we were planning, furthermore Megan's kitchen has a window in her kitchen in which the audience may be able to see the figure if they are vigilant which may give an edge to our scene.
Here are some pictures:
Characters:
For actors we need someone tall to be the figure as this person needs to be a prominent feature that looms over our protagonist, we were thinking Megan's brother as he is quite tall. For our protagonist we were thinking a shorter, professional looking woman. Megan's sister was our first candidate however due to her schedule and location she may not be available when we need her. we were also considering Nadia or Jodie who are sixth former who we could put a professional outfit on to make her look older.
How would react to seeing a strange masked figure in your garden?
We asked several people what the would do if they saw a strange masked figure in their garden, here are the results:
Scream: 3
Swear: 6
Silence: 9
Some people did say they would swear and then run away.One said that they would do the typical "Scream" scream. A couple of people said they would tense up and stand there frozen.
In the end, I have found from my results that the vulnerable person should be silent and hopefully clutch their coffee as she turn around too see the rest of the garden. Personally, I think she should be silent as this opening is so open that any little detail will effect the audience and Jodie with or without sound.
As we have been in this media class for a while now, and looking at previous work and Film/TV clips, it will be unlikely that Jodie will scream but instead may jump, hence dropping the coffee. Furthermore, we also realised that if she was too scream, it may be a typical Drew Barrymore scream in the film "Scream". So, we decided to stay away from that and have no dialogue apart from a gasp or clutching her coffee for dear life.
We were asked to film ourselves analysing three clips, showing how the use of editing and filming techniques portray the characters and show the story. Here are the results:
6.30 - 6.40: Quick discussion of camera shots to do.
6.40 -7.10 Indoor shots in kitchen.
7.15: Estimated sunrise, first Figure P.O.V shot.
7.30: Outdoor shots.
8.00: Two Shot, revealing the figure.
We will repeat this schedule until all the filming is done, this will allow there to be good lighting continuity in the shots.
On Saturday the weather should be what we are hoping for a cool crisp autumn morning with low chances of rain. There will be good cloud cover which will allow the scenes to be a bit dark but not too dark giving some shots an ominous feel to them, which is what we are aiming for.
These are our storyboards for our final idea which show the shot types, sound and shot length. We will hopefully start filming on Saturday the 14th as the weather should be good.
Halloween day I plucked up the courage to watch a recent horror hit, The Babadook. Released in 2014, directed and written by Jennifer Kent and starring Essie Davis. A widowed mother is burdened with her abnormally weird, monster obsessed child and soon becomes haunted by a sinister presence. Focusing on the realistic anxiety that surrounds this mother and her disturbed child, The Babadook is thrilling and unnerving.
This film was sinister and unsettling throughout. Like The Shining, this film depicts what it may be like to be driven into insanity. Less about jump scares and more about getting deep under the skin of the audience. The Babadook walks the line between realism and surrealism, perfectly combining the realistic decent into madness brought on by a demonic creature brought out by a book. The cinematography of this film is absolutely brilliant and completely responsible for its greatness. The shots, editing and music is fantastic and increased the ominousness of the film.
Although this is classified as a horror film I can confidently say I will sleep fine tonight (unless I happen to find any Babadook books on my shelf) as it was unsettling and disturbing but had a very 'happy'? ending.
I really enjoyed this film and recommend it to those who enjoy being thrilled. I rate this a 9.4/10
If it's in a word. Or it's in a look. You can't get rid of ... The Babadook.
In the spirit of all hallows eve I watched the famous 1980 classic The Shining. Directed by Stanley Kubrick this film is brilliantly chilling and perfectly executed. Based on the classic Stephen King book this film focuses on a small family, the Torrance's, as they maintain a large hotel over the winter. Known for a previous caretaker's murder of his entire family. The family is haunted by strange figures and visions, and we experience Jack's decent into insanity.
I absolutely loved this film, it was suspenseful and thrilling. Jack Nicholson's performance was brilliant, his pivotal turn to madness was subtle but clear. The overall the filmography of this film was great, used to keep the audience on the edge of their seats. Shelley Duvall's and Danny Lloyd's performance were compelling and convincing throughout and I was truly terrified. A fantastically constructed film that demands to be seen, I rate it 10/10. All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. Happy Halloween...
I asked 25 people a range of questions to do with their film preferences, here are the results:
By doing this questionnaire I learnt that the idea my group currently has will appeal to a wide audience if it done correctly as many people would enjoy flash forwards if done well and make sense in context. However some people thought that flash forwards could possible ruin the film by maybe not making sense or just ruining the end as they worked out what happened before the film is over. Also, I learnt that the first ten minutes are important to most people as it sets up the tone of the film and keeps them wanting to watch. Although the opening to our film is only two minutes we will try to create something interesting that will keep the audience watching. In addition I noticed that people did like thrillers, as long as they were well done and captivating but less people liked horrors which will indicate to us what kind of genre will appeal to a wider audience. Most of the people I asked mostly watched films that were rated 15, I think this is because they are targeted towards a mature audience without all the gore, sex and swearing as films that are rated 18. Some people did prefer to watch films rated 18 as they were more hardcore but I think our film opening will appeal to a wider range of people if we keep it 15. Some people were for a female protagonist as it gave out a positive message to young girls aspiring to work in the film industry, however most of the people I asked were impartial and felt that it did not matter if the main character was male or female. Overall I think many people would enjoy a film that was gripping right from the start and had good editing techniques, people and good writing in it, which is the type of thing my group is aiming for with our two minute opening.
In the lesson we practised story boarding by watching an extract of Luther, here are the results:
This story boarding practice will be useful for the future as we will use loads of these for our final product. It is important to story board before filming so when you start to film you can stay on topic and know what you are doing. Obviously, I will not be the main story boarder because it is evident that I cannot draw.
This is our first idea for our two minute film opening. It was further developed in this video and we plan to develop it more. We would also like to incorporate other ideas into our final production.
There is no film that this idea directly comes from but I think my inspiration was the from the film Donnie Darko, in which Donnie meets Frank ( a 6" man in a bunny costume). The scene is ominous and deep without giving so much away as what this character has to do with the rest of the film, and I think that is what we are aiming for in our scene.
The Martian directed by Ridley Scott, and starring Matt Damon. Adapted from the book of the same name, during a manned mission to Mars, Astronaut Mark Watney is presumed dead after a fierce storm and left behind by his crew. But Watney has survived and finds himself stranded and alone on the hostile planet. With only meagre supplies, he must draw upon his ingenuity, wit and spirit to subsist and find a way to signal to Earth that he is alive.
Personally I think this film is very well done, the picture and framing of shots are beautiful and he sets are brilliantly constructed. The plot of the film is gripping, compelling and funny throughout. From the first scene there is high action and intensity, a gripping plot and fantastic acting especially on Damon's part makes you feel attached to his character rooting for him the entire way to succeed in his mission of getting home.
Over all this movie is fantastic. The writing and directing of this film is very well done and allows a lot of character development allowing the audience to feel connected with the characters. Many of the actors do a very good job of bringing these characters to life and making us relate to them. Furthermore there is a lot of accurate science in this film so you are also learning. I really, really like this film and recommend it to everyone.
The shower scene is one of the most famous scenes in this film, the sound used in the is high pitched music along with the woman's screams build up tension in the scene and makes the audience feel scared. It also makes the scene gripping and unsettling.
Other films go for a score that is upbeat and make the audience feel happy and upbeat throughout the film, this may be using one song for example Everything is Awesome from The Lego Movie or using an entire soundtrack for example The Awesome Mix, Vol 1 from The Guardians of the Galaxy.
However it is not just film soundtracks that are used to establish a relationship with the audience but also TV shows. The opening credit music of a show can tell you a lot about what to expect for example the well known Friends theme tune tells the viewer that this show is upbeat and relaxed however music from the opening scene from Dexter is chilling and mysterious, this sets a darker tone for the rest of the show:
However it is not just music but maybe lack there of, and also sound effects may impact the audience than actual music. An example of this is in the film drive in which The Driver proceeds to beat up a man and then stomping his head in. First there is a slow quite crescendo of the background and then the cracking and crunching side effects add a chilling factor to the scene as it feels like you are there and makes the audience unsettled.
Shot reverse shot is used in this clip so that we can see both sides of the conversation. We can also see how each of the characters react to what the other person says in more detail than a split screen.
Split Screen - When Harry Met Sally
Like shot reverse shot a split screen is used so that viewers can see both sides of the conversation but at the same time. By using a split screen a movie can show two different thing at different places happening at different or the same time.
Parallel Editing - Silence of the Lambs
Parallel editing allows the audience to see two different sets of action unfolding at the same time. In this clip one within the house, and one outside the house. Towards the end of the clip, we can see another set of action with Clarice. We are made to feel that the police are intercepting on the house of the Cannibal, but in actual fact it is Clarice who is outside the Cannibal's house. The effect of parallel editing is that all three events are linked together and it causes tension to build.
Montage - Big Hero 6 Many action movies have that very important 'suiting up' montage. This is used to show many things happening over a long period of time with motivating music playing over the top of it all.
Eye-line Match - Star Wars
This is used to show things from the view of a character, it gives the effect that you are in the characters place. In this scene you can see Princess Leia and she is looking at the storm troopers which builds up suspence as she then shoots at them.
Donnie Darko directed by Richard Kelly is all about Donnie and his life leading up the the end of the world... In the opening scene we meet Donnie, laying in the road early in the morning.The scene then shows Donnie's journey home showing a shot of each of his family members the Song The Killing Moon by Echo and the Bunnymen playing in the background. I like this scene because it reveals little to nothing about the actual plot, but is also shot very beautifully. Interesting fact: in the directors cut of the film the opening song is different (Never Tear Us Apart by INXS) which gives the scene a very different tone.
Memento directed by Christopher Nolan is a backwards film about one man's journey to find justice for his wife. I like this opening because it focuses on the fading picture which is a main focus in this film. Also the scene is entirely backwards which leaves the audience with many questions that can only be answered by watching the entire film.
Harold and Maude directed by Hal Ashby is a cult classic. I love the opening to this film because it starts off in the strangest way. Upbeat music playing and suddenly the first character that is introduced "dies", the reaction of his mother is not what you expect as she proceeds to make a phone call. I think it's a quite bazaar way to start a film but it does reflect Harold's character very well as an creepy, eccentric person.
Pulp Fiction directed by Quinton Tarantino is a classic masterpiece, not only does the opening scene excite you but the conversation between the couple starts off quite normally and escalates to the point of armed robbery.
Drive directed by Nicolas Winding Refn. The opening scene illustrates gosling's character 'The Driver' very well, as he is quite and shrouded in mystery. The scene does very well in familiarising his character and the area in which it is set with absolutely no dialogue, much like the rest of the film.
This channel is a concoction of slap-dash sketches and impersonations. Mikey Bolts (as seen below) is almost the exact mirror image of Seth Macfarlane, he sounds like him too. This channel is filled with light-hearted humor and is all together quite fun and inclusive. It would be a bit further down the list if he posted more frequently.
9. CollegeHumor
This show is also a sketch show. They host an array of videos, many of which are not suitable for children. You have been warned!
8. BuzzFeedVideo
Like CollegeHumor this channel is also quite random with its videos. Some are cooking, workplace sketches and my personal favorite, The Try Guys:
7. How It Should Have Ended
I really like this channel because it gives a twist on the endings of movies and TV shows and sometimes it is quite satisfying seeing the alternative ending.
6. Fine Brothers Entertainment/ The React Channel
This channel has an organised routine of videos, including kids, teens, adults and elders react. They also do react gaming and other shows. I like this channel because of the rawness of the reactions and peoples different views on different things.
5. Cinema Sins
This channels explains everything wrong with movies, music videos and brands. This is a good channel to watch if you are into film making because it exposes plot holes and general stupid errors in bad films ad just pokes holes at the good ones.
4. Screen Junkies
This channel has three scheduled shows: Tuesdays is Honest Trailers, which is like the show on cinema sins but in less time and in a trailer fashion, it makes fun of the movie and the actors and tells you the 'truth' about the movie. On Thursdays the Screen Junkies Show which talks about movies, reviews, hits and missed and all sorts. Finally on Sundays is Movie Fights, a panel of fighters debate topics such as best Lord of the Rings movie and if you could only watch one film forever what would it be. All these shows are great for movie buffs such as myself.
3. Cracked
This channel loves to make fun of movies, video games and companies. This channel has a lot of different content such as Cracked Responds, Internet Party, Honest Commercials and my personal favorite After Hours:
2. Good Mythical Morning
The weekly show that talks about anything and everything, hosted by Rhett and Link (as pictured below). It's weird, but I like it.
1. The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
The American late night talk show hosted by actor turned talk show host Jimmy Fallon. I like this show because I can't watch the full show on TV but this is close enough. Jimmy is a great host because he doesn't just do sit down interviews, he does impressions, skits and games with his guests.
Napoleon Dynamite (2004) directed by Jared Hess and starring Jon Heder. Many things in Napoleon's life begin to change when his uncle Rico comes to look after him and his older brother when his grandma goes into the hospital.
For a boy named Dynamite, he is the geekiest person imaginable and his ginger afro and thick glasses don't help. He is pushed around by pretty much everyone and has no friends, that is until he meets Pedro. Jon Heder plays the character of Napoleon very well, very dry and self-aware.
To say this film was weird would be an understatement. Everything about this film is strange and nothing much really happens. Personally I think there is nothing special about this film apart from it's concept. The beginning of the film was slow and I couldn't really tell where it was going. Once Pedro's campaign began the film began to pick up speed. The movie is a quest for justice, recognition and girlfriends. To be honest its quite relatable and funny, in a weird way.
With Hess's direction, Heder's acting and the 'election dance' finale, the films quirkiness becomes too overbearing not to make you smile.
My favorite film of all time is Donnie Darko, directed by Richard Kelly and starring Jake Gyllenhaal I love this film because I could watch it over and over and over and can still have a new interpretation of it every time. It's mind-blowing, innovative and original and I love it.
My Favorite actor is... well - there are too many to choose from. My most memorable childhood film is definitely Mulan because it showed me you don't need to be a strong tough man to do what you want. It broke all gender norms and opened my eyes to sexuality and feminism from such a young age. I think every child should watch it.
When I was a child I loved and still do love comic books, my favorite being The X-Men. However nowadays the only magazine I really read is the Time Out magazine because I love the entertainment section, especially the movie reviews. My favorite movie line, just happens to be from my favorite movie: It requires a bit of context, but if you want context watch Donnie Darko.
I would love to live in the Shire, because I'm small enough to be a hobbit and I would have the most beautiful decorated hobbit hole. Also, it's very green and well manicured.
YouTube is the website that I visit the most because I like watching videos that other people make. Some of them are inspiring, funny and a lot of the shows that I watch give me vital film updates. I think the best opening scene in all of time is the opening to the Christopher Nolan classic, Memento. The scene opens to this Polaroid picture, however it is not until the picture starts to fade that you realize the entire scene is backwards. I love this scene because it is gripping and opens you up to all these questions that only watching the entire film will answer. That right there, is brilliant film making.
Finally, if I were to own any gadget from any film. The Tardis! And unlike The Doctor with the Tardis that can travel through space and time, I wouldn't just stay mostly in modern day England.
