Saturday 28 February 2009
Storyboard tutorial
During class, I was given a task to break up a synopsis into no more than 20 shots. The synopsis was East London, 3pm, a man chain-smokes as he sits at his home PC. he copies confidential computer files and plans to a CD. He packages them and is seen posting them. I was required to identify each shot under external/internal, shot type, action and shot description. After this tutorial, I learned that a single sequence can have a variety of shot types, actions and descriptions to develop and emphasis a sequence.
Horror Thriller - The Shining
I had viewed a Horror thriller (Chiller) called The Shining and had to list aspects of the film that was thrilling.
- Child talking to himself in bathroom
- Climaxing sounds
- Fast cutting shots of child screaming while blooding pouring
- Climaxing buzzing sounds while child plays darts
- Fast zoom on child's face when sees the girls
- Black man axed in chest
- Man axing door
- Man sees naked woman, kisses her and woman turns into old woman
Preliminary film - comments
My second practice filming was successful in developing the brief into a short film full of a variety of shot distances and shooting material appropriate to the task, including a match cut but was weak in areas of the 180 degree rule and soundtrack.
Between my first and second practice film, I have learned that sound does enhance a film and does help emphasis the mood of characters and atmosphere. Also, I have learned the technique of match cutting on how it gives a variety to types of shots and shows different points of view to one continuous activity. Furthermore, I have learned the 180 degree rule helps not to make the film appear strange or confuse the audience in the process of any type of activity or converastion on one 180 degree side. I learned how to use a new software 'Soundtrack Pro' which is used to develop sounds and music for non-diagetic background sounds.
I feel in some aspects I have followed the forms and conventions of real films. In the aspect of light, I merely used the source of the lightbulb and did not care of the different lightings. I just thought that if the charcter could be seen in the shot that was fine. In the aspect of camerawork, alot of thought had to be concentrated on teh camerawork to give variety and stucture. The c amera work was nessarsary to make the film amke sense and to amke it appear more liek a real film. In teh aspect of mise en scene, my group was put into a free empty random room and had to make do with what we was given, so we used whatever was in teh room and filmed. In the aspect of editing, alot of time was need for this as structure was needed for the final filming to amke sense to for it to have a narritive and a story. Also the editing was a longer process than our first film because of the involvment of soundtrack.
I do not think the final practice piece shows any sort of representation of a certain kind.
Between my first and second practice film, I have learned that sound does enhance a film and does help emphasis the mood of characters and atmosphere. Also, I have learned the technique of match cutting on how it gives a variety to types of shots and shows different points of view to one continuous activity. Furthermore, I have learned the 180 degree rule helps not to make the film appear strange or confuse the audience in the process of any type of activity or converastion on one 180 degree side. I learned how to use a new software 'Soundtrack Pro' which is used to develop sounds and music for non-diagetic background sounds.
I feel in some aspects I have followed the forms and conventions of real films. In the aspect of light, I merely used the source of the lightbulb and did not care of the different lightings. I just thought that if the charcter could be seen in the shot that was fine. In the aspect of camerawork, alot of thought had to be concentrated on teh camerawork to give variety and stucture. The c amera work was nessarsary to make the film amke sense and to amke it appear more liek a real film. In teh aspect of mise en scene, my group was put into a free empty random room and had to make do with what we was given, so we used whatever was in teh room and filmed. In the aspect of editing, alot of time was need for this as structure was needed for the final filming to amke sense to for it to have a narritive and a story. Also the editing was a longer process than our first film because of the involvment of soundtrack.
I do not think the final practice piece shows any sort of representation of a certain kind.
Planning, filming and editing PRELIMINARY TASK
Me and my groups next filming practical was to film a character open a door, walk into a room, sit down opposite another character and share a few lines of dialogue, making sure to use at least one match cut, an example of shot/reverse shot and showing my understanding of the 180 degree rule.
Me and my group were assigned to a random room to plan and film this brief in a double lesson and edit and include sound in the next single lesson.
Plan
We had thought of as many different shots to make it interesting, including a match cut and the 180 degree rule. To our advantage we used the props in the room as apart of our filming.
We developed this brief by having a girl sitting down tapping her fingers looking back and forth at the clock. We then see a shot of a boys footsteps towards the room of the girl and then see the boy stop at the door and look at the girl. The girl looks at the boy and says: What you doin' here?
The boy does not respond and walks across the room to a seat across the girl. The boy says: I know what you did?
I played as the boy
Nasneen played as the girl
Tasnima done the filming
Shot List:
1 Medium shot of Nasneen sitting down at a desk tapping on the table
2 Close up of Nasneens hand tapping on the table
Medium close up of Nasneens face looking at clock
3 Over the shoulder shot of Nasneen looking at clock
4 Close up of the clock
5 Low angle shot of my feet walking towards door
6 Side view of me walking towards the door stopping leading to an over the shoulder shot of me looking at Nasneen, Nasneen seen in the background by the desk sitting down turns her head to me saying: What you doin' here? (Not showing any part of my face)
7 Point of view shot of Nasneen watching walk across the room - Match cut
8 Medium shot of me from behind walking across the room and making my way to sitting down (Not showing any part of my face) - Match cut
9 Close up of my lips, I say: I know what you did?
10 Shot/Reverse shot of a close up of Nasneens face putting her hand over her mouth appearing shocked and surprised
Filming
We has 3 hours to film and had shot all the required shots we needed. We had also filmed other shots we had thought up. Unfortunaly, I think we did not use teh 180 degree rule as we ran out of time and was not completely sure how to use it with the space of the room to keep both the characters in the shot, but managed to get a match cut in the final clip.
Editing
We edited the shots together on Final Cut Pro and found it easier to process because of the past experience of editing my first film task. It was much more easier to put together and getting the timing of the match cut was successful, however on this task, we was required to include sound to help emphasis the mood of the atmosphere of the short film. We was given a short tutorial of how to create and develop a soundtrack for our film on Soundtrack Pro and found it difficult to produce and develop a track that timed as long as the clip and for it to suit and emphasis with the film. I had merely experimented with the different types of sounds, beats and instruments in order to put some sort of diagetic soundtings together. Parts of the soundtrack was not completed and was left as.
Me and my group were assigned to a random room to plan and film this brief in a double lesson and edit and include sound in the next single lesson.
Plan
We had thought of as many different shots to make it interesting, including a match cut and the 180 degree rule. To our advantage we used the props in the room as apart of our filming.
We developed this brief by having a girl sitting down tapping her fingers looking back and forth at the clock. We then see a shot of a boys footsteps towards the room of the girl and then see the boy stop at the door and look at the girl. The girl looks at the boy and says: What you doin' here?
The boy does not respond and walks across the room to a seat across the girl. The boy says: I know what you did?
I played as the boy
Nasneen played as the girl
Tasnima done the filming
Shot List:
1 Medium shot of Nasneen sitting down at a desk tapping on the table
2 Close up of Nasneens hand tapping on the table
Medium close up of Nasneens face looking at clock
3 Over the shoulder shot of Nasneen looking at clock
4 Close up of the clock
5 Low angle shot of my feet walking towards door
6 Side view of me walking towards the door stopping leading to an over the shoulder shot of me looking at Nasneen, Nasneen seen in the background by the desk sitting down turns her head to me saying: What you doin' here? (Not showing any part of my face)
7 Point of view shot of Nasneen watching walk across the room - Match cut
8 Medium shot of me from behind walking across the room and making my way to sitting down (Not showing any part of my face) - Match cut
9 Close up of my lips, I say: I know what you did?
10 Shot/Reverse shot of a close up of Nasneens face putting her hand over her mouth appearing shocked and surprised
Filming
We has 3 hours to film and had shot all the required shots we needed. We had also filmed other shots we had thought up. Unfortunaly, I think we did not use teh 180 degree rule as we ran out of time and was not completely sure how to use it with the space of the room to keep both the characters in the shot, but managed to get a match cut in the final clip.
Editing
We edited the shots together on Final Cut Pro and found it easier to process because of the past experience of editing my first film task. It was much more easier to put together and getting the timing of the match cut was successful, however on this task, we was required to include sound to help emphasis the mood of the atmosphere of the short film. We was given a short tutorial of how to create and develop a soundtrack for our film on Soundtrack Pro and found it difficult to produce and develop a track that timed as long as the clip and for it to suit and emphasis with the film. I had merely experimented with the different types of sounds, beats and instruments in order to put some sort of diagetic soundtings together. Parts of the soundtrack was not completed and was left as.
Friday 27 February 2009
Editing
on monday 23rd of february we done logging and capturing which means that we upload all the film that we done into the computer. while we were puttin all the clips together in a sequence, we noticed that there were a few gaps and some of the shots didnt carry onto the next shot smoothly so we had to change the order of the clips and experiment a lot with the clips. however we had a variety of different shots that the examiner is looking for which is good because it will get us more marks. we didnt complete the film so we are hoping to get the music and credits done in the wednesday lesson because the deadline is on friday 27th february.
The Second day of filming
on the second day of filming we had to do the reaction shots again because it wasnt the way we wanted it to look. on the second day of filming the weather was perfect because it was perfect continuity because the weather was the same as it was when we first filmed apart from the snow on the floor, however it was ok because there was no snow where we were filming.
we also filmed the end part of the beggining of the thriller. this was filmed out in the road. however this took a very long time because cars kept coming in the way and it was very unsafe because Ben had to die on the floor. also pedestrians kept walking infront of the camera so we had to re-film a lot of the parts.
we also filmed the end part of the beggining of the thriller. this was filmed out in the road. however this took a very long time because cars kept coming in the way and it was very unsafe because Ben had to die on the floor. also pedestrians kept walking infront of the camera so we had to re-film a lot of the parts.
Difficulties we faced while filming
we faced many difficulties while filming, these are listed below:
- Firstly the day that we planned to film it started to snow so we wernt allowed to film because it was dangerous
- Another difficulty we faced was that we planned to film in regents park and when we went their we were told that we wernt allowed to film as it was a security risk so as a result we had to film at a different location (Priory Park)
- it started to rain when we first went to film so we had to cover the camera in order to keep it safe also it was a continuity problem because it was raining and when we film later it would no t rain.
- Firstly the day that we planned to film it started to snow so we wernt allowed to film because it was dangerous
- Another difficulty we faced was that we planned to film in regents park and when we went their we were told that we wernt allowed to film as it was a security risk so as a result we had to film at a different location (Priory Park)
- it started to rain when we first went to film so we had to cover the camera in order to keep it safe also it was a continuity problem because it was raining and when we film later it would no t rain.
Brainstorming the thriller genre
Sub-Genres
Supernatural, Psychological
Horror: Chillers
Spy
Action
Political
Examples:The shining, The Deep Blue Sea, Panic Room
Conventions of a thriller: Confined spaces, Scary music, False Plateau, Hidden/Mistaken
Identity
Hand-held camera
Supernatural, Psychological
Horror: Chillers
Spy
Action
Political
Examples:The shining, The Deep Blue Sea, Panic Room
Conventions of a thriller: Confined spaces, Scary music, False Plateau, Hidden/Mistaken
Identity
Hand-held camera
filming on saturday
we booked the camera for the 7th of february which was a saturday. during this day we were doing our first bit of filming for the opening. we have a little boy acting so we had to get permission from his parents to use him.
we first went to our location in priory park. we then got our equipment out and started filming an over the shoulder shot of Ben sitting down looking at the child (Leon).
we then filmed Leon swinging and looking at Ben.
we were told to use a match cut so we filmed Leon walking towards Ben with a toy, we first filmed him from behind walking towards Ben then we done a match cut of Leon walking towards Ben from the front.
we also done reaction shots of Ben looking at the different places that Leon went to.
Wednesday 25 February 2009
Putting everything together
Today went very well, we put everything together; i was afraid everything would come up to five minutes! But luckily after we cut some long scenes short and deleted some footage, we managed to make our thriller come up to 2 mins and 13 seconds. I really feel that our opening shows many match cuts that i think work very well. Theres one where ben is turning around to look behind him this is again shown from infront of him.
The only problem we had today was the ending, we had to options:
1. Car Kills Ben, changes to white screen with the title showing.
2. Number one happens but after title is shown, the audience see bens body on the road.
After listening to many opinions from others we decided to go with option 2. Overall Today went well but we still have the music to add.
DEADLINE: FRIDAY!!
The only problem we had today was the ending, we had to options:
1. Car Kills Ben, changes to white screen with the title showing.
2. Number one happens but after title is shown, the audience see bens body on the road.
After listening to many opinions from others we decided to go with option 2. Overall Today went well but we still have the music to add.
DEADLINE: FRIDAY!!
Tuesday 24 February 2009
Editing
On Monday 23rd Feb, we put our footage onto the computer and began piecing everything toogether. I'll be honest it doesnt look that good but this is becauce we have yet shortened the clips added music and thought of a way of putting the credits and the titile in. One thing i have noticed however is that our footage has all the shots the examiners are looking for. There are many different camera shots. We havent completed it and hope to do alot on wednesday!! Friday is the deadline! We will hopefully have everything completed by then.
Filming Finished!
We finally finished our filming last week, this was getting all the footage of ben and the park etc..
The weather conditions were good and this made sure that our thriller opening had continuity. The tricky part was filming ben on the road as there were many cars going pass; we had to make sure some members of our group were looking out for the cars while one was filming the scene. We had done alot of filming but knew some was not going to be used, we just wanted alot to work on when we would be editing.
The weather conditions were good and this made sure that our thriller opening had continuity. The tricky part was filming ben on the road as there were many cars going pass; we had to make sure some members of our group were looking out for the cars while one was filming the scene. We had done alot of filming but knew some was not going to be used, we just wanted alot to work on when we would be editing.
Sunday 22 February 2009
Match cutting tutorial notes
As part of my thriller practical, I am required to use a variety of shot distances and shooting material appropriate to the task. I was taught the match cutting technique and was required to identify them in a short film.
A match cut is various camera shots edited together to show a single continuous activity.
We was told in order to create a match cut successfully, you had to film the activity various times and at the chosen angle, and edit them together at the precise timing in order for the match cut to appear continuous.
A match cut is various camera shots edited together to show a single continuous activity.
We was told in order to create a match cut successfully, you had to film the activity various times and at the chosen angle, and edit them together at the precise timing in order for the match cut to appear continuous.
Analysis of thriller clips - comments
The five thriller clips i have analyzed has influenced my ideas for my own thriller production. The different element has given me ideas on how to make a short piece of filming suspenseful, shocking and climaxing. It has taught me that an element by itself cannot make it interesting. Each element needs to balance each on out in order for it to be the best it can be. It has given me ideas that my final outcome needs to have lighting fit for the mise en scene or plot; a variety of camera movements, angles and shots; music that varies from silence, diegetic and non-diegetic sounds, a suitable setting and location for my plot. Every element needs to be planned for the footage to make sense.
Analysis of thriller clip analysised in class
In lesson, I had to analyze 5 clips from Thriller films under the elements of: Lighting; Use of camera (movement, angle, distance); Music (sound effects, soundtrack); Editing; Setting and location.
1. 28 Days Late
Lighting
Lighting
Setting and Location
Use of camera
Lighting
Use of camera
1. 28 Days Late
Lighting
- Bright
- Early morning
- Long shots
- Low and high angles
- Silence
- Long edits
- Echo on voice
- Empty
- Hospital
- London
- Iconography
Lighting
- Negative
- Tinted
- Natural
- Shakes
- Hand-held
- Fast
- Close up
- Climaxing
- Violins
- Voices
- Children
- Distorted Music
- Short cutting shots
- Rapid
- Solar
- Negative
Setting and Location
- Street sign
- House
- Park
- Suburb
- America
- Picket fence
Use of camera
- Blur
- Point of view shot
- Extreme close up
- Low tracking
- Mingled music and voices
Lighting
- Bright
- Close up
- Over the shoulder
- Selected focus on main character
- Medium shot
- Tracking
- Footsteps
- Diagetic sounds
- Bag drop
- Shot reverse shot
- Public street
- Airport
Use of camera
- Panning
- Reflection
- Over the shoulder
- Wind
- Sudden
- Stab
- Silent
- Long edits
- Slow camera movement
- House
Brainstorming the thriller genre and all the sub genres
Sub-Genres
- Supernatural
- Psychological
- Horror: Chillers
- Spy
- Action
- Political
- Casino Royal
- Get Smart
- The shining
- The Exorcist
- The Deep Blue Sea
- Panic Room
- Confined spaces
- Scary music
- False Plateau
- Hidden/Mistaken
- Identity
- Hand-held camera
- Audience into investigators
- Heart race
- Suspense
What have you learned from the practice filming session?
For my first filming session, I was quite happy with my camera work but each shot had to be taken many times as there were many problems concerning the stability of the camera, the 5 second filming rule before and after a shot, the surrounding sound and the acting. These problems had taken me and my group a while to get the footage we needed for our short film to make sense. Some shots were difficult like the woman walking across the street because we had to get the steadiness of the camera right for the tracking and the constantly wait for the traffic lights. Also, the over the shoulder shots were difficult because I was acting and no one in my group was taller than me so that was a camera positioning problem concerning height. Furthermore, hand held shots were difficult too as it was impossible to keep it still without a tripod. Finally, we tried to film extra shots of vehicles driving past but they were too fast and I could not get the tracking at the right timing.
I found the editing rather difficult at first because I had never used the software ‘Final Cut Pro’ before but gradually I got use to it and it got easier to construct the shots together. Successfully the shots together made sense but we did not use all the shots.
I learned that in order for your filming to make sense, everything in the mise en scene you are shooting at has to be the same from the props, costume, character/s and even weather. These things are vital in order for the shots to be seen as one.
My feedback from my teacher and my class was that it looked reasonably good for my first filming session. They said it made sense and that the shots gradually made a plot.
I thought my first filming was somewhat successful as I had shot and included what I was required but found it hard and long planning and filming shots many times, and editing it together but this will help me produce my final thriller.
I found the editing rather difficult at first because I had never used the software ‘Final Cut Pro’ before but gradually I got use to it and it got easier to construct the shots together. Successfully the shots together made sense but we did not use all the shots.
I learned that in order for your filming to make sense, everything in the mise en scene you are shooting at has to be the same from the props, costume, character/s and even weather. These things are vital in order for the shots to be seen as one.
My feedback from my teacher and my class was that it looked reasonably good for my first filming session. They said it made sense and that the shots gradually made a plot.
I thought my first filming was somewhat successful as I had shot and included what I was required but found it hard and long planning and filming shots many times, and editing it together but this will help me produce my final thriller.
First filming exercise - film storyboard
1 Full shot of woman crossin the street
2 Medium shot of man leaning on pole reading paper
3 Close up shot of man leaning on pole reading paper
4 Over the shoulder shot of man flicking through paper
5 Extreme close up of a picture of a missing person in the paper
6 Medium Side Point of view shot of man reading paper, a woman walking towards him, she taps him asking for the time
7 Medium Front Point of view shot of man looking at the woman in shock, man looks back and forth at the woman and the picture of the missing woman, man takes off glasses and looks at woman again
8 Close up shot of womans face, she says 'What?'
9 Medium Front Point of view shot of man putting back his glasses and looking back at the picture
10 Extreme close up of a picture of a missing person in the paper again
2 Medium shot of man leaning on pole reading paper
3 Close up shot of man leaning on pole reading paper
4 Over the shoulder shot of man flicking through paper
5 Extreme close up of a picture of a missing person in the paper
6 Medium Side Point of view shot of man reading paper, a woman walking towards him, she taps him asking for the time
7 Medium Front Point of view shot of man looking at the woman in shock, man looks back and forth at the woman and the picture of the missing woman, man takes off glasses and looks at woman again
8 Close up shot of womans face, she says 'What?'
9 Medium Front Point of view shot of man putting back his glasses and looking back at the picture
10 Extreme close up of a picture of a missing person in the paper again
What is a Thriller?
In class, I had to produce a list of generally what is a Thriller?
A thriller is a type of genre that has a suspenseful and climaxing story. It affects its audience psychologicallyand physically through shocks and heart race. There are types of thrillers that vary such as a Political Thriller or most commonly a Horror Thriller (Chiller).
A thriller is a type of genre that has a suspenseful and climaxing story. It affects its audience psychologicallyand physically through shocks and heart race. There are types of thrillers that vary such as a Political Thriller or most commonly a Horror Thriller (Chiller).
Tuesday 10 February 2009
our first filming exercise
our first fimling exercise was to film someone reading a newspaper and we had to make it look thrilling by using sound, camera shots and editing.
My group decided to have a person leaning against a pole reading a newspaper and then a girl comes up to the man and asks for the time, and the man realises that there was a missing girl in the newspaper and she looked the same as the girl that asked for the time.
To make the film look thrilling we used a variety of different shots for example: over the shoulder shot showing the article about the missing girl in the newspaper, medium shot showing the girl and the man, we also used close up and point of veiw shots.
we planned this in lesson. we drew a storyboard showing all the shots that we were going to use so that we found it easier and clear to see what and where we were going to film.
while we were filming we came across a few problems. the first problem was that we decided to film outside and the place where we chose to film was very uneven so the camera was bent so we had to keep adjusting the camera to make it straight. Another problem with the location that we chose to film was that it was a very busy place because it was the entrance of the college and there was a lot of distractions and there was a lot of noise because the student were walking in and out of the college.
After we filmed we had to edit the video using 'final cut pro' which was a editing programme. while we were editing i learnt that it is important to count 5 seconds in the beginning and end of a shot so that it allows us to cut the shot to how we want it.
My group decided to have a person leaning against a pole reading a newspaper and then a girl comes up to the man and asks for the time, and the man realises that there was a missing girl in the newspaper and she looked the same as the girl that asked for the time.
To make the film look thrilling we used a variety of different shots for example: over the shoulder shot showing the article about the missing girl in the newspaper, medium shot showing the girl and the man, we also used close up and point of veiw shots.
we planned this in lesson. we drew a storyboard showing all the shots that we were going to use so that we found it easier and clear to see what and where we were going to film.
while we were filming we came across a few problems. the first problem was that we decided to film outside and the place where we chose to film was very uneven so the camera was bent so we had to keep adjusting the camera to make it straight. Another problem with the location that we chose to film was that it was a very busy place because it was the entrance of the college and there was a lot of distractions and there was a lot of noise because the student were walking in and out of the college.
After we filmed we had to edit the video using 'final cut pro' which was a editing programme. while we were editing i learnt that it is important to count 5 seconds in the beginning and end of a shot so that it allows us to cut the shot to how we want it.
Intro to cameras and risk assesment
Our class was given a lesson on how to use a camera and the difficulties we could face if we didnt use the camera safetly. we were first taught how to use the tripod. we were told that the best way of using the tripod was by pulling all the legs out so that the camera wasn't wobbly. we were also shown how to put the camera on the tripod then we had to each have a turn in putting the camera on the tripod. I was taught how to play, record, stop recording, forward and rewind. this was important to learn because this is how we could check the footage we taped. we were told that it was ok to camera hand held if we wanted a point of veiw shot effect but we were told to use the tripod if we were doing a long shot. we were told to avoid using the zoom function because this will make the video look like a home movie instead of a professional film. the camera was set to auto focus so that it is always clear and so that it doesnt go out of focus half way through filming. i learnt about the '180 degree' rule: this is about filming a conversation from one side so that ithe audience dont get confused.
Saturday 7 February 2009
First filming exercise
Before we started our filming, we had a briefs which were set for us to do. One was, A character must read a newspaper in a thrilling way.
My group and i decided that our story would be that, a man is standing against a pole reading his newspaper when he comes across a missing story. The missing girl is a young girl of chinese ethicity. As the man is reading the newspaper a girl comes up to him asking: "What is the time?". The man realises this is the missing girl in the newspaper.
I learnt that filming was quite hard. The over the shoulder shot was hard to film and also there was a clip where we needed sam (female character) to cross the road. It was difficult as cars kept going past; it was hard to get a clear clip of her crossing the road.
My group and i decided that our story would be that, a man is standing against a pole reading his newspaper when he comes across a missing story. The missing girl is a young girl of chinese ethicity. As the man is reading the newspaper a girl comes up to him asking: "What is the time?". The man realises this is the missing girl in the newspaper.
I learnt that filming was quite hard. The over the shoulder shot was hard to film and also there was a clip where we needed sam (female character) to cross the road. It was difficult as cars kept going past; it was hard to get a clear clip of her crossing the road.
Final Thriller Opening
Story = A man visiting a park where there is a grave stone; he feels that he is being watched. Notices a toy on the grave stone. Leaves to go sit on a bench and read his newspaper; as he reads his paper notices a young boy acting very strange in the park. Boy keeps dissapearing; finally boy comes to give the man something. Man looks down to see it is the same toy from the grave stone... Man Runs after the boy.....
Filming on Saturday...
We booked the camera for this weekend, as this was the only time we could film the young boy.
Actors: Ben (The man) Leon (Young boy)
Location:Priory Park.
Props: Newspaper and Teddy.
We had to put make up onto the young boy to show that he was 'unusual' and had the connotations of death and ghosts attached to him. (White Powder and Black EyeLiner)
We decided to film everything invoving the young boy; the filming we did today involved Leon playing on the swings then suddenly dissapearing. Also the camera showing his point of view as he stared at ben who was on the bench throughout the whole scenes. When the 'strange' boy finally walks over to ben; he is shown through match cuts which add a sense of anticipation.
We managed to get all the footage we wanted but we still have alot more filming to do; the intro to ben comming into the park is still incompleteand many other camera shots
Our aim however is completed. We wanted lots of footage of this 'strange' boy and today we did exactly that.
Camera shots we did today = Extreme close up, over the shoulder shot, Match cuts, Mid long shot, long shot, Hand held shot.
Actors: Ben (The man) Leon (Young boy)
Location:Priory Park.
Props: Newspaper and Teddy.
We had to put make up onto the young boy to show that he was 'unusual' and had the connotations of death and ghosts attached to him. (White Powder and Black EyeLiner)
We decided to film everything invoving the young boy; the filming we did today involved Leon playing on the swings then suddenly dissapearing. Also the camera showing his point of view as he stared at ben who was on the bench throughout the whole scenes. When the 'strange' boy finally walks over to ben; he is shown through match cuts which add a sense of anticipation.
We managed to get all the footage we wanted but we still have alot more filming to do; the intro to ben comming into the park is still incompleteand many other camera shots
Our aim however is completed. We wanted lots of footage of this 'strange' boy and today we did exactly that.
Camera shots we did today = Extreme close up, over the shoulder shot, Match cuts, Mid long shot, long shot, Hand held shot.
Wednesday 4 February 2009
Intro to cameras and risk assessments..
Cameras.
*How to put it onto the tripod.
*How to make sure it doesnt fall of the tripod.
*Play/Stop/Pause etc buttons, how to function them.
We were taught that the camera must be checked to see if it is placed properly on the tripod. The focus also has to be on auto.
*How to zoom in and out. Melissa taught us that you can't zoom in and out to much because it would make the footage look like a 'home video.'
Risks
*Not allowed any water on the equipment.
*Must hold camera in a certain way.
*How to put it onto the tripod.
*How to make sure it doesnt fall of the tripod.
*Play/Stop/Pause etc buttons, how to function them.
We were taught that the camera must be checked to see if it is placed properly on the tripod. The focus also has to be on auto.
*How to zoom in and out. Melissa taught us that you can't zoom in and out to much because it would make the footage look like a 'home video.'
Risks
*Not allowed any water on the equipment.
*Must hold camera in a certain way.
Ideas
First Idea - Location: Park. Boy on the swing swinging and sining to himself while mother walks away, leaving him alone in the park. Someone is watching the boy. Mysterious person goes up to the boy. Touches the shoulders of the boy. Boy turns to face camer. Shocked, Confussed. Mother returns to see that the boy has dissapeared leaving behind his toys and a note which tells the audience the title of the thriller.
Second Idea: A strange boy following a man throughout the day. Boy finally reacher man, and gives him a picture of the man dying. This then happens to him on the spot.
Second Idea: A strange boy following a man throughout the day. Boy finally reacher man, and gives him a picture of the man dying. This then happens to him on the spot.
First filming exercise - how it went and what you learn from it
My first filming exercise was to film someone reading a newspaper in a thrilling way.
My groups concept was a person leaning on a pole reading a newspapers. In the newspaper we found a small clip of a missing person and used that, as if a person who approaches the person with the newspaper is the missing person. The person reading the paper is shocked to see the missing person.
We planned the concept and broke it down to various shots varying from medium shots, close ups, extreme close ups, over the shoulder shots and point of view shots. We decided to film outside the college as there was a pole and around it was a clear area. I drew up storyboards to make filming easier, so that I new what the film could end up looking like. I find it easier drawing or visualizing the shots up rather than writing and describing the shots.
I acted as the person reading the paper and Sam in my group played as the missing person, as she looked a bit like the photograph of the missing person in the actual paper.
Our group found difficulties filming because of the location. The ground of the location was uneven and we had to adjust the tripod many times to keep the camera shot straight. Also, we found problems filming over the shoulder shots as no one in my group was tall enough to film above be. In addition, there were many distractions around us that disturbed filming, which slowed us down.
Over all for each different shot, we took around 4 shots for each take to get it right.
I learned that in order to have a good and complete filming is to plan it thoroughly and include a variety of camera shots to make it interesting. I also learned how to put the shots together we filmed to create a completed filming and to make sense of all the filming we shot. I used the 'Final Cut Pro' software and learned different tools to put the shots together.
My groups concept was a person leaning on a pole reading a newspapers. In the newspaper we found a small clip of a missing person and used that, as if a person who approaches the person with the newspaper is the missing person. The person reading the paper is shocked to see the missing person.
We planned the concept and broke it down to various shots varying from medium shots, close ups, extreme close ups, over the shoulder shots and point of view shots. We decided to film outside the college as there was a pole and around it was a clear area. I drew up storyboards to make filming easier, so that I new what the film could end up looking like. I find it easier drawing or visualizing the shots up rather than writing and describing the shots.
I acted as the person reading the paper and Sam in my group played as the missing person, as she looked a bit like the photograph of the missing person in the actual paper.
Our group found difficulties filming because of the location. The ground of the location was uneven and we had to adjust the tripod many times to keep the camera shot straight. Also, we found problems filming over the shoulder shots as no one in my group was tall enough to film above be. In addition, there were many distractions around us that disturbed filming, which slowed us down.
Over all for each different shot, we took around 4 shots for each take to get it right.
I learned that in order to have a good and complete filming is to plan it thoroughly and include a variety of camera shots to make it interesting. I also learned how to put the shots together we filmed to create a completed filming and to make sense of all the filming we shot. I used the 'Final Cut Pro' software and learned different tools to put the shots together.
Intro to cameras and risk assessment
I was given an intro into using the cameras and the risks of using it outside the college. I learned how to use different functions of the camera to enable us to film like playing, rewinding and fast forwarding. I was told to always put the camera on a tripod in order to keep the shot steady and still, so that the shot does not look shakey. However, the hand-held method of using the camera could be used at certain points depending on the story/plan of the filming. I was advised not to use the zooming function as it would make the shot appear as if it is a 'home video' and to always adjust the camera to auto focus. Risks to be considered were to avoid dropping, getting the camera wet and most importantly not to lose the camera and equipment rented with it. I was taught the '180 degree rule' when filming a shot only on one side of 180 degrees as this will allow the shot to view on one way. I was also advised not to take the camera and equipment to a far location incase a problem or a fault occurred to the equipment, like battery shortage or misplacement of tape.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)