Friday, 27 January 2017
Se7en- textual analysis
Here is my textual analysis including a quick summary of the fantastic thriller film "Seven (SE7EN)"
Enjoy reading!
Our target audience
As part of my coursework we had to do some further research into our audience , so I decided to present my research and information in a 'prezi' form . Here is my prezi I have created about my intended target audience.
Enjoy reading!
Wednesday, 25 January 2017
TIPS for our thriller opening
Stages
- Pre-production (planning, planning, planning..)
- Production (the shoot)
- Post production (editing and effects)
Three tips of advice when shooting a film:
- Plan ahead
- Keep continuity the same
- Pay loads of attention to mise-en-scene
- Consistency of light
A well planned storyboard should have:
- Settings
- Shots and settings
- What characters/actors will be needed in those settings
- What props/costumes are needed in those settings
- An idea of timings
A storyboard should be a working document for everyone to understand...
Location/setting
- Do a recce!
- Plan your time there to the hour (especially if it costs to get there or there will be big variations in lighting/environment)
- High streets should be fine :shopping centres need to get permission- be polite, explain the purpose and again , plan in advance.
- Take in to consideration health and safety issues!
Equipment and Props:
-Make, beg, buy, borrow(don't steal)
- Make a list of what you need and tick it off as you aquire it
- Be specific but not too ambitious (We need a polar bear for this shot)
- Book out what you need for the shoot
Shooting
- Plan for weather
- For most of your shooting try and shoot for fewer longer periods rather than lots of small chunks
- Shoot 5-10 times more footage than you need
- It's good to watch it back but don't waste time constantly watching stuff back. If you're not sure if a scene is good enough-shoot it again!
- Also don't delete footage- some might be useful!
- Do plenty of cutaways!
- Use plenty of shots
- Be careful not to record on LONG PLAY else you will end up with footage that is really difficult to edit.
Shooting (cont'd)
- Get the footage off quickly and label it all carefully (Secction1/Take A)
- Use the clapperboard if nesscessary to help with this
- Back footage up
- Film 5 seconds before ' Action' and 5 seconds after 'cut'
- Use tripods
- Film in as light condition as possible- easier to make it darker afterwards.
- Try and stick to the 180 degree rule
- Pre-production (planning, planning, planning..)
- Production (the shoot)
- Post production (editing and effects)
Three tips of advice when shooting a film:
- Plan ahead
- Keep continuity the same
- Pay loads of attention to mise-en-scene
- Consistency of light
A well planned storyboard should have:
- Settings
- Shots and settings
- What characters/actors will be needed in those settings
- What props/costumes are needed in those settings
- An idea of timings
A storyboard should be a working document for everyone to understand...
Location/setting
- Do a recce!
- Plan your time there to the hour (especially if it costs to get there or there will be big variations in lighting/environment)
- High streets should be fine :shopping centres need to get permission- be polite, explain the purpose and again , plan in advance.
- Take in to consideration health and safety issues!
Equipment and Props:
-Make, beg, buy, borrow(don't steal)
- Make a list of what you need and tick it off as you aquire it
- Be specific but not too ambitious (We need a polar bear for this shot)
- Book out what you need for the shoot
Shooting
- Plan for weather
- For most of your shooting try and shoot for fewer longer periods rather than lots of small chunks
- Shoot 5-10 times more footage than you need
- It's good to watch it back but don't waste time constantly watching stuff back. If you're not sure if a scene is good enough-shoot it again!
- Also don't delete footage- some might be useful!
- Do plenty of cutaways!
- Use plenty of shots
- Be careful not to record on LONG PLAY else you will end up with footage that is really difficult to edit.
Shooting (cont'd)
- Get the footage off quickly and label it all carefully (Secction1/Take A)
- Use the clapperboard if nesscessary to help with this
- Back footage up
- Film 5 seconds before ' Action' and 5 seconds after 'cut'
- Use tripods
- Film in as light condition as possible- easier to make it darker afterwards.
- Try and stick to the 180 degree rule
Sunday, 15 January 2017
Viewing and marking other peoples past AS videos
In class today, we all did an exercise which involved watching some past students media AS thriller film openings and deciding on what grade we would give each one and why we would give it that. We used the marking criteria to help us come up with a more genuine and reliable grade. However, no one in the class said the right grade for each video. Some students in my class gave one video a D when it actually got a B, other students gave a different video a low C when the exam board gave it an A - so no one was really accurate .
Most of the thriller openings that we were shown were very good, satisfying and showed remarkable talent. You could tell by watching all of the videos that all of the students had thought about their storyline well and took lots of time to plan it all out. However, you could tell from some of the videos that their storyline and plan was very strong, however when they came to film it and piece it all together, it didn't flow how they expected it to.
I thought there was many highlights in the videos I watched . The use of sound effects were really pleasing in all videos . All of the sounds seemed to be synchronised with what is being viewed, this makes the atmosphere seem more realistic which will have helped gain marks. The marking criteria says that to get into level 3 (36-47 marks) which is grade C and B you use sound with images and editing appropriately for the task set.
One of the videos we watched that scored 54 out of 60 marks used a voiceover all throughout explaining the whole story. This voiceover is a piece of narration in a film, with no image of the speaker. This voiceover helps to portray the narrative of the film so the audience doesn't get confused , they are also used to make the film seem more exciting as well.
Most of the camera shots used in the films were accurate and used at the correct times . One video we watched as a class used a shot reverse shot technique when the two characters are communicating and looking at each other in the eye. This continuity editing technique is a great thing to use in film and this helped them score more marks which got them that B grade. To achieve a level 4 mark (48-60 marks) which is grade A, you shoot material appropriate to the task set; including controlled use of the camera, attention to framing, variety of shot distance and close attention to mise-en-scene.
Some things that I found were not so good in the films I watched were the blending's of scenes. Sometimes they were absolutely fine, other times there was no continuity and the scene didn't stay the same . I noticed that sometimes peoples outfit changed when they were supposed to be in the same scene, and I noticed that some people tried to put a black and white filter on to make it look like night time when it was clearly daytime because you could see the bright sky. The lighting wasn't used correctly. This explains to me why some of these videos only achieved a C maximum because there continuity was very irregular .
From watching these videos and doing this exercise, it has made me realise what I need to do to make my thriller opening the best it could possibly be. I really liked how the titles dissolved in and out of the screen. For my thriller opening I would love the titles to come into the screen typing . This is because our thriller opening will involve text messages that are a bit strange, so I thought that would be quite a good idea . Also from watching these videos, it has inspired me to want to include music that flows and fits each scene well. This is so it is synchronised . I think having a voiceover is a very cool, fascinating idea that I actually would love to do and try out.
I want to make sure that the material is appropriate for the target audience and task .
Torn
This thriller opening scored 56/60 marks which was an A. I believe that this thriller achieved the mark it got because of the use of different editing techniques that are used for example: the flashbacks that are used a few times throughout. It forces the audience to wonder and question why he is doing things he's doing . However, the sounds at the beginning did cause me to get a little confused at the start, but towards the end I did finally understand and get the gist of the story.
PEEK-A-BOO
This thriller opening scored 46/60 which was a B.
This video had both good and bad aspects about it . One of the good things that I noticed was the use of camera shots as they set off the tone for the opening sequence. Something I noticed that I believe dropped them marks was the mise-en-scene. The girls try to make graveyard seem dark when she is walking though it, however you can clearly see the white, bright sky even with a black and white filter on it . This let them down . I think they could have edited the mise-en-scene better and casted more shadows on the video and made the contrast darker.
Leah Reid G321 Foundation Production
This thriller opening scored 52/60 and I can thoroughly see why it achieved this. I think the titles stood out really well , as they were creative and unique. The use of sound in this really inspired me to consider putting in a voiceover in my own thriller opening . I think overall this video was great, and I found it hard to pick faults in it.
Most of the thriller openings that we were shown were very good, satisfying and showed remarkable talent. You could tell by watching all of the videos that all of the students had thought about their storyline well and took lots of time to plan it all out. However, you could tell from some of the videos that their storyline and plan was very strong, however when they came to film it and piece it all together, it didn't flow how they expected it to.
I thought there was many highlights in the videos I watched . The use of sound effects were really pleasing in all videos . All of the sounds seemed to be synchronised with what is being viewed, this makes the atmosphere seem more realistic which will have helped gain marks. The marking criteria says that to get into level 3 (36-47 marks) which is grade C and B you use sound with images and editing appropriately for the task set.
One of the videos we watched that scored 54 out of 60 marks used a voiceover all throughout explaining the whole story. This voiceover is a piece of narration in a film, with no image of the speaker. This voiceover helps to portray the narrative of the film so the audience doesn't get confused , they are also used to make the film seem more exciting as well.
Most of the camera shots used in the films were accurate and used at the correct times . One video we watched as a class used a shot reverse shot technique when the two characters are communicating and looking at each other in the eye. This continuity editing technique is a great thing to use in film and this helped them score more marks which got them that B grade. To achieve a level 4 mark (48-60 marks) which is grade A, you shoot material appropriate to the task set; including controlled use of the camera, attention to framing, variety of shot distance and close attention to mise-en-scene.
Some things that I found were not so good in the films I watched were the blending's of scenes. Sometimes they were absolutely fine, other times there was no continuity and the scene didn't stay the same . I noticed that sometimes peoples outfit changed when they were supposed to be in the same scene, and I noticed that some people tried to put a black and white filter on to make it look like night time when it was clearly daytime because you could see the bright sky. The lighting wasn't used correctly. This explains to me why some of these videos only achieved a C maximum because there continuity was very irregular .
From watching these videos and doing this exercise, it has made me realise what I need to do to make my thriller opening the best it could possibly be. I really liked how the titles dissolved in and out of the screen. For my thriller opening I would love the titles to come into the screen typing . This is because our thriller opening will involve text messages that are a bit strange, so I thought that would be quite a good idea . Also from watching these videos, it has inspired me to want to include music that flows and fits each scene well. This is so it is synchronised . I think having a voiceover is a very cool, fascinating idea that I actually would love to do and try out.
I want to make sure that the material is appropriate for the target audience and task .
Torn
This thriller opening scored 56/60 marks which was an A. I believe that this thriller achieved the mark it got because of the use of different editing techniques that are used for example: the flashbacks that are used a few times throughout. It forces the audience to wonder and question why he is doing things he's doing . However, the sounds at the beginning did cause me to get a little confused at the start, but towards the end I did finally understand and get the gist of the story.
PEEK-A-BOO
This thriller opening scored 46/60 which was a B.
This video had both good and bad aspects about it . One of the good things that I noticed was the use of camera shots as they set off the tone for the opening sequence. Something I noticed that I believe dropped them marks was the mise-en-scene. The girls try to make graveyard seem dark when she is walking though it, however you can clearly see the white, bright sky even with a black and white filter on it . This let them down . I think they could have edited the mise-en-scene better and casted more shadows on the video and made the contrast darker.
Leah Reid G321 Foundation Production
This thriller opening scored 52/60 and I can thoroughly see why it achieved this. I think the titles stood out really well , as they were creative and unique. The use of sound in this really inspired me to consider putting in a voiceover in my own thriller opening . I think overall this video was great, and I found it hard to pick faults in it.
Friday, 6 January 2017
Storyboard for my thriller trailer
I didn't realise the photographs of my storyboard were going to be that unclear on the piktochart presentation when I made it . So if you cant read the captions and see the drawings clearly , please view the ones below :)
(1).
(2).
Wednesday, 4 January 2017
Key director case study on Tim Burton
Film director- Tim Burton
Tim Burton is an American film director, producer, animator, artist and writer. Tim Burton was born on the 25th August, 1958 in Burbank, California. He attended and studied at the California institute of the Arts, studying character animation. Later after he graduated, he was offered a job with Walt Disney Animation Studios. Vincent was the first film he created- a six minute black and white stop-motion short.
Tim Burton is well known for is dark, gloomy , sinister fantasy films that are completely different and unique to any other film director's. Tim burton loved the fact that his films were very different to others, he liked the fact he stood out and wanted to be quirky. Not only has he created a number of memorable, unusual films, he's inspired other film directors/makers over the years. This has made him a iconic film director.
Several films he has directed and produced feature drawings he created when a young child that are very twisted and imaginative.
Some of Burtons most favourite, popular films that he has twisted and created over the years are : Beetlejuice (1988), Edward Scissorhands (1990), Frankenweenie (2012), Sweeney Todd (2007), Alice in Wonderland(2010) etc.
All of his films are considered very weird and out of the ordinary, but that is what makes them super exciting and different. One of his films Sweeney Todd is a musical and apparently he works very well with musicals and often creates the best work.
Edward Scissorhands
A scientist named Vincent Price builds and creates an animated human being with scissors for hands. His name was Edward, who comes across in the film as very gentle . However, Vincent died before he could finish off building Edward, leaving him with a freakish appearance- scissors instead of hands. A lovely suburban woman, Peg, discovers Edward living in the castle in her town one day. Peg takes him home to her family where he truly falls in love with her daughter. Edwards hands make him an outcast, despite his kindness and artistic talent.
Tim Burton is an American film director, producer, animator, artist and writer. Tim Burton was born on the 25th August, 1958 in Burbank, California. He attended and studied at the California institute of the Arts, studying character animation. Later after he graduated, he was offered a job with Walt Disney Animation Studios. Vincent was the first film he created- a six minute black and white stop-motion short.
Tim Burton is well known for is dark, gloomy , sinister fantasy films that are completely different and unique to any other film director's. Tim burton loved the fact that his films were very different to others, he liked the fact he stood out and wanted to be quirky. Not only has he created a number of memorable, unusual films, he's inspired other film directors/makers over the years. This has made him a iconic film director.
Several films he has directed and produced feature drawings he created when a young child that are very twisted and imaginative.
Some of Burtons most favourite, popular films that he has twisted and created over the years are : Beetlejuice (1988), Edward Scissorhands (1990), Frankenweenie (2012), Sweeney Todd (2007), Alice in Wonderland(2010) etc.
All of his films are considered very weird and out of the ordinary, but that is what makes them super exciting and different. One of his films Sweeney Todd is a musical and apparently he works very well with musicals and often creates the best work.
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| The front cover of his first ever short film he made. Vincent in 1982. |
 |
| Tim Burton looking very quirky and different to most people.
Beetlejuice
His film Beetlejuice that was released in 1988 was rated a 7.5/10. The film lasts 1 hour 32 minutes and comes under the fantasy genre. After two of the main characters, Barbara and Adam Maitland die in a car crash, they find themselves trapped haunting the country residence, finding it hard to leave the house. When the new family move in with their teenage daughter they find weird things that are constantly happening. The Maitlands attempt and try to scare them off to leave their home. Their efforts attract Beetlejuice, a very powerful sprit, whose "help" becomes extremely dangerous towards the new family and their daughter Lydia.
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Edward Scissorhands
A scientist named Vincent Price builds and creates an animated human being with scissors for hands. His name was Edward, who comes across in the film as very gentle . However, Vincent died before he could finish off building Edward, leaving him with a freakish appearance- scissors instead of hands. A lovely suburban woman, Peg, discovers Edward living in the castle in her town one day. Peg takes him home to her family where he truly falls in love with her daughter. Edwards hands make him an outcast, despite his kindness and artistic talent.
How music can change how you feel about a film
For this task I filmed a small scene from the 1984 movie 'Splash'. Splash has always been one of my favourite movies right from when I was a child . This scene is called 'Mermaid Beauty' that is filmed . I have tried my best to put this quick, short video together using the editing video app called iMovie on my Ipad . I recommend this app as I do think it is a good, useful application that is free to put quick videos together. I have also tried mixing a lot of different sound effects and music that is available on iMovie to try and create different effects . For example I have mixed jolly, cheerful tunes together to create a playful and comical interpretation. The comical/playful music creates an atmosphere that the mermaid is friendly and happy in her own company. It also could suggest that she likes being on her own and loves exploring,
I have also tried to create more sinister music by mixing a variety of different tunes and sound effects e.g thunder . This music could suggest that she is in deep ,dark, danger from the humans or is a bad character.
The hardest part of this video was trying to create sad music . There wasn't really any low feeling music or sound effects available on IMovie, so it required more time to try and put this together . This sad music could suggest that she is looking for something that she has lost for example she smiles when finding the mans passport, almost like she has been searching and wondering who he was for many years.
I have also noticed by relaying the video several times that because 'Madison' the mermaid is smiling at one point I the clip and doesn't really look scary/sad , the music doesn't really fit the scene . However, this is my own made example video of how music can change your mood and feelings towards a film.
Defining the audience
Uses and Gratifications- Blumler & Katz theory
In 1974 two theorists named Blumler and Katz came up with a theory. This is probably the most important theory for us to know. According to the uses and gratification theory , we all have different uses for the media and we make choices over what we want to watch. In other words, when we experience media texts, its not just some brainless, idiotic entertainment, we ultimately expect to get something from it .
The theory suggests the audiences use media texts (any)for various reasons . For example:
-
In 1974 two theorists named Blumler and Katz came up with a theory. This is probably the most important theory for us to know. According to the uses and gratification theory , we all have different uses for the media and we make choices over what we want to watch. In other words, when we experience media texts, its not just some brainless, idiotic entertainment, we ultimately expect to get something from it .
The theory suggests the audiences use media texts (any)for various reasons . For example:
-
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