Monday, 28 March 2011
Evaluation of The Exchange
Brief
Our task for the exchange was to create a short sequence in the style of a film thriller which involved the exchange of an important item. The location of the film was to be decided by us. After the footage was shot we would then edit the film, choosing some music and titles that were appropriate for what we were trying to achieve.
My responsibilities included: acting, ensuring the continuity was the same from the last shot, help direct the film, editing and some filming. Acting - i was one of the main actors in this piece and so it was my responsibility that we got the shots we needed to use and that the continuity flowed throughout the film. I also helped to direct the film, giving suggestions on ways we could film etc. I did some of the editing of the film and parts which i was not taking part in, i helped film.
I think that i contributed a lot to the project, helped to make it flow and ensure that we got everything that needed to be done on time and got the shots we needed to make the finished project in the end. I could have helped more by doing more of the camera-work and improving cinematography.
I learn that working as a team really helps make the project more efficient and it takes less time when taking action and just doing everything instead of arguing how everything should be done.
I felt the production value of the overall finished video was really good and what may be improved if we had a few more shots that could have allowed for the video to be a bit longer or to get more close ups.
Our general use of ECMS was good however, our cinematography could perhaps be changed so that it seemed more film noir/ thriller.
I felt that my ideas came through in the finished project, the audience understood what was happening during the sequence and the audience feedback was mostly positive although they commented that the music was a bit over-dramatic compared to what was happening on screen.
What went wrong?
The music was considered too dramatic to what was happening on screen and we didn't have enough shots and had to re-use one of the shots again to make sure we had enough footage. I thought one of the main best points about our movie was the close up of the important object and how the actor shook his hand as he received it, gave a mysterious look about the object which i felt went well with the theme.
If i was to do this again, i would be sure to get more shots to ensure that we have enough coverage to work with and to ensure we have all the shots we need when editing. I would also try to use music that was more appropriate and try to ensure that it works well and compliments the work we are trying to achieve.
Our task for the exchange was to create a short sequence in the style of a film thriller which involved the exchange of an important item. The location of the film was to be decided by us. After the footage was shot we would then edit the film, choosing some music and titles that were appropriate for what we were trying to achieve.
My responsibilities included: acting, ensuring the continuity was the same from the last shot, help direct the film, editing and some filming. Acting - i was one of the main actors in this piece and so it was my responsibility that we got the shots we needed to use and that the continuity flowed throughout the film. I also helped to direct the film, giving suggestions on ways we could film etc. I did some of the editing of the film and parts which i was not taking part in, i helped film.
I think that i contributed a lot to the project, helped to make it flow and ensure that we got everything that needed to be done on time and got the shots we needed to make the finished project in the end. I could have helped more by doing more of the camera-work and improving cinematography.
I learn that working as a team really helps make the project more efficient and it takes less time when taking action and just doing everything instead of arguing how everything should be done.
I felt the production value of the overall finished video was really good and what may be improved if we had a few more shots that could have allowed for the video to be a bit longer or to get more close ups.
Our general use of ECMS was good however, our cinematography could perhaps be changed so that it seemed more film noir/ thriller.
I felt that my ideas came through in the finished project, the audience understood what was happening during the sequence and the audience feedback was mostly positive although they commented that the music was a bit over-dramatic compared to what was happening on screen.
What went wrong?
The music was considered too dramatic to what was happening on screen and we didn't have enough shots and had to re-use one of the shots again to make sure we had enough footage. I thought one of the main best points about our movie was the close up of the important object and how the actor shook his hand as he received it, gave a mysterious look about the object which i felt went well with the theme.
If i was to do this again, i would be sure to get more shots to ensure that we have enough coverage to work with and to ensure we have all the shots we need when editing. I would also try to use music that was more appropriate and try to ensure that it works well and compliments the work we are trying to achieve.
Monday, 3 January 2011
2 Examples of Contemporary Film Noir
Sin City (2005)
Directors - Frank Miller, Robert Rodriguez, Quentin Tarantino
This is a film based on Frank Miller's comics which is split up into three different stories: The Hard Goodbye, That Yellow Bastard and The Big Fat Kill. In "The Hard Goodbye" a man called Marv meets a girl called Goldie, they have sex. The next morning he finds her dead next to him. Marv gets framed for her murder and so he goes out and hunts the true killers and to find out the truth behind her death. In "That Yellow Bastard" Hartigan is 60, in the police force and nearing retirement. He is assigned his last assignment to do before retiring. Nancy Callahan who is 11, is kidnapped and going to be raped by Roark Jr, a paedophile. Hartigan gets shot and prisoned. 8 years later he goes out to find Roark Jr, now That Yellow Bastard and meets Nancy, now 19 along the way. In "The Big Fat Kill" Dwight finds out that Shellie's (his girlfriend) ex boyfriend Jackie Boy is going to start trouble in Old town. He follows Jackie Boy to Old town where the prostitutes of Old Town murder him for causing trouble. Later on they find out that Jackie Boy was a policeman. If the cops find out about Jackie Boy's murder, the truce between them and Old town with be destroyed and the town will be filled with dead prostitutes. It's Dwight's, Gail's (the head of the prostitutes) and the prostitute's job the make sure that no one finds out.
Blade Runner (1982)
Director - Ridley Scott
Scientists have made great scientific advances and created biologically-engineered humanoids called replicants. These sophisticated replicants were declared illegal due to a violent revolt that had taken place "off world". November 2019 - Rick Deckard is called out of retirement and taken to his boss, he informs him that Nexus-6 replicants have escaped and they are the worst yet. He is ordered to eliminate the four replicants: Roy Batty, (the leader) is a combat model, Leon Kawalski is a nuclear loader, Zhora is an assassin built for martial arts and Pris is a pleasure model. Deckard is teamed up with Gaff and are sent her to Tyrell corporation to make sure that the Voight-Kamff test works on the Nexus-6 models. Deckard finds Tyrell's young assisstant Rachael is an experiment replicant that believes that shes human. Rachael's mind has been enhanced with implanted memories from Tyrell's niece. Due to the replicants four year life span, Roy and Leon go to the eye manufacturer. Chew directs them to J.F. Sabastian who is their best chance of finding Tyrell. Rachael visits Deckard to try to show him that shes human, however leaves because he explains that her memories are merely implants. Deckard finds Zhora and "retires" her. Deckard spots Rachael in a crowd, but before he can get to her he is beaten nearly to death by leon. Rachael saves Deckard by shooting Leon. Roy kills Tyrell and Sebastian. Deckard arrives at Sebastian's apartment and is ambushed by Pris. He retired Pris after getting his gun. Roy comes back and sees Pris and rages. Deckard falls trying to leap across the building trying to escape him and lands on a beam. He loses grip and Roy saves him. Due to his life span Roy dies. Deckard goes back to the apartment and finds Rachael alive. The film ends with Deckard and Rachael leaving the apartment block.
Directors - Frank Miller, Robert Rodriguez, Quentin Tarantino
This is a film based on Frank Miller's comics which is split up into three different stories: The Hard Goodbye, That Yellow Bastard and The Big Fat Kill. In "The Hard Goodbye" a man called Marv meets a girl called Goldie, they have sex. The next morning he finds her dead next to him. Marv gets framed for her murder and so he goes out and hunts the true killers and to find out the truth behind her death. In "That Yellow Bastard" Hartigan is 60, in the police force and nearing retirement. He is assigned his last assignment to do before retiring. Nancy Callahan who is 11, is kidnapped and going to be raped by Roark Jr, a paedophile. Hartigan gets shot and prisoned. 8 years later he goes out to find Roark Jr, now That Yellow Bastard and meets Nancy, now 19 along the way. In "The Big Fat Kill" Dwight finds out that Shellie's (his girlfriend) ex boyfriend Jackie Boy is going to start trouble in Old town. He follows Jackie Boy to Old town where the prostitutes of Old Town murder him for causing trouble. Later on they find out that Jackie Boy was a policeman. If the cops find out about Jackie Boy's murder, the truce between them and Old town with be destroyed and the town will be filled with dead prostitutes. It's Dwight's, Gail's (the head of the prostitutes) and the prostitute's job the make sure that no one finds out.
Blade Runner (1982)
Director - Ridley Scott
Scientists have made great scientific advances and created biologically-engineered humanoids called replicants. These sophisticated replicants were declared illegal due to a violent revolt that had taken place "off world". November 2019 - Rick Deckard is called out of retirement and taken to his boss, he informs him that Nexus-6 replicants have escaped and they are the worst yet. He is ordered to eliminate the four replicants: Roy Batty, (the leader) is a combat model, Leon Kawalski is a nuclear loader, Zhora is an assassin built for martial arts and Pris is a pleasure model. Deckard is teamed up with Gaff and are sent her to Tyrell corporation to make sure that the Voight-Kamff test works on the Nexus-6 models. Deckard finds Tyrell's young assisstant Rachael is an experiment replicant that believes that shes human. Rachael's mind has been enhanced with implanted memories from Tyrell's niece. Due to the replicants four year life span, Roy and Leon go to the eye manufacturer. Chew directs them to J.F. Sabastian who is their best chance of finding Tyrell. Rachael visits Deckard to try to show him that shes human, however leaves because he explains that her memories are merely implants. Deckard finds Zhora and "retires" her. Deckard spots Rachael in a crowd, but before he can get to her he is beaten nearly to death by leon. Rachael saves Deckard by shooting Leon. Roy kills Tyrell and Sebastian. Deckard arrives at Sebastian's apartment and is ambushed by Pris. He retired Pris after getting his gun. Roy comes back and sees Pris and rages. Deckard falls trying to leap across the building trying to escape him and lands on a beam. He loses grip and Roy saves him. Due to his life span Roy dies. Deckard goes back to the apartment and finds Rachael alive. The film ends with Deckard and Rachael leaving the apartment block.
Tuesday, 7 December 2010
Evaluation of Preliminary Exercise
My responsibilities during the making of our project included:
I learnt how to edit the footage that i have captured using video editing software. First logging the shots i want to use from the camera. Then going on the software and selecting those clips and rendering them. Afterwards i use those clips and edits them so that the film is how i want it and that there aren't any continuity mistakes. My skill level with the camera has improved using slow and steady movements so that the camera doesn't shake and makes the footage as steady as i can make it. My directing skill has improved allowing for better ideas and keeping the flow of production so there is less re-takes etc.
I think that the shot-reverse-shot could be improved by having more shots of the people talking to allow for each line of the conversation to be seen when spoken so that the viewer is more comfortable when watching it as they like to see who is talking. Also to make sure that each shot is as close to the other as possible to make less harsh cuts between lines.
I feel that for the first piece of footage that we have made, it went really well. Continuity was good and was edited so that it flowed well. I thought that the edits between the guy walking down the corridor and pushing the door were particularly good and looked like they would on tv. The audio was clear and could hear all that the audience was supposed to hear. There were a few mistakes such as: the shot-reverse-shot was reversed so you could see the person that wasn't speaking instead of the person that was and the actor didn't always do exactly as he did the last shot for example when he sits down he lifted his leg but in the other shot he didn't.
We followed the 180 degree line rule and didn't cross the line which meant that we didn't disorientate the audience. All the shots were in focus and had no footage that was blurred. We mostly followed the rule of thirds however, in some parts the actor was in the middle instead of the third. We used handles either side of the clips so that the clips wouldn't overlap or run into each other and allowed us to easily edit the clips.
Next time i will try and ensure better continuity on the actors part to allow the edits to be done easier and so that there is less mistakes during the filming. I will also try and make the conversations easier to watch by filming the speaker and choosing the correct shots to film to get the conversation to run smooth.
- Cameraman - recording the footage
- Sound - Holding the microphone so that it could capture the sound and not be in the shot
- Director - Help keeping the production of the project flowing and ensure the best continuity for the film.
- Editing - I helped to edit the film into the final piece.
I learnt how to edit the footage that i have captured using video editing software. First logging the shots i want to use from the camera. Then going on the software and selecting those clips and rendering them. Afterwards i use those clips and edits them so that the film is how i want it and that there aren't any continuity mistakes. My skill level with the camera has improved using slow and steady movements so that the camera doesn't shake and makes the footage as steady as i can make it. My directing skill has improved allowing for better ideas and keeping the flow of production so there is less re-takes etc.
I think that the shot-reverse-shot could be improved by having more shots of the people talking to allow for each line of the conversation to be seen when spoken so that the viewer is more comfortable when watching it as they like to see who is talking. Also to make sure that each shot is as close to the other as possible to make less harsh cuts between lines.
I feel that for the first piece of footage that we have made, it went really well. Continuity was good and was edited so that it flowed well. I thought that the edits between the guy walking down the corridor and pushing the door were particularly good and looked like they would on tv. The audio was clear and could hear all that the audience was supposed to hear. There were a few mistakes such as: the shot-reverse-shot was reversed so you could see the person that wasn't speaking instead of the person that was and the actor didn't always do exactly as he did the last shot for example when he sits down he lifted his leg but in the other shot he didn't.
We followed the 180 degree line rule and didn't cross the line which meant that we didn't disorientate the audience. All the shots were in focus and had no footage that was blurred. We mostly followed the rule of thirds however, in some parts the actor was in the middle instead of the third. We used handles either side of the clips so that the clips wouldn't overlap or run into each other and allowed us to easily edit the clips.
Next time i will try and ensure better continuity on the actors part to allow the edits to be done easier and so that there is less mistakes during the filming. I will also try and make the conversations easier to watch by filming the speaker and choosing the correct shots to film to get the conversation to run smooth.
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