Tuesday, 2 October 2012
Direction Unit: Update
I have booked my camera and am ready to film on Thursday and Friday! I plan on shooting from around 10am so that I have plenty of natural light to work with on location. Im hoping for a dry day but light rain wouldnt hurt the mood of the story! I have asked Neill to be my camera op, I really like his work and I think we would work well with eachother on this project as we understand eachothers ideas and directions. I look forward to working with Neill and starting to film!
Direction Unit: Idea Development
Ive decided that using a WWII veteran will not be practical. I doubt I will be able to find an actor in the correct age range in time for filming, and even if i did i wouldn't want to make them run around in a forrest. Instead I am going to make my soldier a victim of a more recent war, such as the War in Iraq. This way he can be alot younger, and also easier to find when casting!
I recently watched a documentary called "Our War" on BBC3 where soldiers and ex soldiers are interviewed on their time at war, whilst footage from their head cams/chest cams show real footage of war showing what fighting on the front line is really like. In one of the episodes, it shows how a single radio malfunctioning cost the life of the squads Sergeant and put others at risk as they come under a 360 degree ambush. I was to encorperate this emotion, panic and fear in my piece when my characters radio breaks also.
I recently watched a documentary called "Our War" on BBC3 where soldiers and ex soldiers are interviewed on their time at war, whilst footage from their head cams/chest cams show real footage of war showing what fighting on the front line is really like. In one of the episodes, it shows how a single radio malfunctioning cost the life of the squads Sergeant and put others at risk as they come under a 360 degree ambush. I was to encorperate this emotion, panic and fear in my piece when my characters radio breaks also.
Direction Unit: Initial Idea
To kick off our second semester this year we begun working on our Direction Unit. Together we must create a series, each directing our own episode of "A Park Story". Each episode is set in the same location and has to begin and end at the gates of the park, so that the series maintains a link between the episodes. We were all given a theme and a prop, which had to be the basis of our story. I was given the theme 'broken' and prop 'radio'.
When I first thought about what the words meant to me, my initial reaction was War. Broken can be applied to a mental and physical state, it can be a feeling, a condition, a look, a description... Its has multiple meanings. I thought of War because radios are a vital piece of equipment and broken can be applied to many aspects linked to war. I want to make my theme a mental and physical component, having a shot of the radio being physically broken and then having a close up shot of a man who is mentally broken.
I plan on making my story about an ex soldier who served in the war, who often spends his days trying to forget the horrors he witnessed whilst on the front line. He decides to go for a stroll in the park, listening to his trusty old radio he had during the war. After sitting for a few moments his radio begins to lose signal and starts breaking up. He begins to panic as memories of the war flow back into his mind, he hears the sound of gunshots and explosions in the distance. Becoming visibly scared and uncomfortable he tries to fix his radio, but all he can hear is the sound of screaming men, flames crackling and the gunshots are getting closer and louder. He tries to escape the park, and we see him rushing through some woodland, past trees and bushes as if trying to escape the enemy. When he gate is in sight he begins to run but trips and drops his radio, which breaks into pieces. The guns stop and he lays face down on the floor and begins to cry, until a female passer by helps him to his feet and helps him out of the park. The only dialogue I may include is a voice on the radio which will be a weather report that changes into a senior soldier giving orders when the radio breaks.
When I first thought about what the words meant to me, my initial reaction was War. Broken can be applied to a mental and physical state, it can be a feeling, a condition, a look, a description... Its has multiple meanings. I thought of War because radios are a vital piece of equipment and broken can be applied to many aspects linked to war. I want to make my theme a mental and physical component, having a shot of the radio being physically broken and then having a close up shot of a man who is mentally broken.
I plan on making my story about an ex soldier who served in the war, who often spends his days trying to forget the horrors he witnessed whilst on the front line. He decides to go for a stroll in the park, listening to his trusty old radio he had during the war. After sitting for a few moments his radio begins to lose signal and starts breaking up. He begins to panic as memories of the war flow back into his mind, he hears the sound of gunshots and explosions in the distance. Becoming visibly scared and uncomfortable he tries to fix his radio, but all he can hear is the sound of screaming men, flames crackling and the gunshots are getting closer and louder. He tries to escape the park, and we see him rushing through some woodland, past trees and bushes as if trying to escape the enemy. When he gate is in sight he begins to run but trips and drops his radio, which breaks into pieces. The guns stop and he lays face down on the floor and begins to cry, until a female passer by helps him to his feet and helps him out of the park. The only dialogue I may include is a voice on the radio which will be a weather report that changes into a senior soldier giving orders when the radio breaks.
Thursday, 3 May 2012
Story Telling Unit: "The Meeting" Trailer
So here it is! My trailer for my short film idea, The Meeting. Hope you enjoy!
(Watch in 1080p for best viewing!)
(Watch in 1080p for best viewing!)
Monday, 23 April 2012
Sound Design Unit: Introduction
Our first week back from Easter saw the introduction to our new unit - Sound Design!
We have received our unit brief, which is to use and design sounds with still images to tell a story of a journey. I have decided that my journey will be through the eyes of a dog! The story will roughly show how a dog feels when a new dog is introduced to the family home. Exploring different emotions as the new dog receives the family’s attention and the old one feels pushed out. I am still working on perfecting the story line but feel confident after sharing my idea with the rest of the group!
We were also given a practical workshop on how to use the various microphones we have available to us at the studios! It was a fun session that allowed us to jump in and get a feel for the equipment. We got a good idea of which microphone is best to use in certain situations, and how well they recorded in terms of quality at different distances etc.
I’m looking forward to this unit because there is no limit to what sounds can be used to tell the story! The same kind of idea in terms of the journey could be portrayed completely differently when different sounds and atmospheres are applied, meaning we can be extremely creative! I’m also excited to record my own sounds, especially creating some Foley sounds! I want to explore sounds I wouldn't normally be able to use in a conventional piece and really create a good soundscape to tell my story! Even more so because sound is something I haven't really took much of an interest in before I understood what it involved!
Thursday, 19 April 2012
Story Telling Unit: "The Meeting" - Update
Right... I haven't blogged in a while so firstly, Happy Easter!
Before the holidays I began my filming for my trailer.
I encountered various problems pretty much straight away as my pre arranged
actors decided not to tell me they couldn't make it on day one of filming. This
wasn't so bad as I had the camera for three days, but when they again failed to
inform me they wouldn't be there for day two things started to get manic. On my
last day with the camera I filmed what I could using my classmates as my
actors (thanks to those who helped me out!), they did a great job
however the shots I captured were not exactly what I wanted due to the last
minute changes. It got dark quick and the location I filmed in had awkward
lighting, the alley was too dark and the street was too bright to begin with. I
captured a good shot in good light conditions but various other factors meant I
couldn’t use the shot. For instance, two men (possibly drunk) decided to stop
Tory and ask her if she needed help as she argued with Kevin. Although it was
genuinely real it wasn't part of the shot and interrupted the flow of the scene
meaning we had to stop and re shoot as it quickly got darker and darker. I have
re booked the camera for another three days, Monday - Wednesday next week,
where I hope to re shoot and complete my filming for my trailer!
Sunday, 25 March 2012
Story Telling Unit: "The Meeting" - Trailer Planning
So I've got a pretty good idea now of how I want my trailer to look. It will involve a single shot that will move through a high street and introduce my four main characters.
It will start outside a busy night club and we will see Carl leave the club followed quickly by Jess. Carl stares directly into the camera with a seemingly evil smile on his face as Jess tries to catch him. The camera will begin to move backwards and track the two walking towards the camera. They begin to argue as they walk. Whilst moving backwards the camera passes an alley to the side and Carl will be shown grabbing hold of Jess and pushing her down into it as she screams and he shouts. The Camera will leave the two as they go off screen, turn around and face the open high street, where we will see people leaving pubs and clubs etc, and setting off on their journey home. As the camera continues to pass through drunken teens it will take particular focus on another couple. This will be Kat and Mark. Kat looks particularly dressed up and is being almost followed by Mark and appears not to know him. After watching Mark try to catch up with Kat she turns and shouts at him to leave her alone, then continuing her journey down the road. Mark goes off screen, gets into his car (heard off screen) and drives past Kat who ignores him. Kat who is now walking back towards the alley that we left Carl, crosses the road and we see Jess run past her in the opposite direction crying. She stops and tries to ask her if she's ok but Jess doesn't answer, only looking back for a moment in tears before running off screen. We see a reaction shot on Kats face before the camera turns to watch Jess run around a corner. It then turns back to Kat and she continues her journey. The camera now moves in front of Kat, and she walks towards it as it moves backwards. She walks with a wiggle in her hips and she looks directly into the camera as if she is happy with herself. As Kat passes the opening where the alley meets the high street, Carl stumbles out and bumps into Kat. The two look at each other for a moment and smile. They walk past the camera holding hands and laughing. The camera turns and follows behind them. They cross the road and the camera continues on the same side of the road passing behind a car. The car is Marks, and the camera lowers to his eye level as he watches Kat and Carl walk hand in hand. Mark looks into the camera, looks back at Carl and Kat, and slowly pulls away, leaving the camera in its place as it captures a long shot of the two turn the street corner and Mark follow slowly behind.
For this to work in one shot I am going to have to run a few practices and create a separate script for the actors to follow as everyone will need to be in the right place at the right time. For the transitions between Carl and Jess, and Mark and Kat to work, I will probably need extras that can lead the camera towards the main characters locations. It will be difficult but with enough practice, planning and awareness, I feel it can be done successfully.
It will start outside a busy night club and we will see Carl leave the club followed quickly by Jess. Carl stares directly into the camera with a seemingly evil smile on his face as Jess tries to catch him. The camera will begin to move backwards and track the two walking towards the camera. They begin to argue as they walk. Whilst moving backwards the camera passes an alley to the side and Carl will be shown grabbing hold of Jess and pushing her down into it as she screams and he shouts. The Camera will leave the two as they go off screen, turn around and face the open high street, where we will see people leaving pubs and clubs etc, and setting off on their journey home. As the camera continues to pass through drunken teens it will take particular focus on another couple. This will be Kat and Mark. Kat looks particularly dressed up and is being almost followed by Mark and appears not to know him. After watching Mark try to catch up with Kat she turns and shouts at him to leave her alone, then continuing her journey down the road. Mark goes off screen, gets into his car (heard off screen) and drives past Kat who ignores him. Kat who is now walking back towards the alley that we left Carl, crosses the road and we see Jess run past her in the opposite direction crying. She stops and tries to ask her if she's ok but Jess doesn't answer, only looking back for a moment in tears before running off screen. We see a reaction shot on Kats face before the camera turns to watch Jess run around a corner. It then turns back to Kat and she continues her journey. The camera now moves in front of Kat, and she walks towards it as it moves backwards. She walks with a wiggle in her hips and she looks directly into the camera as if she is happy with herself. As Kat passes the opening where the alley meets the high street, Carl stumbles out and bumps into Kat. The two look at each other for a moment and smile. They walk past the camera holding hands and laughing. The camera turns and follows behind them. They cross the road and the camera continues on the same side of the road passing behind a car. The car is Marks, and the camera lowers to his eye level as he watches Kat and Carl walk hand in hand. Mark looks into the camera, looks back at Carl and Kat, and slowly pulls away, leaving the camera in its place as it captures a long shot of the two turn the street corner and Mark follow slowly behind.
For this to work in one shot I am going to have to run a few practices and create a separate script for the actors to follow as everyone will need to be in the right place at the right time. For the transitions between Carl and Jess, and Mark and Kat to work, I will probably need extras that can lead the camera towards the main characters locations. It will be difficult but with enough practice, planning and awareness, I feel it can be done successfully.
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