film workshop/ Lecture

On Friday afternoon my seminar class took part in an interactive session which enabled us to learn more about the camera and its functions. This workshop was a continuation from last week when we were taught how to change lighting, alter images and use the correct software which would eventually help us to achieve perfection and develop our camera skills further.

In friday's seminar we were taught how to adjust the shutter, how the camera affects the aris and later on in the second part of our session we were then sent in our assigned groups to go outside and film using the new techniques we had noted down earlier on.

My group decided to film in our chosen location the Arboretum park (this is where we will be filming our scenes for ticket) to shoot the local wild life which included ducks and a collection of birds. Each of us to turns with having a go at using the camera, as my assigned role is using camera and lighting I found all of these techniques very useful and fun.

Here are a list of the new skills I have learnt

Location for our short film

As our group are shooting our two minute film called "Ticket" the location of the film will take place at Nottingham train station during the day I decided to go to our location and take a few images so we were able to set the scene.

Camera Techniques and terminologies

Here are some lighting and camera techniques which I have researched for my assigned role as camera & lighting:

Camera Techniques for research

Spin look:

The camera spins around an actor to get a glimpse of what he or she is looking at. The camera may also begin by viewing the object then spin back around to view the character.

Also the spin look is an alternative to the popular technique of “ Cutting away” when a character looks off-screen.

Track through solid:

A film maker can use track through solid to give the appearance of tracking through a solid object.

Jump cut sequence:

A jump cut sequence is a specific type of montage sequence in which jump cuts are used to show similar actions occurring over a short period of time.

Multi-taker:

A multi-taker refers to a single action that is repeated several times, from different angles and differences. The audience sees the same actions occur, usually about two to three times. This adds dramatic impact to the scene.

Cut zoom in:

Cut zoom in is a technique that adds emphasis to another wise static shot. This technique usually has three stages, a very wide shot, a wide shot and finally medium shot.

Dolly:

Dolly is a very natural technique the camera simply moves horizontally through space. The energy of this technique is similar to a personal walking or riding on a moving platform a wheelchair for example. To conceptualise a Dolly, turn your head towards what you are interested in.

This information was taken from the book “Setting up your shots” (Great camera moves every filmmaker should know) by Jeremy Vineyard 

 Lighting terminology/techniques

Obie

Is a small spotlight that was created by cinematographer Lucien Ballard in 1908-1988 for the film The Lodger which was shot in 1944, it was designed to help to conceal actress Merle Oberon facial scars.

Fill light

Is a light placed to the side of the subject to help fill the shadows and balance the key light.

Tungsten

 Tungsten can be a light from an ordinary light bulb which contains a thin coiled tungsten wire that has become incandescent when an electric current has been passed along it. Tungsten colour temperature is around 2800k to 3400k.

Key light:

This type of light focuses on the subject in question and provides the most illumination along with contrast.

Reflective light

Is a light that can be seen after having bounced off a surface.

The information on lighting terms and techniques is from the website www.mediacollege.com

Favourite film directors (chosen pathway)

As second year multimedia requires me to have chosen a particular pathway I have decided to choose Audio- Visual (film) despite having to film our first group's One Shot film before christmas in the freezing cold temperatures brought on by snow, it has not deterred me and seeing the end result made me really want to persue this pathway.

Currently for this term's work I am in a group of girls shooting a two minute film called "Ticket" and the role which I have taken upon is Camera and Lighting as I saw this as an opportunity to gain a new skill and explore fliming more.

Here are some of my favourite directors:

Directors for my research

1.       Danny  Boyle

Films:  Sunshine, Slumdog Millionaire, The Beach. 127 Hours, 28 Days Later and Trainspotting.

                This is one of my favourite directors because I love the way he engages with the audience through telling the story. By the end of the film you really feel you have taken the journey with the characters too.

2.       George a Romero

Films:  Dawn of the Dead, Day of the Dead, The Crazies, Night of the Living Dead, Jack’s Wife/ Season of the Witch.

I love the way George Romero really makes the zombies come to life and as a result you sometimes feel that the zombies could be real and despite it being fiction, zombies could easily take over  the earth.

     

3.  Ridley Scott

Films:  Alien, Gladiator, Hannibal and Robin Hood (2010)

I feel that Ridley goes deep into the characters minds and emotions which conveys on screen, his films are always legendary and leaves you with somewhat of an attachment to the characters and what they’ve gone through.

Notes for "Ticket" Interpreting the script

Here are some notes i have made from reading and re-reading the script:

Key points:

1. Both characters are young
2. The text appears to have been written in slang terms
3. Their conversation takes place during the afternoon
4. One of the characters has a job part- time/ full- time
5. The script appears to have been written for a specific target audience

Things that could be changed:

* Alternative means of transportation
* One of the characters could be sitting on a bench insteading standing around
*The lighting could fade out towards the end
* The two characters could stroll towards the sunset hand in hand

Location

In terms where filming will take place our group have decided to shoot our scenes at Nottingham train station, inititally we were going to film in several places one of which was on a tram from Hucknall to Station Street and the other was Victoria shopping centre bus station.

Trip to the V&A & Science museum

As part of next two terms work we were required to go on a trip to London and visit the following places: The V&A and Science Museum. This trip was specifically aimed at helping us choose our pathway for next year as well as also helping us to choose at least one practitioner for our individual essay due in at the end of May.

The first few images are of the exhibit called "The Magic Lantern" by Matt Collisaw

Second was the isotype interpretation language

exhibition

"Ticket" (our group film) a some up of our presentation

By the end of week two we had been assigned roles and tasks to help us with bringing to life the film known as "Ticket". We have just given our first group presentation which highlighted what each individual was doing and when they needed to be done by.

We also discussed what type of film we felt "Ticket" was and what genre it related to. However we have not finalised anything as yet but hope to start filming by the latest Wednesday 2nd Febuary. Over the weekend we will be contacting friends to ask if they could spare a few hours out of their day to participate in our film as we feel it would add to the spontaneity of it all.

My task this week is to draw up character discriptions so everyone has a better understanding of what they are like, also this would be an essential part when it came to picking the right people to portray these characters.

Here is an example of a quirky rom-com:

Along came Polly starring Ben Stiller & Jennifer Aniston

Ticket (short film) character description

From looking at the script and reading it intently I have managed to draw up a series of similarities and differences for the characters which have help me draw up an accurate description of them:

  Character one: Lisa
1. Is a young girl who is aged between 17 to 19 years ol
2. Comes across quite independent and strong minded
3. Wants to be considered as mature adult rather than a young one
4. Seems to have a quirky personality
5.Is quite fourth coming with her opinions and isn't afraid to be heard
6. Appears to know quite a lot about another character known as Sam
7. Could have obsessive tendencies
8. Can be quite provoking with what she is saying and body language
9.Appears to have a keen interest in Sam

Lisa's character in more detail
 *She is the eldest of two children
* Prarents give her freedom however she must be responsible
* Quite/ Reserved
* She is pretty
* Currently taking A-levels at colllege
*Creative in terms of work
* Has a naughty side to her

Character Two: Sam
1. Is a young man in his early 20s
2. Is very confident within himself
3.Can come across as cocky and a bit of a know it all
4. Also is quite fourth coming a quality that Lisa has too
5.Seems to have a keen interest in Lisa
6. Is currently in a relationship
7.Has a job but not specified whether it is full-time or part-time
8.Could be seen as a typical young man in his 20s and can come across as somewhat carefree

The Threshold Concept

As paryt of our new term's work for context one we are now looking in Threshold Concepts and how they relate to such things as media and our day to day lives. My first task was to look at how the following three threshold concepts relate to the film ExistenZ.

And they were:

Interactive
Narrative
Convergence

Heres how I explained them coming together with the film.

Discuss the Threshold concept and Existenz film

The film existenz focuses on entering virtual worlds and mind control which can see dramatic results regarding how people interact with the aspect of surrealism.

Aside from being surreal there are also strong horror themes as in one scene the character has injecting herself with a poisonous control device which she has inserted into her back and is now dyeing as a result. I felt the film was confusing but also thought provoking, it was heavily based on mind control and to what extent can be too much for a human being to comprehend. There were also elements of humour and deception.

As the film has a number of parallels this sometimes made difficult to keep up with the story and by the end I did feel I hadn’t fully understood the point of the film. However in terms of how it relates to the threshold concepts and the three points which are as follows:

1. Interactive

In terms how Existenz relates interactive throughout the entire film the two main characters have entered a visual world through the power of a games device which is plugged into the base of your spine to enable it to work. This in my opinion made the film more intriguing but also quite scary as neither character had any control over their bodies.

2. Narrative

Regarding the narrative of the film it is formatted in a way that it switches between reality and entering the world of video games.The main focus I felt was to see how far someone’s imagination and ideas could develop.

3. Convergence

Finally in regards to the convergence of Existenz towards the end of the film it appears that all the characters still remained in their virtual state and as a result it seemed that the story was never-ending and finished on a cliff hanger leading a thought embedded in the audience minds.

Written by

Stephanie Janine

Multimedia context one

Film making Short story called "Ticket"

This next project requires us to work in groups of five and with the script provided we have been asked to bring to life a short story called "Ticket.

As part of our research I have begun to look at short stories, directors and camera angles etc. The nature of our short story follows two people at the bus station engaging in a conversation which has hints of banter and cockiness.
Here is a route for the Nottingham city tram link:

Each member of our group has been assigned a role and also have provided ideas towards how the script could be improved in parts.

Here are some examples of short films as inspiration.

As the scrpt highlights the two characters engaging in a conversation whilst using public transport instead of using the bus we have opted for another means of transport which is the tram:

As part of my role for this project I have begun to research into camera and lighting, to get the most out of this film it is essential for me know understand the different camera angles, lightings and shots etc.

Here is a a video which begins to explain some of these points: