Nada Mudawi --Weekly Log

Weekly Log-1


This week I attended the Creative Sparkworks film course, where we were given the task to go out and film someone else's film. As part of the crew my job was to unpack all cameras + tripods, lights and lens's. The location was an old warehouse owned by the famous Freddie Notes & The Rudies. We chose to film in this location because it was perfect for the plot. As our character is going to be a homeless teenager we needed somewhere that was rough / sleazy looking. This location had an old back space behind the warehouse where it was easy to show the sleaziness. Freddie's old warehouse was not used for a long time which made it look even more suitable for our junkie character.

 

Here I am holding the black magic camera, filming Prince who is playing the role of a homeless teenager, who has reached this stage due to difficulties at home and getting kicked out of school. He is sitting on the ground, showing us that he is homeless and has nowhere to go. I chose to use a high angled shot as it is effective in showing place or value. For instance he will look quite vulnerable if the camera is above him, the angle of the camera helps to establish authority, us as the audience feel superior to Prince. The lens I used was a fixed lens , and the size was 85mm which gives me a really tight shot, this was good in order to capture his face more clearly- getting all emotions and feelings in his eyes.


Again I am shooting a similar shot, and the angle of the camera hasn't changed much. This time I am using a steadicam because I wanted to get as many shots of the same scene, in order to make it easier during the editing stage, where I can be flexible with what shots I choose to use. The steadicam was a very easy going to use, I felt more comfortable using it, rather than the black magic  which was more stiff and required a lot more energy.



Another scene which we filmed was of a coffin, where Prince had lost his mum after she was diagnosed with cancer. I set the lights up the lights so that the coffin is lit correctly, not only did I have to consider the correct light dim/level , but also the barn doors on the lights had to be straightened well , the tripod had to be the right height so that I was able to get the lights to point downwards.


We also filmed Prince, walking outside, leaving supposedly his home. For this scene we had to turn off all the overhead lights , to make the room completely dark. We then set up the lights to the right dimness, our actor was sitting in the corner of the room, and was getting abused by his brother.  I was assigned to the steadicam , which I was satisfied with because I feel much more better using it in terms of positioning it correctly to get the best shots. I reckon I got some really successful shots, making sure that I stack to what the actor wanted, whether that be angles or shot types.

Overall this week, I have learnt to shoot a film, referring to storyboards and scripts and checking for the right lens and focus. Also, making sure that the light is set up properly and isn't making any shadows of actors. The cameras are in the right mode and they are sitting firmly on the tripod. The last thing I would say was most important was packing up the equipment back in their bags. This is because the equipment is worth a fortune and so there can not be any lens caps or camera's left lying around.

Weakly Production Log 4(2)- Single Camera Production

During our group meeting today we discussed many things involving our film. Some of the issues included anything that we have changed about our film , the characters and their availability and confirming any equipment that we have or still yet need. 

Firstly, two of our locations have changed from Lambeth North Park to Kennington park and the cemetery which was Nunhead Cemetery. This is because the original locations are too far of a distance and some of our actors could not make it. We have gone into a lot stress trying to find actors to play the different roles of our characters, and although some people dropped out we have finally come to an agreement with three people, who have offered to be in our short film.

I organized this, because two of them are my neighbors and the other is my brothers PE teacher from school. In doing so, we had to slightly alter the storyline because we had excluded some characters which meant that we couldn't stick to the same storyline with them in it.
We have decided to make the plot simpler, which I think probably made our story less gripping.

Weekly Production Log 4- Unit 22 Single Camera Production

This week my group and I have started filming our short film. The first location we filmed in was the flat, where we shot two scenes one being in the living room/dinner and the second in the kitchen. I would say that the day ran smoothly, and filming was done quickly where we managed to get all the shots/angles and movements we wanted, directing the actors was also quite easy because they done exactly what we asked of them.
The second location we went to was Kennington Park where we filming the mother watching the father as he is walking and the father when he arrives at his daughters gravestone. The weather did start to get cold and there was some rain, which could have been a hazard, however we still got through it quickly and we finished all the scenes that day. Overall I am happy with the shots and panning we used and the lighting was definitely the highlight of the film.

I have also recorded the narration for the voice over, for which I went to the actor who played the mother. This is because she is the only character in the film who doesn't know anything that is happening between her husband and her daughter.

Weekly Production Log 3- Unit 22 Single Camera Production

This week we changed some things to do with our film narrative and plot. Instead of having the son wake up in a hospital which we thought wouldn't have be achievable, because we do not have access to a hospital room. Another thing we changed was that instead of having the son be tortured by the father we decided that the daughter should be tortured, partly because she is a more vulnerable character than the boy who can fight back. Also, we wanted the mother to not be aware of torture that is going on because it adds to the suspense and suspicious mood we want to achieve.

Also, we decided that the way the daughter was to be torture was with a slash to the neck because it is gruesome and a vile way to torture someone, and as part of the fathers representation we want him to come across as cold-blooded.  Finally, the way the story would end is by the daughter overdosing herself and dying. The final scene will show the father walking up to the daughters gravestone and visiting her.
Another thing which has changed is that there is no longer an actor to play the son, this is because the person who was supposed to be acting the son is not available and we decided that he was not going to add anything to the story or at least nothing significant and so losing that character wasn't much of an issue for us. I have realised that recruitment of actors in a film shoot is actually a really difficult part of the pre-production part of making a film. 

Weekly Production Log 2 - Unit 22 Single Camera Production

This week we started to discussing the locations for where we are going to film, for this we need a cemetery and a flat. I reckon the actor playing the mother character will

We have also started completing the paper work for unit 1 including storyboarding our film, and writing up the call sheets , getting the risk assessment done and also release forms. This is following the cast that I have chosen to act, they are neighbours of mine who didn't mind being in front of a camera, also I thought they were together as a whole the suitable family. One of my characters playing the daughter is the PE in school, who would be great for looking like a teenage daughter.
We also have a character to play the son and a doctor character, know we have to advice them on what to do or to expect when we come to the filming day

Weekly Production Log 1 - Unit 22 Single Camera Production

This is the first meeting me and my group have had together, concerning our short film. We began brainstorming ideas individually thinking about what genre or film was to be and the content and the way we will achieve this.  After discussing each idea we decided to go with Marcelo's which we thought was the most achievable and engaging, the genre of the film is a suspenseful horror and the details of the narrative include a family including; father, mother, daughter and son.
The plot is that the son wakes up, finding himself in a hospital and is told by the doctor that his mother has been killed by his father and he has been hit over the head, hence him being in hospital after the injuries caused him to pass out.

We now are discussing potential characters to act in our film, and for this I will be looking for people who are Ok with being filmed.

Nada Mudawi --Single Vs. Multiple Camera Producton-- Unit 22

Short film festival

Single camera production-

Hi, Short Film Festival. 

Single camera production is massively beneficial to you in various ways and for various reasons, the advantages are countless and i will try my best to convince and help you realize them throughout this blog about Single camera Vs. Multi camera. 

This blog will outline key features of Single Camera Production, and compare this to Multiple camera production, and the advantages Vs. disadvantages of each then finally evaluate which is more preferable. Firstly, Single camera is utilized in countless different productions, covering a wide scope of genres and themes. 

One key feature of Single camera production is the concept of only having one camera to film that can be a benefit in many ways; for instance by only having a single camera it cuts on price such as the cameraman who normally costs a minimum of 400pounds per day and other aesthetic manipulation on lighting and the visual image of the film, additionally other montages such as a dolly track that would normally cost you just below 600 not forgetting camera stands. This means that by having just a single camera these prices are cut down the overall budget of the production is less. So for instance a TV format such as a series - 'The good wife' which is filmed using since camera would be beneficial as the production would cost far less than using multiple cameras to film it.  This means that by having one camera the number of light stations you'll need would be less, and by limiting it to only one it also allows you to limit the other things you'll need ,again cutting down on prices, allowing you to stay below budget.  Therefore because it costs far less to produce  consequently if the production does not prove to be a success in the end you wouldn't have capitulated much money.

In contrast, Multi Camera can also be beneficial in terms of having many cameras around which means you can jump cut frequently, this can be effective in many ways as it emphasizes on the two events happening at once which adds to the tension and draws the audience attention making them more interested. Also, having multiple cameras gives you the chance to get a lot of scenes covered in a shorter amount of time, saving you time because of the several cameras recording at once. A good example of this would be 'The Big Bang Theory' where there are many jump cuts, we see two different events taking place , this allows us to experience two things at once. Which could be good and also not so good, having said that by recording using more than a single camera you get to see two people's perspective on things , which changes your mood or distorts it.

On the other hand, Single camera can be a disadvantage as by having only one camera, you're spending much more time filming each individual character, therefore the reactions of these characters is less realistic, and visually does not look natural. By having one camera you are also spending a lot of time in the post production process where it will take you a longer time as the entire film is done on only a single camera. For instance the Cbeebies children's show 'Justin's House' would not be suitable for single camera as there is an audience and the basis of the show is comic which involves the audience's reactions, that being laughter or booing etc. In the clip we see the young children laugh and cheer at the host or person acting, an audience of toddlers would be engaged by this as they see other children of a similar age to them excited by something which is going to make them feel the same. This is therefore why single camera isn't useful for reactions , this clip demonstrates how effective the realism of reactions is on an audience. 

However, Multi camera can also be a pitfall because by installing many cameras you're having to spend a lot of time setting up these cameras, so that they are correctly positioned and the characters are angled correctly.

The example on the left portrays the generic set up of multiple cameras in order to shoot a film/TV production, the characters named 'A' and 'B' are the subjects whom have to be standing either side facing each other, in this case conversing.

Therefore, multiple cameras are not so suitable to use as they require time and effort, and in some cases could delay the production from beginning.

Another advantage of a single camera production would be that it is much easier to focus on one thing. This has a big part to play with the audience because it determines their mood towards the production and it also helps them understand what is important and what they should be focused on. An example would be the actors. The audience would have to watch closely to understand what is happening. However this was at a disadvantage for the TV series ' 10 Thing I Hate About' who failed to keep their audience engaged

Multi-Camera Setups are used to film live events (e.g. sports and concerts), game shows, chat shows and studio dramas. Unlike single camera production, multi-camera set ups involve several cameras which record footage simultaneously. The flow of action isn’t interrupted during multi-camera productions.

Alan Carr's Chatty Man

An advantages to using multiple cameras is that the crew get better coverage of the action. Using just one camera you wouldn’t get enough footage because you would have to stop and start again after each shot. 
Another reason is that because you can have more camera angles to swap between the viewer’s full attention will be held. Multi-camera production also tends to be quicker, time is saved during production and post-production because the complexity of continuity issues are reduced. Productions that use a multi camera set up are completely based on schedules and timings and their set up is very often the same, very formulaic.
The story telling is relatively easy. You just need to work out exactly what you are going to do and portray in your production during pre-production, for example before the shot has been taken the cameras position should already have been decided.

There are also disadvantages to the multi-cam set up. The equipment will take longer to set up and the location used is less believable than a real location but to try to make it seem more realistic, Mise-en-scene is important to the atmosphere you are trying to portray to your audience. Generally the aesthetic of a multi camera set up isn’t as good as a single camera drama, this is because the set cannot be changed once filming has begun.

Unit 22-Technical features - Sound Design

Sound Design - Task 1

--Soundtrack-- 

Amongst the epic stunts and gripping technology, the scene which shows stunning sound design is the train scene seen in Mission Impossible. The use of a soundtrack at the beginning of the scene, where the actor is alone with a lady. The music style is quite serene and slow violin notes which humbles the atmosphere and emphasizes on control and stability. Therefore the audience feel secure and safe , the use of this music  drifts the audience away from thinking negatively and so they can escape the intensity, feeling a more warmer mood.

The director may have wanted to use this sound technique in order to show two sides to a situation in this scene the music starts off calm and still but soon changes and is more upbeat and demanding. This reflects the scene and the character, they're calm and contained with the situation and then with the music decide to also become demanding by as we see later Tom Cruise going to get revenge. This technique is effective to an audience watching because it eases everything that is happening for them, music is often a way of telling a story and when it is put together with a plot line then it is even more simpler, ultimately the audience gain pleasure from understanding , and the more you can understand what is going on the more you'll be able to be entertain and follow on smoothly. 

--Foley Sound-- 

In addition, the same scene uses Foley sound, this is displayed during the fight scene, where the punches and kicks are dramatic allowing the audience to stay engaged and champion on the two opponents. It is natural for us humans to enjoy watching a fight, it makes us feel a level of excitement, it is clear that the sounds are artificial as you wouldn't hear these sounds so loudly naturally in a fight, however, the realism lies where the actors continuously strike at each other, which to the audience of perhaps young teens is real enough. This therefore entertains the audience, and almost gives them a sense of catharsis. I think that if there was real sounds, then it wouldn't be so effective because it wouldn't sound like they're attacking each other.   

--Diegetic and Non-Diegetic Sound--

Diegetic sound is any sound that the character or characters on screen can hear. So for example the sound of one character talking to another would be diegetic. Non-diegetic sound is any sound that the audience can hear but the characters on screen cannot. Any background music is a prime example of non-diegetic sound. This clip from Edgar Wright’s Shaun of the Dead simultaneously depicts both diegetic and non-diegetic sound. The sounds of the characters speaking, the records flying, and the zombies are all diegetic; the characters can hear them. Whereas, the beats and riffs of the background music serves as an example of non-diegetic sound that goes unheard by Shaun, Pete, and the menacing zombies.

--Sound Perspective--

Sound perspective is where the audience can hear another character or thing in the background, but the sound isn't particularly loud. This is often at a distance point.   Sound perspective can give us clues as to who and where is present in a scene and their relative importance to the film’s narrative/story line. This clip from the opening sequence of the film Touch of Evil ',that shows a good use of sound perspective.  The sound’s distance is made obvious by the fading and increasing volume of the car’s music and people’s voices as they move toward or away from the camera.  In this example sound contributes to point of view; we hear what the characters hear as they navigate the streets of a border town on foot.

--Voice Over--

A voice over is a sound technique used to almost narrate a scene, it is done by recording the character speaking and placing this over the scene. I reckon this is done to express the characters feelings or emotions or even thoughts , because a narration or voice over is almost a first hand experience, so the audience feel like the character is talking to them. A voice over can be done in the first person or as we see in the clip below in the third person. This is done to provide us with a story about the characters events which helps us make sense of the story.  I have found this clip from youtube , which I think best displays what a voice over sounds like. 'The Royal Tenenbaums', is a film which tells a story of a young girl abandoned by her parents and then adopted by new owners, the voice over tells us all of this.  

Unit 22- Open and Closed Endings

Open and closed endings play a major role in making some films extraordinary. Many cinema films end with an open ending and there are those of which that end in a concluding closed ending.
Some directors choose to end their films with a beginning and others choose to end it with an end. Let's begin at the end - because it's so often the ending that makes the movie, all roads leading to the tear-dampened farewell, or unpleasant sting in the tail. But the one ending most film-makers won't go near is the one that isn't an ending at all, the one in which a character or plot point is left forever hanging, the narrative brought to a close not with a full stop, but a question mark. And that's a pity - because when you can find them, they're often the best endings of all.

This criterion will cover two films which contain open-ending narratives, and two which contain closed-ending narratives then later discuss and the appeal to the audience and finally evaluate the benefits of having either in a film. I will cover each narrative ending from a different angle, and try to explain them in a different light.

 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) -- With one of the most inquisitive endings of any movie, this film is greatness throughout, with breathtaking visuals. Of all the  iconic sci-fi movies this is one of the few that I can honestly recognize as a true sci-fi movie. From way back in 1968 its probably one of the most talked about movies of all time.

 Understanding the ending is key to understanding the entire movie. For those who have been perplexed by Kubrick's vision I offer my take on the films ending and why it is beneficial to audience members.

Here Dave runs through his life in fast forward, until he dies and is reborn in the form of a 'space child'.

After we see Dave being transported to   an unknown destination.  Here the audience have reached the last ten minutes of the movie and are beginning to try and understand this rather ambiguous ending to a film-where most would be allowing for time to figure out the exact meaning, others would be using this as social interaction to discuss what may happen.

The next part of my blog will forward  further towards the ending of  'A Space Odyssey'  where the audience are at the edge of their seats, rearing to know what's going to happen next. Here we see once again the changeover is ordered as we move into the next stage of human life. By the end of the film the audience are bamboozled by the so tangled ending, the end of this movie, just started. Personally I enjoyed watching 'A Space Odyssey' as it left me questioning the initial reasons for leaving it an open ending , and the decisions behind that. Also, was there any reason for the director to write the plot in this way?

This ultimately allows the audience to encompass what they believe the ending should be, this therefore is a benefit to open-end films as the viewers are free to almost imagine how they want to end the film. It gives audience members a sense of choice and covers the frustration of a cliffhanger. By the end the audience are left to their own devices. My personal take on this idea is that it is defiantly a pro to using open-ends in films and the audience use it as social interaction as they're questioning whether the end may be as they interpreted it. Consequently, open-end films are better than closed-ended films.

Life of Pi (2012)-- As a story-telling technique, Open Endings are unsatisfying for most audiences- for instance 'life of Pie'. Most of you

This film would probably be aimed at an audience who were aged 16-25 , possibly males more than females because of the general taste the film brings, where there are wild animals one may imagine that men or boys would enjoy the masculinity aspect to it. Like Pi and his three-tiered faith routine, the viewer/audience can always pick and choose the parts that benefit their preferred version of the tale's ending. After having to make the decision of selling their zoo in India and moving to Canada, Santosh and Gita Patel board a freighter with their sons and a few remaining animals. Tragedy strikes when a terrible storm sinks the ship, leaving Pi the teenager, as the only hum survivor. However, Pi is not alone; a fearsome Bengal tiger has also found refuge aboard the lifeboat. As days turn into weeks and weeks drag into months, Pi and the tiger must trust each other if both are to survive, and its a test against fear.  So on the contrary, Open-endings are not as effective to an audience as most people believe, by the end of the film we see this trust that has grown between these two completely different characters waist away into nothing. As we second guess that something spectacular is about to happen the film ends in suspense that ashamed the targeted audience.  A disappointing ending is never a good ending.

  This short clip which I have trimmed, gives you an insight into the ending of 'Life of Pi' where we can see the young teen watch his animal partner stroll away into a forest, the film reaches its peak and the viewer is left uncertain of what to say. As a viewer I would personally feel  disoriented as I have paid money and time into watching what I thought would be a great film which will leave me mesmerized with amazement, but unfortunately left me sickened with remorse. To conclude I have learnt that open end narratives could in fact not be beneficial to an audience and therefore lets down the whole film. 

 الطريق الدائري(Ring Road)

Closed ending films are films which end their narrative with a conclusion- the end is literally the end.

There are some contemplative issues addressed in this film.  It has one of those "okay" endings, and by that I mean you stroke your chin and say "Ooo-kaaay.

The film begins with the character living in a humble family of a wife and a pretty daughter named 'Yasmin'. We see the characters engage in a healthy family life and this allows for the storyline to be more expected by the end. However, this is not the case as the character changes rapidly throughout the span of the film- by the core of the film we're are swayed away from believing that this is in fact a closed ending films because of the diverse events that withhold this films narrative.

Next I will address the ending of the film in more detail, explaining what the target audience could be and why this film is a closed ending film. Towards the ending the audience is led into thinking that this so-called 'busy man of business' is going to find a way of helping his daughter over come her liver failure, but this is yet again not the case as we see him build on an incestuous relationship with another woman. This ambiguity is continued further on until the film ends.

This scene shows us the two characters  conversing- in the midst of an intensive conversation where the female actor is sassing out her dirty work, and the male actor is recording this in an audio recorder as evidence to use against her in court. Now by this point the audience are already astonished by what they've just heard and would probably want to hear more of it. Thus scene leads the audience into believing or predicting how the film will end however we are wronged into thinking this.  Because curiously the film ends with the male subject not going to court and presenting his evidence against her, but unite with her to benefit himself. The ending is very much one that  is a mystery in itself, but I consider to be more of a closed ending. It's conclusive and leaves the audience feeling complete, they've received the sufficient amount of information they paid for.

Unit 22 - Single Camera Formats

In this blog I will be talking about different TV formats which are produced using a single camera, discussing their benefit not only to the producers and directors but also to the targeted audience members. These include; Serials , One-offs and Series. I will be arguing as to which one I believe is the best and successful with examples and references from TV shows.

 A series is one that is episodic and open ended. Each series is made up of anything from 3 to 15+ episodes. The average number of episodes per series in the UK is 6. However, the first series of 'Sherlock'  had only 3 episodes. I will be talking about 'Sherlock' discussing why it as a series is engaging to an audience. Firstly, series being open ended is a very beneficial way of keeping an audience engaged, this is because they will keep going back to watch the next episode in order to find out what happened. Another reason why it is beneficial to producers is because they don't have to plan the end of each episode which saves them time. They can therefore focus on other important things such as money. They can also have time to think about what happens in the next episode. 


Following this I will discuss why serials are good and beneficial for an audience but also where there are flaws. Coming to a sound conclusion about whether I think serials are good or not.
The first example I will give is from the TV serial 'LOST' which is an american show, broadcast on the ABC channel and first began on 22nd September 2004 and ended on 23rd May 2010. I think that what made this serial such a success personally, is the flow of the story line and the idea of a journey. By this I mean the show conforms to its purpose of being a serial, as it continuously progresses. Therefore the benefit for the audience is that they get to follow on the story without getting bored or distracted. For instance if there was a confusion in the middle then the whole thing would fall to piece's because the story wouldn't make sense anymore. Finally, the good thing about serials is that whilst it can be prolonging and drag on, it is that drag of the story which makes serials more interesting then say series. The director(s) have definitely succeeded in developing 'LOST' and below is the reviews people have given it showing just how incredible it has been.

Another good example of a successful serial, is the unforgettable 'Friends', this is an American sitcom which aired on NBC in the year 22nd September 1994 and ended 2nd May 2004. I think personally that this show was a success, and should definitely take credit for it. This is because every episode contains the full amount of entertainment an audience can expect if not more sometimes. We're constantly impressed by the pleasures we gain from watching a gripping serial like 'Friends'.  Serials allow an audience to consume the information as a whole and understand it better, this is better than series because for example if someone told you a story but stopped half way you are going to get agitated and would want to find out what happens in the end. 

One-offs are movies in the format of a TV show, this means that it is a 'one-off' hour and a half some times longer movie, that is shown on TV. Often one one-offs can be based on real life events. An example of this would be Jimmy McGovern's TV movie drama based on the Hillsborough disaster during an FA cup match. 

 One off specials are 'movie' like shows that are shown on TV on rare occasions and usually last up to two hours long.  An example of a one-off was the Hillsborough which came on in the year 1996, it was about the accident in  the Hillsborough  Stadium. Producers benefit hugely from this in many ways, for instance with this example it is the emotional side to the audience which they're aiming to get. The event that took place is serious and they show this through many things including codes and conventions. For example, throughout the lighting stays natural as this is a real life event there has to be realism to it in order for the audience to understand this. If there was ambient lighting or even artificial lighting the mood would change, because the audience may understand it differently, almost as if it isn't real or a hollywood story.
  

Unit 22 - Camera Language in 'Law abiding citizen'

Camera language can differ from; camera shots, camera angles and camera movement. Primarily they're all significant in film making as they reflect moods, interpretations and emotions from an audience, as well as helping to portray a character or the representation of a character.

The camera language used in 'Law abiding citizen' is one which impresses me very much. To begin

the opening scenes show us an extreme long shot, in which we see a city, this is evident as there are tall sky liner buildings and an urban environment. The audience gain information from this shot as they now know what the location is, alternatively viewers may identify strictly with this as they too may live in a city.

Another, would be a camera (low) angle which we see during the prison cell scene where (Nick) is the police man and dominance and superiority over the defendant (Clyde) who is sitting hand-cuffed to his cell bed, lower than Nick. By placing the camera at a low angle it allows there to be a hierarchy and place difference between them in some sense. The audience use this feature as almost a lesson, to not commit crime, otherwise you'll be like Clyde- lower than others. In addition the audience can also feel respectful towards the police detectives as he holds authority therefore value.






Another camera shot type we see is a profile shot, which is a side view of a person in an action, this is seen in the court room scene. I think this shot is one which really helps you connect with the scene. This is because as the scene is shot using this shot, the audience gain the freedom of choice - the camera shows a profile from Clyde to the detective and back, as they both argue there way through. This allows the audience to play a picking game almost like a jury, the camera plays an interesting role. Also, this could be seen as equality between everyone collectively, nobody is superior than the other, also setting a scene like this in a court of justice, makes it more understandable. The director wants to show that in the legal system there is equality throughout. The audience gain pleasures such as excitement , as this is an intensive scene filled with mixed emotions.

Low angle's  play a massive role in camera language. This type of angle is effective in many ways, a low angle is used here where the gun is being pointed at Clyde. This immediately sets us thinking that he is in danger, we feel very empathetic towards him and the innocent situation he is in. Another way of looking at it is through his facial expression, he isn't even looking at his attacker but somewhere else, pulling a mysterious face, almost like he himself is so cold- blooded that he doesn't care if he gets a bullet to the head. He also looks like he is thinking quite deeply , as if he's planning on doing something , this makes his situation have some escapism to it, therefore as the the victim is escaping his situation then this is reflected on the audience. They too can escape the thought of seeing this character suffer, and imagine a more sunnier outcome.

Another low angle we see being used is the scene where one of Nick's colleagues has been buried alive, and Nick finally finds him... dead. The use of a low angle here is successful because again we're put in the victims position and forced to feel sympathetic to his situation. This shot in particularly interesting in terms of feelings and emotions, we are driven to feel this way not only because of the position of the camera but also by the other characters facial expressions. Where they portray a real life experience of a situation like this, as their faces genuinely look worried and helpless which adds to the whole panic and distress of the scene.



High angles are really good for establishing where a person is. It is often seen in most movies that a high angle can be used to show authority, however in this scene it is actually used to establish the seriousness of this meeting between the outlaw and the detective. You could almost say that it is used through the eyes of the law, to determine the right from wrong. Also the shot to the left shows the camera being behind the CCTV camera which again emphasizes on the law , this idea that the CCTV camera is part of the law because it helps people in authority watch over criminals. The fact that the camera is at this high angle behind the CCTV camera makes the audience feel as though they're behind the law- protecting it , watching over it. Unlike the criminal who is definitely not behind the law. The pleasures an audience watching this would get is that they will feel a sense of protection and calmness through them being put into
Also, camera movement is frequently used throughout the movie , we see a crane shot right at the end of the film, after Clyde has finally been beaten and left to burn to death. The detective walks away from the fire and the camera slowly moves upwards revealing to us to landscape. This is done in order to show the emptiness of a space, in this case it is used to show us how calm the city is now that this serial killer is dying, whilst he is burning the night sky is quite and we as an audience feel secure that he has died. This effects the audience because it comforts them as they now know what happens to dangerous people, and they're convinced of law and order.

Unit 22- Genre

A genre in a film context is a categorized style of the film depending on its narrative elements, or the emotional responses you get from this style.

In this blog I will discuss three different genres, describing their recognizable conventions which tell the audience that this is the genre of the film.It is important for a film to include iconography or conventions of a particular genre because an audience can easily interpret a thriller for instance for a horror although The first film genre I will talk about is the genre of action, this

Explosions

Protagonist vs Antagonist

Guns

After watching the trailers for the action films; Inception, Batman- The Dark Knight and i Robot. I have noticed many conventions which are repeatedly used/ implemented and through those I was able to identify that the genre was action.

Firstly there is the common use of explosions and the person who caused the explosion to walk away, in line with the editing (where the duration of the scene was slowed down) we see and feel the damages this person caused. We therefore as an audience get feelings depending on the means of the explosion, was it done for a good reason or a bad one. I think a director might choose to include an explosion because they want the audience not only see that there is an action taking place but also that the action is corresponding to the narrative. This means that because most action genres have a similar narrative the audience would expect therefore for the bad guy to cause a disruption. e.g an explosion.
Another convention of an action film would be the 'good guy versus the bad guy' this is always the case in most action films because in order to achieve an 'action' or an active narrative in that sense you need there to be an expressive communication between two characters. I think by having the bad guy try to fight/ murder the good guy it is an effective way of showing this genre to be of action. Also, when we think of a quarrel between two people we instantly think of something bad that will happen to either one.
Lastly, the last convention I will discuss is the generic prop seen in an action film- a hand gun, often held by one character but can also be held by several characters in a group, for instance a police squad. Guns are iconic of action movies because they always are used for killing someone, which is often the bag guy.

Abandoned Houses 

The next genre I will discuss is the genre of Horror. Horror are very interesting when interpreted in a film, the most successful films are horrors, because the director, make up artist(s) or even the set designer can manipulate the scenery to make it look as frightening as possible for the audience. I have looked at some trailers for horror films and looked at what things occur frequently for each.
Firstly, the setting in most horror films is or can be the most important thing, by locating the film set in an abandoned area or place you're suggesting loneliness and this is often something that scares an audience. Even dark streets and alleyways are sufficient enough to get a scream out of someone, the directors intentions are to make the audience feel the silence -where there are no cars, people walking by but rather just silence. This is effective in this genre because it makes the audience suspect something will happen. If a horror film was set in the city where there are shops and cars going by it will take away that element of scare, because should anything happen there are people to call on and certainly places to escape.

Weapons/Props used for murder

Another convention of a horror film would be the lighting and emphasis on dark colors such as red and black. Dark colors often connote or relate to evil , death or danger. This is very much the case with most horror narratives, where someone dies as a result of a stabbing or someone is in constant danger of a haunted soul etc. For instance in the horror film 'Insidious' the family who are being followed/dictated by an evil soul or monster who never leaves them, also this 'thing'  throughout the film appears at night.
Iconography of horror films include ; Weapons, blood, masks (in the film sequel 'Saw' the use of a mask acts as a mystery to the audience throughout) and religious icons etc.

Childhood issues

The last convention of a horror would be the themes that run throughout the film. This goes along with the narrative of the film. These themes include; nightmares, childhood issues for instance in the film 'Orphan', religion or religious icons are often a common aspect and supernatural , there are many more.

The final genre I will discuss is the genre of science fiction. This genre is the most creative other than animation because, directors can express things in the most unusual way possible as it will fit the context of the genre.
A convention of a sci-fi film would be be the fact that most are set in the future or in the past but contradicts past history. This is often seen in sci-fi films in order to enhance the realism of our lives as an audience it allows for us to see what life is like in the perspective of the specific setting of the film. If  a sci-fi film is set in the future we often know this because of the advance of technology, even new technology which we have never seen before. We see this in effect with props and costumes used by the characters. A director may choose to give his/her film a futuristic setting in order to achieve a new reaction from the audience, this means that because everyone is for instance used to seeing guns in an action film , with a sci-fi film you can push the boundaries. Showing your audience something they haven't ever seen before.

Another convention of this genre would be the technical elements added such as special effects and non-diegetic sounds.  Star Wars for instance uses many non-diegetic sounds such as lasers and space guns, things which we in our world would never hear. This is done to make the film-world as realistic as possible, in other words as we're used to hearing gun sounds from a gun, what if there were laser or saber sounds. It helps the audience develop and imagine new ideas for future technology, because a sci-fi film makes technology look fun and exciting we're made to feel enthusiastic about it.

Unit 22-Technical Features -- Editing

Editing                                                                

Editing describes the relationship between shots and the process of combining them together in order to get a good standard film that flows.  Editing is and has been essential for decades changing the way films are presented. The proliferation of technology in the 20th century has meant that editors can get their hands on good quality editing software. Another important thing to understand is that modern day editing has only been developed within the  last century , following adverts and techniques used in adverts. Filmmakers and editors may work with various goals in mind. 

This Blog will analyze various examples of editing techniques used in a wide range of films, by which are effective to the target audience and make a difference in the over all portrayal of the film, I will also talk about the importance of editing and the way I see it in the perspective of a modern day film viewer.  

Shot/ Reverse Shot
Shot/Reverse Shot is an editing technique that can be defined as multiple shots edited together which shows two in most cases two characters having a conversation. n a way that alternates characters, to show both sides of a conversation, say two people are conversing and we want to get both of their perspectives we would often use this editing technique to show this. The second clip is from director John Dahl’s 'Rounders'. I have to say, this is one of my up most favorites because the editing is overwhelmingly impressive in my view. There is a bit of an experimental aspect to the Shot Reverse Shots in the clip. As opposed to the clip above, the Shot Reverse Shot technique is used to distort space between the characters in a way to show their separation. In reality there is an 8 or so foot table separating the characters but the Shot Reverse Shot lessens this to a point where the scene seems almost intimate. We see the characters changing left and right sides, which I think is the standard way of editing, showing us what they're seeing. Again, eye-line matches are used to show how intensely each character is focusing on the other. It is an effective way of portraying emotion through an edit , the audience gain understanding of how these characters are feeling, which also helps to understand the plot better.
 
Eye-line Match
In an eye-line match, we see a shot of a character and what they are looking at then it cuts to another shot showing us exactly what the character sees. Importantly, the point is that the camera becomes the character’s eyes with this editing technique.  In many cases, when the sequence cuts to the eye-line, camera movement is often used to imply movement of the character’s eyes.  For example, a pan from left to right would imply that the character is moving his/her eyes or head from left to right.  Because the audience sees exactly what the character sees in an eye-line match, this technique is used to connect the audience with that character, seeing as we practically become that character for a moment.  Each of the following sequences is from No Country For Old Men, directed by the Coen Brothers.
In the first clip, five eye-line matches are shown in a sequence that’s only a minute long.  The first of these contains movement from left to right, mocking Llewelyn’s motion as he walks up to the dead body.  We then see relatively still eye-line matches as Llewelyn looks at the man’s face, and then at the gun as he picks it up.  The next eye-line match is shown as Llewelyn opens the briefcase of money, which contains a slight zoom.  This zoom is not necessarily used to mimic Llewelyn’s eye movement, but rather his thought and emotion, as the sight of all the money understandably “brings him in.”  The Coen brothers decided to use so many eye-line matches in this sequence and in the rest of Llewelyn’s journey so that the audience would come closer to experiencing what he was experiencing.

In the second clip, portraying Anton’s unfortunate car ride, we see multiple eye-line matches once again.  The first and last eye-line match simply follow Anton’s eyes as he looks at the road while driving.  We also see another eye-line match of Anton checking his rear-view mirror; in this match the good thing is that you gain an appreciation for how perfect the angle is, mimicking exactly what the character sees.  With these eye-line matches, we feel almost as if we are driving the car, which makes the crash even more disturbing.  As illustrated in these two examples, and throughout the rest of the movie, this makes us ask the question of whether the  Coen brothers wanted us to gain perspective on both Llewelyn and Anton. In order for us to gain a better understanding of the relationship between the hunter and the victim, and funnily enough this is  one of the film’s themes. I think that eye-line matches as an editing technique help massively with many things including, making the film more interesting, because if it was just Anton driving the car for 30 seconds the audience would get bored and it will be hard to get their attention again. By including these eye-line matches the director or even editor has succeeded in keeping the audience engaged, it makes it look like there is something happening and we're tempted to keep watching.




 Match on Action

The second scene is from Sylvester Stallone’s Rocky IV. Here we see a different, much more simpler style of match on action. The camera stays at relatively the same level, with a few zooms in or out. The matches on action are used to keep the fight realistic looking, as well as to keep a certain character in focus/at the centre of the screen. This is effective because it allows for the audience to not feel disoriented or uncomfortable whilst watching. The audience also benefit because they are in the place of the actual audience in this scene, which makes them feel involved and welcomed to the fight again getting them excited to watch on. The audience may also benefit as some may find a common ground with the characters , they will personally identify with the fighting if they were perhaps always a fighter who has anger issues. Another way the audience will benefit is through catharsis they will gain pleasure from watching people being hurt. Therefore this editing technique is a tricky one to define but it opens doors for many audience gratifications.  

Parallel Editing

This combination of parallel editing and eye-line matches for each line of action allows the viewer to practically experience both sides of the event first-hand and it gives them a feel for the action, where they feel that they're involved with what is happening, it sets a fine line between active and passive audiences. 
The second clip offers a different kind of parallel editing in the use of sound. In the scene we see a basement of criminals and it contains only diagetic sound, but as the sequence cuts to the police raid, the voice of the man on the TV carries over, becoming non-diagetic sound.  This created the effect of the man practically narrating what we see occurring with the police.  In this way, parallel editing can be used not only to add suspense but also to narrate a line of action with another line of action. I will be using this technique in a similar way with my short film, where there will be a narration over the action in a parallel way.

In-Camera Editing :  Long Take

Recently , in class we looked at in-camera editing which is best known as editing that is done within a camera, this means that you record each shot without deleting anything. I have noticed in-camera editing through long takes and thought I should include it in my blog. Long takes are simply shots that go on for a long period of time before cutting to the next shot. Usually done with a moving camera, long takes are often used to build suspense or capture the attention of audience without breaking their concentration by cutting the film, into apparent sequences of shots. In a way I think that this is effective because it not only keeps the audience engaged but also interested and actively responsive with the film.
The opening scene from Robert Zemeckis’ Forrest Gump follows a feather blowing in the wind, eventually landing on the foot of the protagonist (Tom Hanks) who then goes on  to pick it up and put it in his suitcase. This scene can be interpreted as a metaphor for the whole movie, as the feather represents Forrest. Just as the feather blows around for what seems like forever, going where the wind takes it until it eventually lands in a safe place, Forrest seems to just blow aimlessly through life, going wherever life and fate may take him with out too much consideration of his own, until he eventually lands in a happy place. So by using this technique it is useful when telling a story and portraying an idea , just like in this example. Although it isn't so obvious the technique is a mystery in itself. I can't grantee that I will use a long take in my short film , because my time is limited to only 4 minutes , therefore it will be difficult to fit in such a long lasting shot. The obvious use for an audience watching would be engagement through information- they're are suspiciously engaged and want to  what will happen next, the only clue they have is that what will happen next is unexpected. The take allows the audience to social interact, being inquisitive about the scene and the paranoia that it conveys. The long take showing us the travels of this feather , also gives us an establishing shot of the city , which is always good when trying to work out the location.



The next long take is from Frank Darabont’s The Shawshank Redemption. A white bus is seen driving up the street towards a long building. As the bus turns to drive around the building the camera goes straight over the top of the building to reveal the vast expanses of Shawshank Prison. Hundreds of prisoners in the yard are all seen walking in the same direction, seemingly toward the same place. As the camera makes it to the end of the prison yard the bus returns to the frame, meeting a group of guards at the same spot all of the prisoners had been heading towards. This long take is perhaps more appealing for me as an audience member, this is simply due to my taste in style and movement of the camera. With the last example we are taken along a very slow and empty shot of a feather and although carrying intrigue , we're not as engaged with it compared to this example. Here , not only are we interested but there are more people in the scene- adding life and a sense of movement to the scene. The camera twisting to a 180 degree angle - showing us the entirety of the people there and again adding to the scene in terms of engagement.



This long take sequence, from Scorsese’s Mean Streets, shows Charlie in a state of barely coherent drunkenness. The sequence was accomplished by attaching a Steadicam to the actor’s body in such a way as to continually frame his face in close-up in spite of his uncertain movements.  The position of the camera serves to capture the disorientation and unstableness of the character as he stumbles around the crowded bar. The red colour of the image, together with the absurd musical accompaniment, helps to render the atmosphere of a unpleasant night club.  With this example I think that the audience gain many things in terms of the effectiveness of the editing. Firstly, this idea with the camera acting as the motion of the character helps us identify his personality on a broad picture and his emotions and thoughts at this particular time, we understand the psychological element the editor or even the director was trying to highlight. Therefore the audience gain understanding through the information they read off the character ,that being drunk makes you look / feel like this-not very approachable. Alternatively the audience will choose to not drink so much. Another good use for this editing technique is it acts as a disorientation for the audiences eyes , the camera sways in and out , dipping jerkily, making the audience feel as though they're also jerky so on the other hand the escapism here offers the audience encouragement to go out and drink. Another thing is the eye level of the camera position, this is also effective because it again enforces the point of the audience feeling the same as the character(s) and copying them.   

Jump-Cuts

A Jump-Cut is where one shot seems to be abruptly interrupted. Typically the background will change while the individuals stay the same, or vice versa.  An example that I have found of this editing style can be seen in the following clip from Capote (2005). Here the character who is being detained and about to be strangled is seen looking nervously at the bishop , seconds later there is a quick jump cut , showing an over the shoulder shot of the victim and the bishop begins talking. This is an effective way of showing two interactions happening at once, and saving time. We know what happened to the victim- his head was covered with a bag.
The audience are offered information , because as we're behind the victim we feel his situation and empathizes with him, not only this but we're also offered entertainment through two perspectives- the first would be being entertained with passion as we're experiencing something that we're not used to making us excited to be involved and engaged or having a cathartic attitude towards it. The other could be seen as simply being entertained by the ruthless character who is the bishop and his representation where the edit unveils how unexpected situations or life can turn out to be.