CHRISTMAS!!!

THIS POST IS TO SAY THAT THIS BLOG IS NOW CLOSED FOR TWO WEEKS!!! THE NEXT POST WILL BE IN 2009!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!

Problems and Solutions

During this week's editing sessions, the group found some problems. As we were filming on different dates, continuity in terms of lighting was a little odd. So naturally, we panicked.
It was proving to be a huge problem and it seemed like we had no choice but to re-shoot. However, in one of my editing slots, i experimented with brightness and contrasting and found that it actually looked pretty good! My changing the brightness and contrast of some footage, it was possible to make the lighting look the same each time. That was a HUGE relief.
Things started to look up even more when Mary added a sound track and Mia added more 'getting ready' shots to our opening sequence. Bhavika managed to add more to the stairs sequence, which added a variety of shots.
I'm really glad that things are starting to take shape now...especially as the deadline draws closer!
I'm going to miss this project! :(

EDITING

I was SO nervous at the start of this project about STAGE 4 - EDITING. I'm new to media and thought of having to edit my own footage scared me!
However, I cannot believe how much i have now come to love it! I'm so happy at how much I have learnt, the techniques i have mastered, and the effects i have discovered as being useful!
My group was great at directing me and teaching me during the first stages, but now, I'm happy to say, i feel completely confident in the editing suite!

Some of the effects that I have used are:
- Ghosting
- Solarising in and out (Flash type effect)
- Brightness and contrast experimenting
- Changing speed and sound on clips

All editing is non-linear, which is great because experimenting in the edit suite is one of the best things about this project!!
:D

FINAL SHOOT - 14th Dec.

Hello again!
Yesterday was our FINAL shoot! :(
It was a tough one, as Bhavika was feeling very unwell and could therefore, not make it. We prepared ourselves for the challenge of juggling sound, admin, lighting and camera work between 2 people - hard work!
However, we focused on our aim to have collected all our necessary footage by the end of that shoot. We word efficiently and without being distracted by the missing quarter of the group.
Luckily, we managed to get all the shots we had planned to, and they looked fantastic!

So...things that i learnt during this shoot:
1. The actor's job is a TOUGH one. I lost count of how many times i walked up the same filght of stairs.
2. Continuity is a BIG issue, especially when it involves costume.
3. Everything in the mise-en-scene is there for a reason and can make ALL the difference.
4. Having a group of four, is a SERIOUS advantage.
5. You can discover more foley ideas in the most random ways!

I'm so excited about editing now! But i'm going to miss shooting sooooo much! :(

I'll update sooon...

Editing!!!

We have just started to become comfortable with editing our final idea. Today's editing session was INCREDIBLE. We worked out a brilliant effect to make the image jitter and flash, and our credits are looking amazing!
This week, the group is taking it in turns to edit in our free time and see what we can come up with to show the rest of the group.
I have some idea's in mind using a ghosting effect and can't wait to get into the edit suite on Wednesday!
Exciting stuff...
I'm also going to work out more interesting sounds to use on our foley, which should be fun!

So to conclude, I'm over the mooon with progress so far :D

Idea Change - The Shoots afterwards

On Wednesday 3rd December, during our group meeting, Bhavika had a sudden brain wave about how to make our original idea even more unnerving and scary! :D
Having look backed at the footage from our first real shoot, the group made a unanimous decision, that actually, it just wasn't scary enough. Queue Bhavika's new idea! Bhavika's vision consisted of several close ups of Mia getting ready, put together, rather than one smooth sequence. The revelation of this vision prompted Mary to suggest we interrupt each short take, with a longer one, making the sequence more pacey and causing the build up of suspense. We decided together, to have the lengthier shots as our credits! However, we decided to stick to our original plot, varying the story board slightly.

The Shoot - Final Idea
The shoot after olur final idea was established went very well! We managed to get all the shots that we needed without any problems. Our lighting was working amazingly, and everything seemed to fit with our vision.
I think what worked particularly well was how we rotated the duties. This meant that everyone got a chance to so various jobs, and so it was never montonous or boring for anyone.
I think that now that we all had a vision in mind, we were able to work more efficiently and productively.

Overall, I'm very pleased with the process so far and group dynamics are better than ever!! :)

Post Real Shoot

Well Hello there!!!
I have just returned from our first REAL shoot!! I thought it was best to blog my thoughts now, while everything is fresh in my head!
Firstly: mise-en-scene = WOW.
I think we arranged everything so convincingly!!
The things that were most successful today were:
- Mise-en-scene...sooo perfect
-Getting each shot arranged perfectly
-Organising sound
-Perfecting the dialogue
-Finalising the costume (which looks great!)
-Getting every shot from this setting! (We met our target! woo hooo)

Things to remember for next time:
- I know its no fault of Mary's, but i would have loved it if she was there the whole way through!!
- Have props wayyy before hand! There was a lot of running around.

-

Second Test Shoot - Reflections!!

Hello!
I have just returned from our second, much more productive test shoot. I'm really glad we now have the ball rolling - hopefully towards an extremely successful final piece!
As i had previously mentioned, our original location was proving very difficult. So today we tested the new location, which is predominantly indoors.
This made our jobs much easier, and we managed to get work done a lot more swiftly and with less failed attempts!
Tomorrow is our first REAL shoot. I'm so excited yet anxious at the same time. We've now established each shot type, music and other sound effects. Things to remember for tomorrow are to be careful and keep continuity in mind throughout the shoot. Also, i want to make sure we get all the shots of this particular setting done tomorrow, so that we can concentrate on other tasks at later dates.

Hope everything goes well tomorrow!!

Preliminary Task Evaluation

For the Preliminary Task, my group consisted of Charlotte, Jack, Mary, Nisha and me. We all agreed, early on, that the best way to work was to each adopt a role and stick to it throughout the course of the project. Fortunately, everyone was swiftly able to reach a unanimous decision about who would be taking on which responsibility.
However, the whole group shared ideas for the shot types, story board, the dialouge and editing.
The tasks were set out as follows:
Mary - Director
Me (Bisma) - Camera work
Jack - Sound work
Nisha and Charlotte - Actors
Our sequence was planned very careful and with precise regeards to the video breif. We began by choosing the best and most careful locationand walked through to be sure that we would not face difficulties durin the shoot.
Our next step was brainstorming ideas, after which we developed our story board and script. Once our idea was finalised and double checked, we ran through the entire sequence without cameras, to obtain a better insight as to what our finished scene would look like.
The technology we used consisted of Cameras, sound equipment and editing software. We recorded our preliminary task using mini HD Cannon DV cameras and tripods. Our sound equipment consisted of a mic and a set of headphones for Jack to make sure that in each take, dialogue and other necessary sounds were clear. Once we had our range of footage, we used a technique known as Non-Linear editing on Premier software to edit and complete our work.
Factors which had to be considered before our shoot were:

• organising actors within the group, making sure we had enough people for other roles
• limit on time
• being precise in meeting the breif
• testing sound and lighting in our chosen location

Overall, I think our preliminary task was hugely successful! During the filming process, we were able to obtain a few takes of each necessary shot, which resulted in a much easier editing session. A further success, is that we were able to meet the breif exactly, and use a range of shot types. Furthermore, post production was also a success. Our final edited project comes across as seamless and proffessional!
Of course, as in every task, we realise that we could have made improvements. I think our main improvements are associated with continuity. You may not have noticed, but behing the teacher's desk, if you closely watch the computer screen, it goes from having a file open, to being blank. Continuity error! Also, at the the end, as Charlotte begins to leave, you see her tuck the chair in. But, when the camera begins to pan..its back out again! Yet another error!
I feel i learnt many things during the course of this task. Being the camera woman really gave me an insight into what would work and shots which looked better than others. I also realised the importance of continuity and the the secret to invisble editing is DETAIL! I feel that i can take these lessons with me to my final piece, which should hopefully be an even bigger success than this task!

Test Shoot!!!

On Sunday 23rd November, me and my FABOULOUS, AMAZING group went out to do a test shoot.
I'd just like to say, yes i was late. I am sooo sorry to all members of my group. I won't let you guys down again! Promise!
However, lateness and harsh weather conditions aside, for me, the test shoot taught me a lot, as I'm sure the rest of the group will agree.

Location Problems.
So many! Our first location idea was a car park. Here's a list of the problems we faced;
1. Even early in the morning, there were too many interruptions by cars and people which seriously cut into our precious filming time!
2. Lighting! A potential issue for any out door shoot. It was very difficult to achieve lighting that did not look like it was being purposely used!
3. Sound. Not going to be easy to avoid echoes in an empty car park!
4. Continuity was proving difficult with cars moving virtually the whole time we were filming!

HOWEVER
Positives!! I am so pleased with the way, despite many many setbacks, we managed to pull through.
Even though the location didn't work out, we carried on like proffessionals, and now we have a VERY clear picture of our shots and shot order! So that's a great achievement.
Also, now we know what doesn't work, we've scheduled a second test shoot for Friday which should go brilliantly!

So, i shall be updating about that, and posting more exciting ideas soon! :D

BLK feedback

Please keep up with your Stage 1 posting Bisma - you need to show how the project is developing from your own perspective.

No evidence for this so far on this blog. Try to avoid long-ish gaps between posts.Please see the main blog posts for advice on how to proceed with your individual blog if you're not sure what you should be doing.

Your evaluation and continuity sequence link? What's going on?

MAKING A LOW BUDGET FILM

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Character Analysis - Different Genres

I decided that it would be useful and fun to analyse the representation of characters in three different genres. To make it more interesting, i decided to explore genres that I have done the least work with so far. So Here are the genres that i chose:
Teen Movie Mean Girls
Comedy Meet the Parents

Drama Green Street Hooligans

Character 1: Regina George {Rachel McAdams}:
-Mark Water's Mean Girls (2004)
In Mean Girls, Regina George's character was what one would typically expect of a high school 'queen-bee': Very two-faced, fake, popular yet feared and extremely good looking.
Rachel McAdams was perfect for the part, playing a convincing role and successfully portraying the duality of Regina's personality.
Rachel was made to seem more 'the part' as her character was always looking immaculate with a full face of make-up, an expensive-looking wardrobe, and style sports car. Everything about her was made glamorous, even to the extent of her gym clothes.
The way Regina walks, talks and carries herself throughout the film gives an air of confidence, femininity and lastly but most significantly danger.
'I, like, invented her, you know what I mean?'

Character 2: Jack Byrnes {Robert De Niro}
-Jay Roach (2000)

Jack Byrnes: every man's nightmare. The most fussy, perfectionist of a father-in-law you could ever come across. The father-in-law that wouldn't accept anything less than absolutely perfect for his little girl.
Robert De Niro played the part exceptionally.
This character was constructed and conveyed so brilliantly for a number of reasons. Firstly, Jack lives in the most perfect, peaceful neighbourhood, with a functional and practical family, living in a pretty and neat house. His life is very systematic, his routine very organised. His speech and dress reflect this. Mr. Byrnes always looks very prim and well-dressed with an eloquent manner about him.
With such a structured and ideal family life, Jack Byrnes is evidently the head of the house. He is the one to please, and ironically the most difficult to please. The way he carries himself and strides rather than walks, firmly places him in the mould of the 'Big Man' or someone important.

'I have nipples Gregg. Could you milk me?'

Character 3: Pete Dunham {Charlie Hunnam}
Lexi Alexander (2005)

Pete Dunham is what you might expect of a young East Londoner. Dedicated football fan...possibly too dedicated. He is prepared to risk his life to represent his football firm. This die hard attitude was acted amazingly by Charlie Hunnam.
With his speech and mannerisms, Charlie was able to convey a laid-back character, who is just like another young 'lad' with the exception of his passion to support his football team and firm by 'Standing [his] ground.'
Pete's wardrobe establishes his character further. Throughout the film he is seen in track suits, hoodies and a signature long trench coat. This creates a very 'street' image as well as one of authority within his gang. The way Pete walks also cements his personality: Cocky, strong and confident.
Similarly, his speech contributes to his image. He has a 'cockney' style dialect which confirms the fact that he is definitely a Londoner.
'Yes..cheeky slag!'

Opening Credits

Our final coursework piece is to plan, shoot and edit the beginning two minutes of a film. This will include the opening credits. So, as part of my research i decided to look at the styles of opening credits of two horror films: John Carpenter's Halloween (1978) and Tim Burton's Sweeney Todd (2007).
I chose these because even though, stylistically the examples differ hugely, they still both conform to typical horror conventions and convey the genre brilliantly.
First, i looked at the Halloween opening credits.




To begin with, there is just a blank screen with chilling music. The effect of the music at this point, is that it is quiet, eery and gives the impression of something lurking or being in hiding.
The font of the credits is very significant. Traditionally, black and orange are the two colours which signify Halloween. Here, the orange writing on the black background connotes the plot and of course the film's title.
Then, as the credits appear, a carved Pumpkin appears on the left hand side of the screen. It has a smile, but combined with the scary music, the flickering of light from within it and the fact that half of it is in shadow, looks spooky, mysterious and would have the effect of making an audience feel uneasy.
At first, it is not blatent, but as the credits roll, the camera zooms in and the Pumpkin appears to inch closer and closer to the audience. This is a great way to make the audience feel like they are already getting more involved with the film, and being literally drawn in. It also adds to the ambience of fear and would be effective as an unnerving image to be pulled in to. This continues, and at the end of the opening credits, we find ourselves dangerously close to the strange Pumpkin.
Compared to the Sweeney Todd opening credits, this format was fairly straight forward but nevertheless successful in creating ambience for the film about to come, and conveying the genre well.
It must be considered that the films were made 29 years apart, so there was probably a restricted range of effects for John Carpenter to use.
Here is the next set of opening credits: Sweeney Todd.





The music begins before the credits actually start, so as to prepare the audience for what is coming and create the tone for the film. The music itself is similar to the funeral march and has the same 'deadly' feel to it.
I also spotted that the usual Warner Bros. background of a blue sky scattered with shite clouds, has been formatted to a dull, scary looking sky. What a great way to set the tone?
The slow camera movement as it tilts to reveal the sky makes builds up the suspence and the expectation for what is coming. The storm and silhouette of the city are, again, typical of the Horror genre.
Then as the camera pans across the city and reveals the inside of the window, there is a drop of blood where we expect rain. In the same frame we see the chair. This chair is significant to the film's plot and that is why it is introduced during the opening credits. It is in a spotlight while the rest of the room is in darkness, which emphasises its importance.
The rest of the opening credits follow the trail of blood as it flows through the chair's mechanisms and out through the trap door in the floor. Later, it will become apparent that this is a representation of the journey the victims experience on their way to become the contents of meat pies. This almost works as a 'forewarning' to the audience as to the horrors they are about to witness.
Meanwhile, the music builds up as a crescendo to build up the thrill and sense of danger.
Evidently, thought the Sweeney Todd credits were much more detailed and graphic, both films were successful in conveying the genre. However, with Sweeney Todd, the plot was dived into straight away and more was revealed from the start.



What needs to be included in opening credits?
Here is a list of the types of names to mention during opening credits:
- Film studio
-Director presenting the film
-Film title
-Producer/Executive producer
-Main actors
-Featured actors
-Screenplay artists
-Director of photography
-Editors
-Music directors

The Importance of Narrative Image - FINAL DESTINATION

Narrative Image is an important aspect of the commercial success of any film. It is made up of many features which piece together to represent a film before it is released. A successful portrayal through Narrative Image will result in payment at the box office. It will conform to the classic conventions of the genre of the film to ensure the attention of the desired audience.

'It is the promise, and the film is the performance and realisation of that promise.' John Ellis, Visible Fiction.

The Narrative Image of a film is conveyed in many ways. For example through posters, radio advertisments, television trailers and front-of-house posters.
I have chosen to look two aspects of the representation of James Wong's Final Destination (2000).

This was the poster advertisement of the film before its cinema release.
I think this poster works well to convey the genre and allow interpretations for the plot. However, it is still enigmatic and does not give away too much about the film's plot.
The genre (horror) is made apparent because of several factors, like colour choice for example. The poster is primarily dark with a red anchorage which could connote blood or danger.
Lightening bolts are traditionally associated with horror, so this also adds to the construction of the genre through the Narrative Image. The actual image of the characters also comes acorss as quite chilling. They appear to be coming out at the audience, and half their faces are replaced with skulls. This reference through images of death, emphasises the genre further, as does the film's slogan:
'No accidents. No coincidences. No espaces.'
Without being blatently obvious as to what the film is all about, this cluster of three is effective in captivating the audience. The thought of nothing being an accident or a coincident conveys the idea that everything is happening for a reason. Each word is a plural: accidents, coincidences, espaces, telling the audience that there is probably a string of bad events to come. 'No espcapes' is clearly a reference to danger and being trapped, another clue as to the film's genre.
This is the trailer used to advertise the film before its release:

As you can gather, the trailer gives away more of a film's plot than a poster is able to. This is evident here. The montage of images which was used for the construction of this trailer reveal what the audience can expect from the film, by defining the basic plot. The first set of montaged images establishes the main story. The combination of diegetic sounds (screams and explosions) and non-diegetic sound (chilling music) firmly places the film in a Horror category.
There is a message split in to two parts which reads: 'You may get a second chance at life...But you can't cheat death.' As well as keeping a sense of mystery, this line lets the audience in to the film a little bit more, making them feel more involved. All the clips which are used have some significance in portraying the horror theme. For example the use of small rooms (confined spaces), dark places, shots at night, funerals and montages of injuries or deaths.
The significance of the film's slogan is also evident here, as is is quted by a character and shown in the trailer. This slogan would then go on to be a basis of recognition for the audience of this particular film.
Certain lines of dialogue are used to create a sense of fear and captivate the audience. for example:

'He knows which one of us is next.'
'By walking off the plane, you cheated death. YOU have to figure out, when its coming back at you.'
'No body has control over life and death...Unless they are taking lives.'

The way the trailer ends is very clever. You see a train coming speeding towards someone who is stuck in a car. But, the trailer ends before you can see the outcome of this event. This arouses the audience's curiousity. What happens?

MY FAVOURITE SCENE =]

As part of my research, I made it my personal aim to watch as many movies as possible. As well as learning a lot I enjoyed this part of my research the most! Yesterday i watched Robert Luketic's 21 (2008). This is a Drama about a group of students who join their advanced maths teacher to learn the secret art of Card Counting to win huge sums of money.
This scene was taken from Ben's (Jim Sturgess') first Casino experience. I think the way this scene is constructed is incredible. It uses montages, a combination of slow and fast motion, and a range of camera distances to create the perfect effect. Dazzling!
I have analyssed the clip in more detail. Take a look!




The camera starts off as a crane angle at a very long distance. This works as an establishing shot. Then, the camera stays at a crane angle and does a spiral movement, ending up as a medium close up above the table. Straight away this gets the audience's attention and builds up the excitement.
Then there is a close up of the Black Jack cards and the gambling chips, which could work as a second establishing shot, placing us firmly into the scene.
After this, the camera tilts so we can see Ben's face and the intensity and concentration. It is then also visible, that the rest of the casino is moving in fast motion, while Ben is still moving in real time. I think this is a reflection of how he is feeling. The rest of the Casino becomes a blur. Now, it is just him and the table and nothing else matters.
As this is all happening, the camera moves to a long shot of the casino, to give a wider picture of Ben's surroundings. The camera then pans around the table making the whole scene much more interesting to look at.
The scene then jumps in to a montage of compressed time. This is brilliantly done. This images move as; The chips piling up, the Casino (Planet Hollywood), Ben's face, his mentor's face, back to Ben, chips piling up even more, another Vegas Casino, the intensity in Ben's eyes and finally the chips again.
This whole montage adds a sense of pace to the scene and makes it seem so much more thrilling. The whole way through the montage the camera is panning around each image. This adds dimension and makes this scene even more incredible to watch!
Finally the scene ends in a genius way. The master shot is re-visited, but this time the camera spirals outwards into the very long crane shot: Yet another establishing shot to finish off, just before a pan of the 'bigger picture' showing the city of Vegas at night.
I loved this entire clip. It was amazing to watch and cleverly put together!

SOUND
I realised after watching this clip twice, that the sound is also very important to adding ambience and thrill to the scene. I love the combination of diegetic and non-degetic sound.
The Diegetic sound only comes in from time to time: For example at the very beginning, or when cards are being dealt, and especially as the chips pile up.
The Non-Diegetic sound here, is in the form of music. I think this is an example of contrapuntal sound. You wouldn't usually expect this sort of relaxing music to be combined with the hustle and bustle of a Casino.
However, i think the music is an effective way of portraying Ben's emotions. He is releieved and happy to have finally found his release from the captivity of academic stress.

Overall I think this scene is definitely a success and, to me, very inspiring also. Great!

Plots and Casting

To help with our research, my media class and I, constructed plots and attempted to cast an A list actor or actress in each. Here are two of the plots, along with the chosen actors and reasons for my choices.
PLOT 2 - The Rectifier
Basic summary: This plot is a sci-fi about a man suffering from complete amnesia. He is trying desperately to find out who he is. It is eventually revealed that he is in fact a 'future version' of a current government official who has been sent back two decades in time to help maintain the existence of the human race. The movie is a about his struggle to find the answers and prevent the destruction of mankind.
Who i cast and why:

For this plot i chose Bruce Willis. The main basis for my decision was his list of previous work. Bruce Willis has done a number of action films, like the Die Hard Sequel (1988-2007), Armageddon , Sin City and Pulp Fiction. He is also known for his tendency to play 'good guy' roles, for instance in Die Hard, Armageddon and The Sixth Sense, so i felt like this character would be in keeping with his usual roles and be recognised by the audience.
He is also strong, good-looking and has a rugged face, which makes it more plausible to see him as some one who is effectively saving the world.
His star quality and popularity as an actor would aid the construction of an impressive narrative image for the film.

PLOT 9 - Murder in Manhattan
Basic summary:
This plot is a thriller about a homicide detective unit. The head of a the team, Hannah Paterson, is working on a serial killer case who meets all his female victims on the ferry in from Manhattan. She is helped by her colleague Doug , who worries when he feels that the case is taking over her life.
But, everything goes hideously wrong when it is revealed that the murderer is actually her most recent partner. Fortunately, its Doug to the rescue...
Who I cast and Why:
Here, i decided to cast Angelina Jolie as Hannah Paterson and Tom Hanks as Doug. My reasons for doing this, were again based on previous work from both stars. Angelina Jolie has done past 'police-type' work in both Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001) and Mr. and Mrs. Smith (2005). She would probably be successful as this character. I also felt that Hannah Paterson should be played by someone who is fierce and powerful, as well as attractive and feminine. I thought Angelina Jolie matched this perfectly.
Tom Hanks was chosen for this role as he has had a string of successful films in which he was a protagonist. For example, Forrest Gump (1994), Saving Private Ryan (1998) and The Green Mile (1999). Therefore, i thought Tom Hanks would embody this character well.
As a duo, Tom Hanks and Angelina Jolie would work well together, being two talented actors, and prove very popular amongst audiences.

PROBLEMS WE FACED WHEN CASTING:
The biggest issues we encountered lied within the physcial appearence of actors and trying to match them into certain plots. For example, plot 3 required an Asian male. However, there was no asian man on the cast list, and therefore the plot had to be altered. This was also the case with Plot 1. I found that I had to change a character to a male, as we had run out of female actors. A further actor which may effect plots, is the age of an actor.

Continuity Tips 'n' Tricks

As our final coursework piece is to make the first two minutes a film's opening, i decided to do some research that will be useful and is vital for any film maker. I love these tips from Videomaker! See if you can spot the errors:

FOLEY TRACK

While researching the importance of Foley Artists in film making, i found these two videos and thought they were very interesting and useful. So, here they are!
The first video explains the importance of the Foley Track and gives us examples
SUMMARY OF VIDEO 1

-FOLEY : putting sound in sync to pictures IN REAL TIME
- This includes: feet, hands, cloth, hard effects of human touch.
- Movements are re-recorded and replaced.
- A lot of the time, the Foley Track is there to help dialogue.
- There is a trial and error aspect to working out sounds.
-This is followed by more advanced sound editing and mixing of the created sounds.

The second video, which i loved, is about the Foley Track used in Peter Jackson's King Kong (2005.)
This video is so interesting because it shows how each sound is made in relation to the movie. Take a look!

SUMMARY VIDEO 2
- The term 'Foley' came after Jack Foley, who started the whole process.
-EVERY sound is done individually.
-When doing footsteps,a character's mannerisms and weight changes need to be considered.

ICONOGRAPHY!!

This week, i have been looking at INCONOGRAPHY and its uses within the film industry. Iconography is using visual signs which are universally recognised, to establish a context or genre.
So, as part of my resarch, I collected some examples, and thought it would be fun if you guessed what each icon represents :) good luck!

BLK feedback

Bisma! Where is the link to my blog?? Please add this now!!

Continuity Editing - The Italian Job

The clip i have chosen for this task is taken from the 2003 remake of the Italian Job (directed by F.Gary Gray). I thought this film was INCREDIBLE. This is one of my favourite scenes. It is a boat chase, and so, there are several continuity editing techniques used, especially matched cuts and match on action. Here's what i found!
At the start of the clip, a man is looking down from a balcony watching the boat speed away. We first see the boat from the man's point of view - this is an eyeline match. Then the camera moves to a medium-long shot, creating thrill and intensity.
This is followed by a shot-reverse-shot as a second boat leaves to chase the first. The audience see a shot of somebody climbing into the second boat, sandwiched between two shots of the first man. This is how the shot-reverse-shot works, making the audience feel more involved with the action.
After this, the camera goes from a close up of the first boat (containing Jason Stantham and Sean William Scott) to a crane shot. This is an example of match on action. Even though, the shot has changed, the scene still appears to flow and looks uninterrupted. The evidence of this is that during the close up, the boat has turned a corner. Then as the camera moves to the crane, it still looks like it has just made that turn.
From here onwards, this clip demonstrates cross cutting. This is typical for a chase scene and involves putting shots from different parts of the narrative together. This tells the audience that shown events are happening simultaneously. This clip demonstrates this where the shots alternate from the different parties in the chase.
At 0.31 seconds elapsed, there is a wipe, replacing one image with another. This shows that time has moved on.
Immediately after, there are two great examples of match on action shots. The camera starts off at a high angle, very long shot as the boat is just about to go under a bridge. Then, as the camera changes to a medium long shot of the side of the boat, it has just passed the bridge. The perfection in matching the action helps the images to flow. This happens twice consecutively at this point.
More examples of cross-cutting follow, as the shot changes to a police-boat entering the chase. Even though the shot is quickly changing to different parts of teh narrative, the audience can still tell that the action is happening at the same time.
There is also an insert shot, in between a close up a Jason Stantham, the camera switches to a big close up of hi9s hands on the steering wheel, showing the audience his desperation as well as his skill.
Then at 1.28 there is another technique to show the passing of time. It is almost a dissolve of two images. This is often used in continuity editing. It tells the audience that time has moved forward.
In total, there are three different transitions.
All the continuity editing techniques used in this clip are typical to a chase scene, but are all vital to help the scene to flow.

BLK feedback

Excellent analysis and reflections on your horror shot Bisma. Aim to be a little more technical though - start by identifying the shot distance you chose (and why) and mention a key feature like frame within a frame straight away. You will build up skill with this as you do more analysis.

Your choice of film clip is inspired, and your analysis here is very technical! So well done. Your research is really coming on too.

Can you add a link to my foundation blog, also to a couple of external film websites as well?

Great work so far.

The Untouchables - Shot type Effects and Reasons

This clip was taken from The Untouchables, a 1987 gangster-crime film, set in the times of the Prohibition of alcohol in the USA.
The scene begins with a camera tilt, which ends up as a very long crane shot. This establishes and familiarises the audience with the setting. This is also the first time we are introduced to the characters in the scene. These are probably wealthy and important people (emphasised by costume and decor of the setting.)
The camera then moves to a long shot, making the audience feel as though they are being 'reeled in' to the scene. The camera remains still for several seconds to focus our attention on the main character, Al Capone (played by Robert De Niro). During this time, he makes his way into the centre of the frame, clarifying his significance as a character.
The camera then moves to a high angle so the audience see the characters ascending the stair case. This shot lets us see the surge of members of the press follow Al Capone up the stairs.
The camera then switches to a low angle. The effect of this is that it makes it seem as though Al Capone is towering above the audience. This strengthens his importance and prominence as a character, making him appear more dominating. He also takes up a large proportion of the frame.
Then we are taken to an Over-the-shoulder shot, looking over Al Capone. This gives the audience an idea of how many people are gathered around the main character, reinstating his vital role.
Then we are taken back to the low angle medium close up of Capone. This shot is also a frame with in a frame, as we see the character through the arms of the Press. This gives the effect of making the audience feel more directly involved in the scene. The camera stays in this position while the character is talking, to keep the focus on his dialogue.
As the character turns to walk away, the camera also turns, so the audience feel as though they are moving with the character. This also gives the audience the ability to see the desperation of the press to keep Al Capone talking.
Then when the character starts speaking again, the camera re-visits the previous position at the low angle, which brings the focus back to the character's speech.

Miss T h/w - Film Distribution

This homework was to watch videos on topics related to Film Distribution and summarise each video. Here's what I learnt... :)

1. Marketability
   The two key factors to keep in mind here are;
   - Who will the film appeal to? (Audience
   -What are the best communication channels.
   You need to develop a campaign that will focus on your target audience. In prepartion for this, it is necessary to think about how much money to spend. Predicting the film's success can help to set an appropriate budget.
   Promotion for the film can come in several formats like Media (radio, TV, newspapers, internet), publicity angles and premiers.
2. Planning a Release
   You must define the audience. Who is your film directed at? Is it people of a particular age group or gender?
   The film's genre must be established to be able to do this.
3. Target Audience
   The target audience are the focus of advertising and publicity. Research needs to be done and data collected to work out;
   -who will watch your film
   -why will they watch it
   -when will they watch it
   - and where will they watch it
   Different audiences have different reactions, so there is an element of risk. Where is the best place to place your advertisments and how will people view the film because of that.
4. Competition
   This is based on the film distribution at your time of release. Your film must stand out, above the rest.
   Things to take into account are holidays, weather and audience pattern.
   For example, July may not be the best time to use television advertisments, as fewer people will be at home watching the TV, as opposed to October half-term.
5. P&A budget
   The budget not only includes the Film Prints, but maily the cost of advertising. Posters, press ads, cinemar trailers all come from within this budget.
   Therefore, it is crucial to think about how best to use the money, thinking about the most effective form of advertising, but also what is cheaper. (eg. Radio advertising is cheaper than television advertising).
6. Word of Mouth
   The word of mouth is crucial. So, when a movie arrives early, you have the chance to do advance screenings. This is a way for people to watch the film for free, before its official release. Then, if they like the film, the idea is that they will go and tell people about it and persuade them to watch it as well.
   Movies that arrive later depend on the opening weekend. Here, the word of mouth depends on the public. Their words can effect the life expectancy of the film.
7. Marketing Plan
   This is all about how best to publicise your film. The more expensive methods are advertisments, press and out-door advertising (bill boards, and bus posters).
   Lower budgets rely on word of mouth. This is especially true to specialist films, where money may be lacking to use other forms of marketing.
8. Film Trailers
   Film trailers are key. This is the public's most close exposure to their experience with the film. They see the trailer on the same size screen and in the same atmosphere that they will be watching the film itself.
   There needs to be excellent portrayal of graphics, sounds, and the film's concept.
9. Persuading Cinemas
   This is the first step. To convice the exhibitors (the cinemas) to take the film. Especially when it comes to independant films.
10. Test Screenings
    Advance research can be done in the form of tests for posters, trailers, concepts, visuals and expectations of the film.
    A test screening is a recruited audience who watch the film and are then asked to fill out a questionnaire about it. Some are even called to a focus group to dicuss what they liked and didn't like about the film.
    According to teh feedback, the film may even change slightly, adusting the ending, for example.
11. Digitial Marketing
    This is the development of elements such as games, vidoes or quizzes, which would hopefully be sent on to more people.
    This is like word of mouth, the best form of communication. A close person's opinion will mean the most to someone.
12. Opening Weekend
    The opening weekend is very important. The film has three days to be as successful as possible; Friday (opening day), Saturday and Sunday. Then, on Monday there is the 'hold-over.'
    Depending on how much money the film has made, it is decided whether or not the film is given another play date. The film has to have made more money than others to stay on.
13. Piracy
    Piracy has escalated over the past five years. In 2006, 20% of all DVD sales were of pirate copies.
    People fail to realise that these are of an inferior quality, and profits made may help criminal organisations.

BLK homework; Horror Still

This still was created by positioning our subject in a storage cupboard using a spotlight to achieve the effect of illuminating half of her face.
The light was shone in such a way so as to ensre that the shadow cast on the object was equal to the proprtion of the object being exposed to the audience.
By using this technique, we were able to convey a character, which is clearly ominous and sinister, but also keep a degree of mystery. The audience, not being able to see a complete picture, will be forced to make assupmtions and will want to know more - Perhaps there is something our character is hiding?
The body language of the subject herself reveals slightly more and clearly establishes the genre of the still. Her hands wrapped around the door frame may tell the audience that she is 'creeping out' or coming out of hiding: thus posing further questions like 'who or what is she waiting for?' and 'where is she coming out from?'
The character also appears to be looking directly into the camera. However, the still remains with a hint of ambiguity because it is not made clear who she is looking at or prying upon.
The character is obviously given importance and made to stand out. Amongst the dark background, her green eyes and red hair dominate the photograph. She is also made prominent given the amount of the frame she occupies.
In hindsight, i think the horror still would have been more successful if we had tried to use darker make-up. This would create a more dangerous-looking and frightening character.The shot could also be improved by covering the small patch of costume, which has been left in the frame.

THR feedback

Hi Bisma, I'm sorry if you lost a link but I had to upgrade your template so it could work properly with our whole blog - I tried to pick one as close to yours as possible I just think you lost a couple of links?

Anyway, your analysis is great - clear and detailed on both technical codes and on analysing and proposing possible meanings - A great start - well done!

The following sequence, consisting of six stills, was taken from Sin City. Each shot has been taken at a different camera angle, while showing a range of distances at the same time. It is particulary interesting how such a short sequence can show so much variation! This technique makes the whole scene more tense and exciting, with every part revealing something new to the audience.
The low key lighting creates a more sinister atmosphere and adds to the mystery of the scene. Below, I have analysed each still, explaining camera movement, distance and why this is significant.


Shot 1 is a Medium Close-up at an extreme high angle, as we see the character from above. Low key lighting casts slight shadows, making the subject seem menacing. Eyes are slightly averted, giving the impression that there is a second character - likely to be who the gun is pointed at. The character appears to be smirking at this point, an looks as though he may be 'mocking' the second character. He is obviously not scared or tense, making it likely that he is the antagonist.
Costume consists of a black suit, which is typical in classic gangster films. The audience can now probably establish the genre. However, there is still ambiguity within the shot as the setting is not made clear yet.

Shot 2 establishes the setting. The audience can now see that the scene is taking place on a bridge. This is a long, crane shot. Possibly having zoomed out from shot 1. There is now a second character in the shot, however he remains mysterious to the audience, as his face is hidden. His costume strengthens the sense of mystery, with the long overcoat, which is typical for making a character seem threatening or dangerous. The new character's stance suggests that he is more powerful and may be heroic. He has his gun pointed towards the first character, who is now lying next to splatter of blood, revealing that he has just been shot.

Shot 3 is an extreme long shot and reveals more of the setting as well giving a wider perspective of the action within the scene. It is now easy to tell that the setting is on a dock, as warehouses are visible. It is night time and the place is deserted, creating an uneasy and frightening atmosphere.

A third and fourth character are now visible, but it is not made clear who they are,due to the distance and side-ways view of the scene. However, the second character is now central in the frame, establishing his importance. The man overlooking the situation also has a confident and powerful stance, and looks as though he is there to help the second character.
Also, just off the centre of the frame, a young girl tied to a pole is visible. It remains ambiguous as to whether she is being kidnapped or saved, at this point in the sequence.

Shot 4 is only very slightly zoomed in from 3. It is a long shot. Here, the central character is made to look very dominating and threatening (coat blowing in the wind for extra dramatic tension), probably just about to pull the trigger on his gun.
Character one now appears to have his hands up and could be begging for mercy, seeming very vul nerable and trapped on the dock with water either side of him.

Shot 5 is an close up of the young girl. This is the first time that we can actually see a character's face, and to be able to see her emotion makes the audience sympathise with her, and feel more involved in the sequence.

The low key lighting casts dark shadows on her face, emphasising the way she is feeling. This is another ambiguous shot, as th audience do not know why she is crying. However, they probably assume that it is because she is witnessing the central character shoot and kill the 'villian' or character one.

Shot 6, the final shot, is almost a conclusion of the sequence. It is presumable that character one has been killed. For the first time, we can see the central character's face, although it is still not clear.
The character who acted as the 'onlooker' has not moved his position, and so seems to be tense. The lighting and atmosphere has also stayed the same, showing no sign that there has been an improvement in the situationg.
This frame looks as though it is within another frame. This is due to the low angle of the camera revealing the area just below the dock, and the buildings on either side of the frame.