Minutes of the meeting

We started the meeting by setting the date we would start filming, which is 16/12/2013. We then wrote out all of the items we would need for our filming date.
Things that we need for the filming date:

• Camera 1
• Camera 2
• 4x camera batteries
• 2x tripod
• 3x lighting rigs
• Steadicam
• story board
• make up for hand etc.
• music box
• set needs adapting

This is the Steadicam which we have available for the film shoot.

Title time line:

I have analysed a title sequence of the Conjuring, which is psychological horror. I did this by watching the clip below and writing the time and type of title on to this time line. I did this so I would get a better idea of how the titles in a opening sequence would occur. From this I noticed that the title of the film only was shown at the very last shot. This idea we took forward to our own opening sequence.
http://www.artofthetitle.com/title/the-conjuring/

leaning how to use adobe after effects

After looking around on the internet and from the advice from Ryan to use adobe after effects.
To be able to use adobe after effects I spent some time learning how to use it using the different clips below. The first clip essentially explains the basics of using the program.

Minutes of the meeting

Lighting: in the meeting today we discussed  lighting issues. The main problems due to a very small budget we wouldn't have the best possible lighting, however I did come up with a solution. Our problem was that we wanted to get good strong lighting which we would be able to easily change with colour correction after filming. My solution to the problem was to use these house lamps which are quite powerful and use many different colored gels to give a better night time effect, which would we could enhance with colour correction. Below is a picture of the different types of lamps which we are going to be using for the filming.

When discussing the best color of gels we all agreed that a mixture of different blue gels and white lights would give the best night time effect. So I organised 3 different shades of blue gels. 

Learning about editing:

In the lesson today we learned about Editing and how to analyse it. We were given a list to memorize and learn of different editing terms.

• Shot/reverse shot
• eye line match
• graphic match
• action match
• jump cut
• crosscutting
• parallel editing
• insert
• cutaway
• long take
• short take
• Invisible editing
• visible editing

These terms are there to help me with my analyses of TV drama. 

Minutes of the meeting:

We came up with the name of our film to day: Somnium which is Latin for 'dream'. The way we came up with the name was by using google translate from English to Latin. We thought this gave the best feel for the opening sequence because it is original and is appropriate for the idea of the film. We came up with name quickly to help us later in the editing stages when putting the title of the film in.

FX make-up

In our opening sequence there is a shadowy hand which wraps around the girls neck. I have been looking up techniques of creating the hand.
To make our 'scary dream' hand, I have been looking into different types of silicon make-up special effects on YouTube. Below I have put a video showing a time lapse/tutorial of a gory and realistic arm. The ideas I got from it was from the veins and the bones. I would be able to accent the bony parts of my hand by using silicon and possibly some cotton bud sticks which should give my hand some texture.

Camera shot analysis

In the lesson today I learnt about how to analyse the different camera shots in relation to whats happening in the scene. We watched a clip from king Arthur...

In the clip we looked as a class at how the shots where relevant to the scene. For an example in the opening shot, looking down from a high distance, you can see how the shot set's the scene showing the mountains and the snow and how cold it is. then the next scene  After learning about it we were put into groups too analyse a clip off our choice.

We analysed a clip from `Mrs Doubtfire`:

 

We first counted 14 shots in total for the clip. The first shot we established to be a medium shot etc. This exercise helped me to understand the different camera angles in an actual film. 

A look into opening sequences:

This opening sequence is from a film called catch me if you can. When watching any opening sequences there are specific parts which are included:

• Film title
• titles
• setting the tone of the film    

an opening sequence of a film often sets the genre of the film to the audience. For an example a horror film would set the mood of the film to be a horror film not a comedy. With 'catch me if you can' the entire story is explained in the opening sequence, however for some one watching the film for the first time, there isn't enough information for them to truly understand the details but it is at the same time intriguing and makes the viewer want to watch the rest of the film. 

An introduction to opening sequences:

Opening sequences is the first part of a film. It sets the tone and mood of a film.
Often film companies leave the filming and making of the opening sequence last because it is often seen as one of the more important parts of a film.
James bond films are often famous for their opening sequences. e.g. their choice of new songs etc.

An introduction to story boarding

In the previous lesson we started to learn about story boarding. We learned that to be able to make a good film, we would need to draw out in detail how each shot would go within the scene. My group and I chose a clip from insidious which we would copy in terms of story board and filming.

Above is my groups versoin of the incidious clip shown above that. It was to helpus get a better understanding of story bording. Below is the story board we made up from the incidious clip.

I have done some personal research looking into story boarding. This is one of the clips which I have found showing a great insight into how I can story board better and why I should do it in my pre-production planing. 

from this clip i learnt that using an artist can realy help in making good drawings. That is why Zoe (an artist) in our group drew the story board above. 

camera monuvering equipment

This video shows and reviews the different types of steady cams out on the market. It shows how s steady cam can really change a camera shot. The main part I have taken from this video is the steady and smoothness that a camera can have from adding this feature.

camara movment technology

We learnt about camera movement technology to day. We established that there are many different types of camera movement's in the previous lesson. We watched the video below on the different types of stands, rail etc. which can enable a person operating the camera to move the camera in certain ways.

I have since the lesson done lots of research into different types of stands etc. which allow for better camera movement. For an example:

• A Steadicam:

This is a more professional set up which uses springs and pivots to enable a very crisp image when film. I allows the camera man to walk with it around and not have it cause an issue in terms of wobbliness of the camera. 

This is more amateur/semi-professional set up for a Steadicam. They are a very effective tool as shown on the video below where there is a comparison of using these Steadicam and not using one at all. There is a clear difference between the too. The camera shakes fare less and the movement is much more smooth. 

Diegetic and non-Diegetic sound

For Mrs bank's lesson we were asked to research diegetic sound and non diegetic sound. Below is all of the research which I found using the internet.

Diegetic sound 

Diegetic sound is `Sound whose source is visible on the screen or whose source is implied to be present by the action of the film: 

• voices of characters 
• sounds made by objects in the story 
• music represented as coming from instruments in the story space ( = source music)`

Diegetic sound is any sound presented as originated from source within the film's world 

Digetic sound can be either on screen or off screen depending on whatever its source is within the frame or outside the frame. 

Another term for diegetic sound is actual sound  

Non-diegetic sound:

Sound whose source is neither visible on the screen nor has been implied to be present in the action: 

• narrator's commentary
• sound effects which is added for the dramatic effect
• mood music

Non-diegetic sound is represented as coming from the a source outside story space. 

The distinction between diegetic or non-diegetic sound depends on our understanding of the conventions of film viewing and listening.  We know of that certain sounds are represented as coming from the story world, while others are  represented as coming from outside the space of the story events.  A play with diegetic and non-diegetic conventions can be used to create ambiguity (horror), or to surprise the audience (comedy). 

Another term for non-diegetic sound is commentary sound. 

I analysed a clip of doctor who which was used in a previous exam. 

I analysed only the doctor in this clip and how the different sounds influenced him.

Evidence of diegetic            Rustle’s cage            Rushing wind            Chimes            Laser screw driver sliding on the ground	Explanation-link to character + representation           Shows that he’s trapped.            It’s when the Dr starts to regain his strength etc. and starts to become more powerful.           It signifies the start of the Dr getting better.            shows how he’s got the power to move his screw driver.
Non diegetic evidence           Music has ascending sequences           The music keeps developing and becoming more and more of a build-up, until the clip finishes	Explanation-link to character +representation           It gives a build-up showing how the doctor is getting better and stronger.            Showing that the doctor is going to do something which will ‘save the day’

The learning of media equipment:

On this lesson we learned how to use the: camera's, tripods and editing software to create a short clip using different camera movements. 

The clip below is what me and two others created:

What you can see from the start is an establishing shot which is a birds eye view, also showing some of the stares, which is very common in film; using the top of stares when filming. A common problem which we came across when looking at other groups work was that they would use the zoom which is non naturalistic for the viewers eye's. They would also not have the peoples heads within the shot, which was because there camera was too close to the subject. 

Introduction to Mese-un-scene

In the lesson we where introduced to mese-un-scene. We where explained the understanding that mese-un-scene is all the things which are within a scene. Mr Buckmaster showed us a power point which explained the out lines what happens within the scene.

In Mrs Bank's lesson I extended my knowledge in Mese-un-scene and learned about CLAPS.
Costume
Lighting
Actors
Props
Setting

I analysed a clip from Easterners using CLAMPS:

Costume:

Zoe is wearing a dark blue dress which is plain. She is has her hair down and is showing some feminine type of character. She is also wearing a simple necklace

Kat is wearing a fancy red and black dress. She’s wearing  a lot of makeup; red lip stick fake tan etc. she’s also wearing a lot of  jewellery; long earrings and necklace. This shows that she’s more appearance orientated and more of a gossip type person. Middle classed/lower classed type person. When she’s outside she wears a black leather jacket.

Lighting:

The lighting in the restaurant is well lit and general lighting from inside. When outside it becomes very dark and there is some lighting from the street lights. 

Acting:

Zoe is more of a bottled down person and doesn't always want to fight back with people which I think is shown with her plain blue dress

I think Kat is a more bold character; shown from her leather jacket and her heavy amounts of makeup. Her bold red and black dress I think also shows that she’s a strong person which really puts forward her point of view.

Props:

Kat has a pen which she slams onto the table to get her frustration across. Kat also has a handbag which she takes with her when outside following Zoe.

Setting:

It’s set in a pub/restaurant, local, birthday celebration? Outside it’s an evening street.

.

The brief

   The main task will include:

To create an Opening sequence which includes

•          fiction film
•          Titles: film title, 
•          Soundtrack: Foley, Music, Sound FX, dialogue
•          Last approx. 2.00-2.50 min

   Below is an example of an opening sequence: 

• 
  

Camara movment:

In this lesson we learnt about camera moment. We first looked at the kinds of camera movement there are. We did this by looking at a power-point presentation which explained the different types of movement:

For an example; 

In this clip from the very first shot there shows a good example of 'dollying in'. This we established is much better than using the camera zoom, because when moving the camera it should feel for the viewer as if it was there own eyes which obviously does not zoom in. Tracking in and out is a much more realistic view for the audience.  

The rule of thirds!

In my lesson I learnt about the rule of thirds. The rule of thirds is the placement of things within the shot. For an example:

In this clip it shows when Lou and Andy are talking to each other they are around the outside of the shot (nothing is directly in the middle of the shot). This is because our eyes are naturaly drawn away from the very centre.

Later on in the clip when Andy desides to climb over the fence etc, there is a clear distinction that Lou is more central and Andy is much more to the side. That is why our eyes are naturaly drawn to see him climbing over the fence.

Welcome to my Blog!

Welcome to my Blog. I am studying AS Media studies and this is my Media Blog!



Here's a welcome Song for my Blog...