Sunday, 27 February 2011
Sunday, 20 February 2011
Thursday, 17 February 2011
(Pre-Production) First ideas
Here are some ideas I came up in a brainstorming activity for my film/opening sequence:
- In a closed off flat, where nobody knows his pain. Will he strive for freedom?
- Arron, a 16 year old from East London, has had it with the government and wants to help make a change. But, all actions have consequences.
- In a closed off flat, where nobody knows his pain. Will he strive for freedom?
- Arron, a 16 year old from East London, has had it with the government and wants to help make a change. But, all actions have consequences.
Wednesday, 16 February 2011
(Pre-Production) Project Log: Week 4
This week I have paid close attention to the brief given to me, explaining what is needed in my opening sequence. As the brief clearly outlines that the target audience for my British Social Realism film is 16-24 I have tried to come up with themes I could use in my film that would appeal to this age group. For example, One idea I had was to use the theme of growing up and aspirations combined with a working class environment. I thought this was a good idea as this would appeal to the audience the brief wants it to.
I have learnt, this week, that British Social Realism films usually involve many different production companies, as this spread this risk of money loss. Also, production companies, usually, produce the same types of film all the time. Such as, Film 4 usually produce British Social Realism films that appeal to a niche audience - e.g. Four Lions.
From the research I have found this week, I have learnt that I need to pay close attention to the brief given to me as this will help me to understand what is being asked of me and will enable me to create an opening sequence that fits the criteria of a British Social Realism film.
Also, I have learnt that the opening credits in films are very important, especially in British Social Realism films, as they may need to mention all the different companies that help them fund their film. I will take this into account when creating my opening sequence and will make sure to give myself enough time to work on the credits I need to add to my opening sequence.
I have learnt, this week, that British Social Realism films usually involve many different production companies, as this spread this risk of money loss. Also, production companies, usually, produce the same types of film all the time. Such as, Film 4 usually produce British Social Realism films that appeal to a niche audience - e.g. Four Lions.
From the research I have found this week, I have learnt that I need to pay close attention to the brief given to me as this will help me to understand what is being asked of me and will enable me to create an opening sequence that fits the criteria of a British Social Realism film.
Also, I have learnt that the opening credits in films are very important, especially in British Social Realism films, as they may need to mention all the different companies that help them fund their film. I will take this into account when creating my opening sequence and will make sure to give myself enough time to work on the credits I need to add to my opening sequence.
Tuesday, 15 February 2011
(Pre-Production) Analysing Sound in British Social Realism: Made in Britain
I decided to analysis the non-diegetic, diegetic and music in 'Made in Britain', as I found that the sound was very relevant in the time the film was set. Also, the music used helped create a big impact in the opening sequence, this will be useful to me in my opening sequence as I now understand how sound is used to help opening sequences flow and bring scenes together.
Through analysing the sound in 'Made in Britain', I now have a better understanding of what sounds I will use in my opening sequences. Such as, the ambient sounds, e.g. echos and murmuring, makes the film feel my realistic. This is useful to me as the realistic feel of the opening sequence fits perfectly into the British Social Realism genre, which I will try emulate in my opening sequence.
Through analysing the sound in 'Made in Britain', I now have a better understanding of what sounds I will use in my opening sequences. Such as, the ambient sounds, e.g. echos and murmuring, makes the film feel my realistic. This is useful to me as the realistic feel of the opening sequence fits perfectly into the British Social Realism genre, which I will try emulate in my opening sequence.
Friday, 11 February 2011
(Pre-Production) Project Log - Week 3
This week I learnt how narrative structure, (structural framework that underlies the order and manner in which a narrative is presented to the audience), is used in opening sequences to help set the scene for the film to come and engages the audience in the film. I found that some film's use voiceovers at the begin of films, such as True Grit, to help the audience feel certain emotions towards different characters.In True Grit a young girl tells the audience how her father was killed and how her mother is grieving, this makes the audience feel sorry for the young girl and gives a brief outline of what has happened and ideas of what is going to happen during the film.
Also, some films, such as This is England, use montages to help set the time period for the film and place ideas in the audience heads as to what the film is going to be about. This is England uses a montage right at the beginning of it's opening sequence, where there is small clips of different things which went on in the 1980's, such as a clip of Margaret Thatcher.
I have found that using different devices in the opening sequences of films helps create different atmospheres. Such as the montage in This in England, by adding upbeat music current in the 1980's, the montage and music connoted to the audience that the film was going to look at the 1980's in an upbeat, yet perhaps cynical, way.
(Although this is the trailer for This is England - not the opening sequence for the film - a montage is still used. I was unable to find a video clip of the opening sequence).
I think that, if my opening sequence is going to connote that the film is going to be upbeat I will try and emulate how This is England creates this, through upbeat music current to the time period of when the film is set and a montage of current topics of the time period.
However, if my opening sequence is going to connote that the film is going to, for example, look at the dark side of drug abuse, I may use music similar to the violin used in Donnie Brasco, as it helps to create a downbeat atmosphere and connotes to the audience that the film is going to dark.
Overall I would say that, through studying how films use narrative structures and devices to connote different emotions and ideas of what the film will be about, I have a greater understanding of how to use narrative structures and devices in my own opening sequence.For example, I may use a flashback to give the audience a better understand of how the characters are or what has happened already to lead on to the film. Or, perhaps, I may use a narrator to do this, as I found the use of a 1st person narrator in True Grit was very helpful in giving the audience background information on the character's life.
Also, some films, such as This is England, use montages to help set the time period for the film and place ideas in the audience heads as to what the film is going to be about. This is England uses a montage right at the beginning of it's opening sequence, where there is small clips of different things which went on in the 1980's, such as a clip of Margaret Thatcher.
I have found that using different devices in the opening sequences of films helps create different atmospheres. Such as the montage in This in England, by adding upbeat music current in the 1980's, the montage and music connoted to the audience that the film was going to look at the 1980's in an upbeat, yet perhaps cynical, way.
(Although this is the trailer for This is England - not the opening sequence for the film - a montage is still used. I was unable to find a video clip of the opening sequence).
I think that, if my opening sequence is going to connote that the film is going to be upbeat I will try and emulate how This is England creates this, through upbeat music current to the time period of when the film is set and a montage of current topics of the time period.
However, if my opening sequence is going to connote that the film is going to, for example, look at the dark side of drug abuse, I may use music similar to the violin used in Donnie Brasco, as it helps to create a downbeat atmosphere and connotes to the audience that the film is going to dark.
Overall I would say that, through studying how films use narrative structures and devices to connote different emotions and ideas of what the film will be about, I have a greater understanding of how to use narrative structures and devices in my own opening sequence.For example, I may use a flashback to give the audience a better understand of how the characters are or what has happened already to lead on to the film. Or, perhaps, I may use a narrator to do this, as I found the use of a 1st person narrator in True Grit was very helpful in giving the audience background information on the character's life.
Wednesday, 9 February 2011
Tuesday, 8 February 2011
(Pre-Production) Institutional information in opening sequence: Donnie Brasco
Through writing down all the actions, music and credits in the opening sequence I have a clearer of understanding of what goes into an opening sequence and how these things connect and flow together. By creating this timeline (above) I have identified how the opening sequence to films usually flow. For example, I found that production and distribution companies logo's are usually seen right at the beginning of the opening sequence - above the film has begun.
At the beginning of the opening sequence I found that no music played until 0.40 seconds, apart from when the Tristar logo was shown, this helped set the dark tone for the film to come. Also, when the non-diegetic music began to play it was very quite and created quite a spooky atmosphere.At this time, only one instrument is used, a violin, the violin was a high pitch tone. I will take into account how music is used to help create the spooky, dark atmosphere at the opening of 'Donnie Brasco', as I found it to be a quick way of creating a specific atmosphere. I will also take into account the use of only one instrument as I felt that this helped to connote that the film is perhaps going to be about or based around one character.
I was unsure of all the different roles the production time played as they appeared on the screen, such as: Executive producer Patrick McCormick and Alan Greenspan. However any role I was unsure of I researched into.
Executive produce = The executive produce handles business and legal issues and are not involves in any technical aspects of the film making.
Director of photography = The director of photography is the chief of the camera and lighting crew of the film. The DoP makes decisions on lighting and framing of scenes in conjunction with the film's director.
Costume designer = The costume designer is responsible for all the clothing and costumes worn by all the actors that appear on screen. They are also responsible for designing, planning, and organizing the construction of the garments down to the fabric, colors, and sizes. The costume designer works closely with the director to understand and interpret "character", and counsels with the production designer to achieve an overall tone of the film.
By creating an opening sequence timeline for 'Donnie Brasco' I now have a better understanding of what is needed in an opening sequence and how actions, music and credits are used to create different atmospheres to set the tone for the film to come.
Sunday, 6 February 2011
(Pre-Production) Project log - Week 2
Learning about conventions of British Social Realist films, this week, has given me ideas on how to create an original, stand out, opening sequence, whilst remaining in guidelines of the British social realist genre.
I have, also, learnt that opening sequences usually introduce more than one theme at a time. By looking at the opening sequence of Kidulthood it helped me to get an understanding of how this is done. Through the use of accents,(East London), clothing (Hoods), and camera angles, (High/low angles, to connote power) it was easy to understand the themes the film was going to discuss. For example, the theme of gender roles and relationship was seen right from the beginning when the audience see stereotypical East London rude boys. Through looking at how British Social Realist films, such as Kidulthood, introduce their themes and conventions to the audience, I now have a better understanding of how i can use these themes and conventions in my own style.
Overall this week i would say, through analysing how British Social Realist films use conventions and themes in their opening sequence to give the audience ideas of what the film is going to be like, i now have ideas of how to do this whilst making sure my work is original and current.
I have, also, learnt that opening sequences usually introduce more than one theme at a time. By looking at the opening sequence of Kidulthood it helped me to get an understanding of how this is done. Through the use of accents,(East London), clothing (Hoods), and camera angles, (High/low angles, to connote power) it was easy to understand the themes the film was going to discuss. For example, the theme of gender roles and relationship was seen right from the beginning when the audience see stereotypical East London rude boys. Through looking at how British Social Realist films, such as Kidulthood, introduce their themes and conventions to the audience, I now have a better understanding of how i can use these themes and conventions in my own style.
Overall this week i would say, through analysing how British Social Realist films use conventions and themes in their opening sequence to give the audience ideas of what the film is going to be like, i now have ideas of how to do this whilst making sure my work is original and current.
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