Storyboard

Story boarding -

Why is story boarding important?

• Pitching an idea
• Links planning to the filming process
• Visualize images and ideas
• Visualize links between shots, action/graphic matches (when similar shapes/objects are linked between scenes)
• Timings, continuity and pace
• Technical awareness and understanding
• Revise narrative sequencing
• Chance to make decisions and revisions.

Things to include when we make a storyboard:
-number all of the shots as this makes it easier to edit.
-use arrows to show where the camera/character is moving.
-put the estimate of the times of each shot.

Story boarding is really important to the planning process, and it has made us think in detail about what we want to incorporate in our title sequence, this is our storyboard - 





However, after this lesson on storyboarding we have decided to enhance it, as we do not feel it is detailed enough after having given a more detailed look into the storyboarding process.

Final Continuity Task

This is our final continuity task, completed in February as a group we have very much improved since this was completed, and our final title sequence will convey this. There are several problems this, the biggest being continuity and editing, which is not at all up to scratch, and our improvement will definitely be seen in our title sequence, which will be competed by Friday 4th April.

Camera shots research

Camera shots research 

This is an example of an Aerial shot, an aerial shot is an exterior shot, shot from the air, it is usually used to convey a location used in the film. An example of this would be in the film inside job, as seen above.

 This shot is called the Arc Shot, this is created by the camera moving round its subject, mostly used to portray a character feeling giddy or confused.

This is a bridging shot, it shows the passing of time, and sometimes change of location, like the one above.

 A close up shot has only the subjects face in, conveying a characters emotions or response to something that has happened, or introducing a new character.

a mid-shot is the most common shot in films, showing less than a long shot and more than a close up, can also be used to introduce and character in their surroundings.

 A long shot - shows all the character, introduces the character in their surroundings, or show all of someones costume.

 The cowboy shot, usually used in cowboy films, frames from the mid thigh up.

A deep focus shot keeps all aspects of the shot in focus, meaning that all aspects have to be detailed.

 The dolly zoom - camera tracks in whilst zooming out, creating a woozy effect, famously used Hitchcock's film Vertigo.
The dutch tilt - Camera films at an angle, creating a woozy effect, mostly used to create disorientation, is also a convention of film noir, and can increase tension because something feels wrong to the viewer.

Film noir research

Film Noir (continued)

Film Noir consists of four main factors these are:

1. Character roles

2. Narrative themes

3. Iconography + Mise En Scene

4. Technical conventions

(1) Character roles:

Film Noir consists of different characters:

-Cynical antagonist

Hard heated, cynical, selfless, lonely, physically tough. Usually meets a beautiful femme fatale who draws him into dangerous situations. Is physically or mentally damaged usually due to a past trauma or experience.

-Femme Fatale

An attractive and seductive women, especially one who will ultimately cause distress to a man who becomes involved with her. Often uses her sexuality to manipulate the protagonist into becoming the fall guy

-Corrupt authority figures

A character within a position of authority and trust. This status is often abused for their own personal gain. This role reflects the mistrust and paranoia narrative theme.

(2) Narrative themes

-Mistrust and paranoia

-Bleakness and depression

-Reflection and effects and consequences

(3) Iconography+ Mise En Scene

- Dark sidewalks

-Rain drenched streets

-Flashing neon signs

-Corrupt and hostile urban

-Alcohol/Alcoholics

-Cigarettes

-Guns

(4) Technical Conventions

-Low key lighting 

-Voice over/narration 

-Shadow cast by Venetian blinds

Non linear- First person narrative

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _  _ _ _ _  This research into Film Noir by another member of my group has given our group an insight into what kind of things we will have to include in our title sequence to make it a film noir. We have discussed how we are going to incorporate these, and so far have storyboarded a scene with shadow, a scene on a dark sidewalk, a femme fatal character and a cynical antagonist, these conventions will help ensure that our title sequence fits into film noir.

editing

Crosscutting (Parallel Editing) - although typically a narrative device, inter cutting can set up juxtaposition between parallel story lines, exaggerating the impact or meaning of each by highlighting a point of difference relating to representation.

Inter cutting - creates tension. It's used to draw 2 story lines together which an be structured to create tension and heightens the audiences identification with a particular character.

Reverse shot - one character being shown to talk back to another unseen character.

Cutaway shot - when the scene cuts to another different scene. This is usually followed by it then cutting back to the original scene.

Cut in shot - like a cut away but focuses on some part of the scene in detail before cutting.

Eye line match - when the shot cuts to view what the character would be seeing.

dutch tilt

Sunday, 26 January 2014

Practicing a Dutch Tilt

These are my attempts at a dutch tilt:

This is just a normal straight shot of a candle:

This is the same object using the dutch tilt:

 Other objects I practiced the dutch tilt on:

The dutch tilts create a subtle sense of unease which is a good thing for a thriller film. They are a common technique used in Film Noir so it is important we have a good understanding of what it is and how to do it before we go and start filming. 

- Emily's look into the dutch tilt will help prepare us for filming, as this is a typical shot in film noir, the dutch tilt unsettles the viewer, which is something we are hoping to do in our title sequence as it is a thriller. I will also post a practice of the dutch shot, since we will all be filming, we should all have a go at this in case we decide to include it in our title sequence.

Emily's practise shadows

Practice shadows/low key lighting by Emily Hardy

These are examples of shadows from films with the film noir genre:

This is my attempt at casting shadows:

When you hold the light down  it makes the shadow bigger making the person seem more intimidating.

When you hold the light up it makes the shadow smaller.

Practicing shadows is important as the are a key feature of film noir. We will have to included shadows to follow the codes and conventions of the genre. It will be quite difficult to create shadows on location I think because it won't be as easy to create complete darkness and then have a light that we can move around to create effective shadows. The shadows create meaning, there is someone there but it is left up to the viewers imaginations to decide who that person is and what they are going to do which creates suspense in the film. 

From Emily's work i have learnt about shadow and its use as a convention in film noir, from this information we will use shadow in our own film noir title sequence, Emily has given a detailed look into creating shadows, so when we film she will be able to create these affectively, and she has helped the group by sharing this information, as i now know how to do this also.