Media Prelim: Final Sequence

Group 1E Final Prelim Sequence - "I've Been Expecting You"

Media Prelim: Question 1

Who did you work with and how did you manage the task between you?

I was in group 1E (pictured above). In my group there were 4 people; Olivia, Narishma, Frank and myself. We each had at least one role in each of the three stages (Planning, Production and Editing)

During the planning, we all helped suggest ideas and storyboarded (Frank did the drawing). We worked well together to plan a final idea and to create a shot plan in chronological order of when we would shoot them.

During the production we each had our own roles:
Narishma - Director and Clapperboard Holder
Olivia - Camerawoman and Sound Director
Frank - Actor
Me - Actor

During the editing stage, we all took it in turns to edit the sequence (doing about a quarter each). However, we all helped each other with ideas about how we could order the sequence and improve the editing on the individual shots.

Media Prelim: Question 2

How did you plan your sequence? What processes did you use? What theories did you try to take into account?

When planning our sequence, we first wrote out a script on file paper, detailing our different shots, mise-en-scene and our dialogue. Using our script, we could then draw out a storyboard.

Originally, we drew our individual shots onto post-it notes so that we could move around the order of shots easily to achieve our final storyboard. Once that was achieved, we drew out our final storyboard onto the template to use during the shoot.

Finally, we planned our shot order based on the difficulty of our shots and the chronology of the individual shots. Doing this as a group made it easier and quicker, and once we had completed the shot order we were ready to shoot our sequence.

When planning our shots on the storyboard we took into account match-on-action (opening the doors), shot-reverse-shot (the conversation) and the 180 degree rule (throughout the sequence). When shooting and editing, we kept to these theories so our sequence made sense and didn't confuse the audience.

Our Draft Storyboard:

Our Final Storyboard (Extract):

Our Shot List:

 

Our Shooting Schedule:
 

Our Script:

Media Prelim: Question 3

What technology did you use to complete the task, and how did you use it?

To complete this task we used a range of technology.

When shooting the sequence, we used a Canon HD Video Recorder with a Shotgun Microphone attached to the top of it. We used headphones to hear the sound from the microphone whilst recording, so we could easily hear any background noise. We didn't use artificial lighting in our sequence, as

it wasn't necessary for the narrative of our sequence.

When editing the sequence, we used Adobe Premiere Pro to cut and order our sequences so that they flowed continuously without confusing our audience.

Media Prelim: Question 4

What factors did you have to take into account when planning, shooting and editing?

When planning, the main factor we had to take into account was the location of our sequence, as we had to choose a setting where we could fit the camera, tripod and both actors so that it didnt look cramped and so that we could fit everything into the shot. We eventually chose one of the edit suites in the Media Block, as it was long enough for the character entrance and we could fit all our equipment into the room easily. We also had to take into account the other groups, as they would be shooting in the same area and we had to make sure they weren't in the background of any of our shots.
When shooting and editing, we had to take into account background noise. We had to make sure that if there was any background noise in our shots that it wasn't too distracting and that it didn't suddenly cut our midway through an edited shot in our final sequence.

Media Prelim: Question 5

How successful was your sequence? Please identify what worked well, and with hindsight what you would improve, do differently?

Overall, I think our sequence was good. I think our editing was to a high standard and this worked well, as there was the match on action made the sequence flow and we kept to the 180 degree rule throughout the sequence. We also used shot distances in a logical order, so that the audience is taken over the physical space smoothly, rather than jumping about.

In hindsight, however, I would improve the scene where Frank spins around on the chair (pictured above) as the spin is only shown in one long shot. Originally, we had a close up of him spinning and then we cut back to the longer shot, but this didn't work with the match on action and it didn't appear to be very smooth. I would improve this scene by shooting with easier shots or by spending more time on the editing, which I couldn't do for this task. I would also take more shots for the establishing shot at the start, as the hand isn't at the same height when I open the door as in the next shot, so the continuity is wrong. By taking more shots, we could edit it better and find the correct shot to make it flow. 

Media Prelim: Question 6

What have you learnt from completing this task? Looking ahead, how will this learning be significant when completing the rest of your foundation coursework, do you think?

From this prelim task I have learnt a few things. Firstly, I have learnt about how effective match on action is when it comes to making the sequence flow continually. I have also learnt about the 180 degree rule, and how that is used so the audience isn't confused. Finally, I have learnt that to make it easier at the editing stage, you need to do lots of takes for each shot, so that match on action is easier to edit in. When editing our prelim task, we found it hard to match up all of the shots, as we didn't have enough takes for some shots. For the rest of my foundation coursework, I will try to get lots of takes for each shot, so that when it comes to editing, it will be easier to get match on action and for the sequence to flow continuously.

DYM HW feedback

Very good work, James.  Well done.  May be, you made things a bit more complicated re. Todorov by starting with a dream sequence, but your points were generally sound.

Media Homework Barthes Five Codes

Forrest Gump Opening Sequence (Robert Zemeckis, 1994)

Enigma Codes: Who is the main character? Where are we as the audience focussing? Why are the man's shoes so muddy? Is he the protagonist or antagonist? What / Who is he waiting for? Why is yhe keeping the feather? Why does he have a suitcase and a box of chocolates with him? Where is he going?

Action Codes: The slight suspense in the opening of this sequence is caused by the flight of the feather, as you never know where it is going to end up until the end of the titles. It lands at the feet of a man on a bench. He picks it up and the audience doesn't know whether he is going to keep it or throw it away. He puts it in his suitcase, which then creates the suspense of what he's going to do with it later. Finally, at the end of the sequence, a bus draws up, and there is suspense as we wait and see if he gets on the bus or if someone he is waiting for gets off.

Semiotic Codes: There are a few semiotic codes in this sequence. Firstly, the skyline of the town which we see above the trees as the feather is flying suggests that the film is set in a rural town, rather than a large urban city. The man's shoes are also dirty and worn, which connotes that he is either poor or has a labour job. His white suit is an opposite however, as it is expensive and smart and is clean. The feather blowing in the wind also connotes the idea that the film may be about the story of a man who gets "blown" in different directions by events in his life.

Cultural Codes: There aren't many cultural codes in this sequence, but towards the end of the sequence the bus stop bench shows the audience that the man is waiting for a bus.

Symbolic Codes: Similar to the semiotic codes, the symbolic codes revolve around the mans clothes and the scrambled flight of the feather, implying that the man could be good or evil and that the film may be about his journey through life as his direction is changed by different events.

Media Homework Film Sequence (Continuity)

Casino Royale Construction Site Sequence (Extract) (Martin Campbell, 2006)

This short extract from the parkour sequence of Casino Royale has lots of different examples of continuity editing.
At the start of the clip we see a middle aged black male jump from a crane onto a roof before rolling onto the ground. There is instantly an example of continuity editing as there is a cross cut to a middle aged white male on the next crane. However, we cut straight to a MCU of the white male from an Establishing LS, which means the audience isn't taken across the space steadily.
It then cuts back to the black male jumping off the rooftop, hitting the ground and rolling. This sequence of actions takes place over 3 different shots. There is good use matched cuts and match on action between these shots as the action flows smoothly, as it would in real life.
It then cuts back up to the white male, who looks at the rooftop again before jumping off of the crane. The action here also takes place over numerous shots, but because of good continuity editing the action flows smoothly. Also, when the white male jumps it cuts back to the Establishing LS. This shows the audience how far the gap between the cranes is and gives them a sense of position.
As the white male lands, it cuts to a MS of him clinging to the edge of the crane . It then cuts to a CU of him clambering back up to jump from the second crane onto the roof. This use of shot order steadily takes the audience across the space with the character and gets them involved in the action more. This is also helped by the match on action between shots.
We then get a seqeunce of cross cut shots, which imply that the action we can see from the separate characters is happening simultaneously, as it is a chase scene. These shots have been edited in parallel with one another, and eventually the two characters meet up again, as implied by the cross cutting.
The sequence then cuts to a quick cutaway shot of the lift shaft, where the black male jumps across and then back again to the next floor. It then cross cuts back to the white male sliding down a hole in the floor onto the lower level, and the sequence flows smoothly with the right use of matched cuts and match on action.
After more cross cutting between characters, to show the audience that it is a chase scene and the action is taking place simultaneously, we get another Establishing LS of the exterior of the site, showing that the characters have now moved to another location. The balck male jumps from the building onto a blue lift and down. This is shot in 3 shots once again, which gradually take the audience closer to the character. It cuts back up to a MS of the white male in the building, before cutting to a POV shot of the balck male jumping down. The POV then pans over to the lift controls, which implies to the audience that the white male will use the lift.
There is then a LA shot featuring both men jumping, and this is a good continuity shot as it is a matched cut. This is the final shot in this sequence, and the match on action shows that the black male has got down the builiding in a realistic time, compared with how fast the white male went across the space.

This sequence uses a wide range of continuity editing techniques to a good standard, to realistically show the audience the action as it is happening and the cross cutting also shows the two characters are running simultaneously to one another.

Media Homework Levi-Strauss' Theory

This is the Opening to Casino Royale (Martin Campbell, 2006)

1. The genre of the film is action, and there are many signifiers which are introduced in this opening sequence. Firstly, the tranisitons between shots are cuts, which show that the action is fast paced. Also, there is a chase and a fight scene in a public location, which also signifies the genre is action. The signifiers are introduced near the beginning of the opening, so the genre is established early on.

2. There are three main characters in this sequence. They are all opposed in different ways. The main protagonist is a white male with short blonde hair in his 30s wearing a dark suit. The second main character, the antagonist, is a Pakistani male with curly black hair in his 20s in a casual shirt. The third main character is an old white male with short grey hair in a dark coat. There are binary opposites with all the characters, which shows the audience that they are going to fight each other at some point.

3. The main theme of the film is for the protagonist, Bond, to earn his "Double O" status. In the opening scene this is explained as he needs to kill two people. The first kill is shown in a flashback, which involves a fight scene in a bathroom of a cricket ground. The second kill comes at the end of the opening, when he shoots the man in the office. The main themes of the film are not yet introduced, which leaves the audience in the unknown about what will happen.

4. The narrative shows conflict as there are many binary opposites between the characters. The protagonist is in a suit, whereas the antagonist is wearing a casual shirt. They also look different, as the protagonist is a British male with short blonde hair and the antagonist is a Pakistani male with long curly hair. The other main character in the office also has conflict with the protagonist, and this is shown as he tries to shoot the protagonist at one point, but doesnt have any bullets. It is also shown as he wears dark coat and hat and is considerably older, more binary opposites which imply there is conflict.

Media Homework Todorov's Theory

This is the opening scene from The Naked Gun 33⅓ (Peter Segal, 1994)

1. The Protaganist: Lt. Frank Drebin - Elderly man in a grey suit who is the main focus of the establishing shot
The Antagonist: Villain - Middle aged man in dark coat and hat who starts a shootout with the protaganist.

2. At the start of the sequence, the establishing shot shows a nearly deserted train station which is peaceful. This is the equilibrium shown at the start of the film. The Close ups also show the protaganist and the clock, which gives particular focus on the fact that the genre may be partly action. The fact that the protaganists suit is a light colour also implies that he is a good guy, as the contrast of light and dark soon follows.

3. There is a short disequilibrium in the opening sequence which is shown when the villain enters in his dark coat with his "gang". This then ends up in a shootout, which breaks the quiet state of the train station. Later on at the end of the sequence, we find out that it is a dream and that the protaganist is a retired detective. This implies that there will be a disruption that will cause him to come out of retirement to help out.

4. At the end of the clip there are clues that the journey will involve stopping some sort of criminal activity. The dream of the shootout in the train station also implies this, as the protaganist is "overwhelmed" by the amount of crime

5. At the end of the film, the bomb is stopped and the criminal is captured. The new equilibrium is similar to the old equilibrium, as the detective retires again and all is back to normal.

Media Homework Continuity

Why is Continuity so important?

Continuity in films is very important as, if used incorrectly, it can confuse the audience. The ultimeat aim of the director of a film isto encourage the audience to "enter" the world of the film. By using continuity technques correctly, the audience can "absorb" the film.

Continuity Editing Techniques

Here are some techniques used in editing to keep continuity in the film:

• 180° rule - to reduce confusion of the position of a character in relation to their surroundings in a film by only filming on one side of an imaginary 180° line.
• 30° rule - moving the camera betweeen set ups to avoid "jumps" in a scene
• Use of shot distances - in order to take the audience smoothly through the narrative, certain distances are routinely edited together (Long Shot - Mid Shot - Close Up or vice versa).
• Use of transitions - some transitions (such as dissolves and fades) can be used to signify a change over time, whereas others (such as cuts) can be used to show the scene is moving at a fast pace.
• Eyeline matching - Matching the height of the eyeline between two characters or out of the frame. 
• Matched Cut - the edit matches the action in the previous one
• Match on action - the last action in the previous shot matches exactly to the first action in the next shot.
• Shot-reverse-shot - cutting back and forward between two characters having a conversation, so the audience are literally placed in the action
• Cross cutting - shots are placed together to show that they are happening simultaneously, even though they actually belong to different spaces in the narrative

For my own films in the future, I will try to incorporate all of these editing techniques to ensure that my film is perfect continuity wise. Unless it is needed for the narrative of the film, I will try to avoid confusing the audience by misusing the 180° and 30° rules.  

Naked Gun 33 1/3 - Opening Scene

Naked Gun 331/3
The establishing shot at the beginning of the sequence is a Long Shot of a train station with an elderly man in a grey suit the central focus reading a newspaper. The establishing shot introduces us to the setting for the opening sequence. The elderly man is the main character as he is in the central focus.
Later on in the opening sequence we have a Close Up of the main character, the elderly man in the grey suit. He is reading a newspaper which has a joke headline. The close up focusses on the expression of the man, who is anxiously looking at the large clock, as if he is expecting something important to happen. The headline suggests it is a comedy, although the other signifiers suggest it is action.
We then see the clock face moving towards 12 oclock, which suggests that at 12 oclock something is going to happen. The Big Clos Up of the clock builds tension, suggesting the element of action. There is then a woman struggling up the stairs with a pram, and reluctantly the main character goes to help her, which connotes comedy.
The second main character goes to help another woman with two prams up the stairs, which connotes comedy genre. As he is doing so, the camera pans around to 5 men who enter at the top of the stairs. The are all dressed in dark trench coats and hats. The man in the middle is in the darkest coat and hat, showing that he is the main villain.
The main villain then begins to move down the stairs but stops when he sees the main character. The camera moves for a ECU of the eyes of the main villain. At this point the music reaches a dramatic climax and there is a ECU of the main characters' eyes. From this short sequence we can see that there will be some sort of fight between the two characters as the ECU shows his expression to be violent.
Once the shootout begins, the camera cuts to a long shot of the good and bad characters shooting each other. We then get a long shot of the second main character chasing one of the prams down the stairs. He himself is chased by a lawnmower, which adds to the comedy as it rolls along during the shootout. There is also comedy in the fact that the man stops shooting to chase the prams.
During the shootout, the camera cuts to Mid Shot of the main character shooting. He then bends down, whilst shooting, to pick up a coin off the floor. He looks at the coin and continues to shoot at the villain. This backs up the idea that the film is an action spoof as this would not happen in an action film.
Finally, once the shootout seems to be over, the President and the Pope enter from the top of the stairs. They are followed by a terrorist carrying a bomb who the main character shoots. this shot shows the character is being overwhelmed by all types of crime and you begin to get the impression he is a special detective of some sort. The sudden entrance of the President and the Pope is quite comedic, however, as you would not expect it in a train station.
From the entrance of the President and the Pope the camera goes to the entrance of 'disgruntled postal workers' who are all carrying machine guns which they are firing madly. The audience then see a Mid Shot of the main character, who nis firing a large machine gun back at the postal workers, whilst in the background the second main character is catching the babies who have flown out of the prams. As he catches them, he dances in celebration. This adds comedy, as it is an unlikely thing to see in an action film during a shootout.
Suddenly, as the action is building up and overwhelming the main character, it cuts to a MCU of the main character waking up from this bad dream. There is a short dialogue between him and his wife which is comical but explains that he is a retired detective. It then cuts to the title sequence. The fact that it is a dream also backs up the idea that it is a spoof of an action film. The jokey dialogue also backs up the idea that the genre is comedy, not action.

Storyboarding Websites

Useful Storyboarding Websites:

http://accad.osu.edu/womenandtech/Storyboard%20Resource/

This website is very useful as it explains in detail what storyboards are, their purpose and how they can be made. It also breaks the information down and uses pictures to accompany the text, enabling the reader to get a full understanding of storyboards.

http://www.howcast.com/videos/201980-How-To-Make-a-Storyboard

This is a video by 'Howcast'. I find it very useful as it breaks down the storyboarding process into steps which are easy to understand. It also shows a demonstration of each step as the voice over explains it, which helps the viewer to fully understand how to storyboard.

http://multimedia.journalism.berkeley.edu/tutorials/starttofinish/storyboarding/

This website explains all about storyboards; why they are needed, how to draw a rough one etc. I think this is very useful as it explains to the reader everything they need if they are making they're own film and need a storyboard.

Media Homework Storyboarding

Why is storyboarding an essential part of the film making process?

Storyboarding is very important as it is a visual representation of the camera shots in a film sequence. The film sequence itself is broken up into sketches which and, in a similar way to a comic strip, these sketches depict the location, characters, props and settings of each shot.
A storyboard can help a director visualise the flow of camera shots. It is easier to see how the director's ideas will work on screen when the script is broken down into a storyboard. The storyboard also shows how the narrative flows between each shot in the film.
Although it is not necessary to storyboard an entire film, storyboarding some sequences of the film cna help the director and director of photography work out how the shots will be lit, shot and acted.

'P is for Psycho' Storyboard Analysis
What is happening in the opening sequence of the film?

In the opening sequence of the film, we are introduced to the 'psycho' character. The opening establishing shot shows a boys toilet in a school, and the school setting and 'teen slasher' genre is backed up by the title. It then mixes to a low angle, which gradually tilts up to a low angle mid shot of the psychotiv character bandaging his hand at a sink. After a pan shot of some objects on the side, we get a Close Up of the sink. The sink is filled with blood which is being washed away as the psycho character bandages his hand. After bandaging his hand and clenching his fist in an ominous way, the camera tilts up to a Close Up of the character. In the background you hear a door opening and the character turns. A schoolboy enters the toilets, and we cut to a Mid Shot of the psycho tucking a gun into his belt. We then cut to an ECU of the man's eyes. There is one line of dialogue ("Bad move, Kid") from the man before it fades to black and two gunshots are fired. 

How is the narrative flow established?

The narrative flow of the opening sequence is established through the detailed annotations of the individual shots on the storyboard and the arrows linking the shots. The frame connectors show the flow as they show how the shots will flow together and the editing notes show mixes and cuts between shots. The flow is also established by the detailed drawings and camera movements.

If you were directing this sequence, what aspects of the storyboard would you like to change?

If I were directing this sequence I would use more cuts between shots rather than fades and mixes, as cuts make the action more fast paced and jumpy. I would also add in more special effects so that the Thriller genre was more obvious, rather than Horror genre. I would also make the last shot a cut to balck rather than a fade so that the gunshots are more shocking and the cut off is sudden, reflecting the sudden death of the boy who entered the toilets.

Media Homework Film Still Analysis

1. Describe your shot and identify in what way it could be described as representing your chosen genre?
My shot is a BCU of a clenched fist of a young white male in the foreground which is in focus. In the background and out of focus is another young white male lying face down in a field. My chosen genre for this shot is Action/Thriller and I think this is represented as the clenched fist shows danger and the hooded character on the floor gives a sense of the unknown villain in the story.

2. What did you actually do to achieve the effect?

To achieve this effect of danger and threat I made the hand clenched to show violence and I made the character on the floor hooded so that it tied in with the idea that he was the bad guy as you cannot see his face or any of his features. This mystery achieves the effect that the male on the floor is evil and the genre is action.

3. Identify what is successful about your shot

I believe my shot is successful as the clenched fist is in focus, meaning that it is the main focus, which is what I intended to happen. I also think my shot is successful as the hooded figure is on the floor and out of focus which gives the effect he is mysterious, which i also intended to happen.

4. What would you do differently in hindsight?

In hindsight I would probably change the lighting so that it was darker. This would be to also connote the action/thriller genre of my film still. In hindsight I could have also given the clenched fist a glove, but that may have seemed like the good guy was actually a bad guy.