Alice and Dulcie aren't here today so Lainey and i have decided to research our project, we had referred to our idea as a 'slasher' film but were unsure of the actual definition so we decided to check it out. this would give us a better idea of what we have to conform to.
The Wikipedia definition of a slasher film: Slasher film is a sub-genre of the horror film genre typically involving a psychopathic killer stalking and killing a sequence of victims in a graphically violent manner, often with a cutting tool such as a chainsaw or scythe.
We will look at some clips and analyse them, ones that have influenced our idea's for our own title sequence.
Friday, 18 December 2009
Friday, 11 December 2009
Planning Main Task Idea
I was running late today as i slipped over on the ice and damaged my knee so had to catch a later bus, but i did text Lainey with my reasons and i got to lesson with an hour and a quarter left.
In the time i had missed Alice and Lainey had a chat with Richard Eno and it was 'good' but still needed a little bit more work to make it effective.
Our idea has been based on the 'Blair Witch Project' where teenagers are having a smoke,drink and general fun in the woods until they are all killed, however you won't see anyone being murdered as it would give away to much of the plot.
Richard suggested:
- Making a picnic or packing a bag for the camping trip.
- Meeting up with each other.
- Loading the car with the camping gear.
- The Killer's normal daily life, like shopping, or their boring job.
Lainey and Alice were waiting for me when i arrived and then ran through what they had done with me and i agreed with everything that had been said.
In the time i had missed Alice and Lainey had a chat with Richard Eno and it was 'good' but still needed a little bit more work to make it effective.
Our idea has been based on the 'Blair Witch Project' where teenagers are having a smoke,drink and general fun in the woods until they are all killed, however you won't see anyone being murdered as it would give away to much of the plot.
Richard suggested:
- Making a picnic or packing a bag for the camping trip.
- Meeting up with each other.
- Loading the car with the camping gear.
- The Killer's normal daily life, like shopping, or their boring job.
Lainey and Alice were waiting for me when i arrived and then ran through what they had done with me and i agreed with everything that had been said.
Wednesday's Lesson
On Wednesday it was a rare occasion as every member was present so we sat down and had a look at the ideas that were the most practical. In the end we decided that our original idea was Un-realistic because of the props we needed.
We decided that the typical teenage slasher film was the best idea to do. We then decided on when and where we would film, the first Wednesday of the Christmas holiday (23rd) was agreed by all members and the location will be in the woods behind Alice's house. By filming in the first week of our holiday we can then re-shoot if our footage isn't exactly what we wanted.
Finally we can start planning the work and get a storyboard sorted!
We decided that the typical teenage slasher film was the best idea to do. We then decided on when and where we would film, the first Wednesday of the Christmas holiday (23rd) was agreed by all members and the location will be in the woods behind Alice's house. By filming in the first week of our holiday we can then re-shoot if our footage isn't exactly what we wanted.
Finally we can start planning the work and get a storyboard sorted!
Friday, 4 December 2009
Potential Main Task Ideas
Lainey received a text from Dulcie saying she isn't in because she ate something that has made her sick. MENTIROSO!! Either a lack of effort or a very weak immune system!!!
We have decided that the two ideas that we can work from are:
-the abused child.
-the fatal school bus crash.
In today's lesson we are mainly focusing on all updating our blogs so we can all start the main task on the same page, Dulcie will have to work from home. We are hoping we will have full attendance from the group on monday so we can get a final idea sorted!
We have decided that the two ideas that we can work from are:
-the abused child.
-the fatal school bus crash.
In today's lesson we are mainly focusing on all updating our blogs so we can all start the main task on the same page, Dulcie will have to work from home. We are hoping we will have full attendance from the group on monday so we can get a final idea sorted!
Introduction to Main Task
On Monday's Media lesson, we had an introduction to the Main Task. This is the brief:
Main task:
The titles and opening of a new fiction film, to last a maximum of two minutes.
All video and audio material must be original, produced by the candidate(s), with the exception of music or audio effects from a copyright-free source.
I wasn't here because of a funeral so Alice and Lainey had to work out some ideas as Dulcie wasn't present either. The three ideas formed were:
- An old house being haunted by a ghost.
- A child being abused by her step-dad.
- A school bus fatally crashing, the driver is haunted by the ghosts of the children.
The ideas were given to me in Wednesday's lesson and i agreed that all three were do-able and were solid ideas.
Main task:
The titles and opening of a new fiction film, to last a maximum of two minutes.
All video and audio material must be original, produced by the candidate(s), with the exception of music or audio effects from a copyright-free source.
I wasn't here because of a funeral so Alice and Lainey had to work out some ideas as Dulcie wasn't present either. The three ideas formed were:
- An old house being haunted by a ghost.
- A child being abused by her step-dad.
- A school bus fatally crashing, the driver is haunted by the ghosts of the children.
The ideas were given to me in Wednesday's lesson and i agreed that all three were do-able and were solid ideas.
End of Preliminary Task
We have finish the Preliminary Task which is a relief as it was hanging over us. However we cannot rest today, as work is already starting on our main task. I presume Dulcie knows this.
Editing
The Editing process was a struggle to get to terms with but once we were all confident i think we achieved a good result.
We took about a lesson and a half to edit all together, for one of the lessons Lainey and I where without Alice and Dulcie so we had to work hard and i think it shows in our final piece that we didn't have the input from the other groups members because it lacks diversity i believe, but what can you do when you have 50% of the group present?
We took about a lesson and a half to edit all together, for one of the lessons Lainey and I where without Alice and Dulcie so we had to work hard and i think it shows in our final piece that we didn't have the input from the other groups members because it lacks diversity i believe, but what can you do when you have 50% of the group present?
Logging and Capturing
Dulcie wasn't in this lesson so Alice, Lainey and I had to carry the weight.
We started off badly though as we didn't have a camera that would capture but we didn't lounge about and made a start on logging our shots with a production line kind of focus about us.
Because of this focused attitude towards the work we didn't have to stay after the lesson to complete it like i thought we would, we took an hour to log and capture which we were quite proud of.
We started off badly though as we didn't have a camera that would capture but we didn't lounge about and made a start on logging our shots with a production line kind of focus about us.
Because of this focused attitude towards the work we didn't have to stay after the lesson to complete it like i thought we would, we took an hour to log and capture which we were quite proud of.
Re-Shooting Footage
By the title it seems fairly obvious that our first attempt at filming wasn't good enough so we were told that the best option for us was to re-film, we had problems with framing the shot, the gap between the characters was to large and the space that we did have on screen was bland and un-interesting.
It took us around 40 minutes to film all of our footage as we knew the script and the ability of the actors, however we were also aided with the fact that Alice was present so she could assist Lainey in making sure the framing was correct.
As it was the footage still wasn't perfect but we didn't have time to re-shoot so decided to work with what we had. I presume the rest of the group enjoyed re-shooting as much as me because we all found the time to laugh in between shots which always makes a job easier. with Alice back everybody worked well and we all cohered with each others needs. however i can still see some heavy arguments coming in the main task, but that was promised at the start of the course.
It took us around 40 minutes to film all of our footage as we knew the script and the ability of the actors, however we were also aided with the fact that Alice was present so she could assist Lainey in making sure the framing was correct.
As it was the footage still wasn't perfect but we didn't have time to re-shoot so decided to work with what we had. I presume the rest of the group enjoyed re-shooting as much as me because we all found the time to laugh in between shots which always makes a job easier. with Alice back everybody worked well and we all cohered with each others needs. however i can still see some heavy arguments coming in the main task, but that was promised at the start of the course.
Filming
the idea behind our Preliminary Task was to have a pupil being told off by a 'stroppy' teenager.
After some casting issues we decided that I would play the teacher because i am the 'most scary' and Dulcie had to step in as the pupil as Alice wasn't present.
After writing our script at the start of our Media Lesson we looked for an empty classroom to begin shooting, and found one in room 201 and had it unlocked so we could film. It took us around 45 minutes to do so but we felt we had achieved what we wanted, we looked ahead to fridays lesson where we could start logging and capturing our shots.
With Alice absent through no fault of her own Dulcie and i had to assist Lainey in getting the correct camera angle but with us having to replay and watch each clip filming did become stressful, to add to the stress Dulcie could not control her corpsing. But we decided to see the funny side of it and the filming experience was a fun one, we rearranged the room and left.
After some casting issues we decided that I would play the teacher because i am the 'most scary' and Dulcie had to step in as the pupil as Alice wasn't present.
After writing our script at the start of our Media Lesson we looked for an empty classroom to begin shooting, and found one in room 201 and had it unlocked so we could film. It took us around 45 minutes to do so but we felt we had achieved what we wanted, we looked ahead to fridays lesson where we could start logging and capturing our shots.
With Alice absent through no fault of her own Dulcie and i had to assist Lainey in getting the correct camera angle but with us having to replay and watch each clip filming did become stressful, to add to the stress Dulcie could not control her corpsing. But we decided to see the funny side of it and the filming experience was a fun one, we rearranged the room and left.
Lapse in Blog Updating
Over the last month i have failed to update much of my blog which is due to some personal reasons but more my own commitment to my studies.
I will evaluate the filming, Re-shooting and the capturing of our shots.
I will evaluate the filming, Re-shooting and the capturing of our shots.
Wednesday, 18 November 2009
Storyboard Planning
On Monday 16th November we had to finish off our Storyboard and also made a start on the Script.
As all four members were present for the first time so far in the Task we had a productive day of updating our blogs and discussing the Storyboard, it was a relief because we could produce our work in a more relaxed environment because we were less stressed at the lack of attending members.
As our Storyboard and script is complete now we plan to make a start to filming Wednesday so we can get our early sequences to our media teacher on friday's lesson.
As all four members were present for the first time so far in the Task we had a productive day of updating our blogs and discussing the Storyboard, it was a relief because we could produce our work in a more relaxed environment because we were less stressed at the lack of attending members.
As our Storyboard and script is complete now we plan to make a start to filming Wednesday so we can get our early sequences to our media teacher on friday's lesson.
Monday, 16 November 2009
Match on Action
Match on Action is a form of editing that makes the footage flow well.
For example if a character reaches a door and reaches past the camera onto the door handle the next shot could be inside the building with the character entering the room.
Again the point of Match on Action is to keep the audience from being confused and has to stick,again, to the 180 degree rule. If a character exits the screen from the right running at pace, he/she must enter from the left also running at pace so it does not confuse the audience, it all needs to flow continuously. If the character was walking in the second shot it would confuse the audience and be a poor creation.
For example if a character reaches a door and reaches past the camera onto the door handle the next shot could be inside the building with the character entering the room.
Again the point of Match on Action is to keep the audience from being confused and has to stick,again, to the 180 degree rule. If a character exits the screen from the right running at pace, he/she must enter from the left also running at pace so it does not confuse the audience, it all needs to flow continuously. If the character was walking in the second shot it would confuse the audience and be a poor creation.
180 Degree Rule
The 180 degree rule is used so it doesn't confuse and dis-orientate the viewers This example of the 180 degree rule shows how the camera stays on one side of the two characters but giving different angles of the character for the reaction shot and dialogue but always staying behind the 180 degree line.
The rule is very important and if not followed will confuse the audience no matter how clever the editing is - simple editing can be applied if the rule is followed.
Wednesday, 11 November 2009
Shot Reverse Shot
The below sequence is an example of Shot Reverse Shot from the TV comedy series Friends.
The example starts out with an establishing shot of the office building and then it cuts straight to a shot of Chandler and his Boss showing the space between them. Just before Chandler stops talking, it cuts to a closer shot of his boss. From then on, it cuts to each of the characters a bit before they start talking so the editing seems smoother and the audience don't notice it. It then changes to a Reaction Shot on Chandler. More dialogue is exchanged and then it cuts to an Over-The-Shoulder shot to Chandler, showing his reaction.
I think this shot works because the editing shows continuity so it doesn't confuse the audience and so the editing doesn't look choppy and un proffesional. They do this by showing us the characters that are speaking and then their reactions, this gives the audience a feeling of understanding of the situation which makes it funnier from Chandlers reaction.
The example starts out with an establishing shot of the office building and then it cuts straight to a shot of Chandler and his Boss showing the space between them. Just before Chandler stops talking, it cuts to a closer shot of his boss. From then on, it cuts to each of the characters a bit before they start talking so the editing seems smoother and the audience don't notice it. It then changes to a Reaction Shot on Chandler. More dialogue is exchanged and then it cuts to an Over-The-Shoulder shot to Chandler, showing his reaction.
I think this shot works because the editing shows continuity so it doesn't confuse the audience and so the editing doesn't look choppy and un proffesional. They do this by showing us the characters that are speaking and then their reactions, this gives the audience a feeling of understanding of the situation which makes it funnier from Chandlers reaction.
Monday, 9 November 2009
Potential Prelimanry Task Idea
Lainey and I have decided after a lengthy phone call that we shall scrap the idea of a meeting of two people on a street corner after they have bumped into each other because there was no ability to include the character opening the door.
Instead we have decided to use an empty classroom (with permission) to shoot a scene where a pupil walks through a door into the room and sits down opposite a teacher for a short progress review, we think this is a good idea because we will be able to utilize our knowlegde of the required shots needed for the Preliminary task.
We were unable to contact Dulcie and Alice so we still need to run this idea through with them however Lainey and I believe that it is good idea that needs to be decided on as a group. We are hoping to see Dulcie and Alice soon so that we can negotiate times that we are free during college to shoot the footage as our members are spread out across two counties so transport back from evening shooting is difficult.
Instead we have decided to use an empty classroom (with permission) to shoot a scene where a pupil walks through a door into the room and sits down opposite a teacher for a short progress review, we think this is a good idea because we will be able to utilize our knowlegde of the required shots needed for the Preliminary task.
We were unable to contact Dulcie and Alice so we still need to run this idea through with them however Lainey and I believe that it is good idea that needs to be decided on as a group. We are hoping to see Dulcie and Alice soon so that we can negotiate times that we are free during college to shoot the footage as our members are spread out across two counties so transport back from evening shooting is difficult.
Friday, 6 November 2009
Communication
Communication is everything!
Two of our members were ill today (06/11/09) so we needed to get them the information that they had missed and warned them that they may have to do it in thier own time and that they are lagging behind at this early stage of production before and idea has even been agreed on!!!
Here is the email:
Two of our members were ill today (06/11/09) so we needed to get them the information that they had missed and warned them that they may have to do it in thier own time and that they are lagging behind at this early stage of production before and idea has even been agreed on!!!
Here is the email:
Hi Alice and Dulcie.
Why aren't you in Media today?
We were sorting out groups and our group is, you two, me, and tim.
We have been updating our blogs too, and we have done quite a bit, so you
will have to catch up with that, possibly in your own time. Me and Tim
have also got quite a few good ideas for the coursework. check out our
blogs.
My URL is: http://laineywhite.blogspot.com/
Tim's is: http://mrtimbiles.blogspot.com/
Look at the posts we have done and do the same basically. Just add your
own idea's.
BE IN THE NEXT MEDIA LESSON!!
Introduction to Preliminary Task
For out Preliminary Task we have to film a sequence where actors walk through a door cross the room sit opposite each other and start a conversation.
In this peice we have to use a range of shots, such as shot-reverse-shot, match on action and the 180° rule so the sequence flows and doesn't confuse the audience - this is called continuity editing. Continuity editing is used so not to confuse the audience by following character movements.
I am looking forward to this task as i was interested in the production side of media and would still like to try my hand at it - this is a fantastic opportunity and with the support of my team i think our project will be a success.
In this peice we have to use a range of shots, such as shot-reverse-shot, match on action and the 180° rule so the sequence flows and doesn't confuse the audience - this is called continuity editing. Continuity editing is used so not to confuse the audience by following character movements.
I am looking forward to this task as i was interested in the production side of media and would still like to try my hand at it - this is a fantastic opportunity and with the support of my team i think our project will be a success.
Coursework Outline
We have got into groups of three or four. Our group consists of four members who are Alice Manning, Dulcie Hayward, Lainey White and myself. I think we have a good chance of creating a good peice of coursework as our group has many different qaulities - Lainey got a B in GCSE Media Studies so already has a great deal of knowledge in media - Both Alice and Dulcie are quirky enthusiastic Team members who will bring good ideas to the group and i have experience in the media through my Youth radio show.
As Alice and Dulcie arn't here Lainey and I have come up with a few ideas that we can use for the task. When the two other members are back we can make a group decision:
As Alice and Dulcie arn't here Lainey and I have come up with a few ideas that we can use for the task. When the two other members are back we can make a group decision:
- Two woman are sat in a café having a chat about thier week.
- Two men are having an argument outside either a pub or a supermarket.
- A suspect is sat in a room when an angry police officer comes in and shouts at him/her.
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