Friday 28 October 2016
Editing Catch Up Session - SOFT Trailer 2nd Attempt
Today we had some free time to edit and catch up with things we hadn't got around to yet. Whilst I had already done everything I needed to I wanted to re-edit my SOFT trailer as I thought I could do better than my first attempt. I wanted to get slightly more fitting music for this second trailer and also I needed to edit it a little bit more. I thought my first attempt was good in terms of editing, but I forgot to edit the audio and the music was too loud. I wanted to make sure you primarily heard the music but also got their speech in some of the scenes. I think this second edit is much better than the first.
Thursday 27 October 2016
Contextual Studies - Making A Murderer DOCUMENTARY.
10 part US documentary series - Took 10 years to film and they had 700 hours footage.
Won 4 Emmys
Documentary vs Dramatic film.
Documentary: Unscripted/ Employs real people/ Typically shot hand held/ Does not follow hollywood mise en scene
Dramatic film: Narrative and Dialogue (script driven)/ Performance led by actors/ Hollywood camera techniques/ Uses formal hollywood mise en scene.
Documentary is basically filming observation, you are filming to inform rather than necessary entertain "document reality"
Documentary was coined by John Grierson. He described documentaries as " The creative treatment of actuality"
Documentary formats:
FORMAL:
Observational/Not scripted/Not set up
Current affairs and factual (Making a murderer is an example of this)
Polemic - Putting a particular point or observation across.
HYBRID:
Reality - Much more in depth and setting up scenes for the characters
Scripted reality - Scripted a lot Like TOWIE
Drama Documentary - Dramatic reenactments of what has happened.
Narrative documentary Modes:
Most likely a documentary won't specifically fit into one group, it will go across 2 or more.
Expository - Emphasises rhetoric and information The classic voice of god documentary
Observational - Classic fly on the wall. Typically no voice over.
Participatory - onscreen relationship between the subject and interviewer.
Reflective - Makes the viewer aware of the filmmaking process Seeks to challenge our assumptions
Poetic - Artistic montage based.
Performative - filmmaker going on a journey, taking in personal experience
Making a murder is very evident in using supporting evidence (Court documents - Interviews - Papers)
Translating the facts - reconstruction of the scene before the sexual assault - POV shot of what the women would have possibly be seeing. Use of the music advocates as emotional manipulation.
Black and white photographs to show the altercation between him and his sister when he pointed a gun at her. They had to make sure they didn't blur the lines between what's real and what's not (these black and white pictures are not real)
Critical approaches to Documentaries:
Realism - Handheld - Natural light - No music. As little artificial parts as possible to keep it "authentic". Real life as it happens.
What we see is no objective, but the filmmakers version of events. What has been mediated so we see what we see. In making a murderer the Averys are made out to be outsiders to the community
Reception Theory - How the audience sees the text on screen, that might influence our opinion. You can say it has no meaning in itself, instead the meaning is created as the viewer watches the film. Other ways that you could be influenced but what you see is maybe who and where you are with. You are possibly more likely to laugh at a cinema than at home because of other people being there. You can also be influenced if you are seeing it on a phone instead of a Computer, maybe on a TV you are less immersed because you could be easily distracted by a text for example.
Ideology - Common sets of beliefs and values that relate us to the rest of the world. Could have political bias in certain documentaries. With the BBC they can't take sides, have to see both version of events and make sure it is impartial. However you can still question what point of view they are trying to take. However other stations could have a different ethos and they particularly go down a certain route to prove a certain point. Possibly motivated by owners or leaders.
The context in making a murderer is generally the realistic approach. real locations, using graphic montages and also some music is used to emphasise points.
conventional representations of who and what is in the scene. However it can be questioned why certain things are put into certain scenes.
The filmmakers aren't including their own personal opinions and leaving it as much up to the viewer as possible. However some people are left out of the documentary, you have to question if that is for a particular reason or that the other people did not want to be in the film or where unavailable.
In making a murder they say that the people that are not included are not there for any particular reason, they feel that their documentary is true, fair and unbiased.
Won 4 Emmys
Documentary vs Dramatic film.
Documentary: Unscripted/ Employs real people/ Typically shot hand held/ Does not follow hollywood mise en scene
Dramatic film: Narrative and Dialogue (script driven)/ Performance led by actors/ Hollywood camera techniques/ Uses formal hollywood mise en scene.
Documentary is basically filming observation, you are filming to inform rather than necessary entertain "document reality"
Documentary was coined by John Grierson. He described documentaries as " The creative treatment of actuality"
Documentary formats:
FORMAL:
Observational/Not scripted/Not set up
Current affairs and factual (Making a murderer is an example of this)
Polemic - Putting a particular point or observation across.
HYBRID:
Reality - Much more in depth and setting up scenes for the characters
Scripted reality - Scripted a lot Like TOWIE
Drama Documentary - Dramatic reenactments of what has happened.
Narrative documentary Modes:
Most likely a documentary won't specifically fit into one group, it will go across 2 or more.
Expository - Emphasises rhetoric and information The classic voice of god documentary
Observational - Classic fly on the wall. Typically no voice over.
Participatory - onscreen relationship between the subject and interviewer.
Reflective - Makes the viewer aware of the filmmaking process Seeks to challenge our assumptions
Poetic - Artistic montage based.
Performative - filmmaker going on a journey, taking in personal experience
Making a murder is very evident in using supporting evidence (Court documents - Interviews - Papers)
Translating the facts - reconstruction of the scene before the sexual assault - POV shot of what the women would have possibly be seeing. Use of the music advocates as emotional manipulation.
Black and white photographs to show the altercation between him and his sister when he pointed a gun at her. They had to make sure they didn't blur the lines between what's real and what's not (these black and white pictures are not real)
Critical approaches to Documentaries:
Realism - Handheld - Natural light - No music. As little artificial parts as possible to keep it "authentic". Real life as it happens.
What we see is no objective, but the filmmakers version of events. What has been mediated so we see what we see. In making a murderer the Averys are made out to be outsiders to the community
Reception Theory - How the audience sees the text on screen, that might influence our opinion. You can say it has no meaning in itself, instead the meaning is created as the viewer watches the film. Other ways that you could be influenced but what you see is maybe who and where you are with. You are possibly more likely to laugh at a cinema than at home because of other people being there. You can also be influenced if you are seeing it on a phone instead of a Computer, maybe on a TV you are less immersed because you could be easily distracted by a text for example.
Ideology - Common sets of beliefs and values that relate us to the rest of the world. Could have political bias in certain documentaries. With the BBC they can't take sides, have to see both version of events and make sure it is impartial. However you can still question what point of view they are trying to take. However other stations could have a different ethos and they particularly go down a certain route to prove a certain point. Possibly motivated by owners or leaders.
The context in making a murderer is generally the realistic approach. real locations, using graphic montages and also some music is used to emphasise points.
conventional representations of who and what is in the scene. However it can be questioned why certain things are put into certain scenes.
The filmmakers aren't including their own personal opinions and leaving it as much up to the viewer as possible. However some people are left out of the documentary, you have to question if that is for a particular reason or that the other people did not want to be in the film or where unavailable.
In making a murder they say that the people that are not included are not there for any particular reason, they feel that their documentary is true, fair and unbiased.
Monday 24 October 2016
First Draft of my Screenplay - Updates
Today I finished my first draft of my screenplay. Personally I thought I was going to enjoy this part of the course a lot less than I did. I have actually enjoyed it and I still feel my script can be improved but I am happy of how it has turned out for a first draft.
Further development.
I have thought about my script since I have finished it and I have had a few ideas since. I don't want to go too hard with changed before it's been checked in case there could be a fundamental problem (I hope not!)
1) I need to develop why they want Nelson dead. I have said that he is a troublemaker but not really expanded on anything further. I think that Nelson could have done something very personal to one of the head police officers and that is the reason why they want him dead. I'm not sure exactly what yet. Hopefully Simon or Steve could give me a little input on all these ideas to expand them.
2) Who is Ricky? I did put a single line in the script as a subtle hint but it probably needs to be expanded. I want Ricky to be the son of one of the characters, specifically the "Unidentified character" that we never actually see. And I want him to be involved as it could be something personal to his family.
3) Why do they want to frame Adrian? Once again it needs to be expanded as there is no real reason to this one. I suspect a reason could be that Adrian and Ricky has left on bad terms when they left school/ stopped being friends.
I also spoke to my Dad about what he thought about and he read the script and said it might make more sense if the main characters where a few years older (22/23) so there is evidence that Adrian has started to forge a successful career.
Further development.
I have thought about my script since I have finished it and I have had a few ideas since. I don't want to go too hard with changed before it's been checked in case there could be a fundamental problem (I hope not!)
1) I need to develop why they want Nelson dead. I have said that he is a troublemaker but not really expanded on anything further. I think that Nelson could have done something very personal to one of the head police officers and that is the reason why they want him dead. I'm not sure exactly what yet. Hopefully Simon or Steve could give me a little input on all these ideas to expand them.
2) Who is Ricky? I did put a single line in the script as a subtle hint but it probably needs to be expanded. I want Ricky to be the son of one of the characters, specifically the "Unidentified character" that we never actually see. And I want him to be involved as it could be something personal to his family.
3) Why do they want to frame Adrian? Once again it needs to be expanded as there is no real reason to this one. I suspect a reason could be that Adrian and Ricky has left on bad terms when they left school/ stopped being friends.
I also spoke to my Dad about what he thought about and he read the script and said it might make more sense if the main characters where a few years older (22/23) so there is evidence that Adrian has started to forge a successful career.
Friday 21 October 2016
Editing Workshop - Drag Racing Interview and First Date
First we started using new tools including the slip tool to change the action in the clip and also we used tools like the cmd and alt tool to swap clip around in the timeline. Here is my final edited version of the drag race and interviews. I really liked how it turned out, with the music and the interviews and I think it worked well.
After we had to use the ripple tool to make sure the audio worked in the first date clip.
Next We used Adobe Audition to remove the bang. It is still slightly noticeable due to the line being exactly on the bang but it is slightly better.
Next we had to try and remove the generator in the back of one of the shots. This was once again in Adobe Audition but I couldn't really get it right. We did make the generator less noticeable but it's still not great.
Thursday 20 October 2016
Contextual Studies - Sound
You can have sound without picture, but it is a lot easier to have a picture without sound.
Films with sound and no video: Derek Jarman's Blue and Chris Marker's La jetee
Even silent movies generally have some sort of audio - music or sound effects.
La jetee has pictures (not moving) which tells the story but we focus on the sound and it has interesting use of sound effects, including the plane whiring, as if it was over us.
Functions of sound
- Aural Sound (Dialogue/voiceover)
- Sonic ambience ( mood/atmosphere/sound effects)
- Emotional or intellectual resonance or dissonance (music)
Key elements
- Speech (Dialogue or narration)
- Ambient or natural
- Sound effects
- Musical score or soundtrack
You will definitely use at least one of these - but possibly all of them.
Use of sound effects
To heighten the drama but abstract or enhanced effects to affect the audiences emotions or perception.
Also to simulate reality, to reinforce what we may expect, for example traffic noise or chatter.
Aesthetic uses of sound
Impressionistically - harmonious use of sound that affects your mood
Expressionistically - Evoking abstract and a dark version of what you may expect
Asynchronous - When the sound and the visuals are mis-matched to slightly confuse the viewer
Diegetic - Any sound that is in the film scene - What would have been picked up by a microphone
Nondiegetic - Any sound added after. Could be commentary, Music and sound effects.
Music is very important for the scenes because it dictates what your emotion is in via a scene. You can immediately tell from the start of a scene what it will be like due to the music that is being used.
Music as a narrative device
Music underscores or accentuates visual narrative, emotion or drama
Can create emotional or intellectual resonance or dissonance
Use of leitmotifs - A short, recurring musical phrase with a particular idea (Imperial march in star wars - we know that something to do with vader will be happening, the music tell us that)
Pop songs as commentary/ dramatic device " When words fail, music speaks"
Music can change depending on the audience. For example in some scenes of "Legend" the music is different for the UK and US versions on the film because the distributors did not think certain audiences would like the original music.
You can use music to step out of the narrative to comment on the action. It is an alienation technique that contrasts the grim reality to their romantic aspirations. An example is Pennies from heaven. It's breaking the fourth wall between us and what is on the screen.
Modernism vs postmodernism.
Modernism - an aesthetic and cultural reaction to classicism relying on innovation to create new modes of rational and progressive expression and representation. (Soviet montage)
Postmodernism - Reaction to failure of modernisms objective rationalism. Deconstructs form and fusing disparate elements of high and low culture (The simpsons)
Use of narration "First person subjective" "Voice of god" "Conventions of male vs female voices"
Wednesday 19 October 2016
Soft Trailer Attempt
Here is my first attempt at a trailer for "Soft". It was a project to be completed out of class. I edited in in Final cut, I didn't do many big edits, simply cutting it down to the main parts of the film and also finding music I thought fitted. I definitely think that I can do better and hopefully I'll remember to come back to do a more highly edited version.
Story Telling, Shot types and trailers.
In the morning we had a talk with the kent film office, followed by a workshop with the cameras which I will upload when it is edited.
Story boards.
They focus the key frames that make up a particular scene or sequence.
Raiders of the lost arc has incredibly detailed story boards. Definitely more complex than anything I have ever done!
Story boards.
They focus the key frames that make up a particular scene or sequence.
Raiders of the lost arc has incredibly detailed story boards. Definitely more complex than anything I have ever done!
Conception - used to convey new ideas which is cheaper than a test shoot or run through.
Pre production - This is where they are used the most, enables planning of the entire production. All departments will look at the story board to figure out what they need to do to make the sequence look good.
They are used in production guide themselves through the sequence.
A story board doesnt mean you have to do it, whilst on set be adaptable and if you see something you really like you can just it. It's a guideline to help but not set in sand.
Types of story board styles:
GRAPHIC
DIAGRAMMATICAL
PLAN VIEW
SHOT TYPES:
Birds-eye-view/ angel's perspective.
-Extreme long shot (ELS)
-Long Shot (LS)/ Wide Shot (WS)
-Medium Shot (MS)
-Close-up shot (CU)
-Extreme Close-up (ECU)
Camera movement:
-Tilt shot- Tripod/ handheld from a fixed position.
-Crane shot- Fixed position, moving from a height.
-Pan shot-Left to right/ vice-versa.
-Tracking shot.
-Dolly shot.
Camera position:
-Two shot- two characters appearing in the same frame.
-Low angle
-High angle shot
-Over-the-shoulder shot (OTS)
Trailers:
Very old trailers where very different to how they are today!
In all honesty I really like this trailer, its funny, tells us about the film and also walks us through the scene which we don't see too much, especially in trailers!
Questions to ask when you are doing a trailer?
What is the story - When is it coming - Who is it aimed at.
Monday 17 October 2016
Final Draft Notes
Some notes from learning Final Draft with Steve.
"elements"
scene heading
action
character
parenthetical
dialogue
transition
it will be one of these in your script
remember to hit spelling a few times throughout because it will correct grammar, wording, spelling etc.
"reports" will give you useful information for each character, scene, cast etc so that you can understand what is actually going in on your script.
"elements"
scene heading
action
character
parenthetical
dialogue
transition
it will be one of these in your script
remember to hit spelling a few times throughout because it will correct grammar, wording, spelling etc.
"reports" will give you useful information for each character, scene, cast etc so that you can understand what is actually going in on your script.
Friday 14 October 2016
Editing Workshop - Fairly Legal show Edit.
Here is my first edit of "Fairly Legal" Our editing task for 4th October.
We had to edit from 10 clips, of which most had the full scene. We had to decide which was the best take and then edit it into the timeline like a radio edit. I'm starting to get used to premier pro now, I am editing outside of lessons as well so hopefully that will improve the rate at which I am learning the software. Some of the audio was very tight to edit, pretty much a frame or two between two lines of audio so getting the audio right as well as the video looking right was tough but i enjoyed the challenge.
Colour correction.
We had a very bright clip in out sequence and this is how I have colour corrected it.
BEFORE
AFTER
Not that much different between the two but without really knowing what I am doing I think I have improved it slightly.
After a little more colour correcting I have a new film with all shots that needed it
Colour correction.
We had a very bright clip in out sequence and this is how I have colour corrected it.
BEFORE
AFTER
Not that much different between the two but without really knowing what I am doing I think I have improved it slightly.
After a little more colour correcting I have a new film with all shots that needed it
I think that it is slightly better that the first version which is very blue in the window scene. However after making a preset I made sure all of the window clip where the same. I think it is better (The colour correction) But I feel if I knew how to really colour correct it could be a lot better.
I have colour corrected and white balanced etc in the past on Sony Vegas, so getting used to Premier pro is a lot of fun and I think once i get use to it a little more I will be using premier pro outside uni as well.
Thursday 13 October 2016
Contextual Studies - Camerawork and Editing
CAMERAWORK
How the camera is used in TV and Film to tell a story, character and action.
The art of cinematography
Basic Elements:
The shot: Affects our emotional and psychological relationship with character and setting through composition and speed.
Movement: Affects our emotional and psychological relationship.
Why do we use shots?
Basic building blocks of visual grammar
Visual equivalent of sentence structure
If shots are words mise en scene is meaning and editing narrative structure
Basic shots: Wide shot -Medium shot - Close up - Extreme close up
Wide shot: covey a sense of context, character relationship to the surroundings. Establishing shot
Mid shot: Focus attention on one or more principal characters.
Close up: Conveys intimacy and emotion
Extreme close up: Highlighted emotion, dramatic tension or a reveal
In a documentary interview or conversation the person who is being interview doesnt look at the camera, trying to give the idea that the camera isnt there and the conversation isn't directed at you.
Rule of the third:
"The rule of thirds is applied by aligning a subject with the guide lines and their intersection points, placing the horizon on the top or bottom line, or allowing linear features in the image to flow from section to section."
To convey objective or subjective viewpoints
How the camera is used in TV and Film to tell a story, character and action.
The art of cinematography
Basic Elements:
The shot: Affects our emotional and psychological relationship with character and setting through composition and speed.
Movement: Affects our emotional and psychological relationship.
Why do we use shots?
Basic building blocks of visual grammar
Visual equivalent of sentence structure
If shots are words mise en scene is meaning and editing narrative structure
Basic shots: Wide shot -Medium shot - Close up - Extreme close up
Wide shot: covey a sense of context, character relationship to the surroundings. Establishing shot
Mid shot: Focus attention on one or more principal characters.
Close up: Conveys intimacy and emotion
Extreme close up: Highlighted emotion, dramatic tension or a reveal
In a documentary interview or conversation the person who is being interview doesnt look at the camera, trying to give the idea that the camera isnt there and the conversation isn't directed at you.
"The rule of thirds is applied by aligning a subject with the guide lines and their intersection points, placing the horizon on the top or bottom line, or allowing linear features in the image to flow from section to section."
Angels and speed.
High angle shot: Objective and alienating, diminishes a character
Low angle shot: emphasises a character, they probably are powerful or have dominance
Dutch/Tilt angle: disorientating, creates psychological tension.
Expressionism presents subjective perspective, distorting it radically for emotional effect to evoke a certain mood or idea. Emotional experience rather than physical reality
Motion and emotion:
Why do we move the camera?
To heighten action or emotion. Michael Bay likes to move the camera for no reason - It's not particularly helping us understand what is going on
To convey objective or subjective viewpoints
Refocus the audiences attention within a scene
Explore or change the environment or setting
The only 4 reasons we should really be moving a camera.
Hitchcocks Frenzy - Use of the camera movement to emotionally distance audience from action.
The moving camera shows isolation, the women in the scene has no chance to escape the serial killer.
One of the reason why its so creepy is the how the camera is placed. Its always placed in a way that you are looking through the killers eyes.
Alienation - The use of a reverse crane shot is an example of alienation effect.
Alienation is the extent to which you maintain a critical distance from a cultural production. It's often associated with passively experience the media. The audience remains removed from the media, critically considering the signs, narrative and so on.
The use of the camera in Halloween (1978) is incredible because it was the first time ever that a steady cam was used, it was also all in one shot from a particular viewpoint (Michael Myres)
We dont think this whole view is of a child until it is revealed to us later on in the scene. Then in a brief moment we are removed from the point of view of Michael to looking down on him holding a knife with who would guess are his parents.
Elements of visual style:
Denotive: directing attention
Expressive: Bringing out or magnifying feelingful qualities
Decorative: independent or semi independent of narrative design
Symbolic functions: invoking abstract concepts.
Use of handheld in documentary:
Heightens action and emotion
Dynamics of transition
Places character in context
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EDITING
"The assembling of visual material into sequences"
Constructs a narrative
Used to manipulate time (condense, lengthen, flashback and flash forward)
Juxtaposes ideas an concept (visual and intellectual)
Long take examples. ROPE (1948) By Alfred Hitchcock has 10minute takes with hidden edits to join up the whole action. The way to make it look like there is no edits is for example someone moving that fills up the screen or zooming right into something so that when you go to cut back with a new camera it doesn't look like there is any edits.
RUSSIAN ARK (2002) 87 minute continuos shot using a steadicam
Mise en scene and cinematography create implicit meaning WITHIN shots. What editing creates is an implicit meaning between shots.
The shot by itself doesn't mean anything but in the context of what is happening in the scene you know what happens.
4 Key elements of editing.
Spatial: relationship between different spaces and editors manipulation of them
Temporal: manipulation of time within the film in relation to order, duration and frequency eg: montage
Rhythmic: manipulation of duration shots; accents, beats and jumps and the tempo eg: action and suspense scene.
Graphic: A relationship between pictorial qualities of shots or scene eg: graphic match cut
Editing is important because it creates a visual narrative from simple script descriptions or unedited rushes. It's also the most creative aspect of filmmaking.
A good editor can make bad shots work, a bad editor can ruin a good shot.
Two schools of editing theory:
Continuity Editing: Gives the viewer the impression that the action unfolds with spatiotemporal consistency. In most films, logical coherence is achieved by cutting to continuity, which emphasizes smooth transition of time and space.
Soviet montage is where a formal theory and technique where editing serves an ideological place.
Soviet filmmakers showed that film could serve a political education purpose for the betterment of society.
Eisenstien said that montage, especially intellectual montage is an alternative to continuity editing.
Montage is conflict - where new ideas emerge from collisions within the montage sequence.
5 principles of soviet montage:
Metric: Editing which follows a specific tempo, cutting the next shot no matter of action
Rhythmic: similar to metric but allowing for visual continuity from edit to edit
Tonal: uses the emotional meaning of the shot eg: sleeping babies denote peace
Overtone/Associative: a fusion of metric, rhythmic and tonal montage
Intellectual: editing together shots which when combined convey a intellectual or metaphorical meaning
Modern documentary editing:
Evidentiary: Meaning of edits is reinforced by narration or dialogue. shots are often illustrative and usually maintain some visual continuity.
Dynamic editing: In dynamic editing, concepts of matching and continuity rarely apply. Shots are ordered by meaning but not necessarily by their relationship to each other in time or space. A documentary filmmaker photographing a leopard taking down a gazelle can’t ask for a re-take or another angle. Generally, he only gets one shot at one angle. Because of this he will need to string together discontinuous shots to create meaning and tell his story.
EDITING
"The assembling of visual material into sequences"
Constructs a narrative
Used to manipulate time (condense, lengthen, flashback and flash forward)
Juxtaposes ideas an concept (visual and intellectual)
Long take examples. ROPE (1948) By Alfred Hitchcock has 10minute takes with hidden edits to join up the whole action. The way to make it look like there is no edits is for example someone moving that fills up the screen or zooming right into something so that when you go to cut back with a new camera it doesn't look like there is any edits.
RUSSIAN ARK (2002) 87 minute continuos shot using a steadicam
Mise en scene and cinematography create implicit meaning WITHIN shots. What editing creates is an implicit meaning between shots.
The shot by itself doesn't mean anything but in the context of what is happening in the scene you know what happens.
4 Key elements of editing.
Spatial: relationship between different spaces and editors manipulation of them
Temporal: manipulation of time within the film in relation to order, duration and frequency eg: montage
Rhythmic: manipulation of duration shots; accents, beats and jumps and the tempo eg: action and suspense scene.
Graphic: A relationship between pictorial qualities of shots or scene eg: graphic match cut
Editing is important because it creates a visual narrative from simple script descriptions or unedited rushes. It's also the most creative aspect of filmmaking.
A good editor can make bad shots work, a bad editor can ruin a good shot.
Two schools of editing theory:
Continuity Editing: Gives the viewer the impression that the action unfolds with spatiotemporal consistency. In most films, logical coherence is achieved by cutting to continuity, which emphasizes smooth transition of time and space.
Soviet montage is where a formal theory and technique where editing serves an ideological place.
Soviet filmmakers showed that film could serve a political education purpose for the betterment of society.
Eisenstien said that montage, especially intellectual montage is an alternative to continuity editing.
Montage is conflict - where new ideas emerge from collisions within the montage sequence.
5 principles of soviet montage:
Metric: Editing which follows a specific tempo, cutting the next shot no matter of action
Rhythmic: similar to metric but allowing for visual continuity from edit to edit
Tonal: uses the emotional meaning of the shot eg: sleeping babies denote peace
Overtone/Associative: a fusion of metric, rhythmic and tonal montage
Intellectual: editing together shots which when combined convey a intellectual or metaphorical meaning
Modern documentary editing:
Evidentiary: Meaning of edits is reinforced by narration or dialogue. shots are often illustrative and usually maintain some visual continuity.
Dynamic editing: In dynamic editing, concepts of matching and continuity rarely apply. Shots are ordered by meaning but not necessarily by their relationship to each other in time or space. A documentary filmmaker photographing a leopard taking down a gazelle can’t ask for a re-take or another angle. Generally, he only gets one shot at one angle. Because of this he will need to string together discontinuous shots to create meaning and tell his story.
Wednesday 12 October 2016
180 Degree Rule - Crossing The Line
Today we had a camera workshop on crossing the line in groups of 4. Our group of 4 for my scene was Gemma and Dre acting, I was on the camera whilst Andrew was doing the sound.
After we had correctly formatted the camera we got to work and I did have a few ideas for shots before stating but was open to changing them when we got to filming. We had to make sure we only used 4-5 shots for this scene which at first seemed like it would be hard not to do more, however once we got to filming it was actually hard to do that many without crossing the line!
I really enjoyed this workshop as it is what I want to do as a career (Video editing or Camera operator) so it was nice once again to get hands on with the camera and get used to the equipment again.
After we had correctly formatted the camera we got to work and I did have a few ideas for shots before stating but was open to changing them when we got to filming. We had to make sure we only used 4-5 shots for this scene which at first seemed like it would be hard not to do more, however once we got to filming it was actually hard to do that many without crossing the line!
I really enjoyed this workshop as it is what I want to do as a career (Video editing or Camera operator) so it was nice once again to get hands on with the camera and get used to the equipment again.
Monday 10 October 2016
Story Telling With Pictures - Monday 10th October
180 Degree Rule:
Where you position the camera in a scene is where you place the audience in the scene.
If you keep within the rule you will always keep the character on the same side of the screen.
Screen left or screen right. The character will always be on the same side.
The characters will always be looking at each other (looking left to right) for example for the whole scene.
When it is done it doesn't throw off the audience at all. However when you do it wrong and break the rule will make the viewer confused.
If you want to move to the other side of the line, you have to show the camera has moved across the line so we haven't broken the rule. The audience won't be confused if you physically show the camera crossing the line.
Breaking the 180 degree rule: If you want to purposely break the rule you can to confuse the viewer.
It will throw of the viewer and purposely confuse them.
A good example of breaking the rule: http://imgur.com/gallery/iIV4S
The character appears on the opposite sides in the same scene to slightly confuse the viewer.
---
Keep filtering my story - keep coming up wth new ideas and if it works or not.
"who what when where why" question all of these for your story.
Theme/Characters/Goal
Shooting plans - Trailer or First 2 minutes
FIND CAST
FIND LOCATION
FIND CREW
PLAN YOUR SHOOT: Shot list/production design/ Schedule and testing
RISK ASSESSMENT
Where you position the camera in a scene is where you place the audience in the scene.
If you keep within the rule you will always keep the character on the same side of the screen.
Screen left or screen right. The character will always be on the same side.
The characters will always be looking at each other (looking left to right) for example for the whole scene.
When it is done it doesn't throw off the audience at all. However when you do it wrong and break the rule will make the viewer confused.
If you want to move to the other side of the line, you have to show the camera has moved across the line so we haven't broken the rule. The audience won't be confused if you physically show the camera crossing the line.
Breaking the 180 degree rule: If you want to purposely break the rule you can to confuse the viewer.
It will throw of the viewer and purposely confuse them.
A good example of breaking the rule: http://imgur.com/gallery/iIV4S
The character appears on the opposite sides in the same scene to slightly confuse the viewer.
---
Keep filtering my story - keep coming up wth new ideas and if it works or not.
"who what when where why" question all of these for your story.
Theme/Characters/Goal
Shooting plans - Trailer or First 2 minutes
FIND CAST
FIND LOCATION
FIND CREW
PLAN YOUR SHOOT: Shot list/production design/ Schedule and testing
RISK ASSESSMENT
Beginning, Middle and End & 3 Moments with Steve Coombes - Monday 10th October
Plot: What happens
Story: Significance of what happens
Story is throwing it up in the air and catching it.
"But" or "therefore" instead of "and then"
Characters should have two or more layers - a Doctor "but" a drug dealer. It instantly makes it a much more exciting character.
Coming to a point that has significance. You will have at least 3 moments "Beginning, Middle and end"
Moments when choices have to be made to set the story going.
Most of the time we think we know ourselves best, but sometimes people that know us can know us better than we know us.
If the audience can see whats coming in the tory thats ironic. However it can be surprising to switch it on its head and do something unexpected.
Get your audiences attention as quickly as possible.
The irony is in "Tin men" they crash into each other at the start of the film and then they end up realising that they are in the same industry. Throughout the film they end up smashing up each others cars more and more as they realise that is how they impress their customers.
The film was flipped on its head in the middle when he thought he had ultimate revenge it turns out it might have been what he wanted and the ultimate revenge was actually good.
An opening needs to be impressive and have a "but" to get the audiences attention.
The middle of the story has to be changed, the story that the audience thinks is following is flipped on its head so the audience is possibly slightly confused on what will happen next.
Toy Story starts with an argument and they get left behind and the whole story is about them getting back home and befriending each other a long the way to try and get back to normality.
The middle of the film changes the film. Turns out the film is not what you originally thought it would be.
The ending is bringing everything together. The end of Toy Story 3 has a wrinkle of Andy having to give up Woody. Once he does he finally grows up. The whole story pretty much starts again for the girl that he gives the toy too.
Lots of dramatic ironies at the end of lord of the rings makes it a very good ending. The characters have lots of buts. the bad guy who can do good and visa versa. The more ironies you can show in the ending the better.
---
Golden Rule for Scripts:
Count your moments - what are your moments - can you fit any more in?
Include moments that are memorable - Need to be able to point out your moments
Include something that people can point out and talk about. If you don't have anything people can talk about, it won't be any good.
Audience doesn't care about the plot/story/character - they wan't it to be invisible and want to focus on the moments. If the audience knows the plot it shows you probably haven't been paying attention to it yourself.
Story: Significance of what happens
Story is throwing it up in the air and catching it.
"But" or "therefore" instead of "and then"
Characters should have two or more layers - a Doctor "but" a drug dealer. It instantly makes it a much more exciting character.
Coming to a point that has significance. You will have at least 3 moments "Beginning, Middle and end"
Moments when choices have to be made to set the story going.
Most of the time we think we know ourselves best, but sometimes people that know us can know us better than we know us.
If the audience can see whats coming in the tory thats ironic. However it can be surprising to switch it on its head and do something unexpected.
Get your audiences attention as quickly as possible.
The irony is in "Tin men" they crash into each other at the start of the film and then they end up realising that they are in the same industry. Throughout the film they end up smashing up each others cars more and more as they realise that is how they impress their customers.
The film was flipped on its head in the middle when he thought he had ultimate revenge it turns out it might have been what he wanted and the ultimate revenge was actually good.
An opening needs to be impressive and have a "but" to get the audiences attention.
The middle of the story has to be changed, the story that the audience thinks is following is flipped on its head so the audience is possibly slightly confused on what will happen next.
Toy Story starts with an argument and they get left behind and the whole story is about them getting back home and befriending each other a long the way to try and get back to normality.
The middle of the film changes the film. Turns out the film is not what you originally thought it would be.
The ending is bringing everything together. The end of Toy Story 3 has a wrinkle of Andy having to give up Woody. Once he does he finally grows up. The whole story pretty much starts again for the girl that he gives the toy too.
Lots of dramatic ironies at the end of lord of the rings makes it a very good ending. The characters have lots of buts. the bad guy who can do good and visa versa. The more ironies you can show in the ending the better.
---
Golden Rule for Scripts:
Count your moments - what are your moments - can you fit any more in?
Include moments that are memorable - Need to be able to point out your moments
Include something that people can point out and talk about. If you don't have anything people can talk about, it won't be any good.
Audience doesn't care about the plot/story/character - they wan't it to be invisible and want to focus on the moments. If the audience knows the plot it shows you probably haven't been paying attention to it yourself.
Friday 7 October 2016
Editing Workshop "Coffee Making" - Friday 7th October
Today we had an editing workshop using clips about making coffee. It was only my 2nd time using premier pro and I am starting to get use to it.
Personally I have used Sony Vegas for 5-6 years so I'm pretty competent on that but I want to learn premier pro as well as I know Vegas. It was a lot about making sure the audio and the video matched.
We had more video footage than we actually needed so we needed to choose what was best. In the video I was not 100% sure if the audio narration is in the right order, but I guess this is upto interpretation.
It was split into 4 or 5 different pieces so it was hard to tell exactly what order it was suppose to be in. After showing Ferg he seemed to like it in general.
He told me I did slightly overdo it with the fading and transitions but it's a good platform to learn from. I am pretty happy with how it turned out. We only had about 90 minutes to really learn new tools and then put it into practice. However I did feel I did a decent job with the footage and time given but if I had more time I would edit a few things.
I would probably keep going over the audio to see if it worked better in a different order and I might adjust how the introduction starts and ends as it goes on for a bit too long for mine and fergs liking.
Overall I really enjoyed this workshop as it is what I have come into this course to get better at. It is one of my main interests as I start so learning a new piece of software is a lot of fun for me.
Thursday 6 October 2016
Updates on My Story - Thursday 6th October
As our Contextual studies lesson with Louis was cancelled today I wanted to look into my story a little more and see how I can develop it.
Title: Lost And Found
I still feel like this is the best title I have thought of. I think it states what the film is about quite well, Lost (The Body - Relatives wondering where they are) Found (Two friends finding each other)
Genre: I still an a little undecided, I feel this can work well as both a comedy and a drama. I think I will see how the script goes and maybe a little more feedback from others in the group.
Updates on ideas: I think my opening shot can be the body laying on the ground with some eerie music in the background. I think it would be good to then suddenly cut to the two people walking towards each other. That we know right away that the body has some influence on the film.
After the two friends bump into each other I feel they should go somewhere together to catch up over a meal or a drink. Drink is probably more realistic... I would like it to be set that they are probably walking a long the beach and then they spot the washed up body. However I'm not sure how this would work as I'm not sure how realistic it is for two people to catch up then suddenly walk along the beach. Then again, if its a comedy I'd say it doesn't have to be really realistic.
Possible endings: I have a few ideas on how it could end. Possibly we find out it was one of the characters relatives who killed this mystery person. Another idea would be that one of the characters was actually involved in the murder of this person. It could also end with the body not actually being dead (This would work best in the comedy genre) I think I need to think about all options properly for the ending before i work out what will be before it. I have a lot of good ideas for the middle but I need the ending to be sorted before I decide which parts I can put in the middle.
------
Expanding on my inspiration for the parts of this story.
Meeting an old friend after a long time comes from personal experience. I met an old friend at a job I had just started. Simon said when I mentioned this whether this was awkward. For me personally it wasn't but maybe thats a twist I could add to my story that it was really awkward. Maybe I could have a little story that they stopped being friends for a certain reason that gets brought up in their conversation.
Washed up body? If i do stick with this idea there was no proper inspiration. You see it a lot in documentaries and dramas on TV so I probably just saw one of those on the day of my original plans.
Overall I am getting there with the story, I will talk with other people in the group about my idea and the possibility that others may have some cool ideas to make my story better. Personally I have found it interesting how this story has come together. I didn't think i'd really be making a story like this when I first heard the brief.
Title: Lost And Found
I still feel like this is the best title I have thought of. I think it states what the film is about quite well, Lost (The Body - Relatives wondering where they are) Found (Two friends finding each other)
Genre: I still an a little undecided, I feel this can work well as both a comedy and a drama. I think I will see how the script goes and maybe a little more feedback from others in the group.
Updates on ideas: I think my opening shot can be the body laying on the ground with some eerie music in the background. I think it would be good to then suddenly cut to the two people walking towards each other. That we know right away that the body has some influence on the film.
After the two friends bump into each other I feel they should go somewhere together to catch up over a meal or a drink. Drink is probably more realistic... I would like it to be set that they are probably walking a long the beach and then they spot the washed up body. However I'm not sure how this would work as I'm not sure how realistic it is for two people to catch up then suddenly walk along the beach. Then again, if its a comedy I'd say it doesn't have to be really realistic.
Possible endings: I have a few ideas on how it could end. Possibly we find out it was one of the characters relatives who killed this mystery person. Another idea would be that one of the characters was actually involved in the murder of this person. It could also end with the body not actually being dead (This would work best in the comedy genre) I think I need to think about all options properly for the ending before i work out what will be before it. I have a lot of good ideas for the middle but I need the ending to be sorted before I decide which parts I can put in the middle.
------
Expanding on my inspiration for the parts of this story.
Meeting an old friend after a long time comes from personal experience. I met an old friend at a job I had just started. Simon said when I mentioned this whether this was awkward. For me personally it wasn't but maybe thats a twist I could add to my story that it was really awkward. Maybe I could have a little story that they stopped being friends for a certain reason that gets brought up in their conversation.
Washed up body? If i do stick with this idea there was no proper inspiration. You see it a lot in documentaries and dramas on TV so I probably just saw one of those on the day of my original plans.
Overall I am getting there with the story, I will talk with other people in the group about my idea and the possibility that others may have some cool ideas to make my story better. Personally I have found it interesting how this story has come together. I didn't think i'd really be making a story like this when I first heard the brief.
Wednesday 5 October 2016
Camera Workshop Calming Chair - Wednesday 5th October
Today I was ill but Andrew let me use his edited clip of what he did today. A short video about a chair.
Monday 3 October 2016
Dialogue, Characters With Steve Coombes - Monday 3rd October
Dialogue, What not to do.
- Don't state the obvious (Even if t might be good)
- Dont make it on the nose
- Too formal dialogue (I dunno -NOT- I don't know!)
- Different people speak in different ways. (Dont have them speaking the same way) Want to have characters having their own traits.
- Unspeakable dialogue
- Don't be too grammatical
- Long speeches
- Giving too much information via dialogue- need to know basis! show not tell!
-
Not everything has to be dialogue, things can be shown by reactions, interactions or expressions.
Dialogue that has a contradiction to it is great dialogue (Facial expressions?)
Greed is Good (Wall Street 1987 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VVxYOQS6ggk)
- Greed isn't good and it wakes up the audience
- The fact he can get up and say that slightly disturbs the audience
- No facial expressions but yet is still a powerful speech that we will listen to.
The things that are most important to you are going to be the hardest things to say - For example "I'm not sorry" probably means that you are sorry. Denial is one of the most useful things in dialogue.
Dialogue should not be what it appears to be about.
Using words they are unlikely to use might make it more funny. Old person swearing in a certain way would be much funnier to the audience than a normal person saying the same thing.
Different characters have different expletives, and different traits in their language.
People speak in rhythm and certain accents say certain things in certain ways. Something that might be funny in Birmingham might not be funny in South London.
Anger is particularly good of being expressed by words.
Characters:
You should know the characters in your scripts as well as your friends and also in the same sort of way.
Most characters end in failure - If you're not sure how your character will fail, you probably don't have a character.
A film where all is done is good is boring.
"Tells" are characters giving themselves away but without them realising it.
Backstory: It describes the character externally.
In film characters can develop,within the first 20 pages something extraordinary has happened to them. How they deal this is how they have changed through the film
You can't do this in TV because if a character changed in the first episode it means there is very little that can happen there on. Your character is not what you CAN talk about it'd what you CAN'T talk about.
Paradox - A doctor but he has cancer, A police officer who robs banks.
The only stupid question is the one you didn't ask.
Characters have big "BUTS" its dramatic irony - The undertaker that has to bury himself.
Characters - Their flaws and what they struggle to talk about.
Does the audience know more about the character than the character does himself.
- Don't state the obvious (Even if t might be good)
- Dont make it on the nose
- Too formal dialogue (I dunno -NOT- I don't know!)
- Different people speak in different ways. (Dont have them speaking the same way) Want to have characters having their own traits.
- Unspeakable dialogue
- Don't be too grammatical
- Long speeches
- Giving too much information via dialogue- need to know basis! show not tell!
-
Not everything has to be dialogue, things can be shown by reactions, interactions or expressions.
Dialogue that has a contradiction to it is great dialogue (Facial expressions?)
Greed is Good (Wall Street 1987 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VVxYOQS6ggk)
- Greed isn't good and it wakes up the audience
- The fact he can get up and say that slightly disturbs the audience
- No facial expressions but yet is still a powerful speech that we will listen to.
The things that are most important to you are going to be the hardest things to say - For example "I'm not sorry" probably means that you are sorry. Denial is one of the most useful things in dialogue.
Dialogue should not be what it appears to be about.
Using words they are unlikely to use might make it more funny. Old person swearing in a certain way would be much funnier to the audience than a normal person saying the same thing.
Different characters have different expletives, and different traits in their language.
People speak in rhythm and certain accents say certain things in certain ways. Something that might be funny in Birmingham might not be funny in South London.
Anger is particularly good of being expressed by words.
Characters:
You should know the characters in your scripts as well as your friends and also in the same sort of way.
Most characters end in failure - If you're not sure how your character will fail, you probably don't have a character.
A film where all is done is good is boring.
"Tells" are characters giving themselves away but without them realising it.
Backstory: It describes the character externally.
In film characters can develop,within the first 20 pages something extraordinary has happened to them. How they deal this is how they have changed through the film
You can't do this in TV because if a character changed in the first episode it means there is very little that can happen there on. Your character is not what you CAN talk about it'd what you CAN'T talk about.
Paradox - A doctor but he has cancer, A police officer who robs banks.
The only stupid question is the one you didn't ask.
Characters have big "BUTS" its dramatic irony - The undertaker that has to bury himself.
Characters - Their flaws and what they struggle to talk about.
Does the audience know more about the character than the character does himself.
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