Index

Film Poster Analysis

mise-en-scene blog task

Star Persona LR

Lighting task

Sound analysis

Sound blog post

Sound LR

Cinematography blog tasks

Cinematography video task // Cinematography LR

Editing video task// Editing LR

Editing blog task - 750 word analysis

FILM INDEX

Editing Practical LR

Edit video

1) Type up your feedback/comments from your teacher.

Perfectly met brief. Although I think you could have played this out a little longer.

Magnificent performances

Continuity editing was very good. Nice pacing (slow opening shot to build tension nicely)

Well framed shots, can't believe the end wasn't an added SFX!

2) Type up your feedback from fellow students.

Good brief met

Continuity error with glasses

Little fade to black midway through the video - videos were not connected on PremPro

3) Now reflect on your video. Did you meet the brief and successfully include the three key editing aspects we have learned?

I think, as Mr Halsey has mentioned , I have met the brief quite well bit I could have done a lot better. The pace should have been a bit slower with the conversation and the continuity error was something that is vital when it comes to filming with props. 

4) What were the strengths and weaknesses of your final film? Write a detailed analysis picking out specific shots, edits and any other aspect of film language you think is relevant.

The establishing shot with the corridor scene was quite well framed and the match on action was well done. I feel like those, along with my pacing, were my real strengths. The continuity error was a very silly and rookie mistake but that has taught me just how one simple mistake can that can ruin a perfectly good bit of film. The choice to have Hannah to throw a ring at men is quite a good CLAMPS idea to signify that we are married and not, the removal of that ring shows that we are ending the relationship. The OTS shots with the conversation were framed sort of well - they could have been a bit more towards the actor to account for any dead space there might have been in the scene. The match on action, one of my strengths, was effective in conveying that Hannah was opening a door in a fluid motion and not a result of stitching two clips together

5) Learner response: what aspect of editing did you find most difficult? What have you learned from this process that will help you when you start the actual coursework later this year?

I have learnt that maybe sometimes, longer videos are better, leaving 2-3 seconds of roll time at the start and end of the clip could transform the pacing and atmosphere of the whole video. I have also learnt that all video NEED to be together to provide a seamless clip rather than a small black blip midway through my clip. I have also learnt that I might need to look at costume aspects such as continuity and CLAMPS as I feel that it could have been executed so much better. It was also a matter of finding the right time to cut videos so that they would play a seamless and fluid video that conveyed the messages that I wanted to be depicted. The process of intricately cutting the videos, right down to the last tenth of a second, could make or break the project so going forward, I will be committed to making sure I will provide a seamless and complex project which will display the correct and intended use of CLAMPS and to shown how my editing skills have developed from last time. 

Editing blog task

Hot Fuzz Sea Mine

This classic scene from the 2007 film Hot Fuzz starring Simon Pegg and Nick Frost is ridden with many clever editing  techniques. So let's get into the details:

There is a clear straight cut at around 0:03 where it features an establishing shot transitioning to a medium shot. This, along with the clear police liveried car, showcases the farm that looks to be an offset and isolated location which is blurred in the background.

It then switches to a close mid shot where we are met with the faces of everyone in the car. The two main protagonists are sat at the front who are looking rather worried. The choice to put the dog very close to the protagonist's face is significant as this is used to emphasise how awkward and new he is to his new police/duty post.

We are then treated to a mid closeup where we meet the cause of the call, that the person, of which we are very uncomfortably close to him, is cutting other peoples hedges. We then immediately, through a straight cut, see the central character visibly perplexed about what he has just said.
There is also an example of an eyeline match and a match on action as the characters are exactly in the same position with the same angle of tilt towards the central character.

The director has made a deliberate choice to momentarily cut to show us the side profile of this conversation. This is done to emphasise the vastness of their surroundings. We also see a correctly executed example of shot/reverse shot. This makes the conversation feel more natural and does allow us to focus on the comedic elements of their conversation.

The conversation continues to use straight cuts to communicate that this is JUST a normal police-citizen conversation. The camera then zooms in onto Simon's face and then straight cuts to the door opening, this is used to evoke a sense of curiosity as we are intrigued to find out what he has in his shed.

The camera then cuts to the hand turning on the lights to emphasise that something big or exciting is coming - our satisfactions are then immediately quenched. The camera then shows a series of rapid straight shots in which we see what 'other guns' he is talking about.

This shot in itself is quiet funny as we as the audience only expect to see around 3 shots to show his collection but it's the fact that the shots carry on for so long makes us laugh at the almost unbelievable extent of his firearms. I think that the director is playing upon a classic Hollywood cliche where it's: switch, lights and then object. This parody of this technique communicate to the audience that we are in for a funny movie and a funny scene just from the few frames in the shed.

It then cuts to the character's expression being understandably shocked and amazed as he is from the city and rarely sees any guns or weapons bar knives. It then straight cuts into a slow pan where we start to see the vastness of his collection as the officer walk through this leading us up to the main focus of this scene which is the Sea Mine.

It then cuts to this high angle shot which shows us how quickly this comedic scene has escalated into a situation of mild panic. It then cuts to a few more shots where they start talking about the mine. The farmer then bangs the mine where it tips over and makes a ticking sound, indicating to us that an explosion is imminent. This whole mine scene is reinforced with convincing eyeline match as well as match on action shots. You could also pick out the shot/reverse shot use from the mine to the characters.

The fast pace of this scene is communicated through a few rapid shots where it switches from the mine to the expression of the characters. The next shot cuts to an outdoor location located just outside of the shed. The initial wide shot quickly switches to a mid shot as the characters rush out of the barn to find cover to evade the explosion. This mid shot then uses a tracking shot where the two main characters run from the door to the hedge directly in front of them.

This wide shot of the barn exists with  the characters out of shot and just us focusing on the door stays on screen for a good 10 seconds which not only builds suspense but also comedic effect. The mine then fails to explode leaving the officers feeling embarrassed. The wipe/sudden cut shows Simon Pegg making a radio call which emphasises how time has passed as well as his disappointment in not finding anything. The last shot in this clip is when the camera cuts straight top a mid shot with the farmer in the background hitting the mine with the butt of his shotgun. This adds comedic effect as well as a sense of denouement as we are provided with a half empty catharsis at the end. 

Editing Practical

Kevin and Julie - An End

Link to video is above!

Shot List

• Establishing shot, of Julie walking down the hallway
• Pan shot, of Julie walking down the hallway
• OTS shot, of Julie reaching for the door handle
• CU, of Julie grabbing the handle
• Full shot, of the door opening
• Medium shot, of Julie walking through the door as it opens
• Medium OTS shot, of Julie sitting down
• Kevin's POV shot, of Julie sitting down
• OTS shot-reverse-shots, of their conversation
• CU, of Julie taking off her ring
• OTS, of Kevin talking to Julie
• Julie's POV shot, of throwing the ring in Kevin's face
• ECU, of Kevin's teary eyes
• Kevin's POV shot, of Julie getting up and leaving
• Medium shot, of Julie leaving

Script

Int. The corridor outside DF07

Julie walks toward and opens the door.

[close-up and match-on-action of Julie turning the handle]

Julie walks into DF07 and sits down across from Kevinjeet.

[OTS and shot-reverse-shot to follow conversation]

Int. DF07

Kevinjeet

(slides hands down face, revealing sorrowful expression) So its come to this then, Julie?

Julie

(slides ring off [close-up]) You and I both know its been a long time coming.

Kevinjeet

It doesn’t mean it hurts any less… (Julie sighs) Listen, maybe we can try again? I really didn’t mean-

Julie

(scoffs, playing with ring [close-up]) Try again? Try again!? You bankrupted us and you still want me to take you back?!

Kevinjeet

I-

Julie

I’m remarrying, God you’re pathetic! (throws ring in his face before storming out)

[ECU of Kevinjeet’s face, tears starting to fall]

Shot of Julie walking away. [Jump cuts??]

Cinematography LR

Teacher comments

Beautiful depth of field. Good selection of shots. Entertaining and creative response to the brief.

No labelling of shots so cannot judge accuracy. Lack of movement. Check framing.

Student comments

WWW: Creative, good use of shots, nice voice over
EBI: Label shots and include wider range of shots

Self reflection

WWW: Good narrative, great idea/unique and nice opening shots
EBI: Use more movements, label the shots and include a more crisper voice over

Future solutions?

I have decided that I will work on smoother camera movement or ultimately switch to a tripod. I have also learnt that voice overs, if needed this summer, need to be clear and not muffled. I have observed first hand that focus is a key aspect when it comes to filming so I will work on my knowledge on how to convert that into a coursework piece that will give me an A*

Cinematography blog task

White House Down opening

The close up of the phone shows us that this person intends to call someone and that it could potentially be a protagonist. The establishing shot of the sky with the helicopters suggest that this is a highly important and secured scene. The close up of the pocket watch shows that it could be an important item later on in the narrative. The mid shot of the inside of the place introduces us to key characters as they are speaking as well as the camera zooming in on their faces. The close up of the girls face could show that she is happy to see a person or multiple people on the helicopter. A fan or a family member? The wide shot of the Capitol building with the water feature shows that this is set in the White House. The close up of the presidents face shows that he is also a key protagonist in the narrative. It pans onto the building as well as being a tracking shot of the helicopters which establishes that something important is being transported.

This slightly low angle emphasises how they are in control of a situation. The slightly wide shot shows how the setting makes the characters seem insignificant compared to their surroundings. The difference in height between characters could also suggest that maybe one is more powerful than the other.

The low shot again implies power as well as a certain sense of confidence. The use of the close mid shot suggests to us that this IS the main hero and that he is very steely as well as brave. The fact that he is emphasising his beard growth shows that he has been off screen for a long time which is correct.

This low shot AGAIN makes us realise that this is a shot that evokes power instead of weakness. The first and frontmost man is found here to be in power and in the lead and holding the only weapon in the frrame. This close wide shot also includes the guy in the background who is seen as the lesser figure when really he is the more powerful and important one. 

Cinematography practical

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TDzfe7FpezE&list=LLfeJttWKQCh95d-35Ioq4BQ&index=2&t=3s

The simple narrative for this is that there is an old man who has lost everything yet still retains the very essence of his joy - his car. The loss of his daughter, wife and pets are emphasised by the extreme close up for his wife and the high angle shot for his pets. His daughter seems powerful and 'strong' shown by the low shot but is tragically taken away by a 'tragic' event. The use of pan is also evident in the movement from the character to the car as well as the establishing shot for setting and action (car crash). I also used a mid shot to diversify the shots when he is talking about his losses as well as sacrifices.

Sound LR

1) Type up your feedback from your teacher.

Very interesting interpretation of the brief - the track is great and gets a genuine response from the audience. 

There is no doubt that elements of this come across as parallel and contrapuntal but I'm not sure it is clear that is is clear enough. I'm not sure if this 100% meets the brief but it did entertain the audience and was a creative response.

2) Type up your feedback from fellow students.

It got a funny response 
Lots of people could not notice the switch over from Parallel to contrapuntal 
It was not really that good of editing

3) Now reflect on your work and write your own comments. Add three WWWs and three EBIs underneath the rest of your feedback.

I could have used a completely different scene for the contrapuntal part
I might have not really used the best soundtrack
Fade music at the end 

4) Learner response: compare your own video against your evaluation of the top three videos in the class. Whose did you think was best and why? How could you have improved your own video?

My top 3 in the class were:
Cerys
Chandni
Hannah

They made a clear transition to contrapuntal sound and of course they used very good editing skills to make such amazing videos. I could maybe use more editing techniques to expertly channel across various different parts of the video.

5) Finally, what have you learned about the importance of sound to film and TV through this week's work?

Without sound there isn't really much of a film. Digetic and non-digetic sound is really important for editors and the audience as it could be used to evoke a reaction out of the audience. Sound Bridges also help to smooth transitions between scenes making the use of music significant to analyse. Parallel and Contrapuntal sound is used a lot in the context of 'cliches' but also for effect and if done well, produces an amazing experience.

Sound Blog Post

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1puEQHFlvV0

The parallel part of the video shows a few drivers making mistakes and is reflected by the slightly comical music. The contrapuntal part is when a few drivers are successful as in winning or overtaking. This is supposed to make the audience laugh as it is mean to evoke comical feelings from the viewers.

Sound Clip Analysis

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_NRSoVncJQ

The music fits very well with the rather frantic/funny theme of the show. Here the exhaust pops and dialogue are clear examples of digetic sound as the characters can hear it and the wonderful use of Paul McCartneys 'Live And Let Die' is a non-digetic sound. There is use of sound bridges throughout the film as it carries on to play the same song over all the scenes. Parallel sound is also really prominent here.

Lighting blog task

  

1. Low key lighting 

2. There is quite alot of top lighting which makes the character seem powerful

3. The connotations of this image could be that this is a femme fatale. The lighting could suggest that this character has something to hide as not all of her is illuminated.

1. This is a clear example of low key lighting 

2. There is quiet a lot of top lighting, there is also a tiny bit of under lighting but no back lighting at all

3. The lack of back lighting suggests thus character has a lot to hide and shows that she may be deceiving due to her hidden 'background'

1. This is without a doubt, high key lighting.

2. There is a lot of top lighting making his eyes have shadows and there is also a significant amount of under lighting as we can see his coat clearly.

3. We could infer from this that this man is a villain of some sort and intends to do some harm due to the shadows around his eyes.

1. Low key lighting

2. This incorporates all aspects of lighting but mainly top lighting

3. The top lighting makes him seem like the 'hero' of the scene and the lack of underlighting could suggest that the creator wanted us to focus on the steely look he has.

1. This is an  example of low key lighting.

2. The back lighting makes it seem that this character is in a sort of 'thrilling; scene. The use of top lighting may show that all of the plot will be revealed due to the concerned look on her face.

3. The shadow created by back lighting might show that someone has been following her in her 'shadows'

1. Low key lighting

2. The only use of lighting is the huge presence of back lighting

3. This makes the scene eerie and interesting at the same time. I get the feeling like these guys will leave the 'set' with a bang. This could suggest something exciting is going to happen.

1. This rather saucy scene is an example of high key lighting

2. The use of top lighting makes both actors visible and almost obscured by the lack of underlighting. The creator expertly uses the light from the blinds to create a 'messy' effect.

3. The lighting may suggest that feelings are going haywire due to the uneven lighting. The male character may be the more important one in the film as more light is on him.

1. Low key lighting

2. They use back lighting and a lot of under lighting

3. The use of these could imply that the male is seeing someone else as suggested by the shadow and that the man is holding a gun so the underlighting could show that he is protective.

1. Low key lighting.

2. They use a lot of under lighting

3. The lack of lighting apart from the half illuminated face may show that this man is nervous as he is sort of scared. The striped lights could imply that he has mixed emotions about what he is seeing.

1. This is an example of low key lighting

2. They use under lighting, top and back

3. The use if these may show that she knows what is coming but is trying to escape it. The film noire look shows that she is about to be hurt or even killed.

Film Noir

• Film noire is s term used to describe Hollywood crime dramas which were common in the 1940s and the 1950s.
• Google describes it as 'a film marked by a mood of pessimism, fatalism, and menace' 
• Makes use of chiaroscuro
• Low key lighting
• Crisp shadows
• Harsh lighting

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3t8H07c30io

The top lighting focuses the audience onto their faces which makes the characters seem important. There is also a shadow casted by the woman which may suggest the man is more powerful than her or that she may be about to die. 

The chiaroscuro makes this feel like a proper crime film.

The classic use of Venetian blinds has become a convention in FN as it is a simple yet effective thing to make the atmosphere more gloomy or serious.

Star Persona LR

1) Type up your feedback from your teacher in full.

- Wow! A brilliant, creative and bold interpretation of the brief.

- Superb choice of music... actually made me laugh out loud!

- The music did come in a little suddenly at the beginning - was that deliberate? From a technical perspective, this may be a skill to develop.

- In terms of length, it's a little long at 2.46. Speeding up the timelapse would have been the solution - was this an option on your editing software?

- The final result... well, what can you say? A remarkable job from your make-up crew and well done for choosing such an ambitious and striking approach. We will be studying gender fluidity later in the course too!

- A couple of bits of feedback in terms of the overall effectiveness of the video... the ending is too sudden (music again) and also you're missing some great non-timelapse shots at the end to show the result of the makeover. In fact, I'd have gone the other way and included some slow-motion shots at the end to show the final result and emphasise the femme fatale element. In addition, the neutral background is solid for most of the video but at the end you have a wider shot and it's clearly a classroom - another aspect you could have improved.

2) Type up the comments you received from other students in the class. You may wish to do this in bullet point and you do not need to repeat comments if more than one student wrote the same thing about your work.

Overall - outstanding! A wonderful interpretation of the brief and what a brilliant way to start the practical side of Media. You will go far!

3) Use the feedback you've been given to write your own self-assessment of your video using WWW (What Went Well) and EBI (Even Better If...)

WWW: I think the video and the image I tried to convey sent across a message that women are empowering. 

EBI: The video length, speed and slow motion scenes could be improved to enhance the overall effect of the time lapse. 
4) Now reflect on your own work in more detail. How did your star persona mood board planning help clarify and develop your ideas?

4) Now reflect on your own work in more detail. How did your star persona mood board planning help clarify and develop your ideas?

The mood board helped me get a visual idea of what the transformation would look like. This also helped us create the femme fatale look which is highly prominent in the video. I think I could have watched a few films that had a femme fatale feel to it to get into the character of my star. I feel that the mood board did its job as it gave me a vision on what my star should look like.

5) Thinking technically, how could you improve your work for future videos? (E.g. filming, editing, sound etc.)

I think i could fade the music at the end and then include slow motion scenes at the end to emphasis the femme fatale image. I might have been able to add d few stills of the before and after to show the transformation.

6) Finally, what have you learned regarding the importance of mise-en-scene to character, narrative and the creation of star personas in film and television?

The background, choice of music and selection of speeds make the overall atmosphere better. In terms of mise-en-scene, the costume, lighting and props add to enhance the image of the star you are trying to project.

Star Persona Mood Board

I have decided to star as a hybrid between Audrey Hepburn and Marylin Monroe. The theme for this was a sort of femme fatale who evokes a feeling of elegance and power at the same time. I watch YouTubers such as James Charles and Trisha Patates and they are well known for their make up tutorials. Myself, along with Barbara and Belle as well as the help of Cerys, we decided that we should have a white background to single out myself and project my face towards the camera. We used red lip gloss to emphasise a sense of bewitching beauty.

Mise-en-scene blog task

Still image analysis:

Here the person on the right is extremely happy about what he has done. His hand in the air suggests that he is proud and grateful for what he and his team he has done. The man in the middle is looking to someone else. The action that he is doing, close to his heart, implies that the person he is gesturing is close to his heart such as a loved one. The man on the left seems very disappointed as he is looking to the crowd for some support. He stands out in this picture as his facial expression is very different to any other person in this frame. The people in the background are royalty, which is suggested by their suits and the fact that they are situated above the drivers. The positioning of the drivers is also interesting as this tells us a lot about their position and their mood.

Two clips comparison:

Casino Royale chase clip

Love Actually sign clip

The initial contrast between these two clips is the genre. The steeliness of the action scene provides a stark contrast between the heartwarming and wholesome scene in Love Acutely. The Casino Royale clip has multiple camera movements and has an ever changing shift in focus. The shot is constantly zooming in and out of people which creates a fast paced action scene. There is more of a focus in LA with the girl and the man. The camera barely moves and occasionally shows us the angle from over the mans shoulder which hints that he could be about to reveal big feelings. There is further divide as the clothing that these two scenes exhibit are very different. CR and LA both represent upper class British culture differently. CR shows a very crisp and modern outlook on British culture whereas LA evokes a loving and fuzzy feeling, which brings out a homely feel from the audience.

Film poster analysis

Poster 1: Blade Runner

• The genre seems to be sci-fi action whilst still maintaining a subtle hint of film noire as suggested by the women located below Ford. The space theme continues as the colours look very new and the pictures are very new age. 
• I think that Ford is most likely the hero of this film and is the one who saves everyone as demonstrated by the rather determined and steely look on his face. I think that the two people on the poster will have to work together to achieve a certain mission. 
• I think that the target audience is young adults as the appeal of the "space age" theme goes to the point where the title is in a futuristic font which could entice younger viewers.

Poster 2: Scary Movie 2

• The genre of this films looks to be a comedic horror which is a parody. The individual people in the poster each satirise a different classic horror films. The review at the top which states that it's "Absolutely Hilarious" which tells us that it is a movie that has a lot of comedy in it. 
• The film seems to be about the people in the poster getting together and as the story line progresses, various comedic references are shown through the actors. The appearances of the characters tell us a little bit about their personality. 
• The target audience of this film is probably adults as the film contains comedic sexual references.

Poster 3: Uzak

• The genre could be a sort of apocalyptic horror but I think that it's very much drama based. The muted colours tell us that this is not a light hearted film and that maybe it is trying to get us into the mindset of this hooded figure at the foreground of the poster.
• This film could be about the day to day life of someone who has experienced a certain loss in their life such as death. The character looks to be an elderly person who may have been through something and that this story is trying to give us a moral.
• This film is maybe aimed at generally adults who enjoy these sort of dystopian future films.

Poster 4: I'm Not Scared

• The genre of this film can be somewhat misleading as it has a child on the front cover. The lighting makes the child seem anxious and worried. I think that this film is a thriller/drama as this contrast between the bright blue sky and the dark foreground makes the theme see to be rather ominous.
• The story line could be about the child on the poster who finds something mysterious or unsettling and pursues his curiosity to find out what it really is. The child's rather concerned face tells us that what ever this child is looking at, he feels disheartened by it.
•  The title itself tells us that this may not be suitable for anyone below the age of 18. The target audience would be adults as the lighting choices show that this is a sinister film. 

Poster 5: Sin City

• This genre seems very crime like. The dull colour choice shows that this is a movie that has quiet a lot of negative emotions. Genres like drama and thriller spring to mind as the characters on the cover have guns in their hand which hint at some form of action being in the movie. The title itself which is "Sin City" implies that most action scenes include a "sin" which sets the precedent for the movie.
• The movie could be about a group of people who hunt down a specific person as all the bright colours are centred on one individual. As well as the central character facing downwards suggests that he despises this character and feels quiet a lot of hatred for him. The rain acts as a form of pathetic fallacy which lets viewers predict that the atmosphere of the movie will be tense and dark.
• The target audience could be adults as the colour of the font suggest their is a lot of killing along with the title which is "sin city" which has negative connotations. 

Poster 6: Pirates Of The Caribbean Dead Man's Chest

• The genre of this movie seems to be action/thriller. The three characters on the poster seem very on-edge about something which makes us think that the theme is crime related. We can also tell crime is involved as the man on the left is dressed up as a pirate which instantly  puts us in context to what this film will be like.
• This film could be about a heist of some sort as Johnny Depp is holding a gun which symbolises that he is ready to fight. The woman on the right has a rather strong and bold stance, which will juxtapose the typical image of women in that specific era. The title makes it seem that they are after a "dead man's chest" which makes it more of an adventure film.
• The target audience for this seems to be young adults/teenagers as this fast paced action looks to be this movie's main aim. 

Poster 7: Bride and Prejudice

• The genre of this movie seems to be very comical yet romantic at the same time. The font colour and bright colours in the background suggest that this is about love and celebration as opposed to heartbreak. This is definitely a Rom-Com. 
• The people in the background appear to be embracing each other which makes it seem that this movie is all about togetherness and the fact that they are all smiling which hints that this is a light  hearted film. The colour choices make it seem that these two lovers are very different. On the left the man is laughing which implies that he's very flexible with everything. The woman on the left is wearing a rather red dress. This makes her stand out and this could make her the focus of the film. She looks to be of Asian descent so this could be an international marriage as suggested by the title. 
• The target audience for this movie looks to be anyone that really watches it as it doesn't cater towards a specific audience.

Poster 8: Million Dollar Baby

• On first glance this movie looks to be a drama, but I think it's a thriller. The determined faces on the poster characters tell us that this could be about something quite serious.The dark colours suggest there is violence and a lot of tragic scenes. 
• The movie could be about a "million dollars" as they look very focused on something. The woman in the middle could be very important to the plot as she looks like an athlete. The "million dollars" could be to do with a certain competition as she looks to be the only one that the light is shining on properly. The men to the left and right look anxious and worried about something, these guys are probably her trainers or her supporters as they don't know how well she'll perform. 
• The target audience could be young adults as this seems like an inspiring movie that teaches self esteem and determination to be important qualities. The simple font could hint that the film is meant for adults as this is a simple yet effective story of a sportsperson.