PLANNING G321: CAMERAWORK

In our lesson today we planned our camera work before filming as it is an integral part of our story board. We took time to analyse the shot types and movements we would use in order to build up our film opening. 

RESEARCH: STORY BOARD.

Today we made a storyboard, that was in depth and tells in detail what we plan to do with the film.

RESEARCH: TARGET AUDIENCE.

Target Audience.
Today we made an audience profile on who our target audience will be. We think our target audience would be both male and female between the ages of 15-40. The reason that both genders are able to watch this is because it is a psychological thriller. 

• Clothes: Topshop, Asos, Urban Outiftters, Superdry, Topman, Vans, Converse, Toms.

• Restaurants: Nandos, KFC, Wagammas, Creams, Subway.

• Films: Taken, Gravity and Hunger Games: Catching Fire.

• TV: Suits, Zen, Criminal Minds, CSI, The Following, Poirot, Breaking Bad and Dexter.

• Technology: iPad, Android Phone, Xbox, PS3, Netflix, Twitter and Instagram. 

• Games: Call of Duty, FIFA and Battlefields.

• Music: The Vaccines, Bombay Bicycle Club, Artic Monkeys, Alt-J, The 1975 and Mumford and Sons. 

RESEARCH: MAKING A SCOOP IT.

I made a 'Scoop It' today, this enables me to collect information from online and see it all in one place. This is useful as it is a simple layout and design and allows me to view it all at one point. I researched thriller film openings and created my own 'Scoop It' to help me with our title sequence that we will be making. This is a lot easier than having to search the internet and have different tabs open to view the information. Below are screenshots of my 'Scoop It'.

RESEARCH: EXISTING FILM THRILLERS- SPOOKS.

The shot types used were a wide high angle shot functioning as an establishing shot of MI5.

The ladies voice was used as a sound bridge to the staff meeting. 

The lighting was very dark and realistic.

In this type of drama there is lots of dialogues therefore there is vast amounts of shot reverse shot, meaning the view gets to see the face of the person who is speaking meaning that the viewer gets to see the facial expressions and tensions in the different peoples faces.

The nondiagetic humming help to make tension and atmos putting the viewer of edge.  

The percussion is often used to raise the heartbeat of the viewer. 

The whip pan increases the tension for the viewer however editing has made this faster therefore reinforcing the tension, frightening the viewer. 

PLANNING: INITIAL IDEAS.

We would like to work with enigma and suspense; therefore our idea is to have a mentally deranged woman that is desperate for a baby, however after finding that she is unable to fall pregnant she becomes fixated with dolls and young girls. We see her walk into an old antique shop and purchase a doll which she ends up treating as her own little girl. Her behaviour makes it obvious to the viewer that she is not mentally stable. The sequence ends with the woman watching other children play in the park. She then snatches one of the young children that resembles the doll and the sequence ends with her walking off with the young girl holding her hand and smiling smugly. 

This opening is quite different as it is not something you would expect however it will enable us to build suspense and drama as it will leave the viewer wondering what she is going to do with the girl now she has her. We hope that this film opening will spark new ideas within the film industry. 

RESEARCH: MY MEDIA WORLD.

My Media World.

• On my iPhone 4 I take photos and videos and edit them.
• I use editing apps to help add definition to my photos.
• My laptop is an HP ENVY, it has a webcam and microphone built in, with this feature I make photos and videos. My laptop also has Beats audio by Dr. Dre.
• My laptop allows me to use the internet as well as stream music, movie and tv shows from websites such as, Netflix and Spotify.
• I have several apps on my phone. the main apps I use are Facebook and Twitter which allow me to see what other friends are doing and keep in touch with them.
• I also use Vine, this app is the sharing and uploading of short 7 second videos normally with a comedy angle.
• My favourite app on my phone is Facebook as it provides a constant stream of information, keeping me up to date with everything.
• I have a blogger account which I use to present my media work.
• Finally, I use my Nikon 3100 to take pictures for both my media and photography A-Levels.

RESEARCH: THE ART OF THE TITLE- SKYFALL.

Skyfall.

• I decided to analyse this title sequence as I enjoyed the smooth transitions throughout the work with the camera plus the editing which adds to the atmosphere and tension. The first thing we see in a male silhouette falling into deep water, the camera then zooms in on the figures face we establish that male is wearing a suit, at this point the tension in the Skyfall soundtrack starts to build putting the viewer on edge. As the figure continues to drown the shot fades into a black out. The transition to the next scene or camera movement within the opening sequence then starts as we see the camera zoom in on the hand and someone else in the water grabs this male figures arm, at this point the credits begin. The male figure is being pulled downward by a hand and there is some sort of spotlight focused on him. It then becomes clear that the figure is in fact Daniel Craig as we see his name appear on the screen. We then see him falling through the water and the words 'Skyfall' appear on our screen introducing the movie.  The music adds to the tension as the definite beat gradually quickens throughout the song, building atmosphere and tension. The next thing we see is a cut out of James Bond with a bullet hole through it and red dye emerging from the bullet hole. The camera then gradually moves through the hole revealing a women who is too under water, editing means that her name is beside her again introducing her to the viewer. The daggers, skull and guns plus the use of red and black seen throughout the sequence suggests to the viewer that this is an action movie with violence. 

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RESEARCH: THE ART OF THE TITLE- JUNO.

Juno.

• The next sequence we looked at was Juno. This sequence followed the girl as she proceeded on a journey through her home town. The music adds to the opening in this particular sequence as when the tempo increases the world in which she is living changes to a cartoon, imaginary world. The upbeat, amusing and happy song is played throughout the opening, this is relevant to the movie as it is well matched with the fictional cartoons which feature throughout the film. The fact that the girl is introduced to the viewer as an animation stands out to the viewer as this is not how most opening sequences are presented. Therefore the atmosphere is fun and joyful. The camera work in this sequence uses burst mode at approximately eight frames per second, the normal frame rate used in a title sequence.

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RESEARCH: THE ART OF THE TITLE- DELICATESSEN.

Delicatessen.

• Delicatessen (1991) is a French film directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet and Marc Caro. This film is in the genre of  black comedy meaning that the humour is portrayed in an evil, sinister and frightening way. In the opening camera shot glides over all of the objects hinting to the viewer the mise en scene. The titles and credits are also embedded within the title sequence on the props, for example the fashion designers name was written on a fashion garment label. The objects seem to be covered in dust suggesting age and the fact that we are in a dark and dingy place.  The movement of the camera adds to the atmosphere, the smooth transition also enable the viewer to read all the credits and get a feel for the atmosphere and mise en scene.

PRELIMINARY EXERCISE.

Continuity task: Our preliminary exercise was to film and edit a character opening a door, crossing a room, sitting down in a chair opposite another character with whom she/he exchanges a couple of lines of dialogue. This task should demonstrate match on action, shot/reverse shot and the 180% rule.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CnROIHWu9GE