Preliminary - Planning

Planning

   As we were working in groups again, we decided to brain storm together some ideas for a simple plot. After much discussion, we decided that basically person 1 would be blackmailing person 2 into giving them money in exchange for something that 1 had stolen from 2.

    Once we had the basic idea, we did a story board showing the various shots we would take (in the end we added a lot more shots, but I'll get to that in another post). Storyboard description:

1. Low angle shot of subject 2 watching subject 1 out of window
2. High angle/overshoulder shot of subject 1 looking up at window
3. mid shot of 1 opening door
4. close up on door handle
5. full shot of 1 coming into room
6+. mid shots of each subject during dialogue

   Next we had to come up with a script. Well, it turns out that were all pretty terrible writers, so rather than do the full conversation, we liked the idea of presenting the film as a flashback, so that we could cut straight into the middle of the conversation. The script is as follows:

1: no, no, I'm just speculating. So, why did you call me back? Why not just call the police?

2: look, you have to stop, OK? Just stop. I know this is sport to you, but just stop. Stop and give it back.

1: why exactly? why should i stop? are you scared of what i'v found out, or that they will?

2: Ok, you win
    (gives money)

1: I'm sick of this! It happens.
    (throws object at 2)

   Next we decided on the setting and elements of the mise en scene. On our storyboard, we had a picture of a shot with a large window in it. So we decided to try to find an area with a very large window. We had two choices; a corridor and a classroom. We chose the classroom as then we could use tables and chairs. The clothing terms were much the same as our first short film; we decided to just wear our normal clothes but this time decided to wear those clothes for the rest of the week in case we needed to refilm.

My first short film

Creating my first short film 3

Editing

Today I started to edit my team's clips. I learnt how to use Adobe Premier Pro CS6. For example, I learned how to cut my clips down (this had to be done a lot at the beginning and ends of clips and also when doing match on action). I also learned how to create titles, edit the sounds, and organize my clips into a film.

   I also learnt how to use the recording devices we had so that I could put the audio sound from that into my film rather than the low quality track recorded by the camera. This helped the film seem more realistic.

Re-Filming

   Inevitably we had to do some re-filming. For example, we had to refilm half of the conversation again as the focus was out on the shots of one of the subjects. Of course this was my fault as I had been filming and of course, it was insisted that someone else did the re filming. However, I have learnt from this experience. Note to self- Always check the camera is in focus.

   We encountered some problems when re filming. We did the re filming and editing days after the original filming so we were all wearing different clothes. We realised this would effect the films continuety so promptly decided to 'screw continuety' and one of the subjects wore glasses that he had not been wearing during the original shoot just for the sake of it. This taught us a lot about being prepared; we should have planned ahead and foreseen what was going to happen with clothing. We perhaps also should have made the dress code in the mise en scene more specific.

   In the end we kind of made the incontinuity work by making the film into a comedy.

Conclusion

I learnt a lot about film making during this exercise but have even more yet to learn. I can't wait till next time...

Creating my first short film 2

Filming

Camera and Tripod

   To begin with, today, I leant that to record on the camera you press the big red button beleive it or not! Also, you can pause the clip should you wish to take several shots in one. After learning how to record clips on the camera I had to get to grips with the tripod. I learnt how valuable using a tripod was so as to get still and consistent shots. I also learnt that i should not carry the tripod around with its legs out or pointing out so that i dont accidentally injure someone.

Match on action

Our match on action was to be somebody walking through a door with a shot from either side of the door and a close up of the door handle. We had to use the tripod for this shot as we wanted the full shots either side of the door to be at an equal hight. Our subject had to walk through the door twice with us filming from either side. Next we positioned the tripod lower down and closer to the door and zoomed the camera in on the door handle and filmed again as our subject walked through the door.

180 degree Conversation shots

   We had no script or plan for the conversation because after all, how hard is it to film some people saying something? Well, as we learned today it's very hard to actually think of something and look natural saying it whilst on camera. We had also planned to shoot the conversation in a classroom but they were all full so we were forced to film it in a corridor. These two experiences have taught me an invaluable lesson about planning and that I should always be prepared for everything and anything.

   We filmed the conversation on a tripod with me personally handling the camera (we took turns at recording). All I did was swivel the camera around on the tripod so as to film each clip and part of the conversation.

Other shots

   As we were filming we also decided to add to our original plans by putting in some other shots. We did a shot of the subject's feet whilst he was walking from the perspective of the subject and a high angle shot. We also did some shots of the subject walking up some stairs which we intend to edit to show match on action.

Creating my first short film 1

Making our Short Film

   For our first time to shoot, we got into teams and were given a camera. We had to demonstrate several different techniques including; 'match on action' and '180 degree conversation shots'. So today I learnt how to use the camera and upload files from the card onto the computer by selcting 'import' and then the removable camera card. And also planned and made notes on what we were going to do.

Planning 

   We were told that our criteria for the film was someone walking through a door and having a conversation with someone else (so that we can get the match on action and the 180* shot). Therefore we have decided that there is no real reason for a storyboard.

  We did, however, come up with a basic idea for our Mese en scene. Our project will be filmed in school in one of the corridors where our designated subject will go through a door and talk to somebody in a class room. We would be doing it in lesson time so that there would be nobody to disrupt the shot. As it is about school pupils and set in a school there will be no need for any special props or clothing.

Jack Renshaw - A Bit About Me

Some of my GCSE work

   My name is Jack Renshaw from Ashfield School's Post 16. I am taking Media Studies in order to continue my education on from what I learnt GCSE media. I am interested in media as I like films and like to learn the techniques directors use to make them. I also enjoyed much of the stuff I did last year for media and am proud of much of my work. I am also taking A-level Lit/Lang, Psychology, and History.

Peter Jackson

   I enjoy watching TV and films. Amongst my favourite TV shows are; QI, Would I Lie To You?, and Game of Thrones. I am also a fan of older TV shows such as Blackadder, Mr Bean, and Monty Python. My favourite films include the Lord of the Rings and the Hobbit trilogies, the Batman trilogy, Guy Richie's Sherlock Holmes films, and all the Monty Python films too. As such, my favourite directors are Peter Jackson, Christopher Nolan, Guy Ritchie, Terry Jones and Terry Gilliam. Here are clips to some of my favourite film/TV.

Sherlock Holmes 2 (above) and Monty Python and the Holy Grail (below)

 

The other main media I use are apps, books, music, and websites. My most used apps are probably the 'BBC NEWS' app and puzzle apps such as '4 pics 1 word'. I like the news app as it makes it easy to quickly check up on the world and the puzzle apps are good for just setting your mind to something if you're bored.

    

   My tastes in music vary wildly; one day I'll be in the mood for 'Ace of Spades' by Motorhead, another I'll be listening to 'Springtime for Hitler'. However, I have come up with a list of some of my favourite songs; 'Not Gonna Get Us' by t.A.T.u, 'Bohemian Rhapsody' by Queen, 'Back in Black' by AC/DC, 'Uprising' by Muse, '(Don't Fear) The Reaper' by Blue Oyster Cult, and of course 'Always Look On The Bright Side of Life' sang by Eric Idle.

   

As for books, the best books I have ever read come from the Chaos Walking trilogy by Patrick Ness. I would highly recommend these books to anyone as I havn't been able to stop thinking about them since finishing them. The covers of the trilogy are shown below. Another good series is Skulduggery Pleasant which follows a crime fighting, undead, magical detective and his sidekick.

The Chaos Walking Series by Patrick Ness

The main websites I use, (aside from google of course) are shopping websites such as Amazon and Play.com. I also use the website Youtube alot. I do not yet have a Youtube account or channel but will probably make one so that I can broadcast any footage I film during this course on. For the time being I can reccomend my friend's Youtube channel: LLamaNinja9000 and THIS bit of fun which I briefly star in.

Well, thanks for reading and I hope that wasn't too boring for you.

Until my next post

Jack Renshaw