"Some of these things are true, and some of them lies. But the all are good stories."
Storyboards
We used a simple universal storyboard for our preliminary exercises. They consisted of a few different shots and a few lines of dialogue.
"Creating a storyboard for any creative production can be useful,
but for a video production or animation it is vital. By planning each
shot beforehand, directors and crew can understand what they are aiming
to achieve and have something to build on."
A storyboard is a comic strip like drawing. Each shot is described in each box. It allows a director to change angles and play with shots. It also is very useful when editing in post production.
"All that was once directly lived has become a mere representation."
Representation
Aims:
To explore representation.
To understand how the media creates and uses representation.
To understand how representation is reality 're-created'.
It is important to understand if something is mediated.
This
means that they are intentionally composed, lit, written, framed, cropped,
captioned, branded, targeted and censored by their producers, and that they are
entirely artificial versions of the reality we perceive around us.
Key Areas Of Representation:
}Age
}Gender
}Social
class and status
}Ability/Disability
}Ethnicity
}Regional
identity
}Sexuality
Positive And Negative Representations
Some
representation can be used to create an effect or feeling, both positive and
negative from the media.
There Are Three Types Of Representation
Stereotype- a widely held but fixed and oversimplified image or idea of a particular type of person or thing.
Archetype- a very typical example or feature of a certain person or thing.
"Except, you cannot outrun insanity, anymore than you can outrun your own shadow."
‘Melancholia’ Sequence
The beginning scene from ‘Melancholia’
uses diegetic and non-diegetic sound to give the viewer an insight into what
the story may foreshadow. The film is directed by Lars von Trier who is known
for his dark, artistic film types. The opening suggests the film is a dark and
tragic thriller. Firstly you can hear the footsteps of the newlyweds while they
walk towards the camera. The footsteps are diegetic and parallel sounds as they
can be seen and heard by the characters in the film, these can be better
described as diegetic sound effects. Later in the scene these become ambient
sound. There is also some diegetic speech in the opening scene and we know this
because they characters are reacting to the sounds. We hear the bride and groom
kiss a family member on the cheek and this signifies a close relationship
between the characters involved. There is synchronous sound of the papers being
shuffled by a woman and this gives us the feeling she is impatient and stressed.
As the bride looks into the sky she asks a question about a star and everything
goes silent except the footsteps, although we don't see her face we know it’s
her because she looks into the sky in the shot before. We are aware of the
characters still in the scene because their footsteps are still heard over the
silence, even though the shot doesn't show anyone. This happens twice and can
be described as Asynchronous. This signifies an important moment in the film as
the silence is supposed to help s focus on the visual.
For the first time in the scene we can here
the diegetic sounds of birds in the background as ambient sound- this is also
an example of Asynchronous sound.
As the scene crosses over into a ball
room diegetic music can be heard from a piano. We do not see the piano yet we
assume the characters can. As they enter the room the guests clap creating a
parallel sound to their actions. This is reacted to and is diegetic. Over the
brides dialogue with the young boy we can here ambient sound coming from the
rest of the guests in the room, this includes distant chatter, cutlery clashing
and laughing. This displays a happy atmosphere and connotes all is going well.
Due to our knowledge of films in this genre, we are leaded to believe something
will go wrong in the near future.
After the bride’s and groom’s speeches
we encounter our first bit of non-diegetic sound which is also a sound bridge
between two scenes. The bride has walked outside and the ambient sounds ofnature can be heard along with her footsteps
when slowly a piece of classical music begins playing. The sound effects and
ambient sounds can still be hurt under this non diegetic sound. The music is a
very sad piece of music yet it has moments of brightness within it- this music
is important as it fits perfectly with the title of the film ‘Melancholia’ as
the music has a melancholy element. This variation of the film theme tune
foreshadows that something to do with main element of the film is about to
become present. The low hum of chords adds to the feeling of loneliness in this
scene. Next all diegetic sound is cut out and the only thing heard is the
character theme. We see a golf cart being driven across a field yet we cannot
see who is driving it. We know it is the bride though because her character
theme is played to represent her presence.
In the next shot the diegetic ambient
is returned and we hear the humming of nature in the nigh time. We also see and
hear the golf cart approaching, this is synchronous sound. The music changes
quite suddenly in dynamic when the close up of the star appears. This signifies
an important role in the storyline of the film. The music fades as the scene
crossing over into another. Diegetic sounds are heard over the non-diegetic as
it fades out.
The sounds in the sequence help
establish the genre and plot of the film. The idea of using a character theme
in a film of this type is clever because a lot of the time characters aren’t in
the foreground of the shot or even in it at all. The parallel sounds created by
actions in the sequence give off strong dynamics and help express how the
character is feeling. for example if the bride is to move a chair and the sound
created by this is loud it signifies her feeling angry. A lot of emotion in
film is expressed through dynamics and sound.
"Within the process of filming, unexpected situations occur."
Filming The Preliminary Film
Firstly, while preparing to film we made sure the space and set was suitable. We arranged the actors in their standard position and placed the camera at an eye level, wide shot distance to start. We focused the camera and prepared for standby.
I worked with Grace Phelps, Christina Kane and Georgina Heaton on this shoot. We took several shots including a wide shot, two over the shoulder shots, two close ups and one low level mid shot which only showed the lower half of the actor.
A Fellow Team Working With The Sony NX5
Me and Christiana were used as actors in this task but we filmed many of the scenes which didn't need the characters in. To make sure this film could be put together with ease we filmed the scene all the way through on each shot. So both actors had to perform the same scene over ten times and the only thing that would change was the camera angle and level. The hardest part of filming this task was ensuring the continuity on the piece. I had to make sure the paper landed in the same place every take and make sure my hair was on the right side of the face even making sure I walked in on the right foot each time. In all I think this shoot went really well and we good a decent amount of material in a very short amount of time.
"Some people never go crazy, What truly horrible lives they must live."
To Kill A Mockingbird
The first shot is of an old box being opened which it zooms
in on to reveal what is inside, there are two dolls- one with and one without
clothes, a pocket watch, some keys and other child’s items such as crayons and
marbles. This is shot in black and white which connotes the film is old and the
box belongs to a child. A hand then reaches into the box to take a piece of
chalk out of the box. The hand could be an adult’s or child’s. The camera then moves across several of the items in the box
such as the watch and some old coins. This could signify items from the past
and that the box is full of memories.
The camera then pans across items while directors and actors
names are screened. As another item is removed from the box, a marble rolls
free and the camera follows it rolling in and out of the other items in the
box. This could represent disturbance later on in the film.
The hand is drawing shapes on paper with the black crayon or
chalk. This shows a child drawing, the fact the child is drawing in black may
hint a dark plot.
The camera then pans across several items again and the
marbles reappear. While they are in focus the background is blurred. The item
which was blurred – a whistle- then comes into focus and the panning pauses.
The screen names and important makers of the film are still showing around the
items. It then shows the hand, which has
become evident it’s a child’s, colouring in again. This connotes the child is
content which what he or she is doing.
The crayon or chalk is after thrown back into the box with
the rest of the items and toys. The drawing is shown again and you can hear
faint laughter in the background when suddenly the picture is ripped and the
middle is missing from the drawing. This signifies distress and we no longer
believe the child is happy.
Breakfast At Tiffany's
The opening scene begins with a long shot of New York and an
old yellow cab driving in the direction of the viewer. It stops outside Tiffany
and Co. and the character of Audrey Hepburn steps out wearing a long formal
black dress. This connotes a high class lady who has lots of money has pulled
up outside an expensive jewellery store presumably ready to buy something. While admiring the jewellery from the window
she opens a bag to reveal a pastry and coffee. The idea of her eating and
drinking this particular food signifies she is eating breakfast and it is early
in the morning because the area is almost empty. She stops at the next window, repeats and
moves on. We are now aware she is not going to buy anything. The lights in the
store re off so this could mean it’s not open.
Throughout all of this, several names are being displayed on
the screen and we are reminded this is an opening sequence, since there is no
script or speaking, only music.
A wide long shot is
filmed of the woman walking away and putting some rubbish in the bin. She walks
slowly so this shows she is in no hurry.
