As previously mentioned our idea changed a long the line especially due to the weather and the lack of knowledge of what the town Edale would look like. So once we captured our footage i went home and did a bit of research on various nature documentaries so that we would have a form of comparison when it came to the editing process. I think that this Blue Mountains Nature Documentary by Jochenyen relates the closest to the look we were going for in terms of shots and movement. The only constraint we had was that we didnt have a lot of close up shot or shots of wildlife like slugs and birds etc.
"Explores natural poetics and the beauty and strangeness of the wilderness."
Monday, 31 October 2011
Friday, 28 October 2011
Edale Trip - Production.
The title of the breif was Portrait of a Place, and with this in mind we all set off on a collective trip to Edale, a small countryside in the Peak District on the way to Manchester.
After getting a good look at the place when we arrived the first thing that came as a surprise was how small the place was. That and how much greenery and forestery there was, so we adapted an idea we already had and decided to go for a more photographic approach, as essentially that's what comes into your mind when you think of portrait.
Luckily our Plan B came in handy and it helped us to slowly build an idea that ended up working really well with the environment we were in as well as the actual choice to make it a Documentary and abandon the original conventional narrative idea we had.
In terms of camera, the XM2 we were using was okay but there were annoying little habits it had such as resetting the white balance everytime you turned off the camera which is something that took us a while to figure out, and we therefore had to make up the extra footage that we had done before realising it did this.
Overall it was an interesting experience and i feel we got some really picturesque style shots.
After getting a good look at the place when we arrived the first thing that came as a surprise was how small the place was. That and how much greenery and forestery there was, so we adapted an idea we already had and decided to go for a more photographic approach, as essentially that's what comes into your mind when you think of portrait.
Luckily our Plan B came in handy and it helped us to slowly build an idea that ended up working really well with the environment we were in as well as the actual choice to make it a Documentary and abandon the original conventional narrative idea we had.
In terms of camera, the XM2 we were using was okay but there were annoying little habits it had such as resetting the white balance everytime you turned off the camera which is something that took us a while to figure out, and we therefore had to make up the extra footage that we had done before realising it did this.
Overall it was an interesting experience and i feel we got some really picturesque style shots.
Thursday, 27 October 2011
Pre almost Production Stage
My and Chelsea's original idea of having a journey from the train station at Edale to its highest point was thwarted by a lack of knowledge of the actual area, and possible weather restraints. We therefore had to come up with a few solid ideas in preperation for when we finally went over.
Our strongest Plan B was to take a page from Emily Richardson Book, well her movie; Aspect.
And to try and pick key aspects of the movie and interpret it into our own film. We'll i guess we will just have to wait and see what happens tomorrow.
Our strongest Plan B was to take a page from Emily Richardson Book, well her movie; Aspect.
And to try and pick key aspects of the movie and interpret it into our own film. We'll i guess we will just have to wait and see what happens tomorrow.
Tuesday, 18 October 2011
Project Planning
List of Of Ideas (Mindmap)
-A journey from start to finish around Edale ideally with the key character ending back where they stated so it comes full circle one way or another
-The comparison between old and new. Portraying this by showing a range of old and new building as scenery
-Someone goes to Edale and we follow them around:
Could be meeting a friend at Edale. We show them having a text conversation trying to find each other. decide where best to meet. We can show it from both persons point of view as opposed to one that way we have more variety of shots.
Shot types: Feet, Over The Shoulder, Scenery
Camera
PD170 or XM2 both of which i have some experience in using, though a PD170 would be more ideal as its been a while since i have used a XM2 and i'm becoming more familiar with the PD170.
Edale Trip
Approximately we have around 8hours but due to issues like the sun setting then its more likely we will have about 5hours, an hour of which might just bee getting to know the area.
These are all our initial ideas, but after explaining them to Esther we realised that we didnt really know anything about the Town itself and thus we may need to change our idea. Therefore we couldn't make storyboards/Callsheets/Shot List etc as we wernt even sure they would end up being useful when we finally got there.
-A journey from start to finish around Edale ideally with the key character ending back where they stated so it comes full circle one way or another
-The comparison between old and new. Portraying this by showing a range of old and new building as scenery
-Someone goes to Edale and we follow them around:
Could be meeting a friend at Edale. We show them having a text conversation trying to find each other. decide where best to meet. We can show it from both persons point of view as opposed to one that way we have more variety of shots.
Shot types: Feet, Over The Shoulder, Scenery
Camera
PD170 or XM2 both of which i have some experience in using, though a PD170 would be more ideal as its been a while since i have used a XM2 and i'm becoming more familiar with the PD170.
Edale Trip
Approximately we have around 8hours but due to issues like the sun setting then its more likely we will have about 5hours, an hour of which might just bee getting to know the area.
These are all our initial ideas, but after explaining them to Esther we realised that we didnt really know anything about the Town itself and thus we may need to change our idea. Therefore we couldn't make storyboards/Callsheets/Shot List etc as we wernt even sure they would end up being useful when we finally got there.
Saturday, 15 October 2011
Drama and Experimental Film Session
Today we came away from the non fiction side of film making and instead had a look at a few short movies that were or a fictional drama element. The movies were as followed...
The first film I am going to analyse in terms of my eight base question is Contraction (2009) by Christopher Hewitt
1. Identify the themes of the film, what is the directors primary aim?
The themes i think that are being explored in this movie include, death, friendship and rebirth. Also I think that Hewitt is trying to help us see the open-ended-ness of such a loaded question. "Where did you go?"
2. Describe what you feel is the films main focus?
I think the films main focus is those lost moments between life and death and how they can appear to the individual, in the case of the unnamed woman i would say that to her as she was reviving the man, everything went in slow motion.
3. Did you like/dislike the film and why?
This was my favourite movie of the seven we viewed as i enjoyed the simplistic notions that lead to such an effective short piece, even though it was debated that there were too many questions left unanswered and that it even felt like an intro this leads me on to the next question....
4. Was the film successful/unsuccessful in dealing with its subject matter and why?
It was highly successful in dealing with the subject of revival or rebirth, as it showed the effects of the second party as well as the first. The woman in terms of how she saw things during those lost moments and the man in terms of where he did go during his moments of death and the fact that its just so unexplainable and open to interpretation which was effectively executed by the ending of the film.
5.Was there an element in the film that stood out to you?
The use of special effects as the woman gave the man CPR, i thought that it helped highlight the theme of the movie, how you can just feel each and every detail.
6. How does the films "Form" (Structure and Style) relate to it's "Content" (Theme and Subject Matter)?
The film was short which helped relate to the death/life element, especially because to me it seemed longer, like i was holding my breath. How and age can pass in an instance.
7. Discuss two techniques used in the film which you found interesting- Why do you think this approach was used?
The use of an extreme close up right at the very start that just lets you know that something's not quite right with the situation as the character is way to immobile. It burns a death type image into your brain. The second technique i thought worked well was the use of slow motion throughout the piece, until the end when the character was revived and things went into normal speed.
8. Is the way sound is used appropriate/Successful fro the film and why?
The soft almost non-existant instrumental in the background i think was a nice offset with the piece, subtle yet effective.
Skin Deep by Yousuf Ali Khan
1. Identify the themes of the film, what is the directors primary aim?
I would say that the key theme of this movie was racism, which was evident from the first scene in the bathroom when the main character was shouting offensive names at himself.
2. Describe what you feel is the films main focus?
Though the main theme is racism i would say that the main focus is coming to terms with yourself and who you are and perhaps the long term effects of traumatic childhood occurrence
3. Did you like/dislike the film and why?
I really liked this film as it was very different from the others we had seen and i felt that it had a more empathetic effect on me, as i felt worried for this character as if he was someone i knew and cared about.
4. Was the film successful/unsuccessful in dealing with its subject matter and why?
Highly successful especially cause they showed the effects from an inward and outward point of view. Outward in the sense of seeing him make his sister walk a head of him so that he can walk past the group of guys and act like he's one of them. And of course inwardly because of the way he shouts at himself in the mirror and tries to change himself to be like the guys.
5.Was there an element in the film that stood out to you?
The way he was shouting at himself in the mirror, both the practice and (and how it was executed in real life) and the seriousness at the end.
6. How does the films "Form" (Structure and Style) relate to it's "Content" (Theme and Subject Matter)?
Everything in the area they live is bleak and grey and dirty and this i think related well with the story line, its a grubby harsh reality, not all sunshine and blue skies.
7. Discuss two techniques used in the film which you found interesting - Why do you think this approach was used?
The over the shoulder shot at the very end when the boy has finished chopping off his hair and his sister is behind him, in the mirror. I saw this as breakthrough in his issues as the reflection seemed to be amost a different part of himself that noone but himself saw or delt with, but aknowledging someone else/seeing his sister break this i think was a good sign.
Also the use of a flashback to help build up the back story of why he was the way he was.
8. Is the way sound is used appropriate/Successful fro the film and why?
I dont really think the sound was that significant, there was the use of silence/heartbeat that i thought worked really well but except for that the actual dialogue itself was appropriate in itself.
HighRise by Gabrielle Russel
Gasman by Lynne Ramsey
Contraction by Christopher Hewitt
Being Bad by Laurence Coriat
Salary Man by Jake Knight
Skin Deep by Yousaf Ali Khan
Love Me Or Leave Me Alone by Duane Hopkins
The first film I am going to analyse in terms of my eight base question is Contraction (2009) by Christopher Hewitt
1. Identify the themes of the film, what is the directors primary aim?
The themes i think that are being explored in this movie include, death, friendship and rebirth. Also I think that Hewitt is trying to help us see the open-ended-ness of such a loaded question. "Where did you go?"
2. Describe what you feel is the films main focus?
I think the films main focus is those lost moments between life and death and how they can appear to the individual, in the case of the unnamed woman i would say that to her as she was reviving the man, everything went in slow motion.
3. Did you like/dislike the film and why?
This was my favourite movie of the seven we viewed as i enjoyed the simplistic notions that lead to such an effective short piece, even though it was debated that there were too many questions left unanswered and that it even felt like an intro this leads me on to the next question....
4. Was the film successful/unsuccessful in dealing with its subject matter and why?
It was highly successful in dealing with the subject of revival or rebirth, as it showed the effects of the second party as well as the first. The woman in terms of how she saw things during those lost moments and the man in terms of where he did go during his moments of death and the fact that its just so unexplainable and open to interpretation which was effectively executed by the ending of the film.
5.Was there an element in the film that stood out to you?
The use of special effects as the woman gave the man CPR, i thought that it helped highlight the theme of the movie, how you can just feel each and every detail.
6. How does the films "Form" (Structure and Style) relate to it's "Content" (Theme and Subject Matter)?
The film was short which helped relate to the death/life element, especially because to me it seemed longer, like i was holding my breath. How and age can pass in an instance.
7. Discuss two techniques used in the film which you found interesting- Why do you think this approach was used?
The use of an extreme close up right at the very start that just lets you know that something's not quite right with the situation as the character is way to immobile. It burns a death type image into your brain. The second technique i thought worked well was the use of slow motion throughout the piece, until the end when the character was revived and things went into normal speed.
8. Is the way sound is used appropriate/Successful fro the film and why?
The soft almost non-existant instrumental in the background i think was a nice offset with the piece, subtle yet effective.
Skin Deep by Yousuf Ali Khan
1. Identify the themes of the film, what is the directors primary aim?
I would say that the key theme of this movie was racism, which was evident from the first scene in the bathroom when the main character was shouting offensive names at himself.
2. Describe what you feel is the films main focus?
Though the main theme is racism i would say that the main focus is coming to terms with yourself and who you are and perhaps the long term effects of traumatic childhood occurrence
3. Did you like/dislike the film and why?
I really liked this film as it was very different from the others we had seen and i felt that it had a more empathetic effect on me, as i felt worried for this character as if he was someone i knew and cared about.
4. Was the film successful/unsuccessful in dealing with its subject matter and why?
Highly successful especially cause they showed the effects from an inward and outward point of view. Outward in the sense of seeing him make his sister walk a head of him so that he can walk past the group of guys and act like he's one of them. And of course inwardly because of the way he shouts at himself in the mirror and tries to change himself to be like the guys.
5.Was there an element in the film that stood out to you?
The way he was shouting at himself in the mirror, both the practice and (and how it was executed in real life) and the seriousness at the end.
6. How does the films "Form" (Structure and Style) relate to it's "Content" (Theme and Subject Matter)?
Everything in the area they live is bleak and grey and dirty and this i think related well with the story line, its a grubby harsh reality, not all sunshine and blue skies.
7. Discuss two techniques used in the film which you found interesting - Why do you think this approach was used?
The over the shoulder shot at the very end when the boy has finished chopping off his hair and his sister is behind him, in the mirror. I saw this as breakthrough in his issues as the reflection seemed to be amost a different part of himself that noone but himself saw or delt with, but aknowledging someone else/seeing his sister break this i think was a good sign.
Also the use of a flashback to help build up the back story of why he was the way he was.
8. Is the way sound is used appropriate/Successful fro the film and why?
I dont really think the sound was that significant, there was the use of silence/heartbeat that i thought worked really well but except for that the actual dialogue itself was appropriate in itself.
Sunday, 9 October 2011
Documentaries and Experimental Film Session
In today session we had a look at a range of experimental documentaries, each one different from the last. Some about the individual, a fly on the wall type approach whereas others were told almost in the form of a story. The two that I will be looking at here will be Steel House by Eva Weber and Christmas with Dad by Conor McCormack and I will be answering a range of questions about them both.
1. Identify the themes of the film, what is the directors primary aim?
SH: A key theme that stood out to me in this film would be individualism. How the people we saw coming to their “Steel Homes” were alone, how no one else could connect to what they kept in the storage areas and I think this was part of the director’s aim.
CWD: I think the aim of this movie was to focus on a radical but loveable family and therefore I would state that family and togetherness were the key themes. I think this was heavily highlighted especially because the film was set at Christmas.
2. Describe what you feel is the films main focus.
SH: The focus of this movie was on the desolate environment of these steel homes and the people that stole away there every now again and the stories that they had behind each individual locker.
CWD: At first I was going to say that it would be about a stitched together family and how they get on with life through their disagreements and trouble but once you dive deeper then I would say ultimately it’s about keeping the happiness alive regardless of what situation you’re in.
3. Did you like/dislike the film and why?
SH: Yes, it was a clever way to explore what people keep in their storage spaces and why whilst keeping it light.
CWD: At first I did like it, thinking that the characters were generic middle classers with family problems, but as I watched on, the characters and their lives became more enrapturing and you played a fly on the wall to what was their life.
4. Was the film successful/unsuccessfdul in dealing with its subject and why?
SH: I think it was especially because of the way they used the camera, being careful not to focus on faces or get to close to the open lockers. Keeping with the theme of how no one but the characters could connect with what they had in their lockers and why.
CWD: I think the point of the documentary took a bit too long to get to its point, so for a while you’re just watching it with no real thought or understanding of the point, until you get to the end. That’s when the clarity arrives.
5. Was there an element in the film that stood out to you?
SH: Primarily the way that the camera was used; the hidden camera type shots, out of focus shots, extreme close up or long shots. Not really giving you a moment to zone in on the individual.
CWD: The naturalness of the documentary and the interview with the main character; the dad.
6. How does the film "Form" (Structure and style) relate to its "Content" (Theme and subject matter)?
SH: The films structure is very choppy, there are a bunch of random unrelated shots that still work to tell the story of unrelated people with a relatable “hobby”
CWD: The style of this documentary is quite serious, the hand held shots give it a realistic feel whilst at the same time allowing you to be an audience member in their lives, and in context of the subject it helps us to empathise more with their story and relate to what’s happening.
7. Discuss two techniques used in the film which you found interesting - why do you think this approach was used?
SH: The use of voiceovers to get the point across as opposed to having both interviews and voiceovers. As well as having nameless faces to portray the mystique behind each steel door.
CWD: The mix between being involved and being an onlooker in the film as an audience.
8. Is the way tsound is used appropriate/successful for the film and why?
SH: There wasn’t a distinctive soundtrack used, just sounds from the environment and a non-descriptive backing to the voiceovers.
CWD: It was sort of an ironic type soundtrack, It was a childlike jovial type of, music that was juxtaposed well with the content.
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