Thursday 22 October 2015
Monday 19 October 2015
Thriller opening sequence Inspiration
I would hope to use a similar technique, like the scene when Harry is crying in 'Harry Potter and the order of the Phoenix'. However, slightly more subtle since it would be used in an opening sequence.
Sunday 18 October 2015
Preliminary task
For our AS Preliminary task, I was provided
with a simple storyboard to shoot:
In a group of four, equipped with the Sony HXR-NX5, we made our way to an empty classroom which we used as our set. We
started of by distributing the jobs, Poppy and Angelina became our actors and
Roberto and I where responsible for shooting and directing. Looking back on it,
I think to help us save time and work more efficiently, we must be more
specific on who takes the role of the director and who the role of the
Cameraman/women.
We decided to start of by shooting all the
required shots (an establishing shot, two over the shoulder shots and two close
ups), beginning with the establishing shot and moving on to extra film material
later.
We set up the tripod on an average eyesight
height, bubbled the camera, focused the lens
(by adjusting the focusing wheal at maximum zoom) and adjusted the white
balance.
Next, we took two straps of paper and
placed them on the spots where our characters stand in the sequence, to ensure
that we are able to keep the continuity at a decent level.
I started directing by requesting, “stand
by”, “camera role” and “action”. Followed by Roberto replying “standing by” and
“camera rolling”. We agreed to repeat the shot a few times until we were
satisfied with it. I ended the shots by saying, “cut”.
We repeated the same process on all the
other shots, however decided to have both of the over the shoulder shots from a
rather high angle to provide some dynamics and special awareness to the
sequence. Also we shot the close up of Angelina from a very high angle, to
convey her weakness and helplessness to the audience, since she played the
victim in the sequence. On the close up shot of poppy however we changed it
into a low to high angle to enhance her power, she has through pressuring
Angelina.
After we completed all the required shots,
we where running low on time but still decided to get a close up of their feet,
through out the shot. We brought the tripod down to the floor level and
incorporated a panning shot following poppy exiting the shot. Since the close
up is extra material, we will see how or if it fits in to the sequence when we
start to edit it, but it was a lot of fun experimenting with the different
levels of the proxemics.
Thriller and it's sub-genres
A sub-genre is known as 'a subdivision of a genre of a particular genre. This phenomena can be found in literature, film or music etc.
The thriller genre is a genre that uses suspense, tension and excitement as the main element to create an adrenaline rushing experience for the audience. The genre is very popular and therefor it comes with multiple hybrid versions, also known as sub-genres. However, all thriller sub-genres emphasize the key idea of the danger that the protagonist must face.
Thriller
a thriller is iconically associated with a very exiting plot that revolves around anticipation and suspense. The characters in a Thriller are set to face a problem ( an escape, a mystery or a mission), which tension leads up to the highly stressful climax.
Action Thriller
The sub-genre featuring a high amount of guns, explosion, stunts and amazing set pieces originated in the 1970s, with films like 'Dirty Harry' and 'The French connection'. An action thriller uses physical action to create suspense in the film and heighten the sense of danger that the protagonist is facing.
Crime Thriller
Crime Thriller film is a sub-genre that incorporates the suspenseful aspects of a thriller, with a crime plot. It differentiates itself from a regular crime film, by focusing it's storyline on both, the criminal and the protagonist, as much as by using action and psychological aspects to create suspense.
Comedy Thriller
The Crime Thriller is a hybrid genre that draws elements from Comedy and thriller films, creating a humorous suspense or action in their plot.
Psychological Thriller
In addition to the regular triads of the thriller genre, the Psychological Thriller incorporates elements of mystery and drama film. The storyline emphasizes the psychology of the characters and the main conflict between the characters is often mental and emotional, rather than physical and violent.
Science Fiction Thriller
By incorporating hypothetical, science based themes into the plot of the film, unexpected heros, villains, locations, fantastical quests and amazing technology are created. THese elements are often used to create anticipation and suspense in the film. A typical Science fiction thriller plot revolves around the "future-gone-bad" theme and address dystopian ideas like alien invasions or super-diseases.
Saturday 17 October 2015
Camera SAM
All sequences in Film and TV are composed of different shots and different shot types. The different shots have various uses and effects.
The extreme close allows the viewer to enter the characters intimate space.
Establishing shot
An Establishing shot is usually the first shot of a new scene, designed to show the audience where the action is taking place.
Extreme long shot
An extreme long shot is a wider frame value in which the subjects in the frame are small. In comparison to an Establishing shot it contains fewer information , and shows an action in a mass scale.
Extreme long shots are also used to convey a characters emotion, e.g. loneliness.
Long shot
(full shot or wide shot)
A long shot typically shows the entire object or human figure, feet upwards. The shot provides the audience with a lot of information.
Mid long shot
A mid long shot shows the character knee upwards and is often used in conversations. If two people are featured in the frame it is called a two shot.
Mid shot
The mid shot shows some part of the object in more detail, with human figures are usually captured belly waist upwards in the frame. The Mid shot is appropriate when the character is speaking with not too much information.
Close up
A close up tightly frames a person, shoulders upwards, or an object to provide maximum information to the audience. However, close ups do not include the broader scene.
Extreme Close up
"An Extreme close-up shows us objects and people differently than we see them. It calls attention to the subjects, making them more memorable visually."-Jennifer van Sijll, Cinematic Storytelling
The extreme close-up usually shows a tiny fame of the subject. For example eyes, mouths, hands or objects like weals and rings are often pictured in extreme close ups.
The extreme close allows the viewer to enter the characters intimate space.
High-Angle shot
In a high-angle shot the camera looks down on the subject. High-angle shots can make the subject seem vulnerable or powerless.
Low-angle shot
A low-angle is shot a shot taken with the camera placed people and pointing up at the subject. This angle can make the character seem powerful or intimidating to the audience.
Over the shoulder shot
The OTS is a shot of someone or something taken from the perspective or camera angle from the shoulder of another person. The shot is often used in sequences of conversations.
Canted Angle (dutch angle)
The canted angle is a shot where the camera is off center, which is often used to evoke an uneasy feeling in the audience.
Point of view shot
(POV shot or subjective camera)
The Point of view shot is a short film scene that shows what the subject is looking at.
Camera movement
There are different aspects of camera movement, the actual physical movement (track or hand held) and the camera movement ( Pan, zoom and tilt).
Pan
moving the camera lens to one side or another.
Zoom
Zooming is one camera move that most people are probably familiar with. It involves changing the focal length of the lens to make the subject appear closer or further away in the frame.
Tilt
moving the cameras lens up or down while keeping its horizontal axis constant.
Track
Tracking is when the camera moves either left or right or front and back, while keeping the subject centered. This is not to be confused with a pan, where the camera remains firmly on its axis while the lens turns to one direction or another.
Hand held
Sometimes action is moving too quickly or too unpredictably for the camera to be on a tripod. This calls for making the camera more mobile to follow the action of a scene.
(Often used in combination with a stabilizer)
