Working on our idea, with fresh minds allowed us to view things more rational and we all agreed that we don't think that the idea has enough thriller elements in it (iconography). This was a tough dicishion since we all prefer the psychological thriller to action thrillers, however we have a tendency to adapt horror iconography into the idea. After having a discussion on what we could add to make it more easily identified asa thriller, and having different opinions on the options we decided to refer back to our manta of "Less is More". We agreed pitch our idea first, so we could then base our further development on the feedback.
Wednesday, 6 January 2016
Developing our idea
Idea summary:
The opening sequence idea consist of an elderly couple (60+) spending a regular, calm evening in front of the TV. Until the husband turns of the women's hearing aid in the movement of hugging her good night, making her completely unaware and vulnerable. He then walks into the basement, revealing his victim of torture.
Inspiration/Mood borad:
A similar shot will be used when the husband turns of the hearing aid.
The only light source in the living room is the TV.
Creating our Group Idea
Last lesson we were assigned into our groups. I was happy to hear that I get to work with Coco, Roberto and Jon. I have previously worked with roberto on the preliminary task and outside of class with Coco with a good atmosphere and pleasing outcome, so I am positive that we will be able to produce good team work.
As we got together we quickly decided that we would like to combine our ideas and form a new one, so we would all have the feeling of it being our idea rather than going with one persons previously developed idea.
We started by picking out our favorite elements from the thriller ideas, for example both Roberto and I had the idea of something being 'followed' (a suitcase in Roberto's and a box in my idea). Also, all our ideas were simple, since we thought these ideas would allow us to be more creative in the filming process. Another thing which reflected in our initial ideas, is that we all like the use of non linear chronology, especially the idea of the opening sequence also being the end to the film. We therefor all agreed, that we don't want a predictable story line. We want something original.
As we got together we quickly decided that we would like to combine our ideas and form a new one, so we would all have the feeling of it being our idea rather than going with one persons previously developed idea.
We started by picking out our favorite elements from the thriller ideas, for example both Roberto and I had the idea of something being 'followed' (a suitcase in Roberto's and a box in my idea). Also, all our ideas were simple, since we thought these ideas would allow us to be more creative in the filming process. Another thing which reflected in our initial ideas, is that we all like the use of non linear chronology, especially the idea of the opening sequence also being the end to the film. We therefor all agreed, that we don't want a predictable story line. We want something original.
We then started to brainstorm:
Tuesday, 5 January 2016
Pitch Feedback
As I pitched my idea to the class, I revived predominantly positive feedback, however I also receved improvement suggestions:
I took the constructive cretique serious and thought of a more detailed description of the characters.
The doctor:
I took the constructive cretique serious and thought of a more detailed description of the characters.
The doctor:
- widowed in his early years and hasn't remarried ever since.
- his wife died while giving birth and he gave the baby free for adoption, since he couldn't stand looking into his face.
- he started of his career as a surgeon
- he is 57 years old.
- visits his father regularly after his mother died recently.
The journalist:
- just recently married
- his wife is pregnet
- he is aproximately 28-31 years old
- His family is happy although they are tight on cash
- saving up so they can move from their flat to a house on the outskirts of the city.
- he regularly visits his mother in the old peoples home, although she doesn't recognize him any more - 'since her husband died she is hard to get to.'
- The reporter is afraid that his child might inherit this tendency towards the illness.
- both of his parents are victims of Alzheimer, and he is at high risk too.
Facts like the once listed above could be introduced using the mise-en-scene in the shots, e.g. wedding rings, small photographs (in purse or back pocket).
Sunday, 22 November 2015
Preliminary task analysis
We constructed the 13 second long sequence using the Sony HXR -NX5 camera and edited it using the program Adobe Premier.Our ambitions towards the final piece was to give it a serious and clean appearance. We started off creating the desired affect by setting the scene in font of a white surface and clearing the space of any unnecessary objects. Also our beginning objectives helped us decide on the type of editing we used, clean cuts, to create a serious style since makes the audience focus on the action.
The finished media text is constructed of three different shots. The long shot acting as an establishing shot in it's first appearance, since it provides the audience with a rough idea of the setting. Using the opposing over the solder shots and editing them in a fast pace helped us create the effect of the urgency. Using a long shot as the final shot, allowed us to have poppy leave the frame early so that the audience will focus in Angelina and create the scene of loneliness since she is left behind.
By not adding in any non-dietetic sound, e.g. soundtrack, it again laid focus upon the character's dialogue (the dietetic sound of the scene). The scene crates a slight tension because all of the editing emphasizes the dialogue, which makes the audience commit all their attention to clip and the use of silence creates an uneasy feeling.
The finished media text is constructed of three different shots. The long shot acting as an establishing shot in it's first appearance, since it provides the audience with a rough idea of the setting. Using the opposing over the solder shots and editing them in a fast pace helped us create the effect of the urgency. Using a long shot as the final shot, allowed us to have poppy leave the frame early so that the audience will focus in Angelina and create the scene of loneliness since she is left behind.
By not adding in any non-dietetic sound, e.g. soundtrack, it again laid focus upon the character's dialogue (the dietetic sound of the scene). The scene crates a slight tension because all of the editing emphasizes the dialogue, which makes the audience commit all their attention to clip and the use of silence creates an uneasy feeling.
If someone would ask me what my opinion is on how successful
I have been, I would have to say that I am not satisfied with the finished
product but I accomplished the main point of the task which is to be able to
critically analyse my own work and spot how to improve it.
The preliminary task allowed me to spot and analyse my
mistakes. An area to improve on is the planning. My group struggled with
deciding on a specific idea, nor did we think it through before we started
filming. I think something to consider when doing upcoming media projects is
not to rush it. To think everything through and plan precisely might take a few
extra minutes in the start but will save time through out the process. Another
important aspect I learned is to make sure that everyone in the team has the
same idea of what the end product is supposed to be. Since everyone’s
imagination is different, due to different life experiences, it is hard to have
the exact same picture in mind, but to outline the emotions and ideas the media
text is desired to convey, o that everyone is on the same page will help the
flow and quality of the finished product. Editing wise I learned to consider
pace right from the start, since it is one of the main conductors of emotion
and tension in a media text, which has to be taken into consideration when
thinking about the clips motives and in the
upcoming thriller task.
Studio lesson editing
In our introduction to the process of editing, we worked
with and got to explore the program ‘Adope Premier’ which is the program we use
for future projects.
Using the footage, from the previous camera introduction
lesson, of Katie sitting down on a sofa checking her phone and exiting, we edited
a small sequence.
We first learned how the layout of the program works. The
right display shows what the project would look like and the left display shoes
the chosen part of the clip. In the lower part of the screen the time line depicts
which clip is used at what point and is the site of work. We learned how to
open the files, containing our footage, which are called bins in media terminology. Clicking the icon opens bins.
The raw and un edited footage saved in the bins is named rushers.
Next up, to select a clip you mark it’s starting point and by
pressing ‘I’ for in, and then mark the ending by pressing ‘O’ for out. The
selected clip can then be dragged into the time line and be part of the
project.
In the time line the clip that is placed at the top is
always going to play and therefore overshadow all clips that are lined up
underneath it. We received the tip to trim the used clips to the appropriate
length to keep he project as organized as possible, same as naming all the
folders in a systematic way since multiple people work on a project and need a
clear overview. After these steps are completed we should save the work by
pressing ‘cmd’ and ‘S’.
I enjoyed the lesson and thought that the previous tip of
letting the camera roll for the entire scene while shooting different camera
angles was extremely helpful since it allowed us to be flexible in when to use
each shot.
We only used clean cuts, since we where only working on a
short sequence.
The lesson helped me to gain a sense of how much of working
time goes into a sequence of a few seconds and of how much editing can
influence the atmosphere of a sequence, for example by changing the pace or
focus.
Considering the upcoming thriller work, the exploration of
editing helped and will help me to organize and lay out the story board of the
opening sequence. Also it allowed me to
create a rough idea of what I want the editing of the project to be like.
 spending a regular, calm evening in front of the TV. Until the ...){kind=link}
