Author: Mr G

Teacher
Posted on in Genre

Superhero Movie – A Study of Genre

The Super Hero Film

We have explored the princess archetype in Pan’s Labyrinth now we are going to explore another archetype, the (Super) Hero. We are going to analyse the genre and the narrative. We are also going to try and understand how the social, political, historical contexts echo and resonate in that film. First off, we need to understand the genre…

TASK

Complete a generic analysis of Batman, The Dark Knight.

Sound easy? Well it is! Genre analysis in three simple steps….and, here, we go…..

1 Define the corpus.

That is, agree on a group of films, which you think are ‘pure’ example of the genre.  So in this instance think of three Superhero movies (not including Batman) which are completely and unarguably within the genre (so no Deadpool, Guardians, Watchmen…(all too Postmodern and up themselves)). I’m talking Superman, Spiderman, The Hulk, Wonder Woman…

2 Decide what features of those films are generic convention.

This means agreeing on a Repertoire of Elements, which are similar across the corpus and indeed necessary for a film to be given a genre label. In this case ‘A Superhero film’.

Use this document:

3 Analyse the text (The Dark Knight)

Once you’ve agreed the blueprint, you need to consider how far our set text,  Batman, The Dark Knight, is similar and/or different compared to those guiding principles, those repertoire of elements that constitutes the genre.

So, after all that, the question is…

‘How far does Batman the Dark Knight use, develop and challenge the conventions of the Superhero film genre?’

Reflective Journal
  1. Embed the class document on the Repertoire of Elements
  2. Bullet-point 3-5 conventional features of DK
  3. Bullet-point 3-5 features of the DK that challenge or subvert generic conventions
Posted on in Cinematographer, Director, Editor, Screenwriter

Montage Filming and Editing

Inquiry.

What’s a montage and what meaning does it communicate?

Examples

This is the opening sequence of Memento (2000) Nolan which creates a sense of the event and climaxes in a sudden narrative disruption.

Yarchen Gar (2018) Filippo Chiesa, is a short film, which is an extended montage of place.

Here’s Rocky (1976) Avildsen, which compresses time to show development of a character.

A Montage to Define Montage

Task

Create a montage which compresses time and communicates a sense of atmosphere.

  • A frantic and stressful school day.
The Rules
  • The montage should last 30-40 seconds.
  • It should contain at least 12 different (beautifully composed shots) some of which may be repeated in the edit.
  • The montage should communicate a clear meaning (what’s going on) and clear atmosphere (tone or feel).
  • There should be a clear sense of time passing and have a clear beginning and end, which fades out to black (to make it seem like more time has passed).
Different Roles
  • cutting-room-editing-film_medScreenwriter (Storyboard Artist)
  • Cinematographer / Director
  • Editor

To complete this tasks effectively you’re going to have to think carefully about how the edit is going to look in the end and ensure that you film all the shots you need. This means planning your sequence. Do do this we are going to use a screenwriting tool called…

The Storyboard

Here is a storyboard template that is similar layout to the professional one above.

Here is a document which explains how to design a storyboard.

You should also reflect on it’s usefulness as a pre-production planning / visualisation tool.

Production

You will be put in pairs once you have completed your storyboard and will have a lesson to shoot your footage, whilst one person acts and the other films.

When you are the cinematographer you should ensure that each shot is well composed. Also you should ensure the following:

  • All shots are well lit
  • All shots are in focus
  • You get a variety of shot types.

Post Production

When you are editor, you will be responsible for:

  • Compiling the basic montage.
  • Applying filters and transitions to the edit which contribute to the overall tone
  • Coordinating with the sound designer to apply their sound to the sequence.
Posted on in Cinematographer

Lighting and Colour

Lighting

Using Three Point Lighting in a Studio.

Colour

Portfolio Page
Inquiry

Use an image and words to describe three point lighting system.

Describe some of the techniques that gaffers and best boys use to paint with light: Flags, gobos, diffusers, reflectors, gels (colours)

Find images / clips which use:

  • High-key lighting
  • Low-key lighting
  • Expressive colour
Action

Creative intention: ‘Film a game of chess in which you use lighting to create a dangerous game.’

This should include the following shots:

  • Wide shot
  • Shot reverse shot of the two players
  • Close ups of chess moves
  • Reaction shots as the players think / react to their opponent.

You may use any of the lighting equipment in the lecture theatre to create an atmosphere.

Edit your clips together in WeVideo and add some suitable copyright free music from WeVideo library.

Reflection

Insert the finished video.

Comment on the lighting techniques you used to create atmosphere in the scene and discuss what worked well and what you would do differently next time.

Posted on in Sound Designer

Foley Sound

Inquiry

An Illustration of Foley

Foley Explained

Task.

Using Film Maker IQ video above explain purpose and process of Foley sound in 3-5 bullet points in the inquiry section of your portfolio page.

Action

Creative Intention: To record Foley sound for a short sequence in order to create a soundscape that adds a sinister and scary atmosphere.

  1. Create a new Adobe Audition Project in the D Drive of your computer in a project folder called ‘Your Name – Foley Sound’
  2. Download this clip of film into that Project Folder.
  3. Complete a ‘Spotting Session’, where you identify the sounds that should be in the clip, list 4-6 sounds you will record in the next session.
    • This should also include ambient sound, which will act as the base layer of sound throughout the clip.
  4. Create 5+ Foley sound using various objects that you bring in from home to create an atmosphere for the clip.
  5. In Audition import the sounds and sync them to the sequence.
  6. Export your Foley sound sequence, upload to your D Drive & The Drive
  7. Hand in to classroom

Using Audition

Here is some extra sound effects and loops

Take a screenshot of your sound mix in Audition and explain:

  • The different tracks
  • Your use of key frames and transitions
  • Any effects you may have applied

Reflection

  • Grab a screenshot of a key moment from your ‘Spooky House Video’. Describe:
    • The process you used to record the sound.
    • The quality of the sounds you recorded
      • What are ‘Peaking’ and ‘Clipping’?
    • How did you develop a sense of atmosphere (outside to inside)
    • What scare / surprise did you use in the video?
    • Reflect on how Foley sound can be used to add meaning / impact in film.
Posted on in Editor

Editing 101 – The Kuleshov Effect

Editing, the connectives in Film Language

Think of cut as connectives in a sentence….’so, and, then, but, however, meanwhile.’

How then does does editing create meaning if it’s just simple links in the film?

The cut constructs the meaning in the minds of the audience.

Here is Hitch Introducing…

Odessa Steps – Battleship Potemkin (1925) Eisenstein

Here is a fuller description of the Kuleshov Effect
 
PRACTICAL TASK – Recreate the Kuleshov Effect
  • In pairs shoots in Long, Mid & CU of a person looking and then…
  • …a series of 3-5 people, objects or events
    • You must retain continuity of eyeline.
      • So if the character is looking up the subject cannot be filmed from high angle!
  • Edit together the LS, MS & CU and three different objects or people to create different meanings / ideas.
An Example

Posted on in Cinematographer

Cinematography (Moving the Camera)

So in this lesson you are going to need to move the camera, whilst filming.

Creative Intention:

To explore how camera movement can be used to creating meaning in film

So, smoothly does it…here is your list of shots for today…
Shot No Shot Size Camera Movement Descriptions
1 MLS Pan Character walks into frame and pan to follow through a door, keep lead space.
2 MCU (High Angle) Tilt Character sits down (slow and nervous) camera tilt follows
3 MS Crab Character leans against wall looking bored. Start and end with character out of frame.
4 MCU to LS Dolly / Track Out Character sits on wall, looking anxious
5 LS to MCU Dolly / Track In Character sits on wall, looking relaxed
6 LS to MCU Zoom In Character sits on wall, looking confused
7 MCU Ped Down Parked Car / Truck
8 LS Roll Person staggers from one side of corridor to another, along with camera roll.
9 CU (low angle) – ELS (high angle) Crane Character sitting in corner, looks off frame and then down at the ground, when head down start crane.
INDEPENDENT STUDY

Watch these two videos as your inquiry for camera movement.

  1. Watch these videos.
  2. Start working on the inquiry section of your camera movement portfolio page
Posted on in Portfolio Pages

Portfolio Page on Basic Framing

Today you have a chance to start work on the portfolio page to show your learning about basic framing we did last week.

Assessment

The mark you get for your Film Portfolio comes from:

  • 50% from the reel of mini projects in three different roles and your horror short
  • 50% from the portfolio  pages which illustrate your learning

The portfolio page is made up of three strands:

  1. Inquiry: What have you learnt about basic framing in film and how it communicates meaning?
    1. You should cite (name) your sources in inquiry section and include a Harvard reference for that source on the second slide.
  2. Action: How did you conduct your filming and what difficulties did you encounter?
    • Think about using the camera and tripod and blocking your actors.
  3. Reflection: What shots are you particularly pleased with and how do you think the framing contributes to the meaning?
    • What techniques would you improve upon next time?
The Portfolio Page Template

Here is a link to this slideshow – make a copy in your drive, place it in your Film Studies Folder and name it ‘Basic Framing Portfolio Page.’

Creative Intention

All film studies project must state a creative intention, which you should refer to in the reflection section of the page.

The creative intention for this project is:

‘To explore how framing can be used to contribute and emphasis meaning in film.’

This intention must be copied in at the top of your page.

Posted on in Film Portfolio

Editing in WeVideo

You are going to edit your basic cinematography edit in WeVideo

To get on WeVideo:

  1. Sign up for a free account using your school Google account.
    1. Click on the sign up with Google icon and confirm using your school Gmail.
  2. To upgrade to a full account you will need to follow this link. You will be prompted to link to an existing account and you should select the Google account you just signed up with.
    • This will link you to our school account and put you in the Group ‘IB Film 19-21’
  3. Upload your footage from your basic cinematography shoots.
    • Mr G will do this
  4. Edit the clips and use captions over the footage to:
    1. Describe the shot type using terminology.
    2. Analyse the meaning made in no more than three adjectives:
      • For example:
        • ‘High Angle Mid Shot (Powerless, Timid, Scared)’
        • ‘Wide Shot (Space, Lonely, Lost)
  5. Download as a HD into your Google Drive
    1. Make sure it goes into your shared Film Studies folder as it’s going to be uploaded to your Reflective Journal
Posted on in Cinematographer

Cinematography (Basic Composition)

Framing (distance)

Your mission for today’s lesson is to direct and shoot the following images. For this you will have to alternate taking the images and being the subject for your partner.

You will have to take on the role of director and of cinematographer to ensure you get the shots you need.

Once you have completed your mission you should return to the classroom where you will upload your treasure to your masters computer (teachers’ machine D Drive). You then need to collate the data.

This message will self destruct in…(name the film…?)

Shot No Shot Size Camera Movement Descriptions
1 MS Static Back to camera, character bored
2 Wide angle Static The front of the SFC or Main School Entrance
3 MCU (Low Angle) Static Traffic sign or door
4 ELS Static Character sits on a step (relaxed)
5 LS (Canted Angle) to MCU Static Character walks towards camera (confident)
6 ECU Static Eyes look nervously off to one side
7 CU Static In profile character looks thoughtful
8 MLS (High Angle) Static Character stand waits outside door (nervous)
9 Over the shoulder to LS Static See the shoulder and head – object in background
Independent Study

Here is a follow up video for you to watch on another 5 best shots of all time:

Independent study.

Continue your cinematography collage of different shots from this video and label them with the correct shot type. This collage should be embedded into your Reflective Journal Page on Cinematography

Posted on in Cinematographer

Cinematography 101

How can a film camera make meaning?

Visual Glossary of Basic Camera Techniques

The Best Shots of All Time Part 1.

A great commentary on some amazing shots and the meaning that they create.

Independent Study

Using Google slides, start a collage of different shots from this video and label them with the correct shot type & the meaning implied (the video has loads of ideas for this). You will be adding to this collage as the lessons on camera and cinematography progress.