Thursday, 6 March 2014

Short Film Project Summary/Research

Identify the target audience I would like to address:
    The audience target is male and female. Their ages about 12 to 25 years old.
If there is no female actress or few female actress in the film then my target will be mostly male.

Appropriate content based on the target audience
    It will be 12A certificate in order to make sure younger people are not badly influenced by scenes from my film.
I study about 12A so, the action sequences and weapons may be present at 12A, and there may be long
 fight scenes or similar. The weapons which might be easily accessible to 12 year olds (such as knives),
should not be made to look good in 12A works. I think it is suitable for my film.

Back To The Future is a PG although it does have some violent scenes in the film. There are some fist-fight scenes. In addition, an unarmed character is shot several times by terrorists but there is no blood shown, although the viewers see his dead body afterwards. A man tries to rape a woman, but he is stopped by another character who punches him in the face violently. 


The Terminator: compared to my film, it had a lot of violence and brutal fighting in it. For example, 
the many police officers were shot and killed without much gore. And a man is killed by an explosion. 
We briefly see his corpse up-close, with some blood on his body. But my film will have Sci-fi weapons 
which will kill Bandit guys without bloods or gores. Some melees can be shown but not too violent. For
 example, the bad guy tried to swing at the good guy's head but he missed it. 
    My project will not have too much blood, gore, brutal fighting and swearing.
    The film will have subtitles and sign language for deaf audience.

My equipment:
Camera
Lens
3 SDs
1 battery
Light tripod
Props: Knifes, masks, homemade time machine and
Small camera (Gopro hero 2) for making behind the scene.
Laptop
Software: Photoshop, After effect and Sony Vegas pro 12.

Need equipment from York College:
Crane tripod.
Small  monitor.
Cables.
Heavy Tripod for the crane.
If York College did not meet my demand then I would follow to my B plan, I will change the plan (shot list, scripts and contingency plan.) Some of scenes which require for the crane kits will cut out.

Props:
2 black masks
2 white masks
2 green goggles
1 homemade sci-fi weapon
6 Melee weapons
1 Homemade time machine

My friends will bring their own clothes.


I decided to do this project on my own because I have good skills editing and creating special effects using After Effects. I think the subject of the film about time travel will allow me to use these skills and techniques well.

Research:
Knife Sequences:
Psycho is a 1960 American suspense horror film directed by Alfred Hitchcock. I looked at shower scene. Comprising over 70 shots, each lasting two or three seconds. I study how the killer's knife technique work.

 Close up shot, there was light behind which caused the camera see him as black. The shower was in between the killer and camera. This showed me that shot same as the actress' POV.

Med shot and level was low to show us that how powerful the killer is and how vulnerable the victim is.



V.close up shot. The scene showed the victim's body with the knife at a downward angle to show the murderer was at a higher angle. This shot did not showed us the blood come out from the body.

James Bond: Quantum Of Solace, Knife Fight Scene:


 Close up shot, the camera focus on the knife as sign of beginning danger.


The scene had 2 characters fight each other to create action / thriller atmosphere for  the viewers. James bond used the object to block or attack the knife.



The scene was med angle because this showed us that they fought on equal and 50/50 chance who'll win or lose.


Jesse  James Knife Scene:

Med shot, the killer was behind the man, this showed us that the killer was bigger and look powerful. The man look small and weak.

The med shot with high angle, the killer grabs his head and uses the knife on the man's neck. This showed the viewer that the man's life was at risk.
Although this film is rated a 15, I thought the sequence was useful for my research regarding camera angles and the position of the characters. My film will be suitable for 12 year olds to watch.

Identify the production management requirements for each idea

3 3 days for pre production
   1 days for making props
   5 days for filming
   2 days for refilming if there are mistakes.
   6 days for Post production
   2 days for finishing touches



   I had several ideas for this project. The first being, 'I Won't Do That Again - Second Time! (sequel)' but I decided that I want to make a film with new techniques so that I will learn new skills and  show off my work to film festivals and universities.

  The second idea was, 'Night School Activity', this was a horror film which was inspired by Paranormal Activity and Grave Encounter 1&2. However, I decided that this idea was not good due my lack of knowledge about lighting techniques and  I also needed to have special equipment such as night version and large lighting equipment.

  The third idea was 'Fight Game,' which was inspired by Street Fighter (Game) and Game World (my own short film). This idea used stop motion and normal frames to join in one film. I thought this idea was really good, however, I could tell that it might bit too long to make it in post-production than the other projects

 Appropriate production techniques
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4r5Mvlukhk
How to Shoot a Fight Scene:
I study about elements; continuity, camera techniques and editing. When these elements are all combined then the end result will a very intense and very emotive and realistic piece of video making that will take your viewers and kick them right in the face. The continuity is very important because when it comes to shooting any action sequences, for example, you have to follow the invisible 180 degree line of what our eyes see, otherwise, we will end up with a scene that does not flow correctly or seems jarring and results in a jump cut.

Identify potential constraints on production:
I might need more time to make a film after half term because  2 weeks for filming block may not be enough.
The location may not be available or practical on the day (e.g. bad weather)
The filming may be delayed because the actors are not prepared.
Lack of preparation for the action shots.
I might need more female actresses.
There might be a delay getting equipment (Crane tripod) from York College.

Mind maps:

Identify ways to address constraints:
 Ask Tutor for permission to make a film for one extra week
 I need to rehearse dialogue and fight scenes to get the flow of action smooth. .
 Make an appointment to see the female actresses
 Change the shot plans.
  Make a schedule to fit into the filming time limits.



Identify the range of resources and materials available to me (audit)
My friends will take the roles as actors.
I take all the crews/technical roles
They will help me to carry the equipment.

Undertake research into appropriate production techniques
Destiny - Animation Short film ‘Repeat time style’ I study it about how they used this effect (Repeat time) in this film.  They did it with 3D software.
However for me, this requires After Effect and video editing software to do it. I would use After Effect to clone the actors and mask them.  The video editing software cut it to next shot for focusing on the main character.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wEKLEeY_WeQ


Rewind Short Film ‘Rewind style’ I could tell that they used video editing software to make the footage backward in normal speed.
I have to use the camera technique ‘Long movement’ for example when I use the ‘Rewind’ and then the scene would backward slowly and with long take.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PyXNze_7ki8


Time freeze effect ‘Pause style’
They use camera stabilizer to make the camera movement smooth. The actors/actress act a like statue to trick the viewers thinking it's freeze time.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HuJw3g1eCu8

Back to the future ‘Forward and backward time style’

Looper ‘loop time style’

Kill Bill Vol.1 Fight Scene
https://vimeo.com/23363723

I asked my male friends about Kill bills' action, they gave me the feedback. They don't mind if female or  male actors fight each other. My female friends want the female actors appeal more than male. However, for my project, the male actor will appeal more because most of my female friends don't have a time to actor. They don't like the camera shaking too much but to my film project, I would make it less camera shaking. They were impressed by the fighting techniques. But my film project, there will less fighting techniques.

j




No comments:

Post a Comment