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Showing posts from December, 2022

Short film research: Wanderer/Thriller

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     The movie contains a lot of hand-held shots along with two-shots. For instance, there was a scenario where the protagonist was having a realization that something was off with a women's husband.  It documented the manner the man was looking around cautiously and worried.  These specific shots can be used to show the audience what is happening in the action as it is happening and to simply illustrate the movements of the characters. The utilization of cutaway shots was also common. For instance, the protagonist woke up and the shots cut from him to a man making breakfast demonstrating his alertness. Cutaway shots are used to create tension and suspense. These shots are quick glimpses of something that is not immediately relevant to the main action of the scene, but that adds to the overall feeling of unease and uncertainty. By showing brief glimpses of something that is not immediately explained, the director creates a sense of anticipation and uncertainty. This can make the au

Short film research: Interpretation/Thriller

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To begin with this short film of the interpretation of a book of war hold a lot of camera angles movements and shots. Namely tracking shots are the most apparent camera movements inserted into this film. These shots follow the character's movements and allow for a continuous shot which builds suspense in thriller films and the reality of the moment. For example, the two main protagonists in the film were being followed by three men and a tracking shot captured the three men gaining on the two protagonists. Furthermore, many of the shots were at mid-close-up to close-up shots which captured the character's emotions and acting during the film. The characters in this film were tired, in love, scared and defeated. There was an addition of a Dutch shot and all the shots were at eye level to allow for balance and a complete view of things. The Dutch angle added a suspense factor signaling danger in the three men following the two protagonists.  Throughout the short film it was mostly

Short film research: Checkpoint/Thriller

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Regarding the camera angles, movements and shots, this short film has plenty of them. For instance, it includes a three-shot, showing the family members in the car, to make the audience familiar with them and somewhat get attached. Moreover, it also contains a wide shot, showing the family’s environment to show the audience where it takes place, and to enhance the fact that there is no one else besides them and the officers. Additionally, the tracking shot of the dad getting into the car is being used to highlight his emotions. Finally, it includes a low angle of the officer that makes him seem superior and overpowering. When it comes to sound, this short film uses dialogue, to build a conflict between the family and the officers, which helps reach the climax. Another type of sound is incidental, which strongly enhances suspense and drama to make the audience feel on the edge of their seats. Additionally, the ambient sounds present play a huge role when it comes to the fighting scenes

Short film research: Jet/Thriller

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There are numerous tracking shots in the film. For instance, there was a scene in which the protagonist was attempting to conceal himself in a front yard while observing a house. It captured all of the various techniques he used to stay hidden and move cautiously with a gun, ranging from running to attempting to hide next to a van. Those certain shots can be employed to simply demonstrate characters' movements and serve to show the audience what is occurring in the scene as it takes place. Over-the-shoulder shots were also frequently used. For example, the protagonist witnessed a girl being abducted by a van following an unsuccessful suicide attempt. Such over-the-shoulder shots are employed to reveal to the viewer something hidden the character is doing or it is showing the point of view of the character. Moreover, there were countless shots of close-ups. One of the characters, for instance, was shown, as can be inferred, contemplating whether or not he should do something to save

Research: How to make a short film

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I found this video very resourceful since he provided a lot of tips based on different sections of a filmmaking process. I am certain this will help me in the future since I felt like I could relate to a lot of his tips. Some useful information I retained from it is important to keep my budget in mind and your resources to be realistic and know what I am working with. Moreover, another relevant tip that he mentioned that I had never thought of before, is that my first instinct is what my audience is expecting, so I should go the other way. On the same topic, he highlighted the importance of letting theme and tone guide my story, as they will shape it and help me build it if I respect them in accordance with movement, angles, mise-en-scene, and props. Another piece of information that really opened my eyes was his insight into sound. According to him, sound is a priority: he insists on getting the right gear if there is dialogue in the film. If sound gear is not available, he recommends

Comparing La Jetee, the short, and 12 Monkeys, the full-length movie

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 Part 1 “La JetĂ©e” (1962) by Chris Marker is a short film that was remodeled by Terry Gilliam in 1995 to make a full-length movie called “12 Monkeys”. Marker described his own dystopian-fable film as a photo novel instead of a film. The movie is a series of still images with voice and sound. It includes a dispassionate narrator that seems detached from the present action and gives a more distant feel to a story about obsessions with the past. Similarly, 12 Monkeys is a conscious, reverent, remodeling of Marker’s original storyline, themes, and ideas; it’s made by people who are devotees of La JetĂ©e. Told in these snapshots, La JetĂ©e is an intriguing lo-fi, sci-fi, time-travel tale in which a Parisian survivor of World War 3 is sent back before the planet was destroyed and radioactive to save humanity. This editing was extraordinary with its high-concept, action-oriented aspect. The unnamed man in 12 Moneys is selected because he clings hard to an image: a memory from his childhood, the

Comparing 9, the short, and 9, the full-length movie

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We got going by watching the short movie, 9. There was no talking, and it only lasted for around ten minutes. I anticipated there would be some talking when I first started watching the movie. Doing or possessing would significantly improve the short film's quality. Not only would it improve, but it would also make the plot simpler to comprehend. I was confused about what was happening numerous times throughout this short video. Throughout the entire movie, I had no idea what was happening or what the plot was. Without any conversation, it was challenging to follow. I had to rely on reading the characters' body language to make sense of what was going on.  It may have been nicer if the characters had made minor noises to represent their various emotions. But with little rag dolls, that isn't very simple. It would be simpler to grasp if it included this dialogue, but they could also add a lot more. In movies, dialogue is a significant component. Without it, they may nearly a

Genre Choice for Film

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As a group, we decided to choose the thriller genre for many reasons. One reason being that it would provide us with a new and engaging experience. In AS Level Media Studies all the group members except one chose horror as their genre. Thriller is a new genre to all of us and would be something very exciting to do. This also means that we would have the opportunity to learn new filming techniques during the process of making this film. For example, eyeline matches were not something we included in our short movies last year, but it’s an editing skill that’s commonly used in thriller films. Another reason is the feeling we’re trying to get at with the film. We wanted our film to be something that was engaging and left the audience on the edge of their seats. Since we had all done horror before, a thriller was the next best thing. Things that are common in thrillers like jump cuts also make the film seem like it’s moving faster which is also something we wanted to achieve. Our other choi

Genre Research - Drama

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Common Camera Angles, Movements, and Shots in drama:  Close-up/ Extreme Close-up  Long Shot  Bird’s Eye View  Over the Shoulder Shot  Medium Shot    Common Sound in drama:  Ambient Sound  Narration  Dialogue  Incidental Music    Common Mis-En-Scene in drama:  Costumes:  Outgoing clothing  Wigs  Fancy garments  Striking accessories  Dresses  Lighting:  Bright then dim lighting  Colorful illumination  Acting:  Grand moment and crying  Bold movements  Fake laughter  Fighting  Makeup:  Dramatic and bold make-up application  Rosy cheeks  False tear liquid  Heavy makeup  Fake eyelashes  Props:  Phones  Money  Beverages/Alcohol  Glasses  Food  Personal Belongings  Setting:  Downtown/In the City  Workplace  School  Main character’s house    Common Editing in drama:  Jump Cut  Action Match  Cutaway (Flashbacks)  Shot Reverse Shot  Examples of drama films include:  Titanic (1997) James Cameron  Dune (2021) David Lynch  Wonder (2017) Stephen Chbosky    What elements of drama do you like?  I like

Genre Research - Action

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Common Camera Angles, Movements, and Shots in action: Tracking shot   Point of View   Low Angle     Common Sound in action:  Diegetic sound  Incidental music   Dialogue    Common Mis-En-Scene in action:  Costumes:  Everyday clothes  Darker tones clothes  Lighting:  Dim lighting  Lower exposure  Mostly during the night  Acting:  Lots of movement, running, escaping, etc.  Lots of fear, worry, or motivation and perseverance.  Injuries   Makeup:  Light/minimal face makeup  Fake wounds  Props:  Weapons   Personal belongings   Money   Food   Fake blood  Setting:  Downtown  Unfamiliar place   Woods   Transportation   Houses    Common Editing in your genre:  Cross Cutting   Cutaway   Action Match   Shot reverse shot     Example of action films include:  Top Gun (2022) Joseph Kosinski   Uncharted (2022) Ruben Fleischer  The Batman (2022) Matt Reeves    What elements of action do you like?  I like that this genre needs a lot of movement and events to happen. The audience never gets bored while w

Genre Research - Thriller

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Common Camera Angles, Movements, and Shots in thriller: High-angled and low-angled shots Canted angle Zooms Tracking shots Tilts Close up Extreme close-up Bird’s eye view Common Sound in thriller: Diegetic noise of screaming sound Non-diegetic noise of instrumental music Sound bridges Common Mis-En-Scene in thriller: Costumes:   Average clothing, the basics of everyday wear In darker more unwelcoming colors or in lighter colors to portray innocence Lighting:  Dark or dim lighting to create shadows Flickering lights Acting:  Aggressiveness  A large amount of confused or frightened acting   Make-up:   The bare minimum usually light make-up  Smeared colored make-up (rough look)   Make-up that creates the illusion of an injury (fake blood)  Props:   Fake weapons   Sunglasses  Paper notes   Setting:   Someplace warm and familiar- a home or local cafĂ©  Isolated locations like the woods or the back of a building.   Common Editing in thriller: Jump cuts  Shot reverse shot   Eye-line Match   Ex

Genres I Would Like to Research

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1. We would like to study thrillers, because they involve a lot of mystery, as well as tension, anxiety, and fear. This would be interesting to convey because it requires certain angles, shots, sound effects, costumes, settings, makeup, and props to successfully adopt a thriller genre. Moreover, we have never made a thriller film before, so it will only increase our expertise by trying out new ways to produce a project.  2. We would like to study action films, because they capture attention quickly with the fast-paced movement shots in typical films. It emphasizes and makes viewers feel short-term excitement and stress in a safe, controlled environment. They detail characters' motives and point view through their acting and the plot. An action genre as well embraces power-dominance which makes for an enthralling film filled with conflict and resolutions that adopt certain camera angles or movements building shock.   3. We would like to study drama films, because they depict realist