Posts

Showing posts from December, 2024

Day 1 of film planning

Image
 Shots List; On day we will attempt to get the following shots: A mix of close up and full body shots of the bike riding montage with pan and tilt shots will be used on this path We will attempt to recreate the shadowed effect this picture has as the protagonist rushes past on the bike it will be a frozen  frame with no camera movement but this  wider angle will be used This is a little further ahead on the path shown in the previous photo, here we will be shooting some lower angled shots and the scene where the protagonist finds the dead bouquet on the floor and is inspired to get his own. Here we will be using a mix of pan, tilt crane, dolly out and in, and over the shoulder (OTS) shots as he picks up the bouquet The main goal of day 1 will be to get most of the bike scenes out of the way so we are not dragging around a bike for the rest of the shooting days so we arent hindered later in filming and getting to the other locations.

Location Hunt

Image
 We've had mid-years throughout December so I havent been able to post much recently, and we have been delaying work on our film for some time now. So today me and my partner in this project, went around looking for good locations for shooting our clips after school.

Planning ( Location and equipments)

Image
 Planning(Location and Equipment); Location: For the first and last shots of where we will be filming the waking up scenes, we will be filming in my hostel bedroom. And for most of the other scenes we will be filming next to a pathway that doesnt have much foot traffic near his house. Both have been photographed in previous posts. There will be minimal risk and problems with filming there, since we have cut the graveyard scenes, and as the sidewalk is a public area so no permission will be needed to film, also due to the fact not many people use it since its very out of the way. Equipment: We will just be using my partner's iPhone X to film the entire film. Currently we have no plans on buying any other equipment for lighting etc. we will just be using natural light and trying to film during golden hour to get the best shots.  Mise en scene and other props:

Overcoming Adversity Again

.Since we had a scene in which we wanted the protagonist to run through a graveyard and pick flowers off of a grave. We had planned taking a wide shot of an actual graveyard to give context to the scene, then switch to much shorter shot sizes as the protagonist picked up flowers off of a makeshift grave we would dig out ourselves. Since we obviously knew we wouldn't get permission to film on an actual grave and we didnt feel comfortable doing that anyway, we just wanted to film one quick wide shot of a graveyard for context in the film. However, unfortunately upon attempting to get permission we were kindly rejected by the caretakers of the cemetery. This was understandable since we were asking for a lot just for some unprofessional teenagers that wanted to film it. So we've come to the conclusion to scrap the whole "graveyard" scene and just think of another comedic way in which the protagonist will get his flowers.  To try and make up for the loss of this scene we h...

Character Descriptions

 Charecter Descriptions; Protagonist:(main lead) He will be a lazy, unprepared and all round procrastinator who leaves things to the last second, we will attempt to give this effect off with an untidy and messy room. Further more he will be cunning and witty but also mischievous and will do anything to achieve what he needs to do, seen in the fact that he stole a bike which was not his because he needed to get to his dates house swiftly, or as he also snatches someone else's flowers. Aena:(side charecter) She will not physically appear in the film however the audience will know of her as she is given context in the film through the protagonist's wallpaper being a picture of her. Flower boy:(side charecter) He doesnt hold much significance to the plot as he is just there to be the source of where the protagonist gets his flowers for his date from in a comedic manner. He will be a chill guy until his flowers are stolen then he will angrily chase after the protagonist. Brother: (s...

Day 1 of Filming

Image
 After a quick lunch we headed of towards our shooting sites and started off according to the plan off completing the shots with the bike first. We didnt have much trouble getting our shots other than the occasional passer by or child that stood in the frame watching the shot.  Here is my favorite shot of the day and some other pictures from the day. We even managed to find a dead rose bunch just lying on the track to the side, I quickly thought about how to incorporate this into our film, and then it hit me. We still didnt have a way to motivate the protagonist to get flowers and this would be our way, he would stumble across them and realize he needed to find his own bunch of them.

Research on Genre

Codes & Conventions of Comedy Comedy as a genre is designed to entertain and provoke laughter by using a combination of relatable situations, exaggerated characters, and humorous conflicts. For my film, which focuses on a Valentine’s Day date gone hilariously wrong, understanding the codes and conventions of comedy is essential to delivering a successful and engaging narrative. Here are the key aspects that define this genre: Visual Codes 1. Exaggerated Expressions & Actions; Comedies often rely on characters overreacting to situations. In my film, the boy’s frantic rush to make it to the date includes exaggerated physical movements and comically absurd obstacles that amplify the humor.    2. Color Palette: Bright and vibrant colors are commonly used in comedy to establish a light-hearted and cheerful tone. In scenes like the Valentine’s setting, shades of red, pink, and white will symbolize romance, contrasting with the chaotic events. 3.Mise-en-scène: Props play a bi...

Script

 BEDROOM – MORNING ESTABLISHING SHOT A bird’s eye view of the main character asleep in bed. A MID SHOT captures his body curled under the covers. CLOSE-UP Phone buzzes on the side table. A notification lights up. OVER-THE-SHOULDER (OTS) SHOT Main character opens his eyes and checks his phone. MAIN CHARACTER (groaning): "Valentine’s DAY?!" MID SHOT – PANNING He scrambles out of bed, frantically changing clothes, tossing shirts over his shoulder. LOW ANGLE He bolts down the stairs and hurriedly puts on his shoes. STREET– CONTINUOUS LONG SHOT The door swings open. He rushes out. POV SHOT He scans the area, eyes darting around, searching. WIDE SHOT He spots his bike and jumps on.  STREETS – BIKE MONTAGE VARIOUS WIDE SHOTS He pedals hard through streets. A montage begins. LOW ANGLE / HIGH ANGLE SHOTS Used interchangeably to add pace and dynamic energy. CAMERA MOVEMENTS: Pan. Tilt. Dolly tracking shots. Occasional crane movements add cinematic flow. WORM’S EYE VIEW He skids to a s...

Semiotics & Decoding Meanings

Understanding Ferdinand de Saussure’s Theory Have you ever stopped to think about how we give meaning to words, images, or even symbols? That’s what semiotics is all about  the study of signs and how they create meaning. Ferdinand de Saussure, a Swiss linguist, introduced a powerful idea that everything around us, from language to cultural symbols, can be understood through two components: the signifier and the signified. Let’s break it down and see why this matters, especially for media students like us. The Basics of Semiotics At the core of Saussure’s theory is the concept of the sign which is made up of two parts: Signifier, This is the physical form of the sign  the sound, image, or word. For example, the word “rose” or the image of a rose. Signified: This is the idea or concept that the signifier represents  in this case, the thought of love, romance, or even beauty. When combined, the signifier and signified create meaning. But the catch is that this meaning isn’t ...

My Favorite Director

A Deep Dive into and Their Films Media studies provide a fascinating lens to explore how filmmakers craft compelling stories, shape genres, and evoke emotions through their unique styles. One director who has deeply influenced the way I understand and appreciate cinema is Christopher Nolan known for his innovative storytelling, meticulous attention to detail, and philosophical underpinnings. Why Christopher Nolan? Nolan stands out as a director who pushes the boundaries of conventional filmmaking. His narratives often explore complex themes such as time, identity, and human perseverance. His ability to blend technical brilliance with profound storytelling makes him a pioneer in modern cinema. Signature Elements of Nolan’s Work 1.Nonlinear Storytelling:    Nolan is renowned for narratives that unfold in unconventional timelines. For instance, in *Memento* (2000), he uses reverse chronology to immerse the audience in the protagonist’s fragmented memory. 2.Innovative Concepts: ...

Research into Editing Techniques

 How Films Keep Us Hooked Editing is like the secret sauce of filmmaking  you know it’s there, but if done right, you barely notice it. It’s how movies tell stories, keep us guessing, or even make us jump out of our seats. As students learning about media, understanding editing techniques is a game-changer. Let me walk you through some key techniques like continuity editing, jump cuts, parallel editing, and a few more, and I’ll keep it simple and relatable! Continuity Editing This is the “keep it smooth” technique. Continuity editing makes sure the shots flow seamlessly, so the story feels natural. Think of it as watching someone walk through a door, and the next shot shows them entering the room. You don’t notice the cut because it just makes sense. Little tricks like action matches, eye-line matches (where a character looks at something, and the next shot shows what they’re looking at), or graphic matches keep everything logical. Non-Continuity Editing Now, this is where thi...