Lighting Workshop - 30th November

What's on today?
Lighting, guerilla style: How can I light my film cheaply without a light kit? What lights go where? Why?  How can I manipulate light to create different effects and moods?

Your task:
1) Set up a shot with a subject at a desk using
a) three-point lighting
b) noir lighting

Feedback:
How distance of subject to lights, change of light strength, and change of angles alter the effects and mood of the shot.

Before you begin, you need to read this post from our friends at St George's North, where Dougal Fergusson gives us some more information about lighting in film. Many thanks to Dougal for this!

Shooting Film Noir - Part 2

Tasks:
1) Finish your noir scene scripts.

2) Storyboarding - As Christopher Columbus (director of the first two Harry Potter films) once said, “Making a movie without a storyboard is like throwing your money into a bottomless pit.”

Create a storyboard to go with your scripts, to give you a better idea of how to shoot your scene.  Look here and here to remind yourself of what elements to include in your storyboards, and how to lay them out.


You need more? Look at this tutorial:

You will find storyboard templates in the downloads section of your Figaro account:

\college\IB Film Studies\Screenplays and Storyboarding\template_storyboards.doc

Remember, when it comes to shot composition in your storyboards, think about both our purpose, and also the constraints of our filming location.

1) Purpose - to experiment with lighting and camera position to mimic a noir style.
2) Constraints
     - shooting indoor in fairly bare room with only one window and two doors.
     - very limited props for set design (table, chairs, phone)
     -no lighting or smoking of cigarettes allowed on school campus!!!

You will need to think carefully how to ensure that your shots create the ILLUSION of your setting. Think, for example, of how to use close ups and camera angles effectively to reveal just enough of your setting:

Look at how the angle and close-up position here shows a man, perhaps listening to a conversation in the next room, perhaps waiting for someone to enter...

Notice the use of shadow here too. We will need to find away to create these extreme shadows with our lighting.

Notice how the over-the-shoulder close-up shot here allows us to see the woman on the telphone, whilst keeping our view of the room restricted.





We will visit our "studio" tomorrow and set up our scenes, firstly experimenting with different ways of lighting the room and the subjects.

You will need to ensure you have in your group for tomorrow:
1) three table or desk lamps (1 100W, 260W)
2) a four-plug socket adaptor
3) costumes, hats, props


Fiming groups:
Double Jeapordy
Santos
Giuliana
Tomas
Ernesto
Ramiro

Touch of Evil
 Viveka
Manuel
Sabrina
Honorio
Carlos

Production Journals

What to do

• Spend the first fifteen minutes of today's lesson updating your production journals
• Your entries should reflect on the filming you carried out last week
• Your entries should also consider the choices you are now making in post-production

REMEMBER - the more detailed your entries, the better. Some key questions to help you write are below:

• What parts of filming were particularly successful and why?
• What parts of filming were difficult/unsuccessful. Why?
• Did you follow your plans during filming (shot lists, storyboards, location lists)? Did you have to alter any of your plans? Why??
• How did you fulfil your individual role during filming (cameraman, editor, scriptwriter, director, talent)?
• What are you responsible for in post-production? How are you working towards completing your film?

Documentary - The Interview

What's On?

The real meat of your documentary will likely be made up of  interviews with "experts" or witnesses" for your subject. So, the success of your film may depend on the success of your interviews. We need to analyse how to FILM a decent interview.






Today's task

• Watch the footage from Super Size Me (Spurlock, 2004) twice
• Answer the following questions

1) What techniques are used to introduce the audience to the interview subject(s)?
2) Is it necessary to hear a question being asked before the interviewee's response on film? Why/why not?
3) Shots - what camera positions and angles tend to be used? Why do you think these choices are made?
4) Movement - what do you notice about the movement of camera during interview filming?
5) What can you say about the positioning of the interview subject within the shot (ie. where are they looking and why?)
6) How long are the subjects' responses to questions? How much information/opinion do they give?
7) What research do you think Spurlock did BEFORE interviewing the subjects here? Be as detailed as possible.

Make sure you note these responses down in your laptop or notebook, and be ready to feedback with the class.

Finally, remember FILMING DAY is this TUESDAY!!! We'll talk in more detail about practical concerns tomorrow.

Documentary - completing preproduction tasks

The story so far...

Moonlight Productions - your production folder shows some thoughtful research, some detail in storyboards and thorough explanations of problems encountered and decisions made. Good. Impressive visual conceptualization of scenes.


Skin - Impressed with your organisation skills and the amount of footage obtained so far. Lots of interviews carried out. You understand that the more footage you obtain, the more choices you will have. A really dynamic group.

Toto - An executive producers dream - meeting all your deadlines, and more. Record keeping is thorough. B-roll obtained so far and the preliminary edits have an entirely professional feel. Keep it up.

Today:

• Each group needs to have submitted their location list by end of play today. We discussed this last week. Ask if you need help.
• Cameraman should be working (with help from Writer) on a detailed shot list. I will talk you through this process.
•  Deadline for this is Friday 12th August - tomorrow!
• Talent/Writer - narration/voice-over
• Researcher/Editor - completing all B-roll footage needed. (You need to include in shot list).
• All - add to your individual journals as ideas, problems, solutions arise

Documentary Planning - location, location

What's on?

• lDeciding where you plan to shoot video
• lVisiting sites ahead of time to get a sense of the space
• lPlanning the order in which you will shoot in different locations
• lIdentify what the best shots are in each location 

Main Task

Many of you have already visited locations for filming, taken footage, etc. Great work and well done for planning ahead like that.

• You all need to provide a document containing the list of locations you are shooting in, the order you will shoot in them (including dates you will film/have filmed), and still shots with the name of location. 

• Include locations even if you have already decided to delete them from the final film. I want to know why.

See the example provided to help.

If you can finish today - great. If not - final deadline Thursday 11th August.

Additional tasks:

It is quite possible you will finish this task ahead of time, or it will not require everyone of your group. Here's some other things to work on:

• cameraman/editor - plans types of shots for each location
• talent/writer - scripts any narration, practices voice-over
• researcher - more b-roll, facts, statistics, research on interview subjects

 

Production Journals - Monday 4th July

Order of play:

• Spend a good 25 minutes adding to - or STARTING, for some of you - your production journals for your documentary films
• Discuss textual analysis of Eden Lake, with my feedback
• Target setting for the next stage of your documentaries

What and how?

• Your production journals are your INDIVIDUAL records of your documentary work. That means you do them alone (although you can discuss some points with your group first)
• You need to keep these on your blogs. Label them "production journal" so they are easy to find
• On them you need to EVALUATE your work so far - how well are you doing in your own role as writer, researcher, etc? What successes have you had? What problems have you encountered and how have you solved them? What changes have you made, and why? What do you need to do next? 
• The more detailed your journals, the better. Remember, they will be assessed, along with the materials you produce as a group

And finally
The amount of effort you guys have put in so far has been really impressive. Not only that, the maturity you have shown, your creativity, and your initiative so far on this project - a massive pat on the back for everyone. But it's not cigars and champagne time yet...so keep working!!!

Documentary Planning

What's on?

• Today you need to finish your story outline (100 words approx.), with key images, equipment, and ideas completed on storyboard templates.
• You need to submit all research documents found that you intend to make use of, as well as explanations as to how you will use these documents (ie. narrate information, inlcude scans of images, film footage, etc)
• You need to submit evidence of any contact you are making with your subjects (experts, witnesses, member of the public) - this could be in the form of emails, records of telephone conversations or visits
• You can collect all these documents in the project folders I will give you today.
• You can send electronic back up copies to me

Production journal

• Individually, you should be keeping a record of the production process - in particular, how you are fulfilling your objectives as writer, researcher, talent, etc; the decisions you are making, the problems you have encountered, how you are solving them, etc. You will be assessed on this INDIVIDUALLY. All journal entries should be posted on your blog. Labels - production journal, documentary film

Capturing The Friedmans - Monday 27th June, 2011

What to do? (Apologies to Jagger/Richards)
You: Use Capturing the Friedmans to gather ideas and insights into the documentary film-making process.
You: Upload your finished notes on the film onto your blog (following instructions on the worksheet).
Me: Review your film blogs - give you ideas for how to improve them. (Remember, your blogs will be assessed for "logros" in Trimester 2. More than that - they're yours - created by you, nurtured by you, loved by you. Make sure you look after your babies!!!)

Questions?

STORY OUTLINES and RESEARCH - Thursday 16th June

Some great pitches last week:

Moonlight Productions - eloquent and ambitious. The pitch was forceful and effective. However, is the idea workable in five minutes? Who will your subject(s) be? Will they agree to be filmed to talk about this problem? We may need a rethink here...

Skin Studio - you have clearly thought ahead with regards to access, contacts, and keeping it simple. It's an idea that can work. How to make your documentary interesting, rather than a barrage of facts about the institution? That's your task for today...

Toto Productions - The pitch I heard in class contained a strong  and workable idea. It's do-able with careful thought and planning. But where is the document?? You need to be more efficient and meet deadlines if you want to get your documentary completed within the time frame given...

TODAY:

• Pitches approved - story outline
• Pitches not approved - revise idea/choose another of your ideas, resubmit pitch to class

 How to produce your story outline

• Map out the flow of the story using drawings and/or text
• refer back to the pitch
• write a brief 100 word piece on the narrative you will tell
• brainstorm what ideas will be communicated where in the story's timeline (using storyboard template)
• identify major images/ideas to be shown using  (using storyboard template)
• Access storyboard template in the shared area -   college\IB Film Studies\DOCUMENTARY PROJECT\digital.storyboard_template.pdf

 PLEASE NOTE: the story outline is a guide which will help you to plan and research the "meat" of your project. Obviously, your outline may well change as you research and develop your project. But it is a necessary first step in communicating your vision of what your documentary will be.


 DEADLINE for finished storyboard/outline - FRIDAY 24th June

l

DOCUMENTARY FILM PITCH

What's on?
Pitching your documentary on a local social/cultural issue

• lPitch your story ideas to EXEC PRODUCER

• lBrainstorm stories in your production groups

• lPresent top three ideas to class

• Class discussion of story ideas

• lProduction teams take your best idea, summarize it in less than one page of text under three headings: What’s the story, Why we're doing it, and How we’ll do it

 
 

How to present your final pitch:

• Both orally and in a written document
• Production company name at top; three paragraphs under the three headings above
• Remember - it all starts with a KISS - Keep It Simple, Stupid! The simpler your idea, and your summary, the more effective your pitch will be
• Email me the final Pitch document to pwise@stgeorge.org.ar by lesson end

Horror film scripting and storyboarding - Wednesday, 18th May

Firstly, regarding your storyboards and scripts for screen - some really professional and careful work, especially artwork from Sabrina and use of film terms from all of you.

Secondly - some interesting and original ideas discussed on Monday, which shows you are really taking on board the importance of location. Keep up the good work.

What's on?
The next two lessons give you a chance to work on your own horror film scripts and storyboards. The deadline is Friday 20th May.

What do you need to do to create an effective opening?

• Have a clear idea of the type of horror film you are making, and use elements appropriate for it (ie. vulnerable and isolated characters, POV shots - slasher films a la Halloween or Scream; industrial settings, fast paced editing, gore - zombie films a la 28 Days Later...ok, they're not - strictly speaking - zombies but lets not split hairs; atmospheric music, high angle shots, locations that symbolise feelings and conflicts - psychological horror a la The Shining)
• Have a clear idea of the texture and mood you wish to create (see above)
• Have a clear idea how you will build suspense in your opening using camera, sound, editing, lighting

Let's have a look at Dog Soldiers as an example:

• Present your work appropriately in the formats given for scripts and storyboarding
• Use you growing film vocabulary to communicate your ideas
• Come up with an appropriate name (you can do this last!)
• Be creative and have fun

How will you be assessed?

• 10 marks for creativity and orginality - demonstrated by the ideas you transmit through your work, your ability to fit or even subvert the genre
• 10 marks for professional and technical skill -using the format correctly, making sure you tinclude all information needed to communicate your vision for the fil , linking storyboard to script, a professional "look" to your work
• 10 marks for effective use of film language

Note: If you go on to film your horror opening outside of school time, you will be rewarded with an "Woscar". Please see me at the end of class to discuss this in more detail if you are considering doing this.

To remind ourselves of some of the conventions of horror, already discussed in class, let's go back to Wes Craven's Scream:

Scripting an opening - Wednesday 11th May

What's on today?
Exactly what it says on the tin, you're going to try your hand at writing a FILM SCRIPT for the opening of a horror film.


Why?
So you get an idea of how to layout the script, how to structure it, what info is needed, what film terms you need to use, etc.

How?

• Reread the REAL working script from John Carpenter's Halloween. Discuss the layout and what information is included for the director, cinematographer, editor and sound designer.
• Find a copy of the script in the download section of the school intranet: college\english\IB Film Studies\Halloween
• Watch the opening of Scream (up until 1 min 35 seconds: "oh, just some scary movie")
• Write your script on a new blog post.
• You can use the following breakdown of shots to help you get started with your script
• You should finish your post by lesson end today. 

 

Feedback

•  What are the strong points of the opening to this horror film? How does it compare to Halloween?
• What information seemed important to include in your script? Was there anything that you felt was not important to include?

Storyboarding A Scene - Monday 9th May

What's on for today?
In preparation for scripting and storyboarding your own opening scene to a horror film,  you will practice how to so this by working backwards from finished films first. Today, we'll look at the opening to Halloween, read the script, and make a storyboard so we can practice the skills needed.

Task 1

Watch the opening of Halloween.

Then read the script provided (this is a copy of the manuscript the director originally used). You will find the script on the school intranet in the downloads section by entering  the folder:
college\IB Film Studies\Halloween (word document).

Discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the opening - in what ways does it follow the conventions (or rules) of horror films?

Task 2
Making your storyboard. You will have the rest of the lesson to do this.

•  Use the storyboard template to compose your storyboards for the opening to Halloween
• For decent examples of storyboards click on this. Notice you will need to include brief descriptions of sound, action, etc for each section
• Most of the opening is made with one continuous POV shot. You will need to split this up into relevant parts in your storyboard (eg. 1 - blackscreen with writing, 2 -  est. shot of house, 3 - medium shot of door, etc.)
• Use the handouts to help you with how to show camera/character movement within a shot
• Ask me when you need more storyboard sheets

Feedback

At the end of the session, be prepared to discuss why filmmakers use storyboards in the PRE-PRODUCTION stage of the film. In what ways can they aid us before we enter production?