Film Techniques
29th November 2017
For the past 2 days, Mr Simpson our Media Teacher assigned every media class to go complete a checklist of film techniques in random groups. It was the first time in a very long time that Richy and I was in separate groups. I was put to be with Sunsun and May. I have never worked with them before but essentially we were given a list of loads of film techniques and we must create a video about these said techniques. The extension task was to create a narrative out of this if possible.
I got everything sussed out within the first 10 minutes and went out to film immediately without the need of a storyboard. Essentially what we did was just follow along the list while having Sunsun be like an animal in a documentary. We got most of the filming done EXCEPT animation, cutouts, claymation and talkspace. Therefore the next day we filmed the rest. For claymation may had this idea of a guy moving like a slug on my monitor therefore I suggest to her for a 4th wall breaking and she agrees with the idea and she claymate the 'guy' herself while I was the person to take the frame.
With this I then put everything together with some effects and added text for what shots and category they are and I was basically done and ready to be shown in the Thursday joint Media lesson. Unfortunately, Richy, Toy and I wasn't able to stay in class for long as we had to go film for LionView Productions. The class had a vote whilst we were away and turns out the winner was my group! I was so proud of myself in that we spent less than 2 hours doing this and less than an hour editing it!
Cinematography
9th January 2018
WHAT IS IT? Creating meaning through the uses of camera positions, movements and lighting as a part of the 4 micro elements used in film industry
AKA DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY
1. Head of Department on a film production and provide film with its unique visual identity or look
2. Must discover the photographic heart of a screenplay
3. Create desired look using lighting, framing and camera movement
4. After reading screenplay, meet with Director discuss visual style of film, help create the Directors Vision. Research and prepare for shooting at location.
5. Attend the digital grading during post production stage
How Does This Link to GratiFly?
In our short film, I am the Director of Photography as I am the main person to suggest camera angles to the Director who is Richy. I also get shot ideas from Richy and with the help of his storyboard therefore it keeps us on track to shoot the film in most chronological order as possible when it comes to editing it is easy to place down in one attempt with minor adjustments.
Toy is our Key Grip as in the Entrance Toy was the person to push me along the path in order to get a tracking shot of Richy. As a three we cooperate and with clear communications among us we were able to complete the shooting of the film in less than an hour for this specific sequence.
Camera Movements and Framing
10th January 2018
WHAT IS THIS? We were put into a group of 2 or 3 to create a 30 seconds short film then was assigned a group number. Each group has a limited camera angle to use.
These were the shots I was allowed to use:
Medium Long shot, Worms eye view, Canted angle, Tilt up, Zoom out
We then watched everyone's 30 seconds film and gave each other quick feedback
What Went Well?
- Fantastic Editing
- Soundtrack
- Angles
- Well labelled
- Lighting
- Comparing image
- use of depth of field
- narrative
Even Better If
- Kelly didn't looked at camera
Lighting
16th January 2018
WHAT IS IT? The use of various light sources, both artificial and natural to achieve some aesthetic or practical effect while illuminating a scene. Lighting is a micro element that help conveys the narrative and mood of a film
I went back to see my old photos that I've taken and used it in the following diagram below...
Lighting set ups:
Main difference between Silhouette and Golden Hour is that in silhouette, very little to no details of the foreground will be shown; whereas golden hour preserves the detail in foreground whilst keeping the background lit by the sunrise/set.
Fun Fact: I was the person to take all these photos and created these diagrams that I've been using throughout my blog as a method of practising my camera skills and Adobe illustrator skill.
Sound
24th January 2018
WHAT IS IT? Everything that uses our sense of hearing in order to influence audiences' perception on what meaning the movie is trying to communicate to us.
IDENTIFYING SOUNDS IN E.T.
Diegetic: Both the audience and the character can hear as it correspond with the film world
Kid Screaming + ET Voice
Bike rattling
Ambient + Birds chirping
Bike crashing
Foliage
Non-Diegetic: Only audience can hear which is not in the film world but is there to build emotions
Soundtrack --> In order to influence audiences' mood and emotions.
3 Aspects of Sounds:
SOUND EFFECTS:
1. Why would you add sound effects to film?
- Create meaning
- Building suspense
- Immersion
- Psychological affect
- Mood
- Atmosphere
- Soundscape
2. What aspect of sound effects can you alter and why?
- Pitch
- Tempo
- Volume
- Echo
- Reverb
3. What meaning do high pitched and low pitched sound communicate?
- high: comedy, funny, annoyed, tension, anxiety
- low: calm, mystery, scary, creepy
There is also one more type of sound...
SILENCE! NOTHING BUT EFFECTIVE
SPOKEN WORD: provides audience with subtext. Voice over communicates the story to the audience directly.
E.g. Hideaki Anno's Giant God Warrior Appears in Tokyo
the film was made as a demonstration of practical effects for the "Tokusatsu - Special Effects Museum-Craftsmanship of Showa and Heisei Eras Seen Through Miniatures" exhibit at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Tokyo.