Production journey

Tuesday 9th December 2014

 In this lesson I decided to put the photos I taken of the locations in which I filmed my short film. I written about why I chosen these particular locations and what effect it created on my audience and movie itself. Location is very important feature within film as it reveals information not just about the setting but also the characters. Why are the characters situated at a bar? Or at an office? It is giving a wider insight to who the person is, they're at a bar because maybe drinking could be a hobby for them, maybe this is where the person goes to unwind and relax. The office shows where the character work, in this particular setting I wanted to portray a detective atmosphere with paper work shattered on the desk and a security helping out the detective.

Tuesday 6th January 2015

In the lesson today I have focused on completing my blog. One blog that I finished was the connotations and representation of a detective. I did this to show the development of my character and my understanding of the detective and how I've reinforced those values into my production. I have also added transition effects onto my video this makes the production look less disconnected and detached.

Friday 9th January 2015

We were planning on which scene should be added to the production. Also we edited the production by adding titles into the clip. I also tested whether or not the production looked good in black and white or no effect added.

Monday 12th January 2015

In today's lesson I will storyboard extra scenes for the next bit of the film so when filming the next scene there is structure and continuity, also I will make sure that the location is accessible. Also in this listen we will being writing our evaluation.

Tuesday 20th January 2015

Finishing the evaluation and any other uncompleted work.

Identifying an audience

 Identifying an audience                                                                               17.11.14

Uses and gratification theory = people use media texts to gratify certain needs.

·       Why would you watch a horror? - to see how scary it is? To frighten your friends. Exploring to see how people deal with fear.

‘Fear of the other’ – fear other things that aren't you. Other genders, ethnicity's, race's.

Audiences reception

Audiences read things differently.

Stuart Halls eboding theory

·         Preferred reading is the reading the director wants you to take

·         The opposite reading is the opposite

·         Negotiated reading is understanding the meaning but then arguing your own interpretation

·         Aberrant reading is totally wrong

HG Wells War of the worlds

-          Panic caused by mass media

-          Media being radio- people thought we was being invaded by aliens

Panorama BBC-Spaghetti growing on trees

-          Construct

-          Would work better in 1957 because people had nothing else to go on and people were not used to being tricked by telly.

-          People believed what they saw in the media.

Hyperdermic needle theory

-          People believe everything they hear in the media

-          Audiences are active, they interact with media texts and not just listen to them

Viral advertising

-          Share it

-          Have you seen this?

-          Telly adverts,

T-Mobile advert

Preferred advert – to suit any ages, ethnicity, any types of people, famous- ironic public people

Opposite reading – the real wedding, confusion, wouldn't understand it

Aberrant reading – wouldn't know who royal family or T-mobile are, don’t have cultural knowledge

Negotiated reading – could be offensive to over 60’s

In relation to my film the audiences we talked about are specific to my film. However my opening sequence will be different to a normal film opening because it is just the opening sequence that will be shown, therefore more of the story needs to be shown.

Storyboard

Storyboard






































1. The first shot is an establishing shot. It is traditionally used as the first shot in most film, This is the reason why we chose to put it at the beginning of our film. It also sets a clear image of where the film is set. The setting allows people to understand the type of film they are going to watch.

2. The second shot is cut to the detective sitting at the bar. A voice over is played in this scene to build up the story line of the detective's past and it tells you what is going on. His emotions and feelings are portrayed through this scene aswell which tells you what type of character he is. He swigs his drink in this scene and appears to be reminiscing on his life, until he spots the femme fatale walk in the room. 

3. In the third shot the femme fatale approaches the detective and they lock eyes. There is a close up shot of this to show the feelings on their faces. The femme fatale knows who the detective is but he doesnt know her, so she seems distressed as that is part of her act in getting help from him. 

4/5. These shots show where dialogue will take place in the opening sequence. Shot reverse shots are typically used for a conversation so you can see the persons face when they are talking to see the expressions and feelings they are showing.

6. The sixth shot is in a new setting of an office. This office belongs to the detective. It starts with a close up to his old fashioned telephone and then pans out to show the rest of the office. Props will be set up in this shot to reveal elements of the character. For example:- an ash tray will be placed next to the camera, influencing the stereotype that detectives have of smoking. 

7. In the seventh shot the whole of the desk and detective is captured in the frame, showing his position and the setting he is typically in at work. He is plumped in his chair looking miserable. This portrays how he is tired and has had a long day.

8. In the eighth shot the receptionist who is the detectives princess walks in to the room. This captured in a long shot.

9. In the ninth shot there is a close-up of the detective as he is looking at the receptionist coming in to the room. He addresses her in a way that would be called inappropriate nowadays as he calls her 'sweetheart'. This also relates to the social hierarchy in the sense that he can talk to women how ever he wants to. 

10. In the tenth shot there is a close-up of the receptionist showing her facial expression as in the situation that is about to occur it is most appropriate to show her feelings. She is worried about something and the close up emphaisizes this. 

11. In the eleventh shot there is a close-up of the newspaper that the receptionist put down, The headline stands out as this is a significant part to our opening sequence as it is the main story line. The headling is the enigma of the story as it hooks the audience to want to watch more.

12. The twelfth shot is simple but effective in the way that yu just see the detectives face after looking at the newspaper as this news affects him. After a fade to black is placed and the title sequence appears. 

Representation of a detective

Representation of a detective                                            14.11.14

A detective is often male, though not always, and they look smart and well dressed which emphasizes their superiority. They typically have a glass of alcohol such as whisky in their hand and a cigarette or pipe in the other. They are very smart in the sense that they are one step ahead of everyone else, but they can also be very sly and mysterious as they keep them self to them self. The way they fall for women/men shows how vulnerable they are and they have a very flirty personality which often gets them in to trouble in the first place. Though saying that, they are respectful and pleasant when treated correctly. Sometimes they do patronize women to get what they want and it is the way men typically acted in those days, but that has changed now. 

Representation of a femme fatale

Representation                                                                                                       11/11/14

The femme fatale is an interesting character to analyse because of the role she plays in film noir. A femme fatale has positive characteristics when she demonstrates she is a strong and independent woman in her way of how she pulls in the male counterpart which is very cleverly done. They are very intelligent which is shown when she plans this performance to get what she wants and the help she needs with out being found out for what she really is. She always makes herself very desirable so that all the males want to help her in the end and show off to her.

Femme fatales also have negative characteristics as they use their beauty and intelligence to be sly and they use the male to get money and attention. The way they present themselves when accompanied by the male is very acted and fake. She will throw herself on him and she always looks fashionable, sexy and very beautiful. This seduces and draws in the male to feel sorry for her and so he falls for her stupidly. She always gets her own way which shows how manipulative and persuasive towards the male she can be. She is always in control and she wraps the male round her little finger so he is doing every thing she wants.

A typical femme fatale could look like this:- a beautiful woman, smoking, sexy, very little clothing, fur item.

The Script

The Script

FILM NOIR

By Harriet Watson and Rebecca Campbell

FADE IN

ESTABLISHING SHOT

INT. BAR – NIGHT

DENNIS DALE orders a drink from the bar as he reminisces on his previous state.

VOICE OVER: Forty three years and I've seen it all, murder, prostitution, gunshot to the head. They call me Dale, Detective Dennis Dale… I thought today was going to be a good day, until I met her…

DENNIS DALE spots the femme fatale as she enters the bar, mesmerised by her beauty she captures him looking at her. She prances through the bar taking the attention of everyone around, until she comes face to face with the Detective.

FLORENCE: Oh, Detective my sister has been taken I need your help.

DENNIS DALE: Calm down precious, just tell me slowly

FLORENCE: Okay, (quick breathing) I was at home reading my book, it was late, and I heard a bang. My sister had fled; I had no idea where she was going. She hasn't yet returned… It’s been a whole day I’m so worried Detective what if she has been killed? Kidnapped? Anything…

DENNIS DALE: We will find her sweetheart, are you sure there isn't anything else? Anywhere she would have gone?

FLORENCE: Well, I don’t think so. Please Detective I don’t know what to do.

_____________________________________________________________________

FADE OUT

FADE IN

INT. DETECTIVES OFFICE

A close up of the Detective’s belongings are shown. He is sitting in his office thinking about his case. Dennis Dale is sitting at the desk as KATHERINE (the secretary) walks in.

KATHERINE: Sorry to bother you Detective but I have something for you

DENNIS DALE: What is it little one?

KATHERINE: I have the newspaper here, an article you should see

KATHERINE places the newspaper on the table it reads ‘YOUNG WOMAN PRONOUNCED DEAD AFTER GUN SHOT TO THE HEAD”

SCENE FADES OUT WITH A CLOSE UP OF DETECTIVE LOOKING SHOCKED

END OF OPENING SEQUENCE

November feedback

You need to post regularly on the web-log.

You are working at level 2 for research and planning and need to add posts for the following;

Script

Storyboard

Analysis of opening sequences x4

Targets for November

Film

Risk assessment

Edit

Consider sound and titles to add meaning and atmosphere

Manage your time effectively