For a media trip, our class went to Cinema City to watch 'La Haine' and 'The Scouting Book for Boys'.
La Haine
La Haine (1995) is a Crime/Drama and was directed, and written, by Mathieu Kassovitz.
"The film follows three young men and their time spent in the French suburbs over twenty-four hours. Vinz, Saïd and Hubert have grown up here where high levels of adversity coupled with the racist and oppressive police force have raised tensions to a critical breaking point. During the riots that took place a night before, Vinz finds an officer's handgun and vows to kill a cop if his friend Abdel dies in the hospital, due the beating he received while in police custody."
I thought La Haine was an interesting didactic film because it covered a range of racial aspects. A camera shot I thought was well filmed was when there is an establishing shot of the housing estate, but the camera is at a very high angle, almost like it was filmed in a helicopter. Normally, when a high angle shot is used it makes the characters appear vulnerable.
I also noticed that gender mostly included males, which added to the violent nature. Women included;
Hubert's mum- An average woman, positive role model but uninspired.
Hubert's sister- A hopeful girl but gets left out.
Women in the gallery- Representatives of middle class people.
Said's sister- A contrast to Hubert's sister because she doesn't feel like she belongs in the male dominated environment.
I think the purpose of this film was to show a different type of society that we live in today, and it represents a different perspective.
The Scouting Book for Boys
The Scouting Book for Boys is a Drama/Thriller, directed by Tom Harper and written by Jack Thorne.
"Thomas Turgoose stars as David, a teenager who discovers his best friend Emily is being sent away from their caravan park home to live with her father. Instead, she runs away to hide in a nearby cave. But their plan goes wrong, first dangerously when the police intervene, then tragically, as David misreads Emily's affections."
In my opinion, The Scouting Book for Boys was more thrilling than La Haine. For example, when Thomas is about to break Emily's leg, it builds up tension. I also noticed an interesting camera shot; when Emily is jumping on the caravans and the sun is setting behind her, it looks like a silhouette and represents her innocence, which makes us more sympathetic towards her when she dies at the end. The camera is also at a low angle; this shows that she is like a role model because the camera is looking up at her.
I have analysed some of camera angles and conventions of a thriller genre in both films, and I will take these into account when producing the main task. For example, I have chosen to use a high angle on a shot of the victim in my film to show her vulnerability. I especially think "The Scouting Book for Boys" creates intense suspense towards the end of the film. This shows that music and sound effects are very important to create tension.
Thursday 21 October 2010
Sunday 17 October 2010
Thursday 14 October 2010
What I have learnt
By taking part in the preliminary task, I have learnt the different types of camera angles/shots, transitions and how to overcome continuity errors.
Camera angles/shots
In the preliminary task, we used the 180° rule, which is a basic guideline making that states that two characters in the same scene should always have the same left/right relationship to each other. If the camera passes over the imaginary axis connecting the two subjects, it is called crossing the line. The new shot, from the opposite side, is known as a reverse angle. We have also used an over the shoulder shot and mid shots.
Other examples of shots we could have used are as follows;
Establishing shot- An establishing shot sets up a scene's setting/location of where the scene is taking place. It may also establish a concept.
Cutting on action- Cutting on action or matching on action refers to a film editing technique where the editor cuts from one shot to another view that matches the first shot's action and energy. It gives the impression of continuous time when watching the edited film.
Cutaway- A cutaway is the interruption of a continuously filmed action by inserting a view of something else. It's sometimes followed by a cutback of the first shot.
Insert- An insert is a shot of part of a scene as filmed from a different angle or focal length from the master shot.
Axial cut- An axial cut is a type of jump cut, where the camera suddenly moves closer to or further away from its subject, along an invisible line drawn straight between the camera and the subject. However, It does not involve a temporal discontinuity.
Panning shot- the camera moves slowly across from side to side from a fixed axis.
Tilt shot- the camera moves up and down from a fixed axis.
Tracking shot- the camera follows the action, moving along tracks laid for that purpose, often pulling backwards from a scene.
Use of transitions
In film or video, scenes consist of a sequence of shots. Each shot is made from a different perspective and then they are joined together. The joining together of the individual shots to make a particular scene is accomplished through transitions (to lead your listener from one idea to another.)
In the preliminary task I have used transitions such as, a Cut (an instant change from one shot to the next), a fade from black at the beginning of the scene, a fade to black at the end of the scene and other digital effects. I have chosen these because they fit in with the mood of the clip.
Continuity is the property of a continuous and connected period of time. Parts of a scene might be shot at different times, but with good continuity, you won't be able to tell. These things will include the same costume; the same hairstyle and the props will be in the same place.
In the preliminary task, we also had a continuity error- in the background of a shot you can see a tripod. We can overcome this error by cutting the tripod out of the shot and making sure this won't happen again.
However, I am please with the continuity in the characters walk through the door because it runs smoothly to fit in with the scene.
Camera angles/shots
In the preliminary task, we used the 180° rule, which is a basic guideline making that states that two characters in the same scene should always have the same left/right relationship to each other. If the camera passes over the imaginary axis connecting the two subjects, it is called crossing the line. The new shot, from the opposite side, is known as a reverse angle. We have also used an over the shoulder shot and mid shots.
Other examples of shots we could have used are as follows;
Establishing shot- An establishing shot sets up a scene's setting/location of where the scene is taking place. It may also establish a concept.
Cutting on action- Cutting on action or matching on action refers to a film editing technique where the editor cuts from one shot to another view that matches the first shot's action and energy. It gives the impression of continuous time when watching the edited film.
Cutaway- A cutaway is the interruption of a continuously filmed action by inserting a view of something else. It's sometimes followed by a cutback of the first shot.
Insert- An insert is a shot of part of a scene as filmed from a different angle or focal length from the master shot.
Axial cut- An axial cut is a type of jump cut, where the camera suddenly moves closer to or further away from its subject, along an invisible line drawn straight between the camera and the subject. However, It does not involve a temporal discontinuity.
Panning shot- the camera moves slowly across from side to side from a fixed axis.
Tilt shot- the camera moves up and down from a fixed axis.
Tracking shot- the camera follows the action, moving along tracks laid for that purpose, often pulling backwards from a scene.
Use of transitions
In film or video, scenes consist of a sequence of shots. Each shot is made from a different perspective and then they are joined together. The joining together of the individual shots to make a particular scene is accomplished through transitions (to lead your listener from one idea to another.)
In the preliminary task I have used transitions such as, a Cut (an instant change from one shot to the next), a fade from black at the beginning of the scene, a fade to black at the end of the scene and other digital effects. I have chosen these because they fit in with the mood of the clip.
Continuity is the property of a continuous and connected period of time. Parts of a scene might be shot at different times, but with good continuity, you won't be able to tell. These things will include the same costume; the same hairstyle and the props will be in the same place.
In the preliminary task, we also had a continuity error- in the background of a shot you can see a tripod. We can overcome this error by cutting the tripod out of the shot and making sure this won't happen again.
However, I am please with the continuity in the characters walk through the door because it runs smoothly to fit in with the scene.
Sunday 10 October 2010
The filming process for the preliminary task
Recently, Serena, Vicki and I, have been filming for the preliminary task. Firstly, Serena and I got changed into smart clothing. Then, we had to alter the location so it wouldn't look like a classroom, but more like an office. To do this, we took down school posters that were showing in the camera shots. However, we left the desk untidy because we thought this would show a bit of the character's personality. We also made sure all the props were in place.
Next, we adjusted the lighting so that the only lighting in the room was set over the desk, which is the main focus of our filming.
The filming process didn't take as long as we had expected. There were not many problems and the outcome was satisfactory. The short video clip will be edited and uploaded in due course.
Next, we adjusted the lighting so that the only lighting in the room was set over the desk, which is the main focus of our filming.
The filming process didn't take as long as we had expected. There were not many problems and the outcome was satisfactory. The short video clip will be edited and uploaded in due course.
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