Monday 16 November 2015

Jury Service : Explanation

I am anxious as to how my studies will continue while on Jury Service - as I can't do anything practical while there. I hope that I will be given a research project, if not then hopefully it won't last long and I will be back to normal soon.

UPDATE: I've been picked for a long trial (expected to finish 15/1/16)

Sunday 1 November 2015

References


Samme Final - Reflection + Feedback

(Insert final cut)

I found this project difficult. The group would unnecessarily make the shot types and shooting more difficult than it needed to be not listening to my instructions. People would move the camera + tripod when we still needed shots and were more excited to get home and be finished with the shoot. I don't think we got enough of a variety of shots, and we also forgot to record an atmos track as a result of this. My group refused to take aboard my thoughts and problems with shooting at night - which I was right about as banding was a problem and it became too dark. I think it was difficult being in a group that didn't listen to all aspects that group members had problems with. One group member was unable to attend the shoot - and as a result of this, contributed the bare minimum to this project - even having the cheek of asking me if he could say he wrote the screenplays and shot lists I wrote. I think the sound for this project was extremely last minute, and I don't particularly like. I think the abstract sound is too much for throughout the track and should only be played at certain parts of the short film and to add foley sounds. The editor of the group I found hard to work with, as he refused to accept any criticism and only reluctantly cut down shot types and extended others from 3 minutes to the required minute when asked by a lecturer. To improve I would add foley sound and change the track, I would change the colour grading to be more orange to blue. I would also reshoot during the day and edit the shots so they are tighter, lingering on a few shots.  

Sound

2 days before the deadline and we still have no sound recorded. Issues with software and editing have taken up most of the time for this project and have left sound to last minute - I'm worried that as a group we won't be able to give feedback and won't have heard the sound before showing it to the class and dislike it or have errors that could've been easily corrected.

The Sound Designer for the group has told us that he plans to use metallic long exaggerated sounds, changing the pitch so it's deeper and is more eerie. The references for sound are:






Both pieces sound abstract - I think that this sound should only be used when Samme's double is seen or suggested on screen, and not throughout the entire short film to contrast normality and what is in Samme's head.

Samme - Rough Cut




  • Too long
  • Shots are too long or not long enough
  • pace of edits isn't tense enough
  • colour grading - needs to be from Orange to Blue
  • Too dark
  • Lines from street lamps (not matching camera's shutterspeed - banding created)
  • No sound
  • Incoherent 
  • Shots aren't consistent with screenplay + storyboard

Locations

 These are the locations we have decided to use:

They are narrow in places to suggest a trapping environment for the character and diegesis for the audience. But the alleyway is wider in some places to make is easier for shooting.

Possible problems:


  • Too dark?
  • Trains go overhead often
  • Common alleyway for the public
  • Too narrow - shows shadows of crew?


Film Technique




Gallery Visit 21/10/15

Photos from The Photographers Gallery are here

- I loved the photos from this Gallery, I think that forensic photography is fascinating. In my spare time I enjoy watching Medical Examiner shows (Dr G Medical Examiner) and other crime related TV shows. I think that death is an interesting topic - as we are all alive there's not much that anyone can say about death has they haven't experienced it first hand - there's something about peace and the last final vulnerable state that leads me to feel a connection with the pieces I viewed at the photographers gallery.

ICA photos can be found here

- I didn't enjoy all of ICA. I liked the photography showing intimate parts of peoples lives, perhaps representing identity. I didn't like the sculptures as they were extremely abstract and didn't make much sense to me.

Tate photos can be found here

-I didn't really like much from the Tate. The only piece I enjoyed is the woman with 1 eye and 3 hands as I like the style of the piece.

Storyboard + Screenplay (version 2)



Samme screenplay 2 from Synflame

After changing a few issues with incoherence of the script and storyboards, I have rewrote the screenplay to make it clearer for the editor and sound designer in post production as well as an aid during production for the cinematographer and the direction of the film. 

Storyboard + Screenplay (version 1)


Samme Storyboards 1 from Synflame

Feedback

  • Do not fall into obvious
  • Audience - no ambiguity to know exactly how it ends
  • Keep it Simple
  • Successful + Failure
  • work on how physically showing conflict of two
  • make it more visually intriguing

Samme (brainstorm)


Storyline:


  • Samme ignores friends
  • Drops his phone
  • Sees himself
  • Follows after
  • loses him 
  • walks back fatigued and sluggish 
  • coughing up blood?
  • dies
  • 2nd version leaves?