On Tuesday of this week our group conducted our major shoot for Project Brief 5. The process was long and often logistically complex, yet I believe our team worked efficiently together. Our main concern at this point in time is that we will not have enough content to create an at least 8 minute long film. We played around with our script a lot throughout the day, which made it hard to determine just how long our film will actually be. I think that after making a rough cut of the footage we have, we will probably plan to reshoot an extra scene or two, not only to flesh out the length of the film, but also create a slightly more conclusive ending.

In terms of the semester overall, I have really enjoyed the freedom that this studio has allowed when it came to creating content. Although we had to try and either adhere or challenge specific genres in each project brief, we were able to use varying formats of storytelling, and create plots based on our own ideas about a genre of our own choosing. We had studies all sorts of genres from Westerns to Film Noir, so choosing an area to specialise in was never a hard task.

One of my main goals for this semester was to step out of my comfort zone when it came to sound editing, as well as to explore the different areas of cinema which I would usually steer away from. I was able to practice my skills in sound in Project Brief 2, and although I still need to spend a lot of time improving in this area, I was grateful to be given the opportunity to test out the format of purely audio storytelling, which I had not done before.

With the screenings each week, I was was exposed to a lot of different films which I probably would never have seen on my own accord.  Movies such as Berberian Sound Studio and Ronin were two of such films, which helped to explore horror and action, two genres that I often avoid. I especially enjoyed the week in which we watched Aliens, as not only was the film one of my favourites screened, but we also conducted a debate in class which made doing research on the topic more fun and interesting. Watching a film each week was helpful in that it allowed us to better interact with the theoretical side of genre by making connections to a movie we had all seen, allowing us to discuss it as a class.

Being able to work individually as well as in a group (if we chose to do so) also added variety to the work, making it more enjoyable and applicable to our personal styles of learning. Using photos, sound and video allowed me to explore some of my skills, as well as exposing me to knew areas, all whilst applying the notions of genre theory.

This week’s theme of hybridity and homage was extremely relevant with our Project Brief 4. With our intention being to explore the amalgamation of Film Noir and Horror, the readings and film came at an appropriate time to assess how we would interconnect these two genres. Whilst the film that we watched, The Cabin in the Woods, combines Horror and Comedy, it was still useful in our exploration of just how different genres come together.

The Cabin in the Woods uses comedy to point out the tropes of horror, whilst almost lovingly paying tribute to it. The film does not seemingly make fun of horror films, but instead uses it’s already established form to generate reactions and moods within the audience, often also leading to comedic effect. Analysing the effects of these connections and outcomes will hopefully help when trying to generate links between Film Noir and Horror.

I do believe that horror is often inherent within Film Noir, although these connections are not so relevant in the reverse order. Film Noir centres on the world of crime and the sometimes ‘horrific’ acts involved when these crimes are committed. Although graphic or controversial content was usually not portrayed on screen in the noir films of the 40s and 50s, it’s place within these stories could be seen as a linkage point between the two genres. This could be a possible area to explore for my exegesis, which will accompany Project Brief 4.

I have never really been a fan of Action films. Initially, I thought that this was because growing up they were always sold to me as “boy’s movies”. This is probably partially the case, however, there are other factors that constantly seem to erk me when watching these films. Firstly, the widespread disregard for human life usually leads me to care little for the protagonists of the film. If we don’t care about the fate of the ten men you just shot in order to save your ‘damsel in distress’ or protect your bounty of cash, why should I care when your life is put into danger?

I also think that the plot lines are usually too far fetched to be relatable in any way. I know that the point of action films is often escapism, and I can often appreciate their complex stunts and visuals, but with no avenue for relatability, my interest wains quickly. I hoped that I would be able to enjoy Ronin, but unfortunately I found that it did fall into these common action traps.

It is action films like 21 Jump Street and Tropic Thunder that I am able to enjoy the most. Not only is their self-aware nature refreshing, but their ability to play on the hybridity of comedy and action is something that I find far more enjoyable to watch.

In terms of progress for Project Brief 4, there’s been some ups and downs. Our initial plot concept was based on a True Detective style interrogation scene, with a woman being questioned as an innocent bystander for a murder that she actually committed herself. Although this idea seemed great to start with, we had significant trouble fleshing out the details of the plot. We have now begun to lean more towards a bottle drama style, and I believe that a simpler plot line will be better constructed in the 8 -10 minute time limit for the film.

The focus on planning for our final project brief continued this week, as we began to hone in on plot for our short film. I always find the task of coming up with an initial idea to expand upon quite difficult, so I found working in a group to be beneficial, as we were all able to bounce ideas off each other. We were able to come up with a basic idea of a femme fatale protagonist, however there is still a lot of work to do in terms of creating a solid plot around the character.

Watching Coherence (2013) in class this week also gave us some inspiration for our final piece. The ‘bottle drama’ format of the film was beneficial to explore, as these type of films are often made with a low budget and small cast, whilst still being able to convey great stories. Not only was the film enthralling, it also didn’t seem like a task that was too unattainable for us, as students to reach for. The cinematography of the film was stylish and meaningful, whilst also seeming possible to achieve with our current skill sets. The small details like frequently showing multiple people within the frame and having different conversations between the dinner guests overlap emphasised the claustrophobic space within the house and how tensions easily arose within the space. Techniques such as these could definitely add to our own filmmaking and inspire our work over the rest of the semester.