Film-TV 1

ANALYSIS/REFLECTION 7: THE END, QUESTION 1 + 2

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Milk

I really enjoyed this film as I found it was very comedic. I also loved some of the shoots – like the motion shot from the car. The dramatic music at the start was also great and I felt it set up the mood within the film well. The pickles guy was casted brilliantly. I would have loved to have seen more of him. I felt as though he was awesome in his role.  The plot was simple, yet affective.All up, I thought it was pretty great to watch!

Granny Theft Auto

I found this film very entertaining. The grandma was my favourite. She was hilarious and I feel the script was very well written. The lines that she said about pasta and everything else she said, heavily established the character. The twist of the two cars was a complete surprise to me – and this was executed nicely. All up, I thought it was funny and very entertaining.

Paperboy

This film had a great idea about it. I really liked the plot, again something so simple, but yet so affective. I thought the guy was cast really well and the sneak in to get the magazine was done nicely – and it was kept suspenseful. I found it funny and it made me a little nervous as I didn’t know how she was going to act if she found out. Although, I would have liked to have seen a bigger variety of shots to create a sexual tension between the characters. I would have liked to have known the girl next door more – what she was feeling. But other than that, I thought it was super funny and scripted well.

QUESTION 2

This as been one of my favourite subject this far within the course. It was hands on – which I enjoyed a lot. Looking back, I feel I did achieve the goals I set out to do. One being getting involved within the production side, which I did. I put my hand up for cinematographer. I learnt that this position is so stressful – but the good sort of stress that makes you want to keep doing it.

I also wanted to focus on working within a team. I learnt to love my group so much! So many people in my group have so much potential and I really enjoyed listening to their perspectives and opinions on the film and on my work. They made me feel as though I could work creatively with the camera and they would support my decisions and offer their opinions (which I took into account). I really did enjoy this process. I thought it was so much fun.

Creatively, I felt I did push myself to try new things. Although, sometimes I wasn’t able to do so because it didn’t fit with how the group wanted it to be. Which I found to be okay, because I really loved how it turned out and I value their opinions immensely. Robin was also really great when listening to my idea’s and how I should go about them. I felt fully supported in this area and took risks creatively where I could.

I have very much enjoyed this course, it was so much fun and I learnt so much. I know I will be able to use a lot of what I learnt for future projects.

Analysis / Reflection 5

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Lecture 7 Lighting: What was covered? Do you think the content is relevant to
your project? And why?

Lighting in general contributes to a scene and a mood – and throughout the last couple of weeks I have come to realise how important it really is. I have also learnt how it can make or break a film – it can increase or decrease the standard of the film overall irrelvent to what the script is.

In week 7’s lecture, we look more into how to acomplish different types of lighting – and what lighting equipment to use. Specifically we looked at controlling light – to allow for a realistic lighting setting and to acomplish the over all mood of the scene that is being shot. It’s incredible how much lighting is needed and worth doing – I learnt this while shooting our short film. I also learnt how time consuming it is and how much thought and pre-planning should go into it. But also at the same time, you can’t help certain circumstances on the day, so you have to make do with what you have. Lighting has a huge impact, and I think learning about it was very relvent because it has allowed for me to be able to problem solve on the spot.

In the lecture Paul and Robin spoke about how certain lighting can illuminate a person’s face and features. They spoke about how light can highlight certain parts of the face and how different light can alter how certain features look. It was interesting to see how much the rotation of light, different lighting equipment and directions can alter someones face.

Select from one of the readings from week 5, 6 or 7 and describe two points that you have taken from it. Points that excite you, something that was completely new to you.
It is recommended to read all of the readings.

Ch. 5. Lighting a scene (extracts). In Malkiewicz, K. Film
lighting : talks with Hollywood’s cinematographers and gaffers, (p. 99-115,
128-135). New York: Pretence Hall, 1986.

– Lighting faces: I usually photograph people and I always find lighting something very difficult to get right. But once it is right – it makes such a huge difference, it’s actually incredible. Going from still photography to cinematography was difficult for me (generally because I am such a perfectionist and there is so much control in still then there is with movement). While filming, I was really pushed to compromise some of my views to what something should look like – and this was really good for me. It allowed things to happen naturally. Within the reading it speaks about how to light a face and how much certain light, such as diffused, can really allow for highlighting of certain features – features that compliment.

– Hard light: Hard light can cause such a negatuve affect when its unwanted. When I shoot still and it’s outdoors, I always hope for a cloudy day. Its easy to work with and control the light. When ever I shoot, I will take a white card or a reflector. This can allow a diffuse of hard light and allow is to become softer. What I took from this part of the reading was how important a white card is – it can create a soft and gentle light, that isnt harsh and allows for a realistic and wanted effect. ‘Bouncing’ light off a white card or a reflector creates softer shadows.

Blow Up is a 1966 film directed by Michelangelo Antonioni.
In this scene note the choreography of the actors, camera, frame and focus. As covered in the lecture describe the things Antonioni would have have to consider when directing the actors and the camera.
This film had a lovely feel about it – a certain rythmn and a constant movement. The relation with characters and props found to be very important, as the audeince found themselves to behind objects peering onto the characters. The rythmn of the film was light and the camera seemed to follow the main subject. Placement of structures with characters constructed most of the scene – there never seemed to be a standstill.

REFLECTION #4 – Lighting

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Question 7

  1. Please outline some points that you took away from the Lighting Lecture. Points that excite you, something that was completely new to you, perplexes you or even one you take issue with.

    Lighting is so essential to the production and the film. Lighting it something that HAS to be thought about. I have always felt I don’t have enough knowledge on lighting than I should. I find it so complex and hard to get it perfect – and even keep the same tonal light in each scene. Not having the same light can really break up a film take away from the realism.

    I would really love to work on it more. Because I do find it hard – but what I find most difficult is how you can’t particularly ‘pre-plan’ the lighting, because you never know what you are going to expect on the day. But I feel if you have a general knowledge of what to do, and plan the look that you want, then it can be made easy. It’s up to personal choice and preference – but it must not take away from the film.

     

Carbon Festival

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Recently, I was able to work with ACCLAIM magazine for the Carbon Festival.

It was an incredible experience and I was inspired by so many fantastic artists. We were able to sit in on the forums, attend the events after. We also met some of the speakers, such as Janette Beckman – who is a true inspiration to me.

I learnt so much within the 4 days and was overwhelmed with the amount of inspiring people.

Analysis and Reflection 2 (Film-Tv 1)

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QUESTION 1:
In the film Clown Train how does sound contribute to the atmosphere of this film? Describe what you heard? Can you make reference to another genre film and how they utilise sound to create tension and a unique filmic space?

The sound in this film was highly suspenseful and I found myself constantly waiting for what would happen next. The sound made the film feel surreal and as if it wasn’t happening – it allowed for the plot to build. The sound had a mix of diegetic and non-digetic sounds – allowing for a eerie, and even creepy, atmosphere to be created. It didn’t quite feel real and originally I felt that the guy was in a dream.

A similar soundscape is usually implemented in horror and thriller films – when suspense is needed. The eerie and non-matching sound with the visuals created a certain discomfort and unease within an audience. This allowing audience to feel suspense and the known feeling that something bad is about to happen – they are just waiting for the time it will happen and perhaps what it will be. The tension created with sound and visual is for the film maker to somewhat guide the audiences emotions – perhaps to get emotionally involved and ‘feel’ something towards the scene the are watching.This type of sound created anticipation and suspense – waiting for something perhaps bad to happen.

The simplicity of the film made me really love it and it left a lot of the thinking up to me – as we didn’t know a started point of a full ending point. I really enjoyed the film.

QUESTION 2:
Select from one of the readings, up to but not including Week 5, and briefly describe two points that you have taken from it. Points that excite you, something that was completely new to you.

– Sight and hearing. In Bresson, R. Notes on the cinematographer, (p. 50-52). London: Quartet, 1986.-

“A sound must never come to the rescue of an image, nor an image to the rescue of a sound”

I had to read this point a few times to fully understand it’s meaning – and it’s the fact that sound and image come hand in hand. What I took away from this was the fact that sound and image work together and to become a whole. It’s also not up to one element to ‘save’ another – they must be as powerful and as striking as one another, as well as relatable to one another.

“Image and sound must not support each other, but must work each in turn through a sort of relay”

For me, this created the visualisation of obviously a relay – in athletics where you past the Baton and obviously can not do it without other team members. Constantly throughout the race someone is holding the Baton and if they aren’t, then the whole team is disqualified. This is similar to film – if sound and image don’t work together there is an obvious disconnected and the ‘realism’ from the film is taken away (disqualified).

QUESTION 3: 

Rolling (Short Film)
In 300 words or less describe what you thought worked or didn’t. At this stage we don’t expect you to have a great deal of film knowledge or language. Don’t be afraid to use your own words. Things you could talk about – script, casting, timing, camera movement, location. You may not remember much detail, if so, it could be helpful to talk about your first impressions, after all this is what most of us are left with after one viewing

Rolling was what I thought a well thought out short film – as everything was in relation to one another. My first impressions of the film was the the narrative was done nicely but the acting and ‘slow camera’ with the actors sort of detached from the film and made it seem a bit awkward and not as good as it maybe could have been – this may have had something to do with the script.

Although, I found the location and general plot well done. My favourite frame was all the toilet paper in his living room – I don’t particularly know why, but it sort of made it clear to me how much he liked her and the lengths he would go to even talk to her. It also shows how badly he choked which enables a comedic element throughout. The comedy in the film was subtle and probably my favourite part of the film – as it wasn’t over bearing and in your face, although it was obvious what was funny about the situation.

The ending for me was also well done, as I liked that we (the audience) ended where we started. But I would of like maybe 5 seconds longer of the film – maybe to HEAR her reaction to the toilet paper in the living room (like a gasp) and then maybe a comment from him. I feel this would have resolved the film further and also allowed the comedic element to continue. Although I do like how it is up to the audience to interrupt how she may have acted when she saw it.

FILM TV 1 – Idea / Plot / Synopsis

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IDEA –  Scarlett leads a repetitive lifestyle (wakes up early, eats breakfast, waits for the bus, goes on the bus, goes to work and comes home) and is never late but always early. One day the bus never comes and she finds herself confused as to what she is meant with the time that is usually filled by her daily tasks. She discovers spontaneity and this changes the way she perceives the world.

PLOT / SYNOPSIS – Scarlett is an ordinary girl that lives by time and zones in her life. There is the waking up zone, eating zone, drinking tea, waiting for the bus, work, home, coming home, eating, watching tv, sleep and then it repeats. She is never late, always early. The film starts off with this repeated lifestyle. The silence of what she does – the only sounds are diegetic, ie pouring of the tea. She stands by the bus 5 minutes early every day and the bus gets to her stop on time every day. One day it doesn’t come and she finds herself confused and disorientated. She has never had a complex thought on what would happen if the bus never came. She looks around and sees things anew. Ordinary people start to look extraordinary and she starts wanting to know about people. She starts coming up with stories of their lives in their head just by looking at them. One girl walks to school – V/O of her voice starts and she creates a story for the people she sees. Girl walking to school – “has a crush on a boy that doesn’t even know her name. Incredibly intelligent but dumbs herself down so that she fits in with her other peers. Although she will realize this isn’t the way and she will become a heart surgeon saving people’s lives – and go home to a husband that appreciates her intelligence”. This continues with a few more people and then she find herself back at her house and a V/O (her voice) says her future and life. “Scarlett, who once liked being called Scar, will find happiness beyond routine. She will want go to bed at 9:30 tonight, but maybe 12. She won’t eat toast and peanut butter for breakfast, maybe cereal, she will skip her tea drinking and go straight outside. She won’t go to the bus stop but instead walk to work. And it’s there she will find the person she is meant to be with that will fit into her plans of change”. Throughout this V/O, the story will play out what the voice is saying. It will end with bus driving past and her not on it.

Analysis and Reflection 1 (Film-Tv 1)

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Question 1: In 200 words or less please outline your goals, desires – what you want to get out of this semester…

Throughout this semester my main ambition is to push myself creatively – to do the work assigned plus much more. To take risk where I can – to not play it safe. I want to involve myself fully into the course and enjoy the learning journey. I want to take in what is being said and told and use it to my benefit and advantage.

My main goal is pushing my creativity and seeing what I can accomplish – what I can come up with. To work in a group is an exciting yet challenging part in this course (as everyone has a difference idea’s, set of priorities and goals). I want to see the difference in people, listen to their idea’s and be inspired. I sometimes forget that most of this industry is done in teams – and that’s something I really want to explore.

I also want to familiarise myself with the production side – how an idea can come alive. This will take a large amount of dedication and I really want to try my best to listen to others, push myself creatively and learn things that will improve my style and skills. I look forward to creating content and making something of my ideas.

Question 2: Consider  Jasmine’s lecture on Screenwriting and briefly describe one point that you have taken from it. A point that excites you, something that was completely new to you, perplexes you or even one you take issue with.

Jasmine made the points of a novelist and a screenwriter – and the fact that there IS a difference. I found this incredibly interesting, and true… A novel has pages and pages of establishing the character to the fine detail – creating a complex image for the reader and really setting the character up on a personal level. Although, yes, you can do this in film – but film has a time limit. There is restrictions and everything you write and ‘set-up’ to make a character can not all be conveyed on screen. It would make the narrative too hard to understand and at times, over-whelming. This is why I really enjoyed Jasmines character summary – what a character can be made up of, what it shouldn’t be and how to make the character interesting. You want the audience to feel something towards the character, something personal, even an association – but you also want the character to be tested to make it interesting and to keep the viewer involved with what they are watching. Setting up your characters is very important as it can establish the audience’s connection with the film and character and make it, as obvious as it seems, watchable.

Question 3: Select from one of the readings from week 1 or 2 and briefly describe two points that you have taken from that reading. Points that excite you, something that was completely new to you. 

Reading: Getting An Idea, Robin Plunkett

1. ‘The content of a story told on film will be shaped by the medium itself’ – I sometimes find it very had to contain my idea’s on how I want my imagery filmed, shown and displayed. As I do a lot of photography work, I find my mind focusing on what I think is beautiful, i.e. “pretty pictures”, and I get caught up in the ‘art’ and aesthetics of an image rather than its narrative. I sometimes feel that what I imagine will not suit actual ‘cinema’ or the medium – as it may be too abstract or just visually pleasing (with no story). Plunkett highlights to me that an idea may only be suited to certain mediums – perhaps not cinema. This brought me back to earth – I have to take into account what medium I am using and realise my idea’s may not actually be right for the medium I am using.

2. ‘It’s a study of human behaviour and how people in very special circumstances react to each other’ (Roman Polanski) – I honestly love this. I have always found it inspiring what a film can actually convey and how it can make me feel. Its fascinating how a person can become so attached to a character, to their journey, and how we can familiarise it with ourselves. The emotions a film can evoke from the creations of characters and how they react and behave is outstanding – because it’s something we face every day. We are faced with certain people and situations in our lives that we will have to deal with and every time react to in different ways and individually – and for a film to highlight a journey, emotions and consequences is amazing and we find ourselves empathising and fascinated – even attached.

Year 2, Semester 1

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 I don’t know where that time has gone or what I did with it – but it feels like I never left University or had a Summer break. Not sure if that is a good thing or a bad thing yet…

Just completed the first week of the year and I am feeling mixed emotions – a huge sense of excitement to get started on projects, a little bit of fear on whether I can balance work and University and a bit of confusion. On a whole, I think these are all normal feelings.

My first year felt like a bit of a test run – to get my bearings, really. I don’t think I made the most of it though. I want to say I did – but I don’t think I used the course to my advantage. This year, I want to change things up a little bit. I want to push myself creatively – experiment and have fun with what I make and what I do. I think last year I was stuck in the VCE mode – getting the best marks possible and following a criteria. From the Sumer break, which I’m sure I had, I realised that, yes I want to get good marks but more than that, I really want to make the most out of what is on offer. I want to see what I can do and see the real reason why I chose this course.

I want to challenge myself but more than that – I want to truly find out what I can do and what I can make. I am capable of more, I know that, I just need to do it. I need to stop procrastinating and start to put 100% into everything I do.

So, I am going to stick with Nike’s advice –

just do it

and do it well…