You may be wondering why I'm looking at music videos but I chose it because many of them tell a story using a variety of camera angles, shots and movements, editing and Mise en Scene.
Even though there is dialogue in music videos, the song can be used as a soundtrack or theme which will be used in my 5 minute film.
I will be focusing on long music videos as they are normally around 5minutes.
Below is the opening of one of Michael Jackson's most famous music videos
It starts of with an establishing shot of a black and white big and very old building leading to a variety of shots in black and white. In the video they use close ups of Michael, continuity by dissolving, pans, etc.
Even though the video is 7 minutes it will be great as a short film or film in general because of the storyline and Mise en Scene like the props (gun) and costume (jeans and hoodie) which follows their personalities as gangsters.
What I really liked about the storyline was that it is different from other crime drama stories. Bad by Michael had a twist to it which was he went against his friends and became their enemy. In my opinion this is good because it isn't predictable and makes the me want to keep watching.
The Mise en Scene was good because it followed the codes and conventions of crime drama films. The video was shot in the middle 80's and so some of the costume the gangsters were wearing may be different to what gangsters where today for example leather jackets. This could include hair styles like the Afro and Jheri Curls
The song 'Bad' could be used as the soundtrack and they used sound effects like when they were looking at the character with the gun and digetic sound of the student speaking to each other as background.
Below is another video but by Eminem - Stan
It starts with a zoom in through a window of the character called Stan. They use a variety of shots like high angle of Stan and his wife in the bathroom and use Pan of Stan in his Eminem world bedroom and spotlight on him in a low key lighting room.
The video will be a great film due to the flashbacks like of Stan in the concert representing life.
Time and location was also a smart idea because they chose it at night time and mainly shooting in the attic. These two tell the audience what of song and video it will be. Most videos shot at night and in the attic are mostly horror or films with an unhappy narrative.
If a film it would be a drama. The song will be used as a soundtrack.
Friday, 16 July 2010
Thursday, 8 July 2010
How to make good story ideas
These are the most unusual and different ways of thinking up a good story idea.
- Dreaming/imagining
- Personal life story
- Something you've witnessed
- Advice
- Media( magazines, newspapers, TV
Tuesday, 6 July 2010
My film (made by pictures)
I decided to take pictures of cinematography and put them together to create a movie. I also used a soundtrack (non - digetic music) to make the movie more interesting and to support the narrative. The song is by Nas and called 'I Can'. It is about how you can be whatever you want if you put your mind to it and work hard for it.
The first picture was used to represent the world. The tiny building in the center is the Earth as it's small and has darkness around it. Everything around is the universe as the trees are much bigger. The lighting only reveals parts of cars but not much of the car saying the Earth is filled with darkness.
Poverty
The second picture shows poverty. I reveal part of a Estate by its setting with rubbish bins outside suggesting that things to do with rubbish is part of the peoples life. The medium shot gives details about each window and state of them as well does the high key lighting.
Then is the medium close up of me looking at the expensive watch. The hat on my head tells the audience the type of character I am. As the expensive watch is away from me and I have a cheap half broken one near me, it represents my poverty. I'm also staring at the expensive one suggesting I want to have that or be part of that life (rich/successful)
Anger
A close up is then shown of me holding a weapon (prop) with my hands in a fist representing me as angry, meaning facial expression or body movements doesn't need to be shown to tell the audience how a character feels. As my hand is near the door it suggest that I'm moving there and the foreground is very dark showing I'm on my way to darkness which involves anger and can lead to all kinds of things.
The next is a medium close up of me staring up angrily. My body language is crouch revealing I don't like what I'm seeing. The lighting also reflects on my face showing my facial expressions which isn't pleasant. The fact that I'm facing the lighting shows I'm against the good side or not there.
Loneliness
The first one clearly shows loneliness as you see me by myself while on the other bench some students are talking together looking cheerfull. The lighting reveals our body language with me looking isolated and the other characters looking happy.
Next is a medium long shot of me center of rule of third. Loneliness is represented here through body language of me folding my arms by myself, with help of the lighting on me.
After themes
Then I show the medium long shot of food. This was used to represent life as you have good things which was the good food on the left (potato, water) and bad on the right (biscuits, ice crisps)
Then is a over the shoulder of me reaching. Around me is a room showing the setting. As I am reaching the lighting it represents me to wanting to get it. This represents me as wanting to change my life around as I am reaching for the light (good, joy, positive things).
Last is a close up of a key in which I say it is the key to success, basically meaning me trying to change my life around.
Sunday, 4 July 2010
Paintings and meanings behind them
Part of my research for my A2 coursework is looking at certain paintings that tell a story or have a message behind them. For this reason I and my class went to the National Gallery in Trafalgar Square to take a look at some of the best ones. The paintings are clearly detailed and create a story by...
It was taken during the Henry VIII years and the characters were famous during the period. The man on the left is called Jean de Dinteville who was the French ambassador to court of Henry and the man on the right is Georges de Selve.
Jean de Dinteville costume is very posh and expensive as he was wealthy, while Georges de Selve is wearing religious clothing. The objects behind them are hymn books, math book, globe and a lute with a broken string to represent discord.
The painting is about the religious struggle between the Catholic Church and Henry VIII which the characters came to sort out. Body language and costume is shown through a medium shot, mood is shown through set design and colour design. The skull at the bottom is used to show at the end of the day everything is going to lead to death. The fact it isn't shown clearly suggests you will not see it coming.
The second painting is called 'The family of Darius before Alexander' painted by Paolo Veronese in 1570.
The groups of men on the right are Alexander the Great and his army and the characters on the left on the floor and the Persian Royal family.
The painting is said to be about the army defeating Darius who is the Persian king and so Alexander comes to get his family, but the mother begs for forgiveness. The man she is begging to is said not to be Alexander, but the man behind him.
Paolo Veronese uses location to show that the area is royal as you can see a huge palace and that it is in Persia because of the monkey. However the artist changes the appearance of the royal family as they resemble European features and dress like them to, but if you look at the top left you see some Persian men.
The last painting is called 'An Experiment on a Bird in the Air Pump' painted by Joseph Wright of Derby in 1768.
It was set during the time when Air Pumps were introduced during the 17th Century to test on animals.
The lighting in the painting is very strong as it reveals the characters and their facial expressions.The two men sitting down seem amused, the boy and girl standing seem casual, the boy is pulling the blind, the young girls seem really upset perhaps thinking the scientist is killing the bird and the man sitting down either doesn't seem bothered or against it.
The moon in the top right nearly covered by clouds shows it is late night and can reflect with the darkness around the room representing life and death.
It is about a scientist demonstrating the role of a vacuum on a bird by taking air from the tube, then quickly putting it back in when he could see it was about to die. He is said to be playing God as he has the powers to life and death which is clearly seen through the composition of him.
- By camera shot and angle
- Colour design
- Setting
- Props
- Lighting
- Costume
- Body language & facial expressions
The first painting is called the 'The Ambassadors' by Hans Holbein the Younger in 1533.
It was taken during the Henry VIII years and the characters were famous during the period. The man on the left is called Jean de Dinteville who was the French ambassador to court of Henry and the man on the right is Georges de Selve.
Jean de Dinteville costume is very posh and expensive as he was wealthy, while Georges de Selve is wearing religious clothing. The objects behind them are hymn books, math book, globe and a lute with a broken string to represent discord.
The painting is about the religious struggle between the Catholic Church and Henry VIII which the characters came to sort out. Body language and costume is shown through a medium shot, mood is shown through set design and colour design. The skull at the bottom is used to show at the end of the day everything is going to lead to death. The fact it isn't shown clearly suggests you will not see it coming.
The groups of men on the right are Alexander the Great and his army and the characters on the left on the floor and the Persian Royal family.
The painting is said to be about the army defeating Darius who is the Persian king and so Alexander comes to get his family, but the mother begs for forgiveness. The man she is begging to is said not to be Alexander, but the man behind him.
Paolo Veronese uses location to show that the area is royal as you can see a huge palace and that it is in Persia because of the monkey. However the artist changes the appearance of the royal family as they resemble European features and dress like them to, but if you look at the top left you see some Persian men.
The last painting is called 'An Experiment on a Bird in the Air Pump' painted by Joseph Wright of Derby in 1768.
It was set during the time when Air Pumps were introduced during the 17th Century to test on animals.
The lighting in the painting is very strong as it reveals the characters and their facial expressions.The two men sitting down seem amused, the boy and girl standing seem casual, the boy is pulling the blind, the young girls seem really upset perhaps thinking the scientist is killing the bird and the man sitting down either doesn't seem bothered or against it.
The moon in the top right nearly covered by clouds shows it is late night and can reflect with the darkness around the room representing life and death.
It is about a scientist demonstrating the role of a vacuum on a bird by taking air from the tube, then quickly putting it back in when he could see it was about to die. He is said to be playing God as he has the powers to life and death which is clearly seen through the composition of him.
Saturday, 3 July 2010
Recent Silent Films
Since the late 19th Century, films have changed dramatically to where they are now. Many production companies and producers today don't just make them for fun or for the sake of it, but to tell the audience a story. Directors tend to focus on a range of areas to make their movie interesting and to tell a story. These are through...
Mr Bean
From this clip I know what is going on without dialogue. Mr Bean is looking for trousers that is his size and then he sneaks and takes it of the man using the toilet. The storyline helps with the mise en scene and cinematography as it's obvious he's in the male area due to the changing room and characters. It is a comedy and clearly engaged with the audience with the narrative.
Baraka
From this clip I know that the movie is about life and nature. The director shows hills and a baboon in water. The narrative helps with the non digetic sound in the background as it helps me know the mood in the movie. I don't need a voice over to tell me what is happening as I am able to see through ranges of shots and lighting. This documentary movie helps keep the audience engaged with the types of camera movements it uses when it wants to show something else for example showing the Baboon in the water from the hill.
The Black Hole
This film is all about greed. The character starts as a tired man and then to a antagonist when he keeps on taking the money which soon goes all wrong when he gets knocked inside. The narrative helps with the sound effects which describes the mood and gives hints of what's going to happened and cinematography which shows his body language and lighting representing the genre. I believe this movie helps keep the audience engaged as you want to see what is going on and what is going to happen. It is thriller/fantasy film through the use of cinematography and sound effects.
- Sound ( soundtrack, voice over, parallel sound)
- Mise en scene ( costume, setting, hair & make-up)
- Cinematography( lighting, camera)
- Editing ( dissolve, cut away)
Mr Bean
From this clip I know what is going on without dialogue. Mr Bean is looking for trousers that is his size and then he sneaks and takes it of the man using the toilet. The storyline helps with the mise en scene and cinematography as it's obvious he's in the male area due to the changing room and characters. It is a comedy and clearly engaged with the audience with the narrative.
Baraka
From this clip I know that the movie is about life and nature. The director shows hills and a baboon in water. The narrative helps with the non digetic sound in the background as it helps me know the mood in the movie. I don't need a voice over to tell me what is happening as I am able to see through ranges of shots and lighting. This documentary movie helps keep the audience engaged with the types of camera movements it uses when it wants to show something else for example showing the Baboon in the water from the hill.
The Black Hole
This film is all about greed. The character starts as a tired man and then to a antagonist when he keeps on taking the money which soon goes all wrong when he gets knocked inside. The narrative helps with the sound effects which describes the mood and gives hints of what's going to happened and cinematography which shows his body language and lighting representing the genre. I believe this movie helps keep the audience engaged as you want to see what is going on and what is going to happen. It is thriller/fantasy film through the use of cinematography and sound effects.
Friday, 2 July 2010
London Underground Filming
The London Underground is a very popular transport provider used by millions of people and has become a common place in filming industry.
Filming in the Underground has become very popular during the years with films like Harry Potter, Green Street, Bend it Like Beckham, Love Actually and many more.
Music videos have also been filmed in the London Underground like 'Hung Up' video by Madonna and 'Fire Starter' by the Prodigy. The Prodigy video is below
However filming in the London Underground is not as easy as you may think. There are certain rules and regulation that you need to follow in order for you to be allowed to shoot.
- For a two hour permit the size of crew can not be more than 5
- Lightweight equipment only
- The student crew size can only be 5 or less.
- Crew needs to check every scripts and layout
- All members needs to where their ID.
Not Allowed
- Begging
- Illegal drugs
- Graffiti
- Ticket touting or fare invasion
- Assaults on passengers or staff
- Use of fire arm or other weapons
- Nudity.
Thursday, 1 July 2010
Silent movies
Part of my A2 Media Studies involves me in a group making a silent movie in exception of a non digetic music.
For more knowledge on the films I had to go to the BFI in Waterloo, London to research about silent movies and what they are all about. I found out that silent films were first introduced in the late 19th century. Some of the earliest silent films were The Great Train Robbery, A Trip to the Moon and David Copperfield.
These films compared to today's films were much different as they were in black and white, much shorter, bad acting and of bad quality. As big studios were not easy to use and rare to find, directors usually had to use their houses or shed or make their own setting. The most notable directors are Rex Ingram, D,W Griffith & Cecil Mille.
Below are videos of two very successful silent movies. Below First is Rescued by Rover 1905 directed by Cecil Hepworth.
The Great Train Robbery produced by Edwin Porter
For more knowledge on the films I had to go to the BFI in Waterloo, London to research about silent movies and what they are all about. I found out that silent films were first introduced in the late 19th century. Some of the earliest silent films were The Great Train Robbery, A Trip to the Moon and David Copperfield.
These films compared to today's films were much different as they were in black and white, much shorter, bad acting and of bad quality. As big studios were not easy to use and rare to find, directors usually had to use their houses or shed or make their own setting. The most notable directors are Rex Ingram, D,W Griffith & Cecil Mille.
Below are videos of two very successful silent movies. Below First is Rescued by Rover 1905 directed by Cecil Hepworth.
The Great Train Robbery produced by Edwin Porter
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