After extensive research, we have decided that our final task will be a thriller. One of the main reasons for us choosing a thriller, rather than a western or romantic comedy genre, was that it fits our pitch the best. We also chose this genre, because we like the elements and conventions from typical thrillers. We believe that the quick cuts, shadows, and tense music are vital to making a great film. All of my favorite movies also happen to be thrillers. Moreover, we collectively decided that a thriller would be the easiest to film out of all the genres. I look forward to enhancing the film during the editing process.
Friday, January 24, 2020
Genre Research: Thriller and Romance Comedies
Romantic Comedies Genre
Camera Angles
The over-the-shoulder shot is probably the most common shot used in romantic comedies, as it is effective at showing a conversation between two people, as well as some facial expressions and some of their body language.
Camera Movement
Panning is a common camera movement done in romantic comedies. The use of panning is used mostly when establishing the location of the main characters. Another common camera movement is the tracking shot. This technique is used to show the characters walking and talking about anything.
Camera shots
Two shots are used commonly in romantic comedies as the storyline is usually based on two characters in particular, so this shot is perfect at portraying their connection. Close-up shots provide a detailed view of facial expressions in one or more characters. In a romantic comedy, the shot can be useful at demonstrating if a character is hurt, rejected or in love.
Mis-en-scene
In romantic comedies, the actors, there are usually two main characters and assisting actors who are their friends, are usually just dressed in normal clothes. Romcoms are based on realism so the setting is also placed in settings people see day today, so like the park or school. With the locations and theme in mind, the lighting of romcoms are brighter to assist with the light storyline. With the fact that romantic comedies are supposed to be in our real world, the props used in the movies are normal things you'd use every day. Depending on the storyline, one prop might be more important than the other; like a lucky lockbox or ribbon. The makeup done in these movies is purely based on the way the character is supposed to be portrayed. For example, in Mean Girls, Lindsey Lohan's makeup was plain because she was playing a student while in Freaky Friday she had to have a more versatile look.
Editing
The two main types of editing techniques used are Straight Cuts and Cross Cuts. Straight cuts are used to keep continuity to the story, so it carries on flowing. Cross Cuts may be used to establish a certain action happening at two different locations. These edits happen at a quicker or slower pace depending on how each interaction moves along the extent of the main characters' love.
Sound
Upbeat music is a normal occurrence in the romantic comedy genre. These songs are usually non-diegetic. All these songs fit the genre as they are upbeat lively however have a romantic edge to them most of the themes of the songs themselves are on love and relationships.
Elements
Common elements of romantic comedies are that the storyline is usually told by the female protagonist's point of view. There is always a best friend who is always there to support the protagonist. The love interest is usually someone who the protagonist doesn't expect to fall in love with. When they meet there is usually the cute scenes with a beautiful setting. After that cupcake phase, there are three situations where things do not go the way, it could be an unsupportive parent, an ex or a bad argument. After that, they make up, usually by a grand gesture, and then the MAJORITY of the time it ends in a happy ending.
Romantic Comedies
Some popular romcoms are Crazy Rich Asians, Isn't It Romantic, Last Christmas, Crazy, Stupid, Love and many more
What I like about Romantic Comedy
Something I enjoy about romantic comedies is the use of romance-related songs throughout the movie. The music really ties in the emotion that is happening in the scene.
What I don't like about Romantic Comedy
I don't really like the predictability of romantic comedies. I can usually tell when the sad part is coming and I dislike knowing where the movie I'm watching is going to end.
Camera Angles
The over-the-shoulder shot is probably the most common shot used in romantic comedies, as it is effective at showing a conversation between two people, as well as some facial expressions and some of their body language.
Camera Movement
Panning is a common camera movement done in romantic comedies. The use of panning is used mostly when establishing the location of the main characters. Another common camera movement is the tracking shot. This technique is used to show the characters walking and talking about anything.
Camera shots
Two shots are used commonly in romantic comedies as the storyline is usually based on two characters in particular, so this shot is perfect at portraying their connection. Close-up shots provide a detailed view of facial expressions in one or more characters. In a romantic comedy, the shot can be useful at demonstrating if a character is hurt, rejected or in love.
Mis-en-scene
In romantic comedies, the actors, there are usually two main characters and assisting actors who are their friends, are usually just dressed in normal clothes. Romcoms are based on realism so the setting is also placed in settings people see day today, so like the park or school. With the locations and theme in mind, the lighting of romcoms are brighter to assist with the light storyline. With the fact that romantic comedies are supposed to be in our real world, the props used in the movies are normal things you'd use every day. Depending on the storyline, one prop might be more important than the other; like a lucky lockbox or ribbon. The makeup done in these movies is purely based on the way the character is supposed to be portrayed. For example, in Mean Girls, Lindsey Lohan's makeup was plain because she was playing a student while in Freaky Friday she had to have a more versatile look.
Editing
The two main types of editing techniques used are Straight Cuts and Cross Cuts. Straight cuts are used to keep continuity to the story, so it carries on flowing. Cross Cuts may be used to establish a certain action happening at two different locations. These edits happen at a quicker or slower pace depending on how each interaction moves along the extent of the main characters' love.
Sound
Upbeat music is a normal occurrence in the romantic comedy genre. These songs are usually non-diegetic. All these songs fit the genre as they are upbeat lively however have a romantic edge to them most of the themes of the songs themselves are on love and relationships.
Elements
Common elements of romantic comedies are that the storyline is usually told by the female protagonist's point of view. There is always a best friend who is always there to support the protagonist. The love interest is usually someone who the protagonist doesn't expect to fall in love with. When they meet there is usually the cute scenes with a beautiful setting. After that cupcake phase, there are three situations where things do not go the way, it could be an unsupportive parent, an ex or a bad argument. After that, they make up, usually by a grand gesture, and then the MAJORITY of the time it ends in a happy ending.
Romantic Comedies
Some popular romcoms are Crazy Rich Asians, Isn't It Romantic, Last Christmas, Crazy, Stupid, Love and many more
What I like about Romantic Comedy
Something I enjoy about romantic comedies is the use of romance-related songs throughout the movie. The music really ties in the emotion that is happening in the scene.
What I don't like about Romantic Comedy
I don't really like the predictability of romantic comedies. I can usually tell when the sad part is coming and I dislike knowing where the movie I'm watching is going to end.
Group Research: Western Genre
In this assignment, I researched a specific genre that was assigned to me. I had to research the components that make up western films. More specifically, I researched camera angles, camera movements, editing, sound, mis-en-scene, and what I like and dislike about the genre. In this assignment, I had to include the names of western films, along with clips of common sounds used in western films. This was the first genre that I have researched in this sort of depth. In the upcoming days, I will have to research two more genres, then I will have to select the one that I want to do for the final task. After the genre is selected, I will have to study four different films from that genre.
Friday, January 17, 2020
Choosing the Final Pitch
These two pitches are what we moved on with after some discussion.
"Karen does not think Michelle is worthy of her daughter's love so, for her daughter's well being she will get rid of Michelle." and
"Naelys freshly immigrates to the U.S meets American born and raised Dylan. Together they navigate through America learning about themselves and how they're perceived."
For pitch number one, it is a more creative and extensive pitch. While in theory, this pitch seems cool and fun. I can tell that it would take a long time to film and edit. That fact, however, doesn't rid my desire to make this film. It would only need really good planning and time management. I personally would go out to watch this film because I enjoy a suspenseful movie. The fact that you don't really know Karen's reasoning behind why she does what she does is interesting to me. For pitch number two, it has a very dynamic story line. For the assignment, this pitch would be easy to film. The only problem with this pitch is that this film could come off as pretty basic and boring. The movie would be a classic 'Coming of Age' love story. The twist to it though would be the difficulties they would both have trying to adjust to their different views on life. That type of story line is a beautiful and interesting one. I would most definitely watch it in theaters.
In the end, we choose.......... pitch number one!!!!!!!!
We chose this pitch because we already have the actors for the video and we find this concept more fun. We wanted to challenge ourselves with getting this horror/ thriller concept done. We wanted to make sure we got the good angles and lighting. This concept will be a real challenge and that is what we wanted. We also chose pitch 2, because it can realistically be filmed and we like the concept of it. This pitch goes against traditional roles, which is why we believe it could do well. I would definitely watch this film, because of the genre (thriller) and as the viewer, I’d want to see if Karen goes through with her plan. We already have the actors ready and eager to film this.
"Karen does not think Michelle is worthy of her daughter's love so, for her daughter's well being she will get rid of Michelle." and
"Naelys freshly immigrates to the U.S meets American born and raised Dylan. Together they navigate through America learning about themselves and how they're perceived."
For pitch number one, it is a more creative and extensive pitch. While in theory, this pitch seems cool and fun. I can tell that it would take a long time to film and edit. That fact, however, doesn't rid my desire to make this film. It would only need really good planning and time management. I personally would go out to watch this film because I enjoy a suspenseful movie. The fact that you don't really know Karen's reasoning behind why she does what she does is interesting to me. For pitch number two, it has a very dynamic story line. For the assignment, this pitch would be easy to film. The only problem with this pitch is that this film could come off as pretty basic and boring. The movie would be a classic 'Coming of Age' love story. The twist to it though would be the difficulties they would both have trying to adjust to their different views on life. That type of story line is a beautiful and interesting one. I would most definitely watch it in theaters.
In the end, we choose.......... pitch number one!!!!!!!!
We chose this pitch because we already have the actors for the video and we find this concept more fun. We wanted to challenge ourselves with getting this horror/ thriller concept done. We wanted to make sure we got the good angles and lighting. This concept will be a real challenge and that is what we wanted. We also chose pitch 2, because it can realistically be filmed and we like the concept of it. This pitch goes against traditional roles, which is why we believe it could do well. I would definitely watch this film, because of the genre (thriller) and as the viewer, I’d want to see if Karen goes through with her plan. We already have the actors ready and eager to film this.
Start of the Final Task
Throughout the last semester of AICE Media, I have learned many things that go into the creation of a film. I've discovered some of my strengths and weaknesses when it comes to filming. Noticing those were very essential to realize before starting the final task because time will be better managed. After starting to film these videos I realized something about myself. While I was never sure about what I want to do in the future, I know for sure that I'm not made for the film making industry. While I did notice that my writing style has developed over the course of this class, I struggle with bringing that vision to life. So if I was to actually go into the film industry I would be more included in the writing process of the script.
One thing that I've learned is that I struggle with coming up with storyboards. My imagination is usually way too ahead of what I can actually draw. To compromise for that I focus on the details of my film that are essential in being filmed and getting that picture down as best as possible. I also will make sure to have detailed descriptions of each picture. This would really save time when it comes to reading the storyboard. another weakness of mine that I noticed is the non-consistent camera placement. for this final task, I am going to rely on the tripod shots more than handheld ones. This will help the video be steady all the way through and the camera placement to not change much within a shot. My partner Emily would help me in achieving all of this during this project.
The first thing that we must do to start this final task is to come up with a pitch. A pitch is a Hollywood term to describe an idea where a film is encapsulated in 25 words or less. Usually done within ONE sentence.
We came up with these three pitches:
"'Sweet' Grandma Jackie is looking for new kids to raise and her neighbor's kids seem to fit her criteria, she intends on taking them"
"Karen does not think Michelle is worthy of her daughter's love so, for her daughter's wellbeing she will get rid of Michelle."
"Naelys freshly immigrates to the U.S meets American born and raised Dylan. Together they navigate through America learning about themselves and how they're perceived."
Us coming up with ideas while simultaneously getting actors.
Finalizing our Pitches
One thing that I've learned is that I struggle with coming up with storyboards. My imagination is usually way too ahead of what I can actually draw. To compromise for that I focus on the details of my film that are essential in being filmed and getting that picture down as best as possible. I also will make sure to have detailed descriptions of each picture. This would really save time when it comes to reading the storyboard. another weakness of mine that I noticed is the non-consistent camera placement. for this final task, I am going to rely on the tripod shots more than handheld ones. This will help the video be steady all the way through and the camera placement to not change much within a shot. My partner Emily would help me in achieving all of this during this project.
The first thing that we must do to start this final task is to come up with a pitch. A pitch is a Hollywood term to describe an idea where a film is encapsulated in 25 words or less. Usually done within ONE sentence.
We came up with these three pitches:
"'Sweet' Grandma Jackie is looking for new kids to raise and her neighbor's kids seem to fit her criteria, she intends on taking them"
"Karen does not think Michelle is worthy of her daughter's love so, for her daughter's wellbeing she will get rid of Michelle."
"Naelys freshly immigrates to the U.S meets American born and raised Dylan. Together they navigate through America learning about themselves and how they're perceived."
Us coming up with ideas while simultaneously getting actors.
Finalizing our Pitches
Friday, December 6, 2019
Monday, December 2, 2019
Sunny Day Filming
Over the Thanksgiving break, I got in contact with my actor and we started filming. We filmed on a Wednesday morning with some impromptu props that we found. Instead of filming at the beach, which we still plan on doing, we filmed at my house in the grass to get the close-ups that we wanted. This helped us closely match the conventions of an indie video with multiple locations. We also decided to ditch the tripod for these scenes because the handheld shots gave a more authentic, homemade vibe. On the morning of the shooting, we were not able to get the fruits like we wanted before so I decided on getting fake flowers to surround our actor with and to put in her hair. This would give her a more ethereal feel and lessen the amount of editing we'd have to do for a rustic vibe on the video.
While filming we ran into some trouble with the sun. While we did want natural lighting for the video, it was difficult for the actor to look into the camera with the light in her eye. It was also difficult for me to see the screen of the camera with the sun right behind me. However, I fixed that by changing the position of the actor. Instead of having her eye-level with the camera and staring towards the sun I had her lay down while I stood over her with the camera. The first set of videos was not quite right because I did not stand directly over the actor which caused the camera to point into her nostrils. After going over those clips, I decided to re-shoot those scenes but this time, standing directly over. We had the actor laying on a blanket instead of the grass because we wanted the black dress and floral pullover that the actor was wearing to really stand out. The fake flowers that we had would not be as prominent if it was in the grass.
When we went to film at the beach we did not have as many problems as before. We already had the blankets and flowers ready for the filming so it didn't take as much time as before. While filming at the beach we decided to forego the tripod altogether so we didn't get sand on it and so the whole film would be shot handheld. It would be better for the video to not have constantly changing conditions. After I approved the first shots I decided to just continue with handheld shots. With the weather being more desireable at the beach we managed to get more shots from there. At this part of filming, I managed to get the mandatory shots necessary but also get some experimental shots that would just add to the aesthetic of the video being a trailer.
While filming we ran into some trouble with the sun. While we did want natural lighting for the video, it was difficult for the actor to look into the camera with the light in her eye. It was also difficult for me to see the screen of the camera with the sun right behind me. However, I fixed that by changing the position of the actor. Instead of having her eye-level with the camera and staring towards the sun I had her lay down while I stood over her with the camera. The first set of videos was not quite right because I did not stand directly over the actor which caused the camera to point into her nostrils. After going over those clips, I decided to re-shoot those scenes but this time, standing directly over. We had the actor laying on a blanket instead of the grass because we wanted the black dress and floral pullover that the actor was wearing to really stand out. The fake flowers that we had would not be as prominent if it was in the grass.
When we went to film at the beach we did not have as many problems as before. We already had the blankets and flowers ready for the filming so it didn't take as much time as before. While filming at the beach we decided to forego the tripod altogether so we didn't get sand on it and so the whole film would be shot handheld. It would be better for the video to not have constantly changing conditions. After I approved the first shots I decided to just continue with handheld shots. With the weather being more desireable at the beach we managed to get more shots from there. At this part of filming, I managed to get the mandatory shots necessary but also get some experimental shots that would just add to the aesthetic of the video being a trailer.
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