Throughout the editing progress I have developed many skills, in which I did not work on last year. For example, I have used much more complex editing skills than just inserting titles. Using a technique influenced by the influential film 'The anti-social Network' I inserted a 'Likes' image to make it clear what the main character was doing. I did this by finding an image of the iconic Facebook thumbs up, and inserted into PowerPoint. I then researched what font the Facebook site used, and used the 'Tahoma' font. I then colour matched the image to the text so that it looked authentic. I removed the background and inserted the image into Sony Vegas. Using the 'Event Pan/Crop' tool, I tracked the image along with the character. This took multiple attempts and it was difficult for it to follow the exact movements of the subject. However, after a few trial and errors, I think it received a good result.
Another part of the editing progress that allowed me to develop my skills, was developing the definition post at the very beginning. This involved me creating the post box and putting together the image. I used extensive research and tutorials to create the exact effect that I needed. I used the 'Sony Stereoscopic 3D Adjust' effect which is something I hadn't used before. I improvised a tested out a few effects, but adjusting the rotation and keystone of the element. I completed the animation but using the animate button, and adding in multiple key frames to get the final outcome. From this part, I then found it much easier to animate other elements of my film, such as the production company logos.
For my production company logos, I created two this year, as most films use more than one production company. I used the same name as last years. I recreated the image and added effects. By creating these images it allowed me to test out some of the effects on Sony Vegas. Again, this allowed me to use the animate button and get used to adding different key frames to the film, and hopefully making the logos look professional.
In this post you will find a rough cut of my Main Task and a video of the feedback I received from my peers, detailing ways I could improve my video.
Rough Cut:
Feedback Video:
Due to some technical difficulties, I only managed to retrieve the last part of my video feedback. However I managed to note down some of the points included, for example:
At the end the camerawork was unclear and unsteady
The music may be to fast to fit the sad depressing theme
Quite a few dark screens, and cuts that were unnecessary.
I dealt with this issues, but there were some issues I could not deal with, as I had to meet a deadline. The first issue I could not change, and the actor I used was unavailable, and I did not have time to re do it.
Secondly, I slowed down the music using Ableton live in response to this criticism, and hopefully the music portrays more of a saddened theme.
Lastly I managed to sort of the sudden jumps and cuts, as these were just a case of where other things had to be added in, and I had not reached the finalised stage of the product.
A major issue with my film was representation. I aimed to create intense emotion within my film, particularly between characters, and therefore this relationship would have been built up over a number of scenes. However I had some issues when accessing locations, and therefore had to cut a few scenes out, and therefore this made it harder to portray these types of intense relationships that would have developed. I found it difficult to change this once I had completed my film.
The sound track I received permission to use is 'Dreams fade to white' written and composed by Johannes Ringen and James Craft.
An issue that I had was that the track was not long enough in terms of length, to fit the clips in my short film. I used a programme called 'Ableton Live 9' to alter the length. I did this by cutting a part of the end, and duplicating it and adding it in. This added an extra 30 seconds to the track which then enabled me to use it.
Using 'Freesound.org' I got my sound effects for my film. This included the effects for the film title 'disconnect' and the notification sound I used. Freesound requires a user name and password to download the sound effects, and is copyright free sound. Using Sony Vegas I manipulated these effects. For the 'Keyboard' effect, is cut the length and also slowed the tempo, so that it fit with the video length.
Over the past few weeks, I have completed my planning for my film , and began to film a few scenes. I have also gone back over my planning, and checked that everything is correct. I started on my ancillary tasks and have began researching similar products to what I plan to do.
In this post you will find a magazine review analysis. I have analysed a spider man review, as I could not find one relating to my film. I have analysed the conventional aspects which I think all film reviews should include.
Here I have analysed the language and techniques used when writing a film review.
Here I have analysed a different, formal, review, using key magazine terms.
In this post, you will find an animatic storyboard. The shots are very basic, as they are only supposed to be giving a sense of what will be in each frame, and the type of shots that I will be using. Please note, these will not be the locations, actors or props that I will be using to shoot with.
Here is a brief description of each shot:
Shot 1: I will use Abode Captivate to record a computer screen of my character's; Lee Oliver's Facebook page. I have created the account and got some of friends to add it, and therefore this will make it look authentic. A straight cut will be used to travel to the next shot.
Shot 2: This is a medium shot, to show who is scrolling through the Facebook page. The character in this scene represents a sad, depressed looking young man. This will be filmed in my living room.
Shot 3a: The camera begins to pan round the living room to reveal 'Lee's Girlfriend' sat on the sofa opposite. She is sat on her phone, both in silence. This shot is supposed to represent their dysfunctional relationship, and put across that technology, in a way, has ruined it.
Shot 3b: The camera will pan back around, back to Lee Oliver (the main character).
Shot 4: The scene cuts to, supposedly another point in time, perhaps I could shows this ellipses with a fade-to-black transition. Part of my film is showing various scenes in which technology are ruining, and this is why it is not a linear narrative. This is a long shot of the two characters walking along the street, both using mobile phones. I have not yet decided on an exact location for this scene, yet I was considering a busy local high street.
Shot 5: An over the shoulder shot of the two characters taking a 'selfie'. I wanted to include this shot, as the younger audience can familiarise with it.
Shot 6: Lees Girlfriend, then gets her phone out again and walks away. This will be shown by a long shot.
Shot 7: An over the shoulder shot will then show Lee uploading the picture to Facebook , titling the post 'love walks with my girlfriend', or something similar.
Shot 8: A straight cut will switch scenes, in which my main character will be in a work environment. I will film this at school, but set up a class room so it looks like an authentic meeting room in an office. This is a low level shot to show the inferiority of the character
Shot 9: The camera will pan around to show the staff in the meeting all on their phones and/or laptops. This will be shown by a long shot, therefore I can get the extras and backdrop in.
Shot 10: An over the shoulder shot, shows Lee walking out the presentation room, updating his Facebook status as 'love my job, presentation went so good'.
Shot 11: The scene then switches again. This shot will be filmed at a local nature reserve park. A Long shot of the main character 'going for a run'. He will be in gym clothes and phone in hand.
Shot 12: The phone is shown as a match on action, when he is running.
Shot 13: Back to a long shot, character stops running and sits on a bench.
Shot 14: Medium shot shows the character on a bench taking a picture.
Shot 15: A close up will show the main character uploading the photo to Facebook.
Shot 16: A straight cut will switch between scenes again. This time the camera does pan throughout the shot, of the main character all their friends sat on their phones. This will be filmed in the school seating area.
Shot 17: The camera shows a medium close up, that then pulls in on the characters face.
Shot 18: An over the shoulder shot will show the character alone, back in the living room on his laptop
Shot 19: Using adobe captivate I will record the screen of the character deactivating the Facebook page.
Feedback: When showing this animatic storyboard, there were no major alterations that I needed to make. The only issue that arose was that the length was too short, however I did not change this as I felt it still represented a true view of each shot that I would use. This animatic will be helpful when I begin to film, as it provides a guideline to how the film should look.
In this post, you will find an e-mail conversation with the producers of 'Dreams Fade to White' which is the soundtrack used in my influential film. James Craft, the producer has given me permission to use this song in my production.
In this post you will find a call sheet, detailing which actors will be needed in each scene, what time they should arrive on location and how many shots they will need to be in. My actors will be meeting me at a point of reference (my house), and I will be transporting them to the various locations via car.
In this post you will find a detailed list of all the equipment I will use to film, and to edit. This post also included set design, i.e. how I am going to access these, and how I will access makeup.
This location will be used for the third scene in my short film.
It is the Howard School Playing field, rather than it looking like a
school field, I hope that it comes across as just a local park. I originally
planned to use a busy street, however this was not so easy to film, and find a
date in which we could use it.
This location is for the second scene. This is on Bluebell Hill viewpoint, Walderslade. I will use this scene for a number of shots, and I feel this is appropriate because it is a secluded location, perhaps reflecting how my character is feeling. I chose a good day to film using this location, as the weather was gloomy and raining. I think this shows some kind of pathetic fallacy within my film, as the emotion I am portraying matches the aspects of nature within this scene.
This is the location for the last scene. The main character will be shown sitting round the table, in a dark lit room on his laptop. The idea of using a big room and a big table will hopefully represent the theme of loneliness. This location was easily accessible as it was my own house and therefore did not need permission to film here.
This is the location for the first scene. The curtains will be drawn and the TV on. It will show the main character sat on one sofa and the girlfriend sat on the other. I think this location is good to use, as the use of the two sofas can clearly show the emotional divide and disconnection between the two characters. Again this location was easily accessible as it is in my own house and therefore did not have to receive permission to use. The lighting will be easier to manage as the dimmer switch allows me to adjust the light accordingly.
This is the location for the fourth scene. It is part of The Howard School sixth form common room. This location is used to show the main character and all his friends together. However they will all be sat on their phones. I think the use of this room is necessary, as it allows me to pan round all the characters and then back round to the main character. This room may be hard to gain access too as I will have to wait for a time when no one is sitting on the sofas.
I have included in my 'Equipment' post how I am accessing the costumes that I need to use.
There is no specific theme to my film that involves any type of particular costume, and therefore I felt it was appropriate to let my actors choose their own outfits for each scene. Of course there is a number of outfit changes and so numerous costumes were needed.
In the second scene, Ollie Lea is required to wear gym clothes, to make the scene look authentic. This was the only scene that needed specific outfits, the rest were just ordinary clothing that a typical male would wear. The same goes for my female actor who chose her own outfits.
In terms of extras, I used them because they were convenient, and this involved them turning up to location wearing their own choice of clothing.
The props I used weren't at all specific. I used my own objects to act as props as they were easy to access and therefore I did not have to go through the hassle of receiving permission to use them. For example using laptops in the first and lost scene.
The mobile phone In the second scene belonged to my main actor. This was beneficial as he knew how to use the phone and we had access to it at all times where necessary.
So far, I have created a pitch and looked at my influential films. I showed my influential films to my peers, and received their feedback in the form a focus group. This week I began to think about how each scene would look, and came up with a scene by scene plot for my film. This helped me start on a shot list. I also got in touch with the producers of 'What's on your mind' one of my influential films, just to see how they achieved the outcome of their video and what editing programmes they used. I also began thinking about the music I could include.
Note: This is a short film called 'What's on your mind?' by HightonBros, Youtube producers. features a man, who has become depressed because everyone else's lives are better than his, or so he thinks. *Shots go left to right: 1,2,3 4,5,6, 7,8,9*
Frame 1- Genre: Hopefully from this opening image, I would infer that maybe it would be about social networking, as the shot shows the Facebook homepage. My genre is a social realism; dramatizing the effects of social media. The short film starts with a close up of a computer scene (or so I assume), and the main character scrolling down the homepage. This suggests that this website (presumably Facebook) is a significant part of the short film, in scenes to come.
Frame 2- Characterisation: It is then confirmed, that a mid 20-30's man is on the laptop. A mid shot, showing part of the back drop and his shoulders, shows his facial expression, it is made apparent that he is desolate, and fed up. From this we may be able infer that his life is made sad from the use of social network. The characters makeup, making his eyes look weary and drooped, are that of someone who would seem depressed or sad, which I think is how the character is being represented in this film. His stance, and facial expression seem to be somewhat drooped also, as he seems quite a blue and suppressed character.
Frame 3- Setting and Location: In this frame, the location is a low light, living room. It is a 2 person shot of what is presumably a couple, who are sat far apart from each other, suggesting a distant relationship. From the shot before, it may be that he is comparing his relationship to the supposedly superior ones he sees on Facebook. The mise-en-scene is a typical living room set up, with a sofa and picture frames.
Frame 4- Narrative: In this frame, we see the character updating his Facebook status to 'sushi with my girl tonite'. It is clear from the narrative and previous frames, that he is exaggerating his life, to fit in line with how he wants to be viewed. Because this is the beginning of the narrative, it suggests that there will be some continuity within the story line (a linear narrative), as it has a beginning, middle and end.
Frame 5- Costume & Props: We see an office scene. This is part of the narrative, showing day to day situation that most people that age go through. This suggests that there is a wider target audience, not just those who use social media, but those who have a 9-5 job that they don't necessarily like. The character is in typical work clothes, suit trousers, shirt and a tie. Behind him is a projection of a presentation, which adds realism to the scene.
Frame 6- Editing: The editing in this scene, has replicated the 'likes' feature. I like this editing technique as it is a popular feature that most people are familiar with. I would like to incorporate this technique into my short film. The transitions are straight cuts, and therefore makes the film flow smoothly. There is a match on action shot, when we see the main character walk in, and see his wife having an affair.
Frame 7- Camerawork: The camerawork in this scene is a 2 person shot. Either the camera has been strategically placed, or some sophisticated editing has been done. It is an over the shoulder shot, showing a mirror and a woman. I hope to use this or a similar sophisticated editing technique in my short film.
Frame 8- Sound/film dialogue: In this short film, there is no dialogue. I hope to not use dialogue in my short film too. There is soft background music. The sound effects used a typical Facebook sounds, which add realism to the scene. I like the idea of having no dialogue as it adds a sense of solitary confinement, and what we feel when are deluded by social networks. Hence it is a powerful message to get across.
Frame 9- Titles: There are no titles in this film, just a few credits at the end. I like this as it keeps attention on the story line, and the audience can focus on the narrative. The end credits detail the typical cast involved in making the film, such as the producer, music and makeup artists.
2) Textual Analysis: The Anti-Social Network
Whilst researching for influential films, I discovered plenty about social networking. This short film provides focus on the addiction to social media and how we are becoming a society with persistent needs to be connected.
This video is approximately 15 minutes in length, 10 minutes over our briefed guideline. Hence I am not influenced the story line, only the aggregate editing techniques. The film is a comedy-drama, and I intend to use these techniques in my film. This short film dramatises and adds comedy to the effects of social media, in that they are used in normal situations, e.g. being invited to a party and rather than giving a plausible explanation to why the character wont be attending he immediately says ‘decline’, just like you would if it were a Facebook event created.
At the very beginning of the film, the word ‘addiction’ is defined, as ‘The state of being enslaved to a habit or practice. It is also the compulsive psychological need for something, creating an abnormal dependency’. This definition represents what the short film focuses on. I think this technique is effective as it delivers a powerful message, even if there is a humorous side to the film that those who cannot put their phones down are ‘addicted’. This is, to some extent, what message I want to get across in my short film. I would like to achieve something similar to this, as my working title is ‘Disconnect’; I am considering defining disconnected at the beginning, using the same techniques used in this film. By doing this it is also a powerful insight of what the short film is going to be about.
The main character is represented as a ‘social media addict’, as we infer from his actions in the film, i.e. he wakes up and immediately posts a Facebook status, he uses the networking site at work, and when he is walking down the street. I think it is up to the audience to decide whether he is an antagonist or a protagonist, as views on social networks are fairly subjective; some individuals agree with it and believe it has many benefits, whereas others believe it is the poison of today’s society. In my short film I want my character to be portrayed as a protagonist, therefore the audience can sympathise with him. My initial idea differs from ‘The Anti-Social Network’s’ character, although some similar techniques are used. This is because my proposed character is hiding behind Facebook to make his life seem superior to his fellow Facebook ‘friends’.
No opening titles are used in this film, although we do find out the characters name from the comic ‘Lucas George checked into Pat’s funeral’ post at the very beginning. I assume there was no opening credits or titles because the film was made by a ‘prosumer’, and I’m working on the assumption that all the work was done by the film maker themselves.
Fairly basic camera shots are used in this short film, and I intend to create something a bit more complex, maybe emphasizing the use of technology a bit more. This short film focuses more around how Facebook is incorporated and become apart of our lives, whereas I want to achieve something a bit more focused on the use of actual technology, and therefore some close up camerawork will hopefully achieve this.
The mise-en-scene used in just general day to day surroundings. In my set up I hope to use this, such as the work place, being at home and outdoors. The location and lighting will differ through the different scenes, as it is not just focusing on one situation. There will be no dialogue either, in hope this will emphasize the idea of being socially isolated.
Note: This is a short film called 'Networked' by Jack Thompson (A previous A2 Media Student) . The film explores how social networks have became integrated into modern day life, where many of us store 'digital' versions of lives, including our personal information, photos, videos and memories on the internet. *Shots go left to right: 1,2,3 4,5,6, 7,8,9* Frame 1- Titles: After a few frames into the short film, the title 'Networked' appears. It appears to be influenced by the Facebook typeface and colour, which immediately makes the audience associate this short film with the iconic social networking site. The title appears quickly, as if it has been typed onto the screen. The letters do not appear continuously, in fact they appear muddled, suggesting to the audience that this is maybe a horror or a film of a violent nature, and disjointedness is a convention of Horror films. The title 'Networked' along with the style and transition of the title confirms that this film focuses around social networking, and perhaps its dangers.
Frame 2- Camerawork: The low close up of this shot shows the character logging onto Facebook. The fact that the computer is positioned higher up, suggests the audience is supposed to feel inferior towards it. Superiority comes with power, dominance and control. Perhaps this is trying to get across a message that this device and network site controls us.
Frame 3- Editing: In this frame, the editor has achieved a really nice, sophisticated editing technique. The computer has been recorded, perhaps using a remote desktop programme. The opacity has been changed so we can see the character looking at the screen. I think that this editing technique is very powerful, as we see the character from the 'computers point of view'. The computer is seeing everything the character does, which is sort of the message, if you go on social networking sites, nothing is private.I will incorporate this into my film, but using adobe captivate to record the screen of my mock up Facebook page, and put it over the top of my video, changing the opacity accordingly.
Frame 4- Characterisation: A close up of the Facebook page, confirms the characters name 'Andy Turnball'. From the previous shots, the audience have learnt that this character is fairly reserved, young teenager, who is just as addicted to social networking as the next person.
Frame 5- Sound: In this shot, the sound is disjointed and eerie. There is sort of a techno sound going on to match the editing, again as if he is being spied on.
Frame 6- Narrative: The character then likes a page called 'If you like this you will die' a supernatural virus (for a computer) which has been integrated within a popular social networking site has been the cause of death among teenagers. The main character was messaged by a friend providing him with a link to this page, trusting his friends judgement he goes ahead to like the page.
Frame 7- Costume & Props: This shot shows the use of drama makeup. The character has a bleeding nose, which adds to the supernatural virus, becoming more and more involved within the short film. This adds realism to the scene. His costume is just a plain white t-shirt and jeans, to represent teenage males.
Frame 8- Genre: In this frame, the books have rather abruptly fallen from the shelf, making the audience jump, drawing attention straight to the books without changing the shot. These types of conventions are associated with Horrors and Thrillers, and given the other conventions, i.e.. the blood and the 'if you like this you will die' I infer that this is a Horror film.
Frame 9- Setting & Location: In this medium shot, we see the characters bedroom. The entirety of the short film is shot here, in ambient lighting. It is typical bedroom, with a computer, what most teenagers have in their bedrooms now.
4) Textual Analysis: Look Up
This short film explores and emotional journey through the use of technology, and how not using it can face the rest of our lives. It's a lesson taught to us through a love story, in a world where we continue to find ways to make it easier for us to connect with one
Look Up is a poetic response, from ‘YouTuber’ Gary Turk, to society’s
use of social networking and use of technology. The video is 4:58 in length and
therefore would fit out guidelines. The short film contains a poem and a love
story, attempting to share a message or warning to the things we are missing in
society.
At the very beginning of this film, we see a medium shot,
and the poem begins. The words start as ‘I have 400 friends yet I am lonely’.
The audience may immediately be able to relate this, as it is easy to infer
what this means. This introduction is very effective, as most Facebook users
have countless number of friends, yet how many of those do they consider close
friends
The narrator, Gary Turk is anti-technology, hence the poem.
He is trying to get a message across about how social media is ruining all the
natural things, such as children playing in the park and meeting new people.
The narrative turns into a love story, as the poem begins to focus on the
emotional effects of always looking down at a screen.
The main character is represented in two different ways. Firstly,
he is shown as this down to earth individual, who lives in the moment, who notices
all the little things about life. The part of this poem reads “Just one small connection
is all it can take, to show the difference that being there can make”. In this
part we see the character asking someone on the street for directions, which essentially,
society is too scared to ask strangers for help “through the fear of being
insane”. The audience then follow the journey of the couple, sympathizing all
the nature of life and how is intended to be.However, we are then drawn back to reality after this representation of
the fantasy expectation of life without phones. “When you’re too busy looking
down you don’t see the chances you’ve missed”, I this part we see a repeat of
the character walking down the road, this time rather than asking the woman for
directions, he is staring down at his phone and has missed all those great
chances to have a family, of course this is unrealistic but it really does achieve
a powerful message.
There are no titles, or credits in this film. I think this
allows the audience to focus on the film and listen to the message, and be left
with it too. I like this technique; however I will be adding titles to my film,
to help dramatize the effects of technology by putting quotes on the screen.
The scenes switch from the story, to shots of narrator. I think
this adds to the emotion of the video that this individual is really trying to
put across this powerful message, which is what my video is about, getting a
message across to the generations that soon “can’t entertain a child without
using an iPad”.
The camera shots aren’t really anything technical. I don’t
feel that they need to be, as the poem is most focus and draws the audiences
into the film. I may use the poem as a basis for the facts I will use, for
example some statistics on commuter trains and the use of technology, etc.
The mise-en-scene in this is would usually expect. Multiple light
settings, costumes and locations.
This is video of the proposed pitch, containing details such as; the working title, camerawork ideas and the narrative.
Some of the points made in my feedback video included things such as story line and plot changes. I will take some of these points into account, as so far I have come up with a scene by scene plot, based on some of the suggestions from my audience research. This feedback has helped me greatly, as not only did my audience help me with a few ideas, but I have been motivated to start really planning my film.
NOTE: This pitch has been updated, in reference to my feedback and other ideas.
Title: Disconnected
Genre: Docu-drama
Plot: In this short film, my initial ideas would be
dramatizing the effects of social networking, and how society are hiding behind
‘Facebook’.
The opening scene will start with a laptop or a computer, just scrolling through a Facebook page. I will create a new Facebook account so that everything looks authentic. I will record this using Adobe Captivate, a remote desktop recording programme. The character will be shown comparing his life to everyone else, as he is just sat in with his girlfriend, and she is sat using her phone whilst he is on his laptop.
Walking down a busy street (possibly in London, if location is viable and within budget). The main character is not on his phone, but his girlfriend is, and this scene is supposed to give a sense of loneliness and seclusion. The character wants to feel included and therefore gets his phone out and takes a 'selfie' with his girlfriend and uploads it to twitter/Facebook.
This scene is set in a busy office, doing a presentation. I could film this at school using a classroom with computers, or a big table. All staff are on their phones or not listening. Character updates Facebook status as 'love my job- presentation went great'.
Going for a run at capstone. I will show the character running with his phone in his hand. Runs for about a minute, sits on the bench, and takes a snapchat/twitter/Facebook of the view. Then walks back to car.
Sitting around with friends, every single person in that group is on their phone and are sat in silence. The camera will then zoom in on his face.
This is the end scene of my short film. The Adobe Captivate will record the facebook account again. This time it will show the main character deleting his account, and then 'this user does not exist' on the screen.
Camerawork: Camerawork would include fundamental shots, such
as over the shoulder shots, mid shots etc. I would also do several point of
view shots to emphasize how these social media addicts see the screen.
Editing: I think I could achieve some sophisticated editing
by doing this plot. I could incorporate elements of the characters using the
computer.
Mise-en-scene: The use of current technology, such as
laptops phones. My short film would include day to day surroundings, such as
the workplace, living rooms, and outdoors. It would take place in many
different locations and times.
Sound: There will be no dialogue in the film, as I think it represents our social isolation, and the need to communicate through technical devices and social networking. I will use a copyright free soundtrack.
My target audience is everyone who is a slave to their
mobile phone and modern devices, and anyone who feels the need to constantly
post about their lives. MODERN SOCIETY! I think this would appeal to the older
generation, and those who particularly don’t agree and haven’t ‘jumped on the
band wagon’ of modern technology.
I think my unique selling point would be; it's different to
most types of film. It has a sense of realism and my audience can relate to it.
It is supposed to represent today’s society.
