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Friday 30 March 2012

Filming

During the final stages of editing the opening sequence I was still struggling with how to show the audience the character is homosexual, rather than having an obvious clip showing this, I decided to leave a part of the clip leaving the audience guessing. At the final stages of the opening sequence I briefly included a shot of the main character looking at an artistic photo of a man although because it was quick the audience may not have taken this too much into account.

















From the related films I've watched I have also seen that little hints are thrown into clips to give the audience an idea of what is going to happen, although because they are sometimes small and quick it goes unnoticed. I think this is an effect way of suggesting the fact the main characters homosexual because it doesn't state anything but leaves the audience thinking and asking themselves questions which is important in this genre.

Titles

The decision about what titles to use during my opening sequence was very important because from my research I learnt the titles can have a strong impact on the audience and the effectiveness of the clip.
During the editing process I tired different font styles as shown in previous posts but I felt the most important part was when the name of the film appeared.
Using Boris and Title 3D and tired to make the titles look as unique as possible and add motion which will make it look better, in addition using the arabic script as a mirror image on the titles i felt was needed so the film could apply to a wide range of target audience.





Having both the english and the arabic translations in the titles will add effect to par of the clip where it appears, having researched other films similar to this genre I've learnt that the titles always has an impact on the audience is making them remember your film. The films that are best are being memorable are those that have effect and unique titles rather than simple plain texts that the audience may not remember because it wasn't significant.

Monday 19 March 2012

Practice Titles

Due to the fact in the opening sequence we have to create our own titles we decided it would be a good idea to practice with the tools on Final Cut Pro to allow us to understand more aspects of the program. By practicing titles before doing our actual opening it gives us an advantage as we already understand how to use the program.
This what we created from practicing we titles without much assistant or guidance on how to use effects and other aspects.


Different Font Styles

In order to create the best possible titles in my film opening it's vital I create the right titles using the right font. I've learnt that different fonts may suggest different generic conventions in genres; from the research done I've learnt most films use simple font style.




These are the different font style available in Final Cut Pro, all these styles are effective in their own way although Lucida Handwriting and Footlight MT are the two best possibilities for my opening.

Thursday 15 March 2012

Filming

Towards the end of creating our opening sequence during the editing process we realised we had to re-shoot some scenes and get better quality in some shots. As well as recording these shots we also wanted to film the final part of the opening sequence as decided it would be best to show his sexuality through the artwork we had.

From the research about conventions of homosexual people we learnt that men are generally interested in artwork which we felt would we best show his sexuality during the opening sequence without making it clear with the audience. This is a decision we made during the meeting as we also understood it would be efficient to shoot this scenes before we edited the final pieces of footage the next day.











Wednesday 14 March 2012

Meeting

During another one of our meetings we started drawing the updated scenes to our storyboard so shooting footage becomes quicker and we know what shots we're doing.




















Whilst recording some of our footage our main actor was injured in an accident and prevented us from recording one of the scenes.


This would have been a big delay due to that fact we needed to record our scenes according to our schedule, so we decided to use make up in order to keep on time and target with our filming.




















Tuesday 13 March 2012

Unedited Footage

Whilst recording our opening sequence we established that we don't need all the footage but placed the footage together to get an idea of how it looks to watch.
This is beneficial to us because footage looks different whilst recording.


Opening Sequence

At this stage of our opening sequence the group split with one member leaving, this meant we had to change our idea although we didn't want to alter this completely.

We decided to change the idea by having one homosexual Muslim and the way his life has changed since telling everyone about his sexuality. The reason we chose this for our opening is because we feel this is still a sensitive issue that we wish to explore furthermore due to our target audience we feel this will be very effective in terms of getting people interested.

The concept of our new opening sequence invovles having a young Muslim boy and showing the impact of how society can force someone to live a certain way because of the way they have treated him.

Friday 2 March 2012

Potential Target Audience

Due to the significance of the conflict found in our opening scene, it obviously restricts us in terms of target audience. It would be ideal for our opening to target everyone of all ages. However, it will most likely be watched by teenagers and young adults. Perhaps its because we discuss and explore issues many of the audience can relate to.

An example of a genre which has a selected target audience tend to be romantic comedy. In which the target audience tend to be young girls to young women. An example of a romantic comedy may be "The Backup Plan" featuring award winning actress Jennifer Lopez aka J-lo and Alex O'Loughlin. Released in April 2010, overall making 125 million dollars. Like our future opening, "The Backup Plan" highlights a problem many middle aged, successful, single women face. The need to have a baby. Throughout the movie we discover that eventually she does become lucky and conceive a child however she has to pick between the man (O'Loughlin) or her baby. 
We may want to consider just how much romance we wish to include in our Hybrid genre opening. As too much may become stereotypical and to some extent a parody. Also, there are different genres which may attract the  However there are various films created to target a niche audience. For example "The Godfather" is mainly aimed at men and perhaps older men. The dark gangster crime filled with action. appeals more to men, having a niche target audience can help, as well as limit your audience. If we chose to create an opening for a niche target audience then we may have to change our genre because by creating a hybrid genre it appeals to more people, by simply meshing two or more genres. It is also another way to introduce those whom may not like genres such as romance and crime.  

File:Newbupp.jpg





On the one hand, our group aim to include romance, we also need to include drama- with particular focus on relationships as the conflict routes from the relationship. One film currently known by various people of all ages (over 12) and has consumed the minds of practically everyone - TWILIGHT. Similarly we aim to follow a similar concept of two people being separate because of boundaries and prejudice.



 Image Detail 

The Twilight saga first came to our cinema screens in November 2008, and from then has broken numerous records. The first movie  Twilight grossed by $382,133,300. Based on a book it highlights the life choices Bella the protagonist has to make in order to stay in a relationship with Edward, who is a vampire. This film will help us gain an idea of what issues we can include to make our target audience 








Diversity Productions: 


Due to the change in our group, we've had to slightly change our genre from a hybrid to a single genre- drama. The idea that we would make our main focus on a homosexuality is interesting because in terms of target audience. I doubted there was a place for a film about homosexuality. After having researched various movies such as BrokeBack Mountain and Boys don't cry. I began to realise that in actual fact- the target audience can be more varied than other issues presented in other movies. What follows are a couple of films I have researched deeply and analysed- In terms of costume, sound, edit and camera shots. 

Tuesday 28 February 2012

New Opening Sequence (2nd Draft)

Due to the production losing a member we decided to change our first idea and create a new opening sequence, this was also due to the fact we felt we could incorporate both pitches together and create a better sequence.

Our new idea is about a young man who has recently told his family and friends that he's a homosexual, this was made further made difficult because he is from a Muslim family with an Islamic background which as a result meant he couldn't be accepted by his family.

Our idea is to show how society and his family have forced him into a different lifestyle and has made him become more lonely and anti-social.

The reason for us choosing this concept is because we grew up in mostly a Muslim area and has allowed us to gain an understanding about the lifestyle which we feel we can re-create and show through Media. Also we both know some who had recently been through a similar path and therefore want to explore the idea more and allow other people to understand.

Monday 27 February 2012

In depth storyboard (1st Draft)

We've come up with the idea to have two people living their lives but in real time with a split screen. The spilt screen will show them living their lives aswell as emobdoying the actual spilt that they have to go through. Because we want to show the spilt even more we will start with an establishing shot of a house and zoom into a sticker saying alla which will be over a door. 


This will then dissolve into a shot of the main character getting ready to go to Arabic lessons, therefore she will be washing her face (ablution) when shes washes her face we will hope to do an action match in which we get various shots beginning with aclose up shot of her washing her face, except the camera will be from underneath the sink. then perhaps a profile shot from the side of her washing her face and then a high angle shot of her washing her face.


  The high angle shot will embody someone else watching her perhaps god. When she puts on her headscarf. this shot wil be a reflection of her putting on her headscarf in the mirror. 
 As she leaves the house and checks her phone, we will zoom into the phones screen to highlight who she will be meeting which will be her (secret) boyfriend at a certain time. Her mums saying be back home at this () time see you.. Love you etc. 


AT THE SAME TIME (split screen)  the main male character and his friends are outside walking to their destination, we will also do an action match of his shoes from different angles.  (meeting point for both of them) they might talk about their friends relationship between him and her and telling him, we will then do various over the shoulder shotsand shot reverse shots of they're converstaions. “ah look you could be in a relationship with someone who doesn’t have all these problems and all these secrets” and he could say something pretty touching and powerful, something that represents their relationship between each other. His friends leave him to walk alone and they both walk.. action match here and there and they meet.. (just one screen now, no split screen) perhaps aclose up when he places his hands in hers as they continue walking. Action matchagain to show their body language and facial expressions, she talks about her stresses about their relationship.

Saturday 18 February 2012

Sound Research

There are two different types of sounds that can be used in our film opening, Digetic and Non- Digetic sounds.

Digectic - This is any sound that audience and the characters are suppose to hear and haven't been added during the editing process.

Non- Digectic  - This type of sound is the opposite of digetic sounds as it has been placed in the clip for the audience to hear purposely. The reason directors and editors do this is put emphasis on a specific sound for the audience to hear more clearly. An example of this is if a character is walking on the other side of the road the director may put a non-digectic sound in the editing to show anticipation.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YPgUaX1hGW0&feature=related

This is clip from the film Adulthood showing a fight scene between two characters, the director purposely puts non-digectic sounds for the audience to hear every sound during the final fight scene in the movie.

The music during this scene also adds anticipation to the fight because the genre is action and drama. The tempo of scene also fits to the theme of the scene as when it comes to a vital part the music builds up then suddenly slows down.

Thursday 16 February 2012

Production Companies Research



Recently we've been researching production companies to get an idea of which companies would we approach in an ideal situation. This would also give us benefits such as being able to look at the films they produce and learn some of the techniques they use to make their films so effective. As we are doing a mixture of Action, Romance and Drama we each researched different production companies with those genres to make the tasks of group easier. 

Action Production Companies

Warner Bros Pictures is a US production company who have produced many great films including; Dark Knight, Inception, Clash of the Titans and The Book of Eli all of which are great action packed films. The majority of their action films are highly rated and they have more action films planned to be released in 2012. 

Twentieth Century Fox Films is another production company who have a good history of action packed films; Die Hard,  X-Men First Class and Avatar. Currently they're working on a range of different films sue to be released in the next few years. 

Lucasfilm is another US production company that have a range of films, they created the series of; Star Wars and Indiana Jones. These were two very famous series showing this production company to have a good history of films. 


Money Generated
Dark Knight  $1,001,921,825 (worldwide) (1 December 2010)
Inception  $825,532,764 (Worldwide) (6 January 2011)
Clash of the Titans  $41,092,328 (USA)
The Book of Eli $94,822,707 (USA) (9 May 2010)
Die Hard $137,400,000 (Worldwide)
X-Men First Class $352,616,690 (Worldwide) (29 September 2011)
Avatar $2,782,275,172 (Worldwide) (25 November 2011)
Star Wars $4.41 billion 

Drama Production Companies

Voted the best Drama film on IMDB was The Shawshank Redemption which was produced by Castle Rock Entertainment, other films produced by these company include; The Green Mile and Hamlet. These types of films were created and seemed most popular on the IMDB and received high ratings from the website.


One of the most popular and known dramas of all time is The Godfather series produced by Paramount Pictures, since creating The Godfather series they have produced other great dramas such as; The Fighter, Shutter Island and Freedom Writers.


Warner Bros Pictures is another production company that have a great history of drama films they've produced, having worked on the Harry Potter series it's clear they have a team of highly skilled workers that produce good films.


Money Generated
The Shawshank Redemption $58,500,000 (Worldwide
The Green Mile $136,801,374 (USA) (14 May 2000)
Hamlet $4,414,535 (USA) (13 April 1997)
The Godfather Series $245 million
The Fighter $93,571,803 (USA) (27 March 2011)
Shutter Island $294,804,195 (Worldwide) (10 June 2010)
Freedom Writers $43,090,741 (Worldwide)
Harry Potter Series $7.7 billion (Worldwide)


Romance Production Companies


Having researched most the romantic films on the IMDB we've learnt that Warner Bros Pictures has created some of the most popular romance films such as; Casablanca, Sex and the City 2 and Slumdog Millionaire.


Paramout Pictures is also another production company that have a wide variety of genres in their history including some very good romance films such as; What Women Want, No Strings Attached and The Last Kiss. These films are mostly a hybrid and have a mixture of some other genres in them generally comedy.


Fox 2000 Pictures also have a range of different films although their romance films are similar to what we want to include in our productions, specifically the films that appeal to us are; Devil Wears Prada, Bride Wars and In Her Shoes.


Money Generated
Casablanca $1,711,189 (USA) (19 June 1992)
Sex and the City 2 $95,328,937 (USA) (15 August 2010)
Slumdog Millionaire $141,319,195 (USA) (24 May 2009)
What Women Want  $374,111,707 (Worldwide)
No Strings Attached $147,780,440 (Worldwide) (7 April 2011)
The Last Kiss $11,596,143 (USA) (22 October 2006)
Devil Wears Prada $124,732,962 (USA) (3 December 2006)
Bride Wars $113,971,145 (Worldwide) (8 April 2009)
In Her Shoes $83,073,883 (Worldwide)


Conclusion
Having researched production companies in the industry its clear that some companies are generally produce a certain genre of film mostly or some have a wide range of genres that they've produced. Although most production companies are very expensive and have better technology and staff watching some of the films they produce will help us create a better opening sequence, not only does it although us to develop our techniques but we can also learn how to include more generic conventions in our film.


In an 'ideal' situation based upon our research it seems that we would use Warner Bros Pictures dues to the fact they have such a wide variety of films with different genres that have been successful and effective, by watching some of these films and analysing them we'll be able to develop our skills and techniques. 


Another option based upon our research is Paramount Pictures who have a great history of films, they also have a wide range of different genres showing they can adapt of any genre of film. 

Wednesday 15 February 2012

Related Films Research



Research

Yasmin2004 Drama
This is a film about a young Muslim girl living in Britain, which we feel, is related to our film because it highlights the contrasts between two different cultures and what life is like living in Britain. Although our film is about a young Muslim man and him having a problem with his sexuality, family and community it still relates because our main character is a Muslim.
The beginning of the film starts with titles but no sound and picture, this affected me because it meant I was focused on exactly what was written on the screen rather than using my other senses.

  


Titles

These are the first three shots that are shown before any picture is, these tiles show what companies were involved producing the film, without much information such as; music, directors or actors it becomes difficult for the audience to know much about the film. By listing the actors in the film during the opening sequence it becomes easier for the audience to know.

The text font used in the titles are plain and simple making them understandable to the audience, the effect of having simple texts makes the opening sequence more powerful because it suggests there isn’t much comedy and them film is serious. In addition not having any texts moved around the screen and simply separating titles by cutting emphasises the seriousness of the film. The colour of the titles keeps the simple and plain theme because its white writing with a black background allowing the audience to concentrate on the titles only.

The titles don’t flash quickly they slowly dissolve and the screen shows the next bit of information about the film, the editing is simple but still has an impact on the audience.

Sound

The sound in the opening sequence comes from an actor singing the mourning awakening in the local community who are predominately from a Muslim background, whilst the sound is playing there are some powerful establishing shots. This also suggests that the local area is mostly from a working and lower class because the community doesn’t seem well looked after.

Character

During the opening sequence we are aren’t introduced to any characters or given any names although we see to men performing the morning prayer known as, Fazr, although at this point we are still unaware of their names of what part they play in the film. Later in the opening sequence we see another female character getting changed on a field; she’s changing her Arabic clothes and wear casual clothes. This suggests the character could be struggling to embrace another one of her cultures in the area she lives so she is forced to do in secret.
      

Location

The location of the film doesn’t specify where in Britain the film is located although its clear by the establishing shots the community is full of working and lower class people. The shots in the opening sequence show the location of a small community mostly congested with people from an Islamic background.


This long shot of a road in the local community shows the difference and distance between where this is set and other parts of the country.
The shot shows nice long country roads with some houses in the background but the first things seen by the audience is small enclosed space where the location is.


The next shot is of a shop owner cleaning the vandalism from the shutters on his shop, this suggests that there may be a problem with racism in the film. The word on the graffiti says, ‘ Paki’ which is a form of abuse and could be an on-going problem throughout the film. 

 

The final shot that shows the location is set in a lower and working class environment is of children walking through the area on their way to school. In buildings in this shot if very effective because they look similar to council flats which relates generally to lower and working class people.


All these aspects of the location show the type of environment the film is set in and links to the fact the issue in the film may be a result on the environment it’s in.  In addition the establishing shots show mostly Muslim people to be living in the area showing the audience the majority of the community is Muslim, this makes it harder to embrace and live by another culture.











Friday 10 February 2012

Costume and Character Research


Because our group have decided to create a Hybrid genre we need make our characters as versatile as possible to fit the specific genre. For example, the fact we have chosen to include a drama, and romance we need to be able to create characters that can fit all genres. As we understand a girly blonde rich girl may not fit the idea of being in crime, therefore perhaps we need to create characters that have some sort of grunge-like look. I will be using a mix of description and pictures to help explain and illuminate possible ideas we may want to include in our coursework. To begin with, I will research stereotypical characters in various genres.

General characters in crime:

One example of stereotypical characters in crime are the characters in the film "Taken." the daughter Kim played by Maggie Grace. The stereotypical conventions which I found tend to be the within the victims   are the hairtype, which tends to be blonde- there is a great stereotype regarding this heairtype. Normally, the asociation is being more vunrable, even to the extent of being dumb. Blondes are considered less powerful even in most work fields the brunettes tend to be working high in management whislt the blonde girl works as a receptionist.


Saturday 4 February 2012

Call Sheets

Call Sheet



School/ production office
Nearest hospital
Call location/Address
Sir John Cass Foundation and Redcoat Secondary School
Stepney Way
London E1 0RH
The London Hospital
Whitechapel
London E1
Emergency contact:
 Barnsley Street E1 5RB

 Whitechapel 1 Cambridge Heath Rd 






Crew position
Name
Phone
Email
Editor/creative director
Michael
madeboye@hotmail.co.uk
Camera/lighting operator/visual director
Btisam















Equipment and instructions for responsibility
Camera: Btisam - Always ensure the camera is safely locked in its case to prevent any damages to the camera. 
Tripod: Btisam - Always make sure the tripod is safely stored in its case to prevent any damages
Props list: Michael - Take charge of the prop list and make sure the props are always on the scene to prevent any delays whilst recording. 

Thursday 26 January 2012

Title Research


Title Research

I'll be looking at font styles and textual movement for our genre. 




This text is simple and bold which links to the title of the film being attack the block. The font is made to look bigger similar to a tower block.









This is very fantasy like because of the colours used and the style of the writing , this text it slightly serif because at the end of the characters it has little points.