Hi there, my names Will and this is my new blog that I’m setting up. Over the next few months I’ll be updating my blog with new interesting information on different camera shots and views. As you look through you’ll see my progression into media as I explore more new interesting camera features and other media related subjects.
During the last day we’ve learnt different camera angles and views. In our lesson we researched in more detail about different shots, such as Long shots and close shots.
To then put our skills to the test for the first time, we went out to experiment with different shots and views.
Extreme close-up (ECU)- These shots can be used to create a more focused view on the character and can sometimes represent the actors thoughts and emotions during the scene.
Close-up (CU)- This shot is still useful for showing the characters thoughts, but is also good for showing expressions on the actors face.
Medium shot (MS)- These give a good view of the person and gives a slight view to the background scene, but is still mainly used to focus on the person in the shot.
Long Shot (LS)- This shot is useful to use when looking at the character as well as the background. So more detail of the background is available.
Very long shot (VLS)- Here the picture is mainly focused on the background and the figure is only a sought of small part of the whole picture.
Other shots- There are many other shots which are too many to mention.
Over the shoulder view is very useful to show a conversation between a group or pair of people.
And a shot containing a person walking, the Moving subject shot, is effective for creating a view of movement and activeness.
In our lesson we were given the chance to try out the new camera angle shots we have learnt. During our time out, I tried out the over the shoulder shot which was effective for creating a conversation. I also tried the use of the worms eye shot and on the move shot, which were effective for creating movement and size.
For this part of my project i decided to review the very interesting, plot twisting strange film ‘Shutter Island’.
To see my presentation visit my page on:
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I personally thought that the film was very good and interesting, i found it to be quite confusing at points due to the plot changing a lot. The story was very effectively placed to create the twists. Within the opening it is in all quite mysterious as we do not have a clue where the characters are.
For my institution work i have decided to focus my eye on ‘The Woman In Black’, and the making of it.
‘The Woman In Black’, is a very popular thriller that was released back in 2012 and released across 2,856 cinema’s across the globe. The film was produced by the Company ‘Hammer productions’, which was founded in 1939. The company is well renowned for their Gothic horror film background. In 2007 the new buyer of the company John De Moi spent a whopping £25 million on new film productions. Since then several successful film titles have been created, this consists of ‘Let Me In’, ‘The Resident’, ‘The Woman In Black’ and ‘The Quiet One’.During Hammer Productions earlier years they had produced the famous film Dracula and Frankenstein, which was a huge success.
‘The Woman In Black’ also had a couple other companies to help produce it. The company ‘Exclusive Media’ helped to finance, sell and distribute the film. Other companies that helped to sell, produce and promote the film included ‘Cross Creek Pictures’, ‘UK Film Council’ and ‘Film I Väst’.
The executive producer of the film is Tobin Amrbrust. Amrbrust is famous for helping to organise films such as ‘RUSH’, ‘Let Me In’ and ‘End of Watch’. He currently works in the Exclusive media company where he helps to produce and promote films.
The director of ‘The Woman In Black’ is James Watkins. In 2009 he worked on the critically acclaimed film ‘Eden Lake’, which won the best horror film award of 2009 at the Empire awards ceremony. Watkins was chosen to be director for his previous skill in other films. He also proved that he was a worthy director as he had received many diffrent awards, such as the Best Director at Fantasporto and his nomination for the Douglas Hickox Award at the 2008 British Independent Film Awards.
Danielle Radcliffe was the main cast member of the film, and he played the lawyer from London. His role in the film is to go to the house of the women who had recently passed away, he too is also trying to face the fact of loosing his own wife and child.
The Walking Dead Season 1 episode 1:
‘The Walking Dead’ is a very well known popular series which was first released in 2010 on October 31st. From their it reached a huge amount of new fans and is now a very popular renowned series.
The opening to season 1 episode 1 first presents the main character Rick and his close friend Shane. The first thing that is immediately noticed is the uniforms the two are wearing which is police uniforms. The use of mise en scene in this scene is effective as the fact the two wear police uniforms immediately gives the impression that they both have an important role of protecting and enforcing law and the people. The fact they are both sheriffs also shows that they have a strong role in helping to keep things running, and this all sets the scene for later on in the series as Rick tries to hold his group of stragglers together and lead them to hope and safety. At this point the two character are scene eating their food in the police car while talking, but this is soon interrupted by a crackling voice through the radio. Here tension begins to build as they are warned to approach with extreme caution, this gives the audience the first rush of danger in the series.
In the next change of scene it takes place in an remote and open area with a stray road and fields to the side. Here Rick and Shane lay out spikes on the road an prepare with the other officers to receive the approaching runaway car. The editing used in this section is effect as it quickly switches to different views quickly, which creates a more fast pace feeling and helps to further increase tension. As the runaway car approaches the sound and speed of the scene increases and the car suddenly rolls multiple times of the side of the road and halts in the field. Here everything suddenly goes quite and the audience are left thinking whats about to happen. At this point a couple men crawl out the car and Rick is shot, the audience would immediately receive a shock from this sudden move. Rick manages to recover and is unfortunately shot again as the gun fight comes to an end.
Platoon:
Platoon was a popular war film showing the horrors of the Vietnam War and is well know for its gruesome detail, this was released April 24th 1987.
The opening scene begins with a slightly sad and slow song which slowly builds up and begins to get louder. The screen gradually fades into the scene of a large plane and men running across the scene, the view is also difficult to see as the background is covered by what seems to be some sought of sand storm or a lot of dirt flying around. This scene emphases confusion and doesn’t give much of a sense to where this place is. The camera switches to the plane doors after panning around the plane and the doors open revealing a dozen men in uniforms, at which this point it is clear that they are part of the military. As the group leave the plane, more of the scenery is revealed to the ordinance by a long range shot, however the further background still remains hidden by the dirt. Its also clear the area they are in is a military airfield. More of the scene is revealed as the camera focuses on different areas, and a vehicle is seen driving in the scene carrying body bags. The bodies help to achieve the idea that the war there was brutal and also creates an idea of danger that where these soldiers are going is not safe. As the soldiers get out the plain one in particular is focused which makes it clear that he will be the main character and will be the persons journey that is followed. As the character and the others are ordered to follow a senior soldier they walk past a group of soldiers and the character sees one particular man who has been battered and looks glum and extremely ruff looking. This also helps to show the ruff of the war going on and that it is a tiring fight, and the character looks at him with shock and also makes the audience realise these men going to war haven’t experienced such horrors before.
James Bond spectre:
‘Spectre’ is a James Bond series film which was released on October 21st 2015.
The opening begins with a large skull and a skeleton body and is clear its a large model, and after the camera panning to the left there is a festival going on which most likely represents day of the dead in Mexico. The lighting used within this scene is quite light and has a slight shade of green,yellow and orange which creates a perhaps effect of a feeling that the air is clean and clear and no trouble is visible. This section is ironic as later a large building topples over and the air is filled with dust and creates a confused scene. The camera then begins to home in on a white figured character from a fair distance as he gets closer the audience can see he is walking against the crowd to get somewhere, and the fact he goes against the crowd suggests hes not there for the celebration but to get somewhere for business. At this point another figure in black is visible with a female companion, and the camera then leaves the white figure to wonder of into the crowd and the camera trails the black figure. From this point the audience is left confused as at the moment as the two figures faces remain hidden so we do not know who they are and where they are going. As the black figure carries on going against the crowd he comes to a building where more people are leaving the place which could suggest the black figure is too perhaps up to something as he is going out of his way to go against the crowd. And eventually they reach a room where the opening ends. Generally the first scene is fairly confusing and no actual important details can be gathered due to the faces of the figures being hidden and the mission of the figures is unknown at this point.
Saving Private Ryan:
Saving Private Ryan was the first and still is one of the most realistic films for showing the horrors of World War 2, especially its fantastically detailed D-Day beach landing scene and features Tom Hanks who has to bring a missing private from the 101st US airborne back home. This film was released in September 11th 1998.
The opening scene begins very patriotically, as the flag of the United States of America is visible waving across the screen. The camera then switches to another view of someone walking down a path who appears to be an old man and behind him his family. From the mans expression it is clear the man is not happy as his eyes are slightly shiny and red which suggests he is crying and has an expression of sorrow across his face. As they carry on walking his family behind appear to be concerned and worried which will emphasise a little confusion for the audience as they do not know what is wrong with the man. The music played at this time is slow and sad sounding, a bugle* is played in the background with a ceremonial song on and this helps to present the face that the person perhaps has some military history. The family come into a flat clearing where hundreds of white crosses are visible across the the flat plain, and here we realise these are the graves of those who died in WW2. The man eventually comes to a grave and collapses to the ground in a heap of tears, at this point the audience may feel sorrow for the man as we realise he is visiting a fallen friend from the war, and here the first scene ends and it cuts to a flashback of the D-Day invasion.
*-Bugle is a military ceremonial trumpet.
Title:
‘Shadow’
Setting/location:
Our thriller opening is set in a overgrown patch of land which is not near any houses or busy public areas, the scene also has a old church in the background which helps to suggest death and a more creepy atmosphere. In contrast I have chosen ‘The Woman in Black’, as this too uses a remote overgrown scene with a run down building in the background and a very misty shrub of woods near by. We filmed this in the late afternoon which meant we had the availability of a dark drizzly sky, this helped greatly to add to the more sinister feel of the opening scene.
Costumes and props:
In our opening we used military DPM uniforms along with added cam makeup to add an effect of a dirty worn face. We also added small bits such as assault boots, hats and helmets. In ‘The Woman In Black’ the film is set in the 1800’s, the costumes used are very effective for showing the time as they are clearly old Victorian suits and dresses. The hairstyle also show that its Victorian era as this is shown by the main actor Daniel Radcliff with his side burns or Mutton chops. The characters also have slightly dirty faces which also emphasises the Victorian era as the air was very smoky and washing wasn’t a easy privilege.
Camera work and editing:
In our opening we used a large amount of cross cutting shots and long range shots, the long range helped to show who the people were and where its taking place. The cross cutting shots create an atmosphere of a hurried scene and can emphasise the worry and perhaps danger of what is going on. In ‘The Woman in Black’ a couple panning shots are used to gradually reveal the mysterious women but not to make it to obvious to the viewer. Over the shoulder shots are also taken, this is very effective as us as the viewer are able to the mysterious women approach the actor while the actor has no realisation that the women is behind him.
Story and how the opening sets it up:
Our opening sets the scene of a possible military mission that went wrong, and shows the hooded figure who is trying to kill the character. In ‘The Woman in Black’ the beginning starts of with three young girls playing, suddenly they stop and look up at someone. Here the three kids trample over their toys and the camera switches to show the three kids walking towards a window, while a women in a long black dress stands in the darkness at the back of the room watching them. The children then throw themselves out the window and screaming is heard as they fall out the window. This opening scene shows that the Woman in black is causing deaths and will be the ‘villain’ of the film. It also shows that the film will be dark and mysterious, and the fact we can not see who the women is adds to the tension of the viewer.
Genre and how the opening suggests it:
Our genre is a thriller, this is shown through the use of dead characters in the scene and a short death scene. The dark setting also emphasises a dark unsettling place. ‘The Woman in Black’ is a thriller/horror as this is shown in the opening through the three children jumping out the window and dying.
Prezi to explain which company i have chosen to produce and market my film production:
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