Evaluation

Evaluation on Prezi

Here is a link to my evaluation.

Final OTS

Untitled from Ashley Canham on Vimeo.


Here is the link to the finalised OTS. With the edits made from the peer assessment, the production team are extremely happy with this, howver the quality of the upload is poor. This could be improved by better camera equipment, or other methods however it's not that important as the title's are still readable.

Continuity task

continuity task from Ryan Fisher on Vimeo.


Here is our continuity task, produced by me, Olivia and Ryan.
It shows various clips that should flow, showing that we have an understanding of continuity. This doesn't particularily flow, so it isn't showing much continuity, but it shows me what I could improve, so it still shows understanding as I know what to do to avoid a non continous OTS.

Exhibition and Distribution

This Is England
Here is a link for a prezi made by Belinda Raji.
It shows how Warp films exhibited and distributed their film This Is England. It contains a bit of information on Warp films, and the film, aswell as other methods such as production and marketing. 

Audience Theory

For audience, the main type would be males, usually older. This may be because most Noir films are quite old and would offer a sense of nostalgia for the older viewers.
It could also be because there is a little bit of action, and crime involved therefore stereotypically appealing to males. Another reason would be the introduction to an attractive femme fatale, and the male viewers would enjoy seeing a beautiful woman portrayed usually erotically or sexually.
This being said females will still watch them however they will tend to view more neo-noir.

Film Noir target audience

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OTS

Here is the latest OTS attempt. The editing crew are still working on some minor changes needed in order to change the feel of this.
At the moment, many people are noticing that it seems more like a trailer than an OTS, therefore small changes in the editing need to be made in order to change it to create more of an OTS feeling.


JackHammer from Luke Anderson on Vimeo.
The production team tried to steer far from the traditional noir genre, whilst remaing subtly in the neo-noir style, therefore creating what we feel to be a unique twist on the genre.

Copyright laws

Copyright is the legal act of giving an original piece of work exlusive rights to the owner. This means that only the owner is aloud to own or change the work. It is currently enacted by most governments.
In the example of the OTS we are producing, an original soundtrack must be produced, and any foleying must be produced by the editing team. The OTS cannot legally have any audio that has been copyrighted.
This means that: Trademark, authors rights, moral rights, trade secret and geographical indication are correctly used under any circumstance.
All of these examples are sub laws under copyright:
Copyright law covers an idea produced by the owner.
Trademark law covers any identable sign that could show the origin of a product or service.
Patent law covers the protection of inventions.
Trade secret law covers the secrecy of important information.
I believe when used in the right circumstance, copyrighting is extremely important. For example, if a film is going to be produced then it must make sure it has permission to use copyrighted sounds, or simply create their own.
However being as the project we're working on will not be advertised publicly, I believe there should be no concern to the use of copyrighted sounds, as it will not be available to the public to copy, edit or save.
However, looking on the plus side this just means for the OTS's creation, the audio team must use creative thinking in order to make a suitable soundtrack that isn't copyrighted.

Film Noir Mind Map - Initial ideas/Synopsis

http://lukeandersonasmediaschs2012.blogspot.co.uk/2012/02/film-noir-mind-map-intial-ideas-and.html

Here is a link for Luke's post on the groups noir mind map. It contains our ideas for narrative, characters, and a brief overview of the story. It also contains information on the target audience, and various other things such as camera shots, editing and sound.

Production Meeting - 25/03/12

As producers, we were forced to change a lot of things with our planning for the OTS.
The camara man had been switched, due to lack of skill, more skill etc. This provided a more, professional look for the project as the new camera man was more skilled than the last.
Also, the new camera man was provided with a tri-pod, giving a better and more steady camera shot.
This allowed the OTS to flow more, as there was less shaking of the shots.

Following this, the actor's were changed from a male character, to a female character.
This gave the OTS a more, noir feel as it gave a femme fatale (A common signifier of Noir films)

As a result, the production team must produce another storyboard, script, and animatic.

What we need to do:
Finish a draft of the editing. (This can be done today)
Hold a focus group, so we can edit due to opinions. (This can be done in one lesson, either today or next lesson.)

Production Meeting - 21/03/2012

Today, the film crew met up and started editing the collected footage.

First noticeable problems are that the piece is not showing much continuity, and because of this may need to be filmed again. 

As producers, our aims are the have finished filming by the end of the week, and to re film the pieces that do not flow continuously.

Also, at the beginning of next week, the design crew want to start and finish animatics, as the previous attempts need to be changed. 

Production Meeting - 19/03/12

Our group will be filming today.
As Dan has dropped media, we will need to use Kirsty as the camera man, because we need shots of both me and Luke together.
We aim to have finished filming by the end of this week, so we can start editing next week.

Also, we need to finish our animatic by the end of next week.

Sound effects and Folying task

http://lukeandersonasmediaschs2012.blogspot.com/2012/03/sound-effects-foleying-task.html

For this task I worked with Luke, and therefore the link for the post is above:
It has a picture of the sheet we filled in, and a little description of which sound effects we wanted to make. It also says how, as producers, we made them and therefore how we intend to use them in our OTS.
We did this task so that we could understand the art of foleying a bit more, along with how to make certain sound effects.

Also, here is a link to Dan's post about sound for our OTS, as it shows a bit more of how we created the sounds we desired.
http://dmck95.blogspot.com/2012/03/sound-for-ots.html

Production Meeting - 14/03/12

For our production meeting today, Luke has finished writing the storyboard, and I had finished drawing it so we have a completed storyboard.
Also, Luke had written up a storyboard for us to follow, along with general directions of whats happening in the shot.
Following today, we will start filiming soon, and will try to get as much done.
Me and Luke will start the animatic today aswell, so we can easily move scenes that need to be moved, and we can easily see what order it has to go in without losing bits of paper.

Production meeting - 12/03/12

Our groups production meeting included me continuing the storyboard, Dan uploading photo's and Luke starting the script.
Also, Dan is choosing the locations of where we will film.
I will try to have the storyboard finished this time, and Luke will try to finish the script. This wont be much of a problem as we don't have many talking scenes.
Dan will help Luke with the script once finished uploading photo's.

Production meeting - 07/0312

Dan has taken photo's we need, and will upload them as soon as possible.
I have started to draw the storyboard, and will continue drawing the shots.
Luke is starting to annotate the storyboard, working from today and so on.

As of today - Dan is continuing with the blog work for our OTS.
Luke will be annotating the storyboard until it is finished.
And I will continue to draw the shots working with Luke to get the storyboard finished.

Aims -
I will try to get as much of the storyboard drawn so that Luke can annotate it and we will have it finished.
I also want to start filming quite soon so we can get that started.

Production meeting - 5/3/12

We have had a production meeting today to alocate tasks so that we work efficiently, and so the work load is distributed fairly using our individual skills to the best so that we obtain a good grade.
Consiquently:
1: Dan is responsible for location - Task: Taking photo's of places we are recording, giving us visual evidence and making sure we are correct in choosing those areas. Dan is taking the photo's today, and should upload to his blog. We will then discuss this on wednesday.
2: Luke is responsible for storyboarding with me. However he has an orthodontist apointment and therefore i will start this on my own.
Aims:
By the end of today I want to have learnt how to storyboard using post it notes, so that i can make an animatic and so that i can create a basic story board that i can pass to Luke for anotating. We will meet to discuss this on wednesday.

Foleying

Foleying is the method of recording a sound from objects live, or pre recorded, then adding it to a scene to match the action being displayed. This method can make it sound better as the sound is easier to hear, and can make for much easier filming.
This being said, foleying is difficult, and takes time to master.
Foleying is described as an art form that requires a lot of effort, timing and a creative mind.
Which a lot of people think they have, but when it comes down to it, they don't.
I looked at a video about foleying called - Soundworks Collection: Gary Hecker - Veteran foley artist, which shows different techniques to foleying, such as using various metal sounds to create a car crashing off a plane ramp, or using boxing gloves scraping sand to sound like a car's wheels sliding on a desert floor.
Foleying when mastered can be a great weapon to use to make films seem that much better.
I believe that foleying, although seemingly difficult can be a very good concept to use in films to create a better sounding film, aswell as making the sounds seem more realistic. Films such as titanic benefitted very well because of foleying, and believe if i pull it off, my OTS will be better than i thought possible.

Certifications - BBFC - 18

18's may contain detailed violence, dangerous acts or illegal drug use.
Also, sexual behavior or sexual violence can be used as long as it's intented as a story, not to stimulate an individual.
It's also permitted if educating about safe sex, health or human sexuality.
Any film classified as 18, may only be viewed by a person 18 or older.

Key conventions of titles in Noir and Neo Noir films

The font of titles is usually block, or slanted so it stands out more.
In pretty much every case the title is a bright blood red color, signifying many things such as anger or violence, but also attraction or lust.
The use of red is because most noir films contain violence as most of the plot, as well as sexual attraction between the femme fatale and anti-hero.
Most of the titles are short, usually 1 or 2 words maximum. For example, Sin City, Mulholland Drive, The Killers.

Sin City's title has pretty much every convention of a Noir film, and is a great example.
The color is bright red which symbolizes anger and violence, but it also stands out very well as the background is very dark.
Also, the font is quite thick, but it almost looks like a comic book font. This is great, because it's blocky and slanted, but still interesting as it's different.
The title itself is also only 2 words, but is still very impacting because SIN is a very iconic word that relates to most things bad and evil.

OTS Sin City Presentation

Film Noir OTS Sound on Prezi

OTS

Rules - max 2 mins.
Genre - film noir/ neo-noir/ parady. Or post modern homage.
Original sound track - Music
- Dialogue
- Effects.
With titles.
Remember - An OTS not a trailer.
An established enigma - provide a hook - introduce the plot.

Neo Noir - Mulholland Drive - Typical/ Non typical

MulHolland drive is another example of Neo-noir. It, like red riding, has typical and non typical stuff contained in noir.
Typical:
It contains darkened or distilled lighting. Not many heavily lighted scenes.
The scenes are longer, just like in the old noir films.
The plot is about crime. In this case, and attempted murder.
There are a lot of shadows, like people, or just large buildings because it is an urban setting.

Non-Typical:
Although there is a lot of fog around, the characters themselves actually don't smoke, which is very unlike traditional noir.
There is almots a role reversal as the femme fatale is scared, again very unlike traditional noir.
Also, it is not in black and white, but to go completely off the scale when there is colour it's brightened, or more noticable.
This can be seen quite clearly in the first scene in which the background is bright purple.

Neo Noir - The Red Riding Trilogy - Typical/ Non typical

The Red Riding Trilogy is a neo noir, meaning it's a new styled noir tv series.
It has both typical conventions of a neo noir, and non typical.
Typical:It contains smoking, obscurred lighting and sepia filter lighting just like in traditional noir films.
Also it shows most people in suits, smoking or drinking which is again the same as older noir films.
Another similarity is that the anti-hero is carrying a burden, which in this case is that he is trying to live up to his dead fathers standards.
Just like in noir films, this particular neo noir starts off with a flashback, or atleast a future event.

Non-Typical:
Although it does contain music in the background like usual noir films, the music is based around guitars which is very non-typical of a noir film.
Also, the whole setting has changed. Traditional noir films or tv series' are set in urban surroundings, however this is set in yorkshire.
Another majour thing i notice, is that The Red Riding actually contrains blood. Which was prehibited in the time of traditional noir's.
Aswell as that, there is the obvious use of colour, instead of black and white.

Sound - Understanding how to use it

My initial thoughts about using sound in film
Sound  can be used to create atmosphere at correct moments.
It can also be used bring out certain actions or movements so they are over obvious.
There can be music played in the background to give background noise, and to fill silence, along with sound effects such as slices or punches to emphasise actions.
It is important that the music is relevant to the scene and not too obscure.
Also natural sounds might already be in the scene like wind or character speech.

Reflective comment
I have learnt by looking at sin city a bit more about the different types of sound.
Such as stuff added in like a police siren when there are no police cars around, or amplified sound that is synchronised to the same action in the film.

Certifications - BBFC - 15

A film with the classification 15 should contain/Not contain the following things:
- Discriminatory langue is allowed, but cannot be endorsed.
- Drugs can be used, but the film cannot show that they are good, or say that misuse of drugs is a positive thing.
- Strong threat is allowed, however it cannot be sexual horror, or sadistic.
- For imitable behavior, it's the same as a 12/12A.
- Strong language can be frequent, and if justified, the strongest bad language can be used, however it cannot be repeated a lot, or aggresive.
- Any amount of natural nudity can be used, and sexual content can be used as long as it isn't in detail.
- If justified, detail can be applied to sexual content, however if not justified it's not allowed.
- Strong violence can be used, but gore cannot unless it's justified.
Films classified as 15's cannot be viewed by anyone under the age of 15.

Certifications - BBFC - 12/12A

Films with the classification 12/12A should contain/Not contain the following things:
-Discriminatory language can be used, if not endorsed or heavily condemned.
- Drug use must be infrequent, and not involve instructional detail.
- Moderate threats of either physical, or psychological but may not be frequent or sustained.
- Cirumstances such as hanging, or suicide can be shown but only in small detail. Easy accesible weapons can also be shown but not be glamourised.
- Moderate language can be used, however strong langue must be infrequent.

- Nudity is permitted aswell as mild sexual content, but it must not be in detail and must be brief.
- Sexual references must not go above what is usually permitted for teenagers.
- Violence is allowed, however it must not be in detail, and there should be no emphasis on blood or injury. If justified, there can be mild gore content.

12 is a classification only for DVD's. This means no one under the age of 12 can buy or rent the film.
12A is a classification only for the cinema. This means no one under the age of 12 can view the film, unless permitted by an acompanying adult.

Certifications - BBFC - PG

Films classifed as PG should contain/ Not contain the following things:
- No discriminatory language should be used unless it is clearly being disaproved.
- No reference's to illegal drugs unless there is a subtle anti-drugs message.
- No prolonged horrofic scenes.
- No detail of actions that may be copied, such as easily accessible weapons.
- Mild language considered "Bad"
- Natural nudity without sexual content.
- Infrequent or discreet sexual content.
- Justified moderate violence.
PG films can be viewed by any child, but are generally classified as 8 or above. This being said, if the parent feels it does not show any reason for a younger child not to view it, then it's fine.

Certifications - BBFC - U

Films under the certificate U show no discriminatory language, no reference to illegal drugs, only brief or mild scary scenes, no behavior that is likely to be copied, close to no bad language at all, at least infrequent and only mild, ocasional natural nudity with no sexual content, mild sexual content (Kissing, or reference's to making love only) and any problems must be dealt with sensitively or apropriately for young children.
These are aimed for 4 and above.

Noir Iconography Collage

Some of the iconography of classic Noir films: Urban settings, Trilby hats, red lipstick and cigarettes or smoke. 

Todorov's theory - 2 - The Killers

As apose to Double Indemnity, The Killers does follow Todorov's theory.
It starts with an equilibrium, and ends with the new equilibrium as it should so by following Todorov's idea.
Although it follows the theory, there are tiny things throughout the film that break the theory but they are too small to make much of a difference. So this classic noir film is a good example when talking about Todorov's theory.

Todorov's theory - 1 - Double Indemnity

Double Indemnity is a classic noir film.

This being said, it does not follow Todorov's theory in the sense of equilibrium, a disruption, recognition of the disruption, trying to fix the disruption and then the new equilibrium.
This is because double indemnity starts at the end, therefore starting with a new equilibrium and disrupting the theory.
Other than that, it generally follows the rest of the points so it follows the theory slightly.

FIlm Noir - Camera and composition

The most common camera shots are midshots, or close-ups. Canted angles are sometimes used to show what is going on, or to show character emotions.
It is also important to see how close they are, so we can understand what is going on through the film, through the importance of the character.

Survey monkey - Reflective comment.

Survey monkey is a good tool, because it is pretty simple to use.
It is easy to understand and can create surveys quickly.
It is relevant to me, because it can be embedded in my blog to get some responses from people who are doing to same thing as me.
I have learnt that I can easily get responses by posting the survey to facebook or embedd it on my blog.
It also let's me know what people enjoy about the opening sequence so it allows me to use that information to make mine enjoyable to the audience.
Survey monkey for me is very effective because people can respond very quickly, and it can be shown to a wide audience through the different publishing options.

Film Noir Survey

Create your free online surveys with SurveyMonkey, the world's leading questionnaire tool.

Film Noir - Mise-En-Scene.

They are filmed in black and white, but a very high contrasting style.
Experimental lighting is used, as in reflected through things like shades or blinds.
A lot of smoke/fog is used, as characters are most always smoking.
Silouettes are used.
Chiarosculo lighting. (An extreme contrast between dark and light)
Usually a card game, or some type of gambling.

Film Noir - Sound.

Music is usually classical, and instrumental.
There is a voice over, narrating the story as it goes on.
Being told what is happening by the anti-hero.

Film Noir - Narrative.

Film Noir's generally involve an element of crime.
The anti-hero gets involved through the femme fatale.
In the end, the femme fatale usually dies, killed by the anti-hero, or otherwise.
Mostly, the anti-hero wins. Or he will die, or be left in a lot of trouble.
It's usually filmed at night, in urban settings.
Occasionally it starts at the end, and is told through flashbacks.

Film Noir - Key Character types.

Man + Woman have an attraction, usually through a sexual relationship.
Man = Anti-hero. This means he is the protagonist, but he has dark methods. 
He usually has a masculine job. And also usually has a past that haunts him.
He gets himself involved with the crime unintentionally.

Woman = Very sexualised, glamorous, elegant. Usually brings a threat of death.
Makes the anti-hero feel sorry for her, and manipulates him.

Using SlideShare for research.

It well let me know what i have to include in my production, as in lighting, setting and props so that it will be a good representation of Noir.
This will inform me on certain things i must contain, along with things that i could use in order to create an authentic Noir production.

Using SlideShare for research.

The slideshow is relevent to me, because it helps me understand what mine must contain to be classed as a Noir film.
The slideshow has conventions of both Neo Noir, and traditional Noir, therefore i can tell which mine would fit into and stick by it.
Also, I feel this is basic information therefore it gives me a base that I can grow my production from.

Using SlideShare for research.

The slide show is about film noir conventions.

From this i learnt about the possible different male characters (Anti-Hero), and also the traditional femme fatale.
I also learnt about the typical lighting styles or settings. Knowing what kind of lighting I should use, or the setting that would be best situated to the genre will help me create what I hope to be a good opening sequence that follows the generic style of Noir films.

Using SlideShare for research.

Film Noir conventions

View more presentations from Nassie1

Defective Detective from Cartoon Brew on Vimeo.

Reflective comment

My strengths for this unit -
I like using camera's and recording. I have had experience making film trailers, and openers.
I am very interested in filming.

My fears for this unit -
Im not very organized.
Im way too lazy, and don't do anything at home.
I will need help on the effort put into blog, to get detailed blog.