Unit 5 - Short Film and TV

In this post I will explain how meaning was created within the materials use and production. Narrative -  When developing the screenplay of our film, as well as the base idea of the narrative, we decided to use Todorov’s 5-stage linear narrative which created the structure that our would stick to. For example, the equilibrium stage is when the protagonist is walking through the woods. Following this is the disruption stage, where the protagonist discovers the notebook. The realisation stage is much longer and lasts a large amount of the film when going through the notebook day-by-day. The repair stage is when the notebook is returned to where it is found. The final stage, restoration, is when the other person comes and gets the notebook, deeming the protagonist clear of the notebook’s curse. Shot Types -  Following this, during production of the film, we used techniques learned from Unit 1 revision to create meaning in shots. We used close ups, long shots and mid shots whe...

Our short film has been created in the thriller genre. The scenes that we have used as well as the basic narrative stick to the common codes and conventions that are found in thriller films. For example, we have used a range of slow paced and fast paced shot in order to build tension throughout the narrative of the screenplay. The narrative we have employed is similar to other thriller films such as Ex-Machina, and thriller short films such as Finley, as we have varying levels of tension and realisation throughout the film. When filming, we followed the codes and conventions of shot types in short films, and films in general. For example, shot sequences such as shot reverse shot in conversations, extreme long shots to show the environment around the character, and mid to close up shots to show personal emotion. Shot movements were less of a concern in our film, as most were static, however we stayed in line with the general conventions of camera movements too. In some shots we tracked ...

 OFFLINE EDIT LINK -  (15) futureproof offline - YouTube This is one of the shots we have used which links directly to the storyboard. The initial idea for this shot was ground-level, however there was too much foreground in the shot, which meant that we had to shoot from a slightly higher angle. Luckily this is not very noticeable. Similarly, the depth of fiel d in this shot was also adjusted to create a closed-off feeling, as the camera focuses on the notebook by its elf.   This shot turned out perfectly compared to the script. The character is centred in frame and is in focus, we also used the shot type that we planned, which was a mid-shot . The way that the actor held the book in the actual shot is much better than the storyboard however and is more convincing. Furthermore, the colours in this shot are very complimentary which adds to the overall impact of the shot on the narrative. The protagonist appears isolated in the shot which is exactly what we were tryi...

  When shooting, we made sure to follow our healthy and safety guidelines and protocols. When we got there, we made ourselves aware that there had been rain previously in the woods, so we knew it would be slippy. We made sure to wear appropriate footwear to make sure we remained stable. We also inspected each area before using it. Shooting: These are the images we took when filming our first shoot. I was in control of the camera, which means I could apply my cinematography styles to the shots in the film. Throughout filming, I used manual focus control as i feel it gave me more creative freedom in terms of focus, and it also allowed me to have some shots with only one area of focus. This gives a very professional look to the film, whilst also maintaining shot continuity. I used a camera mount for most of the shots in the film. This provided me with more versatility with camera movements, and it also distributed the camera weight much more evenly which means that my movements were s...