Wednesday 26 November 2008
Monday 24 November 2008
Sunday 23 November 2008
Working Title Films
Working Title Films is a British film production company, based in London, England. The company was founded by Tim Bevan and Sarah Radclyffe in 1984. It produces feature films and some television productions. Eric Fellner and Bevan are the co-owners of the company now.
In 2004 it made a profit of £17.8 million pounds. As of 2007, all its films are distributed by Universal Pictures, which owns a 67% stake in the company, and many of its recent films are co-productions with StudioCanal. The remaining shares are owned by the company's founders, BBC Films, and private investors.
The film company also has a smaller low-budget film brand, WT2 (Working Title 2) which has produced films such as Billy Elliot (2000) and Shaun of the Dead (2004).
Headquarters: London, United Kingdom
Industry: Film production
Parent: Universal Pictures BBC Films
In 2004 it made a profit of £17.8 million pounds. As of 2007, all its films are distributed by Universal Pictures, which owns a 67% stake in the company, and many of its recent films are co-productions with StudioCanal. The remaining shares are owned by the company's founders, BBC Films, and private investors.
The film company also has a smaller low-budget film brand, WT2 (Working Title 2) which has produced films such as Billy Elliot (2000) and Shaun of the Dead (2004).
Headquarters: London, United Kingdom
Industry: Film production
Parent: Universal Pictures BBC Films
Preliminary Filming Project Script
Setting the scene: We will start the opening by using an ECU of the door handle as the first man turns it. Then we will focus on the Robert (man1) as he sits down opposite to other man (Steve(man 2)) in the opening. They will talk to each other using MSN Messenger. We will use a voice over which will speak the words on the computer monitor. While communicating, one of men’s computers abruptly shuts down and the monitor presents a screen saying ‘Will restart in 5, 4, 3……’
Then the man whose computer fails says ‘Why does it always shut down’. Then he leaves the room.
Script
Robert (man 1) sits downs at computer and logs on
Robert (man 1) “Have you got everything I need”
Steve (Man 2) “Yes, I have it on me”
Robert (Man 1) “Then where is it?”
Steve (Man 2) “Check your inbox!”
Then Robert’s (Man 1) computer crashes.
Robert storms out of the room with Steve looking at him confused.
Then the man whose computer fails says ‘Why does it always shut down’. Then he leaves the room.
Script
Robert (man 1) sits downs at computer and logs on
Robert (man 1) “Have you got everything I need”
Steve (Man 2) “Yes, I have it on me”
Robert (Man 1) “Then where is it?”
Steve (Man 2) “Check your inbox!”
Then Robert’s (Man 1) computer crashes.
Robert storms out of the room with Steve looking at him confused.
Preliminary Filming Storyboards and Shotlist
Storyboards
Shot list
Shot 1
ECU of Robert's hand as he turns the door handle and starts to open the door.
Shot 2
Medium tracking shot of Robert as he walks to his computer, sits down at his computer and sits down.
Shot 3
Close up of Robert typing a message to Steve who is sitting at the computer opposite to him.
Shot 4
An over the shoulder shot of Steve recieving the message from Robert that reads 'Do you have everything I need?'
Shot 5
Another over the shoulder shot, of Robert this time, as Steve's response is displayed on his computer, reading 'Yes i have it on me'
Shot 6
Return to Steve's computer with another over the shoulder shot displaying a message from Robert that says 'So where is it?'
Shot 7
Return to Robert's computer with an over the shoulder shot of Steve's response to Robert that says 'Check your inbox!'
Shot 8
This will be a medium shot from behind Robert as he gets disconnected from msn messenger following Steve's previous message.
Shot 9
A medium shot facing Robert with him looking annoyed following his disconnection from msn messenger.
Shot 10
A medium tracking shot of Robert getting up and leaving the room with Steve looking at him confused why he is leaving the room.
Shot list
Shot 1
ECU of Robert's hand as he turns the door handle and starts to open the door.
Shot 2
Medium tracking shot of Robert as he walks to his computer, sits down at his computer and sits down.
Shot 3
Close up of Robert typing a message to Steve who is sitting at the computer opposite to him.
Shot 4
An over the shoulder shot of Steve recieving the message from Robert that reads 'Do you have everything I need?'
Shot 5
Another over the shoulder shot, of Robert this time, as Steve's response is displayed on his computer, reading 'Yes i have it on me'
Shot 6
Return to Steve's computer with another over the shoulder shot displaying a message from Robert that says 'So where is it?'
Shot 7
Return to Robert's computer with an over the shoulder shot of Steve's response to Robert that says 'Check your inbox!'
Shot 8
This will be a medium shot from behind Robert as he gets disconnected from msn messenger following Steve's previous message.
Shot 9
A medium shot facing Robert with him looking annoyed following his disconnection from msn messenger.
Shot 10
A medium tracking shot of Robert getting up and leaving the room with Steve looking at him confused why he is leaving the room.
Friday 7 November 2008
Media Filming Project Treatment
We have decided to shoot the opening in the sub-genre crime/thriller, much like other thrillers of its kind. For example, like in Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and Leon etc. We aim to create a tense atmosphere which lends itself well to the genre. The way in which we will immediately establish the equilibrium is through the setting and by using music to build a tense atmosphere but without giving away the plot. The place we have haven chosen to shoot this opening is at Salhouse Train Station, mainly because of its deserted location, a convention used in many other thrillers.
Our film will begin with the first few shot of the station and the surrounding area to establish the location and enable us to use different camera shots, such as long shots and worms eye view. Within these, running titles will be added discreetly so the viewers attention is not distracted from the opening shots. Throughout, we plan to use a soundtrack which fades in, as the picture does, and which, by the low volume, sounds like it is being played out of shot from a distance. Within these shots, a dark and derelict house is shown. This is the frame that we end the title sequence with. The camera then cuts inside the house to a man sitting by a window which faces the platform. We plan to make these opening shots to set the scene last approximately 10 seconds long.
The character appears to be very socially isolated and lives alone in this dark, rundown house. He has recently broken away from a gang of organised criminals, and his involvement in a scene of organised crime and corruption. Throughout the opening, we are going to have subtle clues as to his past (for example; the letter, the character stepping off the train and his intent). His house is next to the platform at the quiet station, its location is secluded, overgrown and the interior of the house is damp and dirty. The walls are bare and empty and the floorboards creak as you step on them.
He is writing a letter and the camera focuses in to an over the shoulder shot of the letter and a CU of the page, although the words are unclear on the page. When we cut to this shot, initially the music increases in volume; as if it is coming from inside the man’s room. From this, we cut to a shot outside the house of the train approaching the platform, this is the point at which the music stops. This silence serves to make the atmosphere even more eerie than before. Another way we show the contrast between the inside of the house and the outside, as well as the soundtrack, is the lighting. Outside; we are only going to use natural light, which will contrast with the house, where there will be darker, more noir lighting.
From here, the camera then cuts to a mid-shot view of the train tracks outside. The soundtrack remains silent until you begin to here the sound of the train along the tracks. This noise builds to a crescendo as you watch the train approaching from the same camera view. This is the point at which the equilibrium is disrupted. It isn’t dramatic, but it is enough to change the atmosphere. The sound of the train approaching increases as it comes towards the camera. We then cutto a shot of the concrete floor of the platform. Onto this arrives the 2nd man in our opening. He is wearing distinctive boots, which is the first thing we see of him. We then go to a medium shot of the train pulling away from the station, with the man following it as he walks down the platform. The camera then cuts to a side-on shot looking across at the platform following his footsteps as he walks (like in the film ‘The Third Man’). The camera then stops, as does he from here, the camera then goes to a close up shot of his side where he reveals a weapon concealed under his jacket. The soundtrack remains silent. Also, when the camera focuses in, the background is slightly blurred- this is so the audience’s attention is drawn to the object.
After these shots in which the weapon is identified, this 2nd man continues to walk towards the house where the 1st man is located. The camera shows the 2nd man walking towards the house, focusing on his feet using a low angle shot. The camera cuts back a medium shot from inside the house, looking out to the 2nd man walking towards the house. the 1st man in the house writing the letter, with the use of over the shoulder, high angle, medium and long shots of the man from behind, with the edition of a high angle close up shot of the 1st man’s hands and the letter as he writes.
Once the man reaches the house, the camera will then cut to a close-up shot through the window of the man waiting at the door. We will then cut back to the high angle close up shot as he is writing the letter, within this shot we hear the knock at the door. Hearing this, Man 1 stops writing and puts his pen down to get up and answer the door. We then go to an over the shoulder shot of Man 1 opening the door and then quickly closing it when he sees whose there. To clarify, we cut to a CU shot of Man 2's foot in the door. We then go to a medium shot from the other side of the room in which Man 2 pushing the knife forward, into his side and walk through into the house. The lighting it going to be remain dark and we are going to have very low contrast to show the connotations of the events taking place in this scene. The camera then goes to a medium shot of the window placing the platform in which Man 2 walks across, momentarily blocking out the view of an outside streetlight. The camera then focuses on a shot of the letter with the ink running out of the pen, signifying Man 1's death.on this as ink begins to leak onto the page from the pen (like in the opening of ‘Don’t Look Now’ with the photo slide). We then cut to the 2nd man grabbing the letter and in a close up shot we watch him set fire to it - suggesting to the audience the connotations and possible consequences of the letter, also making the audience wonder exactly what it could say.
Aims and Objective
In our opening 2 minute film, we aim to include; some kind of narrative structure, suspense, opening titles and credits and, most importantly, identifiable codes and conventions of the thriller genre.
Our film will begin with the first few shot of the station and the surrounding area to establish the location and enable us to use different camera shots, such as long shots and worms eye view. Within these, running titles will be added discreetly so the viewers attention is not distracted from the opening shots. Throughout, we plan to use a soundtrack which fades in, as the picture does, and which, by the low volume, sounds like it is being played out of shot from a distance. Within these shots, a dark and derelict house is shown. This is the frame that we end the title sequence with. The camera then cuts inside the house to a man sitting by a window which faces the platform. We plan to make these opening shots to set the scene last approximately 10 seconds long.
The character appears to be very socially isolated and lives alone in this dark, rundown house. He has recently broken away from a gang of organised criminals, and his involvement in a scene of organised crime and corruption. Throughout the opening, we are going to have subtle clues as to his past (for example; the letter, the character stepping off the train and his intent). His house is next to the platform at the quiet station, its location is secluded, overgrown and the interior of the house is damp and dirty. The walls are bare and empty and the floorboards creak as you step on them.
He is writing a letter and the camera focuses in to an over the shoulder shot of the letter and a CU of the page, although the words are unclear on the page. When we cut to this shot, initially the music increases in volume; as if it is coming from inside the man’s room. From this, we cut to a shot outside the house of the train approaching the platform, this is the point at which the music stops. This silence serves to make the atmosphere even more eerie than before. Another way we show the contrast between the inside of the house and the outside, as well as the soundtrack, is the lighting. Outside; we are only going to use natural light, which will contrast with the house, where there will be darker, more noir lighting.
From here, the camera then cuts to a mid-shot view of the train tracks outside. The soundtrack remains silent until you begin to here the sound of the train along the tracks. This noise builds to a crescendo as you watch the train approaching from the same camera view. This is the point at which the equilibrium is disrupted. It isn’t dramatic, but it is enough to change the atmosphere. The sound of the train approaching increases as it comes towards the camera. We then cutto a shot of the concrete floor of the platform. Onto this arrives the 2nd man in our opening. He is wearing distinctive boots, which is the first thing we see of him. We then go to a medium shot of the train pulling away from the station, with the man following it as he walks down the platform. The camera then cuts to a side-on shot looking across at the platform following his footsteps as he walks (like in the film ‘The Third Man’). The camera then stops, as does he from here, the camera then goes to a close up shot of his side where he reveals a weapon concealed under his jacket. The soundtrack remains silent. Also, when the camera focuses in, the background is slightly blurred- this is so the audience’s attention is drawn to the object.
After these shots in which the weapon is identified, this 2nd man continues to walk towards the house where the 1st man is located. The camera shows the 2nd man walking towards the house, focusing on his feet using a low angle shot. The camera cuts back a medium shot from inside the house, looking out to the 2nd man walking towards the house. the 1st man in the house writing the letter, with the use of over the shoulder, high angle, medium and long shots of the man from behind, with the edition of a high angle close up shot of the 1st man’s hands and the letter as he writes.
Once the man reaches the house, the camera will then cut to a close-up shot through the window of the man waiting at the door. We will then cut back to the high angle close up shot as he is writing the letter, within this shot we hear the knock at the door. Hearing this, Man 1 stops writing and puts his pen down to get up and answer the door. We then go to an over the shoulder shot of Man 1 opening the door and then quickly closing it when he sees whose there. To clarify, we cut to a CU shot of Man 2's foot in the door. We then go to a medium shot from the other side of the room in which Man 2 pushing the knife forward, into his side and walk through into the house. The lighting it going to be remain dark and we are going to have very low contrast to show the connotations of the events taking place in this scene. The camera then goes to a medium shot of the window placing the platform in which Man 2 walks across, momentarily blocking out the view of an outside streetlight. The camera then focuses on a shot of the letter with the ink running out of the pen, signifying Man 1's death.on this as ink begins to leak onto the page from the pen (like in the opening of ‘Don’t Look Now’ with the photo slide). We then cut to the 2nd man grabbing the letter and in a close up shot we watch him set fire to it - suggesting to the audience the connotations and possible consequences of the letter, also making the audience wonder exactly what it could say.
Aims and Objective
In our opening 2 minute film, we aim to include; some kind of narrative structure, suspense, opening titles and credits and, most importantly, identifiable codes and conventions of the thriller genre.
Media Filming Project Props and Costumes
For our filming project, we had to think about the connotations of the props and costumes our characters will be using, and how they will come across to the audience. With our sub genre being crime thriller, we thought it would be fitting to have one dominant character (Man 2), and one not so dominant character (Man 1).
The setting where Man 1 will be located is an old run down house that used to be lived in by squatters, so the house is empty, has old floorboards and is in poor condition. We will add some furniture into the house to make it seem more of a home such as a desk and a chair, but the run down look we will want to maintain to link this to the character and lifestyle of Man 1. This meaning that the character is poor, personality is damaged and in relation to his past, which has been of hatred and misfortune. Also, we will include a pen, some paper and an envelope to the setting as Man 1 will be writing a letter during the opening. Man 1 will be wearing mostly red coloured clothes including a t-shirt and converse shoes, and he will also be wearing blue jeans. The meaning of Man 1 wearing red is to indicate that he may be in danger from Man 2, who will be carrying a knife, or that he is involved in a scenario where death and blood may occur later on in the film. Man 1 in the opening will be writing a letter, this letter will be linked to a past experience and current situation between Man 2 and an unknown character to the audience at this point. The audience however, will only see Man 1 writing, what he is writing will not be shown to the audience.
Man 2 however, will be a more dominant and confident figure, and this will subsequently be reflected in the clothes and props he will be using. The clothes he will be wearing will be black boots, blue jeans, a smart jacket (possibly leather) and an accessory such as a watch or a necklace, which will look expensive to show he is of higher authority than Man 1. Also to show his dominance and power, Man 2 will be carrying a knife in his pocket. All this will indicate that Man 2 is highly ranked in a form of gang, his high rank being suggested by the bold black boots, expensive accessory and the weapon. With a weapon in his possession, his intentions may be to kill Man 1, or which is the case, Man 2 will be a messenger between Man 1 and from another unknown character to the audience, of higher rank than Man 2.
Neither man’s faces will be shown, so the audience will only be influenced by what each character is wearing and the setting they are in. Nothing will be given away by facial expressions or looks.
The setting where Man 1 will be located is an old run down house that used to be lived in by squatters, so the house is empty, has old floorboards and is in poor condition. We will add some furniture into the house to make it seem more of a home such as a desk and a chair, but the run down look we will want to maintain to link this to the character and lifestyle of Man 1. This meaning that the character is poor, personality is damaged and in relation to his past, which has been of hatred and misfortune. Also, we will include a pen, some paper and an envelope to the setting as Man 1 will be writing a letter during the opening. Man 1 will be wearing mostly red coloured clothes including a t-shirt and converse shoes, and he will also be wearing blue jeans. The meaning of Man 1 wearing red is to indicate that he may be in danger from Man 2, who will be carrying a knife, or that he is involved in a scenario where death and blood may occur later on in the film. Man 1 in the opening will be writing a letter, this letter will be linked to a past experience and current situation between Man 2 and an unknown character to the audience at this point. The audience however, will only see Man 1 writing, what he is writing will not be shown to the audience.
Man 2 however, will be a more dominant and confident figure, and this will subsequently be reflected in the clothes and props he will be using. The clothes he will be wearing will be black boots, blue jeans, a smart jacket (possibly leather) and an accessory such as a watch or a necklace, which will look expensive to show he is of higher authority than Man 1. Also to show his dominance and power, Man 2 will be carrying a knife in his pocket. All this will indicate that Man 2 is highly ranked in a form of gang, his high rank being suggested by the bold black boots, expensive accessory and the weapon. With a weapon in his possession, his intentions may be to kill Man 1, or which is the case, Man 2 will be a messenger between Man 1 and from another unknown character to the audience, of higher rank than Man 2.
Neither man’s faces will be shown, so the audience will only be influenced by what each character is wearing and the setting they are in. Nothing will be given away by facial expressions or looks.
Tuesday 4 November 2008
The Three Shooting Techniques
180 Degree Rule: This is a line between two or more actors that must not be crossed when shooting. The camera angles must differ to show the direction that specific character is facing, so if they are introduced on the left side of the screen, they must stay on the left side of the screen.
Match on Action: Is the smoothness between each shot, meaning how the action follows on through the shots. If a man opened a door and the previous shot was focusing on him walking through that door, the following shot would have to show him walking through that door from another angle.
Shot/Reverse Shot: This type of shot should reflect the character and what they can see. Say if a character was sitting in a classroom, the camera would show the character (perhaps facing the board at the front of the room), followed by what they see (being the board and what is on that board). Meaning that the shot follows the character and their eye line.
Match on Action: Is the smoothness between each shot, meaning how the action follows on through the shots. If a man opened a door and the previous shot was focusing on him walking through that door, the following shot would have to show him walking through that door from another angle.
Shot/Reverse Shot: This type of shot should reflect the character and what they can see. Say if a character was sitting in a classroom, the camera would show the character (perhaps facing the board at the front of the room), followed by what they see (being the board and what is on that board). Meaning that the shot follows the character and their eye line.
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