PRODUCTION PLAN

This is the production plan for the entire process of the artefact, to create the short film.

*NOTE* Update Review, 16/11/16 - I have fallen behind schedule on the production plan as I was busy with other subjects. I also attended the BFI film programme during half term (Stated in production schedule - 22nd of October till 30th of October) which gave me no time to work on my artefact. An updated production schedule is shown below (as a checklist) 

KEY: '/' Means 'Done' 'O' Means 'Unfinished'

*NOTE* Update Review, 14/12/16 - The first milestone deadline is tomorrow and I have spoken to my EPQ teacher on how the production is progressing. I am confident that I am under control with the production plan and that I know what to do to prepare for filming as well as what to do afterwards. I did not manage to complete all the tasks on time before the deadline. However, I am confident that I will complete all the pre-production requirements just after the Christmas Holiday and that I will be ready to start filming early January. I have updated the production plan which is shown below.

KEY: '/' Means 'Done' 'O' Means 'Unfinished' and 'X' means it is not needed.

*NOTE* Update Review, 11/01/17 - The times and dates for the locations needed for filming has been sorted out. The locations that were booked out include the Drama Studio (On the 20th) and a classroom (On the 18th). The date for shooting the crime scene has also been confirmed for the 14th of January which will be at my house in one of my rooms.

*NOTE* Update Review, 12/01/17 -I contacted my friends that wanted to take part in the film. All of them are unavailable on the 18^th at that particular time (15:00-16:00). This is problematic as this is the only time Matt (The main character) can film on the week. Another contact is also unavailable on the 14^th to film the crime scene which is another major problem. I will have to compromise and shoot all the shots I can during those days. I will also contact another person who can play the character for the 14^th. Most likely, I will need to book another date where people have the time to take part.

I have also updated the production plan which is shown below

KEY: '/' Means 'Done' 'O' Means 'Unfinished' and 'X' means it is not needed.

CHOSEN IDEA

IDEA 3

In a fictional, dystopian world, a boy is living in solitary. He wants to escape the place of loneliness and seeks a way out. He meets a peculiar stranger and makes a deal with each other. The boy is tasked to find three things of significance to the stranger, in exchange for the boy's escape. The boy ventures out to find the strange items and successfully comes back with all 3 items. The story ends in a cliffhanger leaving the audience question whether he escapes his life of solitary or not.

This is my chosen idea. I have decided to go for this as it is realistic to shoot in, I know a location to film it on, it focuses on only 2 characters and it has a simple narrative structure. I will be drafting the first storyboard and script for the idea in the next few blog posts. I am planning to structure the film to 3-5 minutes to make a realistic and effective approach.

*NOTE* The number of pages on the script, equal to the number of minutes. e.g 1 minute = 1 page

*NOTE* Update Review, 16/11/16 - I have decided to change my film idea. This is because IDEA 3 is slightly impractical to filming because of my limitations to equipment, props and actors. I have decided to change the idea into a crime story. The summary is shown below:

(WORKING TITLE - DAYDREAM)

A student attends his criminology class on a lesson about the infamous Red Rose Murders. He daydreams that he is an investigator and solves the murder himself throughout the lesson. The student has a talent when it comes to problem solving and analytical detective skills.

A crime genre would include a broad range of camera techniques. This includes low key lighting, which includes shadows and silhouettes which eludes to the theme or genre of mystery. Other techniques include close up shots and wide shots. This is mainly used to show an establishing shot and to convey close ups of the character's emotions and also how they solve crime scenes.

RESEARCH

RESEARCHING FILM TECHNIQUES

During the research stage, I will be looking at a variety of film techniques, particularly in cinematography to help me with my proposed project title. I am looking for shots that contribute to some sort of meaning to the story to help communicate it visually to the audience.

ONLINE SOURCES

http://www.lavideofilmmaker.com/filmmaking/film-techniques.html - Here I learnt the various camera techniques that are frequently used in movies. I will be planning to incorporate some of these techniques into the film I am making to convey meaning and evoke tension on the scenes that I plan on creating. One of the camera techniques I learned here include the over the shoulder shot. This shot helps create intimacy, drawing the viewers in to what the characters are saying. I will most likely use this shot in the classroom scene, especially when the teacher is speaking as this is where the scene has a fair amount of dialogue.

http://nofilmschool.com/2014/12/5-techniques-create-depth-make-cinematography-more-dynamic - This article explores 5 techniques that are used to create depth and dynamics in cinematography. I plan on applying these to my short film as well. I will be doing test shots of these techniques to experiment it on the early drafting of my scenes. The techniques include lighting and shading, focus, perspective, parallax and occlusion. All of these techniques help create depth and dynamics in the shot. Depth is an important part of a cinematic shot as it immerses the viewer and can even change with what they're feeling at that particular moment based on how lighting and shading is used.

http://borgus.com/hitch/hitch2011.htm - Here I learnt the techniques to build tension and suspense in film scenes. The article highlights the techniques Alfred Hitchcock uses in his films and explains what effect it gives. These techniques will help me draw interest to the audience and will create tension for the scenes that I aim to give the most effect to. The technique I will most likely take from this article are the use of close up and wide shots. The article states that a close up shot creates more emotion whilst a wider shot establishes less emotions. I will be using this in some parts of my film to visually portray the emotions of a character without the need for sound, dialogue or editing to make the project link well with the proposed project title.

http://nofilmschool.com/2014/12/6-cinematic-techniques-alfred-hitchcock-create-suspense-tv - Here I learnt more tips and techniques done by Hitchcock in his work. The tips show how to establish a location, build tension and emotion as well as give camera and editing techniques that give the most impact and meaning to the audience. I was heavily inspired by one of the techniques shown in the video which is the idea of keeping the murder happen off screen. The use of silhouettes and shadows, sound and purposefully positioning the camera away from the actual killing helps build more tension in the scene and makes the audience feel part of the scene as they are almost looking into the room like witnesses of a crime.

*NOTE* Update Review 2/11/16 - Still need to look for print based sources.

*NOTE* Update Review 24/11/16 - I looked at a DVD documentary about light and cinematography.

MEDIA SOURCES - 24/11/16

I learned a range of techniques by watching this DVD. I have drawn inspirations from a range of cinematographers, especially Gregg Toland, Stanley Cortez and Conrad Hall. I learned the importance and manipulation of blocking subjects, simple lighting effects and camera and actor positioning. I will definitely be planning to use these techniques in my short film to enhance and heighten the impact of tension to the audience.

PRINT BASED SOURCES - 7/12/16

These are two text based research that helped me think about lighting and storyboarding. I learned how to incorporate the shots on the storyboard into the practical aspect and learned how to convey meaning behind certain shots especially when associated with colour. These books also documented different cinematographers and how they work with different shots throughout different scenes. It has taught me about the complication and the importance to detail of different shots and made me pay attention more on what meaning I am trying to convey in a particular shot.

SHORT FILM IDEAS

IDEA 1

A teenager goes through depression and problematic situations in his life. He experiences hallucinations and psychological trauma that is damaging his mental health. Most of these traumas he experiences through dreams. The film will be highly visual and will have a surreal feel to it along with a range of locations to show how his dreams are changing. He eventually recovers from these traumas and finds resolution.

IDEA 2

A post apocalyptic setting where the world is full of pollution and smoke making it nearly impossible for humans to live in. With the world's population having critically reduced, few remain and the past has been forgotten. The film follows on a lonely scavenger who is living off his life in solitary. The story's resolution is unknown and ends with a cliffhanger.

IDEA 3

In a fictional, dystopian world, a boy is living in solitary. He wants to escape the place of loneliness and seeks a way out. He meets a peculiar stranger and makes a deal with each other. The boy is tasked to find three things of significance to the stranger, in exchange for the boy's escape. The boy ventures out to find the strange items and successfully comes back with all 3 items. The story ends in a cliffhanger leaving the audience question whether he escapes his life of solitary or not.

INTRODUCTION

This blog is to be used as an activity log for the creation of my artefact. The artefact that I am making is a short film exploring the use of sound, editing, storytelling and mainly to showcase the use of cinematography.

Project Proposed Title:

How can different cinematography techniques create meaning to the story and the characters? 

I plan to create a short film wholly focusing on the use of cinematography and mis en scene (the subject, arrangement and setting of the screen) to tell a visual (as well as aural) story for the audience to be immersed and entertained in. This is to show how using cinematography can contribute largely with editing, sound and mis en scene to tell an understandable story to the audience. I also hope to use cinematography as well as other elements to create open interpretations for the audience to think of in the story. 

I plan for the film to be 5-10 minutes long and will be a fictional mystery drama. The film will have at least 3 characters but following 1 protagonist. 

I will present the activity log into sections in this blog through phases.

Pre-Production Phase

This involves research, generating ideas, scriptwriting, storyboarding, location searching, actor searching, prop making and costume designing, risk assessing, health and safety, test filming, copyright permissions and equipment hiring. 

Production Phase

This phase is the practical aspect where the film is shot and recorded.

Post-Production Phase

The post-production phase is where all the clips are edited through an editing software. Foley may also be involved in this phase. It is where the sound is re-recorded in a studio to dub over the clips (May also include dialogue). This phase also handles any legal and ethical issues need to be written off, which would include copyrighted soundtracks etc.