Thursday, 22 October 2015

How to Make a Cup of Tea




An intro has been added to this version.

In this video i haven't used the 'two shot' and a person walking into space in the scene' shot, as i did not feel it was necessary to include in my film. I have though used both shots in my '10 Shot Types' film, this shows that i am able to use these types of shots when filming. Also in this film i haven't used any effects as i didn't feel that my film needed any.

Shots not included in final edit:

 Very Long Shot













Extreme Close-Up











Medium Shot










Wednesday, 21 October 2015

Types of Microphones

Lapel Microphone: A lapel microphone is a small microphone that is clipped on to actors or a presensters cloths. This is an example of an omnidirectional microphone; a type of microphone that can record sound from all angles of it.

Shotgun Microphone:A shotgun microphone is a microphone that has to be pointed directly at whatever the source of sound is its trying to record. These are mainly used on sets to record extarnal sound. To stop background noise from being picked up a wind gag is put over it.



Standard kit needed to record sound:
- Audio recorder e.g. Zoom 4HN
- Microphone e.g. Shotgun Microphone
- Headphones
- XCR wires
- Boom Pole (when recording with a shotgun microphone)

10 Shot Types Video


Monday, 19 October 2015

Key Concepts

M = Media Forms
I = Istitutions
G = Genre
R = Representation
A = Audience
I = Ideology
N = Narrative 

Media Forms:
The type of media. For instance newspapers, TV and the internet.

Institutions: 
Media institutions are the company or organisation that make or broadcast the media. For instance BBC and ITV. 

Genre: 
Genre is the different catagories of media.

Representation:
This is how the media is shown to the audience.

Audience:
This is who is going to buy or is interested in the media product.
 
Ideology:
The belifes and ideas which whoever made the media product wants to share with the audience.

Narrative:
The way the media form is put together.

Tuesday, 13 October 2015

Narrative Theory

Narative is the way that the story is told and how it is put together so that the audience userstands it. The narrative can be different depending on who's point of view the story is being told from. The way a particular story is told is called a narrative plot. Narrative in film is made up of different things such camerawork, lighting, sound, mise-en-scene and editing. Narrative is important because it makes scense of everything. There are five stages of narrative structure:
1) Expostition - This is where the scene is set and characters are introduced
2) Development - This is where the situations develop and more charcters are introduced
3) Complication - This is where someting happens to complicate the lives of the characters
4) Climax - This is where decisive moments are reached and suspense is high
5) Resolution - This is where the matters are resolved and an end is reached

Monday, 12 October 2015

12/08/2015

Today we did some filming on an improved 'how to make a cup of tea video'. This invoved using camera, lighting and sound skills. To do this susseccfully we used 'SWEFF'. S stands for sound, W stands for whitebalance, E stands for exposure, F stands for Framing and the other F stands for Focus. We also did alot of call and response, which is where a person makes a call to check that the lights, sound and cameras are ready.

Wednesday, 7 October 2015

Editing

Continuity Editing:

A way of editing which is used to make a, consistant, clear action which is done by using a set of of rules. Doing this makes the shots flow into eachother and gives the narrative a structure, which makes the film easier to watch. The rules of continuity editing are:


  • Establishing Shot: An establishing shot is usualy a long or extreme long shot which shows the space between important characters, objects and the setting of a scene.
  • Shot/reverse shot: This is were two shots, which alternate between two characters, are edited together. Usualy both characters in the two shots are in a conversation. In one shot the characters will be looking left and the following shot they will be looking right.
  • 180 ° rule: The angle of two shots together should not go beyond 180 ° . This is to make sure that the audience has a scense of where everything is in the scene. to do this you can't cross the line of vision between the characters, if this happens then the viwer won't understand what is going on.
  • 30 ° rule: The angle between two consectutive shots shouldn't be less than 30 ° . This is to give a spatial relatioship between people and objects in the scene.
  • Crosscutting: Where you alternae between two shots which occure simultaneosly in two or more different locations.
  • Match on Action: Cutting between two shots, which show different angles of the same action next to each other. This shows emphisis on that action.
  •  Eyeline Match: A cut between two shots, where in the first shot shows somebody looking in a certain direction. The second shot shows either what the person in the first shot sees, or a person looking back at them in the oposite direction.
  • Re-establishing Shot: A shot that goes back to a view of a space or location after a series of close-ups.
  
180 ° Rule:















Discontinuity Editing:
 
It is also called montage editing, this is the complete oposite of continuity editing. the aim of discontinuity editing is to make the sequence nnot make sense, unlike continuity editing where the aim is to make the sequence flow and make sense. Discontinuity scenes can out weeks or even months in a few seconds of film. the edit will show different places at different times to show changes in time.

Insert Shot:

This is a shot that focuses, usually in a close-up, on something specific in the scene.

Cutaway:
This is a shot that cuts away from the main action in the scene for a short period of time. The cutawat shot usually takes place at the same time as the main action, it just shows the audience other aspects of the plot.

Sound Design:
The different types of sounds used when editing te final film. For instance dialoge, sound effects and the foley sound.

Pre Production: How to Make a Cup of Tea

Storyboards:
We didn't follow the storyboard when filming because we just wanted to make it simple.
























Script:
In the end we didn't actual follow the script as it would have taken too long to learn.
Mind Map:

 
Risk Assessment:

Location Report:

Tuesday, 6 October 2015

Sound

Diegetic Sound:
Sound that's source is shown on screen e.g dialogue or sound effects.
Non-Diegetic Sound:
Sound were the source is not visbale on the screen and doesn't show action e.g background music

Non-Simultaneous Sound:
Diegetic sound that came earlier or later than the image.

Voiceover:
When the voice that is heard whilst the character is not actualy speaking. It is mainly used for flashbacks in films.

Sound Bridge:
Where the sound from one scene carrys on over to the next scene briefly before the sound from the next scene starts. Its also where the sound from the next scene can brieflt be heard at the end of the current scene before the image apears on the screen. Sound bridges is a common transition in the continuity editing style. It shows the connection between both scenes.

Pleonastic Sound:
Pleonastic sound is sound that is exaggerated. For example the light sabers being waved about in Star Wars.

Contrapuntal Sound:
Sound that doesnt match the images its accompanying. This can be disorientating to the audience and and make then wonder what their watching.

Silence:
Silence can be used to create suspence in films, depending on the style of film.

Microphone placement:
This is where the microphones are put on a set or on a person. There are three basic mic placements which are boom, plant and lavaliere. Boom is where the microphone is attached to a pole called a boompole and is suspended infront the subject. This allows movement from the actors. A plant is where any type of microphone is fixed in place. this is mainly used when it is impracticle to use a boom. Where the microphone is placed is important as they only pick up sound withi it's range. Lavaliere's are tiny mics worn by actors wither inside or outside their clothing. these are mainly used for interviews as they can be placed closed to the seakers mouth and it doesn't nessaccarly have to be hidden.

Levels:
This is how loud or quite the audio that is recording is.

Phantom Power:
This is a DC voltage which is sent through the microphone cable to power the microphone. This is used in mist audio equipment.

Sync Sound Recording:
This is the sound which is recorded at the same time as the image is being filmed.

Foley Sound:
This provides filmakers with tiny, everyday sounds which mics often miss. This can range from the rustling of cloths to a person walking.
Dialogue:
This is what the characters say. This can be in a conversation between two or more people.

Sound Effects:
This is the sound that is added to an action to make it more realistic. For instance a door being slammed shut, whithout the sound effect it means nothing. 




  

Film Assessment


Film assessment

1) Why do you think it’s important to evaluate a project?
 So you can point out what wrong with it and then go back and improve it.

2) What do you think are the main strengths and weaknesses of your shots?
The main stengths are probably the set as it isn't cluttered. Also the lighting in al but one shot as its not to bright but enough to make the background look completly black which makes the objects in the shot stand out. A weakness in my shots would be the shot 2 were the lighting changes a bit which is probly down to diffrent settings on the camera. Also we did not film a close up of the mug which would have been a good shot to include in the video. Also the high angle shot is out of focus.
 
3) What are the main strengths and weaknesses of your edit?
A main strength in my edit would be the consitancy of the audio between each shot, even though al the shots had completly different audio. One of the main weaknesses in my edit would be that i didn't include some of the differnt types of shots we filmed. I also didn't add any effects or different transitions but this was to keep the video simple.

4) What did you learn from doing this exercise?
I learnt that it would probably be easier to record it once all the way through without any dialogue to make it easier to edit. I also learnt how to use a shotgun microphone.

Self Assessment: How to Make a Cup of Tea



Shot/ Set up
Assessment
Grade
Evidence of planning – storyboard, shot list, meeting minutes of roles and expectations, location report.
Storyboard and Script.

Props – Mug, Kettle, Milk, tea bag, Water, Table
Mug, kettle, milk, tea bag, water, table and sugar. Lanyard shouldn’t be in shot.

Shots (number)
9

Close up
Shot 1

Medium shot
n/a

Long shot
Shot 6

Establishing shot
Shot 2

Extreme close up
n/a

Over the shoulder
Shot 4

High angle shot
Shot 8

Use of tripod
All shots except shot 8.

White balance
Colour of shot 2 is different to the other shots

Lighting/ set up
Lighting slightly different in shot 2

Acting
n/a

Post production


Editing – Intro/ outro
Fades In and Out

Titles
At beginning

Effects
None

Titles


Sound Effects
None

Music
None

Must export to YouTube and post on blog
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQjyilTYX4Q

10 Shot Types Examples



Extreme Close-Up
An extreme close-up is used to magnify the object in the shot. For example an extreme close-up of a face would show only the mouth or eyes. This shot is mostly used for a dramtic effect. An example of a extreme close up in a film would be in Dawn of the Planet of the Apes where there is a shot of Cesar the ape. In the film this shows how the build up to the big fight scene towards the end, it adds drama and tension.


Big Close-Up
A big close-up shows the main features of the oject in the shot, if it were a person then it would show all facial features. This helps to show strong emotions like sadness or can evn be used to make the person look scary. An example of a Big close up would be in 2001: A Space Odyssey. The Big close-up is used in the shot to show the emotion of the person in more detail.



Close-Up

A close-up focuses on the face or a specific part object or paart of the set, little background is shown. It is usd to show the importance of whatever it is the close up is of. This could be the expression on a persons face or important writing on an object that the audience needs to see. This type of shot is used to help understand the character. Sometimes it can be used to make the audience feel comfotable or uncomfortable with a character. For example 
in The Dark Night the close-up of The Joker is 
used to unsettle the audience.


Medium Close-Up
A medium close-up shows the persons head and just below the shoulders. This types of shot helps to show a little bit about the surrounding but still focuses on the person or object in the shot. Like the other types of close up, it is also used to show facial expression or details in the oject which other shots don't show. An example of a medium close-up would be in Forrest Gump where he is sitting at the bus stop, as in this scene in the film there is little action and mostly dialogue it helps to show the audience how he feels and also shows helps the audience to know where he is.


Medium Shot
A medium shot shows a person from the waist up, or an object of similar proportion. It is mostly used in scenes where there is a lot of dialogue or is used to show action in detail. Like the medium close-up it shows little detail in the background as it is mainly used after a shot were the setting has already been established to the audience. This type of shot helps keep the audiences focus on the dialogue or action in the shot. An example of a medium shot would be in Titanic where Jack and Rose are at the end of the boat and rose is pretending fly. 


Medium Long Shot
Thewalkingdead00060A medium long shot shows the person from the knees up and some background aswell. This helps to show the audince where the character is and lets them get to know the surroundings of the set. An example of a medium long shot would be in The Walking Dead, in the shot you can see whats going on in the background aswell as what the charcter is doing.


Long Shot
A long shot shows the whole person\object in the scene, along with other characters and most of the background which takes up most of the shot. This shows the audience the relationship between the characters and the environment around them. An example of a long shot in a film would be in The Expendables 3, in this shot you can see 5 charcters. However the background takes over most of the screen, this gives the audience an idea of where they are and the kind of mood of this scene.

Very Long Shot
A very long shot shows the setting of the scene or can sometimes include a charcter who would be barly visable compared to the landscape. This type of shot is used to show the audience where the action is taking place. It is also used to show the atmosphere of the film. An example of a very long shot in a film would be in Harry Potter and The Philosopher's Stone where the audience see's hogwarts for the first time. This shows the audience where most of the rest of the film is set.

Two Shot
A two shot shows two people in a shot, this is used to establish links between characters or to simply show two people standing next to each other instead of standing opposite eachother. An example of a two shot would be in the elevator scene at the begining of Pulp Fiction, where two charcters are shown standing next to eachother in the lift.

Over The Shoulder Shot
An over the shoulder shot is where the camera is filming from behind one character's shoulder facing another character. This type of shot is mainly used for conversation scenes. This is because it shows a connection between the speakers, instead of just having individual shot of each character which can show distance. An example of an over the shoulder shot would be in Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows Part 2 where the camera shows Harry Potter over Voldermorts shoulders. This shows the audience the close connection between the two characters.

High Angle Shot
A high angle shot is a shot of a single person or object where the camera is looking down on them, this is used to isolate them from the frame. It  also shows vulnrability and weakness in a character. An example of a high angle shot would be in Matilda where she's standing looking up to someone out of the shot. The use of a high angle shot shows that she's scared and inferior to whoever shes standing in front of.

Low Angle Shot
A low angle shot is the complete oposite of a high angle shot. It show the person or object looking down on the camera, this makes them look bigger in the shot. This shot is mostly used to make the person look heroic or dominant. An example of a low angle shot would be in Spiderman where he's holding the costume, this type of shot shos the audience that the costume gives him power.

Tilted Shot
A tilted shot is where the camera  is tilted on its side when filming. This is used to show disorientation or create different effects, such as in horror films it can used to make the set more unsetteling as the angle makes it seem alot more dark and creepy. An example of a tilted shot would be in The Witches when there all sitting in the hall and they take there masks and wigs of to reveal that they are witches, this adds to he creepyness of the scene.