CCR

Film (Final Cut)

The changes that Jairo and I added were that, based off of complaints, zoomed into the main character at the end of the film. This way the extra that moved when time had apparently stopped was now out of the picture. The only other complaints we had were that people could not think of what would happen next, or that they did not understand what genre this was. The genre of our film was action comedy, and since it was the beginning of the film we felt like we did not have to add anything that tells the audience what happens in the whole movie. We also felt it would look unusual if we wrote what type of genre it was in the title, and felt that the viewers could figure it out themselves.

Film Link

Editing! Week 2

This week we continued to edit, but stumbled onto some issues. We struggled to coordinate the ticking of the clock with the actual film of the clock. To fix this we add to cut out certain portions of the film, so that the sound lined up. Also we had to cut out some of the ending to the film because one of our extras was moving during the scene where time had stopped. Jairo and I also learned how to make sound gradually grow and decrease, which we used for the climax moment of when the clock's  ticking, and time comes to a complete halt. 

Editing! Week 1

For the titles we used we decided to name our film Dr. TickTock, after the protagonist, which we may change because that is not a very good name. We also decided to name are film studio Owen Whiting Productions, a person who is featured in the film, and we gave ourselves credit as being the producers of the movie. For the font, we went with a black and bold concept to stand out from the background. Some video effects include the ticking of the clock, and using a still frame to make it look as though the movie as stopped. The cuts we made were simple, and flowed nicely, making it go from shot to shot. Both Jairo and I were involved in the editing, and some problems we faced was that we didn't know how to make the film fill up the whole frame, but we learned how to fix that by asking our teacher. We have decided to not do any further filming, since we are already at the time limit. 

Filming! Week 2

This week we began editing our film. The editing consisted of the voice over that we are planning to do for the main character, which is why the film is relatively silent in its current form. At first the voice over was difficult to do because I could not come up with what to say, but then I took a statistics exam recently and found that my thoughts during that test coordinated well with how our character would think in the film (confused, and frustrated). Jairo and I also began adding the ticking sound from the clock to the film, and we cut out certain scenes that did not fit with what we were trying to say with the film.

Filming! Week 1

Before we actually filmed Jairo and I decided to practice what were going to do when we arrived the following day to Dr. Strathman's classroom. We wanted to be professional and not waste any of Strathman's time. Here we had me practice pretending to look at other student's papers, and act frustrated with the test material.

Here we are reviewing are takes from the previous hour. Jairo and I both agree that for our first shots we have done very well, and soon hope to add the inner monologue and the ticking of the clock in the  upcoming days. 

Preparing to Film

Actors: Jairo will play a student, Scott will be the main student with the inner monologue and can stop time. These roles, however, can be reversed. Either Dr. Strathman, if we ask nicely, or a student can play the teacher.

Costumes: We will just be wearing our regular clothes, as the budget is tight, and since we are portraying students similar to ourselves we want the most authentic costumes available, that just so happen to be in my closet at this very moment.

Props: Jairo and I will print out sheets of paper with the words 'Literature Final Exam' on top and blank lines on the following pages, so that it would look like the characters are taking an actual exam. We will also just use the clock already in Strathman's room, if he lets us, to show the time, and his desks as well. A water bottle will also be used to show the main character's anxiety as it will be used to spill onto the exam and look like the character is extensively sweating.

Locations: The entire film opening will be filmed in Dr. Strathman's room, or in the AICE Media room if he will not let us film there. We will probably film during lunch time.

Dates and Times: Monday we will begin to get the crops ready, and by Wednesday we should begin filming once we gain permission by Dr. Strathman. We also need to find a good camera man.

Scripts: So far only an inner monologue will be written, and it will be played over the film, so it will not be used during the actual filming. There is relatively no talking in the actual film, except for the teacher saying 'get to work' or something like that, so we will only direct the actors and hope for the best.

Film Equipment: A camera from the AICE Media lab will be used for filming, but other than the editing on the computer, that will be all we need.

Storyboard

Summary: Our action comedy film, which has yet to have a title, will start out in a classroom where students are taking a test. Since we have limited access to where we want to take our film, we thought it would be easier if we filmed at the school. In the first picture the shot focuses in on a specific student's id badge and then pulls away to show the entire class taking the exam. Then viewers start to hear the inner monologue of the character, who is unprepared for the exam, and is trying to look at other classmate's papers. Then we will have the teacher slowly walk up to the student from behind and awkwardly put their hand on their shoulder and look at the blank paper for 45 seconds exact. Using a bottle of water we will completely spill it out onto the paper, and have the student exclaim to himself that he is sweaty since he is nervous. The teacher then will leave without a word. Shots of the clock and the student will go back and forth faster and faster, and the ticking noise will get faster as well, but then it will suddenly stop. Time has come to a halt. The student realizes this and looks to see that his fellow students are completely still. He then goes over to another student's desk takes the paper and reads it, only for time to start again. Everyone stares at the student very confused.

Brainstorming

Notes:

• Make sure to use a variety of shots
• Maybe add music or a soundtrack to set the mood
• We can tell the story through the camera not just by speaking
• In the soccer video the producers seemed to focus on the talents of the actor, so we should focus on our own talents
• We can have a fake studio 
• What the heck was that second video about?
• Film the environment not just the actors
• Don't use bad words
• We can try animation
• Let's not do animation I can't draw

Summary:

The first student film Rise influenced us more than the other films in how we are to go about making the beginning of our movie. This is mostly because it was the first one we saw, so it contained a lot of the interesting shots that the films that followed had as well. We decided for our film that we should include music, and focus more on showing than telling in how we present the story. We should also focus on our own talents, just as in Rise where the actor showcased his soccer skills. To do this however we need to find out what we are talented in. 

My Inspiration

 For our film opening my partner Jairo and I have picked action comedy as our genre. We were inspired to do this genre because we wanted to be as involved as possible in our film opening, and thought we would have more fun if some high stakes were also included. Action comedy films also are really the only genre to manage to mix both serious events and humor. This makes the audience feel more relaxed and enjoy the film more because they are not stressed due to the events that take place in the film because the characters that are in the film are not stressed about anything either. We thought action comedy would also take some weight off our shoulders in that we didn't have to really try and act, because most action comedies are parodies of action movies so the characters are caractures of those in action moves. Thus, this genre fits best with our limited acting skills. Some action comedy movies also tend to break the fourth wall, such as Deadpool, which we also thought was an easy way to entice our viewers, and make them laugh, which gives us better reviews throughout the public, as people share their unique experiences with their friends.
    Some action comedy films that influenced us to choose this genre were Marvel movies such as Deadpool and Guardians of the Galaxy, as well as more independent films such as Scott Pilgrim vs the World. The opening scene of Guardians of Galaxy, for example, starts off more than an action move than anything else. We are introduced to a character that is masked, so we do not yet know of his intentions. Then when he enters some strange building he starts to dance to the song of Come and Get Your Love. Music is something that is unique to this action film, and specifically this sequence, because the film uses the music to move along the plot in what would be inappropriate instances in normal action movies. This unique attribute drove Jairo and I to choose this genre, because no other genre had this spontaneous feeling of laughter to it.
     Scott Pilgrim vs the World, was also a major factor in why we chose this particular genre. In the beginning of the film, there is awkward dialogue balanced by an unusual sounding music. This subtle awkwardness gives this action comedy its own style, and we hope to challenge the same awkwardness without even trying. The art style in this film is also interesting in how vibrant the colors our, and while we may not have the editing skills or the technology to pull off something like what is from the film, we can certainly add our own special effects for our film opening.
     I feel that the action comedy genre is perfect for both of our styles, and can is the best way we can get a high score for our film opening. With this genre we will also be able to add our own unique ideas, as each action comedy is a different genre in its own right.

My Film Opening Project: Genre and Group Members

Genre: Action Comedy
Group Members: Me, Jairo

Film Opening Research #2- Stand By Me

How many titles are displayed during the opening sequences to the film?

Just two titles are displayed in the beginning, the film company (Columbia Pictures) that made the movie, and the actual title of the movie.

What images are prioritized in the opening sequence?

A car standing in front of a large kind of pasture is prioritized in the opening sequence setting up that the wilderness will be a factor in this adventure. The movie then closes in on a man in the car looking at a newspaper with murder on the headline. Then two kids on a bike pass by, making the man think of simpler times.

What connotations do the images carry?

The connotations that the images carry are that the man is reminiscent of the time he and his friends went out on an adventure to find a dead body, as not only told by the narration but also the newspaper, the establishing shot, and the kids riding the bikes.

How is genre reinforced through symbolic and technical codes from the outset?

The genre of this film is an adventure and a drama, which is demonstrated by the long establishing shot of the pastures and the shot about the murder of an attorney. The part where the audiences realize that these events are held in the present, and future events of the movie are in the past are also shown through the narration and the later 1950s setting.

How does the film establish an enigma from the outset?

By the narrator stating that he was in 6th grade when he first saw a dead body the audiences immediately become drawn in, since it is not everyday that somebody sees a dead body, especially an 11 year old kid.

What strategies are used to ensure the film appeals to its target audience?

By having Columbia Pictures' logo show up in the beginning the audiences are already buying tickets because they know that Columbia Pictures has made good films in the past.

How has technology been used effectively? 

you might want to consider camera angles, transitions and editing techniques.

By contrasting the car and the bike we seen the difference in innocence of the narrator. Also through the old cars and strange cash register we know that the movie takes place in the 1950s. Other camera techniques that are used are an establishing shot, and a zoom in onto the narrator as he goes through a flash back.

Film Opening Research # 1- Monty Python and the Holy Grail

How many titles are displayed during the opening sequences to the film?

 There are twelve titles used in the opening sequence, one for the company, another for the actual title of the film, and the others for the cast and the people involved in making the film.

What images are prioritized in the opening sequence?

A somewhat deep fog surrounding a castle, and a knight and his squire pretending to ride a horse with coconuts are the images prioritized.

What connotations do the images carry?

The connotations that the images carry are that this film is a parody of other films set in the medieval era, as the knight is not actually riding a horse but galloping while his squire is slamming coconuts together to make trotting sounds. The set pieces also seem realistic, so you're not really sure what type of comedy is going to be used.

How is genre reinforced through symbolic and technical codes from the outset?

The characters are dressed accordingly as a knight and a squire. The squire is in some kind of rag, while the knight is wearing armor with a crest in the middle. This with the castle as a setting reinforces that this is indeed set in the Middle Ages.

How does the film establish an enigma from the outset?

The audience is left confused by the film since a horse is replaced with coconuts. Through dialogue the coconuts are then mentioned as confusing and out of place, enhancing the comic tone. The audience is then further confused by the dry humor, with the characters now being aware that this move seems too good to be true.

What strategies are used to ensure the film appeals to its target audience?

The dry British humor used ensures that the film appeals to its British audience, as a British comedy group created this film. The title itself also affectively attracts the audience because many people before this film was released were already familiar with Monty Python and their work.

How has technology been used effectively? 

You might want to consider camera angles, transitions and editing techniques.

Camera angles such as a high angle shot, where King Arthur is looking up towards the castle, makes the film's set pieces feel realistic and entices viewers by making it feel as though they too are in the film. The fog used also makes the film seem mysterious, and at the same time foreshadows the strange things that are ahead.

Genre Research #2- PowerPoint

My Favorite Genre- Video

My Favorite Genre- Powerpoint

Film Viewing Practice Essay

Agent Carter

Agent Carter, directed by Louis D'Esposito is a short film that correlates with the motion picture Captain America: The First Avenger. Viewers realize this when the cinematographer uses parallelism to show Captain America on a plane, trying to stop a nuclear bomb from going off, and Agent Carter at a military base trying to talk sense into Captain America. These scenes happened at the same time but in different locations. The acting style of the actress who plays Agent Carter is more of a non-method kind of acting, because the actress' personality is apart of her performance. The actress showcases her connection and relationship to Captain America through her expressions of sadness when he is about to die. Some symbolism in the short film is a photograph. Captain America has one of Agent Carter, and Agent Carter has one of Captain America, showing again their romantic relationship. Some shots that take place in the film include an establishing shot that shows outside of Brooklyn. They also later use a long shot to show Agent Carter walking towards the villains. This shows that she seems harmless to the villains, so they encounter her without any worry, but they end up being knocked out by a suitcase. The setting of the short film also gave viewers a sense of dread and mystery, due to the dark, low- key lighting, which contains several shadows. Other editing techniques that are used include simultaneity when Agent Carter is walking towards the villains. The perspectives switch between Agent Carter and the villains, creating suspense in that we don't know how the spy is going to avoid being caught, or is going to get through the guards. Some types of sound that is used in the short film is synchronous sounds when Agent Carter is beating up the guards, however this can be also seen as post-synchronization dubbing as the sounds are added after the shots are filmed. These sounds would also be diegetic because the characters supposedly can hear the sounds witting the film. Other shots include a pan shot when the shot of the last guard turns to Agent Carter with a gun, and a cutaway after Agent Carter receives the call about Zodiac. Most shots that are used are very basic such as the eye level shot, or the medium long shot, which shows the subject from the knees up. During the introduction there is a leitmotif, which is the Marvel Studios theme for all of their films. This theme appears whenever the logo appears, telling viewers what they are getting into. Some more Mise-en-scenes that are important to the plot are how the producers made up the costumes. While the costumes are simple, and are basically just suits, we also know that this takes place possibly sometime in the 1950s, and that these people are professionals. We can also assume this is sometime in the 1950s by the staging, and props, such as the old-fashioned cars. Overall, from the clip that is shown viewers are enthralled finally in a world of superheroes, where the main character is just like one of us.

Film Elements Graphic Organizer

MISE-EN-SCENE

MISE-EN-SCENE: The Office- The Injury

Setting: The episode begins at the main office building of Dunder Mifflin Paper Company's Scranton Branch. This setting, while important for all episodes of the series is particularly important for this episode because it shows how bored all of the characters are. When Michael calls stating that he burned his foot, his co-workers finally find something that is amusing, so that they make their long day at work go faster. The setting is also important, because it is a basic setup for an office buildings, except its rather open instead of cubicles, making the viewers relate to the show. Many of the viewers have had or know someone with a similar office job, and can relate to the characters in the show by seeing the dull workplace that they too have experienced.

Lighting: The lighting in this episode also goes with the setting, because of the fluorescent lights. These lights make the office complex bland and abnormally bright as though to keep the workers awake while they sell paper. This unusually bright lighting also makes the office more welcome, and allows you to clearly see all of the characters of the Scranton branch for what they truly are. An example of this is when the lighting clearly allows us to see through the bubble rap that Michael Scott, had indeed burned his foot on a George Foreman grill, but it wasn't as bad as he made it out to be. This type of lighting is known as high-key lighting since many shadows do not appear, and the scenes seem bright and soft.

Costume: The costume design in this episode of The Office is very simple, but that is what makes the show work. Each character is made out to be an everyday man, or white collared worker that most people can relate to. These suits and ties, are not fancy, or anything close, but professional enough to make it seem as though the outfit was thrown together in a hurry at seven in the morning. The colors of these work suits are very bland, which contrasts with the personalities of the characters as they are anything but bland. This contrast also makes the show more funny, as you as a viewer realize that this is more than an office of boring people, but people that one is willing to spend time with. 

Staging: The actor's performance in this episode is very important to keeping the viewer invested in the plot. The plot is simple, the regional manager of a small paper supply firm burned his foot on the grill and no one is taking his minor injury seriously. Steve Carell, who plays the manager Michael Scott, provides the viewers with a great performance making it seem as though the character is in dire need of attention while also being funny instead of annoying, which most vain people tend to be. This type of acting is non-method acting, because you can still see that this actor is a major part of this character, unlike method acting where the character completely takes over the actor. The supporting cast does a very good job as well, to keep up with their boss' antics while almost ignoring him all together to help Dwight who suffered a concussion, and to get some work done. Without these great performances the well-written script wouldn't have come off as well-written, and this wouldn't have become such a popular show.