Filming day #1

Filming day #1

On my first day of filming at the location, Com's site 3, I filmed what I could with my main actor so that I had quite a bit of footage to start editing. I was only able to film footage of my main actor as I encountered a problem of miscommunication and a misunderstanding with the person who I thought wa organising some 'German' actors, but I had to overcome this and I did so by filming the parts with my main actor.

When I first got to the location I met with Tony to tell him my intentions and where I would be filming, as they were setting up the site for an airsoft game and we did not want to interrupt with each other's activities. Tony also showed us where the toilets were located and where he would be in case we wanted a drink.

The footage I filmed with my main actor involved a lot of mid shots and close-up shots. I filmed the opening parts of the character waking up and moving off into the woods as well. A lot of my shots took place around a destroyed building as that was where most of the action and conflict would take place within my media product. I used a variety of angles and shots to build up an affect and create different effects to be seen and interpreted by the audiences. An example is that I shot some low-angle shots in order to show the power and strength that is given off by the main character. I also used canted-angles in a few of my shots to show the distortion and to make the audience feel uneasy and as if something is not right. One of the shots, which was a close up, I shot to give a hidden meaning. The shot was a close up of the gun as the character was walking into the distance, however the slide of the gun was back, indicating it was out of ammunition. I used this shot to give the hidden meaning that the character is now defenceless and has no bullets left to defend himself, therefore allowing my audience to interpret a variety of different scenarios that could happen to the character.

Ancillary 2 - initial ideas

Ancillary 2 - initial ideas

For my second ancillary I chose to make a film magazine front cover as I felt as though it would tie-in with my poster that I chose to do for my first ancillary.

Design:
For a design I am going to have an 'action shot' as a main image in order to capture the audience's attention.
At the top of the page I will have the title of 'Film Weekly' so that the reader/audience is able to know the name of the magazine, also all real film magazines have titles/names, so this means that I will have to make one for my product.
On the front cover I will have small amounts of texts that will have information in them, such as reviews and also information about what is inside the magazine.
I will also have an advertisement on the front cover for a free poster that will be inside the film magazine, by doing this it means that it will make my product seem more original and professional as this is sometimes seen on examples of real texts.
Another thing that I will add to the front cover is a barcode,as all magazines have barcodes and prices on them. Barcodes are a cheap and easy way of identifying the price of a product.

I will have to make sure the genre of my product is clear through the use of mise-en-scene and what font style and size I use as this will make the genre easily identifiable. Mise-en-scene is important in identifying genre and it is also important in engaging with the audience as it is what the audience will notice first and base their views on the genre off.

Example of film magazine front cover:

Making a poster

Making a poster

The process of making a poster

I have made a video about the steps I took in order to make a poster and also to make it look realistic and professional. 

Making a poster required me to use a variety of techniques in photoshop in order to make my poster look professional and high-quality. The video shows the stages in which I put the poster together but it does not show all of the processes I did, such as erasing the background around the images that I used and also how I added the different effects to the images so that they all blend together and all look part of the same product.

The start and finish of my poster:

My poster began as the main images simply layered on to of each other in order for me to get an idea of what the poster would look like once it was finished. In this part of the poster I had erased to background around the image of the main actor and also placed it on top of the background that I chose to have as the background to my poster. 

This is the basic parts of my poster put together, they were unedited and did not blend together very well. I put these together just to get a sense of what my finalised poster would look like.

This is my finished poster with more images added on top to catch the audience's attention and also to give a sense of danger. I have also added a tag line so that I can capture the attention of the audience and also tell them what the film will be about.

 My poster ended up with a variety of different aspects included in it, such as the bomber, smoke and the paratroopers. In order to make my poster more effective I changed the font of the text to make it stand out more, and also 'weathered' it to make it look battered and old. I got the idea of 'weathering' the titles from other film posters such as Band of Brothers and FURY. 

Annotated magazine cover 3

Annotated magazine cover 3 - Total Film

 

The third magazine cover that I have annotated is Total Film, and the main film on the cover is Valkyrie.

This magazine cover is not any different to Enpire magazines as it has the same layout of having an image of a character from a film as the front cover with different parts of text around the image.

There is also use of colour to have connotations, such as the dark background to match the genre of the film on the cover, which is a drama/thriller. It also contains names of other famous actors so that the reader can decide whether or not they want to buy the magazine based on which actors they like or dislike.

Annotated magazine cover 2

Annotated magazine cover 2 - Empire

  

The second magazine cover that I have annotated is another 'Empire' magazine but with a slightly different layout.

The main image of this cover is Johnny Depp as Jack Sparrow, this is advertising the Pirates of the Caribbean film. By having a large image it captures the attention of the audience, and allows the audience to see the actor, which can lead to them understanding the genre of the film that is being reviewed inside. 

The cover also contains other text to inform the reader of what else is being covered within the magazine. Exaggeration is also used, for example the word 'biggest' is used to make something sound much better than it may be, this also captures the attention of the reader and keeps them engaged.

Annotated magazine cover 1

Annotated magazine cover 1 - Empire 

 

 The first magazine cover I chose to annotate was from 'Empire' and on the front cover was an image of the film Terminator genisys.

This magazine cover has a variety of different statements and pieces of information on the cover. This text allows the reader to see what is inside and also to see what the magazine is about. 

Annotated poster 3

Annotated poster 3 - Generation War

  

The third poster I analysed is from the German drama, Generation War.

This poster is effective in setting context for the film and is also effective at catching the attention of the audience. The design is effective as it has the shape of a swastika, this in itself creates a sense of danger and violence. The poster also has pictures of the main characters, making it easy for the audience to identify them when they see the film. There is also a review of the product, making the audience see that it is a good product and they should watch it.

Annotated poster 2

Annotated poster 2 - Dunkirk

  

The second poster I chose to analyse and annotate is from the upcoming film, Dunkirk.

This poster contains a lot of different ways of capturing the audience attention and building enigma. For example; the use of silhouettes, as the main person in the poster is a silhouette which builds enigma, and there is also 3 silhouettes of Stuka planes flying above...which also creates enigma. Other parts of the poster are blurred or unclear which also builds up enigma and raises questions, such as the blurred ship in the background and figures jumping into the sea.

Annotated poster 1

Annotated poster 1 - Inglorious Basterds

The first poster I chose to annotate was from the film, inglorious basterds which is a remake of the original.
This poster contains a variety of techniques imagery to show the genre of the film, and the basic plot of the film.
For example; the bloodied baseball bat suggests that the film will be violent and gory. The German helmet suggests that it is set in WW2, along with the tag line 'Once upon a time in Nazi occupied France...' this is also a binary opposite of the typical fairy tale opening mixed with Nazis which is not anything to do with fairy tales.

Ancillary 1 - Poster research

Ancillary 1 - Poster research

What is a poster?
A poster is any piece of printed paper designed to be attached to a wall or vertical surface. Typically posters include both textual and graphic parts, however a poster may be either completely graphical or completely text. Posters are designed to be both eye-catching and informative. Posters may be used for many purposes. They are a frequently used to advertise (particularly of events, musicians and films), propagandists, protesters and other groups trying to give a message. Posters are also used for reproductions of artwork, particularly famous works, and are generally low-cost compared to the original artwork.
The modern poster, that we know of today, dates back to the 1840s and 1850s when the printing industry had perfected colour lithography and made mass production of the posters possible.

Conventions of a film poster:
• It must be eye catching and captures the audience's attention.
• There must be a focal picture that will draw in the audience to the poster.
• The title is displayed in a large, eye-catching font to make sure it is noticeable.
• It clearly defines the film’s genre.
• The poster should be designed to attract the largest audience possible.
• There is usually an indication of when the film is being released, for example; a date, 'Coming Soon', or 'Coming this Autumn'.
• Information on the Directors and Production Company is usually displayed in a block of text at the bottom of the poster.
• There could be reviews or titles of other products that the company has made.

Examples of posters from different genres:

The Simpsons (1989- )

The genre (cartoon/comedy) of this poster is clearly visible through the use of mise-en-scene, colours, the text and the characters shown. It is also shown through the way that the characters are positioned, for example the way that they are doing the 'conga' and the baby, cat and dog are included gives it a comedic aspect.

Red Tails (2012)

The genre (war) of this poster is clearly visible through its use of iconography as it's main features are the fighter planes and explosions, which are all part of the conventions of a war film. This poster also shows names of two well-known actors that are starring in the film, Cuba Gooding Jr. and Terrence Howard. It also shows a release date, January 20, and also has a block of text at the bottom to show who else is starring in it and who has produced it.

The Dark Knight Rises (2012)

The genre (hero/thriller) of this poster is visible by the insignia and the knowledge that the character in the poster is Batman. The poster also contains text (the legend ends) that adds to the atmosphere of the poster and suggests that this will be he last film or that something is going to happen. The poster also gives a vague release (coming soon) date and a block of text containing relevant information.

The Walking Dead (2010- )

The genre (horror/thriller) of this poster is visible by the use of colour and mise-en-scene. It is visible by the way that everything within the poster looks decayed and post-apocalyptic as half of the poster is dark and the other is lighter, showing a contrast between the danger and a safe haven for the character(s). The poster also sows the character running from something with his gun drawn, which also gives the audience a sense of danger. The poster also shows the date in which the show is being aired and a review, to show the audience that the show has good ratings.

Westworld (1973)

The genre (western/sci-fi) of this poster is clearly shown by the use of colour, images and text. The image shows the genre as it shows the 'gunslinger' but with robotic parts showing, enforcing the genre of the poster. Within the figure there is a different shot of a control room and a circular, monitor-looking image of two characters sat in seats. The text shows the genre too as it looks futuristic, showing the sci-fi aspect of the poster. 

Call sheet

Call sheet

I have completed a call sheet and will fill in the timings and forecast by hand in order to be able to change them if I make a mistake.
My call sheet shows all of the different information needed for both the actors and production crew, such as; schedule, contacts and location.

Target audience and BBFC

Target audience and BBFC

The target audience for my product is for ages 15 - 50 as the genre of my product is war and the typical age range for people who will view my product is the age range of between 15-50. I have achieved this by capturing the attention of my audience by having elements of action and danger to keep the audience hooked to the product.

BBFC classification:
The classification for aspects shown in 15 rated films are;

Discrimination
The work as a whole must not endorse discriminatory language or behaviour, although there may be racist, homophobic or other discriminatory themes and language.

Drugs
Drug taking may be shown but the work as a whole must not promote or encourage drug misuse (for example, through instructional detail). The misuse of easily accessible and highly dangerous substances (for example, aerosols or solvents) is unlikely to be acceptable.

Imitable behaviour
Dangerous behaviour (for example, hanging, suicide and self-harming) should not dwell on detail which could be copied. Whether the depiction of easily accessible weapons is acceptable will depend on factors such as realism, context and setting.

Language
There may be strong language. Very strong language may be permitted, depending on the manner in which it is used, who is using the language, its frequency within the work as a whole and any special contextual justification.

Nudity
There are no constraints on nudity in a non-sexual or educational context. There may be nudity in a sexual context but usually without strong detail.

Sex
Sexual activity may be portrayed, but usually without strong detail. There may be strong verbal references to sexual behaviour, but the strongest references are unlikely to be acceptable unless justified by context. Works whose primary purpose is sexual arousal or stimulation are unlikely to be acceptable.

Threat
There may be strong threat and horror. A sustained focus on sadistic or sexual threat is unlikely to be acceptable.

Violence
Violence may be strong but should not dwell on the infliction of pain or injury. The strongest gory images are unlikely to be acceptable. Strong sadistic violence is also unlikely to be acceptable. There may be detailed verbal references to sexual violence but the depiction of sexual violence must be discreet and justified by context.

The main aspects that are relevant to my product are; threat and violence, these are relevant for my product because of the context of my film, which is a war genre. There will not be a large amount of death within my product, but there will be violence in terms of gunfights and shooting between the characters in my product.

Risk Assessment

Risk Assessment

I had to complete a risk assessment in order to make sure that everyone will be safe when I am shooting my film as I do not want anyone to get injured or to get into trouble for brandishing replica weapons in a public area. By completing a risk assessment it also means that I have addressed the different risks and how to overcome/prevent them from happening.

Examples of shots I could use - Research

Examples of shots I could use - Research

In my film I am going to use some of these shots I have seen in other media products as some of them are used well to make the most of the shot and can be used to create an effective mood on screen. By having effective shots it can also attract the audience into the scene and engage them more as it can also show the proximity and the setting within the scene which allows the audience to get a better understanding to what is happening in the scene. 

An example of a close up/out of focus shot, this close up of the gun with the tank in the background creates suspense and ambiguity as it shows the threat of the tank, and also shows the proximity of the protagonist to the tank, but you cannot see who the character is. 

An example of a close-up shot that shows the character loading his gun in Kelly's heroes. This shot is effective as it does not show the whole character but gives a sense of ambiguity and danger as you see him load the gun but cannot see why he is loading it, but the fact that he s loading makes the audience suspect that something is going to happen.

An example of a low close up of the boots of the soldiers as they are walking, i am planning on using this shot in my product. This shot creates ambiguity as you can only see the shoes of the soldiers and cannot see where they are walking to or walking away from.

An example of a long shot that shows more than one person is this shot in Band of Brothers. 

This shot is very effective as you can see the two opposing forces in one shot and can see the conflict and difference between them. It also shows the proximity between them and how far apart they are.

Low-angle mid-shot. This shot gives a sense of danger and authority as it is using a low angle shot which makes it seem as if the character is looking down on the audience or that the audience is looking up to the character, which makes him seem more authoritative or dangerous.

This close up shot allows the audience to see the facial expression of the character, which makes the audience connect with the character. It also makes the audience focus on the specific character, which makes him/her the most important thing in the shot.

This over shoulder shot allows the audience to see the gun and what the character is shooting at, this creates a sense of proximity and also gives a more realistic view of what is happening in the scene as the audience can see exactly what the character is seeing within the scene. 

Costume for main actor

Costume for main actor

I got the idea for the costume from multiple media products, such as Saving Private Ryan, Band of Brothers, and the game Brothers in Arms: Hell's Highway

An example of costume in Band of Brothers

An example of costume in Saving Private Ryan

The costume that my actor is wearing is representative of a soldier of the 101st Airborne unit.

The costume consists of a jacket, cargo trousers, boots, webbing, bag, helmet and a pistol holster. I tried to get the costume as close to the real thing as possible, so that my film is realistic and accurate. The insignia that is on the jacket is realistic to what was worn by the 101st Airborne during WW2. My main actor also has the props that he will use in the film, which is the Thompson airsoft replica and the Colt 1911 that is in the holster. I have added netting, camouflage and goggles to the helmet in order to make it more realistic and accurate as some airborne soldiers would add further camouflage in order to blend in more with their surroundings while in combat. Some of the costume is actually from WW2, which means that it will be accurate and correct for the time period in which my film is set. With my film being set in WW2 it mean that I will have to make sure that I do not use an props or parts of the costume that does not look too modern or inaccurate for the time period, as it will make my film look unrealistic and unprofessional. 

When filming, I will add 'weathering' to my actor's costume in order to make it look as if he has been 'out in the field' for a while.

Front view of actor in costume

In this picture of my actor in costume you can see the helmet and accessories that are attached to the helmet, such as the netting, goggles and added camouflage. You can also see he prop Thompson SMG that will be the character's main weapon in my film.

Right side view of Actor in costume

In this picture of my actor you can see a better view of the helmet, you can also see the pack and the pistol holster with the gun inside.

Left side view of actor in costume

In this picture of my actor, the insignia of the 101st Airborne is clearly visible, along with the canteen, helmet and pack that my actor will be wearing in the film.

Back view of actor in costume

This picture of my actor clearly shows the pack that would have been worn as a substitute to the much larger pack that was worn by the standard infantry.

In this picture you can see the boots that my actor is wearing, although in real life the boots would have been brown leather, but i was unable to find any brown ones, so we had to use black ones instead.

Mood board

Mood board

I created a mood board for my film in order to see all of the different aspects.

My mood board shows the different aspects and details that will make my product, by putting them together I can get a sense of the final product and what to include in my final film. Also by putting all of the different aspects of my film in one place it allows me to plan out where things are going to go and begin to see the different parts of the narrative together.

To maximise the authenticity of my product I can see the props, location and costume all in one place and see how I can create the best possible final product for my final film.

There is a range of mise-en-scene that I could use in my film in order to make my film look more authentic and professional and make it appeal to my audience. The variety of mise-en-scene and effects will allow me to experiment with my product to find the best looking mise-en-scene/effects in order to get the best result.

Storyboard

Storyboard

For my trailer I have created a storyboard in order to get an idea of what to do and see what the shots may look like without filming anything or getting test shots, so I am able to change it in planning. I included colour in order to get a sense of colour and also see the contrast of the colours and how well it may work together.

 The first sheet shows the beginning of what my trailer will look like and also the opening of it, as if it was a full feature film.

These frames represent the first encounter between the main character, the paratrooper, and the Germans. It shows the character taking cover and spotting the German soldiers.

This sheet shows the rest of the first encounter between the US troop and the Germans. It shows him getting ready for a fight by raising his gun.

Sound - Research

Sound - Research

Sound effects:

A lot of sound is used in war films as they can be sound effect, such as gunshots and explosions, or they could be non-diegetic, such as voice-overs and music.
The sound effects are nearly always diegetic as they are heard by the character within the film, these can create an atmosphere as they can add a sense of urgency, for example if there is loads of gunshots and the sound of bullets whizzing past, it creates the sense that the characters are in danger and in conflict.

Voice-overs and soundtrack:
There is use of voice-overs and music within war films as well.
Music is used to create an atmosphere or mood for the film, in war films the music that is used mostly is instrumental music that is often slow paced and sometimes has a vocal part as well, the 2014 film 'Fury', the composer (Steven Price) uses a lot of vocal parts with the soundtrack for 'Fury', this creates a sense of ever-present people and civilians. The vocal used sounds German, which also creates a sense of the enemy always being present and watching them.
In 'Saving Private Ryan', John Williams' soundtrack has a sort of ceremonial or parade feel about it, this makes the film feel more authentic and also acts almost as a tribute to those who had died during the war, it is very orchestral and regimented as it has drums in it, making it feel like a march.

An example of soundtrack used in 'Fury'

An example of soundtrack in 'Saving Private Ryan'

Voice-overs often develop the character or aid in describing what is happening, an example of this is in the 1979 film 'All quiet on the western front' as the character is narrating in a non-diegetic voice-over. Voice-overs are very useful at telling the audience the context for the scene or adding further details in order for the audience to fully understand what is going on.

An example of voice-over in 'all quiet on the western front'

Props for 'Germans'

Props for 'Germans'

For my 'Germans' I am going to see if I can get in touch with some airsoft re-enactors as they will have the correct equipment and weapons which will make my product more realistic and authentic. 

The sort of weapons they will be using is things like MP40's, K98's and other weapons that would have been used by axis forces during the second world war. 

Replica Airsoft MP40

My actors will be portraying German infantry  in a platoon. Their props would include things such as helmets, guns and assorted equipment carried by German troops at that period.

If I am unable to get any actors that are airsoft re-enactors then I will have to see if I am able to recreate a uniform, close to what would have been worn by German soldiers during WW2.

Prop stick grenade

I have made a prop grenade that one of the actors will be able to throw, I made it so that it means that none of my actors will have to risk damaging their equipment. Also with it being a prop, it means that I will be able to re-use it if I have to do another take.The actors playing the German troops will have their own props and equipment that they will use in my film as they are re-enactors so will have the correct equipment used by German forces in WW2.

Props for main character

Props for main character

As my film is a war film my main actor will have guns and a helmet to make the genre more clear and to make it more realistic and accurate to what war is actually like. My actor will be playing a soldier from the 101st Airborne unit, so in order to make my film as realistic as possible I will have to use equipment and weapons that were in use by the US military during WW2. 

The guns I will be using for my main actor is an airsoft Thompson sub-machine gun as this gun is a replica of what would have been used by US troops in WW2, the other gun my actor will be using is an air pistol which is a copy of a Colt 1911 that would have been used by US troops in WW2 also, by using these props it will make my film more realistic and more historically accurate to the time in which my film is set. The guns will add a sense of danger and will also make the genre of my film more clear as guns/weapons are seen in war films.

Guns/weapons are going to be an important feature in my film as all of the actors in my film will be equipped with a gun or weapon and also guns will make the genre of the film more clear. 

My main actor will be wearing a helmet as soldiers had to wear helmets during the war, by having a helmet it will make my product more realistic and more historically accurate. The helmet I will be using is an old US army helmet which is almost the same to the helmets that were used in WW2.

This is the uniform of a 101st Airborne soldier, that I am going to try and replicate for my actor to wear in my film. I will try to get my actors costume as close to the real thing as possible, as I want to make my film as realistic and as historically accurate as possible so that it is more believable for the audience and also that it makes more sense instead of having a film set in WW2 and using modern day weapons and uniforms.
My actor will not have all of the equipment that a real 101st Airborne soldier would have been issued with because my plot is that my actor has been 'in the field' for a while so could have lost or broken some equipment while in battle.

IMAGE- https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/c1/d7/93/c1d793a8a8891cd6de47f04ca2b3c75a.jpg

I have a jacket that my actor can use that has the correct 'screaming eagle' insignia of the 101st Airborne on it, this will make my product realistic and authentic. Also with having the correct insignia it will help identify the soldier in my film and that he is the main character.

Permission

Permission

I gained permission to shoot at the location I was looking at by messaging the owner of 'Com's site 3' about whether it would be possible to shoot on one or two days in November, I will have to organise when I am planning on shooting my film and contact Tony back so that I am able to secure a place at the filming location.
By gaining permission it means that I will be able to film at the location with full knowledge that i am there, so it will not be worrying if a passer-by sees a lot of people in the woods with realistic looking guns. Also by getting permission to film at the location it means that I will be able to access all of the location in which I am filming and be able to get a good range of mise-en-scene and different locations.

Filming location

Filming location

I am planning on shooting at an ex-RAF site at Chipping Warden as I have been there and looked around, there is a range of derelict buildings, bunkers and a lot of woodland which will make for an interesting location and a good setting. With it being an ex-RAF site it means that everything will be period-accurate as well. Another reason I chose this location is because it is also an airsoft site which will mean if I am able to cast some airsoft re-enactors it means that they may know the site and be familiar with it. With the location being an airsoft site, it has been set out like a sort of battlefield, this means that my product will look more realistic as it won't be all new and in good condition, it will be dirty. This will make my final film look more realistic. There is also many different buildings, bunkers and trenches that I will be able to shoot in and around, these will make my film look as if it is being shot in a war-zone as there is a lot of military-like equipment and other parts scattered around.

More pictures of location - http://www.riftairsoft.com/content.php?134-site-pictures


I have gained permission to film at this site by messaging the person who manages this site, Tony. He said that I would be able to film here, depending on the date, which means I will have to plan what days I am planning on filming and get in touch with him so that I know whether I will be able to film there on that day, or if I will have to schedule another day to film. 

Actors

Actors

Main actor:

For my main actor I am going to cast my father as he is an adult, so it would make my product more realistic as my main character is supposed to be a soldier experienced in combat, so it would be unrealistic to have a younger person because it would be highly unlikely that they would have much combat experience. With my father being an actor it also means that I will be able to talk to him more about the plot of the film and what his character is like to make it more convincing, also it means he will be familiar with the props and how to use them, making it more realistic than having someone who is not experienced with a gun because it would not look right and would also make my film unrealistic. 

'German' actors:

For my 'German' actors I am going to see if I am able to ask some airsoft re-enactors to take part, as they will have all of he correct equipment and hopefully there will be quite a lot of them, which will allow me to make my film more realistic. If I am able to cast airsoft re-enactors it will mean they will have experience with a weapon and will be able to handle it more realistically, making my film more authentic, and also their weapons will be realistic, meaning that it will make my film look real than if I was using toy guns or ones that are brightly coloured.

If I am unable to cast some airsoft re-enactors I will have to look around and see if anyone else would be willing to play a German, I may not be able to have as many but I will be able to find someone.
I asked about possible actors to play German troop, and got a response from someone who is involved in a WW2 German reenactment group of about 260 people. He said that he would be in touch with possible actors to take part in my film.

Narrative for my film

Narrative for my film

The narrative for my film is linear and will follow Todorov's narrative theory that follows 5 stages, Todorov's theory states that most plots follow 5 basic stages, which are;

1- Equilibrium
2- A disruption or event
3- Recognition that disruption/event has occurred (disequilibrium)
4- Attempt to repair the disequilibrium
5- A return or restoration of equilibrium

This type of narrative can be found in most films and media products, this has almost become part of 'mainstream' film making.

My film will follow this narrative as i will have five stages that are the equilibrium, disequilibrium, and return to equilibrium. The five narrative stages that will be in my film are;

1- The main character is safe and is trying to find his squad
2- He spots a German patrol and they see him
3- He realises that he has been seen and finds refuge in a building but is still getting pursued
4- He runs out of ammo in his primary gun and attempts to escape out of the building and get away from the German patrol
5- He manages to escape from the German patrol

By having this narrative structure to my film it means that my film will be following the 'mainstream' narrative that is behind films that are being produced. This narrative structure also allows me to make sure that my film makes sense and has a linear flow and plot to it, this narrative also means that I will be able to show both of the turning points in my film, which is when he gets spotted by the German patrol, and when he runs out of ammunition in his primary gun and has to use his secondary weapon to defend himself until he gets the opportunity to escape the building and get away from the German patrol. I am going to end it on an open narrative which could lead on to another series.

100+ words to tell my story

100+ words to tell my story

Overcoming an obstacle in pursuit of a goal - 
Obstacle = The German platoon that is trying to get him
Goal = Wanting to find his squad

1- Beginning. Equilibrium. Exposition:
Character - US 101st Airborne soldier - Morning
Stars with enigma as he wakes up on his own with no troops around. Looks around ad at his map to figure out where he is. Walks around trying to find the rest of his squad. Walks past buildings and trenches. Use of close-ups & long shots to show emotions and proximity to objects.

2- Middle. Disequilibrium. Conflict:
Man vs. Man. Characters - US 101st Airborne soldier, German platoon
Inciting moment 1 - US Soldier sees German platoon, they see him and pursue him. He runs into building for cover and shoots at Germans.
Inciting moment 2 - US Soldier runs out of bullets in his main gun and has to use his pistol to defend himself, has to escape from the building and get away from the German.

3- End. Resolution. Climax:
Characters - US 101st Airborne soldier, German platoon
Ending 1 - Comes face-to-face with German soldier as he is trying to get away, both raise their guns at each other, (long shot to show them both in shot), fade to black *gunshot*, cut to shell casing on the ground. Leave on cliff-hanger.
Ending 2 - US soldier running out of wood, (distorted shots), runs into focus. Long shot of him running to show that there is no one pursuing him.

Synopses

Synopses

Short synopsis:
A battle hardened 101st Airborne soldier gets left behind in the woods by his unit by accident. He has to try and make his way back to them so that they can carry on with their mission. But he is not alone in the woods. There is a platoon of elite German soldiers, carrying out a patrol in the woodland, searching for the Airborne unit. He must use his expert training and wits to get back to his unit alive.

Long synopsis
A Paratrooper has been left behind by accident by his squad, he wakes up and finds that he is all alone and his squad must have left in a hurry during the night. He looks around the woods in order to see if he can find his squad, but he cannot find them. As he is looking around the woods, he encounters a platoon of German troops that are patrolling the area. They see each other and there is a gunfight and pursuit where the Paratrooper takes cover inside a building. He runs out of ammo in his primary gun and has to use his pistol in order to defend himself, he then realises that he will get overrun so makes an attempt to escape the building. He gets out of the building, the Germans then take over the building and find that he is not there. The Germans split up in order to find him, he makes it deeper into the woods and feels that he is safe. The Paratrooper then crosses paths with a lone German soldier who is looking for him, this then ends in one of them getting shot.

Film clip that is similar to my idea

Film clip that is similar to my idea

This clip is from 'The Last Drop'

This clip is similar to my idea as it is set in a wood, which is where mine will be set and also that there is a lot more German troops that there are the allied troops. The clip also shows Allied troops trying to get away from German soldiers, which is similar to my initial idea of my film.
By looking at this clip it has allowed me to see the shots and editing techniques used within this film that I can use in my own product to make it more authentic and professional.

Things I have noticed:
In this clip it is clear to tell the difference to tell the difference between the protagonists and the antagonists by looking at the costume and also the props as they create the profile of the characters.

Mise-en-scene:
The mise-en-scene within this clip is woodland, with what looks like natural lighting. the ntural lightning makes this product look more real and original.

Initial idea

Initial idea

My initial idea is that my short film is going to be a war/thriller film that is set in world war 2, where a 101st airborne trooper has been left behind by accident by his squad that had to leave suddenly during the night. When he wakes up he notices that his squad is not there and sets off to find them, but as he is walking around trying to find them he encounters a platoon of German troops that have been sent into the woods to find the airborne troops that were spotted in the woods. The airborne trooper then as to take refuge and defend himself from the advancing troops in an attempt to make his way back to his squad.
I am planning to shoot my film in a wooded area that has some buildings in which my main actor can take refuge in, and where the main action sequence will evolve around.

I am setting it during the second world war because the second world was is very well known and there is a lot of different possibilities for plots that i could do.
I decided to have Germans and Americans as they are two of the main forces in WW2, for my American character he is going to be 101st Airborne because they are a well known and were supposedly one of the best military division that were fighting in WW2.
For my plot I am going to try and develop it on an emotional level that will connect with the audience as I think it will make my product more effective.

Intro to main task

Intro to main task

For my main task i am going to produce a 5-minute short film.
I am planning to do my short film as a war or thriller film that is either set in world war 2 or modern day. I will be using more editing and filming techniques to make my product better than my work from last year to aid me in getting a better grade overall.
For my short film I will have to include the basic story plot of; Equilibrium, Disequilibrium and a resolution that returns the story back to equilibrium.

Non-Genre specific analysis No.2

Non-Genre specific analysis No.2

The clip I chose is from the 2016 re-make TV series of Westworld

Details

Country:

 USA

Language:

 English

Release Date:

 2 October 2016 (USA) 

Also Known As:

 Westworld - Dove tutto è concesso 

Filming Locations:

 Los Angeles, California, USA 

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Company Credits

Production Co:

 Bad Robot, Jerry Weintraub Productions, Kilter Films 

This clip is from after the 'host' discovers a modern photo and starts to question the truth, this makes him malfunction and has to be recalled to the main facility where he is questioned about what he saw and why he malfunctioned.

Within this clip there is a lot of close ups as it allows the audience to see the facial expressions and the emotions that the characters are feeling in the scene. The lighting is quite dark as it adds mood and also a pathetic fallacy in a way as the main facility is full of dark secrets and intrigue, it is also ironic as the 'hosts' are told that they are dreaming when they go to the main facility, but when you think of a dream, you'd think that it would be bright and colourful, but in this it is dark and suspicious.

mise-en-scene:

Within this scene the mise-en-scene is dark and suspicious as the lighting is low and the backdrop is dark too, also the costumes that are worn by the character, apart from the 'host' is dark and black, this can suggest that the people who work there are the antagonists, or that it subverts the stereotype and that they are in fact the protagonists but are not made to look like they are.

Camera:

In this scene it is mostly close up shots as it allows the audience to see the emotions and facial expressions that are expressed by the characters. There is also use of an over the shoulder shots that shows that they are engaging in a conversation with each other, it shows both who is speaking and who is listening to who is talking. As the host grabs Anthony Hopkins the shots cut between each other quickly, this creates a sense of urgency and panic as it speeds up the scene.

Editing:

The editing in this clip is basic as it is mainly just cuts and transitions between the camera shots. As the scene progresses the editing creates a sense of tension as it gets quicker when there is a sort of conflict between the characters, this speeds the scene up and adds to the drama that is unfolding.

Sound:

The sound in this scene is diegetic dialogue as the characters are talking to each other and it is all happening within the scene. The diegetic dialogue means that everything being said in the scene is being heard by the characters and people within the shots. The way the characters are speaking enable the audience to understand the emotions that are being expressed by the characters, as the 'host' is talking with emotion and expresses his feelings through his speech, this makes his emotions easily noticeable and understandable for the audience.

Non-genre specific analysis No.1

Non-genre specific analysis No.1

The trailer I analysed was for the 2017 film 'Wonder Woman'

Details

Official Sites:

 Official Facebook | Official site

Country:

 USA

Language:

 English

Release Date:

 2 June 2017 (USA) 

Also Known As:

 La mujer maravilla 

Filming Locations:

 Lincoln's Inn, Holborn, London, England, UK 

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Box Office

Budget:

 $150,000,000 (estimated)

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Company Credits

Production Co:

 Atlas Entertainment, Cruel & Unusual Films, DC Entertainment

This trailer uses a range of close up and longer shots as it allows the audience to see which actors are starring in the film and it also allows the audience to put everything into context, such as the setting and time that the film is taking place in. Although being a super-hero film, the mise en scene is surprisingly dark, this can give the impression that the film is taking place in a dark time, or that there is a 'dark force' to be reckoned with. Within this trailer there is a polar opposite as in some shots it shows a beach and what looks like a paradise, this is then shown with battlefields of WW1, this contrast shows the audience where the film will take place in these different locations. There is also a contrast where Wonder Woman is going over the top of the trench as the setting is all dark, muddy and dull, and then she is wearing the blue and red Wonder Woman costume, this makes it clear to the audience who she is and that she is the 'good guy'. When introducing Wonder Woman they use a collage  of close up shots that slowly reveals her, this adds ambiguity and suspense as they show all of her key features, such as her shield and lasso. 

There is a match cut where Wonder Woman throws a man across a room, which then transforms into her fighting with German soldiers in a building, this shot adds effect as it shows the contrast of a bad character being thrown, to the good character fighting. There is also a match cut where Wonder woman is hitting someone with a shield, which then switches to the male character sliding under the wing of a Fokker eindecker, this shot shows both of the lead characters and the difference between them as one of them is fighting Germans and the other looks as if they are going to use a German plane.

The use of slow motion in this trailer allows the audience to see what and who is in the scene much more clearly as it allows you to take in more and fully see what is happening. The slow motion also allows the audience to determine what is going to happen, it is also a good way of adding a good looking shot into the trailer.

mise-en-scene
The mise-en-scene within this trailer is quite dark, there are a few parts in it where there is shots that are lighter, which are the parts set on an island that looks like a paradise. However the rest of the trailer is dark, this could be because it is set during the early 1900's and WW1 so that by making it dark it conforms to the thought that the trenches during WW1 were dark and dirty. The costumes vary in this trailer as there are different sorts of characters, as there is the tribe and people of Wonder Woman, they wear quite bright clothes and metallic items of clothing. The rest wear clothes that are typical of the early 1900's, such as suits, and the soldiers wear uniforms. The lead characters wear costumes that are different to the rest as Wonder Woman is wearing a blue, gold and red costume that stands out and the other lead character is wearing a leather jacket which is iconic.

Camera
There is a wide range of shots in this trailer, there is also a lot of use of close up shots, mid shots and multi-person shot. Using these shots allows the audience to see which actors are in the film and also what is happening, as they will need to get a sense of what is happening and the narrative. The close up shots allows the audience to see the emotions that are being portrayed and also they can build ambiguity as they only reveal a small amount of the character within the shot, for example when they use close up shots to reveal Wonder Woman, they only show a small amount of the character, building up ambiguity.

Editing
Editing techniques used were mostly basic cuts between shots, this means that the cuts are fast because if they were slow it could cause the trailer to lose its effect. There is use of slow-motion, this allows the audience to see what is happening in more detail as it is not happening as fast. Slow-motion also gives the sense of time passing slower, and can make it so that you feel like the character as the audience is thinking a lot in what is a small amount of time.

Sound
The sound in this trailer is mainly just diegetic sound effects, such as explosions, gunfire and dialogue spoken by the actors, alongside the non-diegetic soundtrack. The soundtrack contains a lot of drums, which gives it a beat but can also build tension as it is quite an aggressive sound. Drums can also add an effect of a heartbeat, and with it speeding up can imply a raise in heart beats, also building tension.