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.