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.
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.
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.
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.
In this trailer there is a lot of close up shots that allows the audience to see the facial expressions and reactions of the characters. This also allows the audience to see which actors are in the film so that they can see that there is a wide range of popular actors playing different roles. The mise en scene is quite dark as it has a filter over it, this can imply that because it is about Nazi's that the Nazi regime is dark, it could also give the audience the sense that it is a dark secret that the characters are hiding. The sound within the trailer creates tension and suspense for the audience by the way it works together with the shots as this gives it more context. The trailer shows different parts of the swastika as the trailer plays, this gives the impression that a secret is unveiling about the Nazi regime.
Mise-en-scene:
The mise-en-scene is quite dark and dull, this could be to show how it was to be under the rule of Hitler at that time as it is what Germany was like. The lighting is made to look natural and realistic, some of the lighting adds effect to the shot as there is one shot that is lowly lit, this adds ambiguity to the character and also creates a a sense of suspicion and raises questions for the audience. The costume is that of typical German officers and soldiers as the film is set within Nazi Germany and the plot evolves around a German officer's plot to assassinate Hitler.
Camera:
There is a variety of shots used, this allows the audience to see the expressions shown by the actors, and also shows which actors are playing roles in the film. The longer shots allows the audience to see what actions are happening in the scene and to also see the location/setting in which parts of the film is set. There are close-ups of different parts of the Nazi flag as the trailer is playing, this creates ambiguity as it does not show the full flag, creating a sense of secrecy and ambiguity to lure the audience in.
Editing:
The editing in this scene is mostly cuts between shots and text/information that appears on the screen. In some parts of the trailer it looks like a filter has been added, for example in the scene where it is set in Africa it looks as if there has been a filter added to make it appear slightly lighter and dazzling, this could be to replicate the effects that soldiers would have experienced with the constant sun and brightness that they would have experienced.
0.00 - Close up of Lt. Winters walking through foliage
0.01 - Long tracking shot of soldiers coming through foliage
0.04 - Close up of soldiers coming through foliage
0.07 - Long tracking shot of soldiers running
0.18 - Moves in closer
0.21- Mid shot of Lt. Winters looking through rusted car
0.24 - POV shot looking at German position
0.31 - Mid shot of Lt. Winters giving orders to troops
0.33 - Long tracking shot of soldier running
0.45 - Moves in closer
1.01 - Mid shot of 'Buck' looking through foliage
1.06 - POV shot looking at German position 1.10 - Close up two person shot 1.14 - pull out mid shot
1.17 - Mid tracking shot of soldiers moving 1.36 - Long shot of soldiers communicating 1.37 - Mid low shot of soldiers laying down 1.38 - Mid shot of soldiers moving 1.41 - Low close up of Lt. Winters giving thumbs up 1.42 - Long shot of soldiers turning 1.43 - Low close up of Lt. Winters moving away 1.49 - POV shot looking at Germans 1.51 - Mid shot of Lt. Winters giving command 1.52 - Close up of machine gunners shooting
1.53 - POV shot looking at Germans taking cover
1.56 - Long shot of Lt. Winters and machine gun crew shooting
1.58 - Close up of Lt. Winters shooting
1.59 - Mid tracking shot of soldiers running behind foliage Within this clip there is a lot of use of different camera angles and shots which allows the audience to see different angles and views of the action that is unfolding. By using different shots in rapid succession it makes the scene feel more fast paced and suspense, it also allows the audience to see different parts of the action from different angles in a short amount of time. The close up shots allows the audience to see the reactions and emotions on the characters face, this allows the audience to determine the atmosphere within the scene and get a better sense of what is happening. POV (Point Of View) shots allow the audience to feel as if they are in the action and can see what the character can see within the scene, it also allows the audience to establish the proximity of the character(s) within the scene. The mise-en-scene in this clip is quite dull and dark, this could be to make it more realistic or to dramatise the darkness and harshness of war by making everything appear darker, it could also to be to imply that everything is dirty and is covered in muck. By making things appear darker it allows things to blend in more easily, this could give the implication that in war, everything starts to merge together in some way. Mise-en-scene: The mise-en-scene within this clip sticks to the conventions of a war movie as it is quite dull and dark, and the actors are all wearing Airborne uniforms. The lighting is quite low, this gives it a mood as it gives it the sense that it is dark and dirty. The rusted car can imply the devastation of war and how it can change normal things into something that looks completely different. The prop guns give the sense of danger and action, this also conforms to the conventions of the war genre. Camera: Within this scene there is a lot of use of handheld shot, this means that the shots are unstable and shaky, allowing the audience to feel as if they may be in the action with the characters. Using a handheld shot also adds and effect to the film as it gives a sense that everything is unstable. There is also use of point-of-view shots, these allow the audience to fell as if they are a character within the scene and if they are in the heart of the action that is taking lace within the scene. Close up shots and longer shots are used to show the proximity between actors and characters within the scene. Editing: Within this clip there is not many editing techniques used, it looks as if a filter has been added but it may be added to the camera so that the footage is caught with the filter on. It may also been added post-filming which means that it has been edited by the editing crew in order to add an effect. This filter gives it the impression that it is darker and dirty, emphasising on the effects and reality of war. Sound: There is not non-diegetic sounds within this clip, all of the sound is diegetic sounds, such as gunshots and dialogue. The use of diegetic sounds means that all of what is heard is happening within the scene, it also mean that the audience is only focused on the diegetic sound, making it more suspense and throwing the audience in with the action.
0.01 - Close up of beach- clock ticking sound
0.04 - 'From Christopher Nolan' - ticking gets faster
0.07 - Establishing shot of troops on beach and smoke in background - ticking gets faster
0.10 - 'Director of The Dark Knight trilogy' - ticking gets faster
0.13 - 'Inception' - ticking gets faster
0.15 - 'and Interstellar' - ticking gets faster
0.16 - Wide shot of soldiers on pier and rifles in foreground - ticking gets faster
0.19 - 'At the point of crisis' - ticking gets faster
0.22 - Long shot of soldier dropping equipment and walking towards the sea - ticking gets faster
0.25 - 'At the point of annihilation' - ticking gets faster
0.28 - Wide shot of soldiers waiting on beach with covered bodies in foreground - ticking gets faster
0.31 - 'Survival is victory' - ticking gets faster
0.34 - Wide multi-person shot of soldiers on pier - ticking stops
0.40 - Faint sound of Stuka, one soldier looks up
0.45 - Sound of Stuka gets louder, all of the soldiers looks up
0.48 - Soldiers get down, sound of Stuka gets even louder
0.50 - 'DUNKIRK' - fade out
The way that this trailer is put together creates a lot of suspense and ambiguity, as the different clips only show for about 3 seconds, so as soon as you really see the details it cuts away to another shot. The sound of the clock ticking also creates suspense, and when it gets faster as it gives it a sense that time is rapidly running out and that there is not much time left. When the ticking stops, it gives the impression that time is up, especially when it is followed by the sound of a Stuka dive bomber approaching. The shot where it shows the troops on the pier with their rifles in the foreground gives the impression that the soldiers are defenceless as they do not have their weapons with them.
Mise-en-scene
The mise-en-scene in this trailer is quite dull, this could be because of a filter used, or just the mix of colours as they are dull colours such as grey, black and OD green. Also all of the actors are wearing costume which makes the genre of the film easily identifiable for the audience, the location is along the coast and beach, this gives the film context and makes the audience acknowledge where the film will take place. With the colours being used, being dark give the audience a sense of what emotions that will be shown as with dark, you would assume that something bad is going to happen or that the darkness represents that they are facing evil.
Camera:
There is a wide array of shots that are used in the trailer, there are not many close-up shots as it allows the audience to see the surrounding and what is taking place if the shot is longer and wider. The longer shots also means that it creates ambiguity about the actors and characters as you cannot see them in detail, which creates a suspicion and raises questions about them.
Editing:
There is not many editing techniques used as they are mainly just transitions between the text that appears on screen and a shot of the film. It also looks as if a filter has been added to the film post-filming to give it an aged/slightly yellowish look to it, this dulls down the colours and also sort of makes it look as if it is an older film, by making it appear older it gives an original and authentic look to it as the narrative of the film is set during WW2.
Sound:
Thew sound used in this clip is both diegetic and non-diegetic, however the non-diegetic sound almost drowns out the diegetic sound. This is effective as the non-diegetic sound is the sound of a clock ticking, but as the trailer goes on, the ticking of the clock increases, this is effective as it gives the impression that time is running out and that there is something that is going to go after them. The ticking of the clock can also mean that they are 'against the clock' to do something or achieve an objective before that time runs out. At the end of the trailer there is the sound of a 'Stuka' dive-bomber approaching as all of the soldiers look up, this makes the audience feel uneasy as there is all of the soldiers defenceless as the sound of the 'Stuka' gets louder, creating a sense of danger because the soldiers cannot escape. Narrative:
Linear narrative, Overcoming an object in pursuit of a goal
