Research - Audience Feedback

Below is a link to the audience feedback I collected after showing the class a clip from 'It's Kind of a Funny Story' (2010), this is one of my influential films.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ijJNyGSWB8Q



Action Plan

Keep humour at the centre of the project - take a good look at the script.
Keep industry conventions in mind when editing titles.
Contrasting characters in 'It's Kind of a Funny Story' (2010) made it funnier.
Try to get stereotypical people to answer the door (Old lady? Child? Busy/lazy person? Flirtatious woman?). Then reference them in the voiceover?
The handheld camera wasn't overly noticable in the clips I showed - while it is handheld, keep it quite steady.
Make sure the script doesn't make people feel too sympathetic for the character.
Make sure dialogue is believable.
Maybe hold auditions for parts?

Planning - Budget

Budget for the production. There isn't much needed, but it's much better to keep track of what the costs are... Otherwise it may become expensive and I may not be able to fund it all.

Salesman Blues
Item	Cost	Running Total
Nikon D3100 DSLR Camera	£289.99	£289.99
		£289.99

Planning - Equipment List

Motion Picture Equipment list
Production: Salesman Blues
1.	Nikon D3100 DSLR Camera
2.	USB to mini 5 pin cable
3.	Serif Movie Plus X6 (Movie Editing Software)
4.	Tripod
5.	Apple iPhone 5 (contact others involved)
6.	Facebook (contact others involved)
7.	Numerous bags to carry everything
8.	Electric guitar
9.	Overdrive Pedal
10.	Drum kit
11.	Bass guitar
12.	Podcast kit to record the sound on

Research - 9 Frame Opening Analysis - Adventureland (2009)

Adventureland (2009)

1. The film starts with a punk rock song being played while the company logos and film title is being shown onscreen. This sets a good feeling in the audience as we really listen to the lyrics as these lyrics relate to what the main character feels at the beginning of the film (which we are about to find out), it is also an american band - making us think that it is most likely going to be set in the USA (the song in fact is "Bastards of Young" by the US Alternative band The Replacements). The titles are pretty basic - simply the main company logos being shown up onscreen one after another. However, the film's title has been digitally created as if it is made out of 'theme park' style lights (where most of the film is set), and these come up in stages, as if sections are being turned on individually.

2. There is then a medium close up of the main character 'James' (played by Jesse Eisenburg) as he stares at something to the right of the camera. The rock song then dies down as sounds of the party they seem to be in fill our ears. In the background we notice that there are lots of teenagers drinking and talking in someone's house, which indicates it is a house party (of course). What James and all these people are wearing also backs up this idea due to them wearing more casual clothes, compared with if they were to go to a night club or other similar venue for the gathering. James is talking to his (we assume) girlfriend, and the conversation end us with her breaking up with him.

3. James' (now ex) girlfriend walks away and we see him continue to stare at her - implying that he wasn't ready for the relationship to end. However, she doesn't seem phased by it and walks with intent away from him to (I assume) join her other friends.

4. The film then cuts to a scene in the kitchen of (again, we assume) same party. This is indicated by the lack of a change of costume for the actors and lack of change to the interior decor of the house. James and his friends are gathered around an island in the middle of the kitchen (that is filled with alcoholic drinks) and are discussing the break up. We find out that James is a virgin and was only dating the girl in the previous scene for 11 days (so he will most likely be a little sad, but not heartbroken as such).

5. We also find out that the boys are planning a trip to Europe and will hopefully be departing soon (they think it will be a "trans-formative experience" and a sort of 'coming-of-age' experience). This raises questions for the audience: Will the film be based around this trip? Will James lose his virginity before going? Will something happen on the way there?

6. James and his parents are sat in an up-market restaurant eating dinner, while discussing plans for his trip to Europe - it is apparent that the restaurant is up-market due to the classical music the waiter service, the flowers on the table and the costumes that the actors and actresses are wearing (suits for men and dresses for women). Shot-reverse-shot is used throughout the conversation, stopping occasionally to focus on smaller details (such as James' father being given a drink and then toasting to James' success in school). James is explaining that he will need a little bit of extra money to cover the costs for the trip and asking his parents for that little bit extra. This is when his mother explains that his father has been "transferred to a different apartment" and so is making less money - this means they cannot afford to give him the money and he won't be able to go on the trip with his friends (it was supposed to be his graduation present for finishing secondary school).

7. This is when it becomes apparent that he will also no longer be able to attend Columbia University due to the fact that he won't be able to pay for rent for the first few months. His mother then explains that the only way he will be able to pay for it is to get a job in the summer. James looks disheartened at the prospect of this - the meaning of the lyrics for the opening song are becoming apparent.

8. There is then a cut to a tracking shot of James and one of his friends from the party, Eric, as they discuss the idea of a summer job while moving some stuff into a boot of a car (I think it is a box of 12" records, but it is never made clear). They decide that a good way of doing things would be to get a cheaper apartment and Eric offers to 'float' James for the first few months. We then learn that they both smoke a little bit of cannabis every now and then as Eric hands James a bag of roll ups to last for the summer period. This whole scene is done with the use of a mix of over-the-shoulder shots and two shots, with a point-of-view shot when James worries that his parents are watching them smoke 'weed'. There is then an ellipsis, as the next shot is of James in the car driving away from Eric - he looks back and there is a point-of-view shot as Eric takes a puff of weed and salutes James a goodbye.

9. The film then fades into blurred out extreme close ups of fairground ride lights (but we do not know this yet), as the main cast names are shown onscreen. Another rock song becomes the main soundtrack of the film at this point - it is much slower and calmer than the first one, reflecting James' mood (the song is "Here She Comes Now" by The Velvet Underground). The cast member's names are just made from simple text that is just shown on each part of the video - again, very simple... Keeping the film feeling very realistic (the more special effects there are, the more 'fake' it feels - ruining the suspension of disbelief for the audience members). The images shown behind the text slowly get clearer and clearer, until we see that it is in fact the fairground ride lights that we are seeing. Finally, there are a few images of places that are featured later in the film (with the last of the credits showing) and then point of view shots from James in the back of his parents car as they drive through the suburban streets of their town for the final opening credit.

Research - 9 Frame Opening Analysis - Silver Linings Playbook (2012)

Silver Linings Playbook (2012)

Note: the film does not start with any kind of title sequence - instead the titles are shown at the end of the film and it simply starts with the introduction to the film straight away. I feel that this keeps us concentrating on the story-line and all of the information communicated to us, rather than other information such as the film's title or the actor's names. I think this is a very good way of keeping the audience's focus on the film, I also think it's quite different from the common conventions of film making (having a title sequence included in the introduction), in other words the film-makers have been thinking "outside of the box" when deciding on the introduction to this film.

1. The film starts with the sound of many differently pitched voices all creating a soft, low hum together - a very warm welcome into the film for the audience member. The main character, Pat, then begins an opening monologue, starting with "What? Are you kidding me? Sundays, I love Sundays..." This is all happening while the TWC logo is shown and text fades in/out onscreen telling us where this monologue is taking place (Karel Psychiatric Facility, Baltimore). This is all a very soft and warm welcome to the film as everything gently eases into the film - the music, logos and text - this means the audience member can slowly 'sink' into the film's plot.

2. A mid shot from behind Pat fades into view - this is slowly pushing in on his back. This gives a sense of mystery to the character, and makes the viewer pay more attention to the monologue as they can now relate the monologue to a character. He is then rushed to get ready by someone outside the room he is standing in - we assume this is a member of staff belonging to the hospital.

3. There are a few quick shots of the room Pat is standing in - it is his bedroom. The room is quite bare, with what seems to be only essential items... Which is what we would expect of a hospital.

4. What follows is a short montage of shots depicting (what we assume is) everyday life for people in the facility. Pat collects his medication, but promptly spits it onto the floor showing that he doesn't like taking it for whatever reason. This creates enigmas: maybe he is rebelling? Is he there by choice/does he want to be there? During all of this a musical score with a slow tempo plays out - this adds a 'third layer' to the scene (instead of just video and dialogue, we also have the music playing now).

5. Pat joins a group therapy session, then does some outdoor exercise. He is dressed in casual clothes instead of something the hospital may supply him with (something you may find if he was in intense care) so we have an idea that his condition cannot be too serious, he may even get out by the end of the film?

6. Pat's mother, Dolores, is then introduced with a shot of the sun behind her head - the sun maybe symbolising good/innocence? There is then a tracking shot as Pat, Dolores and a hospital worker talk about taking Pat out of the hospital. This shot keeps the dialogue and film more fluid and moving quickly, as us viewers generally don't want to sit and listen to a lot of legal issues connected with taking Pat out. As soon as Dolores is introduced the slow tempo'd music picks up a little and makes the scene a little more upbeat, ready for the more comedic parts of the film to become apparent.

7. There are some extreme close ups of legal documents allowing Pat to leave the institute and the necessary people sign the papers at the bottom. This informs us that Pat is leaving the hospital with his mother that day, even though the member of staff stated that they'd prefer him to stay a little longer. This creates more enigmas for us: Will his issues become a problem in the real world? Does he have a life outside the facility waiting for him?

8. As Pat climbs into the car, they move down the car park and Pat asks if they can "Give Danny a ride to North Philly" This is quite comical as Danny is already waiting for them in the car park so he's not really asking if it's OK... He is stating that, that is what they are doing... This helps create the genre that the rest of the film is - Romantic comedy.

9. The following scene takes place in the car on the way home - Danny and Pat are talking over each other about being in the facility and Dolores is listening politely while also keeping her attention firmly placed on the road. This whole situation is quite comical because it looks like Dolores is so fixated on the road that she is almost ignoring them - maybe she is? She then gets a call from the institute telling her that Danny isn't actually allowed to leave. As she tries to pull over, Pat grabs the steering wheel and pushes it back over so they start to move back onto the motorway - this is extremely dangerous as there is a car in the way. This dangerous situation is also quite comical because it is so outrageous and it is over something really small.

Research - 9 Frame Opening Analysis - It's Kind of a Funny Story (2010)

It's Kind of a Funny Story (2010)

1. We hear a voice that states "It starts on a bridge." This instantly grabs our attention with many enigmas - What starts on a bridge? Who is saying this? Is it a specific bridge we know? etc. There is a low, eerie music soundtrack that is playing throughout, giving it a slightly 'out of this world' feel.

2. We are then introduced to the character, Craig, who is riding his bike along what we assume is the bridge that was just mentioned. This is done by the camera facing upwards, while tracking along behind Craig; it then slowly tilts down to reveal the character. He is wearing a big coat and a hat, which shows us that it is most likely in the winter as he is cold. The music suddenly stops as Craig's sister calls his name and there is a cut to reveal his family at the side of the bridge and dialogue continues - they are also dressed for the cold weather.

3. After some black comedy (in which Craig's parents seem to be more worried about his bike than his safety), Craig falls off the bridge. Just before we think he is going to hit the water and die, the film freezes on this frame while Craig's voice-over explains that he is dreaming it all... However, it seems more real than normal.

4. The film then fades to black and the title fades in - the titles are very simple to keep the audiences attention directed at the main story line, rather than artistic use of titles. This means there is a very little amount of opening credits, only the title of the film. There is no music playing during this, only the sound of the wind from the bridge to keep us routed to the story. If there were a number of special effects or lots of other pieces of video footage being shown during the titles, it would distract us from the simplistic, serious story-line.

5. Craig rides his bike to a hospital and there is a slow bass guitar lick that is played a few times - giving the scene a curious feel to it and filling our heads with more enigmas... What is he doing about his dreams? Is it something serious? Is it the first time he has gone to the hospital for something like this? etc.

6. The is a sharp cut to the 'Sunday' message - showing us the time in relation to the story (this is repeated throughout the film with the other days of the week). Again, the titles are basic to keep the audience concentrating on the story line rather than the artistic style of editing.

7. There is another little part of comedy in which Craig states that he wants to kill himself (introducing us into the main body of the story), then the receptionist remains calm and gives him a form to fill out... A little too calm if you ask me. We know she is definitely a receptionist due to her costume being a uniform of sorts while she is sat behind the reception desk, so Craig is talking to the correct person to help him out. This makes the scene comical, as she reacts in a way that most of us wouldn't expect (including Craig).

8. There is a high angle shot that shows Craig sitting with no-one around him - reflecting his feelings of being isolated and alone. There is no music playing, however sounds you will typically hear in a hospital are heard (e.g. phones ringing, people chatting quietly/in the distance, etc.).

9. There is a shot-reverse-shot used as Bobby sits next to Craig and talks to him. At first his costume makes it seem that he is a doctor or male nurse, but his body language and dialogue contradicts this. There are some comical moments in the dialogue, and we start to get to know both Craig and Bobby's characters a little more. We are also kept entertained by the comical moments, so we get a bit more information about the characters, and our attention is still on the film.

Planning - Pitch for Salesman Blues

Below is a link to the video of the pitch that I delivered to the class. I also answer their questions concerning my film.

Note: I pitched the film to an A2 Film Studies class, rather than an AS Media Studies class because we ran out of time in the media lesson to do it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xDNrplnPJJs



Action Plan

Concentrate on the script to try and keep humour at the forefront of the film.
Get in contact with the cast and keep in contact with them to keep them on board with the project.
Have a look at camera shots and try to keep them consistent with industry conventions.
KEEP ON TASK!

Technology/Planning - Facebook Group

I have created a Facebook Group to keep in contact with everyone involved in the project. This way I can easily post on it and the relevant people can be tagged and will know when I need them and what I need them for on that particular occasion.

Planning - Shooting Schedule

10/3/14

Below is the actual shooting schedule that was used in the end. At the bottom of this post is the original one from way back in October when I started to look at filming the task.

Time	Scene Description	Int./Ext. Day/Night	Location	Characters
SHOOTING DAY 1
1.00pm – 2.00pm	Mark walks up to the door, presses the doorbell, waits, then leaves when no-one answers.	Day, ext.	Guy’s house	Mark
3.00pm – 4.00pm	Mark walks up to the door, presses the doorbell, homeowner answers the door and tells him he isn’t interested.	Day, ext.	Stuart’s house	Mark, homeowner
SHOOTING DAY 2
2.00pm - 2.30pm	Mark walks up to the door, presses the doorbell.	Day, ext.	Connor’s house	Mark
2.30pm – 2.45pm	The angry homeowner doesn’t have time for anyone to come to the door, so rushes to dismiss him.	Day, int.	Connor’s house	Angry homeowner
2.45pm – 3.00pm	The angry homeowner quickly tells Mark to go away, then Mark has to turn and leave.	Day, ext.	Connor’s house	Mark, angry homeowner
SHOOTING DAY 3
6.00pm – 7.00pm	Mark walks to the door, knocks. When the homeowner arrives, she tells him that she isn’t interested and he has to turn around and leave.	Night, ext.	Abby’s house	Mark, homeowner
SHOOTING DAY 4
11.00am – 12.00pm	Mark walks up to the door, an old woman answers. She has trouble hearing him at first, then waves him away as she has been warned not to buy things at the door.	Day, ext.	Sam’s house	Mark, old homeowner
SHOOTING DAY 5
1.00pm – 1.30pm	The sounds of a doorbell and someone coming down the stairs, then they open the door to Mark standing – dialogue.	Day, int.	Natalie’s house	Homeowner, Mark
1.30pm – 2.00pm	Mark has the door slammed in his face and he turns around and leaves.	Day, ext.	Natalie’s house	Mark
SHOOTING DAY 6
10.15am – 10.30am	Press in on Carol, “repetitive and boring”, Mark sits up behind her.	Day, int.	My house	Carol, Mark
SHOOTING DAY 7
9.00pm – 9.30pm	Mixture of POV shots as Mark – drinking with friends.	Night, int.	The Cricketers (local pub)	Mark, a number of unnamed friends
SHOOTING DAY 8
4.00pm – 5.00pm	Noddy shot of Mark as he performs monologue.	Day, int.	My house	Mark
SHOOTING DAY 9
3.15pm – 6.00pm	Recording music soundtrack.	N/A	School music room	N/A

12/10/13

This is a rough shooting schedule, the exact dates haven't been confirmed yet, but will be shortly.

Time	Scene description	Int/Ext Day/Night	Location	Characters
SHOOT DAY 1
10.00 – 10.30	Montage part – walks to houses and gets rejected, so has to walk away again. Filled with many different angles and slightly different situations for each house.	Ext. Day.	Adam’s House	Mark, homeowner
11.00 – 11.30			Abby’s house
12.00 – 12.30			TJ’s house
1.00 – 1.30			Jake K’s house
2.00 – 2.30			Connor’s house
3.00 – 3.30			Jake W’s house
4.00 – 4.30			Guy’s house
SHOOT DAY 2
11.00 – 1.30	Opening scene – exchange dialogue between Mark and homeowner. All in a few shots, but camerawork and character must be right.	Ext. Day.	Zoë’s house	Mark, homeowner
SHOOT DAY 3
11.00 – 3.00	Final scene in garage – dialogue between four characters, so chemistry and camera angles need to ‘feel’ right. This will most likely be run a number of times.	Int. Day.	My converted garage	Mark, Adam, Cameron and Dan
SHOOT DAY 4
Times subject to availability	Scene at the bar – short piece of dialogue (to be created shortly), this will be run a number of times and shot from many angles due to the fact that it won’t be heard and is still part of the voiceover/monologue section.	Int. Day.	The Concord (local pub)	Mark, Carol

Planning - Animatic

I have finished the animatic for Salesman Blues - this should help when I pitch my idea to the class and will also give me a good idea of how my film will look.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FtRx-mN9KkA

Planning - Soundtrack

23/09/13

Today I started to look at creating a soundtrack for the film. In my mind, as soon as the door slams in Mark's face, a piece of music should start playing - this will be played at a lower volume under the voice-over. However, when I started to come up with ideas to construct a piece of music, I found it very hard to create a piece that felt as if it were going into a slightly more comic film - rather than a serious one. I plan to play the piece on piano and/or guitar.

While experimenting, I stumbled upon a good piece for a horror film - simply holding down the 15th fret on the high E string and finger tapping the 16th soft at first, but getting harder (the guitar will need to be overdriven). This causes some of the other strings to vibrate meaning that the resulting sound is a gradual increase in volume of a high note and a low rumbling that also increases. This could be used to create tension to make the audience uncomfortable before something happens (say, a character opening a door).

I also stumbled upon a nice piece for the right hand on Piano for a drama film. It is all based from an F key and I was simply walking out some notes that sounded nice (these were probably chords in their own right, but I only know the very basics of piano). I was using the F, A, A#, B, D, D# and F keys and walking out a number of unknown chords to me - however, I could see them easily being used in a drama film after something major to the story happens (maybe a baby has stood upon its own for the first time and the parents are very emotional).

I will continue looking at this over the next few weeks, record a few ideas, then finally try putting some into the film and having a look to see what it looks like. I may even decide that the film doesn't need music after editing it together.

But this is in preparation for post production of course, so is not really a priority at the moment.

14/10/13

I have decided to cover the opening a song by the Foo Fighters called 'Walk'. This is due to the fact that I think the feel of the song really relates to this part of the film. This is because there is a sort of unrelenting sound from a palm muted power chord being strummed constantly, but there is also a number of higher notes being picked out on top of this. All of this results in a feeling that makes you think something big is about to happen that will change your life - however, it's not a bad thing... It's really good.

I'm not sure how I will end the piece, as it goes into a heavier verse at the end of the section I want to record (with more drums and the power chord being strummed without the palm mute effect). I may start playing the next bit, but then slide down the neck of the guitar to end it, or even just jump straight into the outro of the song. I will try lots of different ways out and eventually play them with the film and see which is best, then record a final version to put into the film.

I plan to not only play the guitar parts, but also the bass and drum parts (borrowing the instruments from friends). This is because there is a nice, steady kick drum that is added towards the end of the intro and both the bass and drums for this section don't sound too hard to play (I have experimented a little with these instruments before). However, I may end up just recording the guitar, as I know I can do that...

I will add more to this blog update when I have experimented a little more and possibly finished one or two recordings.