Wednesday, 16 May 2012

How to make a film

'The Guardian'

Script Writing 
When creating a film you need to start off with the script which features several details on the treatments, the screenplay, narrative structures, and protagonists and antagonists who are the main character and the villain who tries to stop the protagonist and their plans.
Treatments
Within the treatments section it focuses on all of the key ideas and plots to the story that you are planning to create. The treatment doesn't include any dialogue, contains details about the actors/actresses which are written in capitals so they stand out and can be found quickly if needed, what, when, why, and where of the story plot as well as the text being written in the present tense. The length of these can differ as short films have 2 or more pages and a feature film has 5 and can be as long as 12. By writing a treatment it allows ideas to become more dominant and clear while making other things clear like the scenery, location, setting and so on.

Screenplay

Screenplay, otherwise known as a script, is the written content of the film which involved the dialogue, characters actions and details and the setting. Scripts are split into sections, often boxes, where each scene changes when the location, setting, event or actions do. Each box is labelled with a heading of place and time. 

Narrative Structure

A narrative is a story which can be told in a unique way that is special to the person saying it. A narrative can be told in a 3 part structure. Act 1 is the opening, Act 2 is the main plot and Act 3 is the conclusion of the story.

Producing
Planning
In the pre production stage a plan is devised in which the producers need to stick to. The producers job is to take care of the budget and the shooting schedule and this is mainly devised in the shooting script. To fund the film you can either do it publicly or privately. 

budgeting

within the pre production planning a budget is also needed; this would include having a check list of all the costs needed. This will be blue printed and ready for production. As there are different departments in the film industry, you would need to figure out how to spilt it and which department gets the amounts. 

Schedules

The length of time is takes to make a film differs; this could range from weeks or months depending on the length. The schedule devised helps to break the day down into sections and helps to plan the time of shooting. Things need to be considered during this such as the weather, illnesses etc. 

Locations

The shooting of the films can take place in a range of locations such as studio built settings or real life ones. There are many advantages and disadvantages to this as you can imagine. Recce photos will need to be taken so there is an insight on the scenery and if the locations sets the right mood/feeling. 

Equipment

A range of equipment is needed during the making of a film and these can be very expensive to buy or hired. Normally the more expensive the equipment is, the better quality it will produce.

Directing 

Shot sizes
All camerawork will be listed in the script and they help to create the theme and mood of the film. The shot sizes focus of the distance in which the camera is to the person or object they are filming. 

camera movements

These can be a very important as it helps to describe the effect being portrayed. A fast pan would suggest something tense and quick is about to happen whereas a slow pan could suggest a feeling of sadness. Some of the types of camera movements are Dolly, Pan, Tilt, Pan, Zoom in/out and Track in/out. 

Creating a Sequence 

Each individual shot can be put together in several different ways. The director goes through each scene thoroughly and finds the best way to compose them. 

Shooting Scripts

Once the sequence is put together this is then the shooting script while camera directions and other details are added. 

Working with Actors

The director has to make sure that they are directing the actor(ress)s as well as the film. This is important that they do this so that the characters perform to their best ability. 


Production Design


Breaking down the script

The designer makes sure that the script shows loads of different ideas coming from the setting, location, costumes etc. This allows them to see whats missing and then they can add things that they feel is necessary. 

Light and colour

This plays a major part of the film as it allows them to create the right intensity and mood. The colour contributes to this as it also displays the correct mood of the story. 

Special Effects

Visual effects and mechanical/optical effects both help to add dimension and feeling to the film and help to convey the ideas wanted. 

Costume

The costume that the characters wearing can relate and be crucial to a scene. They can help set the scene by adding more detail to the plot.

Cinematography 
DOP - director of photography - this person makes all of the directors desires acheivable.

Format

The 2 different kinds of format such as film or digital. The film format is done by using a spool which can be very light sensitive while the digital format is done by using a tape and recorder.

Picture composing and framing

Within this section the DOP works with the director to create the pictures for the film. They do a lot of planning during this to make sure the films end product is perfect.

Lighting

This helps to create the mood needed for the film as when as it helps to show who the main character is as they could be in the spotlight. These light effects can be done by using different techniques and positioning of it. 

Lenses

The filming can be done by different lenses (sizes) and locations of these and the DOP will know which one to use to create the effect. You will need to decide on the background and setting in which you want before putting on or adjusting the lenses as these will show how much background there is.

Sound 
Audio field production 
This is mainly the dialogue which gets recorded during the production of the making. When the dialogue is linked in with the action is it known as synchronised sounds. The opposite of this is non synchronised sounds which are background sounds. 

Microphones

There are different kinds of microphones for each kind of job and the one chosen will depend on the way it performs. The way they record is known as 'pick up patterns'.


Editing 


Thursday, 3 May 2012

Films from different eras.

1910-1920
western - The Two Brothers, The Mexican Faith, Straight Shooting, The Great Train Robbery, The Birth of a Nation
action/adventure - Tarzan of the Apes, Submarine, The Three Musketeers, The Black Pirate, Wings
horror - Les Vampires
crime/thrillers -
romance -
sci fi - Le Voyage dans le Lune

1930-1940
western - Border Patrol
action/adventure - The Dawn Patrol, Souls at Sea, The Sun Never Sets, Border Patrol, Lost City of the Jungle
horror - Among the Living, Spooks Run Wild, House of Dracula, Dark Waters, The Climax
crime/thriller - Double Idemnity, Act of Violence, A Scream in the Night, Sabotage, Kiss of Death,
romance -
sci fi - King of the Rocket Men, Things to Come, Undersea Kingdom, The Phantom Creeps, White Gorilla

1950-1960
western - Indian Territory, The Bushwackers, The Lusty Men, Return of the Gunfighter, Four Rode Out
action/adventure - Spoilers of the Plains, Khartoum, Billion Dollar Brain, Some Girls Do, Run Silent Run Deep
horror - Devils of Darkness, Devil Doll, Day the World Ended, Night of the Demon, My World Dies Screaming
crime/thriller - Blueprint for Murder, The Hoodlum, A Bullet for Joey, The Burglar, Chamber of Horrors
romance -
sci fi - Day the World Ended,

1970-1980
western - Adios Sabata, A Man Called Horse, A Thunder of Drums, Journey to Shiloh, The Desperados
action/adventure
horror - One Dark Night, Faceless, Beyond the Door, Blood Bath, The Comeback
crime/thriller - Airport, The Kremlin Letter, No Place to Hide, Lady Ice, Savage
romance -
sci fi - Panic in Year Zero, Deadly Ray from Mars, Empire of the Ants, Laserblast, Starships and Invasions

1990-Present Day
western - The Virginia, Hard Ground, The Last Outlaw, Border Shootout, You Know My Name
action/adventure- Fire Birds, Flash Back, Crimebroker, Cutaway, Biker Boyz
horror - Survival of the Dead, Mirror Mirror, Full Eclipse, The Fear, Proximity
crime/thriller - The Escapist, Blood Crime, Joy Ride, Eye of the Storm, Laser Moon
romance - Dear John, The One, The last, The Hitch
sci fi - Mindwarp, Army of Darkness, Grand Tour: Disaster in Time, Dune, Survival of the Dead




Wednesday, 2 May 2012

GENRES OF FILMS 

Action 
Adventure
Fantasy 
Crime
Thriller
Western
Romance
Science fiction
Anime
Spoof 
Slasher 
Historical 
Political 
Gangster