Sunday 28 February 2010

Suggestions

You know how we have the jump cuts to othere scenes (like the underpass with the flickers of the fight), we could use that it with the part where Dianne has the DVD in the hand, but add flickers of lexi writing LEXI on the piece of paper and the camera picture taking bits (the camera could be some old style modern camera XD)...? I like the idea but I'm not sure- does it give away too much...?

And in the voice over can the narrator explain who he thought the suspects were like say "I rememer thinking it could have been the police but i cant rember why"...but the scene where the police beating them up is playing at the same time?

..oooh when he methions people he could say the opposite, like when Lexi seduced him he could be like "yeah a nice proper lady"

But in a serious tone...british dry humor and sarcasim (is that spelt right) to add to the richness of british films! Thats usually what british films do best right...?

Sorry about my wafflin and not making sense, I was coming up with things as I was writing them.

Posted by BIANCA GREEN

Bianca's Weekly Review- 22nd to 26th

WWW

We have captured almost everything- just 1 or 2 of the toilet scenes left
We have begun to think about enhanced sound effects in the trailer and listed them
We have someone to do our voice over, and have begun to think about it in more depth
We have refined 30 seconds of our trailer...so far
We refilmed the scenes in the toilet

EBI

We didn't film the money counting scenes
I havent looked at voice overs in trailers yet
It would be better if we did equal amounts of editing- we can edit invividually, in two's or in three's.

Plans for next week:

Group


Refilm slick's phone call as we were unhappy with it
Film the money counting scenes withe the gang leader
Record any possible sounds from the sound list poted earlier this week
Review our current logo and improve it
Create a logo for prime time productions
And one for An AB Film, AB Films, AB Film Company, AB British Institute ABig Film (haha)
.....? we can't have two producion companies can we...?

Individual

Research typography and voice overs in trailers

Saturday 27 February 2010

Asha's Weekly Review - 22nd to 26th Feb

WWW
1. We re-filmed the toilet scenes
2. We captured most of our footage
3. We started editing and are proud with what we have so far
4. We found someone to do our voice-over for us

EBI
1. We need to be able to work independently - if we agree to edit but certain group members don't turn up, it doesn't mean that we cancel and no one edits at all
2. We have to make sure we all do an equal amount of editing and all have a say in what happens

Next Steps
1. We have to re-film Slick answering the phone
2. We still have to film the gang leader counting money
3. We have to think of a Prime Time Productions logo

Posted by ASHA KABADEH

Friday 26 February 2010

Post-Production Sounds

As we are editing, we are listing sounds to record to empasises them, making it a more dramatic film....

Footsteps for Roman walking into to the underpass, so it needs to have an echo to it
Lexi laughing with echos Done
Telephone ring Done
Natural outside sound
Water running
Sound of raining, and thunder when the gang leader is on the phone...?

RE-RECORD DIALOGUE
Gangleader saying "dont wory, he'll never know" Done
Slick saying "who are you" the Donovan says "........" again which an echoed feel to it ON MONDAY
Dianne saying "aww don't worry I trust you and this ring proves it"

What do you guys think...?


Posted by BIANCA GREEN

Thursday 25 February 2010

Editing

We have to decide what days we are going to edit. We have to make sure that we turn up and don't waste time when we should be editing. We have to be fair with the editing and all do an equal amount because some people filmed more than others and that can't happen with the editing as well. Think of what day of the week you want off so we know when we are editing.

Friday 19 February 2010

Asha's Weekly Review - 15th to 19th Feb

WWW
1. We re-filmed the house scenes

EBI
1. We sort-of know what we're doing with the post-production stuff but we could be a bit more prepared

Next Steps
1. I need to do the log sheet for the house scenes
2. We need to start editing

Posted by ASHA KABADEH

Monday 15 February 2010

Asha's Weekly Review - 8th to 12th Feb

WWW
1. We finished filming
2. We captured all of our footage

EBI
1. The lighting in the house scenes wasn't as good as we would have liked

Next Steps
1. Re-film the house scenes
2. Start editing

Posted by ASHA KABADEH

Bianca's Weekly Review- 8th to 12th Feb

WWW

We finally finished filming
I finished my trailer analysis
We captured and completed a production log
We got feedback on our footage filmed so far
We decided and finalised a new film title- The Night Has a Thousand Lies
I looked at possible music and title logos
We experimented and decided some effects for our trailer

EBI

We were happy with the shots filmed in the house scenes

Plans for next week

Group:


Re-film shots at the house scene
Research (meaning analyse and create a conventions list) for voice overs AND fonts/ writing styles (Typography) in trailers

Individual:

Even more trailer analysis
Post up storyboard

Posted by BIANCA GREEN

Friday 12 February 2010

Possible Title Logo

Again, I was watching KILL BILL VOL.2 and I really liked the credits at the beginning, so I did a similar one for our title and it looks like this...

It's a bit plain and was thinking we could do something like almost characterise one of the letters or something? Or have like a big red lips lipstick mark on it or something? Just to modernise it?


Posted by BIANCA GREEN

Possible trailer music

I liked the music in the Brick trailer, so started looking for the soundtrack for the film and found two videos on Youtube. Some of them might be useful for if we decide our trailer is going to be more serious than comic. And plus it could be an intertexual reference to modern film noir film.





And when I was watching SAW III i though the theme tune-Hello Zepp- could work in our montage part of the trailer...the lively part for if we wanted a more serious trailer.



Posted by BIANCA GREEN

Brick Trailer Analysis




I have chosen to look at this trailer because it has many links to our film idea, making it our competitor. Firstly it is a modern film with film noir conventions eg lighting. Secondly, it has the same genre as ours, which is Crime/Detective. Thirdly the characters are of a similar age to our characters, which are teens.

"Brick", released in 2006, is an American film distributed by Focus Features, an art house sector of Universal Pictures. Focus Features' most famous success was Brokeback Mountain.

The very first scene and throughout the trailer uses low key lighting, which is a convention of film noir. This lighting could signify an unknown location which could foreshadow the disappearance of a character. In the mise en scene, the setting is on a dark street which signifies a gritty and dark atmosphere to the film. The setting combined with the lighting creates enigma posing question such as who is there? Why are they at a telephone box? At the same time it also raises expectations for the narrative. The telephone box is a prop that is positioned to the side of the frame. This could also signify the character is hidden, and out of the ways, again signify a lost character.

Another element we would like to use is sound bridging. In this trailer it sets the storyline in motion and creates enigma: they have planned what to do but will they suceed? The genre is film noir and this is shown though the use of conventions. Near the beginning of the trailer there binary opposition of a low angle shot next to a high angle shot. The character in the low angle shot signifies a protagonist and a Proppian hero. The high angle shot of the other character signifies less powerful character. The two shots together are sutured to signify a Proppian hero and helper. Dramatic angles and variations of shots are conventions of film noir used in the trailer.

Though conventions of film noir are used, some are challenged. For example the female character isn’t the usual femme fatale character that is seductive and dominant, instead they have challenged the stereotype and the female character is the Proppian princess, who needs to be rescued. The producer might have decided to challenge this convention because in today’s society, films where female’s stereotypes are reinforced, represent them as the Proppian princess- who needs saving.

Also the teen characters are represented as stereotypical nerd teens through the use of props such as the geeky glasses and the Rubix cube being completed in a fast speed. With this stereotype it helps the audience understand other things such the school setting- the library- in the mise en scene. The library setting also connotes a detective genre of film.

This film would appeal to an explorer psychographic because it combines film noir conventions with modern elements. For example the character that was playing with the Rubix cube also had a black briefcase beside him. The briefcase is a film noir props and it connotes secrecy and detective mystery along with its colour-black. This is out of place with the mise en scene- this is called anachronistic- when an object is out of place or time period. This is useful because we could use it in our trailer to signify the binary opposition of 1940’s meets 21st century.

The trailer would appeal to 16-25 primary audience and therefore a C1, D and E demographic. This is signified though the characters that are of a similar age, and the topics/themes that relate to society and ideologies. For example, the title of the film “Brick” denotes a block of concrete used for building. However it connotes slang for heroine which teens would recognise, understand and possibly identify with.

This trailer has progressive ideologies because it makes the audience aware of dugs, violence, gangs and missing people in society. This might be because of sensationalist stories in the media about teens and these issues. This might have created a moral panic amongst society and this film may have aided in making teenagers aware of it.

It could be suggested that the oppositional reading of the trailer is that teenagers are up to no good, getting involved in gangs and drugs. This could be because ruling classes are representing teens in a negative way, keeping their position low n society. Therefore it could be argued the hegemony ideology exist, though the use of this film and trailer.

In conclusion, this trailer is a very good starting point for exploring ideas for our trailer, because it cleverly challenges and reinforces many conventions, to create a modern film noir, which appeals to a teen audience.

Posted by BIANCA GREEN

Thursday 11 February 2010

Voice-overs in Film Noir

Voice over’s and flashbacks were persistent stylistic and narrative elements of Film Noir. It carefully clues the spectator to who is speaking, when, and from where, other films use voice-over and flashback temporarily more ambiguously. Often we need to inquire about the motives of narrative voices, how much they know and whether they are telling the truth, when and to whom they are speaking. Film Noir seems to emphasize narrative gaps, and even the possibility of narratives that can deceive. Invisible Storytellers, a study of voice–over narration by Sarah Kozloff, shows that its occurrence in Hollywood films is closely linked to the rise and decline of the Film Noir movement.

Posted by BILAAL MUGHAL

Possible Post-production Effects

This is a list of possible effects that we are thinking of using of using in our trailer:

Cineon converter
Ghosting
Black and white

Wednesday 10 February 2010

Footage Feedback- The Night has a Thousand Lies

In our media studies lesson, we looked at each groups footage they have filmed and gave feed back. I have summed up the feedback to look at improvents and advice.

We got mostly A and B grades for the media language, conventions, creativity, attention to detail and technical proficiency.

Positive feedback on the cinematograpy:
We used very good camera movements such as the panning shot of Lexi on her mobile. We used a range of interesting angles including close ups and medium shots.

Positive feedback on the mise en scene:
Our props were very realistic and we used iconic noir film clothing for character roles which fit in well with the genre.

Positive feedback on the lighting:
Good lighting with effective shadows and a good use of low and high key lighting.

Positive feedback on the sound:
The characters have good dialogue which sounds clear.

Positive feedback on the conventions and audience needs:
We have used the femme fatale character which is a noir film convention. We also have the costumes in which some challenge and reinforce conventions. Chararcters are identifiable with target audience.

Criticism feedback on cinematography:
We could have used a tracking shots. Some of our shots could be better done and more dramatic and exciting. Used more long shots.

Criticism feedback on mise en scene:
Some props such as the mobile looked inappropriate, but more props in genral could have been added. We should be more aware of our surroundings in every shot.

Criticism feedback on lighting:
Some of our lighting should be more contrasted and done better. lighting in shots outside could be better. A range of lighting.

Criticism feedback on sound:
Too much gaps between dialogue, which made it sound artificial. The sound could have been improved by using a microphone.

Criticism feedback on the conventions and audience needs:
We should have more film noir conventions with more action codes. The scenes are a bit slow paced.

Target audience needs:
A montage sequence of actions codes. Better acting. Parallel music and tracking shots. More conventions and slang. More close up to show expressions. More sexy and erotic shots and scenes (voyerism).

Post production suggestions:
Voice overs. Jazzy tracks. Slow motion effects. Black and white edit with after effects editing. A montage sequence.

Posted by BIANCA GREEN

Should we all do our feedback on the comments to say what we plan to take from it and improve?

What needs to be done now...?

We could research and analyse:

1. Voiceovers in noir film trailers

Filming Progress

WE FINISHED FILMING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tuesday 9 February 2010

Possible updates in the trailer...

Yesterday I was thinking this...

Why don't we make the whole trailer of Roman reminicing on the past?

We could clearly show this by having the thinking shots throughout the whole trailer. And, the voice over could be from the same point in time- the present. This way we could clearly show both our trailer and the "real film" would have a non-linear narrative.

Next Filming

Last day filming!!

Wednesday 10th Feb

House, After school
Scene 13, 15, 19, 20, 21
Donovan (Bilaal), Dianne (Simran), Gang leader (Hamzah)

Posted by ASHA KABADEH

Monday 8 February 2010

Film Title

Are we definitely decided on Night Has A Thousand Lies?

Posted by ASHA KABADEH

Bianca's Weekly Review- 1st-5th Feb

WWW

We finished the storyboard
We got Monday-Wednesday filming completed
I researched Postmodernism

EBI

We filmed on Thursday and Friday
I completed my trailer analysis

Plans for next week

As a group:

Fiming on Monday and Wednesday
Start editing/ production log

Individual:

TRAILER ANALYSIS!

Posted by BIANCA GREEN

Sunday 7 February 2010

Filming Timetable Updated Again

Timetable had to change again. Hopefully this is the last filming timetable we'll have to post up.

Monday 8th Feb

Mr Bush's Office, After school
Scene 6, 7, 18
Donovan (Bilaal), DC Black (Sepehr), PC Digby (Kishan)

Wednesday 10th Feb

House, After school
Scene 13, 15, 19, 20, 21
Donovan (Bilaal), Dianne (Simran), Gang leader (Hamzah)

Posted by ASHA KABADEH

More music posibilities...?

The begining of this music COULD work but im not sure.

It might work if we decide to mae the film more serious and thriller like....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4KPUkplnjXk

But half way through it sounds very "apocalyptic" if that makes sense...

And this for if we make our trailer more comical...?

I think Mark Ronson songs could work because he uses the big band instruments, but modernises them, and everyone would recongnise the beats...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gPI1qxKLxfg - Oh My God by Lily Allen and Mark Ronson

I tried to look for an instrumental version, but couldn't find one.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-FDfCTP2RGw - You Know I'm No Good by Amy Winehouse and Mark Ronson

Posted by BIANCA GREEN

Saturday 6 February 2010

Postmodernism

“Postmodernism is a currently popular intellectual concept. It is used as a way of grouping and describing the styles of thought and culture attracting most critical attention during the final few decades of the twentieth century. It is sometimes affectionately referred to as 'pomo' by people with beards. 'Postmodernist thought' has caused a revolution across all academic disciplines, from Physics to English via Geography. Postmodernism offers a different way of both constructing and deconstructing ideas.” Quoted from www.mediaknowall.com/alevkeyconcepts/postmod.html

From what I have understood, Post-Modernism is when a text refers to a period in the past that was popular and is easily recognised, as it gained so much attention. Modernism isn’t just the “latest” or “newest”, it also refers to a particular time period from 1870’s to 1950’s.

This links very much to our trailer idea, because we are referring to Film Noirs from the 1940’s.

Post modernism favours the Pluralism ideology that audience consume the text in various different ways, giving the text a range of readings. This means that our trailer should be interpreted in different ways.

For example, the femme fatale character could be represented in different ways. Her dominant personality and power to do as she pleases could be seen as a positive thing, and would be praised in a femenists view. On the other hand, she is seen as promiscuous and a sexual object which represents women in a degrading way.

Posted by BIANCA GREEN

Friday 5 February 2010

Bilaal's Weekly Review - 1st to 5th Feb

WWW
- Storyboard was finally completed
- We've started filming and on the verge of finishing
- Thought about possible titles for the trailer

EBI
- I turned up on thursday to film. I used the wrong time-table and let my team down.
- I hadn't been locked in the damn toilet!

Next Steps
- Finish of filming
- Hand out questionnaires

Posted by BILAAL MUGHAL

Asha's Weekly Review - 1st to 5th Feb

WWW
1. We got our storyboard done
2. We thought of possible titles
3. Bilaal got locked in the toilet

EBI
1. We missed two days of filming so we now have to wait until Tuesday (hopefully) to finish, when we planned on finishing by Friday
2. I'm really tired

Next Steps
1. Get the filming done
2. As a group, all agree on a film title – I like Night Has a Thousand Lies (I thought of it)
3. We still have to do the questionnaire

Posted by ASHA KABADEH

Even more Updated Filming Timetable

Monday 8th Feb

House, After school
Scene 13, 15, 19, 20, 21
Donovan (Bilaal), Dianne (Simran), Gang leader (Hamzah)

Tuesday 9th Feb

Mr Bush's Office, After school
Scene 6, 7, 18
Donovan (Bilaal), DC Black (Sepehr), PC Digby (Kishan)

Posted by ASHA KABADEH

Thursday 4 February 2010

Updated Filming Timetable

Friday 5th Feb

Mr Bush's Office, After school
Scene 6, 7, 18
Donovan (Bilaal), DC Black (Sepehr), PC Digby (Kishan)

Monday 8th Feb

House, After school
Scene 13, 15, 19, 20, 21
Donovan (Bilaal), Dianne (Simran), Gang leader (Hamzah)

Posted by ASHA KABADEH

Film Noir


Check this out, we could use this in our trailer for some parts to raise suspense.

Posted by BILAAL MUGHAL

Possible Titles

The Postman Always Rings Twice - The Seductress Never Stops Calling

Tomorrow Is Forever - Her Tomorrow Is Your Ending

Born to Kill - Guilty Pleasures

The Strange Love of Martha Ivers - The Strange Remedy of Alexandria

Johnny O'Clock - Don O' Van

Lady in the Lake - Lady in ..... (her chosen colour)

The Killer That Stalked New York - The Villain That Stalked Their Hearts

I thought I would add to the ones at the end.
Out of the 3 chosen I would between 'Night Has a Thousand Lies' and ' Nobody Lies Forever'. The other one doesn't seem to catch my attention. These two titles leave a certain enigma amongst themselves.

Posted by BILAAL MUGHAL

Possible Titles

We (without Bilaal) were thinking of possible titles for our production. We thought that it might be a good idea to have inter-textual references with a classic film noir, so we looked at some titles that we could adapt and manipulate and even pun-ulate.

These our some possibilities that we came up with:

I Wake Up Screaming – I Wake Up Jailed, I Wake Up Guilty,

Journey into Fear – Journey into Guilt, Journey into Lust

The Woman in the Window – The Woman who looked Sexy, The Woman who looked Lexi

Some Like It Hot Some like it Rough

To Have and Have Not – To Steal and Steal Not, To Lie and Lie Not, To Cheat and Cheat Not

The Dark Mirror – The Dark Truth

Nobody Lives Forever – Nobody Lies Forever

The Devil Thumbs a Ride – The Devil Hooks a Fish

Ride the Pink Horse – Ride the Lexi Wagon

Night Has a Thousand Eyes – Night Has a Thousand Lies

Beyond the Forest – Beyond the Office

The Killer Is Loose – Lexi is Loose

Touch of Evil – Touch of L

The Postman Always Rings Twice

Tomorrow Is Forever

Born to Kill

The Strange Love of Martha Ivers

Johnny O'Clock

Lady in the Lake

The Killer That Stalked New York

We didn't get these from inter-textual references, but we like them:

Call me Guilty

They like a bit of Rough

These are our top three. Do you have any opinions Bilaal?

1. Night Has a Thousand Eyes – Night Has a Thousand Lies

2. Nobody Lives Forever – Nobody Lies Forever

3. Some Like It Hot – Some like it Rough

Posted by ASHA FISH-ADEH and BIANCA BLUEY-GREEN

Tuesday 2 February 2010

Filming Timetable

Saturday 30th Jan
Marina, 10am
Scene 16
Donovan (Bilaal), Dianne (Simran)

Monday 1st Feb
Underpass, After school
Scene 2, 4, 22
Donovan (Bilaal), Slick (Amaritpal), Dan (Badar), DC Black (Sepehr), PC Digby (Kishan), Other police (Sanjay, Ranjot, Mohsin)

Tuesday 2nd Feb
Mr Bush's Office, After school
Scene 3, 7, 8, 9, 11, 14
Donovan (Bilaal), Slick (Amaritpal), Dan (Badar), Lexi (Megan)

Wednesday 3rd Feb
Drama studio, P3
Scene 7, 13
Jerome (Raheam)

Somewhere unknown, Lunch
Scene 1
Donovan (Bilaal), Slick (Amaritpal), Dan (Badar)

Street, After school
Scene 12
Slick (Amaritpal), Lexi (Megan)

Thursday 4th Feb
D Block Boys Toilets, 8am
Scene 10
Dan (Badar), Lexi (Megan)

House, After school
Scene 15, 19, 20, 21
Donovan (Bilaal), Dianne (Simran), Gang leader (Hamzah)

Friday 5th Feb
Mr Bush's Office, After school
Scene 6, 7, 13, 18, 19
Donovan (Bilaal), DC Black (Sepehr), PC Digby (Kishan)

Posted by ASHA KABADEH

Monday 1 February 2010

Gang Leader/Jerome Conversation Scenes




Police Office Scenes

This is the scene is where the two police are discussing ambiguous information to create enigma.


This is another scene with the two police characters

Toilet Scenes


These are the shots we are thinking of using for using with the scenes of Dan and Lexi