Equipment

To create our film we needed the basic essentials such as equipment. This includes Camcorder and SLR Cameras. We as a team did not have a budget so our college provided us with both a very able 'Sony HVR-A1E' Camcorder from the media department and I acquired a 'Nikon D40' SLR camera from the Art department.

I also must include that one of my team mates (Naomi Highfield) actually bought a camcorder so that we didn't have to waste time renting the college's and also because it gave our team much freedom. The name of the fantastic Camcorder is 'Panasonic-HDC-TM700' which we did all our filming on for the actual 2 minuet film. (Most gratefull for this)

Sony HVR-A1E Camcorder

Nikon D40

Panasonic-HDC-TM700

Recce

Recce which originnates from the military term Reconnoiter, in terms of media is part of pre-filming. It is basically when the director visits the location for a scene to do a check up of what works. What this means if the lighting is correct, if the shots will work, to see what angles will work or need to be changed, if acoustics are right, if the script works, how the actors will position themselves and all in all to make sure if the Mise-en-scène is captured. It is very rare to get footage of a director doing one of their Recces but in the 'behind the scenes' of the DVD of the classic Reservoir Dogs by Quentin Tarantino he shows the Recce he did for the scene in the movie where one of the characters is bleeding to death on a ramp.

This is the scene that was Recce'd in the 'behind the scenes'

After learning from Tarantino in my group we created our own Recce for the scene after the two 'geezers' walk down the stairs. We used this time to explain what we were doing with the film's progress.

Similar Text

The two films that we have based our film on for the sense of inspiration is 'Snatch' and 'Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels', Two Guy Richie film. These are two brilliant, entertaining films with great storylines and even better directing.

As a group we chose to use these films as a basis for our creation, the genre of the film is British Crime Thriller and there is also some humour. The directing is innovative; using split screen to shot what both characters are doing and voice overs to explain characters identities. Scripts that are smart and catchy incorporating Cockney Slang such as : 'If the milk turns out to be sour, I ain't the kinda pussy to drink it'. Also with storylines that make the audience want to watch the films many more times after the first, entwining characters fates with irony and further humour.

Film Script and Storyboard

Storyboards

Initial Script

HAPPY HARRY 

ON THE PHONE –

      ORITE SUNSHINE?

      PAUSE

      YEAH, YEAH

      PAUSE

      NAH DON’T YOU WORRY ABOUT IT; ME AND KARSEY ARE GUNNA TO SORT IT OUT.

NARRATOR

THIS IS HAPPY HARRY, WE CALL HIM HAPPY HARRY CAUSE HE’S A MISERABLE BASTARD.

[GIRL WALKS PAST] KARSEY KEN

ELLO TREACLE *WHISTLES*

NARRATOR

AND THIS IS ME, KEN. BETTER KNOWN AS KARSEY CAUSE I’M ALWAYS ON THE BOG, GOT IRRITABLE BOWLS YOU SEE.   

[NON DIGETIC TOILET FLUSH SOUND]/[BELLY GRUMBLES]     GRABS HIS GUTS AND BLOWS OUT.

THERE YA GO...SHOULDN’T OF HAD THAT FUCKING VINDALU LAST NIGHT!

-KEN PUTS IN HEAD PHONES AND DIGETIC MUSIC KICKS IN AND TURNS INTO NON DIGETIC-

-    SPLIT SCREEN -

KARSEY KEN

     ORITE

HAPPY HARRY

     YEAH, YOU READY?

KARSEY KEN

      SUNSHINE. I WAS BORN READY.

-    BOTH WALK TOWARDS THE BLOKE TIED UP –

HAPPY HARRY

      *SNIFFS* AY, HAVE YOU JAM TARTED?

KARSEY KEN

      SORRY MATE, HAD CURRY LAST NIGHT, YOU NOW WHAT MY GUTS ARE LIKE.

HAPPY HARRY

      JESUS CHRIST, THINK YOU CAN STOP IRRITATING YOUR BOWLS WHILE WE DO THIS?

KARSEY KEN

      *NODS*

HAPPY HARRY

-    TAKES THE BAG OFF OF THE GUYS HEAD –

MAN 3

      *MAKES NOISE THROUGH THE GAG*

KARSEY KEN

-    TAKES THE GAG OFF –

MAN 3

      PLEASE, PLEASE, FELLAS, YOU DON’T HAVE TO DO THIS.

HAPPY HARRY

      SHUT IT

MAN 3

      I PROMISE BOYS, I’LL SORT IT

HAPPY HARRY

      AH, NOW YOU SEE, YOU HAVEN’T SORTED IT. THATS WHY YOUR HERE SWEETHEART.

KARSEY KEN

-    PUNCHES MAN 3 IN THE FACE –

CLOSE UP ON THE EYES – THEN REWIND TO THE BEGINING

Final Script

HAPPY HARRY 

ON THE PHONE –

      ORITE SUNSHINE?

      PAUSE

      YEAH, YEAH

      PAUSE

      NAH DON’T YOU WORRY ABOUT IT; ME AND KARSEY ARE GUNNA TO SORT IT OUT.

NARRATOR

THIS IS HAPPY HARRY, WE CALL HIM HAPPY HARRY CAUSE HE’S A MISERABLE BASTARD.

NARRATOR

AND THIS IS ME, KEN. BETTER KNOWN AS KARSEY CAUSE I’M ALWAYS ON THE BOG, GOT IRRITABLE BOWLS YOU SEE.   

HIS GUTS AND BLOWS OUT.

THERE YA GO...SHOULDN’T OF HAD THAT FUCKING VINDALU LAST NIGHT!

-    SPLIT SCREEN -
BOTH ENTER PUB AND CONTINUE TO WALK DOWN INTO THE BASEMENT TOGETHER.

KARSEY KEN

     ORITE

HAPPY HARRY

     YEAH, YOU READY?

KARSEY KEN

      SUNSHINE.I WAS BORN READY.

-    BOTH WALK FORWARDS –

HAPPY HARRY

      *SNIFFS* AY, HAVE YOU JAM TARTED?

KARSEY KEN

      SORRY MATE, HAD CURRY LAST NIGHT, YOU NOW WHAT MY GUTS ARE LIKE.

HAPPY HARRY

      JESUS CHRIST, THINK YOU CAN STOP IRRITATING YOUR BOWLS WHILE WE DO THIS?

KARSEY KEN

      *NODS*

MAN 3

      *MAKES NOISE THROUGH THE BAG*

HAPPY HARRY

SHUT IT AND LISTEN TO ME, ME AND MY COLLEGUE HERE ARE GUNNA DO SOME FUCKING DAMAGE. HERE KEN HOLD THIS....

KARSEY KEN

     *RAISES SPADE TO SMACK MAN 3 OVER THE HEAD*

Script writing and Analysis

The script in a film is as essential as what you see in a film, in fact without a script there would be no film to play. Writing a script is an art and there is technique to it. I had to study scripts and understand how they enable the film to be directed. Every key aspect from the light, scenery, stage direction and of course the dialogue is in the script. There are many symbolism's that are born in the script and add to the understandings of the film.

A good script will enable the director to do there job, however a fantastic script will enable a director to show the reality of a script along with all the semiotics and semantics of the script. It enables an encapsulation of ideas so that the audience has full comprehension without any doubt.

Animatics/Storyboard

The purpose of an Animatic and Storyboards is to understand how the shots and scenes of your film will be layed out. Both storyboards and Animatics are very in-depth and this ensures that the end product of the film is planned out well saving mass amounts of money and time. Also it helps to pysically vision the end product which in turn enables the film to stay on course and not loose the intended impact or story. Storyboards are basically the main shots of the film drawn out side by side to show how the film will sequence and to see and each shot will be done in terms of directing. Animatics is a more extensive version of Storyboards, where they differ is that an Animatic is using the storyboards and bringing them to life with animation, voice overs and sound.

Lord of the Rings is a brilliant example of how using Animatics and storyboards thoroughly and effectively can benefit the end product of a film, earning global acclaim and becoming one of the highest grossing films to be ever created.

180 Degree Rule

One of the most basic rules in film making is that characters in the same scene (usually two characters) should always maintain the same left and right relationship. If the director imagines that there is an imaginary 180 axis, he must stay on that axis to maintain a visual connection, a understanding of the conversation and also so that the audience do not get confused and are then left out of the film. This imaginary axis is the reason for its name.

A good example of this rule in film is in the 2010 film Inception. In the second scene when the character played by Leonardo Di Caprio is dragged into the room as the character begins to talk not only is the 180 Degree maintained but the camera moves almost as if it is a POV shot to add an extra effect and to make the audience feel more involved with the characters. I edited this clip so that only the necessary parts are shown.

Preliminary Task

My Preliminary Task was created along with my team. This task was to let us 'wet our feet' with film making. It was so that we could as a team create a script, storyboard, film and using editing software.

As this was our preliminary task and first ever attempt at creating a film, albeit 2 minutes long we knew it was not going to be perfect. Due to the insufficient amount of equipment my group did not use a tripod throughout our filming. Filming and editing errors include; actors being out of the frame of shot, fast cuts, background sound disturbance, unstable camera and continuity errors. However I can honestly say I learned a great deal from creating this.

 

My team created a two minute film where two guys are in a cantine and become confused and angered with each other due to the fact that they are unaware that they are dating twins and first believed there to be a dishonor of friendship.