Production Session 5

studying at kennedy library” by Robert E. Kennedy Library at Cal Poly is marked with CC BY-NC 2.0.

SUMMARY

Role: Director

Intention (SMART Goal)

My May 10th, as a part of my film team, I will have evidence of strong and weak actor movements to reveal actor mental state and have evidence of blocking using NoFilm School’s Why Blocking is Essential.

PRE-PRODUCTION – INQUIRY

Leader(s) in the Field / Exemplary Work(s)

Peter Jackson

Peter Jackson was the director of the Lord of the Rings trilogy. He was nominated for numerous awards around the globe. He is from New Zealand and he received the most awards for The Return of the King.

Training Source(s)

https://study.com/academy/lesson/stage-movement-blocking-definition-rules.html

0:16 Children’s plays have something usually missing- body language of actors

0:29 Blocking is the planned physical movements that help the storyline

0:36 Blocking conveys subtext of the dialogue and grabs audiences attention

0:40 This is done as a process between actors and directors

0:43: Actors and directors both have to decide what is best for the situation and work together.

0:46 Shows what characters would normally do in a situation

0:51 On stage, every movement or lack of movement has to work with location of other actors

1:06 Involves stage direction, accurate language, stage and directional movements.

1:37 Stages are divided into 9 sections like a tick tack toe board

1:42 Movies are done in a similar way, although there is no audience or wings like a stage.

Project Timeline

  1. Meet with actors
  2. Pre-write script
  3. Write script
  4. Evaluate location
  5. Ask for a teacher actor
  6. Block actors and camera
  7. Set up mics
  8. Film
  9. Organize shots
  10. Decide what to reshoot
  11. Reshoot film
  12. Edit film
  13. Edit sound
  14. Create music and add to film
  15. Add evidence to slideshow
  16. Present slideshow

Proposed Budget

N/A

PRODUCTION – ACTION

The (FILM, SOUND, or GAME Creation)

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1qioEtGYr_HN39FzkarmMp8P1ORoAEVJ4/view?usp=sharing

Skills Commentary

https://docs.google.com/presentation/u/0/d/1JupJIxFDMShrrwhBRkunbcEfe3vahFO8wfbvdz5CrQQ/edit

As the director, I showed evidence of strong and weak movements in the slideshow.

POST-PRODUCTION – REFLECTION

21st Century Skills

Ways of Thinking (Creativity, Innovation, Critical Thinking, Problem Solving)

I was able to use creative thinking to decide on doing a bottle episode style film. I was innovative by working with my team to create a story line where characters in the film were shooting another film in order to give a background and provide information. I used critical thinking and problem solving to assist when we had issues with actors being absent and we had to problem solve to figure out how to solve the missing gaps in the film.

Ways of Working (Communication & Collaboration)

I collaborated with my team in order to create the best final product. As a director, it is important to set the standards for successful communication among the actors and film team. I worked hard to collaborate with team members when people were absent in order for them to stay engaged and help with their part in the film.

Tools for Working (Info & Media Literacy)

I used paper for blocking and story boarding. I had to story board to plan out the film and show blocking for characters. I also used websites and online resources for research on my role as director.

Ways of Living in the World (Life & Career)

I can use these skills in the real world as I can work well with a team for communication and collaboration. I know how to block our movement and storyboard for films which can be useful for careers.

Reactions to the Final Version

“The characters names were not listed at the beginning of the individual scenes, so in the end when names were said, I did not know who they were talking about” -Josie

“With more time the film would be better” -Mr. Le Duc

Self-Evaluation of Final Version

The final version turned out well. I think the bottle film style really added feeling and helped develop the story and theme. I wish we had some of the missing scenes that got left out due to absences. Our film was good for our time and resources, although it could have been better. I’m proud of the blocking and story line.

Grammar and Spelling

I used Grammarly for spelling and grammar.

Editor

Moira

Bottle Episode “Cooperative Calligraphy” First Scene Research

Show: Community Season 2 Episode 8

Context: A characters pen is missing and the study group is trying to figure out who took it. This is the bottle episode so the scene is all filmed in the same room.

CueNotes
SettingIn study room
Same location the entire scene and episode
relates to our film as we are using the same room for our entire film (Bottle)
CutsCuts make it difficult to see scene changes as the location doesn’t truly change. This grabs viewers attention while being slightly confusing

Frequent edits around half a second to a second
Emotionemotion is shown by expressions and dialog. we only see the character while they are are in the study room. This does not leave room for using setting for feeling and emotion other than showing they can’t leave.
Conflict Conflict is established in the first scene
Pen goes missing



Andrew Stanton Storytelling

CueNotes
Jokes story telling is joke telling
know punch line
story, and ending
deepens who we are as human beings
make me carestory telling breaks the amount of time
asthetically, drawn in, not by change but by design
find how the ending goes
Propelling through story find ways
as simple as once upon a time
here let me tell you a story…
slingshot to propel you through story
Unifying Theory
story telling without dialog
audience wants tot work for meal but doesn’t want to realize they’re doing that
well organized absence of info that we have to think about
Unifying Theory of 2+2
Tension drama is anticipation mingled with uncertainty
Tension

guid lines not hard fast rules

A strong theme always runs through a well told story

can you evoke wonder?

use what you learn, draw from it
what you feel deep down in your core.

Summary:
Stories come from within and make the viewers have to think without even knowing

Session 4 Production Project

Love Note 2
“Love Note 2” by Linds 🙂 is marked with CC BY 2.0.

SUMMARY

Role: Director

Intention (SMART Goal)

By March 2nd, as a part of my film team, I will explore the film director’s skill pathway by following Bruce Black’s The Visual Story and will have explored the visual story element of movement over the course of our February project.

PRE-PRODUCTION – INQUIRY

Leader(s) in the Field / Exemplary Work(s)

Kathryn Bigelow

She is a famous director from California working with a broad range of genres. She has done a fair amount of scary movies and has been nominated for numerous awards. She is known for her leadership and decision making skills.

Training Source(s)

The Visual Story by Bruce Block

CueNotes
 Depth

Intensity
Space

longitudinal lines/planes, wide angle lenses have a greater depth of field.
more contrast= more intensity
shallow depth= less intense
clear background= more intense

 Using light

Curves

Lines
Line and Shape

squint – take a look at where things are
shapes determined by lighting source
control lighting for specific effects
diagonal is more intense than straight
curve is more intense than straight
 Using the subject

Revealing

What is tone?
Tone

Find the subject in order to know the movement
Don’t confuse color with tone
evaluate the lighting by ignoring color
use tone to show reveal objects
cyan is affinity and red contrasts
 

Creating Intensity
Color

intensity
fully saturated= full color
orange and teal are most popular in film making
orange= warm teal=cool
orange and teal makes image more alive
golden hour for light
mid day light is washed out


 
Contract in movement
Movement
horizontal is affinity
diagonal is more contrasting
more movement can create more intensity
objects in background, and things facing the camera

 
speed

backgrounds
Rhythm
fast has the most contrast
watch for lines
background and structure
moving past stationary objects for intensity
  

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1732359.The_Visual_Story

How Kubrick, Spielberg, and Inarritu Stage their Scenes

Video linked to time stamps:

Overview of skills
Every scene is a story
Every movie looks the same
Staging
“Minority Report”
Changes in staging
Change meaning with blocking
staging with fewer cuts
“Clockwork Orange”
“Birdman”

Project Timeline

  1. Create Logline and decide roles
  2. Create Script and Shotlist
  3. Decide props needed
  4. Research for roles
  5. Film
  6. Upload shots and sounds
  7. Label in folder
  8. Create music
  9. Edit film
  10. Add audio and music
  11. Create presentation
  12. Submit film
  13. Submit presentation
  14. Present to class

Proposed Budget

$0

PRODUCTION – ACTION

The (FILM, SOUND, or GAME Creation)

https://drive.google.com/file/d/131KQvRZQTEwqlcoA7totwthheT9tegXm/view?usp=sharing

Skills Commentary

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1c5Y_vOyQPxgLF3EuPiz3SPwp5vj_P4VQ0tRYDUhbFSY/edit?usp=sharing

POST-PRODUCTION – REFLECTION

21st Century Skills

Ways of Thinking (Creativity, Innovation, Critical Thinking, Problem Solving)

I was responsible or movement, decision making, and ideas. For directing I used the skill of communication to talk with my teammates in order to produce a quality film. We also were innovative to use a rolling chair for the camera for our filming.

Ways of Working (Communication & Collaboration)

Our group did pretty well with communication and collaboration. We all had good attendance which helped since we were present for filming and pre production. We made sure to keep everyone up to date and included on every part of the process.

Tools for Working (Info & Media Literacy)

The tools we used were innovation and creativity. We had to think outside the box on how to get smooth camera movements so we placed the camera on a rolling chair. This allowed us to get the shots we wanted.

Ways of Living in the World (Life & Career)

I can use the tools I learned for real life for thinking outside the box to solve day to day issues. Film is important for my daily life since I film videos for my business and getting good final versions is important.

Reactions to the Final Version

“I like that you drew out the blocking for the advanced storyboard” -Erik

Self-Evaluation of Final Version

I think the final version turned out pretty well. We could’ve done better with some parts including audio and subtle elements but overall it did its job. I was proud of our team for getting it done.

What I Learned and Problems I Solved

I learned to use intentional movement to add to the quality of the film. WE had to include some props and movement in the writing to make sure it fit. I solved the problem of having boring scenes with almost zero movement.

Grammar and Spelling

I used Grammarly for spelling and grammar.

Editor

Moira

Visual Story Structure Research

Visual story of program today at #crowdsourcedcities @foundationrock“Visual story of program today at #crowdsourcedcities @foundationrock” by pahlkadot is licensed under

Seven Visual Story Components

CueNotes
 Depth

Intensity
Space

longitudinal lines/planes, wide angle lenses have a greater depth of field.
more contrast= more intensity
shallow depth= less intense
clear background= more intense
 Using light

Curves

Lines
Line and Shape

squint – take a look at where things are
shapes determined by lighting source
control lighting for specific effects
diagonal is more intense than straight
curve is more intense than straight
 Using the subject

Revealing

What is tone?
Tone

Find the subject in order to know the movement
Don’t confuse color with tone
evaluate the lighting by ignoring color
use tone to show reveal objects
cyan is affinity and red contrasts
 

Creating Intensity
Color

intensity
fully saturated= full color
orange and teal are most popular in film making
orange= warm teal=cool
orange and teal makes image more alive
golden hour for light
mid day light is washed out

 
Contract in movement
Movement
horizontal is affinity
diagonal is more contrasting
more movement can create more intensity
objects in background, and things facing the camera
 
speed

backgrounds
Rhythm
fast has the most contrast
watch for lines
background and structure
moving past stationary objects for intensity
  

Summary

Resources

Production Project Session 3

Texting
“Texting” by Joi is licensed under

SUMMARY

Role: Director

Intention (SMART Goal)

By January 28th, as part of my film team, I will explore the director role by following “17 Practical Tips for Becoming a Successful Film Director” guide to use quality blocking to tell a better story.

PRE-PRODUCTION – INQUIRY

Leader(s) in the Field / Exemplary Work(s)

Steven Spielberg

He is a very successful and noticeable director with a lot of experience.

Training Source(s)

https://medium.com/musings-by-ty-leisher/17-practical-tips-to-becoming-a-successful-film-director-27fbb4a7611c

Project Timeline

  • Brainstorm plot (3) and create Storyboard (3)
  • Create slideshow presentation (1)
  • Write script including setting and dialogue between two actors (5)
  • Decide shooting location (3) actors (2)
  • Procure cameras (2) and sound capture equipment (2)
  • Build timeline for pre-production, production, and post-production(3)
  • Write shot list including camera angles (3)
  • Film the scene with 3 cameras (8)
  • Capture sound/compose music (8)
  • Upload film and sound (3)
  • Label shots and sound files (2)
  • Decide which takes to use or discard (5)
  • Capture ADR of dialogue between the 2 actors (5)
  • Edit shots together (8) and layer music/sound (5)
  • Present slideshow (2) and present film (1)

Proposed Budget

PRODUCTION – ACTION

The Film

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1PNUWgnbCwKg49lPW3PcSeKDGFs4Hqupn/view?usp=sharing

Skills Commentary

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1PYmbbQuxEf7r5ITvPufrFAbPtRVOaJFowGN4WrtPO2c/edit?usp=sharing

POST-PRODUCTION – REFLECTION

21st Century Skills

I was a critical thinker and problem solver as we had to change the scrip and make sure the final product still turned out well. I had to be mindful of everyone on the team and work from a distance due to covid.

Ways of Thinking (Creativity, Innovation, Critical Thinking, Problem Solving)

I was able to think creatively as I had to find ways to communicate with my team and help create a film from a distance since I was absent for most of the film. I had to use critical thinking to figure out what to do since I was directing.

Ways of Working (Communication & Collaboration)

I communicated with my group and collaborated to ensure every part of the film was done with quality to produce a nice film in the end. it was important for me to stay engaged even though I was not actually present for a fair amount of the film so communication was key.

Tools for Working (Info & Media Literacy)

I used time during pre-production to research the role of director. I was able to find examples of successful and good directors so I could learn from them. I also found helpful hints and techniques that I could use during the film process.

Ways of Living in the World (Life & Career)

Our group was able to overcome troubles in able to create a quality film. I had previously worked with two of my group members which helped in order with communication.

Reactions to the Final Version

“I think it worked well to have a dark background with the bright lighting to set the mood” -Kenny

Self-Evaluation of Final Version

I liked the final version. I wish the film location was a little more realistic since it was just a dark room. Also, our team did a great job collaborating especially dealing with many people being gone at times. I really liked the final version. I love how my team was able to all work together to create an even better version of what we discussed. I was surprised to view all the decisions I had made and what others had chosen.

What I Learned and Problems I Solved

I learned that you have to give very clear instructions or people can take what you say the very wrong way. I still like how the film turned out. Communication with my team was difficult at times since I was absent for a lot of the production process.

Grammar and Spelling

I used Grammarly for spelling and grammar.

Editor

Moira

New Criticism Film Theory

film theories from this article: Research Film Theory

CueNoted
What is it?Known as close reading for English students
Emerged in the 20th century
Alternate way of approaching literary text
Looks at purpose and meaning beyond intended
How does it work?Watching film closely forces viewers to familiarize themselves with techniques
Looks at content and formal elements of film
How filmmakers present narratives and themes through the cinematography
ExamplesMad Men with the characters
Summary

Production Project – Session 2

School Bus

“School Bus” by Proudlove is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

SUMMARY

Role: Cinematographer

Intention (SMART Goal): to have realistic lighting and high quality videos

PRE-PRODUCTION – INQUIRY

Leader(s) in the Field / Exemplary Work(s)

https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0932336/?ref_=nmls_hd

Gordon Wills is a cinematographer who died in 2014 after working on many award winning films.

Training Source(s)

https://www.studiobinder.com/blog/cinematography-techniques-no-film-school/

Project Timeline

Nov 1-5: Research and training

Nov 8-12: Pre-production

Nov 9-15: Production

Proposed Budget

PRODUCTION – ACTION

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1iYTyrw12Vb8R0aZ-C0X0sdVBvGcOR3iV/view?usp=sharing

The (FILM, SOUND, or GAME Creation)

A student gets their foot stuck in glue. If they don’t get it out in time, they will miss their bus.

Skills Evidence

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/129oJ3AYeXKWuz-SfCQPcDKh8mSzDqz4IWO_vXXMdbSk/edit?usp=sharing

POST-PRODUCTION – REFLECTION

21st Century Skills

Ways of Thinking (Creativity, Innovation, Critical Thinking, Problem Solving)

I was able to use my creativity, thinking, and problem solving to make sure I fulfilled my role in the filming process. I problem solved when we had difficulties with having our “glue” show up on camera and came up with the idea to use light to highlight the glue.

Ways of Working (Communication & Collaboration)

I communicated with the group to make sure we were all on the same page and working together well especially while we were filming each scene. In our group, communication was crucial to creating a quality product. We started every day with talking about what we needed to accomplish and continued to talk about our goals and plans throughout the workday.

Tools for Working (Info & Media Literacy)

I took time during the pre-production process to research famous cinematographers who I could potentially learn from. I also learned how to use a camera for intentional focus and additional lighting sources. I researched tips and tricks for cinematographers in order to learn from others who already are successful with skills in that area.

Ways of Living in the World (Life & Career)

In the real world, using lighting is a useful skill. I can now apply lighting for photos , videos, and presentations in a professional setting. In this film, being the cinematographer prepared me for future videos and planning.

Reactions to the Final Version

“I like how you used the light to really make the glue stand out” -Merja

In order to make the glue noticeable in the film, we used additional lighting to put a spotlight on the glue.

Self-Evaluation of Final Version

I liked how our group was able to show the stress Emma was feeling when getting stuck in glue. The stress is shown through her acting, the editing, and the overall emotion of the film. I wish we would have included images of the clock showing the time passing to show the urge to get to the. This would have helped to communicate the situation present. I also wish I had incorporated more intentional focus to emphasize characters and show more professionalism.

What I Learned and Problems I Solved

I learned how to use additional lighting for the purpose of getting clear and specific light for the film. I also learned I also learned how to focus a camera and use intentional focus. As a creative person, I am now able to effectively combine intentional lighting and focus to film better films.

In our film, we had to make sure Emma appeared concerned about time and felt pressure for getting her foot unstuck. The film needed the scenes to show the stress and importance of getting help with the glue.

Grammar and Spelling

I used Grammarly Premium to check and correct my grammar and spelling.

Editor

Moira K