Research on my film

Syrian Child Soliders

The conflict initially began as a civil uprising, evolved from initially minor protests, beginning as early as January 2011, as a response to the regional Arab Spring, government corruption, and human rights abuses. Large-scale unrest began on 15 March in the southern city of Daraa, sometimes called the "Cradle of the Revolution", and later spread nation-wide. The government responded to the protests with large arrests, torture of prisoners, police brutality, censorship of events, and some concessions. However, the protests continued to grow. In late-April, Assad began launching large-scale military operations against restive towns and cities. The operations involved the use of tanks, infantry carriers, and artillery, leading to a large number of civilian deaths- Wikapedia

Recent news reports claim that boys are being use to transport weapons, supplies and acting as lookouts in at least three opposition groups, whilst others are carrying guns and fighting, a report by Human Rights Watch said.

Children from the towns worst affected by the conflict have been trained to take part in the war according to Human Rights Watch. In one instance, three boys aged 16 said they had participated in attack missions, whilst two boys – aged 14 and 15 – had been sent on dangerous reconnaissance missions or smuggled weapons to opposition groups.

The reason why I wanted to use this plot in my film

The Syrian Civil War is an on going war which is devastating the world. In a thriller film, I initially want to create a film in which makes people aware of the use of child soldiers in these countries. The heart-wrenching and action packed film will unite people to be more aware of the on going issues in our world today. The character I have chosen is additionally suffering with schizophrenia from the traumatic shock that he has had to deal with. 

Following Todorovs Theory

The Pitch

Following Todorovs theory, I was able to construct a suitable pitch for my film opening. The beginning of the pitch is the genre, in which I have decided mine to be a thriller, set in-between two countries, however the film opening will be set in the busy capital of London. Constructing my narrative structure using Todorovs theory, I was able to construct an equilibrium and disequilibrium storyline to help me when constructing the structure of my film. In which follows;

EQUILIBRIUM- My equilibrium begins with several panning shots of the city, not only setting the scene but representing an almost normal atmosphere for the disquilbirum to interrupt.  I decided to use setting for my equilibrium instead of the use of characters because my character is already troubled. These shots will continue for a short while with several titles on top before the camera will then cut to the main character.

DISEQUILIBIRUM- The disquilibrium interrupts the equilibrium when the audience are first introduced to the main character, a young boy. In this scene the character is sat up against a wall inside a tunnel in South bank  London. The disquilibirum is clear to the audience when the character, suffering with schizophrenia, has several flashbacks of his childhood as a child solider in Syria. This will bring a negative vive upon the audience as they begin to question why the character is the way he is.The film continues with the character whilst battling his illness, is desperate to find his brother whom is still a solider overseas. In a fight to save himself and his brother, the character escapes from his adoptive home in order to return back to his country. 

EQUILIBRIUM- The equilibrium of the film finishes with the character returning to London with his brother. Still suffering with schizophrenia, he begins to rebuild his life in the safety of his home with his brother, attempting to find peace with himself and forget his traumatic childhood.

The name of the film is called; Return Me

The setting of the film is split set in London, England and Syria, Western Asia. An adopted child, the character lives in adoptive care in Greenwich, London. After being sent to England to rebuild his life, the character believes  that the only way he will be able to beat his illness and live peacefully would be to return to Syria to find his brother. Determined to return to England with his brother for a better life, he decides to return to country. 
The film opening however will be set in Southbank, London, 20 minutes away from Greenwich. 

Greenwich, London

Reflection On Research- Title sequences

Title Sequence Research

Reflecting all of my research on titles, i have conducted what all sequences have in common. All of the film have a company, A Adam Deacon Film, IFC Films, and Fox Searchlight Pictures. Differently, all three films I researched (Anuvahood, Fishtank and Juno) have a different number of actors. Anuvahood had 23 actors and actress, Fishtank; 7 and Juno also 7. I have researched this and found out why Anuvahood had so many actors, I conducted that Juno and Fishtank both include a story about a singular person, or a small amount of persons. Whilst Anuvahood is a film in which has several actors and actresses within the film- although there is a plot, many people are included throughout.
Suprisinly, the only title that appears in all three title sequences is the film title, unlike Anuvahood and Juno, Fishtank only presents one title which is the title.

However, the similarity within all three films is that they all include;

1. The film company
2. The film title
3. 7 or more actors
4. Writer
5. Producer
6. Director
7. Editor

Title Sequences- Juno

JUNO

Juno is a candanian comedy film about a young sixteen-year-old Minnesota high-schooler Juno MacGuff (Ellen Page) discovers she is pregnant with a child fathered by her friend and longtime admirer, Paulie Bleeker (Michael Cera). She initially considers an abortion. Going to a local clinic run by a women's group, she encounters outside a school mate who is holding a rather pathetic one-person Pro-Life vigil.

The title sequence begins with who is presumed as Juno walking along in an animated design, carrying a bottle of juice. 

TIMING OF TITLE SEQUENCE

2.28-2.15- NO TITLES PRESENT

2.15-2.13- DISTRIBUTING COMPANY

2.13-2.09- PRODUCTION COMPANY

2.09-2.04- PRODUCTION COMPANY

2.04-1.59- TITLE (JUNO)

1.59-1.54- NO TITLES PRESENT

1.54-1.51- MAIN ACTOR 1 (ELLEN PAGE)

1.51-1.45- MAIN ACTOR 2 (MICHEAL CERA)

1.45-1.41- MAIN ACTOR 3 (JENNIFER GARNER)

1.41-1.33- MAIN ACTOR 4 (JASON BATEMAN)

1.33-1.28- MAIN ACTOR 5 (ALLISON JANNEY)

1.28-1.24- MAIN ACTOR 6 (J.K SIMMONS)

1.24-1.19- MAIN ACTOR 7 (OLIVIA THIRBLY)

1.19-1.13- CASTING (2)

1.13-1.09- COSTUME DESIGNER (1)

1.09-1.03- MUSIC BY (1) SONGS BY (1)

1.03-0.55- MUSIC SUPERVISORS (2)

0.55-0.51- CO-PRODUCERS (3)

0.51-0.47- FILM EDITOR (1)

0.47-0.45- NO TITLES PRESENT

0.45-0.41- PRODUCTION DESIGNER (1)

0.41-0.37- DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY (1)

0.37-0.32- EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS (3)

0.32-0.26- PRODUCERS (4)

0.26-0.21- WRITERS (1)

0.21-0.12- DIRECTOR (1)

0.12-0.00- NO TITLES AT PRESENT

Title Sequences- Fish Tank

Fish tank

Fish Tank is an British film drama about Mia Williams,a volatile and socially isolated 15-year-old. She lives on an East London council estate with her single mother, Joanne, and younger sister, Tyler, and is highly antagonistic toward both of them. Mia is a loner, appearing to have had a falling out with her best friend Keely. She provokes Keely's other friends and head butts another girl when Mia criticises their dance routine. Mia regularly practises hip-hop dance alone in a deserted flat. 

The production team are;

Directed by	Andrea Arnold
Produced by	Nick Laws Kees Kasander Executive: Christine Langan David M. Thompson
Written by	Andrea Arnold
Starring	Katie Jarvis Kierston Wareing Michael Fassbender
Cinematography	Robbie Ryan
Editing by	Nicolas Chaudeurge
Studio	BBC Films UK Film Council Kasander Film Company
Distributed by	IFC Films

  The actors also follow;

• Katie Jarvis as Mia Williams
• Kierston Wareing as Joanne Williams
• Michael Fassbender as Connor O'Reily
• Rebecca Griffiths as Tyler Williams
• Harry Treadaway as Billy
• Sydney Mary Nash as Keira O'Reily
• Sarah Bayes as Keely

Overall there are 19 titles 

Title Sequences- Anuvahood

Anuvahood

The beginning of the title sequence of Anuvahood starts with the film company, A Film By Adam Deacon. After this the sequence continues with the title of the film 'Anuvahood'. The cast are then shown on the screen- 23 actors and actresses are shown throughout a 1.53 time slot. After, the other important names and titles are shown- Costume, Production and Makeup Design are all shown on the same screen. Continuing is the Music by… and Music Supervisors. Then the Editor, and Director of Photography. On a single scene the Co-Producers are shown, whilst the Executive Producer is shown on a screen by himself. Which is followed by a list of the Executive Producers on a separate screen. Finally the finishing titles are the Producers, followed by the Writers and Directors. All together there were 16 main titles however some included over 3 names on some titles such as the Executive Producers. 

Anuvahood TIMING of TITLE SEQUENCE

00.14-00.20- FILM COMPANY

00.24-00.25- FILM TITLE

00.26-1.52- LIST OF ACTORS AND ACTRESSES

1.52-1.55- COSTUME DESIGN,MAKEUP DESIGN AND PRODUCTION DESIGN

1.59-2.02- MUSIC BY AND MUSIC SUPERVISORS

2.02-2.06- EDITOR AND DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY

2.07-2.10- CO-PRODUCERS

2.10-2.12- EXECUTIVE PRODUCER

2.13-2.17- EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS

2.17-2.21- PRODUCERS

2.21-2.24- WRITERS

2.24-2.29- DIRECTOR

finished

Purpose of a film opening- Kill Bill

Kill Bill

The first title we see on the film Kill Bill is the film company Miramax, as its logo is presented as soon as the film begins. Differently the film Kill Bill starts off with a quotation, based on the film- "Revenge is the dish best served cold". This quote for the audience to see allows them to have an idea of how the film will progress or start with. Then the first title of the film comes up, stating the film company. Suddenly, the shot cuts to a close up of a hurt and crying woman who is dressed in a wedding dress, as she breathes heavy and shows utter pain in her face, the audience are able to see that this film violence based. Not long after a hand comes into the screen and wipes the woman's face, here the audience are able to see a handkerchief with the name 'Bill' on it- relating to the title, suggesting to the audience that 'Kill Bill' is a basic description of what kind of person this character is. 

After this scene, the rest of the opening sequence begins and a non-diagetic sound of a song begins to play. Here is where the actors names and film title's begin. The title sequence then continues by stating the co-stars and other main actors. It then cuts to stating the actors/actresses and what role they play within the film. Then the guest stars. After the introduction of the actors, we begin to see the other titles which go in the order of - Editor, Martial Arts Advisor, Casting, Special Makeup Effects, Associate Producers, Costume Designers, Original Music, Production Designers, Director of Photography, Executive Producers, and finally the Producer. 

Purpose of a film opening- Pan's Labyrinth

Pan's Labyrinth

In the spanish film Pan's Labyrinth, visionary director Guillermo del Toro (also director of Hellboy, Blade II, and The Devil's Backbone) used several different techniques in his film opening to send a message to the audience about what his film does. 

The first scene the audience see is the titles, presenting the film company name and any other relevant titles to the audience, in the background is a diagetic sound of what sound's like a female breathing heavily- in addition to this, the diagetic sound of humming of a female also plays with this. After the scene cuts to a screen with information of the date of when it's set, in this case Spain 1944, after a black screen shows the text of a short description of what is happening at the time and gives a brief description about what the story is about.

Differently, the audience then see the first shot of what the audience will believe to be the main character, lying on the ground the camera shoots a close up of a young girl with blood on her hand and running upwards back into her nose. Possibly suggesting to the audience that the film is going back in time. Zooming into a extreme close up of her eye, the diagetic voice over sound of a man begins to speak and continue to talk about the story.

The camera then cuts to a extreme long shot of what is told to the audience to be a underground cave- here the audience follow the camera as it moves upwards, downwards and side ways showing a person running upwards. As she runs up, the non-diagetic sound of string instruments begin to play, suggesting that something good is happening or that she is heading towards freedom. Once outside the camera shoots a moving close up of skulls lying on the round- suggesting to the audience that there is death and possible violence in the film. After it cuts to a crane shot of cars driving towards a castle, in a very rural destination. This tells the audience that the film is set in a country and open space area.

We first see some of the main characters when the shot cuts to a two-shot of a young girl Ofelia and her mother in the back seat of a moving car. Ofelia is shown reading a book as we see a close up of a fairy in her book, suggesting to the audience what kind of girl she is and also suggesting that the film may be based upon a fairytale.

Overall the function of a film opening in this film is to set a theme. Although this opening is slightly vague, it sets the destination, main characters, story of the past and also dates. This is useful to the audience as it allows them to have a idea of what is happening. As the story is set through a voice-over, the audience are able to picture what life may had been like in that time and can apply the characters and setting to this description of Spain in 1944. The long shot's of scenes also allow the audience to picture what type of area the film is being shot in.  

Continuity Exercise- Write Up

Continuity Exercise

During lesson, I booked the video camera to film my continuity exercise. I included two actresses in my scene and found a spacious area where I could film on a 180 degree angle. From here, I began to film my scene.

In the first scene I used ACTRESS 1 to walk up to the door, filming from the right, as this is the side that I would be filming from to comply with the 180 degree angle rule. She pushed down on the door handle and paused, where I cut it and moved inside of the room. Here I filmed (with the door handle still pushed down) her opening the door and walking inside, panning from left to right-still filming from the right hand side. ACTRESS 1 pausing when she pushed down the door handle was used so that there is match on match action when she opened the door, so that she was not using the door handle twice. She then walked into the room and the camera shoots a mid-shot of the door closing, however I cut the shot before it shut. I then moved across the room in a mid-shot, panning from left to right (still on the right hand side) and filmed her walking across the room, in the background I also made sure that the sound of the door shutting was heard by the the audience, this is an example of match on match action.

As she stops and stands still on the right hand side of the screen, I then cut to ACTRESS 2 where the shot-reverse-shot edit would take place. Once I cut to ACTRESS 2 in a close up-she says "I didn't think you were gonna' come"- cutting to ACTRESS 1 in a close up, replies- "Well I'm here now aren't I?" in a angry tone. I then cut back to ACTRESS 2 in a close up, saying - "Fine, then let's talk business".  Here is where the shot-reverse-shot conversation ends. In addition, to match with the conversation, I filmed a final close up of ACTRESS 1 and ACTRESS 2 shaking hands, still on the right hand side to obey with the 180 degree rule. The scene then cuts and is finished.

In this exercise I learnt about the 180 degree, match on match action and shot-reverse-shot. I learnt a lot about how to obey the 180 degree rule and additionally make sure the shot-reverse-shots were in line and not at different angles. I made this scene look professional.

Amber Salomone

Life on Mars- Write Up

Life On Mars

In recent media classes, we were asked to 're-create' the opening scene of popular film, Life on Mars. This exercise was to be a short 3-4 minute clip of the scene but with the actors as ourselves, in this case it was myself, and my partner filmed. We were also in charge of using a camera to film and using other important camera tools such as a tripod and a dolly (to film 360 degree shots). 

To start with, myself and my partner watched the clip several times to make notes. We made sure that we timed the shots correctly so that we could match our re-make as closely as possible to the real thing. We used a timer and the pause button to measure how long each shot was. We then recorded this on a sheet with print screens of the shot to help us. Once we had made this precise we went outside to find the closest possible area we could to the real scene. We found a concreted area and set up the tripod.

Once we started filming we timed the shots as closely as possible and re-filmed anything that we did not think was long/short enough. In the first clip of the actor lying on the ground after being run over, we used several close up,mid-close ups and extreme close ups. We also made sure that the actress (myself) did not change positions and continued to lay on the floor until the shots had been filmed. In the shot where the actor gets up and looks around his new surrounds, we used a 360 degree angle shot, and in addition used different clothing to match the change in the real scene.

Once we had finished filming we went back to the classroom and logged onto the Mac Pro computers. There we used the editing software for the first time and learnt how to transfer all the clips from the camera. Once we completed the transfer we were able to cut the clips so that they didn't include any unwanted clips. After this we also learnt how to transfer the music of the scene onto the computer and onto our project. We watched our project and the original clip again to match it up and was very happy with the result.

Overall, I have learnt how to, with my partner, use a camera and a tripod to film- using pause,stop and record buttons. I have learnt how to transfer clips onto a Mac computer and use the editing software. I have also learnt how to transfer music onto the project and finally use all of the tools on the editing programmer, for example the 'viewer' option. 

Amber Salomone