A2 Media Blog 1 (Introduction and Pre- Filming)

Media Follow-up

Introduction



This is a blog to record the process of planning, creating and promoting my media products. I have decided to make a teaser trailer, magazine cover and poster on one film and through out this blog you will follow the journey towards a finished media product that uses, develops and maybe even challenges the conventions of a real media product. This blog has been sectioned into three groups consisting of Pre-Filming and Planning, a Post-Filming diary and Research into the Promotion Package. Each group will be presented as a seperate post.

FYI: This work began in September and each post has been written through the months of the year so the fact that a particular post was started on a particular day does not mean that the whole post was written on that day neither is the day I posted a page up, the day I started writing it. I have also decided to answer the evaluation questions as they occured in the process of the blogging instead of creating a seperate blog to write the questions out one by one and answer them.




Pre-Filming

Early Film editing and Trailer Awareness

A teaser trailer is a short promotional video used to spread awareness about the release of an upcoming film. It is different from an official theatre trailer in the sense that it is shorter and uses shorter clips and presents less narrative to the audience. They are ususally between 30-60 seconds long. It is meant to introduce the film and catch the audience's interest before ending quickly, leaving them wanting more. It is meant to give them a taster but by no means give away the whole story line which teases the audience. Clips are short and aren't normally arranged in any chronological order so as not to give away the full narrative.



Trailers are different from movies in the sense that a movie is full of takes with no specific time limit. The clips can be quick or long. Different angle shots are used and it reveals a storyline or narrative that has been carefully put in order so that the story makes sense. The narrative may use Todorov's theory which says that the narrative begins with an equilibrium which is then broken and then there is a quest to restore it and make a new one. A teaser trailer may simply show bits and pieces of the broken equilibrium especially if it is an action film because when equilibrium is broken is when a character starts fighting to restore it and that fight is what attracts audiences. A teaser trailer has no particular order so as not to reveal the storyline because if they do, the actual film will not be as exciting to watch. They also use snappy clips which helps raise the viewers excitement.



We spent time exploring Corel Videostudio and learnt how to edit films. Learning the basics early on has helped me to think and decide on what I want my clip to sound and look like. Learning how to cut the clips has made me more aware of cutting it at a precise place that gives a realistic effect e.g. cutting a clip at the point where a girl is about to push a button and starting the next clip that is focused on the button with a shot just before the button is hit instead of starting the clip with the hand already on the button. I learnt how to arrange and cut the clips so as to show smooth movement and continuity of the motion picture.





Tutorial editing


Being precise is essential in editing when it comes to everything from soundtrack to the font of the text in captions and titles. From a limited option of soundtrack features I picked a particular song and added it to the clip to represent as its non-diegetic sound. In choosing a soundtrack you must be very precise as that is what promotes the energy and feeling of a particular trailer. Action movies are powered by fast-paced energy with stunts and combat which means it needs a fast-paced, energetic soundtrack to give the audience a energetic feeling. Its no good having a range of clips with death-defying stunts and characters fighting with a slow classical soundtrack. It would not promote the powerful action feeling and even if the action was good, you may loose some of your audience as it does not directly draw their attention into the trailer.



Today we were shown a variety of teaser trailers made by other schools. We had already looked at professional trailers made by big studios which had given us a strong idea of the materials needed and so looking at other schools’ work helped us see how they had worked with their equipment and the knowledge they had from their study into films. Several of them were from the horror genre as it may have been easier than an action film due to the amounts of combat stunts that would have to be pulled off and made believable if portraying an action film advertisement. There was little light in many of them which helped set the scary mood. Watching videos people shot whilst working around the problems of limited lightings gave us ideas of how to tackle our own lighting problems e.g. we planned ways to use natural light in a dark room or use torch lights to highlight particular things that we needed the audience to focus on whilst the scene took place in the dark.



Clips were very short and snappy to boost the energy and excitement and there was a clear indication of the genre by the sort of non-diegetic sound and mise-en-scene provided which is useful because if the audience do not immediately catch the genre it may fail to attract them. Most were good at making the genre obvious although some were a bit poor. We discussed interesting camera angles used and talked about the merits of each trailer. It is easy to criticise these trailers but we realise through our planning and arrangement of ideas that filming will not be easy but will be interesting. By viewing other peoples work it presented to us new angles of shooting in which we had thought little on before e.g. tracking shots used to show how someone is being followed was effective and made us think upon adding a similar shot to our trailer. We also learnt that few of their trailers included diegetic sound which we felt was better as downloading sound effects like footsteps and thuds were more effective and could be volume controlled to fit perfectly with the soundtrack.


Film Trailer Research

Before finally setting out to plan our own trailers, we watched some professional film trailers that were of the same genre of the one we wanted to do. 3 trailers stood out from the rest and helped inspire my ideas for my coursework. These were Adulthood, Dead Man Running and 4.3.2.1. This research was obtained from websites like youtube.


1) Adulthood- I’ve always particularly liked this trailer because the film is about a man released from prison after committing manslaughter when he was a teenager and he has to face the troubles of people who want revenge. So there is the action side and the emotional side of the movie as he finds it hard to live with the fact that he killed someone and put shame upon his family and I like the trailer because it shows the emotions of anger and sadness by splitting the trailer in half. There is a fade in to begin with and then that is followed by speech and an establishing shot on the main character. The name of the production studio is then shown as ‘Pathe’ and non-diegetic soundtrack booms in. There are quite a few medium close ups that show the characters who are played by well known actors. There are a few rounds of captions that help in the explanation of the story. The soundtrack helps in the build up and the energy comes to an anti-climax with the smash of glass. After that the movie finishes off with a slower soundtrack giving an emotional feel to the trailer. Then at the very end was a popular one liner when a man seeking revenge hits him and says, "You think I forgot about you?". This gave me a good idea of the arrangement of my trailer and whether I’d use two soundtracks within the trailer.





Adulthood Official Trailer

2) 4.3.2.1- This was a very useful trailer as it was also a teaser one. Again the production studio is show first followed by quick takes. In this trailer there were no captions so it was difficult to make out the basic story line. There was also little speech and it was mostly all non-diegetic soundtrack but there were action clips throughout the trailer which complimented for the lack of basic story information. The clips would easily attract an action movie even without a basic knowledge of the story. It was mostly full of medium close ups and long shots of characters running and fighting. Again the one liner was at the end when a woman asks an injured girl who gets into her car "Is that blood?...Don't get it on the seats". This trailer helped me think about how to portray my trailer without captions and using the power of the visual action within the clips. This was useful and gave me more options.


3) Dead Man Running- This film is about a man on the run because he owed dangerous people money. The establishment shot on the main character shows who the story is about and is very important as it shows the main actor. There is a low angle shot of the other main character who is played by a well known celebrity called 50 Cent so this shot is important to show his fans that he's acting in it. 50 Cent is the character of higher status so his introduction shot which is the low shot looking up to him gives the feel that he is high and very important. There are many different quick takes consisting of medium close ups, long shots and high angle shots. Captions were used in this trailer and once again the one liner came at the end before the credits and date release. I’ve found out that main one liners are either used to start off or finish off a shot of energy in a trailer and are almost always said by a main character.It helps to anchor the narrative, adding some context for the audience.

Looking specifically at these three trailers have given me a very good idea of what I want to film, how I want to arrange my clips and what materials I’ll need to make my trailer look as professionally done as possible. I have decided to do an action trailer involving criminals in London.

I found many similarities in these trailers as they had very speedy shots, minor speech and scenes that are not too bright. They are not as dimly lit as horror movies but being a little dim does give a sinister effect of danger in an action clip. The clips also shows a lot of quick movement and hardly ever just has a character standing and sitting dully unless its a medium close up introducing them as part of the film. Clips are always filled with characters doing something from jumping to running and fighting. I have also found that a convention of an action clip is to use flashes of light to move onto the next clip just as a character is about to make rapid physical contact with something else be it a punch or a hit. This flash of light looks brilliant but I may not use it as it is a hard effect to produce. Instead I'm thinking of putting less combat in my film but there will still be a lot of action. I also find that many of these action trailers start off with low energy and the energy is suddenly kicked off with a one liner or gunshot and then the non-diegetic soundtrack becomes more energetic through out the trailer.

As well as similarities, these trailers also had a few differences. Some of the trailers have captions and a bit of speech that helps you with minor understanding of the trailer while others simply rely on the action from the clips to attract the audience and doesn't reveal any form of storyline what so ever. I also feel the shot angles are very important in how action is portrayed and the variety of different shots each trailer uses is interesting and has helped me in my decision of my collection of shots.


I have decided to use similar techniques in lighting and sound. I will have a few shots that are in a slightly dim light creating a sinister look with the use of shadows. This will represent a character as somewhat dangerous or mysterious. I have also decided to use fast paced music as the non-diegetic soundtrack although the trailer will start off with less energy and the change of pace will be triggered by a noise or caption. Captions are another effect I've decided to use as these help to give a slight view into the basic storyline without giving away the whole narrative. From viewing these trailers I've also decided that the main character will be easily identified with a range of shots including a medium close up.


These trailers were very much related to the genre of my trailer. They were all action and were all to do with criminals seeking a particular target. Out of these criminals came protagonists which is like my story where the protagonist is a criminal locked up but working towards redemption which is hard to find in such a violent place. The trailer will require memorable one liners, weapons or objects that have dangerous connotations, high energy soundtracks and quick clips and movements within these clips.




My Film (First Ideas)

What is the genre of the film?

Through viewing previous work from other candidates and also looking at professionally made trailers, I have decided to set my film genre as an action film. Many previous works are to do with horror requiring dim lighting, creepy non-diegetic sounds but I’d prefer to have an energetic vibe with quick motion as well as snappy clips and a slightly energetic track as non-diegetic sound. A very challenging part will be trying to make the action seem realistic especially if there is violent physical contact. The connotations of everything will be important as different items could be used as weapons.


Why did you choose your genre?

I personally am a big action film watcher and by being one I know what type of messages through trailers and movies that are effective when attracting me and the rest of the action genre audience. My film will specifically be a British crime film and in the trailer its the violence and the introduction of the object or subject disturbing equilibrium that attracts the audience. I feel that I would find making a trailer of such genre a challenging yet fun and interesting project.I also thought of the best location to get my film shot. This location can easily be made to look like a prison depending on which spot you shoot from and this helped me make the decision to make this a prison themed action crime movie.


Does it present any problems?

Doing an action trailer does present a few problems as if I'm not able to get a model gun I'd have to clearly represent the conotations of an object that is meant to be used as a weapon e.g a baseball bat or knife. There are also the challenges of realism in the physical contact during combat scenes and the issue of the health and safety of both actors and the equiptment.


What is the film about?

My film is about a London assassin named Sam Jackson who finds out he's going to be a father and decides to turn himself in to protect his child and girlfriend from paying for his mistakes. He receives a life sentence with parole in 30 years on good behaviour and aims to make parole after finding redemption inside prison. He hopes to do this so he can finally see and spend time with his daughter as a truthful and legit father and time in jail is the sacrifice he's prepared to make. But on his arrival to 'Her Majesty's Prison' he finds out that redemption is almost impossible as prison does little to stop criminals from resuming their evil activities and the underworld ladder is exactly the same outside as it is inside only that on the inside nobody is innocent meaning everyone is a threat. Sam must now find a way to protect himself from incarcerated enemies from the mob world, incarcerated kingpins offering good paying work for him, corrupt guards and most of all himself and his past ways so as to make that parole or he'll never see his child. He learns that nothing in this world in or out of prison revolves unless money is involved.

Basic summary: When his girlfriend becomes pregnant, a London gangster turns himself in to find redemption but in jail he finds he may have to return to his old ways in order to survive.


What is the title?

I’ve named the film ‘Lizzie’s Head’ because the film is about how Pound Sterling money is as much the root of evil inside jail as it is in the London Underworld outside jail. Queen Elizabeth’s head is printed on pound notes and the London slang has different words to portray money such as ‘nicker’ and ‘grand’ so I decided I would introduce a new one for the title of my film and instead of using ‘Queen Elizabeths head’ I decided to shorten it to a more common name as London slangs are quite common, thus ‘Lizzie’s Head’ became the title of my film. It is also meant to be set in Her Majesty's Prison which gives an extra feeling that these prisoners are property of the State which Queen Elizabeth is the head of. I tested this name with my target audience as I rounded up a few action film watchers who have knowledge of common slangs and presented name ideas to them. I experimented with names such as 'Crime Land', 'Bars', 'Power for Pounds' and my favourate which was 'Lizzie's Head' and I explained to them the reason for the title 'Lizzie's Head' which they liked and understood. I even presented this name to a different audience who after explaining to them that Lizzie's Head was Elizabeth's head on pound notes, knew immediately that the genre was going to be crime action. I am planning to put in captions at the end of my trailer saying, "in prison there's no difference, the dealers still deal. the killers break heads all under and over old "Lizzie's Head". The under and over part signifies prisoners doing certain activities over money and under the ownership of Queen Elizabeth the head of state.



Teaser Trailer plans

I plan to have quite a few people appearing in my trailer. These people must be dressed in a prisoner uniform. This means that most people will be dressed in same sort of clothes. I've decided that the prison uniform will be a white shirt and dark coloured jeans or joggins but some prisoners will stereotypically change the form of dressing a little e.g. a black prisoner may wear a white vest instead of t-shirt along with a wave cap and a mob bos may want to make himself look more important than everyone else so he dresses in a white formal shirt instead of t-shirt. I have made the decision of prison wear based on the fact that prison wear is usually plain and thus a plain white shirt and dark colour trousers is more conventional than colourful clothes and obviously all prisoners must wear the same sort of colours. There will be a few scenes that will be shot outdoors so the prisoners will have a prison fleece with the prison logo on it. I have taken care to make the logo visable in the scenes as it identifies them more as prisoners who are owned by the state. They are 'government property' and the logos act like a brand of ownership. A lot of emphasis will be put on objects that may have a weapon connotation and substances that I can make look like drugs.

The film will be set in many different locations around my school building including fences and railings to be shot in to introduce the place as a prison. I may have a shot inside the school gym with the main character pumping weights to give the feeling of a need to be strong in order to survive in such a place. I am planning to get a knife and its connotation will be for it to be used as a weapon. This will show how dangerous the prison is. To add to this danger I'll add a shot of a gun which you'd normally never find in a prison but I want to show the audience that these prisoners are just as dangerous inside prison walls as they are outside them.


Trailer Storyline:

1) Caption: He turned himself in

2) Establishment shot. Long shot of Sam being taken away by police.

3) Caption: His life was too dangerous...

4) Low angle shot of disguised Sam about to shoot a gun at the camera.

5) Caption:...for his family

6) High angle shot of Sam sitting with a baseball bat

7) Caption: But jail is no place for Redemption.

8) Long shot of prison building (Fade out)

9) Medium close up of Sam with a gun

10) Caption: Because only the criminals survive

11) High angle shot of prisoner mob boss. (Non-diegetic soundtrack starts)

12) Long shot of prison mob boss strangling a fellow prison

13) Medium close up of Sam being grabbed from behind

14) Medium close up of two prisoners behind a cage and a guard taking money off them.

15) Close up of a knife exchange.

16) Long shot of Sam grabbing mob boss against the wall.

17) Long shot of girlfriend and Sam seated opposite each other

18) Medium close up of Sam in prayer.

19) Close up shot of a drug exchange.

20) Caption: Dealers still deal

21) Long shot of a prison strangling another prisoner with a telephone wire.

22) Caption: Killers still make death

23) High angle shot of a prisoner taking drugs.

24) Caption: Over and under

25) Zoom-in and close up of Queen Elizabeth's head on a 20 pound note.

26) Caption: Lizzies head



The concept of narrative was a little difficult. I had decided to use Todorov's theory and make the breaking of equilibrium the point where the main character is sent to jail and him fighting for redemption and survival is his fight for equilibrium restorage. The character was already living a lawless life but the enitial equilibrium was him changing his life and turning himself in with the cheerful knowledge of becoming a father. This is broken when he gets to prison and is face to face with his former mob enemies and is faced with the difficulty of returning to his old ways in order to survive. This process of planning was difficult because I needed to make sure I didn't give away the full story line in the trailer. When I first planned it out it was flowing like a normal story making the story line easy to understand and predict which is not the convention of a teaser trailer so I had to re-write it and mix the order of a few clips up. Although I do have a small introduction telling you the basics of the character'slife before incarceration, once in prison it doesnt give away a storyline. It only shows a number of action packed events that occured whilst the character is behind bars.



Final Plans and Thoughts (Pre-Filming)



Today I finished off my story board of the trailer and started thinking about the materials needed, the actors I’d use and the safety precautions I’d have to enforce to make sure no harm is done to both the actors and the equipment. I also began to consider how well I can use the movie software and how my limited knowledge of it at the present time may affect the way I use it now.



Health and Safety:

Filming an action sequence is a challenge as it will require a lot of movement and stunts which may be dangerous. In the prison clips there will be alot of physical clashes involving real knives and real BB guns. I must be very careful to make sure this BB gun is unloaded at all times to prevent harm to actors or equipment if it is fired. The use of a real knife on set is the most dangerous health hazard so I'll ensure I'm using sensible actors who will carefully use the knife during filming. There is also a point were a telephone wire will be used with a weapon connotation. It will be used to strangle someone and I must make sure that this is portrayed carefully and that the wire is not fully wrapped around the actor's neck. Enitially I was planning to have a character's neck slit by a knife but I figured this may be to dangerous to the actors as someone may accidently get cut so I changed it to someone getting strangle by a telephone cord which could be monitored easily and more safely.

Another health and safety risk is the height at which some of the high angle shots will be taken from. Some shots require the camera man standing ontop of tables with the camera so to ensure that both the actors and equipment are safe I'll be putting mats on the ground, double-checking the sturdiness of the camera and the camera stand and ensuring that the height is safe enough to produce an effective shot. I will also have to make sure that in the clip where a prisoner is sniffing cocaine is done safely. The substance that will be used is sherbert and it is essential that the actor does not accidently sniff it and cause himself harm so I've used an actor with long hair that can hide the cocaine from the camera as he is so I'll not have to worry about making the cocaine 'disappear'.

I will also keep the camera a safe distance away from the action so that nothing comes in contact with it and breaks any equipment. There will be a little grabbing infront of the camera and charging up to the camera so I'll need to make sure it is a certain distance away from the acting to avoid damaging the technology.




The Actors and Props

I will need a few muscular looking actors to act as intimidating prisoners. They need to have an older, less pretty look to them and the challenge will be making teenagers of 17 and 18 look like men of 25-30. My actors will all be wearing white shirts as prisoners which will be presented further challenging when trying to make them look old because if I were using different sorts of dressing then I could easily use costumes conventional to a man of 25-30. I will have to pick older looking actors with appropriate hairstyles as a popular teenage hairstyle like mohicans may prove a problem to my mise-en-scene.

This is a picture of John Abruzzi. He is a character on the American TV show called Prison Break. He is an incarcerated mob boss in the series and uses his connections to run the inner prison system. I plan to have a character similar to him in my movie. I watched the series and have studied how he acts with a sinister, dangerous personality. He dresses more formal than most prisoners to seperate himself from them and appear more classy. This will all be taken into consideration when choosing the actor to play my movie's mob boss.

Editing Software

At this point in time I have already done a bit of work with Corel Video Studio 12 but I still need a lot more practice. I am planning to use a few fade effects and very snappy clips. I've already learnt how to cut clips so I just need to make sure that I cut them at precisely the right time to give a good effect. I plan to use one non-diegetic soundtrack and text captions.