Film 304 - Ideas Generation

Wednesday 11th October 2017                   Contexts of Practice                Lectures: Lucy Leake

Dissertation Ideas

Topic Question

How do directors evoke different emotional states of mind on their audience in war films?

Films to look at and watch;

Dunkirk - Dunkirk, 2017. [DVD] Christopher Nolan, UK: N/A.

Das Boot - Das Boot, 1998. [DVD] Wolfgang Petersen, Germany: Neue Constantin Film.

City of Life and Death - City of Life and Death, 2010. [DVD] Lu Chuan, China: Media Asia Distribution Ltd. China Film Group.

Fury - Fury, 2014. [DVD] David Ayer and Fritz Lang, United States: Columbia Pictures.

Areas for each film to pay close attention towards, camera angles, cinematography (lighting and color palette), editing, character development, music, and sound.

Give examples of what each category is, camera angles and give examples, lighting and give examples.

Film 301 - Amelie

Tuesday 10th October 2017              Research and Experimentation       Lecturers: Kaz, Dan, Andy

Magic Realism

Watched the 2001 film Amelie - Directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet. 

Consuming the film on screen, there are many elements of hyper-realism. The film itself felt like I was watching a fairytale. The editing is very fast paced, a bit like a montage, a long clip cut together with jump cuts in place to give a sense of urgency for our dominant female protagonist. We are given hints as to what is about to unfold, it's this idea of storytelling that makes us as the viewer engaged within the film and we want to carry on watching to find out what Amelie is up to. We're always questioning whether or not that this is actually happening. The set design is visually stunning and must have taken a lot of work, I always remember the crane shot, Amelie is on the bridge at the start of the film, she appears in the bottom left of the frame as we track her heading towards the bridge, the camera then inclines and pans overhead as she frees her fish into the nearby river. Finally, I feel like the film itself, although magical, it made me feel claustrophobic as there are a wide variety of close-ups used which helps to understand how our character is feeling towards the action that is taking place, I could only describe this as her being an innocent woman but with a devious mind. 

Amelie at a young age, holding the TV remote

Film 301 - Obstruction Task

Thursday 5th October 2017          Research and Experimentation      Lectures: Kaz, Dan, Andy 

Five Obstructions Task 

We watched a few bits from "The Five Obstructions", directed by Lars von Trier and Jorgen Leth. We were set the task of creating a 2-minute film of our choice, but we had to create our own obstructions. I decided to create my own film, I went with the theme of music and iconic rockers, I wanted to challenge my filming practice. 

Obstructions

Handheld, open space, isolation, no mains electricity, nowhere to live and the idea of featuring iconic rockers and cutting together sound bites from their live events. I was really pleased with what I created in such little time and the feedback was all positive when I presented this piece to my peers and lecturers.

A few shots of the behind the scenes from the shoot for Iconic Rockers

Iconic Rockers - Research and Experimentation from Luke Curno on Vimeo.

Negotiated Project - 9th May

Tuesday 9th May 2017                              Negotiated Project                    Kaz Rahman

The Secret Canvas

I have filmed the footage for my film "The Secret Canvas" at my chosen location, the garden house in Buckland Monachorum. Overall the shoot went well, everything was carefully thought out and there were contingencies in place incase I didn't achieve the shots that I had planned.

The camera that I chose to use was the Cannon 7D as well as a f1.8 macro lens. My main idea for the film was to focus around depth of field, paying close attention to the equipment she uses.

I wanted to show the fine details of the actress painting and focus on the space around her, creating a small space within a big space - helping to emulate the wider space around my actress.

A Go Pro was attached to an overhead ceiling light to give a birds eye view, watching over her as she worked.  After I shot the opening sequence, I gave the actress free will as I did not want to interrupt her natural flow of painting - exposing her in her own habitat working was key and I did not want to stifle this.  I used my initiative and asked the actress to paint another picture so that I could shoot the cut away shots for the final scene.

I shot some cut away shots after the shoot to include at the beginning to imitate her point of view whilst looking out of the window at the garden.

I have now started thinking about the type of sounds that would be useful to bring the visuals alive.

Room ambience for ghostly feel.
Blinds Shutting
Birds in the garden
Placing a lantern down and releasing the handle
Painting/scraping
Match coming out of a box
Striking a match
Sound of jam jar - swirling brush in the water.
Possibility of wind
Moving things around in a box
Getting out equipment
Table ready to work on
Pouring water from jug into jam jar
Twisting lids from acrylic paints
Twisting lid off jam jar
Ripping plastic off canvas to begin work
Squeaky noise of pipette (white substance)

Here is my final film - The Secret Canvas

Negotiated Project - The Secret Canvas from Luke Curno on Vimeo.

Negotiated Project - 2nd May

Tuesday 2nd May 2017                 Negotiated Project              Kaz Rahman and Dom Deane

Set Film Tasks

Over the past few weeks I have worked on a majority of groups films as tests for our negotiated project film. Although I have a script for my chosen idea, I wanted to experience different pieces of equipment and how they differ from one another. Throughout the shoots I have worked closely with the Cannon C100 but with all my tests I have decided that this is not the right camera to use for my film. My idea will be focused around the art of depth of field so I have decided that I want to use a Cannon 7D for my shoot.

Below are links to a few films that I have worked on as a director, sound recordist, scriptwriter, cinematographer as well as an actor for the film Skeleton.

Played the roles of an Actor and Director's assistant

Negotiated Project - Skeleton from Luke Curno on Vimeo.

Played the roles of Director and Set Design

Negotiated Project - Backdrop Experiment from Luke Curno on Vimeo.

Played the roles of Director, Dubber, Writer, Cinematographer, Editor and Actor


Negotiated Project - UNKNOWN from Luke Curno on Vimeo.

Individual Film Installation
The following day we were asked to individually think of a creative way to showcase our films. At first I thought about playing my film on my phone and positioning a small mirror in front of the phone on an angle. I had the idea in order to watch the film you would have to look through the mirror as the image was being reflected off. However, due to the time and resources available I was unable to make this possible so I went for a set design which would tie into my films subject matter. I started to create a set which looked like a polluted water source, I started off by cutting out a cardboard stand for my phone to stand on. Next I got a label and wrote down the title for my film "UNKNOWN" which stood out and I smudged it to make it seem unclear as to what the words were reading. I made a use of an energy drink can, cutting out the logo for the brand "Emerge", I thought that the word emerge could signify that something was emerging out of the polluted water source within the video. The final touches for the set was created using off cuts of card, tissue paper, energy drink cans and finally a sprinkle of tea leaves to make the set look messy and artsy.

Polluted Set Design (without the phone) - Taken on my phone

The film installation task has got myself thinking about various ways to illustrate my final project piece for my negotiated project module. As my film is going to be about the secret life of a painter I would like to set the scene of a painters work-space. The idea of placing the film on a screen and placing lots of different tools which painters use. The idea of having cloth placed over the screen as if an artist pulls of material to reveal a shiny new canvas. The tools will make up a semi circle around the film that is on the screen. Positioned underneath the film I will have a blank piece of paper, giving the impression that the film has been created on a canvas. I have also come up with the idea of having a sketch of a painting up on my phone which is placed behind the screen as if the artist glances over for inspiration whilst working. Finally I thought a good way to open up the film would be to place a clapper over the screen with the name of the film, camera operator, location just to add a bit of purpose to the presentation. 

A few ideas from research

Reference for Illustrations

Clapperboard Image - Photojojo, (2017), 17 Best ideas about Movie Gift [ONLINE]. Available at: https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=clever+film+installations&safe=strict&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjwvYGK4NPTAhUKbRQKHZfLBI4Q_AUICigB&biw=1100&bih=913#safe=strict&tbm=isch&q=clever+ways+to+show+films&imgrc=u4xmyAmDB6PSZM: [Accessed 3 May 2017].

Camera Prints -  Photojojo, (2017), Instax Mini 90 Instant Camera [ONLINE]. Available at: https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=clever+film+installations&safe=strict&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjwvYGK4NPTAhUKbRQKHZfLBI4Q_AUICigB&biw=1100&bih=913#safe=strict&tbm=isch&q=clever+ways+to+show+films&imgrc=mVH8jdg3WiTmzM: [Accessed 3 May 2017].

Professional Future - BAFI203

Tuesday 2nd May 2017                              Professional Future                              Lucy Leake

Summary for the Professional Futures module

At the start of the module we were given the task of creating a short IDENT which was based around the art college that we attend, Plymouth College of Art.

Below you will find my attempt at making an Ident for PCAD.

PCA Ident - Professional Futures (PCAD) from Luke Curno on Vimeo.

We were then all given the chance to take on clients to work with, however my clients never responded back so I decided to find my own through my business WildTimes TV.

Through the module I worked closely with the owner for Dockyard discs and had a few attempts at creating a promotional video for his company which could be used as a call to action for his company. However, it was any ordinary video, we made the voice over out of lyrics from lots of different hits, whilst re-creating the famous album art from the Sex Pistols "Never mind the Bollocks"

Below is the promotional video for Dockyard Discs

 
Dockyard Discs Promo - Come into my shop from Luke Curno on Vimeo.

I am currently working on shooting for "Plymouth Comedy Club" where I will be creating 2 short promotional videos for 2 of there main events, one being the children comedy club and second for the adults comedy session. So far I have shot 1 section of the events and the next is scheduled further through June.

A few of my other projects that I am working on are for individual companies i.e. a lady who paints on rocks and a short film for a retired freelance filmmaker out on the coast whilst he surveys wildlife in Urban areas.

Lastly for this unit I updated all of my social media platforms including Linkedin, Online Portfolio, Facebook, Instagram and my Vimeo which now has an up to date documentation of all of my University projects and submissions which have clearly been labelled, which has led to future work for the summer.

Negotiated Project - 26th April

Wednesday 26th April 2017                         Negotiated Project           Kaz Rahman and Dom Deane

Template for a Production Shot List 

Here are my pre-production notes for my negotiated project film

Mindmap for ideas (Secret life of a painter)

Further ideas and research

These shots are in no particular order;

Tracking shot through the archway by the wildlife pond – Pulling back down the lawn. 

Wide angled shot to establish the scene, portraying the house and the garden, after a few seconds the camera will begin to slowly pan in towards the artist in the window who is looking outside for inspiration.

A low angled shot portraying in the foreground a burning cigarette on a table, in the background the face of the painter but in shadow, so you can’t see their face. The smoke and cast shadows will relate back to my cinematic style as Film Noir. 

Over the shoulder shot – Watching the artist the whole time as they paint this picture

Tracking shot, low along the ground - Reveals the painter at work with the glass behind the predominant subject.

Close up to watch the painter dipping their paint brush in lots of different color paints  - Crosscut this motion in between the shots of her painting on the canvas, change the opacity so it blends over the top of another image. An idea that painting is made up of lots of different layers.

A variety of shots needed to create a montage to show the artist at work – setting up, canvas prep, painting, looking around the room etc.

A few illustrations for ideas of shooting location and camera angles 

Possible floor plan

I came across a video which had a modern cinematic style which I thought in contrast I could change to give my chosen film a cinematic film noir look. Shot on a canon 500D with a 50mm f1.8 lens. 

Notes - Pull in focus close to the canvas material - hand movement of the painter brushing on the canvas. 

Shot List Planned Shot List - The Secret life of a Canvas

Intro Shot

Camera at back of room. Wide angled shot, she walks in front of window towards the window (maybe the view is blurred? Black & white and in focus or coloured and blurred? and shuts it and pulls curtain over. * to show the outside and how it is viewed by her and then by shutting the curtain and window it shows she is isolated. She moves left and right looking out to view - Her head looks up towards the trees in the distance, next the camera cuts to a shot of a tree blowing in the wind. Next her head moves down towards the ground - Followed by a few close ups of flowers and insects.

SOUNDS - birds/breeze, creaky floorboards and breathing

20/30 seconds.

Next, a Wide Angled shot of the house, flowers in the foreground. Shows the location and shows the view looking back at the house, get a real sense for the scale of the room outside.

SOUNDS - birds/breeze - MUCH LOUDER

10 seconds


3) Montage of cutaway shots outside in the gardens - of bees landing on flowers/tree blowing in the breeze.

4) Shot of her setting her painting tools out - She gets her outfit ready, puts on an apron.

5) Close up of her reaching for the paint brushes

6) Over the shoulder shot - behind her with canvas in front of her as she slowly brings the paintbrush up to the canvas in front of her, slow motion effect to show how elegant she is with the canvas - Idea she is testing out her brushstroke.

7) Tracking shot following her hand towards her chosen paint colour, depth of field.

8) Montage of shots - turn the footage around to imitate that she is painting on the floor or on top of a table.

9) Swirling the paint brush in water - played at normal speed but gets slower and slower to mimic her energy for work.

10) Mid shot to show her working in the background, moves away from camera to paint and work but the water and paint is in the foreground.

11) Repeat the montage from above, first off her overalls and arm, next show her hand and the motion of painting and lastly show the canvas that she is painting.

12) Close up - Dabbing the paint brush into a solution

13) High angle - looking down on her with the painting to the side

14) Extreme close up on the canvas

15) Silhouette of her painting

Possible Film Ending

Reaches into her pocket for a match box, pulls out a matchstick, shakes and drops it on the floor - Black screen hear the box being pulled out again and loud sound of a match being struck - Dramatic ending for the film.

A reference that I have used to gather my shot list is from a Youtube video called “The Painter”. I really liked the cinematic style approach towards this piece, the music is so subtle yet it creates a lovely melody for the motion of the paint brush whilst creating art.

Short Film - The Painter https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_nN_zJW2EdM

References

Mujtaba Hussain Shah. (2017). Short Film - The Painter. [Online Video]. 30 September 2009. Available from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_nN_zJW2EdM. [Accessed: 23 May 2017].