Production Skills #1

On the morning session, we learnt the importance of Health and Safety on set. After being scarred for life by watching various movie accident videos, we filled out a risk assessment of a scenario given to us: a knife fight outside of Church Square.

http://bladeapprentice.com/2014/05/14/the-winter-soldier-knife-fighting-scene/

We then talked briefly about our first assignment: Me, Myself and I. It has to be 3 minutes including titles and the credits and has to be filmed using Super 8- a type of camera with tape inside. We also learnt the 3 buddy system- no one should film alone. At least 3 should be on set at all times. A blog and 1000 word evaluation should also accompany the film. 

On the afternoon, we got given a brief of the idea of being "Trapped". A camera would be set in the middle of the room at a random angle and we were not allowed to move it. We could bring props in and it could be about anything. Our group thought outside the box and went with the idea of being mentally trapped, so we set it in a psychiatrist. A patient would be silently listening to the psychiatrist. Then we would cut to the patient inside their head, looking lost and small, with some breaking of the Fourth Wall by looking into the camera. 

http://www.sidereel.com/posts/336919-news-5-reasons-we-love-watching-supernatural

There is then a knocking, the patient taken aback asks; "Who's there?". 

Visual Culture #1

For the visual culture module, I will need to write a 2000 word essay on a question/topic of my choice with a research journal. The deadline will be Monday 15th Feburary, 12:00. The research journal will just be for the 11:30 sessions.

Visual culture is the consumption of images and messages. This includes all forms of creativity, not just my chosen subject (film). In this module we look at the historical, social, cultural, political, anthropological and stylistic influences and theories of different works. 

In Dianne's session later, we started looking at Religion and Faith in film, giving us an article, focusing on The Wicker Man, to read and research as a group for us to deliver our findings next session. 

Introduction to Film-making #1

In Dianne's morning session, we learnt about Narrative Structure. I learnt how time can be manipulated in film ('temporal duration") and also how events do not have to be linear ('temporal order'). 

http://www.hercampus.com/school/st-johns/6-lessons-doctor-who-has-taught-us

Here's some more key words I learnt:

• Story: The series of events.
• Plot: The order of events.
• Temporal order: Presentation of events out of order.
• Temporal duration: Plot time of the overall film, e.g. 160 mins.
• Temporal frequency: Frequency of events. Flashbacks.
• Diagesis: Specific world a film creates, such as mise-en-scene, characters, etc.

Furthermore, I learnt that the motivations of characters are essential for a narrative and how agents of cause and effect (the characters) drive a narrative forward. Beginnings are also essential as it sets out what is to come.

In Mike's session, we did various observation games, where we would find out what is missing from a table in front of us. We then looked at continuity in films, such as Pulp Fiction. We then did a fun task called the Alphabet Game where we had to film different letters of the alphabet in one shot. Some of ours had multiple words.

N- Nosey, Nostril

M- Macarena 

O- Octopus

P- Patch, Papperazzi, Picture

Q- Queen

R- Ringing

S- Sarah, Screaming, Statue