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Blog Entry: 22nd Jan 2024 – Script Research

We are researching scripts to see how they are created and what info is where.

Where is it set?: The film is set in Colorado Springs in the 1970’s. We know this due to the script referencing “EXT. COLORADO SPRINGS STREET – DAY” and “EXT. COLORADO SPRINGS POLICE DEPT BUILDING. – DAY” As well as this we know the film is set in the 1970s due to it being referenced in the script “Superimposed: Early 70s“. All of this is clear for when shortlists are being created.

Who are the characters?: There are quite a few characters but the main ones are:

  • Ron Stallworth (Police detective) – John David Washington
  • Flip Zimmerman (Police detective) – Adam Driver
  • David Duke (police chief) – Topher Grace
  • Laura Harrier – Patrice
  • Jasper Pääkkönen – Felix Kendrickson

What are the characters feeling?: Characters go through a mix of emotions which are stated before voice lines but it’s also conveyed in what they are saying as well.

What time of day is it?: The film is set across multiple days but each period is stated in the scene heading at the start of each scene. EG: Day, Night, Evening.

How to write a script! (Things you need!)

  • Font: An industry standard screenplay uses size twelve Courier font.
  • Page numbers
  • Character names: ALL CAPS, centred on the page. Characters speaking in VoiceOver are signified by “V.O.” next to their names.
  • Dialogue: Centered on the page, below the name of the character speaking.
  • Action lines: Descriptions of action are aligned with the left margin of the page.
  • Scene headings: Often called sluglines, these belong in all caps, aligned left on the page.
  • Locations: Scene headings must always be preceded by “EXT.” for “exterior” or “INT.”
    for “interior.”
  • Transitions: Instructions like “FADE OUT” or “BLACKOUT” appear in all caps, aligned with the right margin.

We next tried writing our own scripts:

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Blog: Tuesday 19th January 2024

Foley sound in games VS films

In games you have to record everything as nothing is real it’s all rendered whereas in films some sound like walking is already recorded. 

Good things for sound production

Pasta – bones breaking

Smashing fruit and veg – exploding body parts.

Glossary

Foley Sound: The reproduction of everyday sound effects that are added to films, videos, and other media in post-production to enhance the audio side of the production. These are often created with objects not similar to the sound to get something that is most realistic.

Voice Over: The recording of voice lines after initial visual and audio recordings have taken place. This is often for cinematic scenes, flashbacks or moments of reflection. This is often done in a studio to get clear voice lines which can then be overlayed with music and sound effects in post.

Soundtrack: The soundtrack is a compilation of all the music created and used in the production.

Microphone (Dynamic): Dynamic mics are less sensitive than condenser mics by design, so will usually require you to be right up close to the mic to get the best possible sound. And they generally need more gain to reach similar levels to their condenser counterparts. This lower sensitivity means they are excellent at isolating your voice while rejecting background noise thus great for voiceovers.

Condenser Microphone: Condenser mics are more sensitive than their dynamic counterparts. This means they’re not quite as particular about where they’re positioned compared with dynamic microphones and can be placed further from the mouth (10-20cm, or 4-8 inches). However, this increased sensitivity also means they’re more likely to pick up background noise if you’re in an environment that is not well soundproofed. This can be good if your trying to pick up a soundscape but not if you only want one sound.

Ambiance: The sounds and the visuals of the space you are filming in. This can create certain atmospheres and feelings to your production when used.

Props: Props can be used in both video and audio production. For video they are often visual aids used to elaborate a point / make a final product look more realistic by allowing the viewer to be immersed. In audio production props are often used to create foley sound. A good example of this is crunching dried pasta to emulate the sound of bones breaking without actually breaking bones.

Sampling: Sampling has a couple definitions… A) its the act of taking a snippet of someone else’s sound to use in your production. (3 seconds or less to avoid fees) B) The tactic of testing the waters when releasing a product by distributing it to a small ‘sample’ size to see how it will do.

Audio Interface: Often referred to as XLR decks they allow for a microphone via an XLR cable to be controlled. You can control the gain as well as switch between different microphones and sources. It also converts the microphones wavelengths into a format which your computer can recognise.

Signal Flow: Signal flow is the path of the audio signal from its source to its output. For example:

  • Microphone
  • XLR cable
  • Audio Interface
  • Cable to computer

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Blog Entry: 6th November 2023

Exposure – The capturing of light 

  • ISO (the camera’s sensitivity to light) (Higher the ISO the brighter the image) (OVER 800 IMAGE BECOMES GRAINY)
  • Shutter Speed The shutter allows light to hit the lens. The shutter speed is how quickly the shutter opens and closes. (When its a SLOW shutter speed more light comes in) (When its a HIGH shutter speed it allows less light in) (FAST = BRIGHT SLOW = DARK)
  • Aperture (Also F-Stop) How wide the lens is. Opens up the lens allowing in more light/detail. (A low F-STOP = larger hole) 

Overexposed – Too much light caught 

Underexposed – Too little light caught.

How to balance all these 3 to get the perfect exposure? – USE A LIGHT METER – You want the light meter on 0 as it means its perfectly balanced. 

(-1 – 2 -3) = TOO DARK 

(+1 +2 +3) = TOO LIGHT 

I took this photo with a canon camera and 2x key lights on a warm lighting mode. I changed the ISO, Aperture and Shutter speed to create this photo. I quite like it in terms of the colour but the image is quite grainy. This is due to quite a high ISO.

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Blog Entry: 10th Oct 2023

We started with the starter activity of matching up these start of film vs end of film shots. Here are my guesses…

  • A = 1
  • B = 2
  • C = 3
  • D = 4

The answers were:

  • A = 3 (from whiplash)
  • B = 4 (from Dunkirk)
  • C = 2 (from ???)
  • D = 1 ( from gravity)

I managed to get every single one wrong… mental.

What’s a visual element – Communication through visual elements opposed to written or spoken elements.

What’s an Ideogram – A symbol for something… EG: a rose symbolising love.

Visual elements in films

  • Costumes
  • Props
  • color grading
  • environment
  • lighting
  • colour palette
  • camera angle / movement
  1. The environment has a pastel colour palette making it seem off as each house is a different pastel colour and you don’t usually see that but at the same time the back garden which the scene is set in is relatable contrasting the difference Edward is to the environment.
  2. Edward Scissorhands has a B&W colour palette whereas everyone else has a pastel colour palette this again contrasts how different he is to everyone else in the film.
  3. Everyone else is colourful and they blend in with the colours around them showing they are custom to this environment. It also highlights that Edward is not and he does not fit in. Showing that they are using him… Exploiting his desire to be liked / fit in for their own personal gain.
  4. The character doesn’t fit with the environment. This is told to us via the visual cue of his B&W colour palette vs everyone else’s pastel colour palette. It is also confirmed to us via the colours of the environment, the pastel house the baby blue Sky all contrasts against his colourless character. He doesn’t fit in.
  5. You can see Edward wants to be liked he’s confused about his new environment and doesn’t know how to act so he just goes with the flow. In his effort to feel wanted he is being taken advantage of… By being the joke or being used by the female characters to give them cool haircuts.
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Blog Entry: 9th October 2023

Features of Photoshop

  • Liquify – Liquifys the photo
  • Cut
  • Free transform
  • Magic wand
  • select object tool
  • magnetic lasso
  • lasso
  • Magnify
  • Auto colour
  • Auto exposure
  • Text tool
  • Paint bucket tool
  • 3D workspace
  • Generative AI tool
  • Change S – Curve
  • Layers
  • Merge layers
  • connect layers
  • lock layers
  • Filters
  • type around a curve
  • pen tool
  • pencil
  • brush
  • drop shadow
  • stroke
  • blending tools

We then tried using the photoshop tools to turn a photo from the day into a photo from the night. I found this fun and quite easy to use due to my prior knowledge in photoshop.

Next we used the blur tool to create portraits focusing on the subject. We did this by separating the subject and placing him on top of the blurred layer (using the gaussian blur tool)

Next we were tasked with changing the colour to Black & White. We did this with adjustments > B&W

Finally we were tasked with adding text to the images. I used Impact (font) and a blood red colour to create some tension around this wanted man. I did this with the text tool.

Overall I found this task not too tricky all the tools were quite simple. In my FMP I will use these skills in the two posters to create some engaging advertising fitting with the with rest of the campaigns vibe.

Next we had a look at creating images where just the subject is in colour. This was done by creating two layers where the subject was preserved and the background was made greyscale.

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Blog Entry 5th October 2023

180 rule – If you have two characters in the shot no matter where they are… When adding filming lines (where I am going to film from) keep the two characters on 1 side on the 180 line and the camera on the other side. DON’T CROSS THE LINE.

If you want to cross the line this would be breaking the rule disorientating the shot this would work if you want to create a confusing situation (EG: a brief flashback that someone doesn’t remember or a high chase scene where someone is hiding)

What are audio interfaces? – the bridge between microphones and SD cards.

Whats a pop filter used for? – Used for when speaking using P sounds and producing more air. Makes audio more clear.

What’s a Windshield used for? – Goes on top of everything to protect against wind sound.

2 Types of Microphone

  • Dynamic Microphone – Has a small pattern where it picks up audio… Used just for one voice so good for interviews
  • Condenser microphone – Has a large pattern + very powerful so it picks up alot of audio… Used for many things like atmospheric sound.

Microphones will format SD card when setting them up.

Always have phantom power on with condenser microphones.

IF having problems

  • Check Mic
  • Check Cable
  • Check Tascam device
  • If you would like to sync audio use a clap on camera and so its audible. You do this because you want to sync your external audio with you visuals and the clap allows you to align the audio.
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