Over the half term I did some work experience for a graphic design company called Ugly Studios. A group of artist who focus on nature trusts, they do things like; make posters, create magazines, design museums, fill out reserves, and provide material for nature centres.
I worked there three days, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. For the majority of time I worked in adobe illustrator filling out and designing a children comic for the RSBP.
However Ugly had recently finished a recent project for the Norfolk Broads reserve, they created a huge tablet with database files of local creatures on it ect ect. They asked me if I could edit a short video of their finished product demonstrating its uses for the official Ugly Studios website.
The link for their website is below, my edit can found under 'Work' and then 'Broads Authority - Touch screen'
I used Adobe Premiere CS6 to create the minute long edit.
http://www.uglystudios.com/wordpress/
Monday, 24 February 2014
Thriller Opening Locations
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I think the locations we chose suit the Thriller genre because each setting is desolate and comes across as abandoned, specifically the burnt down house we found. Once I reached the building I immediately realised it was perfect for our film. I had broken windows and run down walls, as well as debri scattered so densely in some places that it was difficult to see the flooring.
The dyke (which acted as the transition in the film) was long and lonely. The river sat at the bottom of two hills and looked very sad in the grey rain, beside it we shot the chase on a rarely used muddy path, nice for a thriller because it has connotations of abandonment and death as the scenery looked weary and dull.
PANORAMIC VIEWS
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| Inside the Burnt Down House |
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| The Dyke |
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| Outside the Barn |
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| Inside the Barn |
Filming Day in Kings Lynn for Thriller Opening
The general idea to film in Kings Lynn went according to plan, Friday the 17th of January came round and our group member Jordan Jones went out in his homevtown to take a look at our locations to check if they were still available to film on for the following day, Jordan also filmed the establishing shots for the setting as we had a tight schedule with only a few hours to actually create all of our footage.
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| Saturday morning with Liam |
On Saturday morning Liam Block and I took the coach to Kings Lynn at 7:00am where we would meet Jordan to begin filming immediately. It was exciting to travel away from Norwich for my thriller, as it really felt like a proper film project being in a different location.
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| Myself, Jordan and Liam exploring the set |
Being in Kings Lynn felt like a different world, the architecture was extremely different to the medieval style of Norwich. I also noticed a considerable amount of more greenery, it felt more natural. Despite being a big city, Kings Lynn had a more urban feel.
On Arrival Jordan took us to his home where we made 'boot-camp' and prepared to begin shooting (getting into costume, gathering props ect). A vibe of excitement was buzzing between the three of us, with our shot list in hand and camera at the ready, we took to the streets and trekked to our locations.
In lessons where other groups went off to shoot, we spent this time planning to ensure we knew exactly what we needed for our opening therefore the filming process was organised and structured with little procrastination. For each shot we took multiple takes, and then multiple extras as well because all three of us knew that coming back to Kings Lynn would be a possibility, but an annoying possibility. Overall the total filming process took us 7 hours which is most of the day, however it felt like the time flew by and Liam and I were on the road back home before we realised!
Over the course of the day I took several video logs, just to record our progress, keep track of how we did and to keep as a small reminder of the day out we had.
Saturday, 18 January 2014
Playing a character in another groups Thriller Film Opening
As our group planned to do all of the filming on the weekend of Friday the 17th, I was available to help out some class mates who had one of their main characters drop out of the project.
I assisted a group of two who had a general idea of stalking within their thriller opening, I took the place of the Victim and mainly just had to walk obliviously whilst being followed.
I had fun helping out my classmates and it was interesting to see how different their ideas and plots were to my groups planning.
In the shots I filled in for I was told to walk casually and act as though I was unaware of the guy following me (Fred Snell) and that was the majority of my role.
I'm glad that I chose to participate in this thriller film because I think the plot is sturdy and basic, with a clear antagonist and protagonist. And I believe the final edit will come together nicely.
Thursday, 16 January 2014
Kill Bill Volume1 [Case Study]
A little about KillBill1:
Directed By: Quentin Tarantino
Release Date: 17th of October 2003
Genre: Action, Crime, Drama, Thriller
Explain how Tarantino establishes thriller conventions in the title sequence.
Tarantino uses black and white lighting for the first scene of KillBill. This lighting is also known as Chiaroscuro lighting and is classically used in film noire, which is a sub genre of thriller. The lighting could also be used to represent the clear contrast between good and bad, where good is the light and bad is the dark. Including this technique within KillBill was necessary because the main root of the franchise, is a solitude Heroin fighting off her foes.
We first see the Heroine bleeding ecstaticly and she is clearly in deep pain. The camera is completely centered on her face in a close up- showing her weeping expression. Also, the camera is looking slightly downwards onto her, representing her helplessness as this point. The next shot is of Bill, walking toward her whilst the camera pans on his feet. Bill wears shiny black leather boots- with a heel. This is a reference to 'The Good, The Bad and The Ugly' where the theme is of western cowboys having gunfights. It is possible that Tarantino chose to give Bill Cowboy boots to make him sound more menacing (as his footsteps sound impressive and extreme). But also because the heel gives Bill a bit more height, making him seem as though he wants to be seen as bigger and more threatening than he really is.
Tarantino makes Bill a threatening and powerful character with the use of his hankerchief which has his own name etched into it. He reaches down to Kiddo's face wearing a leather glove and wipes her cut. Exclaiming 'I could kill you if I wanted to'. The use of the Hankercheif shows Bill must be a 'big time player' who has enough money to waste on things like getting his name imprinted everywhere.
The intro scene cuts after a gun shot is heard, followed by intense screaming- this is a soundbridge, and it adds to the thriller genre because it generates fear, tension and suspense. The same effect was used in Heavenly Creatures, but for a different cause (when the girls crush their mothers head).
Directed By: Quentin Tarantino
Release Date: 17th of October 2003
Genre: Action, Crime, Drama, Thriller
Explain how Tarantino establishes thriller conventions in the title sequence.
Tarantino uses black and white lighting for the first scene of KillBill. This lighting is also known as Chiaroscuro lighting and is classically used in film noire, which is a sub genre of thriller. The lighting could also be used to represent the clear contrast between good and bad, where good is the light and bad is the dark. Including this technique within KillBill was necessary because the main root of the franchise, is a solitude Heroin fighting off her foes.
We first see the Heroine bleeding ecstaticly and she is clearly in deep pain. The camera is completely centered on her face in a close up- showing her weeping expression. Also, the camera is looking slightly downwards onto her, representing her helplessness as this point. The next shot is of Bill, walking toward her whilst the camera pans on his feet. Bill wears shiny black leather boots- with a heel. This is a reference to 'The Good, The Bad and The Ugly' where the theme is of western cowboys having gunfights. It is possible that Tarantino chose to give Bill Cowboy boots to make him sound more menacing (as his footsteps sound impressive and extreme). But also because the heel gives Bill a bit more height, making him seem as though he wants to be seen as bigger and more threatening than he really is. Tarantino makes Bill a threatening and powerful character with the use of his hankerchief which has his own name etched into it. He reaches down to Kiddo's face wearing a leather glove and wipes her cut. Exclaiming 'I could kill you if I wanted to'. The use of the Hankercheif shows Bill must be a 'big time player' who has enough money to waste on things like getting his name imprinted everywhere. The intro scene cuts after a gun shot is heard, followed by intense screaming- this is a soundbridge, and it adds to the thriller genre because it generates fear, tension and suspense. The same effect was used in Heavenly Creatures, but for a different cause (when the girls crush their mothers head).
Thursday, 9 January 2014
Final Draft of Thriller Planning
The plot for our thriller film has had to be adapted and changed many times because of our over ambitous ideas, but we have managed to settle for a simple, interesting and thrilling storyline after much debate.
Keeping all characters the same, our main girl (named Eve) will be introduced as she is running away across a dyke (long shot). To introduce Cha-Cha and Hazel (the hitmen) we cut to a low angle shot of them preparing to go on the move, for example tying up shoe laces and buttoning up coats. We decided to have Eve introduced as she is running away from something as it generates suspense, and then to have the hitmen preparing to leave because it shows they are after her, but infers she has already done something guilt worthy.
Next, the location skips to the inside of a building, where we shoot a closeup of a record player emitting classical music to add tension. Eve enters a room where a box is sitting idle, she takes something from it which is not revealed to the audience deliberately. After exiting the location is revealed to the audience as a burnt down house. This is where Eve meets Cha-Cha and Hazel and a chase scene commences.
Eve is followed to an empty barn which is where the film ends, she enters it in complete disarray at being found and caught. The final shot will be of Eve in the barn alone, talking to herself as though she has gone slighty mad before the screen cuts to black. Our cliffhanger is then 'does Eve survive? Do the hitmen get her?'
Keeping all characters the same, our main girl (named Eve) will be introduced as she is running away across a dyke (long shot). To introduce Cha-Cha and Hazel (the hitmen) we cut to a low angle shot of them preparing to go on the move, for example tying up shoe laces and buttoning up coats. We decided to have Eve introduced as she is running away from something as it generates suspense, and then to have the hitmen preparing to leave because it shows they are after her, but infers she has already done something guilt worthy.
Next, the location skips to the inside of a building, where we shoot a closeup of a record player emitting classical music to add tension. Eve enters a room where a box is sitting idle, she takes something from it which is not revealed to the audience deliberately. After exiting the location is revealed to the audience as a burnt down house. This is where Eve meets Cha-Cha and Hazel and a chase scene commences.
Eve is followed to an empty barn which is where the film ends, she enters it in complete disarray at being found and caught. The final shot will be of Eve in the barn alone, talking to herself as though she has gone slighty mad before the screen cuts to black. Our cliffhanger is then 'does Eve survive? Do the hitmen get her?'
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Thursday, 19 December 2013
Third Draft Of Thriller Planning (With Costume Design)
After realising that our plot was going to be too complex to make in a two minute film, we scaled down our ideas untill we had a relatively simple storyline involving a crime commited by the main character.
We have decided to have our main character (known as Eve) steal something from an already burnt down house and then have her chased/followed/hunted down by two hitmen. If we have enough time in the film left we are going to shoot a few shots that imply it was Eve who burnt down the house in the first place in order to steal her chosen item.
The film will cut after the two minutes when the Hitmen finally reach her, where she is trapped. Before any action takes place- we thought this would be a good cliff hanger.
Specific Details
.Eve playing with a lighter in some shots (indicates mania and pyromania).
.The hitmen spinning their weapons round in a proffesional fashion (indicated terror).
.A scream after cutting to black at the end of the film (a soundbridge that acts as a cliffhanger).
Costume
EVE
.Using her bright red hair to show she is the target, and that she likes fire.
.All black clothing to contrast the hair
.Leather Jacket as it relates to Jason Locke (Essex Boys).
HITMEN (x2)
.A gasmask to cover up their identity and create terror like in Dead Mans Shoes.
.Full suits with black ties (relating to Jules + Vincent from Pulp Fiction).
.Trainers because we want someway of showing the hitmen are not complete proffesionals.
We have decided to have our main character (known as Eve) steal something from an already burnt down house and then have her chased/followed/hunted down by two hitmen. If we have enough time in the film left we are going to shoot a few shots that imply it was Eve who burnt down the house in the first place in order to steal her chosen item.
The film will cut after the two minutes when the Hitmen finally reach her, where she is trapped. Before any action takes place- we thought this would be a good cliff hanger.
Specific Details
.Eve playing with a lighter in some shots (indicates mania and pyromania).
.The hitmen spinning their weapons round in a proffesional fashion (indicated terror).
.A scream after cutting to black at the end of the film (a soundbridge that acts as a cliffhanger).
Costume
EVE
.Using her bright red hair to show she is the target, and that she likes fire.
.All black clothing to contrast the hair
.Leather Jacket as it relates to Jason Locke (Essex Boys).
HITMEN (x2)
.A gasmask to cover up their identity and create terror like in Dead Mans Shoes.
.Full suits with black ties (relating to Jules + Vincent from Pulp Fiction).
.Trainers because we want someway of showing the hitmen are not complete proffesionals.
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| the gas mask we have ordered for our film |
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