Storyboard stuff. (;

1st half of storyboard.

2nd half of storyboard.

180° rule & Shot/reverse

180° rule

The 180° rule is a basic guideline in film making that states that two characters in the same scene should always have the same left/right relationship to each other. If the camera passes over the imaginary axis connecting the two subjects, it is called crossing the line, and when a new shot is taken from the opposite side, it is known as a reverse angle.

Shot/reverse

The shot/reverse shot is where one character is filmed facing another character, showing the back of the first character's head, then the shot switches to the other character's point of view, so to say. The audience would assume that the two characters are having a conversation, or are involved with each other, as they are each facing toward each other.

Jesus of Suburbia - partial analysis

Narrative
The music video ‘Jesus of Suburbia’ seems to tell the story of a young man who falls in with the wrong crowd. The character is seen at a party toward the beginning, and the first part of the actual song seems to be fitting for the scene it is setting. As the video progresses, we see that the man seems pretty isolated from the group of people he thought to be his friends; he is shown walking around alone a lot, and argues with them. His mother, also, seems to be quite dysfunctional; she drinks a lot, and even goes so far as to put out a cigarette in her son’s dinner.


Camera Angles
‘Jesus of Suburbia’ by Greenday features many varying types of camera angles throughout in order to give the video an edgy feel. A lot of side-angled shots draw attention to things just to the side of the characters, bringing to focus the surroundings and settings. Close-ups and big close ups make the characters’ eyes look bigger, making a big feature of them; they tell a story in themselves, really. When the shots become long or medium long shots, I think that we are supposed to be focusing on the background, mainly; such as when the ‘lead character’ is standing with his so-called friends.

Camera movement
The movements of the camera seem to be mostly jerky in this video, perhaps to show the inner turmoil of the young man, or to show the effects of alcohol and/or drugs, maybe. The zoom is used to draw attention to individual features upon a character or, for example, the writing on the walls in the cubicle in the music video. A steadicam is used when the young man is walking about the convenience store in the video; I think that this is to show that the man doesn’t particularly care what anybody else thinks of his actions, seeing as a stereotype has probably already been placed upon him because of his age and social group; he might as well act out, right?

Sound
With regards to the actual music, it appears to change depending on the circumstance which the character is in, and several different riffs are used during the piece; for example, an upbeat one for whilst the character is ‘partying’ and a more down-toned one when the character is isolated, etc.

Colour
There isn’t really much to say about colour, to be honest; a lot of greens are used throughout. However, ‘feature colours’ are used to emphasise different things in the background, etc, for example; the bright red wig one character wears, or the dark eyeliner which makes a feature of the main character’s eyes.

- jessica.

Brief of Study

There are two sections for the media course:

1. G321 - a portfolio in media. Print, video, audio or web design.
2. G322 - The key media concepts which consists of:

• Section A - Textual Analysis and Representation
• Section B - Institutions and Audiences

This year we have to do a preliminary task and a main task.

The preliminary task is a continuity task which involves filming and editing a character opening a door, crossing a room and sitting down in a chair opposite another character, with whom he/she exchanges a couple of lines of dialogue. This task should demonstrate shot/reverse, match on action and the 180 degree rule.

The main task will be the opening of a new fiction film, and should last around two minutes. All of the video and audio input must be original and produced by the candidates, and any audio must be from a copyright free source.

Camera work (movement & angles)

Camera angles

Extreme long shot (XLS)

The extreme long shot occurs when a camera captures an image from a distance. It is used to create a feeling of scope or magnitude, where a human figure or object may appear small. For example, in this picture we can see a figure standing by the basketball net, which emphasises the size of the houses and sky.

Long shot (LS)
A long shot usually shows all or most of a subject - a person, for example - and usually most of the surroundings. It is most often used to establish a setting. In this picture we can define that the subject is standing in a school playground, as we can see the building quite clearly behind her.

Medium long shot (MLS)

With the medium long shot, a figure is captured almost in full, but their feet & ankles are cropped at the bottom of the frame. In some social themed documentaries, this is used to keep social circumstances, rather than an individual, as the centre of attention.

Close up

A close up is where the camera focuses on an object or an individual, and is often used to convey emotional reactions through facial expression. From this picture, we could suggest that the subject is hiding herself behind her hair through shyness, or some other cause.

Eye level
The eye level shot is used to show what the subject, or character, may be seeing. For example, this shot was taken directly from the height at which I looked through the camera lens.

High angle

The high angle shot is when the camera is above the eye line, looking down upon the person or subject, making it/them look smaller. In the case of a person, having the camera at a high angle gives the impression that they are inferior or vulnerable.

Low angle

The low angle shot is where the camera is placed below a person or object, looking up. It can be used to make a person look more powerful, and give authority.

Camera movement

Zoom

Zooming is where the camera focuses in or out of a subject, and can be used to create tension; zooming out can also be used to reveal something which was previously unseen.

Pan

Panning is when the camera is turned or pivoted, often used to reveal more about an area or setting. For example, in this video the use of panning reveals that there is a tree to the right of the screen.

Tilt

This is where the camera is tilted on its axis, and vertical lines appear slanted to one side. This can be used in suspense films to create a sense of unease.

Crab

The crab shot is simply where the camera is moved from left to right, or visa versa, usually following something or someone.

Tracking shot

The tracking shot is where the camera is being moved smoothly towards or away from a subject, and it can be used to draw the viewer closer, or create emotional distance.

Arc shot
This involves circling a subject as they move, which often intensifies the sense of vulnerability in the character.

Right, well, right now it seems I can't upload any more of the videos, for some reason.
However, when I can, the rest shall be added.
Thanks,

-jessica.

The Sandman

Mise en scéne of "The Sandman"

As part of some observational work in Media last week, we had to watch "The Sandman" and write down any technical features we noticed to talk about in our blogs. Well, eh, here's mine.

Now, is that, or is that not, kind of a scary font? Well, before we even get into the short production, already the director is trying to portray that the Sandman is not, so to say, the "good guy" through the title itself.

Settings and props:

As we enter the first scene, we see a mother and a small child entertaining themselves in their home; the mother knitting and the child playing with a drum. We can see from the layout of their small home that they are rather poor as the walls are practically bare and most of the house is just wood. Upon the wall is a jerky, ticking clock, within which is a grim reaper-type figure that emerges when it is time for the child's bedtime - and, as we all know, associating bed with death is not good, and is a subtle hint that something bad is going to happen.
The child is then given a lamp by the mother, and sent on his way to his bedroom, braving creaking stairs and long, dark and drafty corridors. When the child at last arrives, he is greeted by the familiarity of his - rather oddly placed - bed.
Regarding the scenes with the Sandman inside what we can only assume is his home, the settings and surroundings are in dark, deep blues and purples to convey that the area is desolate and lonely, perhaps. Blue seems a lonely cold colour.

Costume, hair and make-up:

Seeing as the production is made up of puppets, there isn't really much to say about the hair and make-up of each character; the mother and child have basic, simple hairstyles, and the Sandman looks like a bird, so to speak, as his hair is pushed away from his face. Also, the Sandman's eyes are a sort of yellow colour, which makes him seem, perhaps, like he isn't quite human.

As with the hair and make-up, the mother and child have simple styled clothes which are lose and casual, probably to signify that they are poor or not very well off, whereas the Sandman wears cold blues and very tight-to-body clothing.

Facial expression/body language:

The child in the production often has a wide-eyed look, which makes him appear innocent and small next to his surroundings and the Sandman, but in some scenes this adds to the affect of the child's fear. Regarding his body language and movement, the child walks or runs as quietly and carefully as he can, portraying to the audience that he is afraid of whatever may be lurking in the dark.
The mother does not appear often in the feature, but when she does she seems to bring calm to the surroundings, wiping aways the child's fear. Her facial expression is calm and relaxed, though her facial features themselves are quite sharp and sallow as though she is either very old, or very thin.
The Sandman's movements are very bird-like, as is his posture. His face is long and he has a large beaky nose which only adds to the bird affect. When he moves, he creeps slowly so as to make floorboards creak and shadows lurk menacingly. Regarding his facial expression, he always seems to have a wide smile, almost as though he gains tremendous pleasure from making the small boy paranoid and scared.

Lighting and colour:

Lighting plays a vital part in The Sandman; it is used to cast eerie shadows, spotlight facial features and generally just scare the heck out of you.
When the first scene begins, the lighting is a soft yellow-brown colour, almost like honey, and it creates a warm and safe effect; it lights the most of the room, leaving no space for shadows or whatever might lurk out in the nighttime air...

However, when the child leaves the comfort of his sitting room, the only real source of light comes from the light his mother gave him, which causes long shadows to be cast across the floor and walls, making the corridor to his room appear longer.
There is little colour used in "The Sandman" and the backgrounds mostly consist of browns, blues, blacks and deep purples. The Sandman himself appears to be associated with the deep, dark colours, and the mother and child with the light - perhaps signifying, what we can only assume, is the Good Vs. Evil concept.
Also, as a final note to this section; the moon plays a rather significant part in "The Sandman" and is featured several times throughout - it is used to portray different things, but mostly it seems to be there to add an eerie affect to the child's bedroom.

Positioning within a frame:

The director uses different positioning to create different visual effects in The Sandman; sometimes to symbolise power, and sometimes to symbolise different sizes.

For example, when the child leaves the safety of their living room, the shot of the corridor comes from behind the child, making the distance of it seem much longer than it probably is, and also casting more shadows.

When the Sandman is shown, most of the shots are from below his face, making him seem more menacing and scary. The child also has a lot of shots wherein his eyes are made the main focus, portraying further his innocence and vulnerability. In shots with the Sandman and the child, the camera usually comes from behind and above the Sandman's head, making the child look smaller next to him, and less powerful.

Ta-daaah.

- jessica.

I'M NUMBER ONE. (Literally) oo,

Right, so, the name thingy sort of explains the obvious, so I won't bother with introductions just to save the hassle of re-reading the same thing over and over again. Convenient, eh?
I'm sixteen (just) and in an attempt at landing myself a future in something other than bin-craft related activities, I've chosen to continue my education at Smithdon as a Sixth former, where I'm studying Media, History, Sociology and English Literature. (Y)
The object of my blog, I suppose, is to express what I learn in Media, right? Right. Well, technically I didn't start this the first day of having it, but that doesn't matter, I think.
Long-winded pieces of text aren't my strong point, as you can probably tell.

Right. So, today I've actually started adding to this blog. I kind of like Media; I want to do something in journalism, to be honest, Uh, well, all I can really think to mention about the lesson I had today is that I learned a little about the names of different screen shots, and the Sandman thing was freakin' weird.

Mush luff.
T_T