Too many Blue For More Bad News

Directors Commentary

James: The film starts with my character sat in mcdonalds looking very impatient but because of the use of final cut pro and a different camera shot we made it look like i was waiting and exiting from starbucks, and goes to meet his partner in crime afterwards. After a brief greeting my character and his partner in crime make there way down the road.

Jeremy: The film leads to my character meeting James and we walk to the destination of where we will commit the crime, stealing the files. the use of final cut pro let us make fast cuts and nice camera shots to make our film starting questionable. then we see the character ethan he is the victim who holds the files, the use of split screen transition works very well as it puts the attention to the man walking with the files (Ethan). Then I'm waiting on the train plat-form waiting for Ethan then I run on the plat-form after Ethan. then use of different camera shots of Ethan running away from me consists of extreme close-ups and medium shots.

James: As my character waits to ambush Ethan who is holding the files the camera does an over the shoulder shot of Ethan coming towards my character. As my character wrestles Ethan to the wall the use of birds eye view shot makes it realistic ,and steals the files we used final cut to avoid any visible physical contact but make it look like a real scuffle. After the files have been stolen my character and Jeremy's character are filmed running away with the files via a side panning shot.

Shooting Schedule

Day 1 - Locations: Exchange Square & Manchester Picadilly Station.
The first day we sorted out our locations for the characters to begin their journeys, we went to the royal exchange square where we shot the beginning scenes of the movie.
Shots: James inside Starbucks, James exiting Starbuck down the alleyway and meeting Jeremey, Jeremy and James walking down the Street (front and back shot). Ethan exiting train station, Ethan crossing the road, Side shot onto the bridge, Back shot walk across bridge.

Day 2- Locations: Manchester Picadilly Gardens.
The second day of shooting we stayed in Picadilly and shot a first attempt at the confrontation scene between Ethan and James, we based our scene next to a large grey wall which was the enterance to Picadilly Gardens.
Shots: Hand held camera close up on Ethan's face whilst running, Over shoulder shot of Ethan running into James, Side full body shot of James throwing Ethan, Birds eye view shot of Ethan on floor after punch, Establishing shot full shot of James snatching the files off Ethan.

Day 3-Locations: Manchester Picadilly Gardens, Manchester Picadilly Station.
The third day we revisited Picadilly station and gathered the shit of Ethan's movement down to Picadilly Gardens.
Shots: Half body shot Ethan walking up to and past the camera. This was the only shot that made the cut into our film from that day.

Media Picture Story-Board

These shots show the places we used to film our production, we believe using the city enviroment would create the modern feel of our film but also help with the speed and intensity implied with the chase because of all the fast daily city life.
The main part of the starting sequence is shot next to the wall on the bottom right hand corner of the fourth screen shot, the wall provided a barrier which stopped us from overstepping the 180 degree line.
The third screen shot is the pathway that one character (Ethan) walks through after leaving the trainstation, we chose this setting because it was a good scenery to create an establishing shot out of, the bridhe also created an access point linking the further scenes leading up to the confrontation.
The first screen shot is the getaway route, using the features surrounding it such as the water fountain creates context and detail into the films flow, also the long low bridge next to it where two characters (Jeremy and James) run across as they escape with the files.

Evaluation for Main Task.

Evaluation

For our main task we decided to make a action/thriller type of film beginning, This consisted of two people organising a theft of a secret file containing important Government data. The two people trying to steal the file are James and Jeremy, the person who holds the files is Ethan. Ethan set off from the train station to deliver the file to his bosses, but as he reaches Piccadilly Gardens his fortune changes and he is ambushed by the two gangsters. Ethan is out muscled by one gangster (James) who takes the file from him and leaves him there beaten and bruised. Ethan tries to explain to his boss what has happened, his bosses not being very understanding, demand he retrieves the file at any cost. Will he be able to though as the gangsters think they've done the job, but it isn't over yet. We use a range of shots which are provided it our shot list and also the shooting schedule. From long establishing shots, to hand held close ups as Ethan attempts in vain to get away. We created a beat for the piece on Garage Band which we feel represents our films intensity and excitment, we added them together balancing and replacing the diagectic sound in places where it was needed.

In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?

The genre of our film is action, we have created our piece with mainly original thinking from the group, but we also used the guidance of two films created for the same genre that our film can relate to in terms of the shots we used, and the environment of daily life incorporated when the objective is a high government matter. We used The Bourne Identity as inspiration because it is a very successful film along the ideas of what we are attempting to produce. Scenes where Jason is running through the streets trying to get away from the people trying to kill him, we analysed and found the type of shots used and how they use them to create intensity and suspense.The other film used for inspiration was Taken because of it clever use of shots from when the gils are beingabducted and also when Liam Neeson finds the guy who lined them up to be adbucted, they show this through shots that emphasise the action and each punches force. More detail is shown further down our blog along with the other film for inspiration and techniques. We used the surroundings to give a feel that The Bourne Identity shows to the audience that this sort of stuff could be happening right now but we citizens don’t take enough notice of it. We also based the shots used for the chase scene form the capture scene in Taken, the shot over the shoulder of James when he grabs me in form that, and also when spotted by Jeremy on the tram stop, the increased focus from Ethan to Jeremy was inspired by the same film too. We used the ideas for editing off both the films because the sequences are very similar because the editing uses lots of cuts and shots in the short space of time given to give a fast paced element and tension to the film.

We did have many original elements in our film such as the costumes. We felt that we should use everyday clothing as the agent wouldn’t want to bring any unnecessary attention to himself when carrying the files. Also the idea adding the split screen transition to go from one location to the other was our own which we believe gives an extra excitement to our film.

How does you media product represent particular social groups?

Our film represents a male dominent world. The attitudes that it’s a dog eat dog world/ industry and only the toughest succeed. We stereotype that representation by showing in our movie that the weaker good person is a white man and the person stealing from him is of ethnic qualities and considers his actions as if he was a modern day gangster equivalent, where as in real life it could easily be the other way around in term of ethnicity.This I believe would attract young black ethnic males to come watch. We show a good representation of the working class white agent which can be another social group aimed at for this film, he walks and stands/holds his posture straight back and legs width same as shoulders, but we also show bad representation of the guys stealing the files as they are of different ethnic backgrounds and are stealing which is a stereotypical of an ethnic person in these situations.

What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why?

Taken was distributed mainly by Europacorp who are a fairly established distribution comapany, They comverted the lanuage of Taken and distributed it around the world increasing profits. I believe that this distribution company would be far to expensive and professional for our film whereas Norfilms could be an excellent distributor because it is an independent British film and television production company, based in Stockport, Cheshire dedicated to supporting and raising the professional skills of the independent film sector and distributing. This company is local to us so we wouldn’t need to travel anywhere and they also cover a range of film genres in their work so it shows they have a stable business and a success rate. The film wouldn't have enough funding to go global with advertising but it would get out into the industry, and by the use of free marketing such as word of mouth and the actors going on chat shows, we could manage to distribute the film around the country increasing profits.

Who would be the audience for your media product?

The audience for this film would be males for starters. The action sequences and male domination of this film, shows the ideas of males being made into an action film which doesn’t influence a girls position to watching it. I would also say that the age range for watching this film is between the ages of 16 and 25. Just simply for the action and modern day attachments to the film that the age range would understand and enjoy, and also the music is often slandered by older generations and rubbish which could relate to their feeling of the film. We would definitely aim the film towards that age range when showing previews and distrusting it. I believe that black males of the age range are most like to watch it because of the gangster-ish qualities shown by the people stealing the files, one is of black ethnicity as well.

How did you attract/address your audience?

We captured the different angled shots such as the high angled establishing shot to begin with and the low angled side view shot of Jeremy’s foot in the chase scene. We edited them into a fast paced sequence so that the extract seems thrilling and exciting and we also leave it on a cliff hanger so that it entices the audience to carry on watching it by purchasing the film. We also made the characters relate to everyday people apart from the jobs they perform so that people from different ages and backgrounds can relate to their initial qualities, and the language they use. We used specific shots such as an establishing shot inside of a well-known cooperation Starbucks. And used a location where many students the film is aimed towards would go because of the shopping facilities and relax area. WE also created the music ourselves because it gives a unique element to our film and also is our style/generation of music which the audience can relate to and enjoy.

What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?

We have learnt that editing is a vital part to the process of producing a decent, believable product. We have learnt how to use ‘Final Cut Pro’ and incorporate many of its features such as fading title sequences to include our names under the appropriate titles as a professional touch, and also the use of synchronising the music we created on ‘Garage Band’ with the film in order to achieve the right atmosphere and age to this film. We realized that our film can look completely different if you change the style of music from it so it was essential to get it right in order to create the right feel of our film. We have learnt also that the editing is a time consuming thing so it’s better to go out and get plenty of shot because when it comes to editing it’s easier to have more shots and not use them all, than to have to stop editing and go out filming again because the scene you shot wasn’t right. Also the filming can be tough getting the film to flow from one shot to another without any added movement of the actors or location so that the film is believable. It is also a lot easier to take two cameras rather than one because we were able to shoot the scene where James takes the files off Ethan in two camera angles and shots without having to redo the scene.

Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to the full product?

We have learnt a lot of new shots to perform, but also we have learnt when it is necessary to include these shot in the film to provide a smooth running film. We have learnt not only how to film the film, but also how to edit the film on Final Cut software, detailed enough to consider the film to be believable and entertaining to the provided audience. Using the software we learnt how to add text and how to incorporation transitions into the film just to give an edge to its flow. We have learnt how to distribute the necessary jobs in our group to make sure everyone is busy working effectively to get the best out of our production, and also to get the best out of us, finding our strengths and weaknesses toward the filming and editing and acting accordingly on each to improve our film. We have also learnt how to use Garage Band software to create the right atmosphere to our production and accompany the pace of the editing.

Final task shot list

Final Task Shot-List.

1. Establishing shot of James In a Café tapping a lighter.

2. Extreme-close up of James looking frustrated.

3. Extreme-close up of James tapping the lighter on the table.

4. James receives a phone-call.

5. James walks out of the café to talk on the phone.

6. James walk down the road angrily down the street.

7. James meets with Jeremy an underground gang-member.

8. They discuss the way they’ll get the secret files.

9. There is then a cut of James and Jeremy walking.

10. Ethan an important MI5 worker walks down a major road.

11. Cut to a side angle view of Ethan walking past.

12. James and Jeremy shallow depth of field in a panning shot.

13. Establishing shot of Ethan waiting on the train platform with bag containing the files.

14. Jeremy and James walk onto platform shot from behind.

15. James reaches out for the files and runs.

16. Long shot of James and Jeremy running out of the station.

17. Cut back to Ethan kicking an object in frustration.

18. Camera shot freeze on James and Jeremy running down stairs freeze on the hi five.

19. Cut back to Ethan ringing his MI5 HQ and says how he’ll sort it out himself, and leaves a cliffhanger on how he’ll achieve this.

20. Extreme close up on lips, to give maximum attention to the dialogue.