planning for ultra short film

Proposal

Thursday, 20 October 2016
Proposal for The Job
What is your Genre?

This short film is based around a comedic genre with a dark vibe to it. It has a few ideas which match the dark humour within the short film. The dark comedy includes 2 characters which go through an altercation over a job application. As a group we found that this would be a good way to display our skills and create something unique.

Who are your characters?

The employer is a typical boss like character who sits up and is a little bit snobby. He has correct dress sense and speaks well as all established employers will. The candidate is a little scruffy and weird. He has vacant looks and just screams unemployable. Its implied that he wont get the job straight away with the camera angles and how he is presented. The third alter ego is a mythical creature/ figment of the candidates imagination that then follows the employer around.

What is your setting?

It is set in modern day London but does have mythical aspect with the introduction of the strange candidate. We have open, public locations. These locations are conventional of a typical London shopping centre. It is set in the Ilford Exchange and food court the majority of the locations then take place in and around the area.

What is your story line?


It begins with an interview stage which ends badly for the candidate as he does not get the job. The employer faces the decision to not hire the candidate and the scene moves on to the reaction of the candidate, who is shocked with the decision. This altercation then causes a very strange effect on the candidate where he turns into something of a surreal nature, he starts to stalk the employer following him where ever he goes in order to get an answer the candidate follows the employer down the street, into shops and near his house, to name a few locations. This then leads to a dramatic ending as the employer receives a huge shock from the candidate and it ends badly for them both, the employer gets hit over the head with a skateboard and the candidate has left himself in a bad situation.

What is your narrative?

The short film is linear and follows one scene after another. We don't want to create any confusion within the shots as the story its self is already confusing. Everything will take place in chronological order and with the addition of a montage and a jump cut sequence we show the passing of time.

How will your film incorporate all the Section A techniques?

Shot variety in this part of the film is key as it needs to be humorous. The audience need to understand the humour in each shot. Cut aways will fill certain parts of the awkward, such as the camera moving away from the actors to a shot of someones hands, this then fills the awkward silence. The use of camera language has effects on the audiences mood to the scene, if we keep things exciting it will allow them to want to watch more. The 180 degree rule will follow a conversation between the 2 this will also allow for a shot reverse shot to take place to the follow the conversation. The sequences which display 2 editing rhythms will come in the montage which will be fast paced and quick to show the passing of time, where as the slow paced editing will come to the climatic ending where the employer gets hit with a skate board. The film will include random transitions to ensure the funny factor as we get to the random locations where the candidate is following the employer around such as; dissolves and cut between each scene, using creative transitions in between each cut to have a sense of fluidity.

How will your film incorporate all the Section B techniques?


We have shots such as a POV shot and the aspect of the conversation has the 180 degree rule and a shot reverse shot sequence. The film will include random transitions to ensure the funny factor as we get to the random locations where the candidate is following the employer around. For section B the jump cut sequence will be the montage of the candidate following the employer around. It adds to the humour of the films, we will also have a point of view shot from the angle of the employer who unfortunately sees something terrifying before he dies. It evidently just doesn't end well for him. The montage sequence will have a sound track playing in the background, this will then be cut to the soundtrack to create a sense of rhythm and humour to the whole thing.

Shooting script

logistics

Purposes of editing

The Good, The Bad and The Ugly final scene

Storytelling

It is often to do with how the editor uses different types of shot to reveal flashback or information to the audience, so they can gain knowledge on what is happening around the subject. They often have to use this in films and that is because it creates a flow what is happening within all scenes.

An example of a scene that I chose from a film is called 'The Good, The Bad and The Ugly final scene'. During this scene the audience can denote the type of genre of this film is which is western and also action. You can tell that The Good, The Bad and The Ugly final scene relate to the genre that it is meant to be. They make this clear to the audience through use of props, location, and costume. The costume shows a fashion of a western/ deserted place, this is shown at the time of 0:09- 0:14 where they show a shot of the each character within the scene. All the characters within the scene are wearing western clothing. One of a mid-shot of the antagonist and a two shot on the man next to the grave and one protagonist standing. The first character that shown during those seconds as well is holding a gun which clearly tells the audience on what other genre the film falls under which is action. The location is shown clearly which is an establishing shot were the standoff would be. This is done during the time of 4:07. This clearly tells the audience that where the conclusion of the film would be at.

The use of Mise-en-Scene creates a meaning to the audience as it allows the audience to gain some information on how the scenes relates to genre of the film. In this scene it shows this through the use of western country clothing, the use of props such as guns and the location (field/ dessert). This will therefore make it clear to the audience on the specific genre they are watching and the target audience the film is aiming at which predominantly the male audience.

Combining shot into sequence

It is how the editor uses the shots to combine it as a sequence or an editing convention. These technique could be such as: Seamless/Continuity editing, Motivated cut, montage editing, Jump-cutting, 180 degree rule, transition and many more. The reason why the editor uses these convention is so that it create a certain effect and meaning to the viewer.

I use the example from the top from a film called 'The Good, The Bad and The Ugly final scene' because there are lots of moment within where it combine shots to create a sequence of editing technique. This scene uses a convention within this scene which is motivated cut. This done between the time of 0:38 to 0:48. The motivated cut is used during those seconds. The motivated cut starts off with firstly, a close up of the villain and then a long shot of the protagonist kicking open the casket, then a high angle of a man looking down at the casket. This gives the audience a hint for the first time on what the next shot will be like next which is a high angle of the fossil. By using motivated cut it will give the audience an idea of what the subject is looking at and it allows them to gain information what is there to look at the grave.

By combining shots into sequence the editors are able to develop the drama that is happening within this scene so they can engage the viewer. This would also allow the editor to use editing technique to make the scene flow such as match on action, shot reverse shot .etc. Therefore this will allow the viewer to see any revealed information whilst watching the scene in film. This could be items or props that are used to make the scene have a significant moment for example indicate what could happen next with the guns which happen in the standoff.

Creating Pace

It is how the editor uses editing pace to communicate with the audience. Depending the scenes that the editor has to edit the editor will have to vary the pace from one shot to another. If the editor decides to make partly one of the scene fast it will communicate to the audience, that something big is going to happen. However if the pace of the scene is slow such a conversation scene it would look neutral to the audience.

Within this scene 'The Good, The Bad and The Ugly final scene' the editor decided to use slow editing pace. This is done during the conversation scene between the time of 0:10 to end of the conversation which is done at the time of 1:43. The reason why the editor used a slow pace editing is so that the scene look neutral to audience. The fast pace editing is used only very briefly between the time of 6:25 to 6:47. The reason why the made these seconds as fast pace is to make the scene become very intensive and also to foreshadow death as we see the prop which is the gun constantly shown within the shots like almost a montage.

By managing the pace properly within the scene it will not abrupt the scene and it will it flow. This therefore mean that the example has used slow and fast editing pace simultaneously to guide the audience emotion. This does also mean that the editor did use editing pace to enhance the atmosphere of scene.

The Development of Editing

Before Editing

This is when editing was not introduces to clips or video and the audience would not have known what it was because it never did exist at this period of time. During the year 1897 the first film was made by the Lumiere Brothers they are the ones that invented film to the audience. There was only one shot within their film and it was quite a long shot, lasting around 45 seconds. The reason why they used a single shot is because they did not have much money and also the equipment was extremely pricey. Therefore the only things that the Lumiere Brothers could do is to gather the shot that they got and make it into a film. Also during this year  Geogre Albert Smith became the first ever director. The only properties that the Lumiere Brothers and the director did use: was an analogue cinematographic camera because that was the only thing that they could afford including an analogue film tape.

An example of the first film that was made was called La Sortie de l'Usine Lumière à Lyon. The reason why this is a great example is because this film was made before editing could be produced. You can tell for the first time in that they had use the long shot this is done the 6 seconds of the film. It shows a bunch a crowd walking which may confused the audience as it quite short and hat they are not use to seeing films on screen.



This was the first film to be ever screen to an audience. The audience had no idea of what the film was about and the audience felt unsure about the story line because they had no clue as it was the first time that they were seeing something on screen. The audience sat and watched the film in a theatre. The film had not capture any sound or editing techniques such as cuts because it did not exist. The only development of editing within that year was that they were able to tell some stories to the audience. However it may have caused some stressed to the audience as they did not have any idea on what was going on and they thought everything single bit of action was happening in real life and the graphics did not look very clear.

In Camera Editing

This is when the director learned about using multiple shots. The director used the clip that they he gathered together and he basically cut the shot using scissors. It was the first time that films had used multiple shots within the film. It was the fist time that editing existed. This was done during the year of 1898. There was man who had invented this multiple shot and editing whose name, called Robert W.Paul. He is also the first person to created still shot within his film and merely created continuity editing and stop motion whilst using still stop motion.

An example of a film that Robert W.Paul  made was called 'Come along, do! - 1898'. In this film they use the technique called multiple of shots for the first time in film. The first shot start as usual one long shot which last for 28 seconds, the second shot is where continuity editing, still shot and also stop motion. The first shows a discussion is happening and second and third shot illustrate what is going on in the museum.

This clip create an impact toward the audience. As you can see from the time of 44 seconds the audience would feel very confuse as the shot jumps to another frame. the reason why they would feel like this is because they are seeing this for the first time. Another thing that audience would not have expected is transition, such as cut which is what the editor merely got to understand on how to use in film during these period. However a cut was shown in this example which I used, this would make the audience feel confused because they thought they were missing a bit of action. The development that has been put on this example are such as: more shot, clip is longer and editing technique which had been seen for the first time.

Following the action

It is a type of clip which illustrate different shots to follow the action that is happening within the scenes of the film. During the 1899 Robert Paul.W came up with an idea which was called cutting between different shots, he did this by putting the shots together that he had available even though some were different shot. Paul then cut the shot by using scissor to cut the tape and also glue to stick the different tape together. The reason why the he did this is so that the audience could follow the action that was happening around the subject. He also wanted to create for the first time Cut between shots so that the audience would not be missing any action that was happening within the scene. he was also the pioneer of cross cutting.

An example of a film that Robert W.Paul made to illustrate this technique is called 'As Seen Through a Telescope (1900) - 1st Telescoped PoV Close-Up - George Albert Smith'. During the film you can see that he created different shot that no other film had been able to make during this time period. You can tell this at the time of 0:13 an extreme close up is introduce for the audience. Extreme close up uses of editing technique of the telescope, which makes the audience realise what the man is looking at and also made the audience think that it was quite sexual. It also made the audience feel like that they part of the action or quite guilty of watching it.

The audience may have started to understand what was going on within film. This is may be because of the new shots that was put together and created ongoing, such as extreme close up, close up and extreme long shot which is what has been produced for the first time in any film during these period. An editing technique such as image mask is use for the first time which allow the audience see what is going on within the scene. The development would be that there is more shot and that more significant technique is used also he clip last longer

Multiple points of view

(0 seconds to 1:09)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FqtwzZETRsg

It is where the audience would see from a shot that it quite far of the subjects perspective or it is where the edit cut to lots of different position to reveal what is happening around the subject. In the 20th century exactly, a man called James Williamson created a technique called Multiple point of view. he was also the first person to another editing technique called Match on Action. The reason why he chose to use this type of editing within his film is to give the audience a hint on what the next shot would look like.

An example of a film that James Williamson made is called Attack on a China Mission, 1900. The reason why this is a great example is because it cuts to a lot of different point of view within the film. During the film the audience see that a new have editing technique is being use such as match on action. This is significant within the film as it may frighten the audience because of he props that is used which is the gun. This may have made some of the audience think that they are dead because of the scenario of the film. The mach on action is used at the time of 0:37-0:52. The first shot is a long and then the next shot is set for a high angle but from a point of view of the battle that is happening around the solider.



I believe that there are quite lot of improvement within these period, there are frequency of shots within the example (Attack on a China Mission, 1900), this will therefore set a tone within the film such as suspense for the audience and also it adds tension within the film. The main difference within this film that no other had within these time period is that there are more continuity editing that has been produced and it also tell the audience a bit more about the story line of the film. Also there is also a bit more pace within the film.

Shot variation

During the 1915 it was the first time that film became featured it was also the first time that films became longer lasting up to 2 hours. It was also the first time where lots of different type camera language were used to guide the audience emotions and put into film. It was also when actors started to become known to the public as a stars/celebrities that the audience wanted to watch featured film which had particular actor. DW Griffths discovered that the paying audience actually liked watching the stars with a closeup shot. DW Griffths was also the first person to create dissolve and he put it in the scenes.

An example of a film that he made was called 1915: The Birth of a Nation - Hollywood's first motion picture. Through out most of the film DW Grffth uses an editing technique which looks like a masking technique. The reason why he uses this technique is to make the audience focus on the subject. This done at the time 25:44, which illustrate the masking technique. The only times he does not use the masking technique is during the fight scene or cross cutting scene.



There had been a lot of editing improvement within film the reason is because the duration of the film is longer. This film called The Birth of a Nation is over 3 hours. This must mean people had more money to make film and that may be one of reason why film may have improve massively. However the graphics is still not that great but there has been a slight improvement within the graphics especially in the conversation scene within this film. This is done within the film at the time of 8:25.

Manipulation of Diegetic Time and Space

During the 1925 it was the first time in films where the director edited certain scene to make it look like a montage. He use the montage technique to make his viewers feel suspense within the scene. This was most of the time shown within his film in either the fight scene or war scene. This may made the audience feel quite worried as it used lots of continuous fast pace editing although some of the audience may have been kind excited because it contained lots of cross cutting between the scene.

A director called Eisenstein was the first person to create montage but he called it 'Rythmic Montage'. One of the film he made that uses montage editing style was called Battleship Potemkin (1925). As you can tell from whole clip he use montage to create an intensive atmosphere within his scene. However he didn't just us fast pace editing to just increase tension within the scene, he uses a lot of cutaway shot to guide the audience reaction.  This is done at the time of the clip at 5:21-5:25 this clearly show a cutaway shot was use within the scene.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hESDxUnZ1fo

In this film there had been major increase in terms of frequency of shots, also there are lot more cast member within this film that no other has during these time period. Also the technique montage is being use for the first time to create tension within the scene to guide the audience. This will therefore create a good story-line for the audience to see because it will make them feel involved within the film.

Analogue (AKA linear) Editing

At 1917 an editing machine was created for the editors.it was mainly use after the film making was done.The director used this product because it allowed them to use the milestone and be able to see through videos clearer. It also made it easier the editor job a lot easier because they did not need to use scissors and glue to the clips together. This was made by Iwan Serrurier.

An example of a film that this product help a lot for is a director called Eisenstein. A film he had made was called Battleship Potemkin (1925). The reason is because he had to use a lot of editing especially throughout his montage. 

This product had brought into a major change within the filming industry. Editors had to use these equipment because it became the film industry standard for editing. It also made the film look exciting for the audience as when using the product within the film enhance the finished and it appeal to the audience.

Digital

Whereas this means that everything was completed edited through a computer. This was the first time use in 1992, the editor used the digital one to enhance the looks of the video and it was much easier to use even though computer were quite slow back then.

An example of a films that had used it was called Toy Story the reason is because they had used a lot of computer effect to make the film. This was also the first time that animation was completely edited on a computer.

This became reliable to use because it gave people opportunity to make videos. It was also because people could edit through computer which made it quite easy to edit.

Film video

This where videos were shot on phone because it showed better quality within film because it made the film look realistic. It was also the first time where the director had not use VHS, the reason is because it was quite complex to use and it was time consuming to make. This would allow them to use effect from their and edit the video easy.

An example from a film that used this type of way to film the video was called Tangerine. You can tell that it had use to develop the looks of the video. This was also the most talked film in hollywood as it was the first time that people use to film for 2 hours.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T1dJOB-uVTY

This film made a lot of audience talk to each other about the film because it created a lot of impact and also it made a lot of audience like it. By using an i-phone the editor were able to use the clips more effectively and it did not cost as much money as they thought. This equipment may be use more often in soap shows as they make lots of episodes.