Deadline - 18th February - Filming deadline and further research and planning deadlines.

1. RUSHES to be logged onto MAC under appropriate file
















PLUS

2. Discussions on the use of the camera - new techniques attempted, development of skills from last year (for instance many of you are experimenting with focus pulls and depth of field that was not evident last year), problems with shots, discuassion about lighting. With all these, illustrate with imagery, be evaluative - what went well, did not go well. Anything you would have liked to have done that you were unable to do.














3. Consider which images you can use from your footage for the Poster and Review imagery. Make comparisons to real promotional material and discuss similarities/differences.




































4. Target Audience feedback - post parts of your footage and seek responses.















5. As well as all the day to day decision making and planning taking place.


Make sure titles of posts are clear

Film Poster and Film Title

If you have completed all of the tasks for this deadline, but are unable to shoot, start to plan your film title and especially the design of the title and where it will appear in the sequence. This needs careful research into fonts, sizing, colour, animation and presentation in the frame. It's really important to brand your film, and the title design will need to be carried through to the poster. Don't forget that you need to take photos on your shoot for the poster - this will save you having to call back actors and perhaps revisiting your locations.




This is the title shown in the opening sequence






This is one of the official film posters





Note the similarities in font style and the idea of branding

Risk assessments - be safe when you film

You must consider and document the risks that you might face filming in your various locations. In addiiton, discuss how these potential risks are overcome.

Aswell as health risks, you must also consider other difficulties like filming children or filming in a public place or in sight of the public.


Risk - filming on a pavement running alongside road
Precautions to reduce risk - High vis jackets to be worn by non actors, keep camera away from curb,

In addition, ensure someone knows where you are when filming, always have permission, don't film in such a way as to cause unnecessary risk to yourself - leaning out over heights, not having safety belts on in cars if filming, ALWAYS BE SAFE!!!!!!

Animatics

Apparently, some students have been adding their favourite tracks to the animatic and uploading to youtube! Not surprisingly, youtube is threatening to remove these and students could lose their work. You shopuld only be adding commentary to the animatic (if any sound) to explain storyboard.

Don't forget, it is not necessary to storyboard all 5 mins - you can trarget particular parts of the 5 mins.

Using double periods for filming

We are happy for you to do this as long as :_

1. You don't miss any other lessons before or after your double
2. You contact your supervisor informing them of your decision to film during the double
3 That you sign out at reception.

Your supervisor will ensure that your absence is authorised as long as you e mail them.

Filming

You are nearly all in a position to start filming. Some things to consider :-

1. Use the review day next Thursday as a possible time to film.
2. Don't forget to set white balance
3. Consider how you will use lighting - beware interior shooting and silhoeted images against windows etc.
4. Shoot each shot several times
5. Make a sandwich - ensure a few seconds of waste either side of the shot
6. Log footage sooner rather than later to the network - make sure you label it clearly and place in appropriate file (ask technician)
7 Concentrate on your framing

Missed deadline work : Defining your audience

Many groups have not completed the work due by the deadline last Friday.
If you have not completed all of the tasks, you are in danger of losing marks for planning, where your completion of deadlines is assessed.

As part of this work, you should have defined your audience. Do this using the demographic and psychographic terms introduced in the magazines course. Consider the ways in which your film is most likely to be viewed, as this may constrain your audience (you should also have commented on this as part of the short film promotion task - see below and in booklet).

Check the deadline tasks again below, and add any missing material fully and within the next couple of days at the latest:

Deadline Two: Ongoing Research and Pre-Production Planning (this has now passed)
On your group blog by the date below, with everyone contributing equally, and all individual posts tagged, aiming for 1 post per day per group member:

- evidence of ongoing research into short films which reflect the ongoing process of your planning (embed links to more films the group finds inspiring, with comments)
- short statements (bullet pointed paragraphs) on initial group decisions in each of the areas for assessment in Unit G325: genre/style, narrative, representation, target audience, use of film language (eg ideas for key shots and dominant mise en scene). Remember that you will need to consult members of your audience for feedback later in the process!
- allocation of roles at this stage
- location research (photos taken and uploaded with notes)
- initial props ideas and photos with notes
- lighting notes (on animatic or as separate posting)- use examples from others
- storyboard as animatic (with or without commentary)
- outline script (either as part of animatic, or separate posting)
- initial ideas for additional sound (soundtrack, foley/fx, ambient)
- notes, images, links on initial research into short film promotion (advertising, reviews)
- some audience feedback on story ideas, proposed characters and scenes (can be gathered and presented through social networking sites), with comments posted

What to write for the section on key media concepts - G325 exam question 1b prep

Key Media Concepts
This is one of the areas you need to comment on for Friday's deadline. For narrative and representation, I have uploaded 2 handouts to moodle, under Media A2, Advanced Portfolio. Read these again to help you. Consult the glossary linked on the right for key terms. For genre, consider how short films use genre (very flexibly, hybridised) - short films do not use genres in the ways in which mainstream films do).
For short film promotion, show that you understand where (on the internet) short films are seen by audiences, reviewed in online magazines and promoted - make links to websites you have used, and also look at important film festivals where short films have their own category. There are links to related websites dealing with short film promotion on the right bar.

Terms you should use for your statement on representation

You have been studying a unit on collective identity (unlike many other students from other centres), so you should have a good idea of the sorts of analysis expected under the heading 'Representation'. Here are some terms you may find useful:

General Terms:
- traditional, contemporary
- dominant ideology
- mediation
- collective identity
- representation

- masculinity and femininity

You should also make some comments here about the ways in which you have represented key themes or issues (this is particularly relevant if subject matter includes things like domestic abuse, rape and other sensitive issues). Be clear about how you want your spectator to be positioned in relation to these issues - do you want the spectator to leave your film having specific views on these issues?