Monday, 2 April 2012

How does your media project use, develop or challenge the codes and conventions of your genre?

In the majority of our film we used the same codes and conventions as the films 'Shaun Of The Dead' and 'Zombieland' this was because the films were of the same genre and what they did within their films proved to be successful:

Shots and Camera Angles
We decided to adopt similar shots to those of Zombieland and Shaun Of The Dead as when typing into google these are the scenes that are spoken about, talked about and are shown across the Internet.
Shaun Of The Dead - Tracking Shot
Forsaken - Tracking Shot Recreate








So as you can see above, we used the same type of camera shots as in 'Shaun Of The Dead'. Throughout our film we used mainly medium shots, establishing shots and tracking shots this is because like typical horror films they want to make the audience be on the edge of their seats and to make them question whats going to happen next, the main aim of horror films is to build tension and suspense and that is exactly what we tried to recreate in our film by using the same style and shots that is used in 'Shaun Of The Dead'. The reason for our use of medium shots and tracking shots was not to only build suspense but to allow the audience to see exactly whats going on, so that there is no misunderstanding but enough to allow them to question whats happening. Another example of camera angles and shots used is in 'Zombieland':
Forsaken- Kill Shot Recreate
Zombieland - Kill Shot









So as you can see, we once again used the same shots and angles that is used in 'Zombieland'. We have Columbus conquering his fears and about to finish of the zombie clown with a hammer on the left and our recreation of me (Sam) about to kill a zombie girl with a metal rod. The use of having a low angle shot like 'Zombieland' is to show the power and dominance of the character and pushing of previous opinions on them, for example Columbus from 'Zombieland' is shown as a coward and weak throughout but is finally shown as someone who can be brave and strong. So like Columbus, Sam is shown as a stupid and weak because she's a blond girl but pushes those opinions of her away when she kills the zombie.

Location
Originally we were going to challenge the codes and conventions of horror/comedy because we were going to film in a woods and creepy buildings however we realised that this would be too hard and would be more of a horror than both as creepy buildings and woods add tension and suspense as they are very secluded areas so that's why we didn't challenge it as whats comical about woods and creepy buildings? So instead we decided to adapt the idea of 'Shaun Of The Dead' once again as they have their location set on the streets and in a pub. The use of setting the locations on the streets is because this is were everyday real life occurs so if something was to happen or change people would know the difference, so when we film me and Amir (Sam and Drake) walking down a street and no one is around the audience assume automatically something has happened. We also used some aspects of 'Zombieland' in our film as there is a small scene where Columbus is conquering is fear of toilets at the start of the film so we developed the codes and conventions of the film as we filmed about 3 minutes of footage in the toilet. The reason we used the toilets to film our sequence was to make toilet humour not just a saying but to mean it physically and literally to add to the comedy section of the genre but also not many films use toilet scenes in them so this would have been one of the first the audience would have seen which would mean they don't know what happens in them meaning our film wouldn't be to predictable.

Forsaken - Toilet Scene
Zombieland - Toilet Scene









Mise En Scene
Looking back now, i think we could of challenges the code and conventions here as in all horror and horror/comedy films, all characters use weapons to kill the zombies. To challenge this we could have actually killed the zombies with the use of our hands, feet and even mouth; personally i think it would be comical as well as strange to see a character bite a zombie or headbutt them in the face. But instead we decided to to use the typical codes and conventions that is used in 'Shaun Of The Dead' and 'Zombieland'. Like in 'Zombieland' we decided to use stupid weapons to protect ourselves however in ours we never actually got to kill a zombie with it, in 'Zombieland' they do.

Tallahassee Banjo KO
Drake Destruction Of The Deodorant












So as you can see above we have Tallahassee from 'Zombieland' where he's in the supermarket, he then plays the banjo to tease and lure a zombie towards him, a zombie then appears running towards Tallahassee and he then walks up to the zombie and smacks the banjo straight of the zombies face. The use a banjo adds to the comedy and creates the audience to laugh, but also comedy now becomes associated with this character like Amir (Drake) is in our film. In our film we have Amir (Drake) walking through the toilets holding a deodorant can and preparing to use it, this like 'Zombieland' adds to the comedy and makes the audience laugh.

Sunday, 1 April 2012

Previous Planning - Storyboard


In the first shot (which is in the top left hand corner) we have a 180 degrees tilt upwards of the camera to show the sky and a satellite. This is to establish a setting to the audience and allow them to make their own guesses as to where the characters are and whats going to happen, this ensures they are focused and interested.

In the second shot (which is in the top right hand corner) we have a medium shot of the street helping create an establishing shot so that the audience can put together the location of characters but make them question 'Why are they there?' The shot focuses on the whole street to start with but it then blurs out the background of street making the focus on the garages making putting suspense on the audience.

The third shot is a high angle shot of a road with characters shadows appearing into the shot. The image creates the appeal that these characters are hero or the good guys as they are appearing from a beam of sunlight similar to that of cowboys walking away into the sunset at the end of the film.

The fourth shot is a low medium shot of a bollard in the middle of a path showing the characters feet walking past. Up until now the audience haven't seen the characters faces due to only been showed establishing shot because we want the audience to guess and understand the location and situation before the audience see's the characters.

The next two shots are took from inside of a bin and is handheld. This is because we want the audience to show or hint (if their not that smart) that its a zombie in a bin and that the shot is from their perspective and point of view. Its stars off in blackness and then the bin lid rises which follows with camera panning from left to right to show the zombie checking the surroundings to realise that no one is there so it goes back into the bin. The next shot that follows is the zombie (the camera) popping back up, panning left to right and then stopping on the approaching characters. This the first real time we see the full bodies of the characters allowing the audience to see the people they will be watching for the next 7-10 minutes.

The next scene is a low angle shot showing Amir (Drake's) domiance and power. However the conventions of him being a strong and tough man are diminished by the humor of this 'strong' 'powdergul' man holding a banana and then throwing the banana onto a zombie and not even realising that the zombies there despite the noises which once again add to the comedy.

The 8th shot is the breaking point of the introduction as the audience finally see the main characters and are now able to make their own assumptions of the characters through their dialogue and appearance. A tracking shot is used as well to keep with the theme of establishing shots so that audience can see where the characters are and where their going and why they are there. But also it shows the naivety and stupidity of the characters as the audience are shown throughout the tracking shot blood and walls and bollards, bloody handprints on windows and a zombie eating a person behind a fence yet the characters are still unable to see the danger around them. This shot is similar to the tarcking shot in Shaun of the dead were Shaun is walking to the shop and cant see that a zombie apocolaypse has and is happening around him adding to the comedy part of the genre.


  
After a transition we have a low medium shot of a body on the floor with the bottom half of zombies showing, the camera then moves upwards to show the whole bodies of the zombies. The zombies are then shown to be having an argument and are playing rock paper scissors to see who should win the dead body to eat which adds to the humour and the audience then see's that the small zombie girl wins against a tall man zombie which once again adds to the humour as the male zombie is clearly much stronger than the small girl.  

The next scene is a immediate transition from the previous one and is a long shot to establish the area and show the characters. The characters are walking towards the camera oblivious to the zombies opposite them until they notice them and stop walking were the audience can only see their body movement to understand the characters reactions to the sight.

The next shot starts off with an extreme close up of the zombie girls face showing how she has also noticed the main characters which is followed by an screech and a medium long shot showing the zombie girl sprinting towards what the audience percieve to be the main characters (me and Amir).

This is followed by a handheld medium shot ofthe zombie girl jumping onto the one of the main characters (Amir) and forcing him to the ground, this shakes off all previous humour and hopefully puts the audience in a shocked and tense mood because they want to know whats going to and what will happen to Amir.

The suspense and tension is hightened by the use of shot/reverse shots of both Drake (Amir) and the zombie girl showing both facial expressions. The use of showing the zombie girls face first is to maintain the tension and show the audience how serious and 'scary' the situation is as they see her trying to bite and claw at Drake (Amir) as well as screeching adding to the horror of the genre. The shot is this reversed to the zombie girls point of view showing Drake (Amir) struggling to fend her off and showing the verocity of the zombie, making the audience feel sympatheic and worried towards him due his situation. However all of the seriousness is replaced with more comedy as Drake all of sudden starts slapping the zombie girl across the face, over-exaggerted slapping noises will be put in place here to add to the comedy making almost slap-stick.

The next shot is taken from a low angle showing the zombie girl on top of Drake and how he is struggling to fend her off, with Sam (Charlotte) in the background watching the scene unfold. Dialogue is used here with Drake shouting of help to Sam saying "Sam! Do something!?" Which follows with Sam looking around on the spot before seeing something.

This is then followed by a close up high angle shot to show a weapon against the wall, which now shows the audience what Sam found through her point of view. The use of showing a weapon suggests to the audience that violence and a fight is going to occur.

The next shot is a handheld medium shot showing me (Sam) running up to the zombie girl with the metal rod in my hand, were i then kick her in the stomach off of Amir. This is one of the first displays of violence and aggression which then gets rid of any stereotypical representations of my character being a typical stupid, weak blonde girl who needs help.

This is then followed by a low angle shot of me (Sam) hitting and killing the zombie girl with the metal rod, with blood continously spluttering out and going all over the camera and all over my face. The use of a low angle shot shows the power, strongness and dominance of my character which is emphaisised by me wearing a red jacket which connotes danger, violence and blood.

After a black transition, the next shot is a medium two shot of both me (Sam) and (Amir) and the camera is behind us. We see me panting and breathing hard whilst Amir walks over and says things like ''Wow! Way'd a go sis!'' and then pulls out a kitchen towel out of nowhere which adds to the comedy elements of the genre as the audience would question 'Why is he carrying a towel around in his jacket?'. I then take then towel, wipe my face and question why he has it which he then anwsers my question and the audiences. He then begins to talk saying "That doesn't matter, however i think we are forgetting something?' which follows with me saying ''Yeah, your right, there was something else'' This then moves into a tracking shot as the camera moves from us both backwards to become an establishing/long shot, which follows with us both saying simutaneoulsy ''The other zombie!''.

The next shot is a close up of the zombie males face showing him growling and shouting at the characters which then switches to me and Amir (Sam and Drake) screaming ''Ah!'' then back to the zombie male, then back to us, then to the zombie male and then back to us; which hopefully adds to the comedy. We then finally stop screaming and decides to run away into an eye optitions, which is shown by 180 degree tracking shot.

We are finally now into a new setting which is unknown to the audience at this moment which forces them to think ''Where are the characters? This doesnt look like an optitions''. We then see me and Amir with our backs against the door, panting which is followed by Amir stating and asking ''What the f*** just happened?'' through a medium two shot. This is then followed by close up shots of us both with me saying ''Maybe were in like one of those zombie films, were everyone around us is trying to kill us'' to which the close up is now of Amir with him saying ''but if this is true? then the pretty guys die first'' to which the camera goes into a medium two shot of me replying with ''then you'll be alright''.

The next shot is a side shot of both me and Amir with our backs still against the wall and my hand covering his mouth as something has just dropped to the ground. This is followed by zombie moaning and groaning and me saying ''Did you hear that?'' to which Amir tries to speak but is muffled due to the hand being over his mouth still. This adds to the suspense and tension.


This is then followed by Amir pushing away my hand and saying ''alright! lets kick some asses'' to which i put my hand out and say ''woah! wait! you cant just go in there! we need weapons''. Amir then says sarcastically ''of course. Where are going to find weapons in a tiolet?'' to which i bluntly point towards the camera, the camera then does a quick transition to show a bag on the floor.

Straight after we have a low angle shot of just mine and Amir's legs showing us searching the bag and pulling out its contents. Not showing the audience what contents is at the moment makes the guess and question 'whats in the bag?' keeping them interested in the film. The shot turns into a handheld close up of four different weapons showing a gun, a knife, a deodorant and a brick. After this Drake says "I think its pretty obvious of the choice''

After a quick transition its shows Amir (Drake) with the deoderant which adds to the comedy as it would be obvious to pick a gun or knife. It then switches to a tracking medium shot of Sam and Drake walking towards the camera. The fact the audience can hear zombie moans and groans adds to the tension.

The next shot is took from inside the tiolet and is a stationary medium shot of Drake kicking open the door with his foot and spraying the deoderant whilst Sam is standing next to him. She breaths in a sigh of relief and signals Drake to check the next tiolet.

After this the camera switches to a tracking shot of Sam and Drake walking along and searching the tiolets. Drake once again kicks open the door but nothing is there, this then repeats and the audience see point of view shot of Drake kicking the door open which switches back to the tracking shot to show Sam and Drakes reactions, at first they are normal but then switch to shocked, confused and disgusted.

The camera then shows what it is that Sam and Drake are startled by and shows a close up shot of a man on a toilet who is the source of the moans and groans, he looks up at the camera at states ''I'll never eat chilli and nacho's again'' this once again adds to the humour.

The next shot is a tracking shot as Sam and Drake then hear a loud banging on door and instantly think its a zombie. The camera follows them as they run back to the door and as they reach it the door opens slightly and Sam and Drake react instantly and barrcade the door. Whilst Sam is holding the door, Drake grabs and object and slides it under the door to lock it in place; he then takes his place once again next to Sam and hold the door. Both of them look at each other and then upwards towards the ceiling.

The final shot of the film is a huge zoom out from Sam and Drakes heads to their location, the area, the county, the country, the continent and then the whole world. This is then followed by the film tile appearing in engulfed flames and showing an extreme close up of Drake's (Amir's) eye looking about making the audience wonder 'Was it a dream? Has he just woke up?'






Monday, 19 March 2012

Evaluation - Interview

There are three main aspects to our evaluation process which are:
  • A group interview with a teacher answering questions which was filmed and will be posted on our blogs
  • A presentation to the class of our film
  • A ' making of ' document
On Friday me and my partner Amir had our group interview with our teacher were we spoke about the reason that we created the film and questions consisting of : Why we chose this genre? What the representation was? Who our audience? I personally think that both me and Amir did a good job in the interview as we were able to answer the questions with detail and stayed on topic, as well helping each other on finishing the answers and adding in to them. This time next week me and Amir will be presenting our PowerPoint's to our class going of the features of our film, which consists of for the moment:
  • A synopsis
  • Representation/Stereotypes
  • Success of the genre
  • Similar films
  • Why we chose the genre
  • Advertisement
Hopefully our presentation will go down as well as we hope and then we will then be focusing on the ' making of ' documentary.

Monday, 5 March 2012

Final day of filming

So me and Amir had a very busy past three days, we started filming on Friday and Saturday and got at least 90% of the footage done, whilst on the Sunday we edited the footage that we had so that we only need to shoot the last 10% which was shot this morning. We got the majority of it done with only a little bit left to do which will be completed during our media lesson today. Both me and Amir are really happy with all the filming so far and the fact that everything has gone our way for a change like weather and actors/actresses. The rest of the 4 days will be spent on hard editing, hopefully the film will be good at the end.

Sunday, 4 March 2012

Filming

So after a long week of planning and organising me and Amir began our filming process this Friday and Saturday. We managed to get at least 90% of the footage needed that day with the other 10% to be completed in sixth form on Monday. Me and Amir are already editing the clips and footage we have and have reviewed each piece to say whats good, whats bad and what needs adding. On Friday everything went our way from weather to actors and using Amir's really good idea of using his mums car with the tripod in so that we could get a smooth tracking shot which looks amazing (link below)

http://vimeo.com/37882502

On Saturday we were abit worried as in the early hours of the day and early hours of the afternoon it was raining, even though it had stopped i knew that we still couldn't film as the ground was still wet meaning continuity would be ruined if we had filmed. But to our luck the sun came and dried the ground and me and Amir with hesitation arranged to meet up and film the rest of the sequence.

All of the filming went great and we managed to get everything we needed that day for the sequence, i just hope everything goes to plan on Monday so we can finish the film and use the rest of the four days for solid editing; during this time i will be looking at creating film posters, magazine covers, logo's and franchise to help with presenting our film in the evaluation stage.

Tuesday, 21 February 2012

Script for Scene 1

Script:
*Low angle shot of satellite and sky*

*Close up of ground *

*High angle shot of garage doors*

*High angle shot of shadows walking*

*Depth of field shots from behind a bollard*

*Point of view shot from a bin*
*Drake places banana in bin*
*Tracking long shot of Sam and Drake walking along an alleyway*
*Tracking shot continues. Banana is thrown at either Sam or Drake*
*Sam and Drake turn around but then continue*
Drake: Damn, this area is normally full of people
(Blood on window)
Sam: Yeah I know. Where is everyone?
Drake: You’re asking me? I don’t even know what day it is.
Sam: Yeah I know
*Drake falls over a bin* *Sam laughs* *Drake brushes himself down*
(Arm falls out of the bin)
Drake: (Whispered) I did that on purpose.
*Silence for a couple of seconds*
(Bloody handprint on door)
Sam: I REALLY MISS MAM AND DAD!
Drake: (Shocked) Whoa! Where did this come from?
Sam: I just get a little lonely sometimes since their death.
Drake: But you have me!?
Sam: Oh yeah! You >_>
*Walking continues*
(Sam and Drake walk past a fence. On the other side is a zombie eating a person)
*Establishing shot of houses*
*Medium shot of Sam and Drake walking towards the camera until they turn a corner*
*Sam and Drake are walking past a wall. The title appears on the wall*
*Camera switches from one side of the wall (through tracking shot) to the other*

New Start

After accessing our previous film clip and reviewing the feedback from Mr Earl, both me and Amir have decided to create a completely new introduction. Both of us have been looking and watching different horror comedies and have now got an established plan for when we film. We met up on Sunday to decide how and where we are going to film and found a really good location behind a block of apartments and alleyways. Obviously due to the area we will not be filming there after dark for both our saftey and because it would be impossible to film there at night. After our first run through of the scene we accessed what we had and noted any ideas or mistakes to help on the re-film, we noticed things such as the camera being to shaky on the tracking shots and places where we could edit in the credits and objects.