On Friday 25th September 2015, we - the year 12 2015 Media Class - visited the BBC broadcasting house in London. It was a great experience and was interesting to see how everything is done within the BBC.
When we arrived the room had a clear view of the main part of the BBC where the national news is broadcast (see picture below). From this place we saw the weather being filmed and people working behind most of the computers below - one of them being Fiona Bruce who is known to do the TV show 'Antiques Road Show' and the 'BBC News'.
It was a great experience, and I'm sure our whole class enjoyed it. And here is a little video I have made of our experience:
At the moment I'm focusing on the mise-en-scene of my film opening. This means setting, character design and props. As part of this, I did an experiment with the research I have gathered on dystopian effects such as make-up dirt, bruising etc. I decided not to post any pictures of myself onto the blog because I don't really want my picture on the internet (especially when I look like this).
Firstly I experimented with the make-up itself. Getting a dirty effect is harder than you might think. You have to think about where the dirt will go as it can get overcrowded if you're whole face is dirty and more importantly you've got to figure out what shades of brown you need to use.
The look I chose was based off the look on the video I posted earlier on my blog about fake dirt and scarring. I placed dirt all over my face but especially in places where you are likely to place your dirt covered hands such as your hairline, forehead and cheeks. I also placed dirt down my neck, arms and hands.
Putting dirt on your hands looks very effective, especially if you can manage to get the fake dirt around your nails and up your fingers. It looks very realistic and all I used was the correct colour of eyeshadow!
I then took a look at dystopian hairstyles. Unlike most hairstyles that are worn today, dystopian hair is to be worn practical and keep out of their face.
I started with a simple long plait that came across the shoulder. It took the hair out of the characters face and was simple enough to do. I then took another hairstyle which was again simple and kept the hair out of the character's face. I took up the side of my hair and pulled them to the back, before tying it at the top. I didn't brush my hair for this one so it looked very messy and as if I didn't care about my appearance - which was the look I was after in the character/s. After this I went for a high ponytail and side plaits. Both of these hairstyles gave the character an innocent look and I decided these would look better on a younger character but not for the character/s I had in mind. I also let my hair loose and just let it be messy. This was effective but it did cover a lot of the fake dirt which is an aspect I must consider with character design. I also experimented with something I haven't yet mentioned which is war paint. Typical tribes would have worn war paint and I had a go with my basic eyeshadow pallet - it was quite an experience! Overall I attempted to do something alike to what the character Lexa wears in 'the 100' and it had the desired effect but I decided it didn't have the same feel that I was after so at the moment I have removed that idea. Hopefully I'll be posting more on my character design stuff. Until then I'll leave you with a hint to what my opening sequence will be about...
After looking at the short films and other extracts from films, I decided to research the setting for dystopian films varying from the Glade in 'The Maze Runner' to the Earth in 'The Day the Earth Stood Still'. I decided that I wanted to make the world in my dystopia look ruined and abandoned (I already have a location in mind) and wanted to look at ruined sets. I took photos off the internet from films I had heard of or had watched over the years: Cloud Atlas |The Day the Earth Stood Still | The Maze Runner The Road | The Scorch Trials | The 100
This first image from the film 'The Day the Earth Stood Still'. Here you can see a lot of grey and dusty colours which effect the theme of ruin and despair. This can also be seen in the picture below from the film 'The Road' which has clear themes of blues, grey and black emphasizing despair and solitude.
This image is of the Glade in 'The Maze Runner'. Here, unlike in the images above there is a theme of peace and contentment. There are light themes such as the light greens, creating a warm feeling and sense of safety. This is juxtaposed by the image below from the sequel to 'The Maze Runner' called 'The Scorch Trials'. Here the world has turned from calm and peaceful to ruined, dusty and full of wrecked items. As you can probably tell 'The Maze Runner' trilogy is a huge part of my inspiration
I then started to look at the TV show 'The 100'. The image above had a themes of yellow and green and I love how it has been set in a forest. This is effective because forests are often seen as calm places of peace and safety. This is contradicted by the image of the grounders with Clarke.
After that I looked at these two images (above and below). The one above shows a vague industrial theme and has a lot of blues, browns and dusty colours - again suggesting a theme of ruin, solitude but also power due to the vague hints of black. Below this we have a picture of a grounder village with Clarke and Lexa. In this I like how the tent to the right has red scraps of fabric suggesting danger. Also the village looks unkempt or barren due to the lack of vegetation apart from the long grass on the dirt path.
Alike to 'The Maze Runner' trilogy, 'The 100' has been a huge source of inspiration for me -----------------------------------------------------------
In these pictures there are examples of the futuristic world in 'Cloud Atlas'. In the picture above the idea of a forest based home is repeated and it gives a sense of rogue independence because the world is not industrial anymore. The image below has themes of ruin but in a different way to the rest. Here the ivy and moss have almost completely concealed a bridge and I really like the idea of the base or first set being overgrown.
Due to my film opening coming from a short film I decided that I should have a look at some short films on youtube, finding three that I liked.
RUIN
I know I've already talked about 'RUIN' but it is an amazing short film by one of my absolute favourite directors: Wes Ball. He also did an adorable short film called 'A Work In Progress' which can be found here - it is by far one of the cutest short films I've seen.
In 'RUIN' I like how there is a sense of mystery at the beginning. We are only introduced to the main character who is obviously in danger or somewhere that he shouldn't be - therefore capturing the audiences full attention. I like how the music at the start is very calm but has a sense of mystery behind it. The first few shots are examples of the world that the main character is in. Then the audience's attention is immediately captured by the loud noises of a metal container being pushed from a skyscraper cutting straight to a mysterious, rugged figure standing of the container. By 1:55 the action is already taking place and the main character is seen running, with the sound of his footsteps enhanced so that the audience's attention is focused on the necessity of his escape.
Dead Zone
The story behind this was very deep. It told the story of man who's mother had left him the only survivor in camp after she died. The only company he had was his dog who eventually ran away, leaving him on his own. However the story gets deeper when 'the crows' find him and he crosses the 'Dead Zone' to get to safety but finds a different world on the other side.
In this film the electronic music is very effective and the loud boom gives effect on focusing on the actual world. I like how it again focuses on the main characters surroundings instead of him at the beginning. The monologue afterwards is also very effective with the light music in the background. However by 2 minutes the action has not started and I find that after a while the monologue is too long and you begin to loose interest.
Breakdown
Although this was in German - and let's face it, my German is not very good (thank goodness for subtitles) - I thought this was very well done. In this film the science-fiction humming is very effective and the writing at the beginning really sets the scene. The action although not very much starts immediately between the two main characters: Lisa and Dan. I like the link to the past which is the time we, the audience, are living in now. It's very effective as they are calling our world a time of peace whilst the future that they are in is full of anarchy and chaos.
My next post on dystopian effects is on clothes. I know in my previous post I mentioned that I'm still unsure on what my characters are going to wear etc. but I wanted to know how to totally reck some clothing to look like it was worn in a dystopian environment, and this is what I found on ruining clothing such as a hoodie etc:
What you will need:
old/cheap clothes | black paint (not water based) | dirt | rubber gloves | sharp object (e.g. scalpel knife or curry comb) | lacquer (clear nail varnish will do)
1. Run sharp object down the base of the hoodie underneath the pocket and tear up and around where you wants the hoodie to look worn, battered and old. Also tear around the edges of the hood, sleeves, cuffs and maybe the collar because these would probably be used regularly.
REMEMBER
Don't tear too much or you'll look like you've completely destroyed the hoodie and it will not have the desired effect
2. Next, get your paint (you're going to need to wear the rubber gloves now) and put the paint on the rubber gloves whilst you are wearing them. Then rub the black paint over the fabric and make it look all stained and weathered
3. Once you are happy with how much paint is on start adding dirt, which will add to the weathered, worn look.
4. Dust the hoodie but make sure that the dirt stains remain
5. Then add a the lacquer once the paint is dry
6. Then you have a ruined hoodie!
I took wrote the instructions up from this video here <--- click this. It was really useful and I think I'm going to use these effects on other items of clothing such as old shirts, tops, trousers and maybe even skirts or dresses - yes I have actually seen some examples of these, so surprisingly they must exist.
I'm planning on getting the clothes for my characters from a charity shop. The money will be going to a good cause and you can find a variety of things in there that a normal clothes shop probably wouldn't stock.
That's all for now, but hopefully I'll find some more things to add for my dystopian effects for my dystopian film opening.
So, yesterday I posted a blog saying I was making a compilation of dystopian effects from films that make you look like you've been wounded etc. because as I mentioned in my previous blog on dystopian effects, no character looks immaculate without a scrape or a dirt covered face.
I have to admit, I'm pretty sure both of these were done for Halloween but they have proved to be a lot of help with my vague ideas of what the characters will look like or what will have happened to them...
Fake Wound
Firstly, I took a clip from the BBC Blast channel on youtube. Although the camera is a bit shaky and all over the place, I knew that this clip would be helpful and reliable as it was made by BBC professionals. The use of a fake cut is a great idea and cuts will be seen throughout most action films. To be honest, it's impossible for a character not to injure themselves at some point in the film.
Personally, I don't like the idea of the shards of glass sticking out the wound - so ignore that part. Overall, I found it quite useful and easy to follow.
Scarring & Fake Dirt
Next, I found a clip which was definitely done for Halloween but I think it is really, really useful. I think the milky white contact lens and the kryolan rigid collodion is a bit much (the collodion can actually scar your skin) but I love how she's shown how to draw the scar and how she's applied all the fake dirt. In fact just how she has generally transformed herself into a dystopian woman.
Alike to the first video, please ignore the bits about the full costume that she did because I know for a fact that I don't want my one to look like that at all. These people are meant to be dressed to survive not to look good. So I'm still working on the costume part of my film opening but I have ideas...
Bruises & Black Eyes So, my next one was a basic black eye. I thought I could also use some of the effects that she used to create different bruises such as on the arm etc. I also learnt online that you can use wax for different effects such as scars (therefore not using the kryolan rigid collodion) not just fake open wounds. I'm not sure how the wax will come off afterwards but that's something for me to look into! Also another way of looking dirty is to smudge coffee and charcoal on your skin, sealing it with a well known summer must have: sun cream (preferably spray on). Not to forgetting fake blood which can be made in two ways: 1. Red food colouring and washing-up liquid (non-edible fake blood) 2. Red food colouring, golden syrup and other sticky things (edible fake blood) I have used both before and they work really well. I tend to add nutella to my edible fake blood because it makes the fake blood taste nice if you have a wound round your mouth and accidentally lick it. But try not to make it taste too nice, otherwise you'll probably have none left once you've applied it! So that's all I have on the make-up part for my dystopian effects! I know it's not much and I'll probably add more as I go along...
Earlier this week, the year five class at school started a film on the Earth's rotation and journey around the sun. I decided to go and help Mrs Williams and the other year thirteen media student's with the filming process in Junior House. It was hectic and a lot of the time one of them walked off forgetting to shine the torch on the sun or jumped a time period by forgetting to turn the Earth whilst filming.
After a lot of editing, Mrs Williams posted the video up on youtube and the outcome is something that the year fives should be pleased with.
I enjoyed helping film with the year fives - even though it was a challenge.
Recently, I have been looking at special effects and so on that are constantly seen in dystopian films. This is due to the one fact that lingers in my mind: you wouldn't survive a dystopian, post-apocalyptic world looking perfect. Some examples of this can be seen in the photos next to this from 'The Maze Runner' and 'The 100'.
So I decided to research how to get the effects needed to make you look like you're from a dystopia future, such as wounds, scars, torn and old clothing along with special effects that I could maybe use to my advantage and take some inspiration from.
It has taken some time and I am currently creating collection will soon be posted on my blog!
Chaotic world where genetics have created a new rampant disease, chemical weapons e.g. chlorine gas, citizens under constant surveillance,cyber-genetic technology
Dehumanisation
End of the world, entertainment i.e. gladiators, experiments that have gone wrong
Fear of the outside world, feeling trapped, figure worshipped by citizens
Generally a lot rubbish in scenes along with dust, wrecked buildings, abandoned cars etc.
History repeating itself, Humanity dividing into groups for survival, humans living like animals, humanity no longer being fertile
Imprisonment
Man made objects or animals (e.g. apes) taking on human characteristics, monsters or unknown creatures
Post-apocalyptic environments, propaganda used to control society
The purpose of a film opening is to show action and catch the audiences attention so that they are immediately hooked to the film. It must clearly show what genre the film is and should introduce a main character - whether it be the protagonist or the antagonist.
A film opening will quite likely introduce the pre-plot of the film or will be a narrative of a character's story. The director can do this in many ways:
F L A S H B A C K
A narrated view of a past key event
E S T A B L I S H I N G S H O T
To set the scene and let the audience know where the film takes place by
using the landscape
N A R R A T I O N S
Giving past information of what has happened or who the key characters are.
Overall, giving an insight to the rest of the film
A C T I O N S C E N E
A fast paced scene will automatically hook the audience as well as introduce
the film genre
C H A S E S C E N E
Similar to an action scene, it will automatically hook the audience and intrigues
the audience as to why this is all happening
C O M P I L A T I O N O F P H O T O G R A P H S
Photographs can be used to portray the theme to the audience and the
relationship between the characters
T E X T
Gives the audience information - a lot like a narrative - to set the scene
for the film
Most of the time, the opening to a film will contain the production company and director. It will occasionally introduce the main cast too. During this normally some action will take place and the music is likely to be balanced and unnoticeable yet influential on the way the audience interprets the introduction.
Shots that are frequently used within film openings are close ups and medium close ups. This makes the audience realise that these are key characters.
Yesterday, I went to see the newest edition to The Maze Runner Trilogy: 'The Scorch Trials'. It is such a great dystopian film...but I don't want to give away too much of the plot line!
The ideas that I took from the film were as follows: || mad people with a craving for human flesh or sacrifice | two-faced government || || torn, old, stained clothing | elements of horror e.g. audience being fenced in || || repeated use of hospitals and/or experimentation | blue or red lighting || || abandoned cars | hand made weapons || || disease that has physical symptoms e.g. different coloured skin || I loved this film and recommend it to anyone who loves the science-fiction, dystopian film genre as much as I do. 'The Scorch Trials' always keeps you guessing and has so many unexpected twists that you don't know who to believe - or to trust for that matter. Overall, this was an excellent film which has sparked my inspiration!
WARNING: This blog contains spoilers from films that these directors have produced
[Wes Ball on set of 'The Scorch Trials' with cast]
Wes Ball Wes Ball is an American film director who also specializes as a visual effects artist and graphic artist. He directed the adaptation of James Dashner's series of books called 'The Maze Runner' and 'The Scorch Trials. He will also be directing the third and final film to 'The Maze Runner' trilogy called 'The Death Cure' in 2017. 'The Maze Runner', 'The Scorch Trials' and 'The Death Cure' are all set way in the future and are dystopian novels as they have many typical dystopian conventions e.g. totalitarian government, new disease, world is in ruin, use of hospitals and experimentation along with madness etc.
[Wally Pfister and Johnny Depp on the set of 'Transcendence']
Wally Pfister Wally Pfister is an American cinematographer and film director - best known for his work with Christopher Nolan. Pfister made his directing debut in 2014 after he filmed the dystopian thriller 'Transcendence'. Some of his other works include: 'Batman Begins', 'The Dark Knight', 'Inception' and 'The Dark Knight Rises'. He was also the visual consultant for the animated film 'Turbo'. Technically, the 'Batman Trilogy' are actually considered as dystopian films due to the fact that Gotham is a modern day dystopia. However my main focus was on 'Transcendence' which is a typical dystopian film with its true science-fiction themes such as artificial intelligence which are blended with true dystopian elements such as terrorist groups (such as R.I.F.T aka 'Revolutionary Independence From Technology' in the film 'Transcendence') or uprisings. It also contains a unique way of showing a dystopia: all technology in the world dying.
[Duncan Jones with his father, David Bowie]
Duncan Jones Duncan Jones - son of David Bowie - is an English film director, film producer and screenwriter. He is best known for the award-winning science-fiction films called 'Moon' and 'Source Code'. 'Moon' is a typical science-fiction film due to the fact it is set in space on the moon - such an imaginative title for a film that is set on the moon. 'Moon' is a dystopian film due to the use of limiting the clones of Sam Bell's lifespan to only 3 years - which is the length of their shift mining on the moon. This is because the clones are being use by a totalitarian state that makes the world believe that they are doing the right thing but have no idea about what actually goes on during the shifts on the moon... Another film by Duncan Jones is called 'Source Code'. I decided to briefly look at 'Source Code' because even though it might not be classified as a dystopian film it is part of the overall genre of science-fiction. 'Source Code' is all about an experimental device that lets you experience the last eight minutes of a persons life. This is another commonly used science-fiction them which runs close to artificial intelligence.
Now, I know this isn't exactly what you call research but having listened to this album: Oracle by Shelby Merry I can say that it has a lot of dystopian themes within the lyrics of the songs. Therefore, I decided to analyse the lyrics to the songs and see what inspiration I could find embedded within this album.
Song 1: Grounded
We have been waiting now,
Waiting for change,
And the dust is falling down to rest on my shoulders.
We have been waiting now,
Waiting for change,
And the dust is falling down to rest on my shoulders.
Can you hear the sound,
Coming now, coming now,
Hear the sound, hear the sound,
When we hit the ground running.
Lead and I'll follow,
Lead and I'll follow,
When the worlds falling down,
Will you come when I fall?
Lead and I'll follow,
Lead and I'll follow,
When the worlds falling down.
Can you hear the sound?
Can you hear the sound,
Coming now, coming now?
Hear the sound, hear the sound,
When we hit the ground running.
In the song 'Grounded', I found immediate links to dystopian themes in the first verse, for example the use of 'dust' can be linked to most dystopias due to ruin. 'Dust' can also be closely linked to sand which could also be linked to ruin. The repetition of the lyrics 'when the worlds falling down' emphasise a dystopian and post-apocalyptic feel to the song. Another thought that occurred to me is that the multiple voices within this song make it sound like a chant or a war cry which would link to the use of an uprising within the dystopia.
Song 2: Army of One
If I could change my ways,
If I could change the role of the tide,
Would it still be the same?
Would it still fade away with the times?
To be a King of Kings,
And how long will it last this time?
Would it still be the same?
All things fade away.
So could you tell me?
Tell me what my eyes have seen.
My head's too heavy to look at the stars
And I'm staring in the space between.
My my, pride is a precious stone
May it sink you to the bottom, my friend.
So wave your flag for your army of one,
May you bury yourself in the sands.
So could you tell me?
Cause my eyes are fading back to black.
You feel the power, oh you feel the power Well I am here to take it all back. You came to find me when I was alone, You'd live another day on what's inside my hands. If only you had learned to stand on your own, Oh, if only you could be as I am. If I could change my ways, If I could change the role of the tide, Would it still be the same? If I could change my ways, If I could change my ways, Would it still be the same? So wave your flag for your army of one, So wave your flag for your army of one, If I could change my ways, If I could change the role of the tide, Would it still be the same? Would I still fade away with the times? To be a King of Kings, And how long will it last this time? Would it still be the same? All things fade away.
In the song 'Army of One', lyrics such as 'fade away with times' and 'all things fade away' give a sense of the loss of time which I have already linked to many dystopian genre films. The use of 'stars' is always a science-fiction convention within that genres films, so the use of it within this song links it straight to the genre. The full lyrics was: 'my head's too heavy to see the stars'. This emphasises a lack of hope - hope being the stars which she cannot see - which in a majority of dystopian films is very common. The speaker within the song also mentions how 'pride' has sunk 'to the bottom' and this could be interpreted as her pride or the pride of someone else e.g. the government. The repetition of 'sand' - as linked with 'dust' in the first song - links to ruin, once again, and the way the speaker instructs the audience to 'bury yourself in the sands' could be interpreted as the speaker telling us, the audience, that one way or another the ruin will kill them. Also the use of 'fading back to black' could be a suggestion that we are blinded by our own ruin and surrounded by our own darkness which is linked to science-fiction films in general. I also like the way she says 'well I am here to take it all back'. This could be seen as an uprising against a totalitarian government or something along those lines.
Song 3: Black Sands Darkness come, Tuck me in for the night. Paint pictures in my head, Of the daylight burning bright. Darkness come, Leave me dying the sheets. All the fears and the faults, Of the day come washing over me. Black sands, Homeland, Mountains, They all turned to dust. I've got this fire, But I'd forgotten how it burns. And I don't wanna be waiting on better days to come, Black sands. I woke up in a barren land, And I was broken and afraid. I heard "The things in life you want come hard, But the choice is yours to leave or stay" But I don't wanna fall asleep again, And I don't wanna fall asleep. Black sands, Homeland, Mountains, They all turned to dust. I've got this fire, But I'd forgotten how it burns. And I don't wanna be waiting on better days to come, Black sands. I dont wanna fall asleep again, Holding to what could have been.
Finally in the last song 'Black Sands', I found many dystopian ideas. Firstly, the speaker uses the theme of 'darkness' which has been a theme throughout all three songs and is a common occurrence within dystopian films. I then took the lyric: 'daylight burning bright'. In this, the speaker has twisted what we are usually comfortable with - daylight - and given it a mildly menacing tone with the use of 'burning' which connotes being hurt or in danger. The use of 'dying in the sheets' is also powerful because the 'sheets' on our beds are normally what we feel safe in and when the speaker later uses the lyric: 'I don't want to fall asleep again' it tears us away from yet another place that we feel untouchable and safe in; the speaker then states that she is 'dying' in the 'sheets' which connotes that we, the audience, are no longer safe where believed we were. Which again is a common theme within dystopian films. Alike to the other two songs, the speaker again mentions 'dust' and 'sands', yet again suggesting ruin. However I like how the 'sands' have become 'black sands' which connotes authority, power, death and a sense of evil. This connotation of black could suggest that ruin of the world or country that they are in rules them menacingly and the ruin could eventually kill them. Also, the lyric 'I don't wanna be waiting on better days to come' is extremely powerful because it shows how her hope is nonexistent but also shows that she has determination she turn the world back to the way it was. The description of the world as a 'barren land' is extremely powerful as this presses the imagery of a wasteland and somewhere that mankind would no longer be able to survive in - which is another extremely common theme within dystopian films.
City of Ember | The Host | V for Vendetta | The Scorch Trials |
Cloud Atlas | Moon | Humans
I found these images on the internet whilst researching Dystopian films.
I chose the image from the 'City of Ember' film at the top left (woman holding the clock) because of the repetition within dystopian films about humanity running out of time.
Below that we have a picture of Niska from the TV Show 'Humans'. I used this because I like the idea of having highly advanced technology that were created by humanity and are now uncontrollable and feared by their own creators.
Above that (next to the picture from 'City of Ember') is a picture from the film 'The Host' of Wanda and Melanie. I used this picture because I could see ideas that I could link to my inspiration from 'Humans'. For example, Wanda is put into Melanie's body whilst she is still alive. I have an idea brewing in the back of my mind that what if this modern technology is put in a dead body and wakes up completely controlled by technology?
That's just an idea!
Next to 'The Host', there is a picture from 'V for Vendetta' which I have taken inspiration from because I like the idea of a group rebelling against a totalitarian government or general society e.g they are outcasts or experiments that have gone wrong etc.
Below that is a picture from one of my most anticipated films of the year: 'The Scorch Trials'. I took a picture from this because I like the idea of the world being barren which would cause infinite problems for mankind!
The next picture is from the film 'Cloud Atlas'. The use of reaching through the metal mesh gives the film a horror element but what I really like about this image is that she is watching other cloned waitresses (like herself) be demolished and turned into food after rebelling against the government. This gives the film such a twisted element that it hooks the audience (whilst creeping them out).
Below that is another image from 'V for Vendetta' of Evy with her head shaved after being arrested and about to begin torture. I noticed that throughout my research, torture and imprisonment are two very common things within the dystopian genre.
I then took another image from 'The Scorch Trials' of a person with the Flare (spoilers people). I took this because another idea which I like the idea of is a disease that there is no cure for! A theme that is closely linked to the dystopian genre is post-apocalyptic and I think these both fall into this section.
Finally, below that is an image from 'Moon'. This is where Sam Bell meets the younger version of himself and believes he is hallucinating. I took this image because it links to my inspiration from 'The Host', 'Cloud Atlas' and 'Humans' with the highly advanced technology.
After making my collage, I decide to extend my research further and find more pictures - that weren't in my collage - and analyse them.
Jeffrey Goines and James Cole in '12 Monkeys'
In this picture I noticed the element of madness. Both Jeffrey (Brad Pitt) and James (Bruce Willis) are in a psychiatric hospital and both look mad enough to be in there. This is shown by the white robes that they are wearing which are associated with hospitals. Also the way they are both looking at each other gives a sense of madness, especially Jeffrey who looks almost cross eyed and is gaping at James.
Rick Deckard and Pris in 'Blade Runner' In this picture I like how Pris (disguised as a doll) is camouflaged within a room of human sized toys. In my opinion, this emphasises how she and other synths are seen by humans as dolls or toys. This gives the film a childish theme when the whole plot line is actually quite dark. I like this idea as it would bring elements of the thriller genre into the film as well.
Anita being activated in the shop in 'Humans' In this picture, I like how Anita is in a human sized, zipped up case. This emphasises that people treat them like machines when they are more human than we believe. This links to the overall science-fiction genre, as they are robots in a futuristic or parallel universe.
Tess Bell sending a video log to her husband, Sam in the film 'Moon'
I took this image because I have noticed in a lot of science-fiction films family are always trying to contact a character through a video log. I also took this - linking back to my collage - because a video log like this could also be used as a memory by someone who has received an experimental cure for a incurable disease but through this they have been operated on and can plug themselves into computers.
Wanda hears Melanie in 'The Host' I analysed this image because I would, again, link it to my collage about how memories can be located by the same people I mentioned above in the image from 'Moon'. But also the idea of resistance is highlighted.
The Gladers in 'The Maze Runner' I chose this image to analyse because I like the idea of the newer generation being immune or different from the rest of the world. Making them outsiders or making them valuable. Either way they are in danger just for being born.
Today, in Media class, we were visited by a man from the film industry - having worked on films such as 'Star Wars: Phantom Menace' and 'Tomb Raider'. During his visit, he helped do further analysis of our preliminary tasks.
Due to our film shorts being in alphabetical order, my one was evaluated first. His overall comments on my film short were:
In my clip, there were areas above the actress's head that didn't need to be there. This is called the 'head line'. Also when the actress sat down, the camera should have followed her for a better effect and I did not do that. Another point was that I should focus on the actor/actresses eye line so that it actually looks like they are looking at each other instead of facing each other at angles which made the clip look jumpy. Also the frame must be the same size. This means that the frames need to be the same size otherwise it is out of proportion and will look off.
He then helped us to film a short with the improved techniques he had taught us. Here are the pictures in a small video clip below:
