AS Media Studies 9607: May 2024

Thursday 30 May 2024

Week 5 - Opening Scene ideas + research

Some examples of well-made AS Media opening sequences

Week 5 - Foundation Portfolio Planning

Foundation Portfolio Brief

Create an opening scene for any Thriller sub-genre of your choice. The opening sequence needs to set up a Thriller movie, introducing key characters and hinting at the story line ahead, setting up the plot that will unfold. It needs to have the following technical requirements;

It needs to follow the 180' Rule
Include shot-reverse-shot
Match on Action
Logo conceptualised and created by one of your group members
At least 2 Special FX from After Effects
2 - 2.5 mins long
Credits and title of the movie

Remember to think carefully about your sub-genre and try your hand at something new.

Have fun and remember to think smart, write down all your planning and log ALL changes, problems encountered and things learnt along the way for your CCR.

Planning Outline - Due Thursday 16th May

Here is your checklist to work through. Some things you should ALL do, e.g. concept treatment & storyboard) some things only you will be responsible for (e.g. storyboard/ script)

Pre-Production

1. Brainstorm (all include a version of this, show record of ideas developing into final idea)

2. Concept – HERE is the link for the template of how to do this
3. Treatment - see link HERE for template for how to do this

4. Storyboard (you can either print the template off our class blog, left side under ‘film templates’ or if you don’t have a printer, draw up your own template to use).
5. Script & Talent

6. Shot List

7. Location / Setting (do some research, find photos of the look you are after and places that could work for setting. Find some movies with setting / location that you want to replicate)

8. Props & costumes (again, find examples of EVERY prop and costume you want to use. What other movies have they used them in? What look and feel are you going for? What colours are going to be symbolic? What props are going to be used in iconography? Include lots of photos/ screenshots of movies and write about the ‘why’ you would make this creative choice).

9. Film Schedules

10. Call Sheets

PRODUCTION

11.     Lighting (you need a lighting plan. Show you have done some research to find lighting styles you like and want to replicate. Explain how you will get your desired effect).
10.     Camera (in this you include shot types and camera movement you want to explore and try out. Maybe it’s things like dolly shot where you want the camera moving or a high establishing shot? Get examples of what you want to try replicate and look up/ plan creative ways to get this. For a dolly shot you can put your camera on a wheelie chair, a tracking shot can be on a skateboard etc. Get creative! Are you going to use lots of close-up’s? Are you going to use lots of obstruction of vision in what you include in your shot? Whose point of view is the story told from?
9.     Sound – who is going to do this on the day? Then you all need to start researching sound. What do you plan on including in your sound? Hat soundtracks have you found? What sound effects? What movies or short films achieve what you want to achieve in sound and how will you use them as inspiration?

10. Director / time keeper

POST-PRODUCTION

11. Editing – look up some cool editing techniques like how to do a chase scene, how to do flashbacks, how to do fast paced edits, how to create a disorientated feel via editing. Do some research and have a clear idea of what you want to achieve with editing in this short film opening

12. Logo - design, placement/ animation (track all stages of designs, revision drafts, issues, decisions and finished product as well as treatment explanation for the above).

Sunday 12 May 2024

Representation Practise - The Good Doctor

ACtivity

1. Watch all of the clips below

2. write down your 'big picture' ideas for each one

3. Write down any evidence for these ideas in the 4 technical areas

4. Pick 1 and write an opening pragraph that articulates your main ideas in a nutshell.

(for you it will be the last one as we did the 1st 2 in class)

Opening Sequence setting up representation of main character

Scene of doctor at work

Establishing characterisation through conversation

Thriller research - Alfred Hitchcock

Today I want you to watch this clip of how Alfred Hitchcock creates suspense and make some notes that will inform how you go about creating suspense in your preliminary task.

Sunday 5 May 2024

Psychological Thriller Research

Psychological Thriller

Here's some resources to use for your project as you explore the codes and conventions of a psychological thriller (use aspects of these ideas to inform your creative decisions as you plan);