Film-TV1- Analysis/Reflection 6 – Question 8

Most applications reserve keyboard shortcuts for the functions that are used most often. It is really good to learn all of these as it will speed up your editing and additionally alert you to functions that the software developers and other users find important. (You can learn much about the software by looking at keyboard shortcuts).

Find the keyboard shortcuts for Adobe Premiere and note two or more functions that you’ve never used before that may be invaluable to editing.

FileEditClip_Sequence

Above lists some of the shortcuts for functions used most often in Adobe Premiere. Aside form these one shortcut I found really useful was one Paul noted in the lecture of dragging sound under a different shot by holding down the option key making it an L cut. This will save my search for the ‘split audio from track’ or similar option that would most likely be hidden in some menu that is untraceable even with the aid of a help tool.

And secondly, though I already knew about using ‘i’ and ‘o’ to indicate the ‘in’ and ‘out’ for the clip I did’t realise it could be added to the sequence by simply pressing ‘,’ . The comma seems like an unusual choice of shortcut key so if I hand’t been enlightened at the lecture there is a high chance I never would have known about it and spent great amounts of time dragging from the clip to sequence and most likely accidentally clicking something along the way.

Shortcut screenshots sourced from http://helpx.adobe.com/en/premiere-pro/using/default-keyboard-shortcuts-cc.html

Film-TV1- Analysis/Reflection 6 – Question 7

In this clip screened in the lecture from the Coen brothers ‘Blood Simple‘ describe what is happening in terms of the edits specifically in terms of the audio and video. Also name the different kinds of audio you can hear. 

BloodSimple

The clip from the Coen Brother’s ‘Blood Simple’ was shown in the lecture to aid the idea that vision and sound do not necessarily have to be cut to what happens but to what continues the music and sound flow. When watching the clip you start to notice how the camera will cut away from the person talking and to the person listening, through this sound adds continuity and has the ability to convince the viewer they have seen the character’s mouths move. In the clip the vision and sound are no longer cut at the same point, this is something the lecture emphasised as editing vision is independent of sound and can be dragged under different shots.

In the clip you firstly hear the sound of the dead fish hitting the table with the base sound of crickets and cicadas which continue throughout the scene almost to form a constructed heartbeat. We then hear the lighter snapping shut and placed down on the table, the dialogue between characters then begins, the chair squeaks as the Julian Marty (Dan Hedaya) sits down and the forklift can be heard moving around as background noise. The Private (M. Emmet Walsh) then hands him an envelope and we hear it opening and the paper on paper effect as a picture is slid out. We then hear the pencil slide the fish across the table and the heavy breathing and swallowing by Julian as he expresses his discomfort. Julian then stands and we hear his footsteps as walks to the bathroom, the door is pushed open and the distant sound of vomiting and the toilet flushing, footsteps and then tap opening and water rushing as he washes his hands is heard. We then focus back on the Private as he butts out his cigarette and then a fly sounds as it circles around his head. Then the clicking of the combination lock on the safe and the safe door opening, Julian then places down of stack of money on the table and the chair squeaks again as he sits. We hear him swallow as he drinks and the sound of glass being slammed down. The sliding paper as Julians foot pushes the paperwork and money across the table, as the Private reaches into his pocket we identify the clicking of revolver which he then uses to shoot Julian. The Private then places the gun on the ground and we hear it slide and hit nearby objects as he violently kicks it away. The money then rustles as the Private tries to shove it into his pockets, and the adjusting of clothing as he fixes his hat. His footsteps are then heard as he walks away and the door closes shut. The ceiling fan then increases volume as it transitions the next scene.

The best example from this clip to demonstrate the ideas raised in the lecture is the part where Julian is in the bathroom being sick while the Private waits in the adjoining room. It is not necessary for the audience to see Julian as sound demonstrates what’s happening in the bathroom – we hear him vomit, the toilet flushing and then the squeaking of the tap handles and gush of water – from this the audience can construct what is happening and put this into context for his return to the scene.

Film-TV1- Analysis/Reflection 6 – Question 6

Consider Sandra’s lecture “Directing Actors” and describe at least a couple of points that you took away from it (even if you’re not the director).

Casting

Firstly, cast well, take your time and don’t say yes to the first person you remotely feel good about. Give them a scene to do and watch them act as dialogue often makes the best auditions as they allow you to hear them speak and think the thoughts of the character.

Rehearsal Period

Keep the rehearsal period brief and don’t get over entangled with all the other technical aspects of the film. Actors need to think about what’s on the page and you should influence them in a way that they think they think it – the way you talk to actors should make them think from the inside out. Ask them a lot of questions, for example what do you think the story is about?

If you don’t have a dialogue heavy script, use the camera and try to do the scene as it would be done on location. Dialogue gives actors movement and more action, so if you don’t have this you’re better off physically doing the scene and getting the aesthetic of how it would be shot.

Production Side

Find a way in which to cut scenes in order to decide what can go come 6pm at night and you run out of time, therefore have B-scenes. To have something opposed to nothing is really important.

If you’re shooting out of order, playback emotion for actors will keep continuity. Experienced actors will have their head around where they are emotionally in a scene, but it can help to constantly walk around with a script and note how an actor acted scenes before the scene you’re about to shoot, how did they exit that scene? Have those transitions in place to help you remember when shooting out of sequence. Two questions to ask yourself: A. What was the camera doing, how did we shoot the scene? and B. What emotion was the actor feeling?

Actors on set

The director shouldn’t talk extensively to actors on set, that should be done in rehearsal, on the day it’s about everything else. As a director the best way to interact with actors is with honesty. You need to be delicate and articulate things simply, for example ‘I just need you to be a little happier’ – it’s about saying the right words but not too many words. Actors sense when the director isn’t happy, most of the time it isn’t their fault but simply not as the director envisioned and it is you who will have to change the approach.

Costume/Production Design

It’s the little things that help the film look better. Put your effort into lighting the scene and identifying the elements that make it look aesthetically pleasing. If you have to merge scenes think about how to incorporate the essence of one scene into another.

Actor/Director and Director/Camera

Relationships are the most important on set. Even though the camera dominates the set the director needs to be able to split the focus, it helps if you get the actors to do work beforehand so your attention can be put towards other priorities on the day.

Film-TV1- Analysis/Reflection 5 – Question 3

Blow Up is a 1966 film directed by Michelangelo Antonioni.
In this scene note the choreography of the actors, camera, frame and focus. As covered in the lecture describe the things Antonioni would have have to consider when directing the actors and the camera.

BlowUp

In this scene from Michelangelo Antonioni’s Blow Up we see actors navigate space to develop their relationship and the story. As there are lot of props and location obstacles in the scene, the director would have had to choreograph the actor’s to understand their screen direction.

Beam_Cut_Off

For example, the ceiling beams that the actors have to duck under, the director chooses to leave the camera angle in the same spot while the actors are half cut off by the beam; capturing the pair in a sanctioned off space and creating an intimate moment.

The camera follows characters when they’re moving and frames them from different angles when stationary. In the shot where the two actors talk between the beam, we see the woman pace back and forth with the camera following her, zooming in as she hits the plastic wall. This develops anxiety and annoyance for the female character. 

Framing in the scene works to frame the characters separately and then together. An example is when the woman has just finished pacing and stands at the plastic screen, the man ducks under the beam and enters the space. It should be noted that whenever there is a shift of characters into space, majority of the time the man enters into the woman’s area, furthering his desire of her. In the final part of the scene the characters are framed separately as the man lights a cigarette and the woman sits not the couch, an expression of the different worlds they live.

Focus works on each actor at a particular time, however there are times where the woman is in focus as she’s closet to the camera and the man resides in the background. When directing the actors and the camera Antonioni would have considered depth of field as influenced by focus, as the actors are moving different distances away from the camera.

LargeFocalLengthDifferent focal lengths offer different depth of field and perspective. Camera distance in relation to depth of field is another element Antonioni would have had to think about – a short focal lense appear to exaggerate the spatial relationship between objects in depth, such as when the characters enter the main room in the man’s place; while a long focal length lense appears to compress the spatial relationship between objects in depth; for example when the the woman first walks around upstairs with the man.

High_Angle

Antonioni would have also had to consider perspective as many of the intercut shots are from different angles, such as the high angle when the man sits on the chair, a curious angle that almost foreshadows the unexpectedness of his dive for the telephone.

Film-TV1- Analysis/Reflection 5 – Question 2

Select from one of the readings from week 5, 6 or 7 and describe two points that you have taken from it. Points that excite you, something that was completely new to you.

Week five’s reading contains extracts from Dušan Makavejev and Martin Scorsese on their unique filmmaking crafts and reasons behind some of their directorial decisions.

“It’s very important to realize that many people believe that the frame contains part of a larger reality. What is important to understand is that in movies there is nothing else – whatever is in the frame is all there is.”

– Dušan Makavejev, Page 114

In this quote Makavejev emphases the importance of the frame; he notes that what’s outside the frame is something we create by the frame – the image creates the fantasy about what is outside. Framing things in means drawing attention to, embracing, taking care, and incorporating something, but whatever you frame out means you’re depriving people of it. Scorsese also points out that what you put in the frame is a major decision, you can’t just put anything as this can make the audience expect something else to happen.

“Similarly, where I place the camera is very often determined by having to relay the right information…

It’s really a matter of the angle, even when you’re moving the camera. It’s important on the level of how much information, how much you want the audience to see, and somehow there’s an emotional thing too.”

– Martin Scorsese, Page 79 

Scorsese views the camera angle as imperative to conveying the right information to the viewer. The camera angle has the ability to decide what you want the audience to see, and importantly what you don’t want them to see. Below is a scene from Scorsese’s Raging Bull (1980) which he identifies in the reading as being comprised of only straight cuts. He also says that he tries to keep a normal look in dramatic scenes; they have an effect where you place the camera, the lighting, the look of the film – it’s what’s on the table, in the foreground and background. In this scene we see the strategic placement of the camera to capture the rage of Jake as he uplifts the table to throw everything off it.

Reference

Oumano, E. Film Forum: thirty-five top filmmakers discuss their craft, (p. 78-80, 114-115). New York: St Martin’s Press, 1985.

Film-TV1- Analysis/Reflection 5 – Question 1

Lecture 7 Lighting: What was covered? Do you think the content is relevant to your project? And why?

Week seven’s lecture covered the importance of lighting as a reason for the exposure we need for the project, continuity over the whole scene, spatial continuity to make shots match and to providing perspective to control the image in order to superimpose aesthetics. One of the main points the lecture outlined was that lighting is all about decisions and this helps when you know your location and medium.

This knowledge was extremely useful for our projects as it will help us not only light scenes properly, but take advantage of light when we have it and create the proper aesthetic when we don’t; therefore helping create lighting continuity across scenes and plan shooting. Knowing the transiting of the sun will also allow us to plan for the sun to rise in the east and set in the west, therefore adjusting our shots for continuity. In order to be ready for shoot day we should think about the placement of the camera in relation to lighting, manipulate the sequence where you shoot the shots and shoot tests to see how our medium handles situations and responds.

Film-TV1- Analysis/Reflection 4 – Question 8

Please insert the link for your Lenny Exercise 2 here.

List the things that you learnt from this experience – this could be things that went well or not so well. 

Overall the Lenny Exercise 2 was a great learning experience as introduction to the future weeks major production. It gave the whole group a chance to experience their roles and to understand the flow of the production process. Here are some key things I learnt from the experience:

Lesson 1 – Time is the enemy

There will never be enough time and we could have easily spent all day experimenting with shots, but we only had an hour. Learning how to plan and shoot in relation to time constraints was key. Furthermore, it was interesting to see how once the group got into the process of shooting we became more confident and began to work quicker without realising.

Lesson 2 – Weather is unpredictable

It’s pretty obvious that weather is always unpredictable, but Melbourne weather is the epitome of unpredictable. The day we shot our exercise it was overcast and raining every couple of minutes. This meant we needed a designated umbrella holder to hold over the camera equipment while we shot scenes. Weather constraints is something we will need to be prepared for in our major production with the likelihood of rain present on our shooting day.

Lesson 3 – Takes, takes and more takes

Quite simply, the more takes, the more material. During the shoot we never shot a scene only once, but covered it from a variety of different angles, in multiple takes. This gave us the opportunity to decide in the edit suites, and decision is the most valuable tool in production as it can separate a good film from a great one. Therefore, when in doubt do another take.

Lesson 4 – Plan

Planning is the sword to slaying the beast of the production. In the Lenny Exercise we had decided on a location, mapped out our shots and designated our roles. However, we still wasted time at the start trying to organise ourselves on how we would approach the whole exercise. In our major production we will have to be really organised in order to get straight into shooting and not waste those precious minutes.

Lesson 5 – The other perspective

For our Lenny I acted as Sharon (noting that I also helped out acting for another Lenny production – apologies for Sharon saturation of the Lenny production market). This was probably the best experience from the whole exercise as I could understand the shoot from the perspective of the actor. It helped me fathom what our casted actors will need in terms of communication, direction and assurance from our crew in the major production. Something as simple as reassurance the actors are doing a good job can have a big impact on their confidence for ongoing shots.