Quick Storyboard and Chosen Soundtracks

I have produced a quick storyboard and thought about what foley sounds I want to incorporate into my production. Here I have photos of my storyboard and ideas whilst writing them up. There are also some quick sketches involved too.

Storyboard Ideas from CharlotteLouiseB

Reflective Comment:

I had some issues when it came to saving my photographs on my laptop due to my email and phone device. Therefore it took me slightly longer to upload because I needed to use my camera to photograph them again and add them onto the blog post. So I have had to add them into a Slideshare to show them to the audience. 

Research for OTS

For this OTS production to be as effective as possible I will need to research many aspects of the time era such as male and female costume, furniture and props and fashion/makeup. I would like to set it in the 20’s but have the film noir aspect of a femme fatale introduced with heavy makeup and similar dress including head piece and cigarette holder.

Below is my slideshare of the research I have found and produced. This will help me to choose a style of dress and understand what kind of make up they wore.

Research for OTS - 1920's from CharlotteLouiseB

1920s fashion from Hailey Wheeler

Awards

Our teacher decided that we would all vote on the best productions starting 1-5. Every member of a team had to vote for their favourite productions. Autumn and I didn't believe it when we came third out of five productions. I was ecstatic when finding out the scores. Now, I feel we can create a very moving and very effective final production in the next couple of months. This score has made me very excited to start our production.  Below you can see the slideshare of the scores.

2015 media production as fairy tales position votes + comments from Elaine Humpleby

Generic conventions of Film Noir

The generic conventions are split into five different sub-headings: Camera and composition, editing, sound, mise-en-scene, narrative and characters. We have watched three Film Noirs so far which include: Double Indemnity, The Killers and The Black Dahlia and so with these we have looked at their generic conventions.

Camera and composition

‘Composition’ describes the placement of relative objects and elements in a work of art. It is about the angles that the photograph has been taken in and how props have been set-up. A good composition is one that has enough detail and has a good balance. However, too elements can be distracting and lead the audience’s interpretation to confusion; meaning that the correct props for the storyline is vital.

For example, the photograph to the left is one that I had taken recently with my Sony Cyber shot. I had taken this photograph with her back towards the camera to show her flawless skin and the pearls around her neck. The pearls are part of the mise-en-scene though as they are props. I had taken this at such an angle to show her ‘pouted’ lips and that she was either in part-shock or slightly scared as this was taken outside in a graveyard. I could have made this slightly more Neo Noir by adding red lips (like Sin City) on her or a slight saturation of colour on her dress, which was navy.

Editing

Editing in media is all about how someone combines the clips together, how they are joined together, what software they use and special effects that may be added. I had played around with this slightly when I made my Media and Me vlog but I only used Moviemaker, I would like to try other software when we create our own project, perhaps iMovie.

Sound

Sound in media is all about what you can hear whether it is music, voices, voice overs and sound effects. Many film industries now use folioing  Anything can class as sound on a film, whether it is Film Noir or not.

Mise-en-scene

Mise-en-scene is the arrangement of scenery and props for photography or in the media industry, therefore the setting of the scene. ‘Mise-en-scene’ in French means ‘telling a story’. When applying the term to media and the film industry it refers to everything that appears beyond the camera including, make-up, costume, props and composition. In Film Noir the main things they tend to focus on is the costume and make-up of the femme fatale and cigarette smoke.

On the photograph to the left there is a photograph of a typical femme fatale, this was taken off Pinterest. The typical mise-en-scene for a femme fatale would be having smoke around her for the seductive atmosphere. She would be wearing heavy make-up and typically red lips, especially in Neo Noir film. The femme fatale is also often skinny and white, as she is to represent the women during the war being far too evil and getting their own way, as many of the men did not enjoy. The lady on the photograph to the left has longer hair than most femme fatale’s however the other costume and make-up makes up for the longer hair. When it comes to creating photographs and the beginning of our film I really want to play around with the costume and make-up of a femme fatale.

Narrative Structure

There is much narrative structure in Film Noirs and typically all fit in with each other. The most important storyline and structures would be that:

· They start with the end, often with the protagonist broken

· They usually include flashbacks or voice-overs

· The start often gives the entire plot away, making it less mysterious

· The characters however have their own mystery and stories

· It is usually from the protagonists perception

· They tend to have slow motion scenes

·The femme fatale usually ends up either being killed or in a lot of trouble

· The everyman ends up in trouble

· The femme fatale seduces the everyman making him do things he will later regret

Conventions of Film Noir from kellymorris92

I used the SlideShare above to see the typical conventions of Film Noir, I found this really useful however I do not agree with Character slide because I don't believe in every Film Noir there is detectives as the protagonists or corrupt police.

Reflective comment:
I need to add either my own Slideshares or Prezi's about each film we had watched and about their conventions. I also would like to find some video examples possibly on Youtube about the Titanic folying as could not do so on the school computers due to it being blocked. I would also like to blog about the different type of characters in Film Noir. 

First look on Film Noir

What is film noir?

Film Noir means ‘dark film’ in French. This is a term that is used to describe stylish Hollywood crime dramas; particularly those that have sexual motivations. The term Film Noir first applied to Hollywood films by French critic Nino Frank in 1946. It was in France during the post-war years that the term was used to describe a certain set of Hollywood films that were saturated with a darkness and cynicism that was not seen before. These movies include: The Maltese Falcon (1941), Double Indemnity (1944), Laura (1944), and Murder My Sweet (1944). Many of the classic Film Noir films are classed as melodramatic.

How did the films reflect the war?

The films reflected on the war as it was a run-down time, Film Noir show the insecurities and tensions throughout these Hollywood films. As it was the time of the World War people were feeling much more aggressive which lead to the crime and thrillers of all these early films. Some of these films have a moral to teach to the audience, that they believe woman and men should both get back to their original gender roles.

Primary moods of Film Noir:

• Depression
• Suspicion
• Paranoia
• Evil
• Guilt

Introduction to film genre study #1 film noir from shanovitz

This Slideshare was the first one I looked at to understand the use of Film Noir and about characters as a short introduction to this unit.

Reflective comment:

I would also like to see what I can find on Youtube or on Vimeo about Film Noir and the characters. 

My Top Ten Films

I have made a power point from Microsoft about what my top ten films are, who films in it and a rough draft of the plot. I understand that the plot is a large chunk of information however as I am so indulged in all these films that I cannot possibly shrink the information down. I have added this power point onto Slideshare to add it to my blog. I have also used animations in the slides to make it a bit more exciting as there is a lot of information so it was to try and break it down slightly. I believe my teacher had set this task to get used to adding slides and power points onto Slideshare as I am still getting used to all the functions and adding to my blog.

As you can see there is a pattern of genre going on as I am very much into romance films and chick flicks. This isn't the only case as I love Disney films and action films such as Rush Hour that is in there. I like to be able to sit and relax in front of my TV with a good film and popcorn, but it is usually a romance or very sad film. Many of the films in this Slideshare are from the novelist Nicholas Sparks who wrote books such as Safe Haven, The Lucky One and The Notebook. Nicholas tends to have the same kind of storyline: there is a girl and a boy, they fall in love but many scenes happen where they just can't be together. The storyline often ends with the two in love finally coming together and not worrying what others think. I like a film with a happy ending. Enjoy.

My top ten films from CharlotteLouiseB

23/10/15

Hyperlinks of the best or funniest parts of each film:

• Rush Hour: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-bA9FYB8HY

I particularly love this part of the film as the song is so repetitive and catchy that it just gets everyone watching, singing it together. It is just funny listening to the different cultures and accents trying to sing this. The song is called War by Edwin Starr.

• The Vow: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F1IL6aH-GIA

The wedding scene is my favourite because the small things just show how compatible the characters are such as both writing their vows on the their first date restaurant menu. The composition of the camera angles are immaculate especially during their kiss. I also like how they vow to always remember and love each other as this is a good foreshadow of what is to come.

• The Notebook: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4HfU-CVQw4

I absolutely love this scene because it is so romantic feeding all the beautiful doves, even after everything they have been through you can still see the chemistry between them. Towards the end of the scene here when Allie asks Noah why he hasn't written and discovers really he has and still loves her; it makes me weep. They both realise their undying love isn't over.

• Safe Haven: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CBcV3aooZpA

Just before this scene Alex realises that Katie has been lying to him and his family about her past and abusive relationship. She doesn't want to put his family though the pain of what her ex partner would do to them just to get back at Katie for leaving him. Alex declares his love for her and tells her stay.

• Step Brothers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-apLT6Ot3s

This is my ultimate favourite scene of this film as it is a scene that anyone could remember due to it being so hilarious. The two step brothers do not understand the concept of living and so act like children. Once they have made bunk bed they then have an accident. This would not be most peoples favourite scene as there are so many to choose from in this film, really worth watching.

• Dear John: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fhevO6RxNuo

This is a very emotional scene after spending two weeks together John has to leave again and so Savannah writes him a letter to take with him. The letter is telling him that 12 months is a long time and that she will see him soon, and it would have any one welling up with tears.

• Fifty Shades of Grey: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6sm39UR1ZIE

Many like Fifty Shades just because it is raunchy and a new type of film. Where I had read all books before the film and so I understood everything and the reason why Christian is like who he is. It is a beautiful yet thrilling storyline. This part is my favourite romantic scene as it is so attractive that Christian can drive a helicopter, so to speak. Parts like these and with Ellie Goulding's chilling song in the background shows their love for each other not just their lust.

• The Time Travellers Wife: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I4Xk_bsqFDw

Knowing she can't see him when ever she wants to when she can she makes the most of it. In this scene Clare hears Henry say a final goodbye to her and their child, I couldn't choose a favourite scene in this movie as it is all just so sad as it happens throughout her life from childhood.

• Toy Story: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=blwzc3zisRg

I could not choose a favourite scene as it is one of my best films, and so I had found a mash-up of good pieces fro the film. There are so many quotes that you cannot forget throughout this film. This is a film to watch when you are sick or just feeling a little lonely.

• Titanic: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8MDPeL8lpzo

This is my upmost best part of the film as she decides to choose Jack over the ever-so rich Cal. Knowing that a third class person can find love with an upper class person just makes life more realistic and that you can do anything if you put your mind to it. Such a romantic scene from this movie, as are most scenes.

Reflective comment:
If I were to do this Slideshare over again I would change it so that the plot was shortened down drastically. I will also add some hyperlinks to this at some stage if needed of the favourite or funniest parts of each film.