Whip Panning and editting

Experimenting whip-panning was really intresting. Whilst, shooting the footage, it felt like that maybe i was doing it wrong but when i thought i had enough footage to edit a whip-pan, i was really proud with my first edited peice. My original idea of whip-panning the shots was to have a still shot and whip-panning it to the right to see another still shot, that going to ship-panning to the right aswell and that contintuing for the followings shots of different places. Nevertheless, I tried shooting in different ways, I first panned objects panning to the right, then I did a shot of panning into the shot from the left and the same with whip-panning in to the shot from the right. Whilst editing i found it more easier making the whip-panning look much neater when editing [The first fottage of whip-panning] a shot of an object panning to the right to see the same panning going into another shot. However, I will still consider having a still shot and panning to the right, until the shots of places around london have ended. Doing this little practice of the whip-panning and editing the footage made me aware that when I go to shoot the footage, that I should whip from both right and left, getting all different ways, as I can use and experiment with it whilst editing.

Farjana Reshma Rahman

Storyboarding and practicing with voice-overs

This is our storyboarding for our film opening Taking a Risk, at the same time we experimented recording a voice-over of the girls dialogue. In doing so, we found many things we can watch out for whilst actually producing our film opening. For instance, when we get the girl to speak she might need to speak much slower but not too dragging or monotone, so we can get more of the shots to fit in without it looking like the shots are coming in, in a hurry. We might consider editing it first [still keeping in mind that there will be a voice over] and record  it according to the edited footage and the matching emotions at the right moments. Also whilst shooting the footage we want to get extra footage at the start and the end as it might be a great help when editing. Doing this we will be able to cut footage away to stay in time and not needing to worry if we are cutting important footage. Whilst storyboarding, I knew there would be actions in the many shots, but the shots of the many places in london can be whip panned making it look better and grab the audiences attention. As our audience of the genre, still including the teenager, it will look grab their attention and look cool to not only to the teenagers group of our audience but people aged higher.
Overall, through this storyboarding and practice voice-over and editing, we saw the many areas that will be important to pay attention to.

Voiceover- Joygun Yasmin Nessa
Storyboard- Whole Group
Farjana Reshma Rahman

Twilight Research

Twilight




opening of twilight

with the deer running fast and someone chasing it, you can tell because of the tension, there will be some action. because of the eerie-ness and title, fantasy and a hint of thriller is given off. 

in the opening of the film we see the girl and her father.

we don't really know, we know she is moved so she might get some trouble in school or she might get hunted like the deer.

farjana begum

While you were sleeping- Assessment

How do the filmmakers establish character, genre and narrative in the opening?
Write about:

• Camera
• Editing
• Sound
• Mise-en-scene

 'While you were sleeping' establishes the characters: the main character being a single woman and other characters include her father, a handsome man she has had her eye on and her neighbor. It introduces the genre, being romance and comedy and it also establishes narrative with simple signifiers in the mise-en-scene in the shots. 

'While you were sleeping' instantly establishes the genre which is a romance, comedy film. We immediately get this happy vibe, a feeling of love and to create this atmosphere they used a familiar soundtrack. That is usually listened to when in a good mood and also the lyrics refer to love too; this soundtrack is the signifier of the genre romance. Along with sound, the filmmakers introduce the genre romance also using the font of the opening credits and title in the film. Which is in a White and elegant font, what one would see as a very pretty font. This adds to the state of equilibrium, giving off a normal balanced feeling, but you would normally see that type of font in a wedding card or when in love, connoting that maybe someone will fall in love or is in love.


We get the first sense of the genre comedy, when we see a long shot of a ice rink and a man slips and falls. Even though the denotation of this shot is just a simple man trying to skate but slips in return, this is a classic move for comedy and this is a subtle way to first connote this genre to the film. A while later in the film, when the various shots of the train passing goes closer into the window to see a woman in the ticket booth dealing with a costumer, it goes into a flashback, with the music changing. That is when we hear a voice-over of the main character, the woman speaking, and the sarcasm in her dialogue gives off the comedy. For instance, when she was describing her childhood with her dad. "There are two things I remember about my childhood, I just don't remember it being this orange." They edit the setting they are in, her and her dad on a bridge looking over the river and sky, making the sky more orange to help understand the sarcasm in her dialogue, thus making it funny. In addition, they also use a prop and the setting to show her sarcasm and the comedy in the movie. First, when she is with her father [him chasing her and putting her on his back] she says how her father would take their adventures and he would talk about how exotic it is, and how amazing that her childhood town 'Wisconsin' wasn't. The filmmakers use the setting to add to her sarcasm and next they use props. When she tells the audience that her dad knew he loved her mother when she tells the audience that her dad knew he loved her mother when she gave the world to him, but it ended up being a globe with a light in it.

Other than the music, The first thing we see is, railway track along with the opening credits, usually the filmmakers make the first thing the audience see the establishing shot of where the film will be set. So this connotes that the train station or the tracks will play a key part as important events may take place in the movie. We know this is definite because we get following shots a while later of a train station platform with a train going. The next various shots establish the settings in the film. We see a wide-shot of scenic buildings, busy streets informing the audience first that this film is set in the city, than the filmmakers gradually inform the audience that the is set in Chicago, as we see a low-angle shot of a skyscraper with two Chicago flags and also an establishing shot of the Chicago stadium. However, the filmmakers could've showed any sign to show they film is set in Chicago, instead he uses the Chicago stadium, which  goes to a close-up shot of the stadium advertising basketball game tickets, letting us know what type of sport is played in that stadium. This shot, may be foreshadowing what events and where the events may take place, as we see more shots referring to basketball. We get a shot of a statue of with two men fighting over a ball confirming that basketball will be referred to in this film, or that it may play a good role in the narrative. We also get an idea of what time of year the movie is it in, with the people on the streets are fully covered in clothes. The shots of the city buildings are very misty, suggesting that the weather the movie starts with, will be winter weather. We also get a shot of an ice rink confirming that it is winter and more specifically it may be Christmas, as that it the time in which people like to go ice skating most. Nevertheless, that does not only tell the audience of what time of year it is, but introduces an additional genre to the movie.

During the flashback, we see that her dad plays a important role in her life and in the narrative because she talks about him with a lot of admiration, copying her action and playing with him. It also introduces her character with her dad being her role model; he really influences her thoughts. On the other hand, not only does the voice-over establish the genre of comedy but it also shows what type of character she is as well with the flashback. With her dialogue, the audience may find her confused, clueless, with her first line about not remembering it being this orange, but as the sarcasm continues you find that she is really genuinely nice and friendly, as she talks about her childhood with the real emotions. How she talked about her favorite memory with her dad was when he said told stories about her mother and the love between them, you can tell that she is like any other girl searching for love. However, as she talked about how she will get her true love, maybe one like her fathers you can tell she is naive, but we find her naive more because she believes she will fall hopelessly in love with her costumer, whom she hasn't gotten the courage to speak to yet. All summing up to her being influenced by her childhood with her father.

That is in when the filmmakers show the audience an important aspect of the narrative of the film. After the flashback, we get a middle shot of a particularly handsome man walking in a hurry towards the ticket booth and giving money walking away. This is when she realized him and a point of view shot of the main character watching the man and her thoughts continue. "The first time i saw him, he didn't exactly give me the world it was a dollar fifty and a train ticket. But i looked forward to it every single day... he was just perfect, my prince charming. Well, we never actually spoken but i know someday we will" Not only does this connote that she is single but it adds to her character, her not giving up hope and holding onto her dream, the filmmakers edit in score to that shot, adding to her feelings. The score created for the scene makes it sound so loving and perfect like starts twinkling and creating her fantasy in her mind. Plus, you know that this film will be based on her getting her love, that being her aim that one day she will get her 'perfect prince charming'. However, she sells tickets in a train station connoting that she isn't very successful and maybe why she is struggling both career and in her affairs or in physical beauty. This may suggest that this may be her flaw or the problem in the film, because he seems very successful with high standards, with his costume being a nice, clean, pressed suit. Nevertheless, him taking a train may show that he is open-minded and that there may be a chance for her. With the long shot of him getting the door open in the last minute we see him holding open a bit longer for an old lady. From this shot, we get introduced slightly to his character, he seems very helpful and friendly, hence, why she finds him 'perfect', so this suggests to the audience that there might be a big possibility that these two characters may come together.

To finish the opening we get a shot of a Christmas tree than being slightly pulled up, than we see a side-shot of her pulling something up the window sill with a rope, so we know that she is struggling to get the Christmas tree in what seems to be her apartment.  We know she struggling because she complains and groans, slipping on the rope and dropping it. Not only does this add to the comedy genre, but it connotes and confirms two things. That it is winter and that she is not only single but she has no male figure around to help. Showing the contrast from the past and the present in the movie. She is in a baggy jumper and looks too comfortable to be considered pretty and that she has many men on her tail. The end to opening almost informs the audience that the narrative of the film will take place in an key part in her life and that she may have to change drastically to get her love. It sums up the opening, informing the audience of the characters genre and idea of the narrative of the film. Making them wonder what will happen, as her journey begins of her getting her perfect prince, her love.

Farjana Reshma Rahman

While you were sleeping essay

The opening begins with an establishing shot of a train track panning up. This may be suggesting that the film the film might take place in a train station or a key part in the film may have something to do with the train station.
There is a sound track playing from the start of the film. The soundtrack is upbeat and establishes a happy, jolly mood. The soundtrack also has the word ‘love’ in it, which could be suggesting that this film is going to be about love. The soundtrack also fits into the genre of romance. We are shown a long shot of tall buildings which suggest that the location is in the city. We also see a low angle shot of flags of other countries with tall building behind it. This possibly may be suggesting that there is an up-coming event that will include other countries and this may takes place in the city that’s why it is showing the big, tall city buildings behind the flags. We also see a bust shot of a big sign that says ‘WOLFEYS’, this co-notates that this film is set in the USA. There is a Shot of Chicago stadium; this establishes that the film is taking place in Chicago. The Chicago stadium is advertising tickets for a basketball game; this could possibly be the up-coming event that I suggested earlier. We see a close up shot of a man making hot dogs, which also relates to the basketball game. All these little things connote that something big and interesting will happen at this particular basketball game. We are shown some pigeons flying around and people ice-skating; this could be showing that Chicago is a busy city. This is appropriate for the genre because it is usually in busy places where people meet and fall in love. Then we see a statue of two men fighting over a ball, also clearly implies a sign of basketball and suggests to the audience that the basketball game will be a significant part of the film. The audience are shown busy traffic and lots of cars rushing; this could suggest it’s a holiday possibly Christmas because we know its winter. The filmmaker has made it clear that it is winter because they have shown us that people are ice-skating and are wrapped up warm in coats and scarf’s.

Later we are shown a high angle shot of the sunset panning down on a little girl and her dad, the lighting in this scene is dark. There is a voice over of a female talking. From what she is saying we know that it is the girl in the scene but is likely to be when she is older because it is a very womanly voice in the voice over which suggests many years have gone past. Also suggests that the girl is the main character because she is the first person to be introduced in the film.  We than see a close up shot of the girl and her dad and the girl imitates what her dad is doing which suggests that she sees her dad as a role model.
 

After that the audience are shown the girl when she is older working at a train station. The filmmaker has done this to show that she has moved on with her life and is no longer dependent of her dad. We see a close up shot of her face observing a man who goes past, and then a close up shot of his face. This clearly implies that her attention is on him. Also suggest that the character has lust for him and this goes with the genre of romance.We are again shown a close up of her face; this is a shot, reverse shot. This shows that something will happen between these two characters later on during the film and also hints to the audience that the genre is romance.

Later on we see the main character pulling a Christmas tree through a snowy window. This tells us its Christmas time and that it’s been snowing. Also tells us that the character is a single woman who lives by herself and doesn’t have a man in her life to help her with her Christmas tree. We can see that she is struggling by her facial expressions. The filmmaker has done this to show she needs help. We then see a close up of her slipping on a wire this connotes comedy and may be implying that the genre of the film is also comedy.

The costume she wear when going to her neighbours is a big grey woolly jumper possibly because its winter and its cold. The costume also suggests that the character is someone who like to wear comfortable clothes. Her neighbour is wearing a shirt and a cardigan; this is something someone old would wear.

From the opening it is clear that the narrative of this film is to show the the main character who is a middle ages women go through key stages of her life. The filmmaker shows this by showing how her life was before with her dad and how her life is now (single, lonely). The filmmaker will also show very important part of her life, which is when she falls in love. We as the audience know this because the filmmaker has denoted it and given us hints e.g her staring at a handsome man in the train station where she works.


Furthermore i also realised that the filmmaker used non-diegetic sound, for example the voice over of the main character. I think that this voice over was used so that we are able to establish what the character is thinking and feeling at each specific stage of her life.

Joygun Yasmin Nessa

Setting, Characters, Props and Costume

Possible Characters:

·         Main Girl: Yasmin Nessa

·         Friend: Akram Ullah

·         Doctor: (yet to decide)

Props and costume:

·         Glasses

·         Nerdy clothes

·         Doctors apron


Farjana Begum

Costumes

Our character will wear along the lines of this type of clothes. 

She chooses to dress smart to match her personality, She is a geeky, neat, smart and likes to keep to herself. 

The costumes she wears will express her character more clearly and make it easy for the audience to understand the kind of person she is.

By dressing her like this before she "takes the risk" we are trying to show the difference between how she was before she took the risk e.g not very confident, low self-esteam.

This is the type of clothes that she will wear later after she has taken the risk.

This is to show that now she is more confident and trendy. 

It also shows that her self-esteam has changed and it is much higher than before because she used to be very shy.

We hope that the costumes will show this.

Joygun Yasmin Nessa

Setting Research

These are setting we most likely will and can use. The places that are possible for us to travel to and are not drastically far. I think These areas will be good to use, as they are beautiful places and the main setting, Shadwell basin/ king edward memorial park is a nice place to shoot. it's not too overcrowded. Whereas, in trafalgar square will be crowded but we will not be doing any acting there so it's perfect. Especially, now that we're in winter, the lighting will add to the the glum and grey atmosphere. There will be a chance it may be windy, or possibly rain but that is something we can ignore, with weather forecasts. However, the wind can show her situation and also add to the confusion and the coldness that hit her life. almost creating pathetic fallacy. Overall, i think we have all the ideal settings we need, a bus or walk away. 

Farjana Reshma Rahman

Our Response To The Feedback

The feedback we got from our class members was that they thought our pitches were good. They said that the storyline is structured well and there are interesting aspects to the character. They also said that our genre was established very clearly and that we had a excellent range of camera shots which helped to establish the genre better. We decided that we would use Reshma's pitch as it got the most votes in the pole. A feedback we got said that they liked Reshma's pitch because "it tricks the audience into thinking it is going to be a depressing drama and then it picks up pace and mood". Another feedback we got was that they thought Reshma's pitch suited the genre very well and they would watch it in the cinema, they thought the opening is very moving and exciting. Reshma's pitch was lacking in camera shots so we combined both our pitches together we used my camera shots with Reshma's narrative. We adjusted some of the script so that the camera shots were clearer. For example, to make a montage of shots, of various places in london. From the feedback we realised that there is a lot of improvements we can make on our pitch.

Joygun Yasmin Nessa

Final synopsis

The first thing we see is a side- bust shot of a girl, leaning against a railing next to the River Thames, to create a casual atmosphere. The audience knows that she is the main character and from her features and clothing you know that she is a teenager. There is also a calming but slightly saddening music in the background, with a natural dim lighting from winter; almost informing the audience that this film is going to about this girl’s life and that the genre is teen-Drama. The shot goes to a close up shot of her face and she exhales. A voice- over comes on and it’s the girl’s voice. "There was no place that described me better than this place...”  whilst saying this line, the shot goes onto a over-shoulder showing just where she is. Then, various shots come on, from famous sites, to parks and markets, to show the many sites in london. During these shots, the girl says “Restaurants, for the people who loved to eat. Religious building, for the people in touch with their spiritual side, shopping centres for the shoppaholics and there was historic places, but the list can go on. But, here, right here, was the place for me.” It goes back to the first setting back to the same over-shoulder shot. “Me all alone, on the riverbank, tempted to jump into the horrible green Thames water and end my horrid and boring life..." it then changes on to low shots to her feet to show she’s on the edge [she bounces on her toes to emphasise] and her gripping on the railing, while she is talking. This creates a false assumption that the girl will commit suicide. After that sentence there is a pause and you can see a side, close up shot of her face, and she lets out a humorless chuckle. "... Hell, that would've been the most interesting thing I’ve done all my life, but like always, I’d never had the guts.” Still on the same shot, she shakes her head looking down. The shot goes to a middle shot, from the back, to show her silhouette and the scenery. She picks her head up and the next voice over comes on. "That, was before I knew my circumstance, before the big change came” The audience next see a two shot of the same girl sitting, down next to a man; we can tell he's a doctor because he's wearing a white over cloak and has files in his hand. It goes onto a closer shot of the doctor as he says sympathetically, "I'm sorry, but this type of cancer is not treatable". Then a close up shot of the girls shoulder with the doctors hand on her shoulder. The voice over of the girls’ thoughts continues in this shot. "That's when I realized three things. Number one, time was too precious. Two, I had NO time to be a coward." By the end of the sentence the goes out and you can see the doctors lips saying, "I’m sorry" again, the girl has an unreadable and blank, [almost to shock to respond] expression. The shot changes into the original setting, but the girl’s normal expression change into a happy one, which is unusual because we just find out she, has cancer. "And three, It was time to take a risk" Someone behind her, it seems to be her friend, because she goes to hug him and her thought continues. "So let the journey begin". It goes onto a long shot of them walking away from camera and as the camera pans up towards the sky, the title comes on. "Taking a risk". The camera pans back down from the sky; the title gone and a complete new bust shot of the same girl walking but looking more like a geek. Ending the opening of the film and starting her journey. 

The whole group.

Generic Conventions

There are many important generic conventions that are usually seen in a drama movie. Some of the common generic conventions are making the audience feel as if they can relate to the character, building a climax to build tension and keep the audience interested or to show that the character is going through a journey which develops the character and makes the character come across much stronger also to have a happy ending or to make the movie realistic and to show that the character is going through a stressful, difficult and hard time in their life, this is done to catch the audiences attention emotionally and create a dramatic effect. We have included some of these generic conventions in our drama movie. For example our movie is realistic and has a happy ending. Furthermore we show our character going through a difficult time in their life which moves the audience emotionally as they will feel sympathetic towards her. Finally we show character going through a journey and taking risks, hence the title 'taking a risk'.

Joygun Yasmin Nessa

Generic conventions...

These are some important generic conventions that are seen in a drama film.

• shows real life situations, with realistic characters, setting and stories
• portrays journey of character development
• intense social interaction
• purpose of a dramatic story line is to move the audience emotionally
• heart of the drama is conflict- includes, hardship, difficulty and pain
• audience can relate to the character
• a form of realisation at the end/ happily ending
• structured with climaxes and anti-climaxes to keep the audience going, emotionally and keep the tension going
• man against nature

Farjana Reshma Rahman

Script

Girl: "There is no place that explained me better than this place.

There are all sorts of places here in London, parks, for the people who loved to go out.

Exoctic Restaurants, sharing all cultures of food, for the people who want to eat. Religious building, for the people in touch with their spiritual side and there was historic places, the Buckingham Palace, St Paul’s cathedral, for all the sight seers, museums but the list can go on.

But, here, right here, was the place for me.

Me all alone, on the riverbank, tempted to jump into the dirty green Thames water and end my plain and boring life.

Hell, that would've been the most interesting thing I’ve done all my life, but like always, I'd never had the guts.

That, was before I knew my circumstance, before the big change came."

Doctor: "I'm sorry, but this type of cancer is not treatable".  [He says sympathetically]

Girl: "That's when I realised three things. Number one, time was too precious. Two,lifes too short to be a coward.

And Three, It was time to take a risk.

So let the journey begin".

Farjana Reshma Rahman

Joygun Yasmin's Pitch

Farjana Reshma Rahman's pitch

Nikhat PITCH 3

PITCH 3 - Nikhat

PITCH 3

There is a teenage girl walking through a park alone on a dark, cold night. The shadows of the trees seem to look like tall, big men under the light of the lamps. The girl had earphones on listening to music very loudly to block out all her problems. She thinks to herself, "they don't stop arguing, all they ever do is fight. They don't care about me, they dont care about Sammy, they just care about themselves". As she walks she doesn't hear or notice a man dressed in black following her. He appears to be restless. She was just about to approach the end gate of the park and notices a moving shadow on her right. Just when she turns around the man grabs her and covers her mouth with his hand. She quickly gets her mobile out to call for help but he pulls her earphones out her ears and half wraps it around her neck. She struggles to mumble "please.."however he holds her tighter and whispers "don't say a word or i'll kill you right here right now". He throws her mobile still connected to the earphones into a nearby bush. The music that was blaring in her ears a few minutes ago was now blaring in the bush..

Nikhat Basheratul

Pitch 2

The audience is first shown black screen but are able to hear a girl arguing with her teacher. We see a close up shot of a girl shouting and than running out her classroom, forcfully closing the door behind her.We than see a over the shoulder shot of her teacher walk out the classroom and watch as she runs down the corridor.We see that the girls costume is a school uniform that a typical svhool girl would wear. From this we know that she is a teen and that this film is possibly a teen-drama.The audience are than shown a extreme close up shot of the teachers face showing that she is not angry but upset almost as if she is feeling sorry for the girl. Moving on we see a long shot showing the girl sitting on a bench in the playground with her head in her arms. We are shown a close up shot of a tear run down her cheek which tells us that she is clearly saddend about something. Than we hear a voiceover of the girl.
"i was never that of girl. Throwing tantrums, walking out of class. It just wasn't like me".
Than the camra beggins to pan out from the girl sitting on the bench and we see a flashback of how she used to be before.
"Ms im finished".
The audience are shown a two shot of the girl and the teacher smiling and discussing her work. The lighting in this scene is very bright and suggests a happy, peaceful, calming atmosphere.
"but this was all before i found out, before the wait began".
Than the camera pans out rapidly. This is dramatic and will grab the audiences attention. We are than shown a long shot of the outside of a hospital. This establishes that the next scene will take place i this hospitital. We than see the girl, her mother and a doctor in a room with dark lighting. There is an eery silence, this is efective and we are able to feel the tention.The doctor looks at the girl and her mother and says...
"Im very sorry your daughter has terminal cancer".
We see a extreme close-up shot of the girls face drop an and by her facial expressions we are able to see the see she is trying to hold her tears in and he eyes are very watery. Her mother beggins to cry estatically, looks at the doctor and says
"how long?". The doctor reply...
"sorry but it is uncertain".
We see a bust shot of the girl  and than the camera pan down to the ground and the title "THE WAIT" apears.

Joygun Yasmin Nessa

Pitch 1

The first thing we see is a girl, leaning against a railing next to the river. The audience knows that she is the main character and from her features and clothing you know that she is a teenager. There is also a calming but slightly saddening music in the background, almost informing the audience that this film is going to about this girl’s life and that the genre is teen-Drama. The shot goes to a closer shot her face and she exhales. A voice- over comes on and it’s the girl’s voice. "There was no place that described me better than this place...” various shots comes on, from famous sites, to parks and markets. "Me all alone, on a cliff, tempted to jump and end my horrid and boring life..." it then changes on to shots from her feet to show she’s on the edge and her gripping on the railing, while she is talking. After that sentence there is a pause and you can see a side, close up shot of her face, and she lets out a humorless chuckle. "... That would've been the most interesting thing I’ve done all my life, but obviously... I’d never had the guts.” Still on the same shot, she shakes her head looking down. The shot goes to a middle shot, from the back, to show her silhouette and the scenery. She picks her head up and the next voice over comes on. "That was before I knew my circumstance.". The audience next see the same girl sitting, down next to a man; we can tell he's a doctor because he's wearing a white over cloak and has files in his hand. It goes onto a closer shot of the doctor as he says, "I'm sorry, but this type of cancer is not treatable". Then a close up shot of the girls shoulder with the doctors hand on her shoulder. The voice over of the girls’ thoughts continues in this shot. "That's when I realized 3 things. Number 1, time was to precious, 2, I had NO time to be a coward." By the end of the sentence the goes out and you can see the doctors lips saying, "I’m sorry" again. The shot changes into the original setting, but the girl’s normal expression change into a happy one, which is unusual because we just find out she, has cancer. "And 3, It was time to take a risk" Someone behind her, it seems to be her her friend, because she goes to hug him and her thought continues. "So let the journey begin". It goes onto a long shot of them walking away from camera and as the camera pans up towards the sky, the title comes on. "Taking a risk". The camera pans back down from the sky; the title gone and a complete new shot of the same girl walking but looking more like a geek. Ending the opening of the film and starting her journey.

Farjana Reshma Rahman