Studio Lesson 2: 'Sequences and 180 degree rule'

Yesterday, we went into the studio and learned about the 180 degree rule and started a project on two different sequences.

The 180 degree rule

The 180 degree rule is a rule used all the time during film and is very important to understand as a film maker. An imaginary line (axis) sets up the boundaries for the rule, when filming a sequence with cut shots, it basically instructs the camera operator and cinematographer to stay on only one side of the line (axis) when filming all of those shots. This prevents flipping the shot as it makes the film more confusing.

Although some films do use the 180 degree rule to make the film different in terms of cinematography.

In The Shinning, Stanley Kubrick shoots wide shots from both directions, a 180-degree flip, crossing the line

Sequencing 

We learnt about sequencing and stated shooting our own sequences. We also applied the 180 degree rule to the film. Our film was very simple basically consisted of long shots, medium shots and close-up shots. The actual content of the film was just an actor picking up a toy motorbike, looking at it and then putting it back down. The second sequence that we filmed was slightly more complicated, we included to actors in the frame and we played around with more shots (over the shoulder shots) and angles. Although we didn't have much time to do this, we attempted to white balance the shots.

Poster Analysis- 'Platoon'

Film posters are a medium of advertisement and presentation. Posters are used to suggest the genre, what may happen in the movie and to generate hype about the movie. 

This essay is an analysis for the poster advertising the film ‘Platoon’. This film is a 1986 American action/war film written and directed by Oliver Stone, starring

Tom Bringer, Willem Dafoe and  Charlie Sheen. Stone wrote a lot of the film based off of the Vietnam War and his experiences in the U.S army. 

Although this image looks quite simple, there are several different subtle aspects of this poster that basically tells you the majority of the information written above. Firstly, the setting of the image looks like a very rural jungle and also quite a tropical jungle. This is because of how all of background is all trees and grass, more specifically palm trees which you can only find in tropical nations. Also in the background there are several other figures dressed in army uniform and carrying weapons, this enforces the idea that it is about the army.  In the centre of the image there is a man, he is covered in blood and his uniform is ripped. Firstly, because he is wearing an army uniform, that uniform is iconography for a war film, and because his uniform his bloody and ripped we can predict that this movie will be somewhat violent. As it is an American war film and it is obvious that the setting is somewhere tropical, one can make the assumption that this film is specifically set during the Vietnam War. Another thing that we can assume about the film from this poster is there may be something tragic, this is because right in the centre of the image is a man and what implies that there is going to be tragedy, is his stance. He is on his knees, with his arms up to the sky and his head tilted back. His position suggests that he is distraught and demonstrates that this film may include sadness and disparity as well. Another thing about his stance that I found interesting is that he is gesturing to the main title. Although this is probably not intended, your eyes automatically fall onto the title.  

The lighting of this image is quite dark. First of all there is a full black boarder around the image that contains the text and the coolness of the actual image is high. This gives the grass a more bluer, darker tint. Because the overall colour of the image is black, it gives it a more mysterious feel. The connotation of black is strength, seriousness, power and authority. This is another way to suggest to the viewer about the film. 

The main title of the film is printed in bold metallic font and the two ‘o’s in “Platoon” are replaced with dog tags. This, again, is used to signify the army as dog tags are usually associated with the army. 

Just above the title it reads “An Oliver Stone film” and below the image it mentions the production company, the producers and the names of the main actors. They include this text because it is a selling point for the film. A lot of audience will be more inclined to watch a film where the recognise the actors, director or producers. 

Overall, I think that this movie poster is a really great movie poster. It is quite subtle, but you are able to get the general gist of the movie just from one image.

Studio Lesson 1: Intro to cameras and equipment

In class, we went into the studio and learnt about the cameras we might be using for our films. We were able to start using the equipment, hands on. During the lesson, we were taught how to set up a camera and a tripod right from the very beginning. The good thing about this is that the teacher didn't assume that we knew anything and took things slowly so that everybody was comfortable with the equipment that we were handling.

He showed us how to set up a tripod. This included how to set up the legs, axis, mounting plate and the head. 

He also taught us how to adjust all of these things. Then he taught us how to set up three different types of cameras. 

Sony NX5

Sony FS100

Canon 5D

The skills we learnt were putting in the battery, putting on the lens and basic function techniques of the individual cameras (on/off, zoom, focus, setting white balance). We then were able to practise using these techniques on things and people around the room. This practise gave a good sense of how the cameras should be handled when in use and when not in use. 

In my opinion, this lesson was very valuable to all of us as we are going to be using this equipment for 2 years and its important to learn everything about them which does include the very simple things like putting in the battery.  

Camera Angles and Camera Movement 16/9/15

Camera Angles

Establishing shot (E.S)

-To establish setting or scene for the benefit of the audience

Extreme Long Shot (E.L.S)

-To show the surrounding in more detail, more likely to feature people.

Long Shot

-Full body shot, used to see the everything in the frame

Mid Long Shot

-Also known American Angle

-From the thigh upwards 

Mid Shot
-From the waist upwards

Close-up

-This shot includes shoulders (sometimes) and face

-Used to focus on the details of someones face

Extreme Close Up

-Focusing on something very specific

-Typical example would be eyes

High angle

-Used to make the audience feel very small and inferior

-Status shot

Low Angle

-Used to make the audience feel inferior

-Status shot

High VS Low

-Interchanging between high and low

-Status shot

Point of view (POV)
-From the characters point of view

Over the shoulder shot
-A shot from over the characters shoulder
-Usually used during a conversation
-Could be used to make the audience feel isolated from the conversation

Canted Angle (Dutch Angle)
-For the audience to feel disoriented and uneasy

Camera Movement

-Pan: Moving the camera lens to one side of the frame to another

-Zoom: Zooming involves changing the focal length of the lens to make the subject appear closer or further away in the frame

-Tilt: Moving the camera lens up or down while keeping its horizontal axis constant.

-Track: Camera moves left, right, front, back tracking the characters or the focus of the scene

-Hand Held: Makes the camera more mobile and for the audience to feel as though the are involved within the action of the film

Submerged- analysis of how tension is created

Submerged

 The opening sequence is about two men who are investigating the ocean inside of a submarine, the men look as though they work for the government or are officials. Inside of the submarine, the men find what they think is a ship and immediately their radio and electronics stop working, leaving them not able to communicate and stranded there.

Through the opening sequence of the film submerged, the audience is already able to establish the vibe of the entire film. The scene uses dark lighting throughout, the sound effects creates ambiance as the submarine produces eerie sounds, the soft music as well tends to the scary atmosphere of the scene. The intensity of the scene is quite high throughout. Although during the first half of the sequence nothing has happened, because of the aura, the audience is able to predict that there could be something 
happening.

The tension is built up slowly through the use of mostly dialogue. The two men see something on the monitor and discuss what it is which is when the tension builds up. They use quotes such as "What the hell is that?" and "The electronics system is down". Something that could be improved in this film is that the dramatic music comes in right at the beginning, therefore there isn't a steady build up of tension when something does go wrong. The only cue is the dialogue.

Pineapple Express- The Opening Scene

Pineapple Express- The Opening Scene

Pineapple Express is a comedy-action film based off two stoner men who some how manage to get themselves involved with a rampant drug war between some of the most powerful and dangerous men and women in the city. The film was realised in 2008 and directed by David Gordon Green. The reason I chose this movie is I watched it over the weekend and for a mainstream comedy film, I thought that the opening sequence connecting to the rest of the movie was quite smart. 

The opening scene of Pineapple Express, although not involving the main characters, establishes the majority of the movies qualities. From the start the dialogue includes ‘druggie’ humour, sexual innuendo, explicit language and down right stupidity which quite frankly is hilarious. The film does does a good job with making you feel amused and engaged through the first scene. It leaves the audience excited about how the rest of the story will unfold.

The film starts in black and white, with a car driving through the desert. The subheadings “1937, The United States Of America” flash on to the screen in typewriter font which seems to be a comedic attempt to fit into the decade. Although this does give the viewer a decent understanding of why the film is in black and white and the vague location of where it is set. Two men get out of the vehicle and already the audience can tell that they are men of authority. This is because of their fancy car, sharp suits and captains hats. The music is heavy and serious, the stereotypical music that is associated with military. There are several shots looking up at the men to confirm their high authority. The scene proceeds into a underground military laboratory. There are scientists running an experiment on a man, Private Millar, having him smoke “Item 9” (implied marijuana). As the captain and scientist speak to the Private asking him several questions about his reaction to the drug, the Private makes a complete joke of it as he is obviously high. As the scene goes on and the Private continues to make a joke of himself and of the captain. The captain begins to get irritated with the Private and as the tension starts rising, the shot begins to slowly zoom in on the Privates face as he speaks more passionately to the captain about Item 9. At the end of the scene the captain gets fed up with the Private and declares Item 9, illegal. 

One of the things I most enjoyed about the scene was the contrasting elements throughout the scene. The whole atmosphere of the scene was supposed to be very serious and having the Private character in that state, which inspired dialogue for that character, juxtaposed the whole situation. This is the reason why the scene was so funny. 

Overall, I think that the scene was a really good way to begin a film, although it didn't include any of the main characters, it opened the doors and prepared the viewers for the kind of humour and storyline that were going to be seen in the rest of the movie.