Post Production

I experimented quite a lot with post production mainly on colours after I was happy with how the film was all cut together. As I used bright colours anyway I found tweaking the brightness and contrast slightly then increasing the saturation mildly made the film really vibrant and strong in colour and happier to watch.

Evaluation

So, I've really enjoyed this project and am in a way sad that this piece of work is over. This was my first film and I am in mixed emotions about how I found the experience. Looking at the final piece I am disappointing about the second half, it ended up rushed and lacked in lighting which I am putting down to a lack of experience. In the second half of the film it is hinted that the car crashes into the bike but this is maybe not that obvious to the viewer. On a more positive note I have progressed my skills with video hugely and find editting very natural now. Looking back at my research such as rules of attraction I feel the split screen I have used works effectively and it is interesting to see the screens change piece by piece, I particularly like the start where they change paths at the car. The colours worked beautifully. I feel I have produced good work with this piece.

Filming at Night

I would be filming the second half of my film at night mainly in the woods so a lack of light and equipment was a problem for me. I looked into how The Blair Witch project was filmed as this managed to create fear, mainly with the audio but the visual worked well too. The second half of my sound track has been made to create more tension than in the first half. The Blair Witch project used night vision, taken from the web page http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/gadgets/other-gadgets/nightvision.htm, I found this "Thermal imaging - This technology operates by capturing the upper portion of the infrared light spectrum, which is emitted as heat by objects instead of simply reflected as light. Hotter objects, such as warm bodies, emit more of this light than cooler objects like trees or buildings". So this is how it works, some bits use night vision other bits use a dim torch so you can't really see where she is going and creating tension and fear. Hopefully people won't remember the Paris Hilton Tape when watching this...

Post production in Hard Candy

I am coming close to finishing the edit of my film but am finding myself really obsessed with the details. I want to do some post colour editting as thats what I am used to with my photography. I researched the post production of Hard Candy as I really like the colour levels and tones in various parts of that film and how they change to reflect mood. I am now beginning to edit colours in premiere.

Post production in Hard Candy

Finished Filming

All planned shots have been finished today, After editting i may choose to reshoot or shoot some parts of the film. I am quite pleased with all the footage so far especially the daytime shots but have struggled to get the quality i wanted from the night shots at this stage but hope to refilm these soon

First half and second half

In my previous post I discuss the transiton between day and night. My film holds no real story yet aims to provoke thought and my aim has always been to confuse and make people want to watch the film, I will only hint at things so the viewer can make their own choice. In the first half of the film in the daytime all is very naive yet the music does give the feeling of something bad. In the second half of the film there will be a darker feel induced directly from the lack of natural light in the external shots. I will urge that something has happened in each frame yet a conclusion of what has actually happened will not be shown, but you may feel like you are close to discovering. 

Transition Between Day and Night

In the Evening last night I filmed day going to night from full day light to almost complete darkness. I wanted a rural location for this and have done a few trial countryside experiments which I havent liked enough. For a transitional spaces project at the end of last year I filmed it getting dark in an urban area and it was fantastic with all the lights coming on as it got dark which keeps interest. Obviously with the isoloation aspect to my film I don't want to use an urban area so chose a bridge over a dual carriageway which is an isolated place yet still has the interest of car head lights, yes there are people in the cars but they are far from in contact with my character. I am pleased with the trasition filmed

Film Case Cover

Being mainly a photographer I came up with an idea for showing parallel universes in a still and this is it. I quite like it and will use it or something similar as a cover for my piece

Photographer making a film

I discussed with my tutor how this is my first film and i concentrate mainly on Photography, she said how it is interesting when photographers make films as they concentrate on different things to film makers. Photographers focus on composition of frames and colours which I feel I am demostrating. This is my first film and I am really enjoying the process.

My one actress and her outfit

My actress did an A-Level in Drama and so has understanding of what i require from her. I wanted a pretty female who I know well enough to get what I want from her. Her outfit is bright blocks of colour to replicate the summer feel of the film. Being mainly a Photographer I find colours very important. I am only using one actress now which I think does give an isolated feel to the film but I don't see that as a problem as the film sees her getting tangled up in her journey. With her being the only character and the only one we see this works very nicely. Being half way through the process she is ideal to work with and think she is perfect for the role.

The Music

I need original music for my piece, i know a number of people abole to make me something. I want something created in the style of Crystal Castles for my film, their querky and unique stlye provokes various responses as they are not to everyones liking. I have chosen my brother to create the music for my work as we live together and this means we are able to discuss any problems easily and therefore progress faster and get the results I want. The piece is close to finished and has changes of pace at various points which was my main request. The music has a mild dark feel to it but does provoke a mysterious undertone to the film therefore keeping you on edge. I think it works fantastically

Mock Up

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EyW6s2rmN8Q

I have posted a mock up version of my film on youtube. I quite like how this piece is goin so far but unfortunately youtube is showing this in 4:3 rather than 16:9 so apologies for that.

It's benn a while....

So it's been a while since i've written anything up here. I've had a few trial attempts at a multiframe film in the past week with one editted and finished. The content is nothing special but the piece works in an interesting way, it is fast pace and short so the point of all working into the same place in the frames works well. for my longer piece with 9 frames it will be more slow pace therefore less confusing. Whilst an important thing happens in a specific frame the others will not have to much going on as not to distract as was done in riles of attraction. Over the next couple of weeks I will go deeply into planning and storyboarding mode to make sure i can make this happen...

Coldplay - The Scientist

The backwards motion of this film will be relevant to mine in the way which things are revealed

Review of split screen section in Rules of Attraction

This scene of the film is around 5 minutes long. Split screen is used in this part to show their isolation and the two frames join together in a brilliant way to bring out a romantic end to the scene. The frames work together really well for example in one scene where the Natalie Portman character is smoking in the classroom we see little happening on the other screen and vice versa and so this makes the split easy to follow. Around half way through this 5 minute section we notice that they are in the same building so realise that at some point we will either seem them both in both frames of the frames will combine with eachother. 3 minutes in the characters meet face to face, this bit is filmed in a similar way to peep show where the characters are talking to the camera. This bit is interesting to follow as you see the actors face when they are not speaking which seems strange as we often don't see this in film. I really like how they then rotate the cameras through 90 degrees to combine the two frames into one.

Polarity

Just been thinking today of whether i want to have the film the same at the start but played in reverse, or have the film played forward to meet the same end.....

Project Proposal

PHVP 2406
Research & Practice
In Still & Moving Image
Production

NEGOTIATED PROJECT PROPOSAL






Your Name…Richard Westlake
(Please Print Clearly)




De Montfort University
Department of Imaging and Communication Design
_______________________________________




February 2009


1. What is the idea behind your project?
You need to consider and discuss the theme, topic, focus or perspective of your project and why you are interested in it.
The idea for my film is to demonstrate parallel universes. The idea of parallel universes is that each time we are given a choice it alters our path. For my film I will show this over a short period of time, no longer than a day, by using multiple frames in the screen. Each frame I will start the same, so in each frame these is the same character taking various paths over the same period of time. For example if I was using 9 frames on screen then in 8 frames my character would get out of bed but in the remaining frame you will hit the snooze button going back to bed, and this was the first choice which has already altered the path for the character. So as the film progresses more changes occur so we will see more and more change in the frames. The plan at this point is to play the film in reverse so the frames all begin different yet work back to identical screens. I like the idea that you slowly recognize frames becoming identical. I am able to approach the theme of the story in a number of ways as I am able to have 9 outcomes, one version can be violent and the other can be comical. Below I have listed some potential story points; all of these are intended to induce a time lapse.
· Makes a discovery
· Abduction
· Finds a secret path
· Conversation
· Trip over causing time lapse
· Character injured or killed
· Finds money, buys something
· Paint spilt on clothes
· Choice of transport



2. What do you want to achieve through this work?
Discuss your artistic and personal aims of your project and comment on how you think it is likely to affect the people who experience it.
My reason for directing this short film is that I have yet to produce my own film where I have planned the whole piece on my own. I want to create a thought provoking film which confuses at the beginning but by the end you discover what is happening, I think with my concept of the multiple screens I will find it interesting finding out when the viewer discovers what is happening. I imagine it shouldn’t take too long though once a few screens start replicating each other.




3. What is the context of the project?
You need to consider how your project relates to contemporary and/or historical theory and practice in the subject area.
My project is exploring a theory of parallel universes, the film will work due to the edit and multiple frames, alone the stories may be basic and rather obvious yet this is the not the point I am trying to push with the film.

4. What research and development strategy have you defined for the project?
How will you set about achieving the goals you have set for your project including your working methods, artistic, technical and ethical considerations?
For this project I was produce a blog along with a sketch book to maximize keeping track of my progress. I will look into multiple and split frame works for inspiration to see how they work for the first 5 or 6 weeks whilst I write and story board my film. I aim to film in a week and edit in the following week. I will use one camera and possibly dolly and roller equipment for certain shots. I will require help from a crew in this to aid with equipment.

5. How feasible is the project?
Identify the risks/problems that might arise in the development of you project and provide a proposed timetable of activities. This will enable both you and your tutor to monitor progress.
Problems may arise with this film as it depends on a variety of things. Firstly I will be using actors and any problems encountered with these can delay filming, I aim to film over a short period of time to ensure I minimize the actors being ill or injured. I aim to give them plenty of notice to make sure they are available. Problems may occur with equipment and also weather may cause certain scenes to be pushed back. Overall at this stage I find my concept very feasible, and see no real risk in the filming and editing stages.


Timetable

Week
Activity
1
Project Proposal, R & D

2
R & D, Story ideas

3
R & D, Storyboard

4
R & D, Film Schedule

5
R & D, Film

6
R & D, Finish Filming

7
R & D, Edit

8
R & D, Tidying up for presentation


6. What are the influences that have helped you in thinking about the project?
Provide a bibliography of reference materials in an alphabetical list. This can include but is not limited to:
· Written material from books, journals, articles and conference contributions or interviews.
· Digital and broadcast media.
· Performance and or live presentations.
· Artefacts, designs or exhibitions.
· Films, videos and other presentations.
· Advisory reports.
· Archival or specialist collections.

I was initially inspired by this film during conversation with a friend where we got onto the topic of parallel universes and the idea of choice. After this we began to discuss split screen films and where the idea of split screen has been used before. The first film I looked at was the music video “Cibo Matto – Sugar Water” by Michael Gondry, after this I continued looking at his work and found him inspirational. I have also looked at the film rules of attraction where they use split screen where is it really well done. At this stage I need to research more in order to progress with this project.


7. Additional information
Include any further details, which you feel are relevant to the successful completion of your project that havn’t been covered in the previous sections.

I look forward to producing an interesting piece of work

Potential Story Ideas

So as this film is a multiple frame idea I have been brainstorming in my sketch book for possible scenarios to happen in the film;

• Character Dies
• Phone Call
• Bike Ride
• Feed Ducks
• Dog Walk
• Makes a Discovery
• Abduction
• Finds a secret path
• Conversation
• Drop Item
• Lose/Forget Something
• Trip over
• Paint spilt on Character
• Finds Money - Buys Something
• Choice of Transport

All these are ideas intended to provoke a time lapse in the film. The choice porvided by each scenario will cause the character to change time paths in the 9 different frames. Some of these may be part of the main idea yet i am trying not to finalise the main story yet.

Film Idea

so my idea for my negotiated project is to produce a short film. i have been looking into split screen films and multiple frame films as my research so far, such as a scene in 'rules of attraction' seen at the web address http://www.avclub.com/articles/the-new-cult-canon-the-rules-of-attraction,2290/. I plan to have multiple frames in my short film where the film starts with each frame the same, yet scene by scene one of the frames will change so over time the screen will go from having all identical frames to all different. It demonstrates the idea of having parallel universes with the different outcomes from our choices we come in contact with over a period of time.  At this stage i am thinking the final film will be played in reverse so all the frames (9 or 16 frames) will all start different yet all come back to the same footage right at the end of the film.  I am finding it hard to put this idea into words at this stage so will hopefully post a clearer explanation of my thoughts in the near future.