Click to enlargeThursday, September 27, 2007
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Testing Procedures
The final solution will be a thirty minute horror film that makes effective use of filming and editing techniques. For my testing procedures, I am going to have as many people view it as possible. The audience will be from ages 14-45. I’m going to try and represent the ages as evenly as possible, although there will most likely be more in the lower age bracket just because I am in high school. The screenings will take place at my house and at school. I will distribute a survey form that I had previously created for audience member to fill out. I will make a short introduction, and then I will play the movie. After the test I will give the audience time to complete the survey. I will then collect the forms and store them in a folder. I will repeat this test several times for other age groups up to and including the maximum of my target audience. It will also make sense to include a few above the target audience age group as outliers. If necessary, I can repeat this test as many times as needed. Following is a numbered list detailing the testing procedure step by step.
Testing Procedure Steps
1. Distribute the survey form to each person as they arrive.
2. Make a short introduction to the movie.
3. Play the movie for the first audience.
4. Collect all the survey forms.
5. Repeat steps 1-5 for all subsequent audiences.
6. Review all feedback and, if necessary, make changes to the movie.
Testing Procedure Steps
1. Distribute the survey form to each person as they arrive.
2. Make a short introduction to the movie.
3. Play the movie for the first audience.
4. Collect all the survey forms.
5. Repeat steps 1-5 for all subsequent audiences.
6. Review all feedback and, if necessary, make changes to the movie.
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Research
Terms List
Scripting - A script, or screenplay, is the blueprint for a movie. They can be original works or adapted from existing works. Common adaptations come from novels. The major components are dialogue and action.
Storyboarding - Storyboards are very helpful in the process of creating a movie. They can help you to organize the story and give it better focus. They help to define your limits with resources and time. They also help you to decide what medium will work best for a given situation.
Film Terminology
180 degree rule - a film editing guideline that states that two characters in the same scene should always have the same left/right relationship to each other
30 degree rule - film editing guideline that states the camera must make at least 30° movements around the axis of movement while still respecting the 180° rule
Accelerated montage - sequence edited into progressively shorter shots to create a mood of tension and excitement
Aerial shot – shot taken from a crane or helicopter, not necessarily moving shot
Ambient light – natural light surrounding subject, usually soft
Angle of view - the angle subtended by the lens, wide angle lenses have broad angles of view,
telephoto lenses have very narrow angles of view.
Aspect Ratio - The ratio of the width to the height of the film or television image
Bluescreen - A process of combining separate images, can be used for special effects
Boom – an arm used to hold a microphone near the actor
Clapperboard - A chalkboard, photographed at the beginning of a shot, upon which are written the pertinent data for the shot. A clapstick on top of the board is snapped shut and the resultant sound and image are used later to synchronise picture and sound.
Cutaway - shot inserted in a scene to show action at another location, usually brief, and most often used to cover breaks in the main take
Cut – switch from one image to another
Depth of Field - The range of distances from the camera at which the subject is sharp
Deep focus – objects both near and far from the camera are in focus at the same time
Dolly shot – a shot taken from a moving dolly
Dub – to rerecord a film in a language other than original
Establishing Shot - generally a long shot that shows the audience the general location of the scene that follows, often providing essential information, and orienting the viewer
Extreme close-up – generally focused on certain parts of subject, ex: hand, eye, mouth
Extreme Long Shot - a panoramic view of an exterior location photographed from a considerable distance, often as far as a quarter-mile away
Fade in - a punctuation device. The screen is black at the beginning; gradually the image appears, brightening to full strength.
Fade out – a similar device except this may be used to end a scene (starting bright then going to black
Focal Length - The length of the lens, a measurement of tile distance from the centre of the outside surface of the lens to the film plane. Long lenses are telephoto lenses, short lenses are wide-angle lenses.
Focus – sharpness of image
Focus puller – changing focus as subject moves closer or further away
Frame – a single image
Freeze frame – printing one frame many times in succession
Montage – editing
Pan – moving camera left to right
POV shot – shows scene from point of view of character
Storyboard - A series of drawings and captions (sometimes resembling a comic strip) that shows the planned shot divisions and camera movements
Take – an attempt at doing a shot
Tracking shot – similar to dolly shot
Voice- over – usually for animated films, an actor supplies his voice to the character. which is edited into the film
Widescreen - Any one of a number of aspect ratios of 1.66:1 or greater
Scripting - A script, or screenplay, is the blueprint for a movie. They can be original works or adapted from existing works. Common adaptations come from novels. The major components are dialogue and action.
Storyboarding - Storyboards are very helpful in the process of creating a movie. They can help you to organize the story and give it better focus. They help to define your limits with resources and time. They also help you to decide what medium will work best for a given situation.
Film Terminology
180 degree rule - a film editing guideline that states that two characters in the same scene should always have the same left/right relationship to each other
30 degree rule - film editing guideline that states the camera must make at least 30° movements around the axis of movement while still respecting the 180° rule
Accelerated montage - sequence edited into progressively shorter shots to create a mood of tension and excitement
Aerial shot – shot taken from a crane or helicopter, not necessarily moving shot
Ambient light – natural light surrounding subject, usually soft
Angle of view - the angle subtended by the lens, wide angle lenses have broad angles of view,
telephoto lenses have very narrow angles of view.
Aspect Ratio - The ratio of the width to the height of the film or television image
Bluescreen - A process of combining separate images, can be used for special effects
Boom – an arm used to hold a microphone near the actor
Clapperboard - A chalkboard, photographed at the beginning of a shot, upon which are written the pertinent data for the shot. A clapstick on top of the board is snapped shut and the resultant sound and image are used later to synchronise picture and sound.
Cutaway - shot inserted in a scene to show action at another location, usually brief, and most often used to cover breaks in the main take
Cut – switch from one image to another
Depth of Field - The range of distances from the camera at which the subject is sharp
Deep focus – objects both near and far from the camera are in focus at the same time
Dolly shot – a shot taken from a moving dolly
Dub – to rerecord a film in a language other than original
Establishing Shot - generally a long shot that shows the audience the general location of the scene that follows, often providing essential information, and orienting the viewer
Extreme close-up – generally focused on certain parts of subject, ex: hand, eye, mouth
Extreme Long Shot - a panoramic view of an exterior location photographed from a considerable distance, often as far as a quarter-mile away
Fade in - a punctuation device. The screen is black at the beginning; gradually the image appears, brightening to full strength.
Fade out – a similar device except this may be used to end a scene (starting bright then going to black
Focal Length - The length of the lens, a measurement of tile distance from the centre of the outside surface of the lens to the film plane. Long lenses are telephoto lenses, short lenses are wide-angle lenses.
Focus – sharpness of image
Focus puller – changing focus as subject moves closer or further away
Frame – a single image
Freeze frame – printing one frame many times in succession
Montage – editing
Pan – moving camera left to right
POV shot – shows scene from point of view of character
Storyboard - A series of drawings and captions (sometimes resembling a comic strip) that shows the planned shot divisions and camera movements
Take – an attempt at doing a shot
Tracking shot – similar to dolly shot
Voice- over – usually for animated films, an actor supplies his voice to the character. which is edited into the film
Widescreen - Any one of a number of aspect ratios of 1.66:1 or greater
Monday, September 24, 2007
Zombie Movies
One type of horror movie is the zombie movie. 
The basic idea of this genre is that dead corpses become reanimated and then proceed to attempt to eat the living. There are many, many zombie movies out there. One of the first, Night of the Living Dead, was filmed in 1968. The director, George A. Romero, has gone on to create many more of these movies including Dawn of the Dead, Day of the Dead, and Land of the Dead. There have been many others as well. Sometimes there are even horror/comedy movies made, such as Shaun of the Dead.
The basic idea of this genre is that dead corpses become reanimated and then proceed to attempt to eat the living. There are many, many zombie movies out there. One of the first, Night of the Living Dead, was filmed in 1968. The director, George A. Romero, has gone on to create many more of these movies including Dawn of the Dead, Day of the Dead, and Land of the Dead. There have been many others as well. Sometimes there are even horror/comedy movies made, such as Shaun of the Dead.
Horror Films
Horror Films have been created since the technology of filming developed. 
From as early as 1920, audiences have paid to allow themselves to be scared. Horror films have a huge variety of subjects, from the supernatural to the very realistic. Psychos, aliens, zombies, vampires, and many, many others have all been seen in these types of movies. The genre is very much alive today.
From as early as 1920, audiences have paid to allow themselves to be scared. Horror films have a huge variety of subjects, from the supernatural to the very realistic. Psychos, aliens, zombies, vampires, and many, many others have all been seen in these types of movies. The genre is very much alive today. Background Info
Film Production is the process of making a film, from an initial story idea or commission through scriptwriting, shooting, and editing. It normally involves a large number of people and can take anywhere from a few months to several years. Film Production consists of five main stages, which include development, pre-production, production, post-production, and distribution. Development is the stage when the script is written. Pre-production is the stage when storyboards are written and the movie is planned out. Production is the part of the process when the movie is actually filmed, and post-production is when everything is edited to make the final product. Distribution is the final stage, when the movie is given to theaters nd eventually put on DVD.
Background Info
Film Organization Abbreviations
AFI – American Film Institute, http://www.afi.com/ The AFI researches new film technologies and also awards recognition to excellence in film.
MPA – Motion Picture, http://www.mpaa.org/ The MPA is involved in the distribution of films internationally as well as the rating of films
SAG – Screen Actor’s Guild, http://www.sag.org/sagWebApp/ Screen Actors Guild is the nation's largest labor union representing working actors. It represents nearly 120,000
AFI – American Film Institute, http://www.afi.com/ The AFI researches new film technologies and also awards recognition to excellence in film.
MPA – Motion Picture, http://www.mpaa.org/ The MPA is involved in the distribution of films internationally as well as the rating of films
SAG – Screen Actor’s Guild, http://www.sag.org/sagWebApp/ Screen Actors Guild is the nation's largest labor union representing working actors. It represents nearly 120,000
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Design Brief
I am going to write, film, and edit a horror movie. My audience will be thirteen to forty-five and primarily male.
Specifications
Specifications
- cannot exceed budget
- ability to entertain an audience from 13-45
- is mostly geared towards a male audience
- Time starts with first image/sound and ends with last image/sound
- Environment must be suited to the genre (i.e. darker lighting, shadowy, etc.)
- Will use extras in the movie
- cannot exceed budget
- ability to entertain an audience from 13-45
- is mostly geared towards a male audience
- Time starts with first image/sound and ends with last image/sound
- Environment must be suited to the genre (i.e. darker lighting, shadowy, etc.)
- Will use extras in the movie
Limitations
- must be done with tools/materials that can be found at school or home
- OR something that can be obtained with the money available, which is about $300
- Must be completed before March to enter TSA contest
- trailer version cannot exceed five minutes in length
- Original version will be about 30 minutes
- Five minute version will be prepared from original for the contest
- must obtain permits if I decide to film at a location I would otherwise not be allowed to
- OR something that can be obtained with the money available, which is about $300
- Must be completed before March to enter TSA contest
- trailer version cannot exceed five minutes in length
- Original version will be about 30 minutes
- Five minute version will be prepared from original for the contest
- must obtain permits if I decide to film at a location I would otherwise not be allowed to
MP1 Calendar
Calendar
September
17th- weblog started, design brief posted
20th- post calendar
22nd- post summer work
24th- mentor contact, invite mentor on weblog
26th- weblog update
29th- mentor contact
October
1st- weblog update, create presentation outline
3rd- 3 copies of presentation outline
4th- mentor contact, weblog update
7th- complete selection-rejection, update onto weblog, mentor contact
10th- storyboards
12th- weblog update, mentor contact
15th- weblog update w/ completed storyboards
16th- begin script, begin getting actors and parental supervisors
17th- mentor contact
20th- weblog update
24th- finish scipt, mentor contact
25th- mentor contact
27th- weblog update
28th- create outline for 11/1 presentation
29th- weblog update
30th- practice presentation, finish contact sheet
31st- 3 copies of presentation, have all actor permission forms by this date
November
1st-2nd- MP1 presentations
3rd- weblog update
4th- mentor contact
5th- weblog update
13th- MP1 ends
September
17th- weblog started, design brief posted
20th- post calendar
22nd- post summer work
24th- mentor contact, invite mentor on weblog
26th- weblog update
29th- mentor contact
October
1st- weblog update, create presentation outline
3rd- 3 copies of presentation outline
4th- mentor contact, weblog update
7th- complete selection-rejection, update onto weblog, mentor contact
10th- storyboards
12th- weblog update, mentor contact
15th- weblog update w/ completed storyboards
16th- begin script, begin getting actors and parental supervisors
17th- mentor contact
20th- weblog update
24th- finish scipt, mentor contact
25th- mentor contact
27th- weblog update
28th- create outline for 11/1 presentation
29th- weblog update
30th- practice presentation, finish contact sheet
31st- 3 copies of presentation, have all actor permission forms by this date
November
1st-2nd- MP1 presentations
3rd- weblog update
4th- mentor contact
5th- weblog update
13th- MP1 ends
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