Wednesday 14 December 2011

Reflection Typography Ideas









These are some of the typography we were looking to use for our main titles and to be used for the girls handwriting which will be based in the book for the crew and cast. We chose these type of fonts because we wanted it to look like a sketch seen as the writing will be done by a child. We haven't finalized our typography yet but its still in progress. But out of these i think we may pick the 4th or 6th REFLECTION typography styles. 

Monday 12 December 2011

Ideas for Title Sequence - Reflection


This is a picture which will be one of the opening shots in our  story boards. It will be a close up shot of the girls hair and with her diary sketch book which the title sequence will be based on. You will able to see this in the story boards which will be in the next post...
We chose to do have a shot like this because the codes and conventions are visible. A girls body, hair and also the book is a main prop which gives the audience an idea if the film is based around the book.

The title sequence is going to be about a girl on her travels to her bedroom with shots mostly around her waist up as seen from the picture above. Also her making her way by running up the stairs and placing her book on her bed. This will show codes and conventions seen as there will be mirrors placed around the house, girly bedroom (colours) also it will show what type of girl she is coming from her bedroom door.

Wednesday 7 December 2011

Art of Film Title Design throughout history' article homework task

For my homework task we were to look into and find information that we fount interesting in the, "Art of The Film Title Design throughout history"

TYPOGRAPHY RESOURCES:


font_details.html.jpg                 looney-tunes-first.jpg

The reason why i chose these two typography fonts is because of child hood memories and the Waltograph font is very unique seen as this is very iconic to a wide audience because when they look at this typography they know its to do with Disney. Also the font is very basic especially from the looney tunes typography seen as its a famous piece of work with basic font.
catch-me-if-you-can.jpg
This picture has inspired me seen as the typography is very basic but it gives you an idea of what its about. For example some of the letters are coming off the picture, which could mean the letters are the planes which are taking off. Also the use of color "Me" is in white and the other fonts in black which tells you that theres people in the film that are getting spied and trying to get caught. 

THE SILENCE IS BROKEN:


As movies grew more popular, their titles evolved. Movie producers invested considerable sums in film production and sometimes resorted to fixing a dog of a film by rewriting the inter-titles. For a time, “film doctor” Ralph Spence (1890–1949) was the highest-paid title writer in the industry, earning $10,000 a picture for his one-liners.

plane-crazy.jpg


Hollywood animation studios, including Warner Brothers and MGM, did give some license to their artists to indulge in title antics. But one can also see that life for the titling crew at Disney was strained by the weight of its foreign-language versions and that film exports rarely encouraged innovation in titling.
The first Mickey Mouse cartoon, circa 1929, features both Mickey and Minnie, but its main title, “Plane Crazy,” is lackluster:
My opinion:
The reason why Iv'e chosen this picture and piece of text is because, I like the way that the picture is in black and white but it has also a fade to the picture which gives it a good effect, it also sets the time it was made aswell. The font of the mickey mouse picture is very basic and recognizable but it has all different types of fonts which makes it special. Also its eye catching for the young target audience seen as its got that cartoony effect which grabs peoples attention.

THE (TRUE) BIRTH OF THE TITLE SEQUENCE:
Breakthrough ideas in titling, such as timing the typography to interact with metaphorical imagery or to create its own world, were largely innovations that came from outsiders to the Hollywood studio system. Figures such as Saul Bass, Pablo Ferro, Maurice Binder and Richard Williams arrived on the scene in the 1950s, at a time when the studios were starting to flounder in their fight with TV

If there were a hall of fame for film title design, Stephen Frankfurt’s sequence for the 1962 film “To Kill A Mocking Bird” (below, upper row) would have a seat of honor. Cameron Crowe referenced it in “Almost Famous” (lower row):
mocking-bird-and-untitled.jpg


I like the typography of this piece of work seen as it has different pictures for different actors. This creates a mood and it shows the audience whats going to happen seen as each picture could relate to the characters roll. I also like the way some fonts are in hand writing. It gives it a more realistic side to the movie also it could link to the film later on.










Tuesday 6 December 2011

Reflection Film Pitch

This is our film pitch for our film we are creating, called REFLECTION. We need to edit this and make some changes as some of the actors and actress' for our film don't match to the budgets and we need to think over our idea and add some changes.

Media presentation - Film Pitch

The above presentation is the film pitch in which we as a group had to create. The purpose of this task was to enhance our knowledge and skills regarding the media/film industry and also the ability to create a successful film pitch.


The presentation required us to try and sell a film in which we had to think of on the spot. The film in which we designed is entitled 'Betrayed'. The synopsis of 'Betrayed' can be found on the PowerPoint Presentation.

In addition, the powerpoint consists of vital information regarding our film. This vital information being: The target Audience, the demographic, the release date, the actors and the cast and crew.

2 Title sequences that could help co-operate into my film

SE7EN
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4thzyFFdvVc&feature=fvst

The reason why ive chose Se7en to help me get ideas for my film is that, during the title sequence theres someone making and writing stuff in books and making tools. Also throughout the title sequence you cant see the characters face you can only see hes hands (invisible factor) This has inspired me and helped me for my film, seen as my group are trying to use the imaginary person effect, which meas you wont be seeing any of the actors faces during the titles, just things that will relate to the film itself such as, book drawing (Crayons) and mirrors.


Also through the title sequence of Se7en is the choice of music. This has given me a wide range of ideas that could help me put into my film. The soundtrack of Se7en creates the mood and tone of the film. It gives it the scary and thrill side of it seen as theres sounds such as; machinery noices, dark chords and creeking sounds. This has made me think of ideas to put towards my film/title sequence. Things like, a girls ballerina metronome, which will give the sweet and innicont side and even the evil side of the film and also the use of speech which is in the film itself.


DRAG ME TO HELL...
http://vimeo.com/27555219

The second title sequence ill be recearching and looking for ideas for my film is Drag Me To Hell.
Ive chosen this titile sequence seen as through the titles, there is a sketch out part wich looks like a comic and its basically a story of whats going to happen throughout the film. This has made me co-operate seen as we had an idea of the little girl drawing in her book of what her imagenary friends tells her too. This could mean we could make it that the little girl Rosie draw out whats going to happen and how she gonna do it.


Also in Drag Me To Hell, the use of the way the cast and crews titles appear are very good. This has been done with black smoke which could represent the demons power in the film, that he kills people with smoke or the demon may use fire. When the titles dissolve it looks like the lettering are burning and dropping, which could also hint what's going to happen in the film, which is creating a picture throughout the smokes travels.
The font of the text is basic but has a hint of old fashion to it, as some of the lettering has crack marks and scrubbed off letters.

Monday 5 December 2011

Ideas Of Our Title Sequence - Reflection

Ideas of Reflection Title Sequence:Include mirror - reflection of the stars name from each mirror
Fields/woods - lots of trees ( writing on logs of stars)
Puddles/Lakes - Of the little girl, names of cast and crew... (Danson Park)
Open Land - Country House (Danson Park) - (White House)
Drawing in book - Crayons - writing characters name
Space next to character (little girl) with paper - her imaginary friend with crayons next to it...empty

Names of Title Sequences to give us an idea on what I could do :

Fight Club
Black Swan
Girl Interupted
Take Shelter
One Flew over the kookoo nest
Se7en
Gatacca
Requiem for a dream

Tuesday 29 November 2011

Film Pitch Notes

Pitch:
A pitch is a concise verbal (and sometimes visual) presentation of an idea for a film or TV series generally made by a screenwriter or direct or to a producer or studio executive in the hope of altercating development finance to pay for the production.


To make a good film pitch, these are the following questions you should be able to answer or be able to come across - 
  • What genre is your film?
  • What other films in this genre have inspired your film/is your film similar too?
  • Who is the target audience for your film?
  • When will your film be released (Summer, Spring, Autumn, Winter, awards season)?
  • How much money will your film cost ?
  • How much money will your film make?
  • Who will star in your film?
  • Who will direct your film?
High Concept Pitch- Brief one short sentence.

Audience & Institution

Learning Objective:
To be able to indicate how film distribution works
To begin to understand the difference between the US and UK film system.

What is the purpose of a film distributor ?

- Release The Film - Cinema, Online, DVD, VHS
- Promotion - Adverts, Trailers, Posters
- Charge A Fee
- Branding
- Self Promotion

Film Distribution:
A film distribution is the link between the producer and the exhibitors. (The cinema chains, television networks); Their aim is to get as many people as possible to see the film.

They they incharge of getting the film a rating (an age certificate) which is done by the regular bodies, such as a BBFC and MPAA, arranging exhibition outlets globally and DVD/Television rights, arranging for pronts of the film.


Monday 21 November 2011

Case Study - Saul Bass

  • Born in Bronx district New York
  • Was Born in 1920 and died in 1996 (75 years old)
  • Art student league - Graphic DesignerWorked as commercial artist
  • Bass mostly worked in advertisement
  • In 1964 Bass began directing his own films ; including, The Searching Eye (1964), From Here to There (1964) and Why Man Creates (1968)
  • In 1950 he went on to opening he's own studio to work in advertising.
These are some of saul Basses Work...


This is one of the designs that 
Saul Bass designed for the movie, "Carmen Jones"
Because of this brilliance of a advertising poster, Preminger asked Bass to create the film title sequence too.















One is pressed to cite an example of an active, self contained, and the characteristic credits sequence in film prior to the work of Saul Bass. Undoubtedly, there are examples that presage Bass' pioneering work; namely, the famous final credits of Citizen Kane reprise excerpts from the film, underscoring the footage with actors names. Likewise, overtures frequently preceded films of the 30s and 40s. Many of these are visually complimented by static credits, and in some cases a montage. And despite these examples, in regard to innovation, renown, and influence, Bass impact in credits design remains virtually unparalleled, even to this day.

Bass expertise in design exhibits a range (his corporate identites and posters are also durable graphic statements), yet his distinguishing aesthetic is one of economy and simplicity. It is in this regard that his work in credits design is of particular significance-his the overture. Elsewhere (and numerously), he employs hand drawn type and cutout construction paper shapes.

In 1964, after sixteen years as a collaborator, Bass began directing his own films including The Searching Eye (1964), From Here to There (1964) and Why Man Creates (1968). His latter effort resulted in an Academy Award-an appropiate gesture of recognition, as Bass may be credited for enhancing the visual strategy of cinema, assigning it another dimension.

Bass techniques are various and decidedly inconsistent: cutout animation, montage, live action, and type design to name only his more prominent excercises. Secondly, Bass exhibits an exemplary use of colour and movement. Often sequences begin with a sold, empty frame of colour (as with Exodus blue or North by Northwest's green). His design tactic in this context, although charecterisitic, possesses subtly and variety.













Codes and Conventions of Title Sequence

  • Details of cast and crews
  • The film title
  • An introduction to character or character type
  • Indication of place
  • Indication of historical period
  • Information regarding mood and tone
  • Introduction to signature theme tune
  • Information about genre
  • Questions that the viewer finds interesting (sets up enigma)
  • Patterns and types of editing that will be echoed in the remainder of the film
  • Mise En Scene and cinematography that will be echoed or elaborated upon later in the film.

ORDER OF TITLES:
Studio 
(Director)
Stars - In order/reverse order of fame
Crew
Writer ( Screen play)
Producer
Director


Tuesday 8 November 2011


ZOMBIE LAND TITLE SEQUENCE.

At the start of the zombie land title sequence, a bell rings. This gives me the impression that wherever the film is set, every hour the bell goes off, but in this case it could mean for every kill the zombie does the bell rings. It also could represents a church, as every life that has been taken away by the zombies all the humans know about it. As you can see a zombie is chucking a worker off the stairs after the noise of the bell.( The bell represents Time to die)

Throughout each shot of this short title sequence, you see the cast and crews names who took part in the film in red. I think its in red to show that the film is going to be a horror, and that there will be some sort of killing in the film, as red is referred to death and danger.
During the titles of the cast and crews it shows zombies attacking pedestrians, with blood stains on there top and blood splurging out of there mouths. This tells us that the film will be about zombies trying to take over the city in any shape or form. It also brings out the comedy side to the film as in one clip there is a stripper zombie chasing a human, so I think even though its gory and dark there elements in film that's funny.




I think that the music is main part of mise-en-scene in this piece, as the music is very dark and aggressive. This gives me the impression that the film will be very loud and will be very hectic as the music is as well. Also the music is all on top of each other, which is creating that tension for the film to start its opening scene.
The soundtrack which is playing through the title sequence has a lyric saying, "Shouting gun, on they run through the endless grey..." These lyrics also gives the impression that its about death and killing as its talking about guns. Also when it says, "on they run through the endless grey". It could lead to mean that the zombies who are trying to take over the city are running out there enemies into a tunnel of death.

Wednesday 2 November 2011

AS Media Studies Continuity Task


This is my groups continuity piece.
Before shooting this sequence my group had to draw out storyboards, so we had a brief idea what we was doing. This was easy as all we needed to do was to take shots of someone walking into a room, sitting down, with short dialogue. This needed to include three main shots such as, 180 degree rule, Match on Action and Shot Reverse Shot.
 It was a fun task playing a role in the film, but it was a long process as we had to keep re-shooting because we struggled on the match on action shot. I enjoyed playing a role as I like acting but it was a challenge not to laugh or make faces because our film was very serious. Also the filming went really smoothly as everything on the story board was right, from the dialogue to each shot we was going to do.
 In the future I would like to do some work on the cameras as it looked fun and I would like to improve my camera skills. After Shooting all the shots of the piece, we had to edit them on iMac's. It was a tricky process as it was hard to make the match on action shots perfect so the short film flowed and not make it jumpy.