Skills Experimentation
Week 16 - The Nature of Screen Motion
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This week, having now finished our short documentary project, we are now focussing on the nature of motion within film and television, as well as learning how to use some new equipment. Before studying some new material, this point in the course provided a useful opportunity to remind ourselves of some of the basic camera movements that we had previously learnt about last year. Some of these included a pan, tilt, and tracking shot. Now thinking about this in further depth, we started to look at how movement can be used and manipulated to add an extra visual element to the shot. When thinking about movement in film, this can range from a variety of things, such as the actors, background and the camera movements. In some cases, all of these elements are moving, however, it also works when only one aspect is moving. For example, if the main subject is still in the foreground of the shot, the movement in the background of the shot can add some depth to the overall vision of the scene. In addition to this, movement can also be a useful tool when wanting to portray emotion within film. One example of this would be that, if the character was feeling panicked or frightened, the camera and actor movement would be more likely to move at a faster pace to reflect the tone of the scene.
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Obviously, in order to achieve these specific effects, specialist equipment is required to allow for the shot to captured. Firstly, we studied the camera slider; a simple piece of apparatus that can be attached to the top of a tripod, allowing for the camera to be slid along the metal bar, creating an effect of motion. Camera Sliders can be found in different sizes, depending on how far the camera needs to move within the shot to keep all of the action in frame. Continuing to look at new equipment, we also looked at a Glidecam device. In short, the Glidecam is a small, handheld tripod, which allows for a steady shot which can be used to move around the action. The camera attaches to the top of the Glidecam and the operator can move the camera from side to side, and up and down. Finally, we also looked at how to operate a Gimbal, which could be described as an electronic version of the Glidecam. A more advanced device, the Gimbal allows for further options when operating the camera. This piece of equipment has several modes, used for different filming scenarios and can be controlled by using an electronic lever.
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Once we had familiarised ourselves with the new equipment and learnt the skills on how to operate them, we were tasked with creating a short sequence, incorporating each piece of equipment. I have attached the final video below, which details what equipment we used for each shot. For this short sequence, we decided to create a simple scene which would show how each piece of equipment operates. We devised three individual shots and thought carefully about which device would work best for each shot. We then filmed each shot and ordered them correctly in the editing process. I feel that, for our first attempt, our test footage clearly demonstrates the uses for the equipment, and showcases their abilities. We will continue to practise using the equipment when recreating a film scene of our choice. I found this task very beneficial as it allowed me to practically have some first hand experience of using the new equipment.
Having now had the opportunity to film some test footage using the new equipment, in groups, we were now tasked with recreating/taking inspiration from an existing film scene. When thinking about which scene we wanted to recreate, we knew that we needed to choose something which was visually heavy in terms of movement. After some research, we decided that we would take inspiration from the Goodfellas Restaurant Scene which follows two characters through a variety of different locations. This scene was clearly shot using a Gimbal device, or something that inhabited the same abilities. As we had this equipment available to us, we decided that it would be a good chance to continue practising its use. Even though this scene was one long continuous shot, we also thought that we could add to this by using the Camera slider, incorporating a different perspective into our own recreation.
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For our first shot, we decided to begin with an 'over the shoulder' tracking shot which we filmed using the Gimbal. Within this shot, we would portray the character moving in the scene, as well as the camera, which would closely follow the subject. Initially, we had anticipated that we might have faced some challenges when filming this scene as the character was walking up a set of stairs, Therefore, we needed to ensure that the actor was positioned at a correct distance from the camera at all times so that they remained in the frame. After a few attempts, we were able to capture this shot successfully, allowing us to move on to the slider shot. For this piece of footage, we placed the slider on the floor as we wanted to show the characters feet moving in the same direction as in the previous shot. As well as this being a tracking shot, we also wanted to demonstrate another camera movement method - Panning. As we moved the camera along the tracker, we also panned it at the same time, allowing for the action to move forward and change perspective. At the beginning of the shot, the character was facing towards the camera, and at the end, the character was facing away from the camera. By doing this, this would allow us to naturally transition into another 'OTS' shot from behind the character. We filmed the following shot using the Gimbal, and was able to demonstrate its tilts and pans as the character moved down the stairs.
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Overall, I feel that although we did not exactly replicate the Goodfella's scene due to the location available to us, we were able to take inspiration from it and successfully demonstrate the uses of the new equipment that we have been learning about over the course of the week. If we were to complete this task again, we could improve on the control and stability of the Gimbal, however, I believe that this will only become natural with more time and practise. I have included our final video below.
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Goodfellas Restaurant Film - Goodfellas Restaurant Scene - YouTube
Week 17 - Lighting
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Continuing with our skills experimentation, this week we revisited the technical area of Lighting. Having previously learnt some basic lighting skills last year, we are now attempting to advance our skills and knowledge when looking at how lighting can be used to enhance a scene.
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Before having the opportunity to experiment some lighting techniques for ourselves, we were tasked with analysing different film scenes in small groups. Each scene had effectively incorporated lighting to add emotion or reveal a meaning behind the scenario. One of the scenes that we watched and discussed was from BBC Twos, 'The Game', which featured two actors in an interrogation situation. There were several creative techniques that were used to set the tone of the scene, including solemn background music, dull use of colour, and soft, warm lighting. By using low and subtle lighting, this added a sense of mystery to the scene, amplifying the mood that they were attempting to convey. This proves that lighting can have a huge impact on how a scene is received by the viewer. Another scene that we analysed was the 'Derelict Church' moment from the 2015 film, 'The Revenant'. This scene was filmed entirely using natural light - an interesting technique that would need to be planned in advance to ensure that the weather did not disrupt the shot. The mood in this scene is of a similar tone to the previous scene and is reflected once again through the use of light. The natural blue tints that are included adds to the dream-like reality that is being portrayed throughout and the shadowed silhouettes of the characters and trees create a clear contrast between the light and dark lighting.
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Once we had watched and discussed several film scenes that used practical examples of lighting, we were tasked with creating our own short scenes by portraying meaning through the use of lighting. The three main scenarios that we were given were to present a character driving a car, watching television, and sitting by a fire. In small groups, we brainstormed ideas on how we could portray each situation and how we could use lighting to enhance each scene. I have included our final video below.
When reflecting on our first attempt at using lighting to amplify a scene, there were several things that I thought we were successful at, but also several areas that we could improve on. When filming our 'fire' scene, we knew that we needed to create the illusion that a fire was lit beneath the character. Therefore, in order to do this, we placed two key lights on the floor underneath the character, using orange and red gels to create a fire effect. However, although this improved the colour element, we still needed to create a motion effect of the flames crackling. We did this by gently swaying a fabric reflector over the lights to cast the occasional shadow on the characters face. This technique worked well as it conveyed the illusion of a real fire beneath the character. If we were to film this short scene again, we could have turned the harshness of the lighting down to create a more subtle effect. Furthermore, as a group, we were pleased with the result of the scene which showed two characters watching television. We knew that, if a person was to watch the television in a well lit location, the effect of this might not have been as strong, therefore it was essential to have the television 'screen' as the key light. Towards the end of the scene, we had planned to effectively turn the television off, therefore we also used a soft fill light to ensure that the characters were still slightly visible. Thinking about how we could have improved this scene, it would have been interesting to experiment moving the camera to different angles; perhaps from the perspective of the television. The scene that we were least satisfied with was the car scene, mostly due to the fact that we overcompensated on how many lights we used. As a whole, we used four lights (2 key lights and 2 back lights) which would be considered as hard lighting. We attempted to create the illusion of having two bright headlights in the foreground of the shot, and two red brake lights in the background of the shot. Upon reflection, I feel that it would have been a better option to move the lights around or to the side of the subject, instead of having them remain static. This would have created the effect of moving traffic around the car, making the scene more believable. If we were given the chance to film this scene again, we would spend more time experimenting with how we could use the lighting to maintain a convincing scene.
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Overall, for our first attempt at using these newfound lighting techniques, I am pleased with most of the shots that we managed to film, allowing colour and lighting to have an influence on the tone of the scene. Moving forward, we will take on board the constructive criticism that we have identified, and attempt to rectify these mistakes in our next piece of work.
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Lighting Task 2 -
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Continuing with our practical Lighting practise, in groups, we were asked to select several short film scenes which represented the horror, Fantasy, and Noir genres and use lighting to take inspiration from, or replicate them in the best way possible. After some research, we chose to use the following film stills as we felt they would give us an interesting opportunity to experiment specifically with the lighting.
Horror
Fantasy
Noir
By choosing these images from various different films, we felt that we would be able to utilise the equipment that we had available to us, as well as using coloured gels to create a blue and red effect. I have included our own images below, as well as an analysis of how I felt the task went.
When thinking about how successful this task was, I think that we were effectively able to use Lighting to either recreate, or take inspiration from each image. The main purpose of this exercise was to identify how lighting can have a creative effect on a scene and how it can display meaning and emotion. For example, the first image that we chose, which showcases Freddy Krueger, a popular character within the horror genre, uses blue and green tints to enhance the chilling setup of the still. Thinking about how we could recreate this image and considering the techniques that we had already learnt, we knew that the key light would need to illuminate the background of the shot in order to create a silhouetted subject. However, we were also able to identify that the character is still slightly lit and the outline is visible, therefore, we also needed to add a dimly lit fill light to ensure that the subject stood out and essentially appeared three dimensional. I think that we were successful in replicating this image as we were able to experiment and test the lighting from different angles until we were satisfied with the end result. If we were able to shoot this image again, we might have been able to search for more resources in order to match a similar blue hue to the first image.
Due to the location available to us, the second photo, which focussed on the Fantasy genre, was more of an inspiration image than a recreation, however, with this being said, I feel that we were still able to create a similar lighting effect. When initially choosing the image, we knew that we wanted to replicate the effect of having a white back light and a red key light. We knew that this would visually create a fantastical mood within the image, and would demonstrate the feeling of mystery and wonder. I feel that we were able to capture these symbolic meanings within our image, although our background and location was much simpler. Finally, when reviewing our film Noir image, I am pleased with how we were able to recreate our original inspiration. Similar to the first photo, we knew that we needed to focus on lighting the background of the shot so that it created a shadowed silhouette effect on the character, therefore, we made sure that the key light was the brightest light, with the fill light being slightly softer. However, with this being said, we were consciously aware that we didn't want to illuminate the whole of the background, but rather half of it to replicate the effect of a street lamp. I feel that this was an aspect of the image that we were able to successfully recreate, as well as the positioning and framing of the actors.
Overall, I feel that, by completing this task, we were able to experiment with and improve on our lighting skills and techniques, and I now personally feel that I have a greater understanding on how to operate the equipment and identify how lighting can be used to enhance a scene. In the future, I will keep all of this information in mind, and will continue to practise my skills to ensure that I remain aware and skilled when it comes to using Lighting within film and TV.
Week 18 - Focus
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After experimenting with and improving on our lighting skills last week, this week, we revisited the aspect of camera work, particularly looking at 'Focus'. During our first year, we had briefly studied this element when thinking about how the subject that is in focus in the shot can have an overall effect on the scene being portrayed. However, we are now beginning to think about how these techniques can be achieved. Firstly, we looked at a technique which is known as a Rack, or 'pull', focus. This essentially means that the subject focus is changed within one continuous shot to allow for a different point of attention. An example of this would be when a character looks directly at an object within a scene, and the camera focus shifts between the two subjects. This can be seen below in the scene from Casino Royale.
Depending on the size and scale of a production, in some cases, further equipment is used in order to achieve this effect. It is often the First Assistant Camera Operator that controls the focus puller. This would only really be used when using large film cameras which are unable to be controlled by simply moving the lens from side to side.
In addition to this, we also looked at how a focus technique can be used to show a character actively moving into the shot, whether that be walking or running towards the camera. This can often have an effect on the tone of the scene as it allows the viewer to understand how the character is feeling at that particular moment. I have included an example of this below
In order to advance our skills further, we also looked at how we could achieve a shift in focus whilst moving the camera simultaneously. This could include a pan, tilt, or tracking shot, allowing the viewer to focus on various subjects all in the same moment. This technique is often used within films to highlight a deeper meaning. For example, it could show somebody carelessly walking through a dimly lit hallway, only to shift in focus and reveal that somebody is watching them. This reveals hidden meaning to the viewer, without the character realising, helping the narrative to advance. These are all creative tools that ultimately move the story forward. I have included an example of this below which clearly shows that whilst movement persists throughout the scene, the focus changes between subjects to direct the viewer to where they should place their attention.
Task 1 -
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After doing some further research on some of the useful focus techniques which can be applied when filming, in groups, we were tasked with experimenting some of these newfound skills. Without creating any sort of narrative structure, we were simply asked to film short clips which demonstrated our knowledge of each technique. I have included our final video below, experimenting with different focus methods, as well as revisiting the depth of field element.
When reflecting on this experimental task, I now feel that I have a greater understanding on how to apply focus to my shots to make them visually more interesting for the viewer. We were able to identify each shot and clearly demonstrate how they can be applied to evoke meaning. Thinking about how we achieved this, we had to experiment several different ways of filming each shot to ensure that we were adjusting the focus at the correct points. This allowed us to explore different approaches and get to grips with the technical element of this task. Overall, I feel that we were successful with our end result which we achieved through a trial and error practise. If we were to complete this task in the future, we could spend a longer amount of time ensuring that the focus was to the sharpest point and that the transitions between the two elements of focus were smooth. Additionally, we could add further elements, such as lighting and a short narrative.
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Task 2 -
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Now that we had experimented with our newfound focus techniques, in the same groups, we were tasked with displaying these in a short film which followed a simple sequence, in relation to an existing film scene. As a group, we took inspiration from the church scene in '28 Days Later' (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=btBNyG1G_pA). I have included our final video below.
For this task, we were able to improve on and continue experimenting with our focussing skills when applying it to a structural scene. Whilst we did not identically replicate the original scene that we had chosen, we took influence from the eerie scene and thought carefully about how we could apply this genre within our own work. When reflecting on how well the task went, I think that one of the strengths that we achieved was being able to incorporate a variety of focus techniques that we had learnt, including the rack focus, walking into focus, and the exploration of focus within a shots depth of field. Whilst planning the process, we creatively made the decision to use lighting within our short sequence in order to enhance the mysterious element of the plot, however, it did prove to be a slight problem when trying to find our focus through the camera. The dim, red LED lights had an effect on how clear the focus was and so this was an issue that we needed to address during the production stage. We did this by introducing a third, white fill light, which would create a natural effect, helping to balance out the lighting situation. By doing this, it improved how well we were able to focus our shot, therefore this is something that we will take on board when completing a task like this again in the future. In terms of improving our short sequence, we could have included some dialogue to add further depth to the narrative, or alternatively, we could have included some more focus methods. With this being said, I am pleased with our end product as I felt it gave us an opportunity to experiment our skills. Moving forward, I now understand the importance of focus within film and how it should be used in various scenarios to portray meaning.
Week 19 - Sound
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Continuing with our Skills Experimentation unit, this week, we looked at how sound is used within film and the different ways that sound can be recorded or sourced. We touched on this aspect of filmmaking last year when experimenting with creating Foley sounds to add to an existing film scene. However, this week, we looked a sound in more depth and thought about the different types of sound that can be identified on screen, with some of them including dialogue, background music, voiceovers and sound effects. In groups, we watched several examples which demonstrated each use of sound and identified how they were effective to the scene. Did they add to the mood and tone of the scene? Were the sounds that we could hear diegetic or non-diegetic? These were all aspects that we though about before being presented with a task of our own.
Using adobe Audition, a programme that we were not previously familiar with, we were asked to source a variety of relevant sounds from Royalty Free sound libraries. We were given 3 separate clips which showed a short sequence of events, and challenged with creating a unique soundscape which was relevant to each video. After we had familiarised ourselves with how to operate Adobe Audition, we began by placing one of the video clips into the application. In order to do this, it was essential for us to select the 'Multitrack Session' option as this would allow us to import a video track, as well as numerous audio tracks when creating our soundscape. Before adding our own sound effects and background music to the video, we needed to remove the original audio first to ensure that we were working to a clean audio timeline. Once we had done this, we then uploaded each audio track that we had sourced and layered them into the timeline at the appropriate points. In order to create an in depth soundscape, I knew that I needed to include a variety of sounds, including background music, as well as physical sound effects. Once they had been imported, I was then able to adjust the pan and volume options throughout the track, so that this was reflected in the action that was unfolded in the scene. For example, when including a narrative voiceover, there were several moments that I chose for the voice to be heard in only the right channel to give the effect that the person had briefly removed themselves from the action and was talking directly to the viewer. This was an interesting technique that I enjoyed experimenting with. I have included each finished video below, as well as a screenshot of the editing timeline that I used.
When reflecting on this task, I feel that I was able to successfully demonstrate a variety of different sound techniques, as well as ensuring that they appeared relevant to the action which was unfolding on screen. Through the use of sound, I was able to give each clip their own moods and genres, with the first one following a fantastical Christmas genre, the second a mysterious western theme, and finally, a horror genre for the last video. I found it fascinating and intriguing to know that any genre can be portrayed on any video by solely selecting different sound effects. This highlighted to me the large impact that sound can have within film, and how it can often be relied on as a vital storytelling technique. One aspect that I found particularly interesting to experiment with, was how to layer a multitude of tracks over each other to create a unique score. Each sound would contribute to the clip in its own right, however, it was important to find audio tracks that would work well with each other. This helps to build the atmosphere and ambience of the scene, consequently acting as a narrative tool. When thinking about areas that I could possibly improve on when it comes to building my own soundscape, I could have experimented further with adding more effects to each audio track. Whilst I did include some effects, such as an echo, I could have explored this further by adding some reverb, Chorus, Filter and amplitude. By using these tools, it could help to enhance each track and therefore the overall soundscape, however, it is important to be aware of not making the sounds appear unnatural or unbelievable.
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Overall, I really enjoyed experimenting with sounds in this task, and gaining a deeper understanding of how sound is used within film and television. The skills and techniques that I have learned this week will no doubt prove useful to be when moving forward and creating my own pieces of work. These are vital tools which I will strongly consider using when it comes to forming my Final Major Project.
Sound Libraries:
2.7 million+ Stunning Free Images to Use Anywhere - Pixabay - Pixabay
Free Sound Clips | SoundBible.com
Royalty free music and 'free to download' music - Free Music Archive