Directions Unit: 'A Journey Through...' Development - Foreshadows and Suggestions

After looking at how foreshadowing can be used in films it got me thinking about my project and how I can apply things like this to it.

A quick reference is in Psycho: the shower scene is foreshadowed.

I also want to add one or two things that suggest the protagonist is dreaming in my project too, along with the scarf appearing every time the protagonist is imagining something.

I'm looking at the idea that things you see/hear/experience in real life can influence your dreams when you go to bed.


My Ideas: Foreshadows

- During the first or second phone call have a stranger walk past the protagonist and look at them in a confused way since the protagonist, in reality, isn't talking to someone on the phone.
- Foreshadow the meeting scene by having one person hand something to another person right at the start of the film.


My Ideas: Influences

- For the first phone call early on in the film show someone engaged in a phone call either nearby or passing the protagonist.
- To influence the shopping bag: simply a shopping bag hanging on a bush on lying on the floor as the protagonist passes it.

The overall idea of the visions is to show that they are desires of the protagonist: a phone to contact friends or family; a smart outfit/nicer clothes and food (which is what is hinted to be in the shopping bag). So I don't want to go overboard with the influences as half the job is already done through the protagonist desiring these things.

Directions Unit: 'A Journey Through...' Development - Storyboarded scene

Below is a draft drawing I did of a particular scene in my 'A Journey Through...' film.

Directions Unit: Psycho Screening - Notes

We had a screening Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho. Below are my notes on screen languages (framing, lighting, movement etc).

 Summary:

- Hitchcock likes to create a small space then suddenly enlarge that area (prominent in the shower-murder scene)
- He focuses on diegetic sounds such as the weather, engine, background noises: bringing an edgy realism to the film.
- Long takes and shots that linger for that extra second or so.

It's easy to see why he's regarded as the 'Master Of Suspense': the lingering shots and dead silences really create a sense of fear and rack up the tension.

Directions Unit: Sound Film - Finished Project

My finished 1-minute-sound-film.

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

What I like:
- Sounds very relaxing and ambient.
- The background song I created compliments the piece.
- The sources of the sounds are gradually revealed.
- The sound effects go well together.
- It feels like one-smooth camera motion.

What I don't like:
- I feel like I should have explored the surrounding area more.

Directions Unit: 'A Journey Through...' Pre-production - Locations

During my walk to the studio I took some photos of locations I intended on using for my 4-minute-film project.

The above two are of the same path but in opposite directions.

This will be for when the protagonist finds their way back to a familiar location.

 Stairs coming off from the path and leading down to a residential road.

I like this location as it feels quite enclosed and the stairs are like the podium down to that enclosed unfamiliar location. This will be used for when the protagonist gets lost.

The opposite end of the 'unfamiliar path'. 

A behind-the-character shot as they walk to the stairs will look great as it's like walking into the unknown: the character is unsure whether the stairs will lead them back to familiar territory.

The residential road.

I like the lower photo as it has great potential for an extreme-wide-shot, and will help encapsulate the loneliness feeling I'm after.

Path through woods.

This is arguably my favourite location out the ones I have found, I intend to use this for when the protagonist first begins to realise they're lost. The thin path emphasises claustrophobia and paired with tall trees on both sides it really creates a closed-in feel.

The top two photos link the woodland path to the residential road whilst the bottom photo is in a different area and may be used in an earlier scene.

It's very hard to see but at the bottom of the slope is a children's play park which would be perfect for when the protagonist meets the second character. The only problem is that it's very close to a busy road so audio may be an issue. I can counteract this by using a 'dead cat' cover on the microphone but also have a secondary microphone doing it's own separate audio. Filming this scene at a time where traffic will be sparse will also help.

Directions Unit: Sound FIlm - Plans and intentions part 2

2. I'm going to reveal the sources of the sounds through-out the film. As the film progresses sounds you heard will have their sources revealed although it won't be blatant: you'll still have to decipher what comes from where but at least you know where it's coming from.

3. Avoid fade transitions for everything. From the cinema doors closing about 10 seconds in I'm going to have every sound play constantly. Nothing will fade out and disappear from the film, I may lower the volumes to allow other sounds to be heard but no fading out. That way the brain is still picking it up even if the person isn't aware of the sound anymore, this is, to an extent, what I want to do with my original sound piece I made: have it so that it adds to the atmosphere subliminally.

Directions Unit: Sound Film - Plans and intentions part 1

Whilst I'm putting together the sound film: I might as-well talk about my plans and intentions for it...

1. I want the film to feel like it's flowing to enhance the calm, ambient music I made and the photo itself. So to do so I'm making it as one, continuous shot. By using the Ken Burns feature on Final Cut I can link one movement to the next without any cuts or fades to distract the viewer.

Quick behind the scenes on how I'm merging the different clips:

 Copy the clip you've already 'Ken Burns'ed'.

Select the KB option and swap...

...the start and end boxes around with the button the cursor is hovering over in the above image.

With the ending of the previous clip now the beginning of the next one I can drag the new end to the next area.

Directions Unit: Sound Film - Development: The Final Piece

My inspiration for this soundtrack was to base it on the artists Brian Eno and Moby, many of their tracks incorporate a set of different tones and pitches running almost constantly and layering each other.

Moby - Overland

Moby - A Season In Hell

Brian Eno - Drift

Here is my final piece:

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

I chose to not add extra layers of different pitches because I still want the focus to be the real-life sounds you can hear. However I did create a slower and faster speed versions of this piece just incase.

Final Piece 82% Speed

Final Piece 131% Speed

I'm satisfied with the final piece as, to me, it creates an atmosphere that would suit my chosen image (a snowy town). It sounds empty enough to mimic the streets but also has a sharp sound to match the icy feel and temperature of the image.

Directions Unit: Sound Film - Development

I can't just have sounds of things you can see in the picture. So I decided that I wanted an ambient piece of music to play during the film. Something that I created myself.

So I opened up Garage Band and took a look:

I opted for the 'Angelic Organ' and immediately fell in love with it.

Below is a random composition I made to see what the instrument could do.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=USLCLS614PA

Directions Unit: Group Task - Sound for scenario

We got into pairs and/or three's and had to decide what sounds the viewer will hear for a particular scenario. The two scenarios were:

1. A Thriller: A person wakes up at night, hearing a noise, they go to investigate.
2. A Drama: A soldier returns home and has to adjust to normality.

Below are scans from my notebook showing what  my group of three came up with as a collaboration and my own version of how I would do it.

We ran out of time to collaborate on the second group but I wrote my own version during the feedback stage.

Directions Unit: Sound Film - Going Further

After my initial brainstorm I thought about the man on the path:

I considered the idea that 'what if this image was about HIS journey?' And that the sounds are of what he can hear?

This got me thinking about the theatre itself: what if we can hear talking from the theatre then we hear the sound of doors closing and suddenly it's silent? Then we begin to hear the outside noises, since the man is right next to the theatre, it's the loudest thing until the doors shut.

Certainly something to think about.

Directions Unit: 1 Minute Sound Film - The Ideas

As part of our unit we have to create a 1 minute film consisting of just sounds to accompany one of a selection of images. Below is the image I chose:

Why I chose this image:

- The snow gives it an ambient vibe.
- It looks almost remote, an untouched area, fitting in with my chosen theme of loneliness.
- A nice open, wide shot: allowing me to 'explore' the area.

What I am thinking of right now (sounds-wise):

- Tattoo Parlour on the left: have the sounds of the tattoo machines fade in then reveal the source (the parlour) a few seconds later or even much later on.
- Chatting in the restaurant on the right.
- Footsteps on the snow, the crunch.
- Traffic lights: a delicate sound of the lights changing, a small ticking.
- Car driving in centre: snow crunching underneath. The engine rumbling.
- The long vehicle in the background: doors slamming and/or engine running, idle.

Directions Unit: Research - Short Directing Task

We got into groups of 3 and had to choose between each 3 who would do what story out of a choice of 3.

1. A person throws a paper ball into a bin.
2. A person, sitting down, checks their watch.
3. A person walking, trips over.

In our 3's one person would direct their own option whilst the other two would become camera-operator and performer so that each of us had a go in all 3 roles.

I went for option number 3.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_hWP6gzgDk