Monthly Archives: April 2015
Production day 7
Production day 7 28/04/15
This was an exciting day as we were going outside of Coventry to Birmingham to film the final scenes with Phil and Joanna. Jonathan bull was my assistant on set and drove us both there. I paid for petrol for Jonathan and Joanna and gave Phil a bottle of prosecco for letting us use his house.As well as payment for both actors.
The house had a bit more space to film and we got everything done in two hours.
(Mark, Phil and Joanna discuss the film)
We started with Joanna’s character of Hannah and filmed her private messages to Michael first.She managed to get all her stuff film in one take and new exactly how the style of filming worked. It was a nice relaxed environment, the house looked perfect for the characters showing a contrast between Scarlett’s Flat and someone who works for the police.
(Before and after with Joanna/[Proof of her holding the camera)
We filmed Michaels arrival and showing Joanna the footage this was done naturally and professionally. again I needed to put the footage on a different computer and we had to practice getting up the footage , in the end we left the computer on as we filmed so the footage was ready to pay when the character Michael opened it.
(More proof of technique left- Right two cameras Jonathan Bull getting arty)
(Phil Acting)
Jonathan took cameraman responsibility for the next couple of scenes guiding the actors through the end of the film, as This scene was another moment for me to make my cameo.
Finally we recorded some panicking audio from the actors which will be used quite subtly in the film. Jonathan also did some documenting as I wanted to show that the actor is holding the camera as well.
Very happy with the performances, the footage and was able to film it all in two hours.
BBC Future Talent Competition
March 2nd 2015 was the entry date for a BBC Writers room Competition Focusing on Future Talent.
BBC Website states as entry requirements “Entrants must submit:
-A proposal document in PDF format including the series outline, and episode & character breakdowns (no more then 2 pages in length).
– included in the proposal document a link to an original filmed first episode for an online web series, (online drama, interactive or comedy) which should be uploaded to an online video hosting website i.e. vimeo, youtube. The filmed pilot you submit must be a maximum of 5mins in length and must be an original piece of work that has not previously been submitted to the BBC.”
I entered a five minute comedy piece that I had already produced as a twenty minute pilot called ‘Better Luck Next Time’ I edited the show down to Five minutes and not only did it take things that i didn’t like in the show before out but gave it more of a punchier edit.
Update 20/04/2015
I wasn’t successful with my entry and I received an email back from the BBC Thanking me for my entry but because of the extreme amounts of entry’s they couldn’t leave individual feedback. I think that’s more disheartening than not getting anywhere in the competition that they cant give feedback. This happens a lot in the industry and I completely understand , I can see why people would give up after receiving numerous emails like this, however with me I’m just going to keep learning my craft as ultimately the goal is getting a Job in the industry.
Harford states ” Biologists Have a word for the way in which solutions emerge from failure.evolution. Often summarised as survival of the fittest,evolution is a process driven by failure of the less fit.” I believe that this concept relates to everything we do and everything we try to accomplish in life. If we try something and fail , it’s easy to give up, but its the people that keep going that have more chance at reaching your goals. For example this Pilot yes its been rejected but that doesn’t mean I will stop here, I’m going to push it as far as I can . Just like the title of Harford’s book “Adapt: Why Success Always Starts with Failure” Shows that it can take rejection and failure for you to get better . It wouldn’t mean as much to us if we got to pass straight away and reach our goal first time.It’s astounding to think that this is possible , Its Hard work is what gets you to really appreciate the rewards.
This website Italiannotebook.com, talks about where the term Rome wasn’t built in a day comes from and it relates in my opinion to our standard of work”The great masters of the Renaissance — da Vinci, Michelangelo, et al. — if asked by the House of Medici, the Holy Father or any other influential patron of the visual arts to put a “rush job” on their masterpieces, would’ve probably dropped their palettes, chisels and other tools of the trade and wryly replied, “Rome wasn’t built in a day.” and that saying should be an outlook that we posses with our work , take pride in our videos , learn what is needed to progress in our industry and dont rush what could potentially be the rest of your life. Rome wasn’t a rush Job and Neither is our future in this industry.
I will still be including this piece of work in my on-line portfolio as i do believe it shows of a lot of my skills.
Bibliography
Bbc.co.uk, (2015). BBC – Future Talent Terms And Conditions – Writers Room. [online] Available at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/opportunities/future-talent/terms-and-conditions [Accessed 1 Mar. 2015].
Bbc.co.uk, (2015).[Image] BBC – Future Talent Terms And Conditions – Writers Room. [online] Available at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/opportunities/future-talent/terms-and-conditions [Accessed 1 Mar. 2015].
Harford, T. (2011). Adapt. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux.
Lee, M. (2015). Better Luck Next Time-BBC FINAL EDIT.. [online] Vimeo. Available at: https://vimeo.com/119125438 [Accessed 2 Mar. 2015].
Italiannotebook.com, (2013). Origin of the Famous Phrase “Rome wasn’t built in a Day”ItalianNotebook. [online] Available at: http://www.italiannotebook.com/local-interest/origin-rome-wasnt-built-in-a-day/ [Accessed 20 Apr. 2015].
Website Portfolio Research.
This is an area of Media that I’m not confident with and the idea of making a on-line portfolio scares me as my knowledge is limited. I would pay someone to do something like this for me as I know that they would do a better job. My friend Ryan Tyrrell works at a company called Fish in a Bottle so on in the outside world I would go to him as I would get a decent discount and I know he would do a better job.Below is their Website
Looking at there Website they have a nice business style to their company something that I would love to be able to replicate for my portfolio. Although I have a lack of knowledge in this are I still plan to make the website as close to how I want it as possible. First steps in doing this is looking at some examples of other websites featuring film production and cinematography.
Here’s Paul Di Palma’s(2015) website
It’s basic but probably the level of visuals I’m looking to achieve for mine. However looking around the website although its presented OK has limited information about the film-maker . It has two lines in the about me section and feels like someone else has made this site for him. He has four videos on here as examples which I think is a good idea not to over power the employer with lots of material. I have decided I will have seven videos in total ,one wrestling video , better luck next time short, a show reel(consisting of music shots,wedding shots,magic and other bits and bobs) my cinematography work for Ricahard Williamson and my trailer idea for The West Keys and my trailer for The Scarlett Massacre.
http://www.dannylaceyfilm.co.uk/index.html
A Director/ Filmmaker called Danny Lacey(2012) offers a more overloaded page with lots of video examples and a stronger layout and about me section. This website is bold and I don’t believe needs to have dazzling approaches for someone to look and see it for what it is. All the information was provided accordingly. So far I’m Leaning more to doing something like this but with not as many videos. I felt like that was a bit of an overload of info for one site.
Here is a film-maker / photographers Ian Hunts website Portfolio
http://ianhunt.clickformedia.co.uk/
This website is basic and done on WordPress although there is not much films I really like Ian’s approach to his show reel. He segments it off in to each area of what he’s done from documentary to short films. I liked the style it was easy to follow and i didn’t feel like it was lots of clips rammed in to one show reel. I will be taking a similar approach to my show reel.
Heres another example
Michael Pearce another filmmaker
http://www.mpfilmmaker.co.uk/#!portfolio/c1p9k
On this website I found it nice that you could however over each video and it was say what the film is about or the title I thought that was a nice touch , a little to advanced for my ability though. This website had style but is a basic layout .Something I hope to achieve for my portfolio.
The final website I looked at is
http://www.diogoatadini.co.uk/portifolio
A film-maker called Diogo Atadini’s website portfolio consists of a similar approach to Michael’s where you click the image and it takes you to the video. I still feel there is too much on this website I understand that you want to show off your work but I feel like id get board easily clicking on all the images even if they are an amazing film-maker , I Think sometimes less is more.
In conclusion I will be taking influences from a few of these pages . my favourite layouts are Micahel Pearce and Danny Lacey , something basic but evident to what it is and its point. Then From Ian Hunts website I will be taking the style of his show reel on board for mine.I hope to show myself off as a film-maker in easy steps but for it to still have an overall professional look and feel.
Bibliography
DA | Filmmaker, (2015). DA | Filmmaker – Portfolio. [online] Available at: http://www.diogoatadini.co.uk/portifolio [Accessed 18 Apr. 2015].
Dannylaceyfilm.co.uk, (2012). Indie Filmmaker Leeds | Director | Cameraman | Writer | Editor | Danny Lacey. [online] Available at: http://www.dannylaceyfilm.co.uk/index.html [Accessed 19 Apr. 2015].
Fishinabottle.com, (2015). fish in a bottle | Creativity and Innovation. [online] Available at: http://www.fishinabottle.com/ [Accessed 5 Apr. 2015].
Ian F. Hunt, (2013). Ian F. Hunt Student Filmmaker – Video and Photo Portfolio -/. [online] Available at: http://ianhunt.clickformedia.co.uk/ [Accessed 19 Apr. 2015].
mpfilmmaker, (2015). mpfilmmaker. [online] Available at: http://www.mpfilmmaker.co.uk/#!portfolio/c1p9k [Accessed 19 Apr. 2015].
Pauldipalma.com, (2015). Paul Di Palma Filmmaker Portfolio. [online] Available at: http://www.pauldipalma.com/ [Accessed 18 Apr. 2015].
Tyrrell, R. (2015) Fish in a bottle. Leamington U.k.
Wrestling-Triple X Wrestling
One of my biggest interests in life is watching wrestling, wrestling is one of the biggest forms of american entertainment. It can have a huge professional set up with amazing visuals or can be basic like a local company. What ever the company’s look and budget is , it all tells us a story through out the night , like a movie would. You will follow your favourite hero characters over a period of time and they will chase villain characters down until they get revenge. Its something that people overlook as its scripted and the idea that its’fake’ puts people off .. I don’t understand why as every movie we watch is fake , for example Jurassic Park(1993) isn’t real, Fast and Furious 5 had some of the most ridiculous stunts in the film but still people watch it without saying that’s fake .people need to remember that wrestling is made for entertainment and enjoyment , take it for what it is like a film. Naturally with a great passion for the industry I would end up being involved in some way.
Since 2008 I have worked on making videos for a wrestling company called Triple X wrestling. I started with recording their live shows at social clubs. I would turn up with any gear I had at the time which was mainly a HDV camcorder and a tripod and all the needed from me was to film the action on a Master camera. In wrestling such as the ‘WWE’ there is a multi cam set up which films several angles of the match. There is usually cameras positioned in different places around the arena and cameras to roam the ring.
One of the examples of one of Triple X Wresting’s early shows that I filmed and edited. For some reason the export didn’t work properly as it was a long video.
I filmed various shows until we decided to do more professional looking promos in 2011/12.
The first Promo I filmed was featuring two of my friends who had teamed up to form The Henchmen.This video was a mocumentary styled videos where the wrestlers were poking fun at other wrestling videos.
We came up with a style of talk show for the company called Triple Xtra(2014) which I used my gear to set up a green screen room and my camera to set up the cinematography of the scene. The owner Nick then made all the graphics and this partnership seemed to work quite well but it was a lot of work to keep going for a monthly instalment which is what we intended.
I continue to film videos for this wrestling company and there is probably to many videos to count so I thought I would make a brief video of the most recent. Here it is …
This connection also let me to filming some great wedding footage for Nick and Kathryn Bakewell which I have included in my show reel.
Bibliography
Fast and Furious 5(2011) [Film] United States Of America .Universal Pictures. Justin Lin
Jurassic Park (1993) [Film] United States of America. Universal Pictures Stephen Speilberg.
Lee, M., Bakewell, N. and Wrestling, T. (2015) . Triple XXXtra! – Episode One. [online] YouTube. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0JkIoRPaZ0 [Accessed 14 Apr. 2015].
Lee, M. and Triple X Wrestling (2009).[Video] FREE FULL SHOW! Triple X Wrestling: Clusterfuck (31.05.2009) – RARE & UNRELEASED. YouTube. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qCg-srU4L-4 [Accessed 14 April 2015].
Lee, M., Diehard, J., Destruction, B. and Wrestling, T. (2013).[Video] The Henchmen Shoot Interview Trailer. [online] YouTube. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eKXS6VTq5Tw [Accessed 14 Apr. 2015].
WWE (1952-Present) [tv show] available at http://www.wwe.com/ Vince McMahon
Production day 5 / 6- FMP
Production Day 5
This was the day that we would be focusing on the kidnapping and the build up to the event. This shoot happened on Easter Sunday as it was the only time all of us were free over the holidays. we would be filming three scenes. two of the scenes were quite usual to what we had already done, holding the camera and filming the scene like that no real difference.
The main scene was creating the kidnapping its self. Another scene I’m extremely proud of and had practised many times before filming. I had to quickly spin the camera so I used my hand grip mount that is best for sporting events and spun and rolled the camera quickly on to the couch on to the floor. this gave the visual look that it had been dropped.
(The eye of the director)
(Rich getting technical)
Production Day 6
This was another morning shoot to get a few shots for the montage start and the walking and talking first actual scene of the film. I had research in to the style of YouTube look books and wanted to recreate this style for the start in homage to YouTube and these sort of film-makers. This was also the day i would pay Jodie and Rich for there time , we also went to breakfast after these shots which I made sure I paid for.
(Mark showing Jodie what a look book is)
(filming the d.o.p: caught filming you filming me)
(Being stalked in reality by someone in a tree-Mark discussing the scene with Jodie)
Production Day 3 and 4
Production Day 3
Was another day shoot where where I planned some outside scenes. This was a brief but important shoot as we needed a bit of time to rehearse the scene. This was one of my cameo scenes so Rich as the character of Steve would film and my direction before the scene worked. The scene needed to look amateur and shaky camera work not to reveal too much about the cameo character. I also wanted to show a different side to the characters that you hadn’t seen so far . A darker/ bitchier side to Scarlett And Steve. The scene took place in a local park and we made it so we didn’t get any one else in the scene.
The last scene was a walking and talking scene. This was something we hadn’t done yet in the production, I had to walk backwards on a muddy field to capture the shot intended. It’s not noticeable in the shot and I think that the technique worked well.
(Scene before changed to a darker look in editing )
Again I supplied a range of food and drinks for the day which we ate in the park.
Production Day 4
This day was all about The characters of Tom and Steve coming together and having their conflict. The locations required a front room and a bedroom so I planned strategically for one scene to happen in Steve and Scarlett’s flat and the other scene which was Tom’s bedroom. I hadn’t used my bedroom as a scene for Scarlett or Steve so dressing the room to look like it was a completely different place was a great option and worked impeccably.
(Richard Smith above playing Tom )
(Tom is pointing to a camera above which is recording the screen below
of Richard Williamson)
One of my favourite camera techniques of the film took place in this scene. It’s a little interview with Steve about the disappearance of Scarlett. I slowly zoom in as he’s talking then quickly zoom out when he’s finished and ask the actor to walk in frame so it all looks like he’s filmed. I’m very proud of how this effect worked
This is one of my favourite scenes as its the only scene in the film where I use two camera angles. This is a style that I will be taking on to the next instalment of the film and will be using multiple cameras spread over different locations. The only issue was playing the scenes on the computer as I wanted it to play in real time for authenticity.The files would play from the beginning and you would hear me calling action. I hope to be able to fix that in editing though. another task in the edit will be adding sound effects in such as the door bell and commotion in the next room.
Richard Smith was a great addition to the cast and really happy with his natural performance. it Adds a new dynamic to the film and plays a very important role in the Scarlett Massacre.
markleeyr3 