Production: Filming Session / 29th

Reflection: Today's filming session involved taking the 73 bus a few stops from Angel to Essex Road. We took this journey in order for us to film our scenes of the less privileged rapper on the block. The location we chose was exactly what we wanted as it shows the grittiness of the area and reflects the characters 'background' well. Again, our choice of costume was a success as the less-privileged rapper dressed in the stereotypical hoodie, sweatpants and trainers.

This is the only location we went to on our second day of filming as we knew it would take a while to get the right amount of shots, as well as travelling back to college. After looking back at the shots we took, we decided that we didn't need to re-shoot any shots because they were what we wanted and we thought that we had the right amount. However, whilst in the middle of filming, we did need to re-shoot a lot of the shots as little things such as the subject looking into the camera, or coming into camera at the wrong time prevented us from getting the best material to edit.

Fortunately, it didn't start raining until we left so this caused no delays to our filming schedule and we managed to get the camera on and off the tripod well.

Production: Filming Session / 26th

Reflection: Today we went down to the college studio, after getting permission, to film our studio scenes. Fortunately, we managed to film the scene without any problems as there were no issues with the camera and the shots we filmed were at the correct angles.
Our choice of costume went well as we showed clearly, when filming our close-up camera shot, the privileged rapper's expensive looking watch.
After looking back at the shots we took, we decided that we didn't need to re-shoot any shots however we did decide to film there another day, just to add some more camera shots and close-ups.

Building we used as the studio

Glass complex

We also decided to film in Angel, next to the Jamie Oliver restaurant, as the glass building fit in well with our desired location. We managed to film our scene of the privileged rapper walking beside the building, in various angles, with success. Fortunately, it didn't rain and we managed to get the camera on and off the tripod well. Whilst we was in the area, we decided to film the privileged rapper going into a 'studio', by using a building that looked good enough. To be able to use the building in our filming, we had to speak to the building manager who gave us permission.
After looking back on these collection of shots, we realised that you could see the reflection of the camera/tripod in some of the shots. To resolve the problem, we scheduled to re-film the faulty ones next week in Dan's lesson.

Updated Location

We have updated certain locations for our film,we decide to shoot one of our shots near an estate near our college to get a grasp of the urban background our character is meant to represent.

Storyboard Camera Shots

1. Close-up shot of person's face sleeping from 2 different angles
2. Another close up/mid-shot of person's face sleeping and alarm
3. Close-up shot of subject picking up phone and answering text
4. Mid-shot of subject coming out of bathroom in different attire
5. Mid-shot of subject leaving the house
6. Over the shoulder shot and close-up shot of subject on his journey to the studio
7. Over the shoulder shot and close-up shot of subject reaching the studio and opening the door handle
8. Mid-shot/over the shoulder shot of the subject looking at the studio equipment, showing his privileged side
9. Establishing shot of an estate/ mid-shot
10. Mid-shot of subject writing bars and rapping to a song
11. Mid-shot/close-up of rapper getting frustrated and rips us his paper
12. Mid-shot of privileged rapper also ripping up paper and getting frustrated (shot reverse shot with the other character
13. Close-up shot of the less privileged rapper messaged the opposite character for studio time from a favour he owed
14. Over the shoulder/close up shot of him travelling to the studio (more serious side, rapping to words)
15. Close-up shot of less privileged rapper opening the door handle
16. Ends with a mid-shot of both characters clapping hands

Using Social Media When Filming

Before we go out to film our title sequence, it's essential that we set up a group twitter account. Our Twitter account is @TheExtraMile15 which relates to the title of our film opening. We will use this Twitter feed to let our teachers know what we are doing when filming. We will be tweeting photos of our filming shoot while we are out so that our teachers can see how we are getting on and our progress. 

Updated Production Shedule

Needed props/costume

After showing our pitch and getting some positive feedback from Dan we decided to alter the attire of our privileged rappers bit more to flashy.






We chose to use white airforces because of how fresh they look once purchased. They are not that expensive - £67 - however they are long lasting and durable. This means as well as looking good they can endrue most weather and enviroments.


Purchased at JD sports and all other trainer retailers by Joel's Mother.

We chose a white juper because the colour white makes you look cleaner and fresher than wearing a black jumper.




Purchased at any good retailer by Joel's Mother.

The silver chain and earing represents wealth and fortune.


Borrowed from one of joel's freinds.

Bought in the market.

Pitch Feedback

Pitch Preparation

As preparation for our group pitch, I decided to organise our points by listing them and highlighting the parts in a different colour for each person in my group. 

Pitch

Pitch Task 6

6. Audience Detail

Our core target audience is young teens aged 15-19 and the wider target audience for our film is young adults/adults aged 20-30 or anyone who is interested in rapping or possibly becoming a rapper. 

As we are an independent film, we will need to attract an audience to our film using many social networking sites such as creating a Facebook page and a Twitter account. The majority of teens use these sites regularly so both sites are a good platform to creating an audience. 

We will address them in our title sequence through our two main characters who are both young teens themselves. It shows the reality of young people working towards their dream, whilst showing the stereotypes people make of rapping today. Some young teens could also relate to our storyline of wanting to become a rapper in the music industry, which can be quite tough due to the amount of competition. 

Pitch Tasks 4 & 5

4. Representation 

We will be introducing the two main characters who are both from opposite backgrounds. We are also going to include some other youths as a background audience for the less privileged youth when he is rapping on the estate. 

The social groups evident are 'gangsters' chilling in the area and to represent them we will have a group of boys huddled together dressed stereotypically in dark coloured clothing e.g. tracks and hoodies. 

5. Institutional Detail

> Our film will be an independent production 

> Production company producing our film is called 'Big Talk Productions' and the distributing company is called 'Momentum Pictures'. 

Due to the fact our film is an independent production, we have to rely on a low budget and this could affect the type of titles and credits we use. This type of ownership also affects the hardware we have available e.g. cameras. We have to rely on the resources we have available to us, compared to a mainstream film which would have a whole crew just for the filming part of production. 

Blog Task 38: Pitch Tasks 1-3

1. The Film

The Title of our film is called 'The Extra Mile' 

Plot: The film is about two aspiring rappers who are from two complete different backgrounds; one privileged youth with the equipment to be successful but not the drive, and another youth less privileged with the drive and passion to become a rapper but not the finances or equipment. 

The opening scene will introduce us to the two main characters and also the stereotypical social group of a 'gang'. They both portray different strengths and weaknesses throughout the sequence, and the narrative aspect makes that obvious e.g. the privileged rapper has a much more sophisticated attire which represents his wealth compared to the opposite character who delivers nothing special to the camera 

2. What type of title sequence is it? 

Our title sequence is going to be narrative as the titles will be on a moving image. The action taking place behind the titles will make it some what obvious of what is happening e.g. the different locations for the different characters. 

The title sequence that has influenced us is Get Rich or Die Tryin'. This is because the film has a similar story plot of a boy wanting to complete his life-long dream of becoming a rapper as well as similar rapping music and costume. 

We are going to conform to the conventions and perceptions everyone has about rap being a male dominated world.

3. What type (sub-genre) of Teen Film is it? 

Our title sequence is a Youth Drama and a real media film title sequence that has inspired us is 8 Mile because, like Get Rich or Die Tryin', the film has a similar story plot and shows the boy miming to words in the title sequence and not actually saying them. We want to conform to that aspect of the sequence as that's what we want to create. 

Blog Task 37: Branding Our Blog Visually

I decided to change the design of our blog so that it reflects the ideas of our film as a whole. As our film is about rapping, I personally thought that the colour black would suit best.

I also changed the font of the main title Group 2 to 'Fortdiner Swanky' as I thought it reflected well on the blog as a whole and it also has a rough look to it.

Blog Post 34: Production Schedule

Blog Task 33: First Draft Storyboard

Blog Post 32: Wardrobe

The following pictures are images of the clothes i am likely to wear representing my character , the privileged rapper in our opening scene.

These jeans are the jeans i chose to use for my part is due to the fact they are my most expensive jeans at £55. Having my most expensive jeans on me as i am acting as a rich rapper is more believable because we are giving the impression  of my characters wealth.

We decided that my character should wear a polo shirt because it is a more sophisticated and more intelligent look than wearing a hoodie. This again gives the idea that he is from a different class than his friend who will be dressed in more baggy clothing.

This is the jumper I will wear on top of the polo shirt to have the cool, smart and casual look.

One of these two will be the shoes I wear.

Blog Post 31: Costume

The Privileged rapper
Polo shirt
Black Jumper
Jeans
Trainers

The Less Privilaged rapper
Jogging Bottoms
Hoodies
Snapbacks
Puff Jacket

Blog Task 30: Locations

Locations

One of our locations will be the college. This is because it is a rather big site and based on the various locations and buildings and rooms we would be able to film a lot of what we need here. The college also has a studio in which we are planning to use for our filming as well.

We thought we could use this as the outside area for the less privileged rapper to be introduced in and practising his rapping. This is a rather gritty looking area located next to the college.

This building next to the college is a huge glass complex. Filming this with the privileged rapper walking beside it or into it would emphasize how much more he is than the other character.

Originally we had planned to use someone's house to film the privileged rapper in bed and going through his morning routine before heading to the studio. However just in case we are unable to use someone's house for our filming we took this image and would film him outside of here before heading off, cutting short the title sequence. However this is just simply a back-up plan.


We also have permission to use the college studio for the scenes with the privileged rapper.

Blog Task 20: Christmas Homework

Name of Film - 10 things i hate about you

Sub-Genre - High School Drama

List of Credits -

• Touchstone Pictures
• Touchstone pictures presents
• A mad Chance/Jaret Entertainment
• Title - 10 Things I hate about you
• Cast names
• Music by
• Exectuive music producer
• costume designer
• Associate Producer
• Co producer
• Edited by
• Production Desginer
• Director of photography
• Executive Producders
• Produced by
• written by
• Directed by

Type of title sequence -  Moving Images because the film is going on and the credits come one while the fil begins and its also narrative because it gives a foreshadowing of what is to come in the film and the characters


Who is the producer - The film was produced by Andrew Lazar
The film was released by a independent production company - Touhstone Pictures


Storylines and plots - The opening scene shows us the contrasting characters and cliques that will clash in the film.

Who are the main characters - Throughout the film we are introduced to the main characters. The films sees the, conflivt against each other , decieve and become closer as friends. Their different personalities clash consistently. The main characters included - Heath Ledger as Patrick , Julia Stiles as Kat and Joseph Gordon - Levitt as Cameron.    

What social groups are introduced - the social groups introduced includ , Rastas , cool kids , AV nerds ad jocks. Alo we show the two rather rebellious teenagers who don't really fit into any social group.


Interactions - Usually the relationship between the teachers/adults and the youth is a far less serious on. This is primarily due to the lack of focus and ambition the children have. Their interactions often are more jokey.

Camera - the opening scene includes a birds eye view camera shot. This allows the camera to pick up a lot of people at one go and see them about their daily business. It allows the camera to see the different social groups all at once due to the angle and high of the camera.
There is also a few over the shoulder shots. This shows the conversation between two people from the view point of one person , looking at the face of the person he is interacting with.
There is also a mid shot , showing the two males who have just met from the waist upwards. This plaves focus mostly on them however you can see the business of the backround.

Editing - The credits that appear on the screen are big bold and rather coourful. they font looks childish and graffiti likes , this shows how it is affliated wth a school/child like atmosphere.
There are often rapid quick transisitons between the meeting of different cliques shoing the divide and hwo many cliques the new kid is being introduced to.

Sound - 


Mise-En-Scene (Lighting) -


Mise-En-Scene (Key Locations) -


Mise-En-Scene (Key Props) -


What did you like about the film? -

Blog Task 20: Xmas Homework

Name of film: Boyz N The Hood

Sub Genre: Youth Drama

List the title credits and the order they appear in:
1. Columbia Pictures
2. Columbia Pictures presents
3. Film title: "Boyz N The Hood"
4. Factual quote
5. Second factual quote
6. South Central Los Angeles 1984

What type or category of title sequence does the film have? How do you know this? 

The title sequence has a blank moving image because their is a black background with just the text moving outwards.

Who is the producer? Is it mainstream or independent production?
  
The production company is Columbia and this is a massive mainstream company so we know that the film is a mainstream production.


What story lines or plots are introduced in the film's opening? How are these developed in the rest of the film?

The film starts with a young black boy who is on his way to school with his friends. They talk about a shooting there was locally the night before and then they go to  the crime scene. The opening sequence where there are quotes show the plot that will be developed later on in the film as there is a lot of deaths and crimes.

Who are the main characters? How are they introduced & represented in the title sequence? How do they develop over the course of the film/ what experiences or conflicts do we see them encounter?

The main characters are Tre, Doughboy,Ricky and Tre's Father. Tre is introduced as a young man with a temper and he is sent to live with his father as the film goes on he becomes more and more mature. Doughboy represents the gangster in this film he experiences a lot of conflict with other gangs. Ricky is a young male who is trying to get into college he experiences a lot of conflict with his brother Doughboy as he is the favourite of his mother he ends up being in the victim because of his brother's gang trouble. Tre's father is a middle aged, experienced man who is trying to help the youths in the community stop killing each other. He becomes a role model for Tre and stops him from going out to revenge the death of his friend Ricky. 

What social groups are we introduced to in the film's opening sequence? Is stereotyping used to introduce these groups and do they change at all over the course of the film?

We see the social groups of the cool guys such as Tre and his friends then we see the gangsters whom names are not mention but are around causing trouble. These stereotyping social groups change over the time as some of the Tre's friends choose to stop the gang life such as Doughboy.

How do the teen/youth characters interact with adults? Is it how we would expect them to be in a teen film?

Tre, the main character is respectful towards adults such as his father and this is not typically how we would expect him to act because of his attitude earlier in the opening scene. 

Camera- What are the main camera shot types used in the film (e.g. do we see lots of groups shots or establishing shots or do we see lots of wide shots and close ups etc.

We see a lot of group shots but when we see that the tension is rising we see a lot of close ups and wide shots.

Editing & Sound- Bright land dark lighting, over the shoulder shots , there is also a lot of non diegetic sound such as the gunshots. 

Mise En Scene-  The key locations are the houses and the alleyways were the actions mostly occurs. The key props are things such as guns and cars an also the costumes that tell us about each character.

What did you like about this film? Do you think it is a good example of a teen film?

I like the grittiness and reality that this films conveys through the editing, sound,mise en scene and camera. The film is a good example of a teen film as it addresses issues that teens went through at the time the film is set and it reflects the solutions to the problems. There are conflicts and resolutions in the film and this adds to the overall effectiveness of the film.

Planning Mise-en-scene: Location, Settings & Props

   

Sub-genre: Youth Drama


Film Idea → Two young aspiring rappers (two males) - one is a 'regular' in the studio, which is more suburban. This rapper is more privileged than the other one but doesn't really value what he has until challenged by the other rapper as he feels insulted that someone of his status would call out someone like him. The other is a young male on the gritty, dirty estates of London. He is more determined to make it in the music industry because he came from a background of nothing. However he refuses help from peers because he feels he can work on his own and doesn't really respect other rappers. They come together, in a rap battle, to try and prove to themselves and their doubters that they can make it in the difficult music industry.

Key Props → Musical props (mics, mixing decks etc), Mobile phones, Headphones


Locations → Studio, a bathroom, a dirty estate, college

Setting → Inside a studio, inside a bathroom, exterior of an estate and additionally outside the college

Costume → Hoodies, Tracksuits, Snapback, Trainers

Lighting → Dim in the estate and bathroom, much lighter in the studio. The Dim light will show how gritty and serious the situation is for both of these men. 

Blog Task 28: Real Media Texts

8 Mile Title Sequence

This influenced our opening sequence because it is one of the most popular rap films. It also has a similar storyline that we are aiming to go for, showing a youth aiming high and going for their dreams.

8 Mile Rap battle    

This was an influence because of how we want the rap battles to come across i.e. intense and hyped. It also came across as very intense and if you watch the film you would know why there was so much intensity and that's the kind of intensity we are aiming to

Stormzy: Fire in the booth

We used this as an influence because at this point he is at the height of British rap and we wanted our main character to have a similar feel and aggression in her raps to show his passion like he does so we watched this and other videos of his to see what it was like.

Blog Task 25: Timeline of Credits

Blog Task 24: Font Styles and Typeface

Here is a short-list of fonts that we have chosen that could be used for our film title in our sequence. These were located in the font book on the mac and they are called: A dripping marker, El Valiente and HatCheck

Blog Task 23: Institutional Production of our sequence

As our film is independent, we will need independent companies to produce and distribute our film.

Big Talk Productions will be producing our title sequence as they are a British film and television production company.

Other films Big Talk Productions have produced include:
> Attack the Block
> In Fear
> The World's End
> Scott Pilgrim vs. the World

Momentum Pictures is a leading independent motion picture distributor in the UK, and this is the company that will distribute our film.

Other films Momentum Pictures have produced include:
> Catfish
> Safe
> Shame
> The Woman in Black 

Blog Task 22: Initial Ideas

Which sub-genre will you create? 
As a group we decided to create a Youth Drama opening title sequence.

Initial plot/story line ideas: The idea was similar to that of 8 mile however with a bit of a twist. Two youths from an urban area who are aspiring rappers. One privileged young man with the equipment to be a success but not the drive, the other with the drive and passion but not the finances or equipment. The film takes us through their journey to try and reach stardom and prove to themselves and each other they deserve to make it.. The title sequence will introduce us to the two main characters and also the social groups in this film.

Character 'types': Two urban youths; one of them will be more serious however doesn't have the material things to be a success such as mixing desk. The other one is less serious however he comes from a privileged background.

Social Groups: The stereotypical social group in youth dramas tend to be 'gangs' however in our story line, we focus more on the 'serious' and 'fun' side of youths and not just young teenagers trying to get into trouble.

Blog Task 21: Blogging Health Check 1

My blogging work is currently a C (just below target) with 13/20. 

My main improvements were to: 

1. Increase and vary my use of ICT for presentation e.g. Prezi, Slideshare and emaze 

2. Make posts as detailed as possible, especially group tasks which should show enough work for 3 people 

3. Be consistent with posts and make each one just as strong 

Blog Task 20: Holiday Homework

Blog Task 19: How to create sound tracks in Garageband

The first step to creating a soundtrack in Garageband is to begin a new project and select either of the options e.g. Loops, Acoustic Instrument or Piano.

Next is to save the project before starting any work, and ensure that you repeatedly save throughout the project. 

Once you've saved the project, a blank grey window will pop up (as shown), allowing you to produce and create any type of soundtrack. 

In the the top right hand corner, a wide variety of instruments and sounds are available to begin a soundtrack; you can add as many layers as you want underneath each other for a better effect. 

Once you have chosen a sound/instrument you want to use, simply drag it to the open space and it will appear in the corner like below. 

To make the sound last longer, drag it from the top right corner to the desired length. 

You can change the tempo of the sounds, making it slower or faster by dragging the circle up or down. 

If you wanted to add another instrument or sound, again simply drag it underneath the existing sound.

Tip: You can change the time when the sound fades in and out by changing the track volume.

Once you have finished creating a soundtrack, you will need to export the song to disk by selecting the 'share' tool at the top. 

You will need to uncompress the song and export it to CD quality. 

Save the song in it's new format. 

After being exported to CD quality, the song will appear like this.