Audience research

Global and NZ digitisation trends
Questions;

1. How many of the world's population are currently connected to the internet? (slide 6)

4.388 billion with a penetration of 57%

2. How many of the world's population are active social media users? (slide 6)

3.484 billion with a penetration of 45%

3. What are the top 5 social media sites used globally? (slide 10)

Facebook, Youtube, Whats App, FB Messenger, Webxin/Webchat

4. What two age-groups have the largest contingent of social media users? (slide 12)

18-24 yr olds and 25-34 yr olds

5. What percentage of NZ's population are connected to the internet and what percentage have social media? (slide 15)

4.22 million of New Zealand's population are connected to the internet with a 88% penetration. 3.40 million are active social media users with a 71% penetration.

6. What are the top 3 devices used to consume media in NZ? (slide 18)

Mobile phone (any type) 92%, Smart phone 81%, Laptop or desktop computer 84%.

7. How many hours a day are NZ's watching/ streaming online TV services? (slide 19)

2 hours and 42 minutes

8. What percentage of internet users in NZ watch videos online and what percentage stream content via the internet? (slide 28)

94% watch videos online and 57% stream via the internet

9. What are NZ's top 5 social media sites? (slide 33)

Youtube, Facebook, FB Messenger, Instagram, Pinterest.

Trends within NZ for media consumption

Questions;

1. Who are considered 'i-gens' (page 3 )
The iGens are the generation of people born from about the mid1990s to the mid-2000s.

2. In what ways are i-gens connected and using digital technology? (pg 4)
iGens are the first generation to spend their entire lives growing up with iPads, iPods and iPhones etc. iGen spend all day connected online.

3. How would you describe the relationship with i-gens with the content of the media they are consuming? (Summarise page 5)
iGens consider things that affect a persons well-being as very important or informative. Films influence iGens’ opinions on a whole variety of social, political and environmental issues, and act as a catalyst for discussion with friends and family.

4. In what way does social media play a part in influencing i-gens activity in whether they watch a film or not? (p7)

Social media plays a huge part in iGen lives. It is an under-utilised opportunity for cinemas, film distributors and filmmakers to reach out and directly engage with the iGeneration in their world and in their way.

5. List the emotional motivations that drive i-gens to watch movies at the cinemas and what in general do they like about it? (p8 & 10)
Chilled: escaping for a couple of hours, relaxing and chilling out with no interruptions. Intimate: being intimate with others through social connection and shared experiences with partners, friends, colleagues and families. Hyped: experiencing heightened emotions including being hyped and excited (action movies), shocked and terrified (horror), sad (dramas), and laughing (comedy). In the know: feeling that by watching the latest movies you are a leader – that you are at the forefront of the culture and leading social media commentary and opinion. Creative: becoming a ‘film buff’ and being creative by following directors and other creative artists involved in filmmaking. Socially conscious: thinking and being curious about the issues raised in the film and using the film to help shape discussion, opinions, views and beliefs. The iGeneration values the immersive, state-of-the-art, sight and sound technology of cinemas that they cannot access at home.

6. Comment on why i-gens opt to watch movies online at home (p 9)
In-home viewing is easy, convenient, safe, comfortable and costs very little. It can be sociable or equally enjoyable alone.

7. What do the i-gens say is negative about the cinema experience? (p11)
The cost and ‘administration’ involved with the cinema experience is somewhat out of step with iGens. It is expensive, inflexible and inconvenient compared to watching a movie at home. The lack of flexibility, lining up for tickets and limited food and drink options can all add up to too much bother.

8. Use page 13 to write a few sentences about how i-gens should be marketed to if you are trying to get them to watch your film
The iGeneration need more than trailers and posters to engage them with cinema. They need to feel that cinema-going is a ‘must go’ social event. The best place to attract their interest is where they spend a lot of time – on social media. They enjoy the customised approach of platforms like Netflix which say ‘if you enjoyed movie X then you would probably love movies Y and Z’. With a more targeted approach to social media that isn’t just trailers.

9. Use pages 14 - 19 to write a few points about the way i-gens prefer to engage with media and what they want out of a media consumption experience
Use apps to make booking, tickets and food and drink ordering more streamlined and convenient. Dedicated spaces at the cinema where they can hang out with their friends. The iGeneration want cinemas to be immersive, super-comfortable, well designed, and incorporate the latest technologies such as surround sound and virtual reality (VR). would also like to be able to view other forms of entertainment such as live sports, e-sports (competitive gaming) and ‘binge-watch’ entire TV series. They are also interested in outdoor and drive-in cinema, and being able to select or vote for what they view and when they view it.

Survey

...Survey Questions...

Age:

Preferred Genre:

Movies watched per year:

Number of films watched at a cinema:

Three most frequent cinemas:

Preferred film watching style:                                             Amount:

• Watch film from start to finish with no breaks     =  8
• Watch film with short breaks (get water, etc)      =  12
• Watch film with long breaks                          =  2

( the first person's reason was that they would go watch something else then come back to the movie/film. The second person's reason was that they would start watching a film before school and then finish it later when they returned home.)

In conclusion:

From the data presented it shows how younger people have more time to watch films on different streaming platforms whereas older generations are not so aware of these different websites/apps.There is a slow decline in the use of cinemas nowadays where most movies that are older can be accessed online, but a lot of new modern day films have to be viewed in the cinema when it is first released. 

CCR tools

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nfg1LS5b5x8 - door closing
Un-linking sound from video

transitioning

dip to black

volume changing

volume gain
music - Piano

Peer critiques:

-Make the transition smoother between the knife scene and the car scene. (longer)
-Change the music in the car scene
-Build up the music more in the car scene

Audience Trends Research

New Zealand on Air:

• N=1,002 interviews were completed by telephone using random digit dialling, and n=412 interviews were completed online using Consumer Link’s Flybuys research panel.
• Most popular channels, sites and stations. (streaming platforms)

• Youtube and Facebook easily reach the biggest audiences among lower socio-economic New Zealanders in terms of online video. Stuff and NZ Herald are significantly less popular among this group and significantly fewer lower socio-economic New Zealanders use NZ Herald than the overall NZ population.

New Zealand Herald:

• With a reach of 67 per cent, broadcast TV remains the media channel reaching the most people on a daily basis. However, based on the trend showing a decline from 83 per cent in 2014, this could well be the last time TV retains the spot on the top of the pile.
• New Zealanders continue to spend over two and a half hours watching linear TV each day, and over an hour and a half listening to radio each day.
• Online videos streamed via Facebook and YouTube now reach 52 per cent of Kiwis on a daily basis, while newspapers (including online) only reach 41 per cent.

Flicks.co.nz:

• Netflix and other main streaming platforms are trying to compete with each other and usually offer trial periods or free plans for a certain period of time to entice customers. e.g. netflix plans .... The Cost – Basic Plan $9.99 per month (no HD) / Standard Plan is $12.99 per month (HD) / Premium Plan $15.99 per month (Ultra HD) Number of Useable Devices – one / two / four at the same time. Trial benefits – first month free.
• Lightbox is still a TV-dominated domain “focused on bringing the best new and exclusive TV shows to Kiwi households” says Lightbox CEO Kym Niblock.
• However, Video Ezy On Demand is dead. The PPV service ended its trade barely halfway past 2015, unable to keep up with the VOD herd.In its place is a new competitor waiting on the horizon: YouTube Red.

The University of Auckland:

• Netflix alone has more than 125 million subscribers worldwide, with 1.2 million of them in New Zealand, while cinema attendance in the United States last year dropped to its lowest level since 1995.
• Dr Karina Aveyard of the University of Sydney doubts that streaming services on their own are going to significantly disrupt theatres, or the traditional ways of experiencing film
• This new intervention by streaming services into the production and distribution side of the film business “changes the dynamics,” Aveyard claims, “in the sense that the films that didn’t get a cinema release and had the kind of money that those films did, that was somehow a continuation of their cultural value and certainly their economic value.”.

Creating suspense

1. How To Film A Suspense Scene
- Need to give a story before introducing a suspense scene e.g. the audience sees the tea being poisoned and she is about to drink it.

-Try to make you care about the character in some sort of way whether they be good or bad (character has history).

2. 3 Ways Steven Spielberg Builds Nail-Biting Suspense
-Put yourself in the shoes of the moviegoer and ask yourself “what would i want to see”

-Sincere ability to empathise with the audience can enable you to create extremely moving work and also suspenseful moments.

-Subjective and objective to create suspense

-Breaking up the scene with different close ups and swells of music helps to make each step build leading to the final reveal.

-Make it known what is at risk

-Panned shots can help establish distance and keeps tension going

-Cutaway shots sustain the tension by stretching the time

-A distraction may be introduced to create an almost problem

-Small objects may appear large signifying their importance to the scene.

-Mis en scene can be set out to represent characters emotions


3. How Hitchcock Creates Suspense
-The audience needs information from the director, without it suspense is not possible.

-Bomb Theory, suspense should be prolonged whereas shock should only be a “10 second shock period”

-Create a pattern with your film and the rising tension/suspense

Case Studies

Hollywood blockbuster:
Title: Suicide Squad
Release Date: 1st August 2016
Director: David Ayer
A-list cast: Will Smith, Margot Robbie, Jared Leto, Ben Affleck, Scott Eastwood, Cara
Delevingne, Jai Courtney.
Budget: 175 million USD
Release details: Suicide squad first premiered in New York City on August, 1st, 2016. It was then released for general viewing in America first before then being released worldwide. It was first available in cinemas before being able to be bought online and on other streaming platforms such as apple movies, Amazon prime and Disney plus. After having a strong debut that set new box office records, the film grossed over $746 million worldwide, making it the tenth-highest grossing film of 2016. Suicide squad got a mix of reviews but also lot of criticism in how it wasn't exactly an ‘age appropriate’ film. Many big critics like Sandie Angulo Chen from common sense media did not have many compliments for the film one example being when she says “Despite the talented cast and Robbie's stand-out performance as Harley Quinn, this antihero story is a disappointment”. So was this big budget film really worth it ?

A New Zealand Film
Title: Hunt for the Wilderpeople
Release Date: 31st March 2016
Director: Taika Waititi
A-list cast: Taika Waititi,Julian Dennison, Rhys Darby (not really a-list)
Budget: 2.5 million USD
Release details: The film premiered at the 2016 Sundance film festival on 22 January 2016. It was then officially released to cinemas in New Zealand on the 31st of March, 2016. The film then received a limited North American release on 24 June 2016. Hunt for the Wilderpeople earned around $12.18 million dollars making it the biggest film in box office, and the top local film of all time. This movie received mass amounts of praise as well as glowing reviews from many movie critic websites. Sandie Angulo Chen from Common sense media proceed to say “This charming odd-couple adventure is the well-acted story of a down-and-out Maori kid and his grouchy foster parent.” and gave it a 4.7 star rating for audience viewing.

An independent/Arthouse film
Title: Moonlight
Release Date: 2nd September 2016
Director: Barry Jenkins
A-list cast: Mahershala Ali, Janelle Monáe, Naomie Harris

Budget: 1.5 million USD
Release details: Moonlight premiered at the Telluride Film Festival on September 2, 2016.Moonlight received critical acclaim and is commonly cited as one of the best films of the 21st century. The film was released in the United States on October 21, 2016, and grossed over $65 million worldwide. The film received a lot of attention due to the message it was portraying a lot of critics appreciated this films artistic view, one of them being, John Anderson from Wallstreet Journal saying “Director Barry Jenkins has created a sublime, novelist work of art by employing the specific in pursuit of the universal: Few will walk away from “Moonlight” untouched by its message". The main streaming platforms used to watch this movie are, Amazon Prime and Apple TV+. 

A film that didn’t perform as well as expected.
Title: The Interview
Release date: February 6, 2015.
Director: Seth Rogen & Evan Goldberg
A-list cast:James Franco, Seth Rogen, Rob Lowe, Nicki Minaj, Lizzy Caplan
Budget: 44 million USD
Release details: In June 2014, the North Korean government threatened action against the United States if Sony released the film. Sony delayed the film's release till December and tried to edit some of the film making it more acceptable for North Korea. Following this, Sony's computer systems were apparently hacked by a group called “Guardians of Peace” , a group that the FBI said to have ties with North Korea. The Interview grossed $40 million in digital rentals, making it Sony's most successful digital release and earned an additional $12.3 million worldwide in box office ticket sales on a $44 million budget. The film received many mixed reviews from critics as some humour may be offensive and the topic of the film was almost unconventional. Sara Stewart from the New York Post claimed the film was “a limp comedy, which has stirred up a world of controversy it doesn’t earn”.

Lighting Pt2

 Lighting:
Natural lighting will be used for our outdoor shots. This will help to enhance the realism of the film and almost keep it dull, conforming to the typical conventions of a thriller film.

For our indoor shots we will use a dull yellow light to match the light that is seen to be shining through the windows of the 'slum house'.

The Yellow Birds:

In this short clip from 'the yellow birds' it shows a good example of the natural outdoor lighting and how they have been able to maintain that same contrast throughout the entire scene, even when inside. We are able to see the shadows behind the men relating back to the verisimilitude of the film.

Shot list Pt2

Job List Pt2

Brainstorm Pt2

Preliminary task 2

A 

TREATMENT

FOR ‘THE SOLDIER’

Prepared For: DSL Productions 

By: Kayla Lockington

18/04/2020

This film will be a minimum of 1 minute to a maximum of 2 minutes as proposed. The filming location will be at the house of one of our team members as well as the basement of an old school looking house. This is we can have a contrast between the outdoors and the confidence within a battered slum house.

Our target audience is those of a more sophisticated age rage. From ages 14 and above. The use of language is to a higher extent that younger people may find hard to follow. As well as there being a small amount of graphic violence. 

After watching these are just a few techniques/ideas that would be helpful/add to our film:

Gone girl:

They have edited it so that as we see the picture of this girl on screen we can hear the voice over of a man speaking in the background along with slow eerie music. This is a good technique as it can provoke fear before the story line of the film has even begun. 

Joker:

This is a very violent and vivid scene but what they have done very well is create a realistic effect for the verisimilitude of the film. The blood squirting out of the body is a clever and useful technique that would be a good idea to use in our own film, if done correctly. 

The film will include 4 main characters alongside 3 protagonists. Our main 4 characters will be soldiers acting as our antagonists who are seen as the ‘heroes’ of this film. They will be in disguise/undercover (not wearing army uniform). We are only using male characters, which interludes with the stereotypical representation of females and males in how men are more useful in combat and dangerous situations. By using this idea we are facing a hard hitting problem that occurs on a regular basis throughout the world where soldiers and other law enforcement are losing their lives due to terrorist activity. The mood and overall tone of this film is heavy hearted and fearful. Our audience is constantly being surprised as if on a roller coaster of emotions. It has an almost Good VS Evil theme throughout the short film where our military men are risking their lives in order to eliminate a threat. We will have a lot of over the shoulder shots along with shaky and handheld camera movements. This will help add anticipation to the film and unstability. In order to capture all that is happening we will be using wide shots to capture all of our action features.The setting has been chosen so to comply with common conventions in how it is a large outdoor landscape that has an eerie feel. We will use rusted and older looking props to give the idea that it is set in a poverty area or that all life has been scared away as if a ghost town was left with slum-like houses. Things like guns and knives will be used as symbols that represent danger and conflict. A key part of our iconography is the military-like uniforms that our characters will be wearing. This is a clear sign that they are law enforcement personal, and that they should be there to help. Short sharp sounds like gunshots and loud ‘booms’ for our explosion will be used and all added in editing. A lot of our sounds will be diegetic life-like sounds that our characters can hear helping to add to the realism of the film. The title will be revealed at the end of the short film as well as having small editing techniques that will be used for e.g. when we switch between scenes from night to day a text will appear at the bottom of the screen where it will say the date, time and location. 

Opening Summary

Beginning:

The first establishing shot is of a town located in a Roman countryside. This shot is at night time and we see light shining through the slum houses. The exchange of the document between the two soldiers takes place as well as a few lines of dialogue. One of the soldiers looks through the document, absorbing the information needed. We then cut to black where we hear sounds of our military men gearing up for what we can only assume will be a battle/fight of some sort.

Middle:

We start off with a wide shot of our soldiers walking through the mountainous terrain. Two new characters are introduced, Jack and Nathan. They are seen to be talking amongst themselves making jokes which adds a comical flair to the film, easing tension for this small period of time. An explosion goes off that then knocks two of our soldiers over, as they lie there and get their breath back. The rest of the soldiers fall back and try to retaliate. Two terrorists are seen to come over the top of the hill, aiming their rifles/weapons at the troops below. Nathan (one of the soldiers) decides to take a stand and try to shoot back at the enemies, he takes a shot to the chest and is killed instantly.

End:

Jack is seen to play hero and tries to take on one of our protagonists and this then costs him his life. Our terrorist is taken out by Ben but it is not within the time needed as Jack is already gone. The men are shocked and we finish by seeing a close up shot of Jack's facials who is distraught and shocked by the events that have just occurred.

Script

THE SOLIDER
Scene 1

FADE IN:

ESTABLISHING SHOT: The first shot is of a town located in an Arab country. This shot is at night time and we see light shining through the slum houses.
MID SHOT: Cuts to a shot of two men sitting on their mattresses, one pulls out a document and hands it to the other.
Ben
(SOLDIER one)
Is this the one?
Sully
(Captain, soldier two)
Yeah, that's him. Its taken 2 terror attacks, over 250 marines dead and 500 civilians gone for the government to actually get a clue, pttf.
CLOSE-UP SHOT: BEN starts flipping through the pages of the document and stops on the photo of the target that SULLY was talking about before. We see BEN'S facial expression turn to uncertainty and remembrance of the terrible things he has done.
OTS SHOT: Camera shows the photo of the target and we see BEN'S hands start to tighten the document. Sully intervenes when he sees this.
OTS SHOT: Camera shows SULLY talking to BEN, mid way through SULLY'S line the camera changes back to BEN as a "shot reverse Shot" technique.
Sully
Don't let it to you too much mate, it will be all over tomorrow. Try and get some sleep when are moving at 0500.

THE SOLDIER
Scene 2
Screen is all black and we hear the zips and clicks of the soldiers getting ready. Here we all can see a date and time title appear on the screen " June 7th, 2022 0500"
WIDE SHOT: Shot showing squad of soldiers in a line walking and talking to each other about life back home. This moment can be comical. Each shot is the same for each character, a Mid shot while they deliver their line and it will cut in between as the scene continues.
Jack
(Soldier 2)
My feet might as well fall off with all this walking we are doing.
Nathan
(Soldier 3)
It doesn't bother me, these walks remind me of home. All the long walks on the beach, man I miss it...
Jack
Yeah, yeah yeah whatever Nathan, your constant blabbering of home doesn't make me miss "long walks on the beach" it reminds me of the girls! Ohh man just being able to chat to the birds on a Friday night, awgh I miss it!
Speaking of the birds, how's your lovely lady going Benny boy?
Jack turns and gives Ben a wink and a cheeky grin
Ben
You mean my wife?
Jack
Yeeeah that's the one, is she still all "flexible" like the old days aye?
JACK seems to find all of this a "good ol laugh with the boys" but BEN and SULLY find the comments immature and distracting.
Ben
Oh really mate, you had to go there. I mean come on she's my wif-
As BEN is about to talk to JACK we see an explosion go off very close to the soldiers. Nathan and Ben are blown to the ground as they are the two in front of the line. Sully immediately takes charge as the captain, yelling at the soldiers on what they should do. JACK switches out of his immature way and immediately realizes the danger at hand. Two enemies stand at the top of a hill firing down at the squad. They quickly take cover under the bank side and try to eliminate the two target at the top of the hill. Wide shot showing the soldiers scramble to get to cover and start firing at the targets.
SULLY
CONTACT, CONTACT, CONTACT! Open fire North West, two targets!
CLOSE-UP: Ben struggles to get up with ringing still in his ears. Him and Nathan get up as fast as they can helping each other and they throw themselves onto the bank side for cover.
Sully
They have found us! Keep your fire up! Ben! What are you doing, eliminate the targets!
BEN'S ringing in his ears finally stop and he rolls onto his stomach and begins firing at the targets, NATHAN is still in shock.
CLOSE-UP: Showing NATHAN looking at his squad, he realizes that they could be dead in minutes if someone doesn't do something drastic. NATHAN decides to stand up and take shots at the targets.
TRACKING SHOT: Showing NATHAN rise up and lift his gun towards the targets.
WIDE SHOT: Immediately NATHAN is shot twice in the chest and we see blood fly out of his body. NATHAN crumples to the ground and the squad rush to help.
CLOSE-UP: BEN being the medic of the group and also the closes to NATHAN immediately starts to help him.
CLOSE-UP: Showing Sully getting upset and angry towards what has happened and we see him cock his gun aim and fire two clean shots at each of the targets, eliminating them both.
WIDE SHOT: Showing SULLY running up the hill and looking for more targets, CAMERA PANS to BEN and JACK scrambling to try and save NATHAN.
CLOSE-UP: Showing BEN giving CPR while telling jack what do to. JACK is rummaging around to try and find what BEN is telling him to get.
Ben
Come on! Come on! Jack get me my bandages, left side of my backpack!
Jack
On it!
TACKING-OTS-SHOT: Showing SULLY walking down the hill and stand over BEN and JACK trying to save NATHAN, blood is all over the floor and some is splattered on BEN and JACK.
CLOSE-UP: Showing BEN face and his expression when SULLY tells him to keep moving as they don't have much time.
Sully
Come on kid we gotta keep moving, we don't have much time.
CLOSE-UP: Showing BEN wipe some sweat off his forehead and leaving the blood of NATHAN.
Cuts to black with dramatic sound effect
THE SOLIDER
SCENE 3
MID-SHOT: Showing the line of soldiers now at only 3 walking down a hill and past the two enemies lying on the floor. SULLY who is leading the line points to where he thinks the target is and where the men need to be heading.
Sully
There look he has got be over there somewhere, these must have been the guards that we took out.
MID SHOT: Showing the back of SULLY as he enters a new area and we see the main target reloading his pistol. He spots the soldiers and immediately runs. This is where the chase scene starts.
Jack
I'll cut him off you guys keep on him!
WIDE-SHOT: We see JACK run up the hill to try and cut our target off, BEN and SULLY run directly after him. As they start running we hear a gun shot and a scream. SULLY and BEN look at each other and realize its JACK. As the pair follow JACK trail they find themselves at a top of a hill looking down at JACK on his knees with the target holding a gun to his head. BEN scrambles for his weapon aims it up and takes a shot. The target shoots first and kills JACK and BEN's shot is right after taking out the target but not in time to save JACK.
CLOSE-UP: Showing BEN looking shocked at what just happened and then the camera cuts to a WIDE SHOT showing jack lying on the ground,
SCENE

THE SOLIDER
Scene 1

FADE IN:

ESTABLISHING SHOT: The first shot is of a town located in an Arab country. This shot is at night time and we see light shining through the slum houses.
MID SHOT: Cuts to a shot of two men sitting on their mattresses, one pulls out a document and hands it to the other.
Ben
(SOLDIER one)
Is this the one?
Sully
(Captain, soldier two)
Yeah, that's him. Its taken 2 terror attacks, over 250 marines dead and 500 civilians gone for the government to actually get a clue, pttf.
CLOSE-UP SHOT: BEN starts flipping through the pages of the document and stops on the photo of the target that SULLY was talking about before. We see BEN'S facial expression turn to uncertainty and remembrance of the terrible things he has done.
OTS SHOT: Camera shows the photo of the target and we see BEN'S hands start to tighten the document. Sully intervenes when he sees this.
OTS SHOT: Camera shows SULLY talking to BEN, mid way through SULLY'S line the camera changes back to BEN as a "shot reverse Shot" technique.
Sully
Don't let it to you too much mate, it will be all over tomorrow. Try and get some sleep when are moving at 0500.

THE SOLDIER
Scene 2
Screen is all black and we hear the zips and clicks of the soldiers getting ready. Here we all can see a date and time title appear on the screen " June 7th, 2022 0500"
WIDE SHOT: Shot showing squad of soldiers in a line walking and talking to each other about life back home. This moment can be comical. Each shot is the same for each character, a Mid shot while they deliver their line and it will cut in between as the scene continues.
Jack
(Soldier 2)
My feet might as well fall off with all this walking we are doing.
Nathan
(Soldier 3)
It doesn't bother me, these walks remind me of home. All the long walks on the beach, man I miss it...
Jack
Yeah, yeah yeah whatever Nathan, your constant blabbering of home doesn't make me miss "long walks on the beach" it reminds me of the girls! Ohh man just being able to chat to the birds on a Friday night, awgh I miss it!
Speaking of the birds, how's your lovely lady going Benny boy?
Jack turns and gives Ben a wink and a cheeky grin
Ben
You mean my wife?
Jack
Yeeeah that's the one, is she still all "flexible" like the old days aye?
JACK seems to find all of this a "good ol laugh with the boys" but BEN and SULLY find the comments immature and distracting.
Ben
Oh really mate, you had to go there. I mean come on she's my wif-
As BEN is about to talk to JACK we see an explosion go off very close to the soldiers. Nathan and Ben are blown to the ground as they are the two in front of the line. Sully immediately takes charge as the captain, yelling at the soldiers on what they should do. JACK switches out of his immature way and immediately realizes the danger at hand. Two enemies stand at the top of a hill firing down at the squad. They quickly take cover under the bank side and try to eliminate the two target at the top of the hill. Wide shot showing the soldiers scramble to get to cover and start firing at the targets.
SULLY
CONTACT, CONTACT, CONTACT! Open fire North West, two targets!
CLOSE-UP: Ben struggles to get up with ringing still in his ears. Him and Nathan get up as fast as they can helping each other and they throw themselves onto the bank side for cover.
Sully
They have found us! Keep your fire up! Ben! What are you doing, eliminate the targets!
BEN'S ringing in his ears finally stop and he rolls onto his stomach and begins firing at the targets, NATHAN is still in shock.
CLOSE-UP: Showing NATHAN looking at his squad, he realizes that they could be dead in minutes if someone doesn't do something drastic. NATHAN decides to stand up and take shots at the targets.
TRACKING SHOT: Showing NATHAN rise up and lift his gun towards the targets.
WIDE SHOT: Immediately NATHAN is shot twice in the chest and we see blood fly out of his body. NATHAN crumples to the ground and the squad rush to help.
CLOSE-UP: BEN being the medic of the group and also the closes to NATHAN immediately starts to help him.
CLOSE-UP: Showing Sully getting upset and angry towards what has happened and we see him cock his gun aim and fire two clean shots at each of the targets, eliminating them both.
WIDE SHOT: Showing SULLY running up the hill and looking for more targets, CAMERA PANS to BEN and JACK scrambling to try and save NATHAN.
CLOSE-UP: Showing BEN giving CPR while telling jack what do to. JACK is rummaging around to try and find what BEN is telling him to get.
Ben
Come on! Come on! Jack get me my bandages, left side of my backpack!
Jack
On it!
TACKING-OTS-SHOT: Showing SULLY walking down the hill and stand over BEN and JACK trying to save NATHAN, blood is all over the floor and some is splattered on BEN and JACK.
CLOSE-UP: Showing BEN face and his expression when SULLY tells him to keep moving as they don't have much time.
Sully
Come on kid we gotta keep moving, we don't have much time.
CLOSE-UP: Showing BEN wipe some sweat off his forehead and leaving the blood of NATHAN.
Cuts to black with dramatic sound effect
THE SOLIDER
SCENE 3
MID-SHOT: Showing the line of soldiers now at only 3 walking down a hill and past the two enemies lying on the floor. SULLY who is leading the line points to where he thinks the target is and where the men need to be heading.
Sully
There look he has got be over there somewhere, these must have been the guards that we took out.
MID SHOT: Showing the back of SULLY as he enters a new area and we see the main target reloading his pistol. He spots the soldiers and immediately runs. This is where the chase scene starts.
Jack
I'll cut him off you guys keep on him!
WIDE-SHOT: We see JACK run up the hill to try and cut our target off, BEN and SULLY run directly after him. As they start running we hear a gun shot and a scream. SULLY and BEN look at each other and realize its JACK. As the pair follow JACK trail they find themselves at a top of a hill looking down at JACK on his knees with the target holding a gun to his head. BEN scrambles for his weapon aims it up and takes a shot. The target shoots first and kills JACK and BEN's shot is right after taking out the target but not in time to save JACK.
CLOSE-UP: Showing BEN looking shocked at what just happened and then the camera cuts to a WIDE SHOT showing jack lying on the ground,
SCENE

Media

Preliminary task 2

Planning (Concept)

The title of my film is ‘The Soldier’. It is correlating with the main plot of the film and how it is mostly based around our male military men.

The 6-15 genre conventions I will include in my film are certain props like knives and guns that usually evoke fear and worry from the audience. These are common weapons used in a thriller movie. A lot of quick cuts will be used alongside shaky and hand held camera movements. This will mimic the unstableness of the characters in the scene. By using unsteady film it can also trick the audience into thinking something like an explosion is happening which is what we will be doing. We will mix our camera work alongside buckets of dirt and water spray bottles to create a ‘mini’ explosion. We will have a clear protagonist ( our terrorist(s)) who is being hunted by our military ‘heroes’ who will be our clear antagonists. There will be dull lighting and little to no lighting is some shots, helping create the sense of the unknown whereas the shots that are taken outdoors will have natural lighting, helping to immerse the audience, making it almost more realistic. Our film is more following the ideas of an action thriller. During the editing process we will use loud sudden sounds but also contrasting it will be a use of eerie non diegetic music.

Plot/story line:

We will begin with an establishing shot of an isolated slum house, somewhere in what looks to be russian farmland (hills and greenery). It is set at night time and all we will see is a dim yellow light shining through the windows of our ‘slum’ house. The film will start off with a slow and eerie presence. There will be an exchange of a document between two of our main characters which will be our object being given/taken. It will then transition into hearing the two soldiers starting to gear up in order to catch our protagonist (terrorist). Editing techniques will be used here in order to create a blackout whilst we can still hear the clips and loading of guns in the background. Our soldiers will be seen walking out as a troop talking about memories and other gossip topics, this will be seen as a more comical scene that almost breaks/eases the tension for a couple of seconds. An explosion soon takes place near the soldiers front of line two characters are blown down. The terrorists are then seen from the top of the hill shooting down at our ‘troops’. One of our characters tries to take a stand and shoot back but alas his attempts are unsuccessful and ends up getting himself killed. Another soldier is then killed from acting out of impulsive decision making. Finally the target is gun downed but at the expense of two men.

Characters:

Sully (Captain)

Sully is the leader of the operation and all directions and decisions are up to him. He is in charge of his men and is the one who is ordering his troops to hunt these men.

Ben (Soldier)

Ben is our first soldier that we are introduced to. He is the one we see making the exchange with Sully in our very first scene.

Nathan (Soldier)

Nathan is our first soldier to die. He takes a courageous yet bold act that ends up costing him his life. This adds to the realism in how not all things have a happy ending.

Jack (Soldier)

Jack is our last soldier to die. He is the one who helps to end our story/film. By making a reckless decision out of anger and frustration that costs him his life. This is when Sully and Ben then have the opportunity to gun down our terrorists

Terrorist 1

Terrorist 1 is seen to be causing all the destruction alongside terrorist 2. They are the main protagonists in this film, the ones who are causing the obstacle that needs to be overcome. Terrorist 1 is the one who is seen to shoot Jack at the last moment before getting shot himself.

Terrorist 2

Terrorist 2 has mainly the same role and idea as terrorist 1. We decided to use two roles as it is more intimidating facing more than one set of manpower. Terrorist 2 is taken down somewhere amongst the shooting and attacks.

Practicalities of filming/content:

Our idea is based on real life situations that we see all the time happening around the world and it is a serious problem that can cause world terror. Re-creating that fear and the realism of the situation will not exactly be easy but we have to make sure that our camera and verisimilitude of the film appeals to the audience. Since we are using guns as props even though they will not be loaded we will have someone who is trained in handling weapons, on sight at all times. This will be one of our main and biggest health and safety issues. Most of our shooting will be done at one of our team members' houses as they have a farmland type landscape. Unfortunately this means that our travel time will be increased and we will only be able to get our shots on the weekend. All other local film that is needed can be done after school.

Question 2

Thriller inspiration

American Sniper:
This scene is set in a middle eastern area with natural lighting and a lot of diegetic sounds of gunshots and other machinery. The mis en scene of this film has been meticulously planned and adds a lot more depth to the film. The camera work has been done so that in particular shots we are able to see a POV shot of the shooter, as he looks through the glass in order to aim at his target.

Get Out:

There is an eerie silence that is used in order to provoke fear and tension. This helps to escalate the situation when the man is seen to start running towards the character and non-diegetic music is added. By having the lighting dark is a clear convention of a thriller as it emphasises the unknown.

The Ruins:
This a very vivid and unpleasant scene to watch but what they have done really well is the makeup and special effects. They have done it in order to make the flesh and bleeding so life like and realistic. This is a very useful skill to have when creating your film as it immerses the audience.

Break HW task 2

In the extract “Eastenders” we, as the audience, are immediately introduced to a real life problem that one of the characters seems to be having. This has implemented a sense of normality and that this clip may be based on real life events. The camera work has been done so that the shot is showing the character speaking on the right side whilst three middle-aged (older) individuals are watching from behind. The shot slowly blurs out our male character, when he is finished speaking, and focuses on the people in the background. The establishing shot is one of where we are left to interpret for ourselves where our characters may be as it has not been clear what the setting is. From what we are shown we can gather that they are in some sort of pub/bar. This is shown as there are kegs, beer taps and other alcoholic beverages surrounding the characters.

This film’s story/plotline may be based somewhere within Britain e.g. London/England. The thick accents presented by our characters can imply that they are in an old-fashioned bar/pub, one that is usually associated with family and friends for the occasional get-together and or drink. There is a clear age gap between a lot of the characters. We as the audience are shown a range of different characters or various looking ages. They portray this and how the different characters use different words to try and resolve situations. When the pizza boy is introduced, his use of language may imply that he is of the younger generation as he talks more hip and adjar to the English dictionary whereas the elderly characters shown use more of a formal speaking manner. Costumes are a big part of the mis en scene, all characters are fitted in dressy casual clothing with a basic shirt and pants attire. This is then contrasting to the pizza delivery boy who is wearing a uniform that is clearly not well kempt. By having his hat on backwards we can use this as iconography as it may act as a symbol of his age/generation where they are seen as hip/gangster.

A lot of the camera work is two shots where we are seeing two characters in the same frame. This can add to the personal feel of the film as we get a sense of both characters' emotions at the same time. An over the shoulder shot is used when (what we assume is the pub owner/manager) is giving the pizza boy a stern talking to trying to explain that the pizzas are not theirs, he does this by saying, “listen to me son, you can leave out that front door or you can chose a window, it’s entirely up to you”. This provokes a violent response from the adolescent who shows utter disrespect for the people he is talking to. Considering they are of an older generation, states how millennials these days can be seen as arrogant and obtuse to the fact that respect is a key trait that should be shown to the people above us.

Society's view on females compared to males is a clear representation of gender and how it is being shown. Whilst the adolescent male and, what we presume to be the manager/owner, try and use violence in order to resolve the conflict, the female interrupts by saying “there’s been a mistake, yeah, these are not our pizzas”, she slows down the use of her words implying that the young pizza delivery boy is ‘slow’ and is not understanding what is being said. She is using diplomacy and words to de-escalate the situation, showing the caring and nurturing side to a woman compared to a male that resorts to stereotypical brutality.

Continuity editing is used to create smooth transitions between shots and scenes. It helps to keep the storyline in check so that viewers/audience doesn’t get confused with what is happening. A lot of natural lighting is used throughout the extract especially when they go outside to find the pizza boys moped is missing. It relaxes the scene a little bit as if contradicting the emotions of the pizza boy and how he is all worked up and emotional whereas the lighting keeps it a dull and almost neutral scene. As they go outside we can hear the diegetic sounds of cars and other motor vehicles alongside public chatter. A police siren is heard evoking anticipation in the sense of who committed the ‘crime’.

At the end of the extract a little boy has been tricked into committing a felony. This links back to the troubled youth of this day and age and how nothing really matters and the thought of consequences are ignored. The man proceeds to give the kids money and a trinket as a symbol of his gratitude for receiving the scooter. He is clearly unstable, and the plaster alongside excessive bruising on the side of his head is a clear way of showing that he is not in a right mental state. By ending the extract with this mysterious man saying “ good luck son … you’re going to need it”, leaves the audience on the edge of the seat trying to guess what might happen to this man and little boy. It grabs their attention and urges us to continue watching.

Break HW task 1

Task 1

Week 1 HW

The opening scene of homeland, season one, episode one, begins with an aerial shot over the city of Baghdad (we know this because later on in the episode the cities name appears at the bottom of the screen), this is an editing technique so that watchers are not left guessing to try and find out where this plot is taking place. The diegetic sound of the hustle and bustle of a busy city can be heard in the establishing shot, giving a more realistic tone to the audience indicating that this film/extract may be a bit more intense/lifelike. This extract has a key focus on wealth/status as we are clearly shown in the first 40 seconds of the clip how people are having to walk around the streets barefooted with tatty clothing. The buildings and vehicles are used to help set the atmosphere and show how these people/this area may not be one of wealth but instead, poverty. This can link back to the mis en scene of the film as the props/Iconography used is giving an indication of where our character(s) may be.

The race/regional identity is established as different racial individuals are shown. We see what appears to be Iraqi people wandering the streets alongside Arabian/Iraqi women. We can gather this from the costumes, as the men are wearing scarves around their heads, and the women are fully dressed in keffiyehs that cover the entire body. This is a common garment used in these cultures as it may be presented through social media all the news. Contrasting this is a typical white American female who enters the scene not long after we are shown the native people, she clearly stands out as her skin tone and accent differs from the rest. We can see that there is an attempt to respect the culture around her as she has wrapped a scarf around her head whilst also wearing a nearly full length coat with long pants so that most of the skin/body is being covered.

A stereotypical hierarchy is introduced early on in the extract, an African-American male who is seen to be wearing an expensive attire is on the phone to our white American female, she is looking for approval whilst he is denying that, clearly exercising his power and authority over her. It is a classic case of a damsel not so much in distress but a damsel who is looking for help where in this instance our male role is clearly not willing or is not in the position to give her support. This scene is abiding to the gender specific leverage that a male has over a female, he is shown to be placid yet content with his role in society where she has come across as desperate and in need clearly shown where he is about to hang up the call and she begs him not to, signifying the importance of her problem. With her being associated with a man in such a formal/high place this can also dictate how our female character does not belong in the poverty landscape that is being shown correlating with how, now more than ever, she does not belong there/is out of place.

Shaky and hand held camera movements/shots are used throughout the entire extract representing how Baghdad may be an unsafe country. This can also be linked to our supposed lead female role, in how she seems emotionally distressed at this point in time. The camera movements may be a representation of the anxiety she is now feeling and the fluctuating movements in her emotional stability. Continuity editing is used throughout the whole extract, a clear example is when our female character is on the phone to the African-American male cutting between scenes/camera shots, where she seems to be in a rushed environment whereas our male character is more focused on the event that seems to be occurring behind him.

What seems to be natural lighting is basically used throughout the entire clip. It is adding more depth and anticipation to the scene as it abides with the conventions of a thriller/mystery film. By having a yellow-ish tinge to the atmosphere, the colour makes the whole film seem more dreary and lucid. The whole way through only diegetic sound is used. We can hear the locals speaking in their language especially when the prison guards are yelling at our female character. The intensity is heightened because not only are we unaware of what they are saying but we can tell due to the passive aggressive tone in their voices that our female character may be in some sort of trouble.