Bloopers

Evaluation

As part of our preperation for our creative piece of coursework, we had to work in groups to recreate a scene from The Maltese Falcon. Our main aim as a group was to use the techniques we have learned about whilst making our film, including things such as lighting, Mise-en-scene, performance and cinematopgraphy.
We worked together as a group, which had benefits, but also showed that working in a group is quite difficult also. All four of us took part in the acting and performance part, aiding and helping each other as we progressed. Stevi and myself focused on the camera work and filming, which worked well because there were two other people who were performing whilst we took turns in using the camera. Using the camera was extremely helpful, as it gave me an insight as to what they are like, and has shown me that they are not as difficult to use as I had originally thought they would be.
Before our shooting of the film began, we went through the post-production process, which involved much planning and co-orperation from the full group. Stevi made some story boards, which came in very useful as we were able to look at them, and understand which scene to film and how the camera needed to be angled.  We also chose which locations we were going to use, although when it came to actually filming, the locations were one of our main issues.
After we had planned everything, we began the prodution process. This involved us bringing in costumes, which made the film look much more realistic as the actors created the image of the character in the film. We had some trouble sorting the lighting out whilst we were filming, mainly due to the fact that we had to keep changing our location as rooms were being used. The problem here was that some rooms had sunglight coming from one side, and other rooms had the sun completely blocked out, which meant that we had to keep opening and closing blinds, and dimming the lights at certain parts, which unfortunately can be seen when the film is viewed.
Because we had such a short time period for making the film, we felt as a group that we were pushed to try and get it all completed, and that it wasn't going as well as we thought it would have. Another problem which we had was finding props which matched or were as close match of the props used in the actual film. We eneded up using extra time during our lunch period in order to get more filming done.
Some members of the group also had problems with learning the script in such a short space of time, which lead to many mistakes in the longer pieces of speech throughout the sequence. Our solution to this problem was to have someone hold the script up when the front of their body was not in shot, so that the person who was speaking could glance at it briefly. This seemed to help quite a bit, and helped the process move quicker.

Overall, I think that our remake of The Maltese Falcon went quite well, in terms of working together as a group on something which was quite difficult. However, a downside to our remake is that it was shorter in length than it should have been, and some parts of the sequence were missing. This is something which I will need to work on when it comes to making my own film.
What I have learnt from this task is that the pre-production stage is both helpful and extremely vital. Much planning is needed for a project like this, in order to give yourself time to complete the project.  I have also learned that costume is important, as it helps the audience to define which character is which and can also help to tell the audience a characters story. I have also realised how important lighting is, and that hard work is need to get it right.
If I was to remake the film again, I would definitely make sure that I worked on the lighting more efficiently, and kept double checking that rooms are available. I would also work more outside of lesson time, and make sure that all of the group were there everyday so that we could do something everyday.

Finished re-make of film

Maltese Falcon remake

Cast:
Yasmin Burhan- (cast and editing)
Lucy Cullingworth (cast and editing)
Stevie-Lee Ingham ( cast and camerawork)
Chantelle Norman-Golding ( cast and camera work)

Locations:
Oak 35
Oak 36
Media/film Office

Props:
Cigarettes
Desks
chairs

Clothing:
Suit jacket
coat ( with fur)

Making our group film

Filming Schedule:
Monday 8th October - 5th Period (beginning scenes)
Tuesday 9th October - Lunch time  (main scenes with Miss Wonderly and Spade)
Wednesday 10th October - 3rd Period   (continued from the day before) 
Thursday 11th October - 1st Period (final scenes)
Friday 12th October - 3rd Period  (final scenes


Editing:
Monday 15th October-Editing ( Lucy and Yasmin)

Locations for my short film

For my short film, I will be shooting in various locations, which will help to tell the story and form the narrative. The locatons I have chosen are relevant as they relate to certain aspects of the protagonists life, and will also enable the spectator to understand how things have dramatically changed due to the events and circumstances which have taken place.
The locations which will be used at the beginning of the film will help to show the audience what the protagonists life was like before she became pregnant, and this will further emphasise how she has 'grown-up' in a sense and is no longer seen as a troublesome teenager, but is viewed as a young adult, who has matured.

Locations:

• A field- (Wyke's field)
• A bathroom
• A bedroom
• Street/Drive way
• Possibly some areas of college

                 

• The field which will be used in the film will be used to show the protagonist before the dramatic changes take place. This is where she will be seen with her friends drinking, and partying, which is how she would usually spend her nights. Because the field is a wide, open space, it connotes freedom, which is why I have chosen to shoot some of the film here, because before the protagonist became pregnant, she used to do her own thing; she essentially had the freedom to do what she liked, but now that she has a baby, she is tied between doing things for her baby, looking after it, and she no longer has the freedom to go drinking on a field with her friends.
• The bathroom will be used for a short period of time, as the place which will 'reveal' her secret in one of the flashbacks. Whilst in the bathroom, Naomi will find out that she is pregnant, and I decided that this would be the best place to shoot this scene, as it is realistic and believable, therefore the audience will engage with the character and the narrative more.
• The bedroom will be the main location in the film, as it is where most of the action takes place.  The protagonist spends a lot of time with the baby in the bedroom, which is another way of showing that she has matured. The bedroom is also a smaller location compared to the film, whcih will create the image that the character is somewhat 'trapped' in this place; the environment which is safe for her baby, and is somewhere where she is no longer free to do what she wants to do because she has to do everything for her child. I think that the bedroom will enable the audience to understand the situation which Naomi finds herself in, by the use of this location, and the props which will be used within this location (such as teddy bears, toys etc-all items aimed at babies) due to the fact that it is completely different to the field which she will have been seen on in an earlier flashback; not only in the sense of her loss of freedom, but in her maturing over time, deciding to stay in and be with her child all of the time, confined in a smaller space, just to be close to the most precious things in her life.
• The street will be used in scenes where the protagonist is walking with the baby, pushing the pram along. This will show that when she isn't inside, looking fater her baby; she is taking her baby with her to places, doing sensible things, therefore accepting the challenge of looking after a baby.
• The driveway will only be used for a very short period of time, and this will be when the protagonist is going back home after going out for the day with her baby.
• I may be using some outside areas of wyke in a scene after the protagonist has found out that she is pregnant, and she is very quiet and seems quite shy when she is college, leading one of her bestfriends to become quite suspicious. I think that this will be more realistic, as it allows to audience to see how she has been affected and how she is trying to cope with it in her everyday life (College being the place where she is seen by most people).

Juno

Juno (2007) US
Director: Jason Reitman

Juno is a film about a young girl, who finds herself pregnant after her best friend Bleeker and her have sex in a chair. Juno is only sixteen when this happens, and decides that she doesn't want to have the baby at all. Whilst she is in an abortion clinic, Juno decides that she doesn't want to abort the baby, instead she would rather go ahead with the pregnancy, have the baby and then give it up for adoption. She carries on going to school to carry her education on, and tells her father and step-mother that she wants to give the baby up for adoption. Juno chooses a couple who are looking to adopt a baby-Mark and Vanessa. Everything seems to be going well, and all according to plan, however, one day, Mark tells Vanessa that he's not ready to be a father and leaves her. After everything that has happened, Vanessa thinks that Juno won't allow the adoption to go forward, however, Juno leaves her a note saying 'If you're still in, I'm still in'.
Juno later goes in to labour, giving birth to a boy, whom Vanessa takes home with her. Juno realises that she loves Beeker, and they end up together.


I chose to use Juno as an example of what my film will be about, due to the fact that the main theme of the film, is the same as my short film. Teenage pregnancy is clearly the main theme throughout the film, and the audience see the main character cope with the changes this has made to their lives.
I am using similar themes and ideas for my film, however, I am altering them slightly through the use of mise-en-scene and cinematography. Juno doesn't use flashbacks, however, I am going to use them in my film, as my way of showing the audience how the main characters life has changed since she became pregnant.

 

Throughout the film, Juno is seen wearing typical clothing that a teenage girl wears in order to make the story more realistic. Juno is often seen wearing simple clothing like jeans, or hoodies and jackets, nothing too fancy or unbelievable. This helps to show that she is just a typical teenager, no different to everybody else. The fact that her clothing stays the same, shows that she isn't a girl who tries to fit in, and that she accepts that having a baby will make her fit in less thanh she already does.

A lot of low angled shots have been used, especially when they are focused on things such as Juno holding the pregnancy test, or when Juno holds her baby. These low angled shots show what is the most important thing going on at that time. For example, the low angled shot of Juno holding the pregnancy test in her hand is effective as the audience know that this is a really big moment in her life and that she has to make a life changing decision. This connects the character to the audience.