Using Celtx

The Wrong Day

We were given the short script for 'the wrong day' We were then asked to write a shot list as if we were actually going to film this. This shows us which order we should shoot the film.
For example if throughout the film it is scripted that the same location is used on different occasions, it is best to film all those scenes together, this is much more logical than going back and forward in the order of the film.




We used Celtex to storyboard 'the wrong day'. We wrote the shots, included a birds eye view sketch of the shot, including camera angles etc. We then took quick photos to illustrate what we want the camera to actually see.

This would be really useful when filming as it would minimise the amount of instructions you would have to shell out, making the filming quicker.

Making a cup of tea

After story boarding for this short film, I made an instructional storyboard for making a cup of tea. I think I learnt alot by breaking down each scene and thinking where the camera should be etc, it helped me to really think about each of my shots in detail and how they should be laid out. This will help me later on when we make our own film.










'Bullitt'



We watched a scene from the film 'BULLITT'. It was the car scene in which Bullitt ( Steve McQueen) was in a car chase with two baddies.
In our groups we were asked to take a screen grab of each new camera angle/shot, and then write the camera shots i.e Close up/ Wide shot, and then to give a brief description of what happened in the shot.

This really helped to break a film scene down, and made me notice certain things alot more, I saw how often shots changed, as when you are watching a film as you are involved you dont seem to notice. Also it helped me take into account how nothing is a 'mistake' and all the shots are positioned that way for a reason, and there is always mise en scene and cinematography behind each of the shots. For example there was a low angle close up on the face of the baddie, the baddie was wearing black signifying evil, and the low angle creates power and fear toward the baddie, on the other hand Bullitt, (the good guy) the camera is angled at eye level making it easier for the audience to relate to him, you can also see his whole face, rather than the shadowed baddie, this makes the audience feel as if they know him more.

MINUETS THE FIRST OF MANY TO COME

TEAM TOPCAT
PRESENT:
Patrick
Rachel
Myself (moi)(Chloe)


In this first group meeting , we went deeper into what we wanted to achieve from this featurette. We want to follow more of a story. For example leading up to a gig.



We have chosen to use Patrick's friends for the band. They are called 'Escape to sea'. They are from Brighton.

We have decided that we want to include presenters to help along the featurette, they will be informal though and interview the band.

We would like to include shots of brighton in the 5-7 minuets, giving the effect of a road trip.Also a montage/stop frame animation would be used, with maybe one of their tracks on top.

We are meeting up on Monday to finalise our ideas and make a pitch for tuesday, where we will pitch our idea to 'paintworks'.

BOWLING

I decided to take some photos of a bowling alley near me: Charington Bowl. I found the location although bright and fun, also had a sense of tackiness and dispiritedness.





I don't think these photos are very professional, I think I could have shot with better angles and had more of a focal point in some of the photos, but some I also added for comic value, or to show the particular atmosphere.

In the first photo, I like how the shoes in front are in focus and the others in the background are slightly blurred. From seeing this photo you immediately know it is about bowling, even without seeing any of the alleys or bowling balls, because the shoes are so distinctively specific to bowling.

In the Second photo I like how the bowling pins are right in the centre of the frame, drawing us to the main aspect of the game. I think the photo would have looked better if I had photographed the bowler was more to the left, but I do think the photo is more interesting with him in it.

I like how in photo three there is a distinct contrast between the sparse floor and lanes, to the busy seating area. I like the use of lines in this photo,but if I were to do this photo again, I would like to make the bar on the ceiling more central , making both sides of the photo equal sizes.

The sixth photo I took was purely for comic value,he wasn't the most suave man I had seen,in fact he seemed quite awkward and clumsy and his t-shirt stating "read this whilst I check out your tits" just added to this comic image of a character.

In photos eight and nine I took a picture of the small arcade, there was only a few people in here, yet all lights were blazing and there was loud gaming music blasting from all the machines simultaneously. I love the array of clashing colours in these images.

The atmosphere in photos ten and eleven was very lonely and bleak. These were areas which seemed as though they should be filled with conversing families and friends, but instead they were sparse and abandoned.

BBC BATH UNI

I requested to be a volunteer at the 'BBC West Sports Personality'. This was situated in the sports department in Bath University. I was given the role of 'Arena team' in which we were to usher spectators through the venue, and we were also expected to operate the ticket desk.

I found the experience insightful, as once we had shown everyone to their seats etc, we were asked to stand by the side lines, here I got to experience the backstage. I saw all the technical aspects of the show. And it was interesting seeing all the production team telling the presenters to go on, also seeing the presenters practicing their lines behind stage, it was funny to see them being so different when they were off camera, to when they were on. I also sneaked over and touched one of the awards, just to say I had ! whayyyy!

If the chance comes along again, I think I would take it up as not only is it a good experience, but I also had a feel for what working in that type of area would be like, and I had a fun night in which i met lots of people.

To see a round up of the whoole show click here.

My six atmospheric photos

Given the task to take these 6 photos I knew just the place which would be photogenic and would be atmospheric as well.
I went to Buddahhapadipa in Wimbledon.

When I arrived it was just getting dark and had been snowing,snow was also still failing, this really added to the temple and grounds looking mysterious.The whole of the grounds were empty and extremely quiet. The lakes were frozen and it felt very serene

I used a Nikon D3000 Digital camera SLR, I found this camera really nice to use, but as it was getting dark it was finding it hard to focus. Although I then played with the shutter speeds and made some of my photos slightly blurred to give them a more eerie effect.

I liked the colours that have stood out from the photos. For example photo number 3 has a predominant wash of purple over it, I like this effect. Also picture number 2 looks as though it has been shot in sepia, but this was just the warm lighting from inside the temple shining through. I really like the effect I created in photo 4 in which I have slightly shaken the camera and it appears that there is a ghost there, I think this looks particularly atmospheric.

The first photo I have taken, I feel, looks as if it were in a fairy tale or magical land. As it had been snowing all the grounds, as well as the sky, were the same colour as the temple.The golds and oranges really stand out, giving a richness to this photo. Photo number 5 really reminds me of a Japanese painting. I like how there is a natural gradient, from the white snow turning yellow, to orange finishing in a deep red at the top of the photograph. The silhouette of the tree looks very lonely and ghostlike. I used the flash , I hadn't in the others, but I think the lit up leaves in the top right hand corner help to bring another aspect to the photo and giving it more depth s you can see the fore and background.

The last photo in this set I think looks very grand and important. I like how the lighting on the top right has created a shadow. Also I have taken this photo from a slightly lower angle, this creates a feeling of importance and as the door is in the centre of the image it feels as though you are being drawn inside.

Although I am pleased with the outcome of the photos, I think that they do not look like they go together as a 'set'. They have different feels to them , for instance the strong crisp staircase has a very different style to the purple ghostly house.

Also if I were to take these photos again I think I would have spent the whole day there to get photos in all different types of light.