Chase Scene

     1. How do filmmakers use Camera Angles to enhance their work?

Film makers use these number of angles to enhance their work by making their project appear far more interesting. If they were to keep in the same frame the majority or all of the film it would be surely be dull. Camera angles allow filmmakers to mix it up so as to make for better visuals. Along with this, different angles allow for new perspectives and this tends to enhance the storyline.

2. What is the effect camera movements have on the viewer?

The camera movements effect the viewer in that it keeps them interested by keeping them involved in the action. This is especially helpful because it helps to avoid keeping the frame of a clip in one spot (or simply stationary in general) for the entirety of the project. It helps show the perspective of other characters present within the film (namely when using a point of view shot) & establish different locations.

Successes: Our successes would be continuing to work even when the majority of the cast was not present. This allowed us to think outside of the box in order to be able to continue to work. We got quite creative with our costumes as well, which made for a more interesting antagonist. I think our different settings were a success, because they allowed for the use of principles of design. The best use of camera movements was the tracking shot because it emphasized the urgency when the antagonist was moving to find his victims. Most of the movements help to convey a certain emotion & that makes the scenes all the more important. Lastly, the use of the group pop in and pop out scenes made the film a bit more interesting and entertaining. I personally believe those are our best shots.

Recommendations: Some recommendations for next time are being better with consistency. The staple pieces of the costumes were present each time, but changes in hair and pants might make it seem a little off. We could have done a bit better with our pop in and pop out shot because some of them were simply popping out & the popping in portion was not seen. The canting shot was also a bit shaky, but because it was supposed to be through the perspective of the mirror Daphne dropped, I think this may be forgivable. 

Independent Study: Slumdog Millionaire Background Notes

Big Sad Kyle.

 Making this film was most certainly a learning experience. This is the second film I have made that incorporates everything learned within a film one class and is avant garde, so it was interesting to see how much I remembered. The film making process with this group went well because each of us contributed many ideas in regards to plot and the meaning behind the events that occur.

During the creative process of "Big Sad  Kyle," I most enjoyed the scripting portion. We each contributed ideas for our storyboard and plot, but when it came to scripting there was a lot of creative liberty.  This allowed me to develop the characters we created and get a better grasp of the story. In addition to this, the filming process was quite quick which allowed it to go smoothly. Even so, if I were to do this film again I would try to incorporate a few more principles of design.

Independent Study

The 2013 film Oblivion was created by Joseph Kosinski. This movie features Tom Cruise and Olga  Kurylenko as it's main talents, for they play the roles of characters Jack and  Julia. In the chase scene provided, the clip accurately represents what sort of lives the characters lead. Much of the movie is fast paced and action-oriented, so this scene encompasses this due to the fear shown by the actors and the clear idea that they are on the run. At the end of the clip it is shown that they successfully escape the drones pursing them, but even so where they land is bound to cause them more conflict. This is conveyed by how shaky the clips are throughout the chase. Choosing such a type of camera movements was surely an intentional choice made by filmmakers because the shakiness not only accentuates how quickly the bubble ship is moving, but how urgent the need for the two main characters to escape is.

To continue, the lighting within the clip (and the entirety of the film) is quite bright, especially due to the radiant lights on both the ship and the drones. The majority of the movie has the characters in colors such as off-white and grey which contributes to the bright hues. Not only this, but most of the colors of the settings are harsh, clean whites which tends to serve as contrasts to the clothes characters are seen wearing. In addition to this, lots of reaction shots are utilized in this chase scene. This draws the viewer in, especially with the sound effects of guns and the high action music playing in the background to accompany the reaction shots.

Furthermore, the locations that Jack and Julia are seen traveling through appear to be quite dangerous (mountains, destroyed cities, etc), which only intensifies the amount of trouble they are facing. Many of the places in which the ship they are in faces obstacles is when they are in between tight spots, which allows the drones to catch up. Due to the setting, the ship and the machines chasing the pair, these all suggest Oblivion is of the science fiction genre. Their clothes are also a good indicator (namely Jack's) considering they appear to be futuristic in style. This movie seems to be intended for those interested in said genre, but also movie goers who like action. The scene itself is only one depiction of the many action (and chase scenes) prevalent within the film.

How do filmmakers create meaning for the viewer?

1. How do we know if this film will meet our expectations?

• We will know if this film will meet our expectations by watching the trailer and looking into those involved with producing the film. The genre and the cast alone can give one a general idea as to what they will be seeing. Short summaries of movies are also available, which will make it known what sort of plot the film will feature. Even so, at times it may be difficult to know whether the film will be up to par with our expectations, as twists and turns in films are bound to take place that may throw the viewer off.

3. What meaning are you getting from the clip?

• What I am able to pick up from this clip is that the two main characters, Hazel and Augustus, are traveling together for the first time. While Hazel has flown before, Augustus has not. Even so, the meaning behind this is that they are experiencing something new for the first time that will ultimately bring them closer. The pair are flying (both literally and metaphorically), which allows them to forget about the issues that both of them share. This flight mirrors their lives in that they are both taking off and are free (for the duration of the airplane ride, that is). 

4. How is that meaning created?

• The meaning of the scene is both created and accentuated through the use of specific camera angles that are present in various shots. For example, when Hazel and Gus hold hands the camera focuses solely on this act, suggesting a union between the teens. The use of reaction shots are also extremely present once the plane takes off, conveying through facial expressions alone how important and exciting this experience is for Augustus. Hazel's response to his reactions also shows how fond she is of him. This makes it quite clear that this experience holds meaning for both of them and will help build upon their relationship.

Voyeurism Film.

In terms of film, EQ is used to level out or equalize the sound heard in the film. Db is decibels, which are used to figure out at what number/level the sound is to be set. In this film, we were successful in communicating & working together to create our project. We were able to choose locations quickly with little to no trouble & use the time given as efficiently as possible. Next time, I hope that we better plan how we are going to use the different microphones and try to stick more to our storyboard.

30 Second Clips.

With this first 30 second clip, I used the pop/groovy-esque music for a more upbeat and happy effect.

The music I used in this film was supposed to make those watching it feel as if it is creepy, or possibly a suspenseful chase scene.

This clip features calm/upbeat music, which was used to make the viewer feel at ease.

Rear Window Analysis.

Sound Effects:

The sound effects I heard were:

• The ring of an alarm clock.
• A car honking in the distance.
• Perhaps a train?
• The coo of pigeons. 
• The voices of children.
• A truck driving by & the on & off sound of the engine.

Hitchcock is has managed to tell the story solely through his use of panning by giving the audience a look into the daily lives of those who surround Jeff. It shows that while the main character is being faced with boredom & a rather unfortunate situation, the world around him does not cease to go on. Being given a brief look into the lives of Jeff's neighbors piques the curiosity of the viewer, strategically placing them in the shoes of the leading male. We are stuck in the position that Jeff is throughout the majority (if not all) of the movie, while others do a majority of activities in their home that may make on feel sorrow, remorse, happiness, or suspicion -- just as he feels. Of course, we are not shown Lars & his wife in this clip, but that allows for the viewer to be attentive to the neighbors and their lives.

Other Analysis:

I found the analysis above quite enjoyable due to the creator touching on the fact that we never witness the murder. This is the result of being confined in the apartment, the rear window being the only source from which we are given to survey the neighbors. Throughout the film, we are expected to either believe or not believe Jeff, and develop our own theories as new information pertaining to the (what we now know as the definite murder) of Lars' wife. This analysis explains this clearly, putting into words what feelings one may experience throughout the film.

My Analysis:

The movie Rear Window touches on a number of topics, voyeurism being one of the main topics. This condition allows for the witnessing of the many activities of his neighbors by Jeff, allowing him to catch onto the many situations his neighbors are facing. This truly shows that due to his career as a journalist, he used to following stories & living a relatively exciting life. Now that he has broken his leg & is confined to a wheel chair, he must find something else to occupy his time with. While this is so, he does see his nurse, Stella, and girlfriend, Lisa, every so often. He manages to get the two involved in his current situation despite them not being stuck in a wheelchair as he is.  

Avant Garde Film Reflection.

                

1. What is resolution?

Resolution is the degree of detail in a photographic or television image.

2. What is aspect ratio?

Aspect ratio is the ratio of the width to the height of an image or screen.

There were a number of parts of both the filming and editing process that went right whilst making this film. Although the individual character scenes were filmed rather quickly, each of them turned out nice. While each of them were unique, it still fit perfectly for the somewhat eery scenes our film was to convey. Depending upon editing, one could truly take the event's of the film however they choose -- especially when keeping in mind music. When editing, it was rather easy to add effects without overdoing it. Most everything fit perfectly, although some moments are bound to leave those watching the film confused -- as each of our group members hoped it would. 

If I were to do this project again, I would attempt to make sure everyone will be attending class on the days we will be filming. Said point is something I would anytime I am filming a project, although it was far more of a problem for this film than previous projects. Not having all of our clips made it a bit difficult to edit, giving us less time than we had originally planned for to -- hopefully -- perfect our projects. Despite the movie making process being slightly stunted, everything else went as planned and made for a creative and interesting movie project.