Childrens Film

Setting and filming schedule

Because we have chosen lego people as our stop frame animation characters, we shall also create the set out of Lego pieces. The film is set in a playground of a school, as the location relates to the theme of bullying.

Day 1 - First half of filming complete (Hopefully)
Day 2 - Second half of filming complete (Hopefully)
Day 3 - Any last minute filming if behind schedule, and then final editing.

Inspector Gadget opening credits

The opening credits introduce the themes in the movie by using images of gadgets with credits around them. The credits are not standard, they fly around the screen, spin around, zoom in and out. This attracts a children's audience as it is more interesting than standardized credits. The opening sequence is also very colorful, which also attracts a younger audience. The music that goes with the credits is catchy, it also has a lot of technical sounds and mechanical noises which relates to the theme of gadgets. The music is non diegetic, but the sounds are diegetic. Eg. when the screws fly into place in the credit sequence, you can hear the sound. However the music source is unknown. The credits have no set location, just a black background with an animated gadget hand creating everything that is seen.

Research video 1

This video is very like what we want to achieve in our children's film opening, conveying a positive anti bullying message, whilst also at the same time making it relevant to children's film, attractive to children and easy to relate to by children. We will use camera techniques very similar to in this movie and we will also have a narrator to make it easier to understand whats going on.

Ideas for story.

We are going to make a an opening sequence for a children. We will be conveying a message against bullying and will be for educational purposes and also be a PG rating. We chose the subject bullying as we feel it is a very real issue for children of today and chose the PG obviously so children can see it We will be playing all of the parts in the sequence and filming and editing. We are going to use stop motion with Lego characters because it's easier for a young audience to relate to and makes it more attractive to children.

Charlie & Adam - Actors
Ruby - Camera work

Practise Story Boards

Charlie - Camera movements, Ruby - Sounds, Adam - Mise-en-scene

The opening sequence of A Bugs Life starts by setting the scene with a reflection of the sun glimmering in the water, then rises up into a establishing shot giving us a full colorful view of the surroundings. This gives us an idea that it is going to appeal to a younger audience. As the soundtrack plays it is an upbeat tune and seems cheerful, this reinforces that it is aimed at children. As the credits appear, followed by the title in which the text 'A Bugs Life' is in A BUGGY TEXT

Preliminary Evaluation- Ryan

We carried out our preliminary task to get a feel for the equipment, software, and to have a hands on look at what did and didn't work whilst filming.

To complete the task we had to use a range of shots. We used close up, medium and long shots, with some tracking and panning, also including some high angle and over the shoulder shots for conversation. Carrying out this task gave us the opportunity to learn what we had to do to create our coursework to a high standard. We immediately learn that acting out the scene is not as easy as you'd think, with laughing being a major issue. Therefore you have to carry out simples scene many times to get them right. We then found keeping the camera still when trying to achieve angles or panning isn't easy- if the camera i wobbling, it looks very poorly made. Again, having to carry out scenes over and over. Another area we learned how to improve is that of conversation. Whilst filming a shot reverse shot scene, if you keep stopping and starting the camera, the scene comes out very scripted. To overcome this, its easier to record the whole conversation twice, but from different angles, making sure you imply the 180 degree rule. Doing this makes the conversation come out in a smooth and fluent way.

In our scene, we had to include a character walked through a door using match on action. This is where for example, you see someone opening the door, but then see them entering from the other side. You again do this by recording the whole movement twice. When edited together, this creates a fluent motion, that looks very believable and realistic. Carrying out this task has allowed us to experience out own difficulties and learn how to do them. However its also helped us bond as a group, allowing us to complete future tasks quickly, but to a high standard. Also, the more experience we gain on the editing software and garage band the better, and all of this will only benefit out future projects.

Prelimary Task - Ruby's evaluation :)

The continuity task shows our undertanding of creating a film using various camera shots, equitment and to develop our editing skills.

Once we had chosen a location to film, we followed our story board. We had to decide where to set up the tripod to get the right angles. When filming you have to think quickly and learn to improvise when something may not be going according to plan. During our conversation scene we came across the 180 degree rule. If you film a scene once and keep stopping and starting, skipping from side to side it may come across scripted and the conversation is not fluent. To overcome this problem we filmed the same scene twice using over the shoulder shot.

When watching a scene you dont realise how filming that certain scene goes about. For example; match on action shot, shows someone opening a door from one side however then switches to the opposite side of the door where you are able to see that person walk through. When we filmed from a birds eye view we had difficultly transporting the tripod from place to place so we tried the camera being handheld. Although this didnt't work out as when viewing the footage back, the shot was shakey. We resolved this problem from changing the angle we shot from. The shots appear easy but became time consuming.

When our footage was uploaded to the computer, we used Final Cut Express to edit what we had. Although it was a struggle at first trying to work the software and organising our film. I learnt how to cut out the bits I want, and shorten them to cut out background noise, such as the door closing. I now know how to properly use and edit final cut and create an appropriate soundtrack using garage band.

In conclution working through the difficulties we came across gave us the opertunity to be a team and work together, exploring each others ideas. Even though we had to carry out some scenes a few times to get it how we wanted, in the final footage you can see the difference it made. We got taught about match on action and the 180 degree rule in class and in the prelimary task we got to put our knowlodge into action. I'm glad i have learnt all the little details which didnt cross my mind before, such as the impervising during filming and a better undertanding of using the software. I believe doing this task and creating this short film definatly has prepared me for whats next and will over all make future tasks easier.

Preliminery Task

Evaluation - chiz

In this task i have learned to film effectively using appropriate camera angles and equipment. Also this task has helped me and the rest of the group how to work as a team and to get things done quickly and effectively.
In our piece we used over the shoulder shots. Over the shoulder shots are shots which are shot over the characters shoulder so that in the frame we can see the person talking over the receiving persons shoulder. Also we used high angle shots. High angle shots are shots shot from a higher angle, sometimes this is used to make the character look less powerful. Another type of shot we used were medium shots. Medium shots are normal shots shot from a standard distance, often used to show a character performing a certain action. We used close ups to show a characters face up close, this is often used for reaction shots. However in our film we used a technique in which you zoom in from a high angle shot to a close up. Another technique in filming which we included in our film are canted angles, canted angles are where the frame is tilted to one side slightly, giving a confused effect. We used Low angle shot's, which are shots filmed from a lower angle, often used to make a character look more powerful. We used the 180 degree rule whilst filming our conversation shots to make sure that when we put the film we shot onto the computer it was not backwards. We also used Match on action. Match on action is where, for example, a character is walking towards a door and reaches for the door handle, we see this from behind the character. Then the shot is stopped and the camera moved to the other side of the door and then shot through the window, they then open the door. Match on action is used to give a fluent effect and link the characters to the location. The 180 degree rule is an imaginary line which the cameras can not cross. It is a key technique used in film making.
The preliminary task has prepared me in the way that i now know the basics of and filming. In future tasks i will work more effectively and more efficiently. I also know how to properly use and edit final cut, i also know how to make an appropriate soundtrack using garage band. This will make future tasks easier.

Storyboard

This is our storyboard. It's the written version of the sequence our preliminary task will follow. It shows the shot type, the location, and we can use this as a guide while filming.

Group: Charlie, Ryan, Ruby and Chloe

Roles:
Ryan & Chloe- Camera Work
Ruby & Charlie- Actors

Preliminary Exercise- Continuity Task

This task is going to demonstrate match on action, shot reverse shot, the 180 degree rule and general camera skills.

It gives the students the opportunity to work with and get a feel for the equipment.