Thursday, 29 March 2012
Wednesday, 28 March 2012
Tuesday, 27 March 2012
Final Film Review
Open publication - Free publishing - More a2 media
Here is the review:
his is a short film which is by debutant director Matt Finch. It is a very good try at making a short film, which conventionally has a linear storyline with a small twist at the end.The short film follows a fantasist and his fantasy, until we find he is actually re-enacting the story in his own house.
The story line really does work for the
audience posing a number of questions then answering them promptly at various points in the film. This film is crazy and
genius rolled together with comedic
elements.
As a debutant, his work could have made use of more technology, using some
special effects when the characters are killed. Otherwise the story really is funny and has a different feel to it. The
parallels can be seen throughout, with two very obvious things which can be seen. As short films go, the film ‘Save the World’ has used a number of the conventions, of a short film and really do play a part in
bringing the audience into the film.
It could be said that, the short film has taken some ideas from the many films which have been made in the past years, but they could easily counted as adapted to the storyline. The story has a strong main character , with both versions of him being seen different ways.
The storyline is very simple using parallels throughout, some of them add an element of humour to the film with the banana/gun and punching of the teddy bear.
The soundtrack used in the film is very good for both parts. With the song at the end thats fits the title of the film and with a small part of the lyrics giving the audience an understanding of the story. The build up of tension in the middle of the film, is good for the understanding of the film. Having the strong bold sound used, and how it has been cut at the point where the visuals have come to a head. Even though the music works really well over the top of the film, but the sound effects and the real sounds can be at time a bit over done with sounds which overpower the dialogue at times
Overall I think a very good start with a strong storyline. The film could have more useof technology as this is what films are about in this era. The hero was very cool, compelling and believeable.
Verdict
Save the World has a bold storyline which can easily be read, but some improvement from this debutant director.
Here is the review:
his is a short film which is by debutant director Matt Finch. It is a very good try at making a short film, which conventionally has a linear storyline with a small twist at the end.The short film follows a fantasist and his fantasy, until we find he is actually re-enacting the story in his own house.
The story line really does work for the
audience posing a number of questions then answering them promptly at various points in the film. This film is crazy and
genius rolled together with comedic
elements.
As a debutant, his work could have made use of more technology, using some
special effects when the characters are killed. Otherwise the story really is funny and has a different feel to it. The
parallels can be seen throughout, with two very obvious things which can be seen. As short films go, the film ‘Save the World’ has used a number of the conventions, of a short film and really do play a part in
bringing the audience into the film.
It could be said that, the short film has taken some ideas from the many films which have been made in the past years, but they could easily counted as adapted to the storyline. The story has a strong main character , with both versions of him being seen different ways.
The storyline is very simple using parallels throughout, some of them add an element of humour to the film with the banana/gun and punching of the teddy bear.
The soundtrack used in the film is very good for both parts. With the song at the end thats fits the title of the film and with a small part of the lyrics giving the audience an understanding of the story. The build up of tension in the middle of the film, is good for the understanding of the film. Having the strong bold sound used, and how it has been cut at the point where the visuals have come to a head. Even though the music works really well over the top of the film, but the sound effects and the real sounds can be at time a bit over done with sounds which overpower the dialogue at times
Overall I think a very good start with a strong storyline. The film could have more useof technology as this is what films are about in this era. The hero was very cool, compelling and believeable.
Verdict
Save the World has a bold storyline which can easily be read, but some improvement from this debutant director.
Monday, 26 March 2012
Friday, 23 March 2012
Film review first draft
This is the first draft of the review and this didn't go as planned so I have been able to change the review itself to fit in with the story and what the film is about.
Also I from make this design i have been able to change the layout slightly from looking at the review I researched and found that many of them had other parts to them.
Planning: Initial Poster Designs
These are the two designs which I made for the poster of the short film.
using both designs which i had planned to use I have been able to recreate them in reality and then i was able to get some feedback for the film poster.
I placed the two posters on Facebook and asked people to say which design they like the best and here are the results.
Design one was the biggest choice in the survey on facebook with 15 people saying that they liked it because of the links with the short film.
Tuesday, 20 March 2012
Tuesday, 13 March 2012
Planning: Film review design
Here i have done a layout design for the Film Review this is a conventional layout for the film reviews which are used in magazines such as Empire and Total film.
I have made a computer version of the design above this has been done to visualise how the review would be laid out on the page.
Monday, 12 March 2012
Planning: Poster design
Having looked at short film posters I have been able to see how the films are marketed and one of the biggest parts of the making a film successful is the use of a poster.
Here i have designed two posters which could be used for the promotion of my short film.
Here i have designed two posters which could be used for the promotion of my short film.
The first design is of the main character of the film in the centre of the picture and the idea of the character being split between two sets of clothing, I have chosen to use this image because I feel it will give the audience something to ask when seeing the poster before the film comes out. The poster gives them an incite into the film itself and what may happen in the film.
The second design is of the main character and the reflection in the sunglasses of the character. The character is in the centre of the poster and this is because he the centre of the short film. I have thought about how the character can be seen on the two lights which he is in the film.
Saturday, 10 March 2012
Planning: Music
This is the music which I will be using for the action sequence involving the main character. the tension which is built in the soundtrack allows the film to have tension which is from a number of different dimensions.
This is a cover of Swedish House Mafia's song "Save the world" it is one I found which I set out to fit to the mood of the end sequence of the film. The lyrics to the song where the original starting point to the creating of the film itself.
Friday, 9 March 2012
Planning: Locations and Mis-en-scene.
Locations:
The first scene will be based in a Street
The second scene is an alternative world and this will be a modern building which is easy use as a alternative to the main characters house and in post production I will also add a filter to make the world look different to the reality.
The third scene the location is in the main characters house and this is the world which he is stuck in and this is his normality.
Mis-en-scene:
-Costume:
For the main character will wear smart casual clothing for the first scene and the part in the alternative world, the main character will have clothing which is very casual for the twist in the film as he is a bit of a fantasist the sequence is him acting out the dream which he would one day like to hold. The villian of the story will he wearing conventional clothing for a bad guy with black clothing. The henchman is in a smart shirt and suit like clothing
Villain:
-Props
They will play a apart in the building of the story and how the character will and shoyuld be seen in the short film. they will be based around the sci-fi genre which the film is based on.
The first scene will be based in a Street
The second scene is an alternative world and this will be a modern building which is easy use as a alternative to the main characters house and in post production I will also add a filter to make the world look different to the reality.
The third scene the location is in the main characters house and this is the world which he is stuck in and this is his normality.
Mis-en-scene:
-Costume:
For the main character will wear smart casual clothing for the first scene and the part in the alternative world, the main character will have clothing which is very casual for the twist in the film as he is a bit of a fantasist the sequence is him acting out the dream which he would one day like to hold. The villian of the story will he wearing conventional clothing for a bad guy with black clothing. The henchman is in a smart shirt and suit like clothing
The Main Character:
Normality Alternative Reality
Villain:
The Henchman:
-Props
They will play a apart in the building of the story and how the character will and shoyuld be seen in the short film. they will be based around the sci-fi genre which the film is based on.
Monday, 5 March 2012
Planning:Props
The banana and the gun are key to the planning of the film because of the parallels which I have written into the storyline. so here I have a small gun and a banana.
This is the screen shot from the phone that I will be using for the phone movement transition from real world to alternative world and this is because of the app which i have also included this is again part of this sequence.
This is the main aim for both parts of the film with the use of the game and the chip being the part which is the aim for the main character.
I have made both of these products.
The game case was made on photoshop and the chip for the alternative world was made from some old circuit board parts.
 |
| The Whole case. |
Saturday, 3 March 2012
Planning: Script
Script
“Save the World”
A Short Film by Matthew Finch
SEQUENCE 1
Main character finds he has been chosen for a mission to save the world
FANTASIST: Hello, what is it this time?
BOSS: You have been chosen for an important mission to save the world, you must do it!
FANTASIST: I’ll do it.
SEQUENCE 2
Main character goes on the mission to save the world and he goes into a fantasy world and finds that the mission won’t be as easy as it seems. He meets a henchman and a villain on the way to the final part of the story.
VILLAIN: ARGH! I’ve been expecting you, I’ll drop this, I’ll drop it!
FANTASIST: Just hand it over!
Main character then walks over just as the chip is thrown over the edge and shoots the villain.
SEQUENCE 3
Main character is acting out a similar sequence, but this is a fantasy which he re-enacting and this is where the audience find that he is not happy with his life.
FANTASIST: MUM! Where’s my game?
MUM: I’ve taken it, you’re not having it!
FANTASIST: *Huffs*
After finding the game
FANTASIST: Yes
As he is about to walk out, of the door.
FANTASIST:I can’t take this anymore!
The End of the dialogue in the short film.
I have chosen to use a simple script mainly because I have planned to use action and enigma codes instead of using expostional dialogue which gives away the information away.
I have chosen to use a simple script mainly because I have planned to use action and enigma codes instead of using expostional dialogue which gives away the information away.
Thursday, 1 March 2012
Planning: Storyboard and Animatic
This is the first draft of my storyboard for my short film. Storyboard First Draft
View more presentations from Mattfinch.
Here is the storyboard shot by shot in animated form and this gives an incite into how the film maybe edited together. I have included the notes which I have written on for each shot.
Here is the storyboard shot by shot in animated form and this gives an incite into how the film maybe edited together. I have included the notes which I have written on for each shot.
Monday, 27 February 2012
Planning: Characters
Desires | Needs |
Normality/Reality · To defy his mum and complete the mission. Alternative reality · To complete the mission and be promoted. | Normality/Reality · To get the game back and leave the house. Alternative reality · To save the world. |
Fears | Will |
Normality/Reality · Not being able to play the game. Alternative reality · Doing a bad job and not being noticed. | Normality/Reality · To leave the house and become independent Alternative reality · Strong will and determined. |
This is an exercise which Val Taylor a lecturer in scriptwriting at UEA, she says in her book 'Stagewriting: a practical guide' that the use of this will allow the creation of the main characters and the story which around them is easier to work out the what they are doing in the situation and why they are there. Also it is very useful for constructing characters with a number of layers and dimensions because of the factors.
The character is the main part of the short film which I have created using a type of character which can be easily seen as a character which is a corporate and professional man but the character is far from that. The character seen from the start is the alter ego of the reality. With the audience finding out that the character is actually a recluse who is scared to go out and the only thing which he cares about is playing games.
Normality | Alternative Reality |
| |
This is the character in the normal world, having him in casual clothes shows him a comfortable but reclusive position. | This is the character in the fanatsy world and having him in a suit allows to show a clear difference in the way the character is confident. |
Sunday, 26 February 2012
Planning: Creating an original story.
In my story I have set the story as if the character is a recluse and has a simple life but is a fantasist and that he is a character who is always dreaming. the way i have structured the story i have planned to create the story around two different worlds and to show that he is a fantasist i will be using a set of paralells between the two storylines.
The Parallels whioch i will be using in the two film will be:
The Parallels in the film play a big part of the way the short film works.
Premise
A young man goes on a mission to save the world but not everything is as it seems.
The Parallels whioch i will be using in the two film will be:
Reality | Alternative | |
1 | The Character | The Character |
2 | Banana | Gun |
3 | Mum | The Villain |
4 | Teddy Bear being punched | The Henchman being Punched |
5 | The game (his Mission) | The Product (his Mission) |
6 | The dialogue used by the mum | The dialogue used by the villain |
7 | The dialogue used by the character | The dialogue used by the character |
The Parallels in the film play a big part of the way the short film works.
Premise
A young man goes on a mission to save the world but not everything is as it seems.
Saturday, 25 February 2012
Planning: Production company.
I will be using the same production company as I did last year using the idea of having a compnay which is independent is a convention of short films as the short film itself can be seen as a calling card for the director/ film maker and the best way is to use a independent production company.
These are the titles for the production company which have made. It is called Finch Films.
I will also be using the production company on the Poster to promote the film and its production company.
Monday, 20 February 2012
Planning: Three act Structure
Here i have based the short around the Three act structure with the set-up, confrontation, resolution. This is a theory which Syd Field the author of Screenplay and The Screen Writer's Workbook this is a concept which can be seen and used in all films and screenplays.
Setup
First Scene
The main character is told to go on a mission to save the world.
The Boss tells him to go on the mission and he is this is his big break as he is bottom of the pecking order.
Confrontaion
Second Scene
He starts this mission by going into the alternative world, he goes into the alternative by touching an object.
The main character goes into the alternative world to 'save the world' and the audiecne dont know that he is saving something really small.
Third Scene
The Main character goes into a 'building and finds the Chip/object to save the world and fight the villan
He comes out of the alternative world by touching the same object.
Resolution
Forth Scene
He saves the world- The world is a chip/ object, he is then congratulated by his boss.
Last Scene
There is a twist in the story where the character has actually been fantasing the story and has been Acting the story in his house at home.
Setup
First Scene
The main character is told to go on a mission to save the world.
The Boss tells him to go on the mission and he is this is his big break as he is bottom of the pecking order.
Confrontaion
Second Scene
He starts this mission by going into the alternative world, he goes into the alternative by touching an object.
The main character goes into the alternative world to 'save the world' and the audiecne dont know that he is saving something really small.
Third Scene
The Main character goes into a 'building and finds the Chip/object to save the world and fight the villan
He comes out of the alternative world by touching the same object.
Resolution
Forth Scene
He saves the world- The world is a chip/ object, he is then congratulated by his boss.
Last Scene
There is a twist in the story where the character has actually been fantasing the story and has been Acting the story in his house at home.
Monday, 13 February 2012
Research: Film Reviews
Conventions of a Film Review.
• The feature films all have the highlighted part of the review.
•The reviews also involve some sort of tagline which sell the film.
• They all have some sort of screenshot for the film giving an incite to the film.
•They all have verdict with either a star rating or 10/10 and an explanation of the review and a summary of the film and there opinion.
• They also have used a number of references to other films and there visual style which have been placed in the film.
•The use of a question can be good to engage the reader to the review itself.
•The short film review could also involve the number of views on the website it was originally uploaded to.
•The use of information about the film and the style which has been used in the film.
Sunday, 12 February 2012
Research: Posters
Short film posters
View more PowerPoint from Mattfinch
Conventions of a short film poster.
•Short film posters use many of the same features of a feature length film poster but them seem to have less information on them e.g. the date of release and format of the film such as IMAX or 3D. There is an acceptance to the rule with the Beyond Black Mesa poster where they have given a festival date.
Conventions of a short film poster.
•Short film posters use many of the same features of a feature length film poster but them seem to have less information on them e.g. the date of release and format of the film such as IMAX or 3D. There is an acceptance to the rule with the Beyond Black Mesa poster where they have given a festival date.
•They also are very simple compared to feature length posters using one or two characters which are the main focus of the poster it is clear they are the main character/s
•They also have the general information which would be expected on a poster the name of the film, a production company, the director/s names and the actors name . This is generic information which is needed for the poster.
•The posters also give small clues of the film with the props or the way the character is standing, the genre of the film can also be seen with the fonts used.
Friday, 10 February 2012
Short Film: Memories
Memories is a very simple concept of how with old age we loose our memories and this comes in the form of the character walking around with all of the memories as a reel of photographic film. as he walks around the reel becomes bigger and the memories are then lost as he walks into his house, as he shuts his door the memories are left behind. The idea is based on the the loss of memories and how they can go within a flash. There are flashbacks to the past, these are based on the memories which the man has as he finds the reel of the film.
Mise-en-scene: The film is based around the roads and it has a bleak look to it giving the audience that the film does have a bleak and sensitive subject. The man is wearing clothes which would be associated for the characters age. There are two large props in showing the story and they are the reel of film and the
Camera: The camera shots are very simple there are some close ups of the main character and there are shots of him with the reels these give the idea to the audience that the story is based around that.
Sound: The film doesn't include an sort of dialogue, but there is a slow piece of music in the background. also the sounds of the road are enhanced adding to the piece.
Editing: The biggest part of the editing is the filter which has been added to give the film a dark/bleak/eerie feel as this is based on the subject matter which the director of the film is conveying with the film and the way they have edited the film in post production. There are also flashback which have been given a filter of an old film with lines where the film has worn.
Research: Target Audience
Short films are usually for niche audiences and they are hard to cater for so the best way is to make a short film which can be aimed at alot of people. one way of doing this is creating a story which can be interpreted easily by anyone.
Having surveyed some potential audience members I have found that short films are not really seen as much but feature films are usually consumed by this audience.
Having surveyed some potential audience members I have found that short films are not really seen as much but feature films are usually consumed by this audience.
Thursday, 9 February 2012
Research: Questionnaire on short films.
I conducted a questionnaire on short films over a large demographic to see what people thought about short films and there conventions.
This is what found from the questionnaire
This is what found from the questionnaire
What age are you? | |||||||||||||||||||||
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What gender are you? | |||||||||
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Do you as a media consumer watch short films?
SometimesNoSometimesnoNonosometimesNonoYesYesnoNosometimesYesSometimesNoyes
If not, why is that?
I don't find the narrative often grips me enough to be entertained by it. When it does I get irritated that its not a full length movie.I find them badly produced and most are just simply not very good, due to confusing narrativeI don't really know of any. They are boring and I have better things to do.I prefer to watch full length films.they are not that common and they are hardly mentioned in mainstream media.just don't seem to know when they are on or heard about anyI don't watch much TV - very selective. If I go to the cinema or hire a DVD it is for feature films I know about or have se...
If you were to watch a short film what would you expect from it?
Humor, as I like watching comedies, but also because a short film can just be one scene from a comedy sketch. For some really really short films, visit 5secondfilms.com and watch some of the ones on there. It's amazing they can even have an element of storyline in just 5 seconds..I would like it to be a short of a full length movie coming out later on. (left on a clif hanger? Good Story, meaning and an endingvery good narrative, a good plot which isn't too confusing and perhaps an open endingFor it to be interesting and engaging. It would be too short to have a plot.a good plot and strong c...
How long do expect a short to be?
5 - 10 minutes5-10 mins5 - 10 minutes5 to 15 minutes10 minutes to half an hour2 minutesNo more than 30 mins30 an hour5mins5 -10 mins5-20 minutesat least 20 minutes5/10/2012half an hour?approx. 5 min...
What sort of storyline would you expect in a short film? | |||||||||||||||||||||
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