After deciding what our final story would be and exactly how the film will represent social realism, i shared the idea with a few people to see what they thought..
Imogen Joyce (Student at the college)- 'I think it will work really well because it is unpredictable and will really get the audience involved, they will also be able to relate to the story themselves'
Ami Hewitt (Media Student)- 'I really like the idea of using the same scenes for the young and older characters, the dissolveshot from one character to another sounds like it will be really effective, can't wait to see it!'
Both these students were selected because they represent the target audience as they are young and female, so their feedback was helpful in creating a good film.
-As our film is social realism, our use of sound is fairly naturalistic in order to create a more life like effect, using mainly diegetic sound.
-We will be using one or two songs which relate to the story, for example one of the characters sends the other a song which will be played diegetically. Although for this music we will be getting a friend to re record the version so we do not break any copyright rules.
- So far we have a few options of songs to use for the film in which we feel will be appropriate, however we may decide to make a final decision when the film has been made in case it does not 'look right'. Personal opinion may be a factor that we should consider in deciding.
- The rest of the sound will also be diegetic and mainly ambient, for example cars going past and keyboard typing. This will maintain the sense of realism that we wish to create.
- We may have to record some of the sounds on a microphone so that they are more clear and noticeable to the viewer.This will only be used a few times though only where neccessary.
Below are a set of bullet points outlining the plot for our film:
Two children meet when they are very young and fall in love. Although they try to make a relationship, there age seems to show as neither one wants to tell the other how they feel.
Eventually they drift apart and lose contact.
After being apart for five years, they see each other again and the boy tries to re-kindle there relationship. However, the girl is now in a relationship which shows no signs of ending anytime soon.
The boy still tries to meet her and talk about there feelings and pick things up from where they left off. They arrange to meet somewhere alone. However, as the girl goes to leave to meet the boy, her boyfriend arrives unannounced and tells her that he is going to cook her dinner. She eventually stays and dosent tell the boy that she isnt coming.
Once the boy gets home, feeling horrible for being stood up by her, he logs onto his computer. The girl sends him an E-mail saying 'Sorry'. He then closes his computer and never speaks to her again.
“If you want to be discovered, you have to be somewhere people can find you.”
Through analysing films and searching online I discovered there are many ways in which you can promote your short film. • Film Festivals (examples: Edinburgh, Bristol, Yorkshire, London) • Through the Internet - Short film sites (examples: UNDERGROUNDFILM.COM, IFILM.COM, ATOMFILMS.COM, BROWNFISH.COM and many more), • make your own website/blog - message boards, traditional message boards, and Internet movie news sites
• Through printed media • social networks and forums (e.g. facebook)
This two part video from Youtube is very useful as it details the ways in which you can market and advertise your film, does and don’ts and some helpful tips.
Beyond The Finishing Post - Marketing Your Short Film (part 1)
Beyond The Finishing Post - Marketing Your Short Film (part 2)
Some of the advice given about producing, promoting and marketing your short film that I thought would be useful included: • Film festival’s are the best way to be noticed – as they’re always scouting and searching for talent • Get feedback from the audience to make it as good as possible • Cast your net wide – think about taking it abroad (America, Italy) as it will be a fresh, foreign feel to it • Be organised, discipline yourself and accept rejection • Go to festivals for inspiration, to make it unique • Networking – get as many contacts as possible, might come in useful in future • Create Posters, postcards – with taglines etc.
Some examples of useful websites into finding good festivals, inspiration and contacts which the YouTube clip mentioned are: http://www.shortfilmcentral.com/ https://withoutabox.com/
Through searching around for useful ideas, tips and guidelines on making a short film, I came across this you tube clip with Mark Demode from ’The BBC’s Culture Show’ offering a few helping suggestions into how to make a successful short film, some of which were useful.
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=750ywyKLCs8)
Speaking from Brief Encounters - Bristol’s 11th annual international short film festival, Mark Demode says how famous film makers such as Riddley Scott (Alien 1979, Gladiator 2000, American Gangster 2007), David Lynch (The Elephant Man 1980), and Martin Scorsese (Gangs of New York 2002, The Departed 2006)all began by making their mark with short films through ‘begging for favours, borrowing equipment and stealing locations’.
Some of the good advice used in this you tube clip included “Quirky is good”; let it either be smart, funny or unexpected - or all of them. It also says “You watch with your ears”, basically saying you have to make sure the music and sound is perfect, as it you can’t have a film without perfect sound, otherwise it’s ruined instantly. Furthermore, it goes on to say that originality is good, but also technical skills are too - be ambitious. All these we intend to do in our short film.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wj9yvVDwhX0
Another little clip found through you tube was from BBC 2’s “British Films Forever” (above), where a range of directors, actors, celebrities talk specifically about social realism films how they changed and evolved the film industry and how it affected them personally. Some of the films mentioned include Trainspotting, Clockwork Orange, Secrets and Lies, Know by Mouth, Billy Elliot etc; all of which I think our group should take a look at and gain some ideas from.
Lovefield- Mathieu Ratthe -This short film has thriller/drama/horror style to create a story that takes the audience on a roller coaster ride of emotions. For most of the film, the viewer would assume that it is a horror, due to the tense music and rural setting. However the ending shocks and suprises the reader in a different twist.
-The setting is a large corn field, which has no surroundings, already giving the reader a sense of danger. There is a crow that is heard through most of the film, giving conotations of horror, the bird is the only thing that is witness to what is going on, but is obviously helpless.
-The themes and issues at first appear as a murderer who has injured/killed his victim, however it is revealed that it really is a woman who has given birth with the help of the man (previously considered a murderer).
-The male character looks rugged and ungroomed, he is wearing a cap and dungerees to fit the appearence of a criminal. We only see the female character at the end with her baby, so that her situation is not revealed to the end.
-The facial expressions of the male character appear stern and serious, he glimpses over the car bonnet as if he has heard something suspicious. He runs to the car in a panic, suggesting he is in a rush and needs to get to something immieditley.
-The film uses the genre/style uniquely because it combines a number of them together, cleverly fooling the viewer into believing that a murder or some form of attack had taken place.
-The change in tone is the thing i find most inspiring, it is successful because it ends positivley and unexpectedly which is highly entertaining to the viewer. It is almost humorous and has been carefully edited not to reveal the real issue until the end.
-In this circumstance, the films short format works well because the theme doesn't require a long build up and theme would not be successful within a full length film.
-The use of sound is interesting because right from the start the soundtrack is tense accompanied by the diegetic sound of the wind. Other sounds such as a creaking sign and a crow contribute to the un nervy atmosphere. There is no diagloue, however we hear the sound of a woman in distress, therefore make assumptions that she is in trouble.
-However, when we discover that the female has given birth, rather than been attacked, the soundtrack is a complete contrast and changes to a light, happy tone, parallel to the new information.
-Due to the use of sound and editing, the viewer at first assumes that the film is that of a horror, however it is eventually revealed that it is in fact the opposite. We feel a sense of relief for the female charatcer, for the is not a victim as previously thought.
