Camera lesson two - 180 degree rule

We went into the camera studio and first of all learnt about the 180 degree rule. The rule is used when you need to film one or two things. You have to create an imaginary line on which you have to keep the camera on one side of that line. If you break the rule you have “crossed the line”. It’s called the 180 degree rule as the camera can’t move more than 180 degrees around the characters or objects.  If the camera swaps over to the other side for one of the shots, the pictures won’t work together. Instead of two characters facing each other it will now look as if they are facing the same direction.

There are occasions where you need to change the line, you need to do this carefully otherwise you leave the audience getting confused. You have to visually show this through a tracking shot physically filming it as its moving.

We were then showed how to start shooting a full scene. It is crucial that you allow the film to play all the way through and even film a bit longer then you need to so that you have the option to use it. We can cut to a point and this gives us the ability to use as much or as little as we want. So always film the whole sequence. This is also why it’s important to shoot a wide long shot first, to act as a “safety shot”. No matter what you end up with usable footage that you can cut when you need to.

While filming we were taught about all the important “call signs “ that the professionals use.

1. “Quiet on set” – director or assistant director shouts this so the crew know filming is about to begin.
2. “Standing by”
3. “Roll camera/camera” – lets the film maker know when to press record.
4. “Camera Rolling”- this is what the camera man shouts back to make it clear he is filming.
5. “speed and sound” – to show the sound is ready
6. “Action”- Acting begins.  

Analysis of the film poster "Oblivion"

Instantly you are drawn to the poster simply because of the two huge names that are revealed, Tom Cruise and Morgan Freeman this is such a great selling point due to the fact you have already managed to capture the fans of these two great actors and people will want to look into this film more as we associate the great actors with producing the great films. From the costumes, props and setting as well as the subtle helpful quote at the top “Earth is a memory worth fighting for” we assume it is going to be an action film as well as science fiction as this quote suggest earth no longer exists or has changed and is know just a memory. This also helps us come to the conclusion that these two men are good as they are fighting for a good cause giving us a rough idea of the plot.  This films target audience would be fans of the two actors as well as people into adventure and action I would say its not just enticing for those action lovers but also those who just want to see these phenomenal actors.

This poster is simply Black and White. The two actors are in full black, which often connotes negative imagery it is linked to death and darkness but can also be seen as more powerful and is often a sign of wealth. In this poster Tom cruise is wearing a lighter shade of black to Morgan Freeman I believe this has been done on purpose to show that they are clearly on each others side however both play different roles in the film. They clearly support each other as the characters are stood in a way that “they have each others backs”

Both the characters costumes suggest they are experienced. Tom Cruise is holding a gun as a prop which on most inexperienced people would look big and dangerous but his positioning and stance suggests it’s not the first time he has used one. He has leather straps all over as well as zips and pockets showing he is well equipped for what ever he about to take on. His facial expressions also show he has a very harsh lighting on his face which emphasizes his wrinkles which often connotes wisdom or the fact that he is tired this helps reveal to us the intensity of this characters combat lifestyle. However Morgan Freeman has been dressed in a much more formal attire which shows he might be in a higher position however not necessarily featured as much as we only see his face from the side and his name in printed below Tom Cruise’s on the bottom of the poster which could be another hint that he is not playing the main role however he must be very important as he is included within the poster.  Morgan Freeman's face is also very secretive and he has dark glasses on which prevents the audience from seeing his eyes which means he remains more impersonal and more mysterious, this may be foreshadowing the type of role he will be playing in the film. Compared to Tom Cruise where we can see all his facial expressions clearly we feel like we know him more just from looking into his eyes.

The White in the background is very plane and blank which has a reference to the title “oblivion” which means you do not know anything and are unaware of your surroundings this shows a context of blankness in the background and the white connotes emptiness as well as heaven which also links to the title. Heaven is seen as a place you go after you die if you have been pure and good. It is often considered as being above us this contrasts hugely with hell which is thought of as dark and black and beneath us therefore the poster could be representing the men who appear to be on a barren black land with nothing but danger and are slowly “rising above it all” to get to heaven weather that means winning the fight they appear to be undertaking or simply being the “good guys”.  This poster has achieved its job and captivated me so much I would go and watch it as soon as I could.

First Camera lesson 1

In our first camera lesson we started off by simply learning how to set up the tripod in the correct way. We saw that on the tripod there is a magnet which centres when the tripod is fully flat and on an equal level this is crucial as it means that when you film using the tripod the camera and film is straight.

We then learnt how to set up the camera on the tripod as well as the technique needed for attaching the batteries.

We then went on to look at exposure each camera has a zoom as well as the exposure button often the furthest wheel back on the camera, you often know you have got it as unlike the zoom it makes a clicking sound as you turn the wheel.  To adjust the aperture on the camera you often use the iris and this helps to focus in on the background so its not blurry.

Then we were taught about white balance which is to do with how light gives off a variation of colours. First of all there is man made light and secondly natural light such as the sun. When trying to adjust the white balance you need to find a white surface and zoom all the way in this enables the camera to work out what the other colours are around the room. You press the white balance button on the camera and this means the camera knows how it needs to adjust the reason we don’t use automatic white balance adjusters is because often the camera is unpredictable and doesn’t know what is going on so almost guesses and this can become a real problem when your trying to film and the light is completely off.

Comparing three opening scenes and the use of camera

Opening scene of Wimbledon

 In the first twenty seconds the tennis ball falls from the sky and shoots straight through the camera where we are watching and then the camera flips from looking up at the skyto following the ball as it falls. Starts with the establishing shot of the tennis ball falling to the ground  as well as following the ball as it plummets further towards the tennis court.

The watcher instantly knows there are two tennis players in the middle of a game of tennis. It sets the scene we know where we are and what to expect in the next few minutes. Next there is a medium close up of one of the characters this zooms our attention on to her and we see her face in more detail making it more personal and we start to focus our attention more to the movie having seen  a character up close.

There is then an extreme long shot of the tennis ground we can see just how many people there are sitting in the court. The camera movement is tracking whilst we are taken from one court to the next as well as the scene being sped up so it happens quickly maybe they do this to mirror and re-enact what the tennis ball does and at what fast pace it moves. Then we see the camera movement being tilted which enables us to see the tennis player from his shoes all the way to the top of his head finishing with a zoom in and extreme close up so much that we only see his eye this creates a feeling of tension and we are nervous for him it is as if we are inside his head and can relate to the stress and anxiety that he feels in that very moment.

Johnny English

The mood is set from the very beginning through the use of dark colours and blurry picture this has been done on purpose by the camera angles which leave us guessing just like the investigators who appear to be trying to solve a puzzle themselves. The scene opens with an immediate extreme close up of a folder with a name this means the watcher is able to immediately establish who the person is they are looking into.

It then turns to a close up with a very blurry image and the next few shots seem to be taken from a handheld camera this enables us to follow the action of the scene quickly. Remaining blurry the angle then changes again to an over the shoulder shot which allows us to see what the character whose shoulder we are over is doing and looking at in this case we watch as he puts the files together about Johnny.

Finally the camera is zoomed into another extreme close up so we can only see a section of the man’s face but in great detail allowing us to gage his mood which is serious.

Jaws

The opening scene to jaws begins with a girl running towards the beach whilst the camera is tracking her. The camera moves with her to the right but manages to keep the character centre. We then get the establishing shot which sets the scene telling us where she is. Then we get a close up and high angle of her this shows how small and insignificant she is in relation to the sea around her. It finishes with an extreme close up as she gets pulled around the sea by what we assume to be a shark using a pan and a tracking angle.

Wimbledon is a comedy, romance and sport’s  film all in one therefore the opening scene needed to portray that through the angle movements overall I think it did this very well you instantly knew where you were and what was going on, The camera moves almost like the ball does fast and regularly. Jaws which is an adventure, drama, thriller but mainly horror starts of eery and odd and we instantly know what kind of an intro is coming. However unlike Wimbledon which is very upbeat the difference in mood changes very quickly this being the “1975” original means the camera angles are arguably more simple but this doesn’t matter as the tension is still built up extremely well and by the end of the two minutes when the girl is dramatically pulled under we know exactly the type of film this is going to be without seeing any real conversation or detail through other characters. Lastly Johnny English reborn is an action, adventure, comedy the opening scene is so different to the other two in that there is no establishing shot it all remains very secretive, dark and blurry which successfully sets the mood for the rest of the film and works well in that instance but would not be any good for the other two films this makes you realise how important and crucial the right camera movements are. 

Creating tension within a thriller

The film is about a group of men who are involved in some sort of illegal activity as it is clear they do not want to be seen.We know this because the men in the van all wear masks to cover their faces whilst just one man reveals his face. Initially they appear to be the definite "bad guys" and the antagonists however we soon discover this scene is misleading in every aspect and get the idea they are professionals who know what they are doing as we continue watching they seem to be saving someone. 

The opening scene creates tension as no body is talking as the men prepare their guns we just hear a muffled background sound. We see the guns so jump to the conclusion that they will use them against someone however no gun shots are fired in the opening scene, they rescue the innocent looking young boy and then let the driver/kidnapper of the car who also looks professional  go free without harm even though evidence would suggest he is bad!

The men in the van are the antiheroes they are obviously involved in bad things however at the same time are rescuing the younger looking boy so are doing some good at the same time. Both the men in the van and the driver of the car are all wearing black and blue dark clothing and dresses smartly which helps us to decide they are well experienced and what they do as suits and smart coats suggest authority and power to many. This is what keeps the watcher on their toes as we flip between each side multiple times in this scene as to who is "good" and who is "bad" trying to decide who we should be supporting.

Given the tone and the language I would say the rest of the plot line will be likely to follow both the men in the van and the guy who was holding the young boy hostage. There must be a reason they didn't just shoot and kill the driver therefore this suggest to us that as the movie progresses we will discover why he was left alive, and didn't pay for his actions. As well as that I would assume the movie will be full of highly skilled crime and maybe revenge. 

Favorite film - Cool Runnings

                                                      My Favourite Film - Cool Runnings.

Cool Runnings is a family, laugh out loud, comedy that most people will enjoy. It was released back in October 1993 and directed by Jon Turteltaub from New York City. Over the years, he has directed several films for Walt Disney Studios including the movies Cool Runnings, Ninjas, While you were sleeping and Instinct. 

  

Cool Runnings is based on the true story of the national Jamaican bobsleigh team’s debut in the bobsled competition at the 1998 Winter Olympics in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The Jamaicans were probably the most unlikely competitors in this event. The team was made up of a wide-ranging group of althletes. At the time Derice was one of the best 100m runners in Jamaica who had failed to qualify for the Olympics when another Jamaican athlete known as Junior managed to trip up Derice and another competitor in a qualifying race. Junior, Derice and his best friend, Sanka , who also happens to be a champion push cart racer,  go hunting for the help of Irv, an old and disgraced Canadian bobsleigh coach, who had tried and failed to recruit Jamaican sprinters (including Derice’s dad) to the bobsleigh team a number of years before. The new and unusual bobsleigh team travel to Canada to pursue their dream of being the first ever Jamaican bobsleigh team. None of them have ever even seen snow., let alone been in a bobsled.

The movie stars, John Candy who is famous for his role in Uncle Buck, Leon Robinson, Rawle D. Lewi,  Malik Yoba and Doug E. Doug star in the movie.  The movie had a budget of 14 million dollars and the box office produced 154.9 million dollars which was an unexpected and incredible success. The film was distributed by Buena Vista Pictures.

There are so many reasons why Cool Runnings is the film I have watched too many times to count and will continue watching.  First, it has the most upbeat soundtrack that you could ever imagine., Stir it up by Bob Marley, I can see clearly now by Jimmy Cliff and Sweet Jamaica written by Patrick Barrett and Garnett Smith. It is just one of those feel good film that keeps you smiling. Having grown up in the Caribbean myself I think the laid back way of life this group of guys enjoy in Jamaica is a great thing to see. They live in the most idyllic location.  Sanka is a push cart racer and all their family and friends are close and supportive throughout the film that you cannot  help but  envy what they have or at least I can’t! My favorite part of the movie would have to be when Sanka discovers that bob sleighing is a winter sports that involves ice! 

The film never disappoints and in my experience keeps all family members engaged and laughing  till the very end. The film was shot in Jamaica and at the actual Olympic venues  in Calgary where the events took place . I am usually very poor at remembering quotes from films, song lyrics however Cool Runnings is  the exception to that rule, it’s the only film which I could confidently say I can quote line by line.  I can also play out most of the movie in my head and that for me says something about how great and memorable this film really is. I could not recommend it enough if you haven’t seen it then you must do soon.