Welcome back - lesson 1

Unit 03 Assignment Brief: Research Techniques

Questionnaires (corporate vidoes)

Primary research will be useful for the Corporate Video Unit but is essential for the Research Unit. 

Therefore, complete a short survey and send, using Google Forms.

Task 1:

You should include questions such as (but not limited to):

1. Age, gender & occupation
   
   
2. Input a brief summary of the brief you were given - who is it for / who is the client? What is the purpose of the task / what is the intention of the final outcome?
   
   
3. Embed / add a link to your edit of the video (unlisted YT links emailed to you)
   
   
4. What is the respondents reaction to your edit and is there anything that they would highlight as outstanding or anything they would suggest changing?
   
   
5. Does the respondent think you have managed to meet the requirements of the brief?
   
   
6. Has watching your edit made them want to visit the Yare Gallery?
   
   
7. Would further changes encourage them to visit?

Task 2:

Results analysis - once you have 10 responses:

1. Open up PowerPoint and save the file as 'Questionnaire Analysis' 
   
   
2. Putting no more than one question per slide, add the question, responses and a summary of your findings. e.g., Q. what is your gender? R. graphs showing gender breakdown & S. 60% of respondents were males and as males are my target demographic, this helps the validity of my research  
   
   
3. Where you have asked questions that lead to quantitative responses (yes/no, multiple choice answers, etc.) show results as graphs/charts
   
   
4. Where you have asked questions leading to qualitative responses, print screen all of the answers to show the detail.

Questionnaires (screenplays)

Primary research will be useful for the Screenwriting Unit but is essential for the Research Unit. 

Therefore, complete a short survey and send, using Google Forms.

Task 1:

You should include questions such as (but not limited to):

1. Age, gender & occupation
   
   
2. Input a brief summary of your concept - genre, themes, logline and very brief synopsis
   
   
3. Would the respondent watch this film?
   
   
4. Do they usually watch this genre / type of film?
   
   
5. What might make them watch it?

Task 2:

Results analysis

1. Open up PowerPoint and save the file as 'Questionnaire Analysis' 
2. Putting no more than one question per slide, add the question, responses and a summary of your findings. e.g., Q. what is your gender? R. graphs showing gender breakdown & S. 60% of respondents were males and as males are my target demographic, this helps the validity of my research  
3. Where you have asked questions that lead to quantitative responses (yes/no, multiple choice answers, etc.) show results as graphs/charts
4. Where you have asked questions leading to qualitative responses, print screen all of the answers to show the detail.

Zatoichi (Kitano, 2003)

 

Takeshi 'Beat' Kitano as Zatoichi the Blind Swordsman

Tasks:

• summarise the narrative in around 250 words
• who are the main characters and what is their role and dramatic motivation?
• what type of narrative is the story delivered through and what prompts the shifts?

Script Proposal and Mood Board Guidance

The colours and fonts you use are as important in communicating ideas, tone and meaning as images are. When putting your script proposals together, keep this in mind and build your materials to reflect your idea in every way - it's like mise-en-scene, everything should be there for a reason.

Initial Research: The Yare Gallery (Location Recce)

Create a new post with the same title as this one on the teaching blog, then respond to the following questions, maintaining a focus on your client brief and the intention of this first visit in relation to that:

1. Where did you go?

2. Why did you go?

3. What did you do whilst there?

4. What were the outcomes, i.e., what did you learn about the venue, curator, timeframe, etc.?

No Film School useful link: 5 Times You Need to Edit your Script

https://nofilmschool.com/five-times-you-need-edit-your-script

Initial Research: NHS Heroes and The Yare Gallery

 In your groups, find out as much as you can about the following:

The NHS

The Yare Gallery

NHS Heroes Portraits

You'll need to research the following areas:

• Who / what they are and what they do / what the project is
• Details of any current projects / aims / strategic plans
• Contact information for local offices / venues

You also need to find a selection of (news) stories relating to the NHS and the pandemic.

You can use a range of sources, including the organisations' websites, social media channels and also regional and national newspapers that may include relevant stories.

The 13 Best Websites To Download Movie and TV Scripts

Another great No Film School link here: https://nofilmschool.com/11-great-websites-download-movie-scripts

Great YouTube Channel

 Check out Film Courage here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCs8o1mdWAfefJkdBg632_tg 

There are LOADS of great videos, so take the time to check them all out.

My New Favourite YouTuber

If educational videos were shot like music videos (thanks to Meg for finding and sharing!)

Year 2 Induction Presentations

A Block

Corporate Videos & Music Videos

C Block

Screenplays & Single Camera Techniques

Technical Skills Tasks: Lighting, Camera and Sound

 Briefly describe each task; what were you asked to do, what equipment was used and what was the result.

You do not need to upload evidence of the outcomes, however, if the whole team is happy to share the materials online, it would be nice to have them to reference / use in portfolios, etc.

Single Camera Introduction: Clips

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8x-scKCKiCE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lk4NoA2iV3I

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wamtTEVFDiA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxPZh4AnWyk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kLMRScPIwRQ 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bMtaP_JoI5Q

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i5YckMkwmm4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b7NKjFaXhPo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=peP8CsCw09Y

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-F1-sTyGvwA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7qhNVDPZ-0I

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xui7lx4wvE 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vmb1tqYqyII

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w7IWLZcVU64

A Basic Guide to Voicethread

Initial Research: The Benjamin Foundation and Anchorage

Go to The Benjamin Foundation website and respond to the following questions:

1. What are TBF and what do they do (about us)?

2. List 4 key areas that TBF offer support with

3. Read the section relating to homelessness and housing, then follow the link to Anchorage; what are Anchorage and what do they do?

4. Read the Anchorage handbook and highlight 5 key areas that Anchorage support with / offer

5. Read the Landlords - Work With Us flyer - what do Anchorage offer assistance with?

Sherlock - The Blind Banker

1. . Does the episode follow a 3 act structure and / or classical Hollywood narrative?

2. How does binary opposition apply to this episode?

3. Can Propp’s character types be applied to the narrative and if so, how do they help to shape the plot?

4. Who are the main characters (up to 5) and what is their name, age, gender, role in narrative and dramatic motivation?

5. How did the episode vary with the shooting script, and why?

ALL questions need specific examples and images

Label and publish your work (or I can't access it!)

Script exemplars

A reminder about spec scripts and shooting scripts here!

Sherlock (2010-2017)

A Study in Pink

The Blind Banker

The Great Game

Christopher Nolan's Momento

John August's Go 

Physical copies of 24 full film scripts, including Taxi Driver, Chinatown, North by Northwest, Fargo, etc., can also be obtained from WO7.

EN Corporate Videos: Research and Planning

Questions:

1. What was the brief set by the Admissions, Marketing and Engagement Manager? 

2. What is flexible / negotiable, and what is stated as essential? When are the deadlines?

3. What video were you allocated / did you choose?

4. Who (first name only) is the lead contact for your video and what is their official job title?

Tasks:

1. Make initial contact with your lead and arrange a time to meet to discuss essential elements for the video (make notes and scan in)

2. Use the college website, your teacher, your progress tutor, peers and existing knowledge to mind-map information on your allocated video subject (you can do this on paper rather than digitally, but do not lose anything and scan / photograph once complete)

3. Make contact with staff and students who may be willing to contribute to the video (you can send final details once your video has been approved)

4. Produce a proposal for your video, outlining everything you intend to film / record and arrange a time to pitch it to your lead (make notes and scan in)

5. Once you have gained approval from your lead, begin formal pre-production paperwork. This should include:

• script and / or interview questions
• shot list
• recces
• location release(s)
• talent release(s)
• risk assessment(s)
• production schedule

Narrative Theory and Characters: Sherlock - The Great Game

 

Initial Research: EN

Narrative Theory

Know about the commissioning process for writing for television and video (U24: GC1)

Optioning: https://screencraft.org/2019/11/21/the-screenwriters-simple-guide-to-screenplay-options/ 

Spec and shooting scripts: https://nofilmschool.com/shooting-script-example

Blocking scenes: http://www.nyfa.edu/film-school-blog/the-5-stages-of-blocking-a-scene/#:~:text=Blocking%20a%20scene%20is%20simply,perfect%20harmony%20with%20each%20other

Agents: https://scriptangel.com/how-to-get-a-screenwriting-agent/

Payment: https://industrialscripts.com/uk-screenwriters-pay/ 

Time management: https://screencraft.org/2014/06/27/10-time-management-tips-busy-screenwriters/ 

Copyright: https://variety.com/2005/biz/features/was-the-island-cloned-2-1117927239/ 

Copyright: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parts:_The_Clonus_Horror#Lawsuit

Bias, accuracy and censorship: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/apr/28/climate-dangerous-documentary-planet-of-the-humans-michael-moore-taken-down 

Legal and ethical considerations for writers: https://prowritingaid.com/art/755/7-legal-tips-for-writers.aspx 

Common Themes from Feedback

1. When a character is introduced, describe them; how old are they, what do they look like, what are they wearing, etc?

2. When there is a new location, describe it; where is it, how is it decorated, what type of place is it, noise, etc?

3. Slug lines are needed for every location, including room changes, however brief.

4. Telephone calls need to be listed as V.O.s if we do not see the other person (or cut to their location) or you need a new slug if we see them in their location.

5. Spelling, punctuation and grammar is as important in your screenplay as it is in a formal essay. Lower case ‘i’ characters, when alone or before an apostrophe, e.g., “I went to the shop”, “I’ve been to the shops”, are always capitalised, as are the first letters of all new sentences. Proof read your work carefully and get into the habit of checking all work before it is submitted.

6. Follow layout conventions; you have lots of examples of scripts from Sherlock, the BFI, the BBC, etc., so there is no reason that your script shouldn’t be laid out appropriately.

7. HIIS = how is it shown. I’ve used this across many pages, so you know to add details about how a character’s feelings and emotions are shown. Remember that screenplays are not like books and the audience will never see it, so you need to write how the characters will display emotions.

8. Remember the purpose of a screenplay – it leads onto the next step in production, e.g., shot lists, storyboards, and ultimately filming, so ensure that the next person will have enough to work with and can visualise everything clearly. You cannot say 'we see' or make any reference to 'we' as we don't exist in the world of the screenplay (the diegesis)

9. Actions and reactions – you don’t need to write a novel, but you do need to say how characters act and react during a scene. Sometimes there are sections of dialogue, with exchanges between characters, with little or no actions. If a character likes or dislikes something that is said, describe how they react. If a character meets someone for the first time, how do they greet them? Do they shake hands, hug, fist bump, etc.?

10. Make the dialogue and action believable. You can use colloquialisms, slang and include dialogue that appears natural, but also don’t be too strong with this as not everyone may identify with what you are trying to communicate. We need to believe these characters and the world you have created for them could exist.

Technical Skills Development

Introduce this post with a summary of what you have been working on for the past few weeks and why it has been important.

Paragraph 1: Camera

- What task were you set?

- What role(s) did you undertake during filming?

- What was the end result? (upload your finished video here too)

- What did you learn from the filming project?

- What, if anything, did you learn from the DSLR workshop (using the camera lesson)?

Canon 700D SLR camera

Paragraph 2: Sound

- What tasks were you set?

- What role(s) did you undertake during sound recording session?

- What was the end result? (upload your sound files here too)

- What did you learn from the sound project?

- What, if anything, did you learn from the sound workshop (introduction to sound lesson)?

Boom microphone

Paragraph 3: Lighting

- What tasks were you set?

- What role(s) did you undertake during the lighting task?

- What was the end result? (upload your photographs here too)

- What did you learn from the lighting project?

- What, if anything, did you learn from the lighting workshop (using the lights as a group)?

Chiaroscuro lighting in The Third Man (Reed, 1949)

Pitching

Exemplar Music Videos: Inspiration, 'do this' and 'don't do this'!

The Letter – Strate Atom

Drop There – Yung Dank

The River – Folks

Call This Home – Jonny Cooper

Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites – Skrillex

The Pretender – Foo Fighters

Last Summer – The Lost Prophets

The Bird and the Worm – The Used

Kyoto - SBTRKT

Pressure Cooker – Pegboard Nerds

Screenplays: Common Mistakes

After marking the screenplay drafts, I have noticed common mistakes throughout a number of projects.

Before submitting your final drafts, please ensure you have not only made the changes highlighted on your individual drafts, but also that you have taken note of the points below:

1. Format and Layout
   You need to follow the guidance you were given exactly. You are not showing any understanding of conventions unless you follow the established conventions.
   
2. Proofing
   There are far too many errors in the work; this includes issues with spelling, punctuation and grammar. You must get into the habit of checking your work and reading it back. If you are entitled to additional support, use it! If you do not receive additional support, ask a friend or family member to read it through.
   
3. 'Showing' emotion
   Letting the audience know how characters are feeling is very important BUT you have to convey it through actions and dialogue. The audience don't see the script, so it's no good to say anything like, "Ellie is feeling betrayed and thinks about how she will get revenge".
   
4. ... & !
   There is an over-use of ellipses and exclamation marks. Use actor directions (parentheticals) and scene directions instead.
   
5. Scene directions
   Don't be afraid to put more detail into the scene direction - some is rather thin. Scene direction can be used to describe the setting and also show what characters are doing.

I don't want to see the same errors in your final drafts, please. Use the BFI handouts and all the materials that you have been given during the unit to make your work great.

Case Study: Citizen Kane

During class, you will watch Citizen Kane (Welles, 1941) twice; once to see the text and to gain an understanding of the narrative and characters, alongside an idea of the construction and aesthetics, and again, accompanied by the Roger Ebert commentary. During the second screening you will be listening to details about the construction of the film, through a thorough analysis of the ideas / concept, cinematography (framing, angles, camera movement), set design, compositing & special effects, sound and direction of characters.

Boss Jim Gettys, "Singer" Susan Alexander, Charles Foster Kane and Emily Kane

Part 1

• begin a post and highlight the title, release date and director of the film
• add a brief synopsis and bullet the key plot points of the film (and how characters progress the narrative).

Inside Mrs Kane's Boarding House

Part 2

• comment upon at least 3 scenes, shots or narrative devices that you found particularly impressive / interesting (based on viewing the film the first time - no commentary).
  You should consider:
• cinematography (framing, angles, camera movement)
• mise-en-scene (lighting, costume, props, iconography, etc.)
• character movement / direction
• sound
• set design
• special effects (transitions, compositing, animation, etc).

Part 3

• comment upon at least 3 scenes, shots or narrative devices that you found particularly impressive / interesting (based on viewing the film the second time - with commentary).
  You should consider:
• cinematography (framing, angles, camera movement)
• mise-en-scene (lighting, costume, props, iconography, etc.)
• character movement / direction
• sound
• set design
• special effects (transitions, compositing, animation, etc).

Low false ceilings, giant windows and fireplaces and long takes - the magic of Citizen Kane

Initial Music Video Research

You will need to spend a decent amount of time selecting your artist and your track for the music video unit, so we will begin this process early. As per the brief, you must show that you are producing a music video for a band or artist that maintains their image and their style and that still attracts their target audience.

To do this, you will need to spend time watching music videos by the band / artist and identify commonalities. Once you have identified the similarities, you must then analyse these and explain why they are evident in the music videos (but we will do some theory as a class before you do this).

So, to begin, you must search for the band / artist that you will be making your music video for; this can be a popular / existing band / artist or it can be for your own / friend's. Either way, you will need to investigate them and the way they want an audience to perceive them.

Tasks:

• choose your band / artist and watch a range of their music videos and list similarities (print screens are helpful too). This can include:
• genre of music
• type of music video, e.g., performance, narrative, message, etc (we'll do this in more depth as a class)
• settings and locations
• costumes
• props
• make-up
• themes and tone
• narratives
• choreography
• choose your song and then analyse the track. To do this, print out / save the lyrics and give meaning to the music and the lyrics. Explore:
• the lyrics - meaning, use of similes and metaphors
• the music - genre, tone, key, shift in any of the aforementioned terms
• the lyrics - AFTER you have analysed the track yourself, see if you can find out the meaning behind the song. This could come from a Google search, the artist's website, a CD cover insert or another source such as a radio / TV interview.

Still from Michael Jackson's Thriller. Dir. John Landis, 1983

Understanding Codes, Conventions and Current Practice in Corporate and Promotional Programming (U28: GC1)

Presentation links here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IYtDgvjwPTw

http://btecmediaen2.blogspot.com/2016/09/corporate-video-production-how-much.html 

http://btecmediaen2.blogspot.com/2016/09/top-ten-tips-for-great-corporate-video.html 

http://btecmediaen2.blogspot.com/2016/09/current-practices-in-cv-assignment.html 

Composition: the rule of thirds

Composition: light sources in the large space (direction the talent is facing)