Direction Seminar - Notes

During the seminar, in a group of three it was taken in turns to direct, act and observe, different scenes that had been given to us.

I made notes on all the practical work that was undertaken during the seminar, and the notes can be seen here:

Observer Notes:

Scenario 4

• Cohesion between director and actor and the passive ideas are very interesting.
• Actor relies heavily on use of body language where beats are in use.
• Director has good communication skills so can direct the actor in the right direction.
• Final Acting: Actor pacing up and down, realistic performance.

Scenario 5

• Director keen to get his point across.
• Good level of depth of input from actor for ideas.
• Final Acting: Actor with specific use of facial expressions – brings pain and anguish to role.

Scenario 6

• Actor intent on bringing a personal experience to ‘get him going’ for this scenario
• Whilst words are present, the actor delivers his performance with eye contact, to whom he is speaking to.
• Final Acting: Director and actor combined with ideas for performance to be given with actions being more important than words.

Change of Actor and Director:

Scenario 1

• Actor explains how scenario in reality would work for him.
• Director sets the scene; eerie dark room, actor not altogether ‘with it’.
• Final Acting: Actor’s personal experiences help bring he performance to life.

Scenario 2

• Director says use of props specifically a watch are very important for this scenario to show the audience the impatience and nerves of the actor.
• Actor explains he can relate to the situation.
• Final Acting: Good dramatisation, actor got across his nervousness

Change Of All Roles

Director Notes:

Scenario 3

• Important to get the point across that the extra is foreign, by using stereotypes of the foreigner so that the audience recognizes this a lot quicker.
• Extra has to look via using his body language, lost.
• Main actor has to look confident about where he is, so he can look in the position to give instructions. Strong upright posture, head tilted upwards, specifically not down.
• Rehearsal: I altered the length of distance the actor walked to meet the extra.
• Final Acting: Worked well, and was convincing.

Feedback From A/V Presentation

After presenting my groups presentation for our 4 minute documentary, I made notes on the feedback we received.

The feedback will help us evaluate our own work to this point.

• Certain job roles did not have how much they would cost on the budget, as I am still awaiting a couple of companies to get back in touch with me and tell me how much the roles would cost in relation to our work. It was said that we should of just had an educated guess at how much the job roles would cost.

• The trailer failed to show the style of which we will use to film the documentary.

• For the sound, we need to record / produce our own sound as opposed to using already recorded music.

• Despite very good communication within the group, and constant contact via email and texts, we need to use the forum to show evidence of contact.

• Out trailer has apparently shown that as a group we are incapable of recording footage, so we need to prove that is incorrect by recording better footage.

• No white balance in the trailer, did show evidence in where mistakes have been made.

• Whilst commenting on the documentary ‘Tina Sparkle’, the only chosen evaluation points we used in the presentation were points already made by someone else.

• If shooting at all in our subject’s Ed’s room, due to the small size of the room we should think about filming through a window.

• The trailer did give a good impression of what Ed is like, and created excitement for the documentary.

• The timeline whilst detailed is potentially wrong, cut the filming of the shoot from 4 to 2 days, this will cut the cost of the shoot.

• The DVD cover looks good, and it is a good sign that we will edit the back cover to include potential film stills and credits.

In A Sparkle Review

One of the documentaries I have researched in aid of our 4 minute documentary is called In A Sparkle.

It is a documentary made from one of the groups last year in Multimedia.
The following points were made after seeing the film:

• The menu for the DVD was appropriate

• The films starts with a reveal, which was predictable and often overused.

• A lot of cutaways, but not used to the right effect, more cutaways for a shorter time would have been better use.

• Man explaining as he puts on his make-up with cutaways of his performance.

• A very poor shot with the subject in the mirror, as we (the audience) cannot see the whole of his head, make-up effect not shown.

• Also, the shadow on the wall doesn’t look as good as it could of done, the colour balance is very poor, which would be blamed on the lighting.

• Not too sure about the various camera positioning during the performance.

• Ending with credits, visual still carries on at the same time.

• There was no specific music, only in the show.

• For the extras, there was not too much to offer, only an out-takes section, which was not really needed.

• The documentary was supposed to document the man during his day time life and night time life. Unfortunately there in not enough details on his family life and daytime life.

• Post editing, the mirror scene could have been enhanced.

• During the performance, there was not enough of shots of the crowd, another camera would have been a lot better with shooting a live performance.

Director Notes - Seminar

During the seminar, in a group of 3, we took it in turns to direct a scene of our own choosing taking still shots.

The following are notes taken from my stint as director:

• It was hard to capture intense emotion from still shots only

• The actors were hard to control. The were allowed input on decisions but still found it hard to adapt to certain directorial decisions.

• Deciding the camera location, relative to the intention of the shot was quite difficult.

• The correlation of linking shots worked well.

• Transformation from written storyboard to film had to be adapted from initial ideas, by changing the camera locations, for feasability and usability reasons.

• The initial shot, which was the over the shoulder shot, gives the audience an overpowering angle of shot

16 Blocks General Notes

There is a lot of detail in each scene, which sets the scene. Specific details are on the action sequences.

In the early part to the film, there does not appear to be too much dialogue, however where dialogue, it seems to be it appears to be confrontational and conflicting arguments.

The character Eddie from being made out to be a ‘bad’ character, shows the first bit of compassion and a nice gesture (despite the gesture not being appreciated), it conflicts to how he has been made out in the film before the incident. (P35)

HEART POUNDING… Then NOTICES the Woman Computer scooping 3- tokens inter her hands and heading for the turnstile. She FUMBLES and DROPS ALL THIRTY TOKENS on the ground. One rolls across the cement floor right to Eddie…

Who steps on it.

Looks at the harried Woman as PEOPLE push past her without even a glace. The Woman gathers up the tokens and starts for the turnstiles. Eddie not moving a muscle, foot covering the valuable token. Watching the Woman inch closer to the gate. Struggling with something and mumbling to himself…

EDDIE (cont’d)

Always do what you’ve always done…

Lifts hit foot, grabs the token, walks up and hands it to her

EDDIE (cont’d)

Ma’am? You missed this one.

WOMAN
You want a friggin’ reward?

The Woman pushes through the turnstile. Eddie watches her go, eyes falling to the ground..and to the glint inside his right pants cuff…where a single token rests.

In much of the dialogue, in the confrontational dialogue, there are a lot of characteristic beats, the majority of which throughout the film are informative beats and argumentative beat.

One general observation in the film is very much an American phrase which I have heard in many other films. Whilst I’m not really sure what it means, I am equally unsure about how relevant it is: (P39)

JACK
I had a buck for every one of you that had a plan to do something else I’d be living on a houseboat in Florida.

The film does not discuss the age of the characters directly in the film, but in a conversation between Nugent and Jack, the audience gets an impression of the age of both characters: (P51)

NUGENT
What are we doing here Jack? We’re both too old for this shit.

One specific approach the script writer has on the film, is to continuously include a clock or a watch throughout the film, so at specific moments the audience and characters are both aware of the time, and therefore the time remaining in how long they have left.

Eddie and Jack have an interesting relationship, very much that of an odd couple, but they do appear to have good chemistry. The two also have what appears to be a comedic angle between them, more so in the comedic timing of what they say as opposed to the words they use: (P69), (P84), (P91)

Intermittent glow from the BRAKE LIGHTS the only light source. The car begins to move and we’re plunged into darkness. After a moment…

(P69)

INT. TRUNK

EDDIE (OS)
Barry White.
(beat)
Stole three hundred tires and went to hail. He changed too.

JACK (OS)
Can it. We need the air.

(P84)

INT. BUS – SAME TIME

Jack HEARING the COMMOTION and peering out to see what’s happening. All he can see are CONFUSED SWAT TEAMS moving into the intersection and SCREAMING at someone…

Then BANGING on the bus DOORS. Jack looking over and seeing a NOTEBOOK slide between the rubber sleeves.

The DOORS are PRIED OPEN and Eddie steps into the bus.

EDDIE
Almost forgot. You never told me what you wanted on your cake.
JACK
Are you out of your mind!

EDDIE
Well I wanted to send you something. You know, to thank you for all you did for me.

Jack is almost speechless.

JACK
You got away, you dumb shit!

(P91)

Jack and Diane stare at each other for several moments.

JACK
Eddie? Meet my sister, Diane

EDDIE
Sister? Shit. For a second there I had hope for you. Even your family don’t like you.

The following is an interesting scene from the film, it does appear somewhat irrelevant but towards the end, is a very realistic take on family life…in this case Shaquille’s: (P66-68)

EXT. SHOE SHINE STAND – MORNING

SHAQUILLE EVANS sits on his high shoe shine chair, legs stretched. Munching on a Cinnabon, licking his fingers and watching gaggles of KOREAN GIRLS waddle by. A sign behind him reads: SHINIST OF FINE FOOTWEAR

Six-nine, 165 pounds, he looks like a praying mantis in shiny lime green sweats. A burn scar puckers his left cheek, drawing the eye into a permanent squint. An old thirty.

A SANITATION WORKER moseys up and holds out a twenty.

SANITATION WORKER
They said you got phone cards.

SHAQUILLE
I got phone cards, green cards, credit cards, ID cards. I’m the card kind, garbage man.

Shaquille reaching into his shine box and taking out a pile of pre-paid phone cards wrapped in a rubber band.

SHAQUILLE (cont’d)
How many minutes you want?

The worker takes a sixty minute card for his twenty and walks away revealing Jack and Eddie standing there.

INT. SHAQUILLE’S APARTMENT

The door opens and Shaquille leads Jack and Eddie inside. Ozzy and Harriet neat and clean with matching furniture and wall to wall.

SHAQUILLE
Honey! Look who’s here?
(beat)
I’ll get my keys.

Shaquille heads down the hall as his wife, SALMA appears in the kitchen doorway. Pretty Puerto Rican woman in her late 20’s. Her glare saying it all. She hates Jack.

JACK
(uncomfortable)
Salma.

She turns back into the kitchen without a word.

EDDIE
A guy saves your life you owe him. Therefore you take your best friend from that bus stop.

JACK
And leave the woman. I don’t think that makes you a good soul. Do you?

EDDIE
(slumping)
No.

Silence…Suddenly Eddie brightens.

EDDIE (cont’d)
Chuck Berry.
(off Jack’s look)
Was an armed robber. Went to prison.

Jack looks completely confused.

EDDIE (cont’d)
You said nobody changes. He changed.

Jack staring at Eddie.

EDDIE (cont’d)
What?

JACK
Nothing. I was just visualizing duct tape over your mouth.
(beat)
Shaq!

SHAQUILLE (O.S.)
One sec!

Shaquille emerging from the bedroom. Stops outside a doorway and motions Jack over. Jack peering into the den. Shaquille’s SON, 7, playing Playstation2.

JACK
Big.

SHAQUILLE
Eight next month.

About to start out when he looks at the big screen Sony.

SHAQUILLE
What’s that you’re playin’?

LITTLE SHAQUILLE
Nothing.

SHAQUILLE
Hey.

Kid shrugs sheepishly.

LITTLE SHAQUILLE
(almost inaudible)
Vice City.

SHAQUILLE
Turn it off.

LITTLE SHAQUILLE
Noooooooooooo!

SHAQUILLE
Turn it off or I’m disconnecting Playstation.

LITTLE SHAQUILLE
Bram and William play it.

SHAQUILLE
They swallow razor blades you gonna do that too? It’s too violent. It’s rated M. You know what that means? Now turn it off!

LITTLE SHAQUILLE
(turning it off)
I hate you.

Seeing The Story

Outline of film script:

The story follows the main character Jack Mosley, a burnt-out, alcoholic detective who is assigned the task of transporting a convict from jail to court which is 16 blocks away. However the twists come as along the way he learns that the man is supposed to testify against Mosley's work colleagues, and the entire NYPD wants him dead. Mosley from here has the task of choosing between loyalty to his colleagues and protecting the witness.

The story points across the dilemma of Jack choosing to guide Eddie to the court in spite of his colleagues wanting Eddie dead. The outlook in the film shows that despite the deadly threat for Jack doing the right thing, ultimately doing the right thing paid off.

The outlook just goes to show that no matter the size of the task ahead, doing what you perceive to be the right thing may well pay off.

Another topic the film brings up is the point that not everyone is a stereotype of what they perceive to be. This is brought into notice from Eddie’s character who throughout the film develops quite a good relationship with Jack, despite Jack’s scepticism of Eddie, especially including with comments relating to ‘all thief’s being nasty characters’.

The main character is a washed-up old detective and an alcoholic along with carrying a very noticeable limp.

In regards to the film, Jack is just another detective but with problems. What makes Jack important and the main character in the film, is the assignment he has been given, which turn all of his colleagues against him.

The way I have perceived the film from the script is that the camera positioning whilst following Jack and Eddie, is mainly shot from an audience point of view (this being from behind the pair, in line of the fire so to speak, over the shoulder of the pair, but so that the audience can also see more of the surroundings). The script is very much based on the attention to details in the action sequences. So the filming would be heavily reflected in this.

Jack is very much a part of the old school when it comes to his thoughts and way of dealing with issues.

Jack when given the assignments thinks differently to all his colleagues, whilst they want Eddie dead because he is going to testify against ‘one of them’, Jack wants to simply do his job and provide justice, and is outside the unity of his work colleague

Audio / Visual Design

The groups have been decided, the task has been set, and the roles have been assigned, all that is left is to finally agree on a specific documentary idea.
Brainstorming sessions have been good, and our group meetings have been useful. We have in mind exactly what we want to do for the documentary, we just have to find out exactly about the logistics and suitability of the idea, put it into practise and write the proposal.

So far, so good.

Web Design

After doing some research regarding companies logo's, my two main findings where actually quite obvious.
The first finding was that simplicity is best. The more simple and straight forward a logo is, more often than not the better it is, this is why the vast majority of all the major companies have a simplistic logo.
The second finding was that by simply changing the colour of a logo the difference, the whole impression the company gives out is completely different. I experimented this by simply swapping the colours of the daily mirror logo with the daily telegraph's logo, as soon as this was done, visually the impression the logo's gave were swapped.

Direction For Camera

After much deliberation, the film script that I have chosen to read as a bit of research before finally deciding my film script to use at uni, is 16 Blocks. The film was chosen as it was a film I wanted to see whilst it was at the cinema, but never got round to going. The script is 109 pages long, has been printed out, and currently I am half way through it.