Level 2 Creative Media Documentary Filmmaking

Level 2 Creative Media Documentary Filmmaking
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZf-nWogG9Q













What is it called?
Reggie Yates in a Texan Jail

Who directed it?
There wasn't a director. There was two executive producers, Morgan Roberts and Colleen Flynn

Is there a presenter? If so who is presenting it? 
Yes there is a presenter. The person who presented the documentary is called Reggie Yates.

What is the story?
Reggie Yates spends one week in Bexar County Jail, Texas, he eats, sleeps and works with the inmates inside the jail. America incarcerates more people than any other country in the world, and the county of Texas jails the most percentage of people out of all the states in the USA. he shows what life is really like on the inside of an American jail, and shows what the real impact of being locked up in America's criminal justice system.

Is there a voice over? Voice of God.
There is no voice over.

Is it convincing? Why?
In my opinion the documentary is convincing, this is because the documentary is shot inside the jail and includes real life prisoners that share their experience. It is also convincing because Reggie (presenter) lives the life a prisoner for week, this gives you sense of trust of the footage. It is also very entertaining

Who is interviewed? Expert witnesses?
In the documentary the people interviewed include:

• Prisoners
• Prison Guards 
• People with authority in the prison e.g. Warden
• Specialist inside the psychology ward
• The presenter gives his opinion, on his experience
• People that are close to the prisoners 

The documentary included narration throughout. It was narrated by the presenter Reggie Yates and he gave his insight when the camera showed some scenes of him inside his cell after each day in the prison.

It included lots of interviews with Prisoners and Prison Guards, which gave the viewer an insight into there opinion on the problems inside the prison.

It included stills of the prison and of the prisoners, which introduces the viewer in the documentary.

There was music played throughout the documentary, which generally played when there was pan shots of the prison and inside the prison, which showed the viewer the prison inside and outside in its entirety. This also included an establishing shot.

Pre-Production video ideas

• Documentary on friends everyday lives/issues
• made up drama 
• experiences in secondary school.

Zoom out shot

a point of view shot down a corridor

do not use unnecessary close up shots 

think about continuity of the production

try and open up with an establishing shot

Film trailer analysis

The Great Wall Trailer (2017) Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oSlv41rf9fI
In the trailer of the great wall they use a range of camera shots/angles,these include:

• Establishing shot that pans over the mountains.
• Medium shot of a main character. This introduces him to the audience.
• Low angle makes enemy look superior. 
• Close up for effect, makes his expression more obvious.
• High angle makes the character look as though he is getting further away as he jumps off a cliff.
• Extreme long-shot shows army running at the enemy.

Guardians Trailer (2017) Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AH_D8COMbhc

In the trailer of Guardians there is a range of camera shots/angles,these include:

• Establishing shot of the character and where it is set.
• Close-up shows emotion.
• Extreme long-shot of character approaching.
• Medium shot that shows enemy approaching 'Guardian', this creates a dramatic effect.
• Longshot of building burning leads to a panic effect.
• Extreme close-up of helicopter that has been shot.

Poster 1 (Last Stand of the Wreckers) - Sci-Fi, It is a film for younger kids, would tend to come out in the summer when kids aren't at school. For example, Transformers. This poster shows that the film has a lot of action and it looks very entertaining.

Poster 2 (The angel experiment Maximum Ride) - Sci-Fi, It is a film for aimed at most ages, it would come around christmas. For Example Avengers. These posters show that this is a hero film and it includes a woman with wings.This could interest fans of certain interests like hero films.

Poster 3 (Left4Dead)- Horror, It is a film aimed at 18+, it would come out at around Halloween to maximize audience. For example Lights Out. These two posters show that these films are horrors and that the film include zombies.This would highly interest fans and generate a big audience.

How to use a Vending machine

1. Title 

2. Longshot of vending machine

3. Close-up of inserting coin 

4. Close-up of pressing buttons 

5. Medium shot of item (cat) falling out

6. Medium shot of person getting item

7. Close up of retrieving change 

Stop motion

Mise En Scene

Session Aims 

• Understand the concept of mise en scene 
• Apply the concept to a film extract

Mise en scene: Is the visual information in front of the camera
Made up of five elements:

• Settings & Props 
• Costume, hair & makeup
• Facial expression & body language 
• Lighting & colour 
• Positioning of characters/objects within the frame 

Each aspect of mise en scene has hidden meanings within a film and sends signals to the audience about how we are supposed to feel at a certain point.

1. Settings & props 

• Sets are either built from scratch or a great deal of time is spent finding a set that already exists.
• Settings can manipulate an audience by building certain expectations and then taking a different turn.

Sci-Fi

• Space
• Planets
• Futuristic technology
• Wars

Rom-Com

• Paris
• Bedroom
• School

Horror

• Woods/Forest
• Home alone 
• Abandoned building 
• Dark setting 
• Knife 
• Mask

2. Costume, hair & makeup

• Costume, hair & makeup actas an instant indicator to a characters personality , status & job
• Certain costumes can signify certain individuals
• it tells us immediately whether the film is set in the present and in what culture it will centre around. 

3. Facial expressions and body language 

• Facial expressions provide a clear indicator of how someone is feeling
• If someone is smiling broadly, we assume they're are happy, but we may get a different feeling if it is accompanied by scary music
• Body language may also indicate how a character feels about another character or may reflect the state of the relationship

Image 1 

• Is a sci-Fi film
• The setting is a alley way
• Spidermans costume

Rom-Com costume

Sci-Fi prop

Horror prop

Horror

Sci-Fi

Rom-Com

Fim type

Action movie 

RomCom

Sci-Fi

Horror

Camera Shots

Camera shots

• Long shot- A long shot shows the whole subject
• Medium shot- A medium shot shows the subject in relation to its immediate surroundings
• Close-Up shot- a close-up shot shows one part of the subject,usually in great detail

In close-ups we can understand how a character feels. "get into the head" of that character.

An establishing shot at the start of a scene tells viewers where they are.

Close Up shot

Medium shot

Long shot

Camera angles

Camera Angles
1. High angle- Makes the subject appear weak and/or small.
2. Eye-level- The impression is neutral.
3. Low angle- The feeling of power, or domineering, depending how exaggerated the angle is.
4. Reverse angle- The camera shows what the subject is seeing.
5. Oblique angle- Shot by laterally tilting the camera frame and making the characters or objects look askew.

Camera movements
1. Panning- Camera stays same position but turns left to right.
2. Tracking- When camera changes its position by moving left to right.
3. Elevating- When the camera changes its position by moving up or down.
4. Dollying- Changing the camera's position by moving it forward or backwards.
5. Tilting- When the camera stays in the same position but turns up or down.
6. Zooming In/Out- Even when the camera is stationary it can appear to move closer to, or further from, its subject by using a special ring or lever on the lens.

fill the kettle
switch on the kettle till it boils
put teabag in mug
pour boiled water over teabag
leave the tea to stew for a minute
remove teabag with spoon
add milk sugar and stir

Learning Outcomes

1. Carry out pre-production for a video product
2. Be able to contribute in a technical capacity in the creation of a video product
3. Carry out post-production for a video product
4. Be able to review own video production work

Production

Sausage Party
The Martian
Bad Neighbors

Production process

1. Pre-Production
Idea
Funding
Planning
Crew are hired
Locations selected
 2. Production
Camera
Costume
Film recorded
Props
3. Post-Production
Editing
Special effects for sound and visual effects
Marketing

Important step to consider when editing: CONTINUITY

Film Personnel

• Director - Creates conditions for making the film. Directing the actors, organizing and selecting the locations in, which the film will be shot, and managing technical details such as positioning of the the camera, the use of lighting,timing and contents of film soundtrack.Though the director wields a lot of power, they are ultimately subordinate to the films producer or producers. E.g JJ Abrams
• Producer - The producer initiates, coordinates, supervises and controls matters such as raising funds, hiring key personnel, and arranging for distributors. The producer is involved throughout all phases of the film making process from development to completion of a project e.g George Lucas
• Cinematographer - The chief of the lighting and camera crew of the film. They make decisions on lighting and framing of a scene in conjunction with the films director. Typically, the director tells them how they want the shot to look.
• Editor - Assembles various shots into coherent film, with the help of the director. There are usually several assistant editors. An example of an editor is Chris Dickens who edited slum dog millionaire.
• Sound designer - In charge of post-production sound of a movie. Sometimes this may involve great creative license, and other times t may mean working with the director and editor to balance the sound to there liking.
• Production designer - Responsible for creating the physical, visual appearance of the film - settings, costumes and character makeup, all taken as a unit. The production designer works closely with the director and the cinematographer to achieve the look of the film.
• Costume designer - Responsible for all costumes worn by all actors that appear on screen. They are also responsible for designing, planning, and organizing construction of garments worn down to fabric, colors and sizes. The costume designer works closely with the director to understand the "character" and counsel with production designer.
• Actor - Acts in the dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or in radio in that capacity.