IB Film SAS Y1

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Comment by David on November 16, 2009 at 5:08pm

More info on Documentary Project:

Films
If you have confirmed with me that I have some or all of your directors' films, they are on the server. You can upload them to your computer or USB. Do NOT try to edit them from the server, it will give you much stress.

Ripping
If I do NOT have your films, you will need to rip them yourself. You can use the program called "HANDBRAKE" - you can download it for free offline. Just google it. I also have it installed on all 5 computers at the back of my room.

To rip a film:
1. Click on "Source" and choose the DVD
2. If it has subtitles, click the 'audio and subtitles' tab and make sure 'english' is clicked.
3. Output settings: .mp4
Click "Start".
That's it. When its done you can open it in Quicktime.

Cutting Clips out of Quicktime:

1. Open up film.
2. Find the start of the clip you want. click the "i" key (in point).
3. Find the end of the clip you want. click the "o" key (out point).
4.Go to Edit--->Trim to Selection
5.Go to *SAVE AS*- do not go to just *SAVE* this will over write your original file with the clip. Save it as a different name (i.e. Weekend at Bernies Clip One). You can then import these clips into imovie or final cut.

Comment by David on November 16, 2009 at 4:32pm

Instructions for Foley assignment: Mr. Thompson will introduce, and will tell you when to get started on this:


1. Log on to the Class Server for Digital Video:
afp://studentpx.saschina.org
user: Digital Video
password: director

Go to the folder marked "foley"

2. Choose a clip. Make sure no one else is using it.

3. Drag it into iMovie HD.

4. Watch the clip. Once. If there is any dialogue, write it down.

5. Extract the audio and delete the sound.

6. Re-do ALL the sound in the scene, for this you can use:

a) .caf files (these are sound files already on the computer. There are LOTS of them, do a search)

b) Files in the sound archive. These are in the Sound folder on the Digital Video server.

c) Make your own foley sounds. You must use at least 5 sounds you make yourself. This can include dialogue if there is any (but all the dialogue counts as one sound). You can use common objects you bring in, or find around the room. You will have two class periods to work on this, so think about what you can bring in if you need something for a sound.

d) Download sounds off the internet.

e) Add music that you compose with Garage Band.

The final scene does NOT need to be exactly like the original. You can make whatever creative changes you think would work well in your new scene. You will not be able to reproduce the original exactly, try to find other creative ways of completing the scene through film.

Useful Resources:
http://www.filmsound.org/foley/newtons_apple/index.htm

Comment by David on November 11, 2009 at 11:34am

The script should follow the following four points, and use a combination of still images, footage from the actual films, and researched information.

You may handle this in any manner of styles. The more creative, the better.


You can rely entirely on the footage and still images. You can greenscreen yourself (or someone who you beg on to be your narrator) in front of some of the director's work. You may handle the documentary in any creative way that you choose, as long as you include the following information:

1.The first part of your project should introduce your director. What is s/he known for? Who were his/her influences? What are some filmic elements that we see repeated throughout their career?

The second part of the movie should compare and contrast different films that they've made keeping these filmic elements in focus (get it? "in focus"? Ha ha ha). Here you're looking at various elements of Mis-En-Scene

2. Choose 1 scene from each movie and explain how they compose the shot to set mood/tone, or advance the plot. How do they use framing? How is kinesis used? How is camera movement used?

3. In the same scenes, compare the following elements of mis-en-scene: lighting, setting, costuming & makeup.

4. Conclusion: How do these elements that you've discussed work together to create a style and tie into theme? How do they fit into their historical and cultural time period (in other words, what effect has the world had on them, and what effect have they had on cinema?)

Here is an example of how to set up your script:

Shot 1: The tile "The Strange World of David Lynch" appears over an image of a blue curtain.
Voiceover: Welcome to the strange world of David Lynch. You might not realize it, but the dark and twisted world that we see in so many of his films is actually...

Shot 2: The curtain opens to reveal the following images: the Liberty Bell
Shot 3: Still Image of Independence Hall
Short 4: Still Image of Philadelphia Skyline
Voiceover: Yes, David Lynch has often described his disturbing dystopias in one word: Philadelphia. The city of brotherly love.

Shot 5: Video of Mr. Gran sitting in front of a picture of David Lynch (Green Screened)
Voiceover: Hi, I'm Mr. Gran. You might remember me from such classes as "IB Film" or "Digital Video". Today I'm going to explain how David Lynch's unique style reflects his ongoing theme, that things are not always what they seem - that in fact, when you look beyond the surface reality, there are terrible hidden secrets.... Let's take a trip at the world of Philadelphia through David Lynch's eyes. You might not ever eat a cheese steak again.

Comment by David on November 10, 2009 at 12:02am

Marco, please post this in the discussion above. Thanks.

Comment by Marco Vitali on November 9, 2009 at 7:06pm

1. Who is your director?
Pedro Almodovar

2. Which 3 films will you watch?
Broken Embraces, Volver, All about my Mother

3. List three stylistic choices that your director is known for.

His films are mostly complex narratives that employ melodrama and use elements of pop culture, popular songs, irreverent humor, strong colors and glossy décor.

“Almodóvar is openly gay,and he has incorporated elements of underground and gay culture into mainstream forms with wide crossover appeal, thus redefining perceptions of Spanish cinema and Spain.” Because of this hid films are considered sensible.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pedro_Almodóvar#Filmography)


4. List one or two major themes that your director explores.

The majority of his films have strong feminist themes. He often tends to be rather sympathetic to females and male characters struggling with their sexuality.
(http://almodovar.tribe.net/thread/7ed91d95-0ad0-470b-8c21-216ab192d6a0)

The “Movida Generation”

Comment by David on November 9, 2009 at 8:18am

First Director's film due w/ analysis: Wednesday 11/11
Mis En Scene Quiz: 11/13

Comment by David on October 30, 2009 at 3:17pm

Thanks Hearin, please add that to the discussion above.

Comment by Hearin Ko on October 30, 2009 at 3:03pm

1. Who is your director?
Bong Joon Ho
2. Which 3 films will you watch?
"Memories of Murder", "The Host", "Mother"
3. List three stylistic choices that your director is known for.
We can see common choices he makes for all of his movies.
First: is that all the main characters in his movies are people who you can find easily. They are the ordinary people with the most ordinary life. They could be one of your friends, neighbors, etc.
Second: All the titles of his movies are very contradicting to the plot of the story or sometimes has a hidden meaning. For example, word memories (Chu uk in Korean) in "Memories of the Murder" indicates a happy memory in korean. However, the story is about murder.
Third: He adds many humors into his movie.
4. List one or two major themes that your director explores
Director Bong makes movies with themes regarding to family. For example, the movie "the Host" , tells the importance about family and love. For "Mother", however tells how the love in family can sometimes be a tenacity, or possesive.

Comment by David on October 29, 2009 at 1:04pm

Many directors that we will look at throughout the IB Film class have both a recognizable style and a theme that is explored throughout multiple films. For your documentary project you will choose one of these directors and create a 7 minute film using a combination of stills and clips throughout which you explain how your director uses various elements of film language (editing, sound, cinematography, lighting, film stock, special effects, costume, makeup, etc) to communicate theme in their films.

You may choose any of the directors we discussed (except for John Patrick Shanley, he doesn't have a large enough body of work) or choose your own. You will have to watch 3 films by the director that you choose, so be sure to choose a director that either has films a) in my collection, b) in your collection, or c) something you can find in Shanghai or online.

Create a blog post that answers the following questions:

1. Who is your director?
2. Which 3 films will you watch?
3. List three stylistic choices that your director is known for.
4. List one or two major themes that your director explores.

The object here is not to provide a comprehensive explanation of what your director has achieved in their films, but rather to set up a framework for understanding what to look for as you being watching their work.

The links below should be helpful to you in finding information about your directors. Please post your responses in the discussion above.


Guardian's 40 Best Directors
Internet Movie Database
Senses of Cinema
Film Education's Resource Library
Empire Online
Zeroland's Film Directors
Strictly Film School
The Auteurs

Comment by David on September 24, 2009 at 12:27pm

Due Dates:
Footage for your self portrait project: due wednesday.

Run Lola Run: Take one scene and analyze how the cinematography, lighting, editing, and sound build the tone and theme of the film (you'll need to identify a tone and a theme to do this, obviously).

Analysis due the week after break. Because we're using the website, assignments posted here will be 'week of', not on a specific day. That should give you some flexibility on when you do these assignments. Post your analysis as a blog post on your own page. Just so you know- just because this is online doesn't mean you don't have to use complete sentences and proper grammar and spelling. OK? 1337sp33k is 4 teh n00bs. Go it? ;)


Next class: come with ideas for a music video. Choose a song that suggests a story, or at least creates interesting visual images in your mind. Brainstorms and storyboards will be done in class.

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