FILM MAKING

DEFINE FILM

• Film is a colloid art of storytelling.

• Films are something which is remembered, recalled and relished!

• If the basic unit of meaning in written texts is the WORD.

• The basic unit of meaning in film is the SHOT.

• The role of director controls the gaze through SHOTS.

Exercise on Gaze

• Put 2 thumbs in front

• Unique anatomy of our eye

• Camera is different – the size

Framing

• Shots are all about composition. Rather than

pointing the camera at the subject, you need to compose an image

• What we're looking at here are a few accepted industry guidelines which you should use as rules of thumb.

• The rules of framing video images are essentially the same as those for still photography.

Basic shot types

• 1.EWS (Extreme Wide Shot)

• In the EWS, the view is so far from the subject that he isn't even visible.

• The point of this shot is to show the subject's surroundings. The EWS is often

used as an establishing shot

• the first shot of a new scene, designed to show the audience where the action is taking place.

2.VWS (Very Wide Shot)

_The VWS is much closer to the subject.

• He is (just) visible here, but the emphasis is still on placing him in his environment. This also works as an establishing shot.

3.WS (Wide Shot)

• In the WS, the subject takes up the full frame. In this case, the boy's feet are almost at the bottom of frame, and his head is almost at the top.

• Obviously the subject doesn't take up the whole width of the frame, since this is as close as we can get without losing any part

of him.— you don't want to be cutting the top of the head off. It would also look uncomfortable if the feet and head were exactly at the top and bottom of frame.

• Long shot (LS) or full shot (FS). This is a shot from the top of their heads to at least their feet

• 4.MS (MidShot)• The MS shows some part of the

subject in more detail, whilst still showing enough for the audience to feel as if they were looking at the whole subject

• In fact, this is an approximation of how you would see a person "in the flesh" if you were having a

casual conversation.

A medium shot (MS) is normally a shot from the waist up.

• MS of the building

• With people it shows interaction between characters, including dialogue. Medium shots are also used to show

• 5.MCU (Medium Close Up)

• Half way between a MS and a CU. This shot shows the face more clearly, without getting uncomfortably close.

• A medium closeup(MCU) is a shot cropped between the shoulders and the belt line. Also called a bust shot.

• MCU of an object (based on full size of the object

• 6.CU (Close Up)• In the CU, a certain feature or part of

the subject takes up the whole frame. A close up of a person usually means a close up of their face.

• It is used• to create intimacy or to show

emotional responses from characters

• A CU can also be usedto focus on an object .

• Someone might be in the window?

7.ECU (Extreme Close Up)• The ECU gets right in and shows extreme detail. For

people, the ECU is used to convey emotion

• Extreme close-ups(XCUs) are reserved for dramatic impact. The XCU shot may show just the eyes of an individual.

• Use them to build suspense or to highlight an important fact.

• 8. Over-the-shoulder shot (O/S)

• This shows the camera looking at someone over the shoulder of another person nearer the camera.

• 9.CA (Cutaway)

• A cutaway is a shot that's usually of something other than the current action.The CA is used as a "buffer" between shots (to help the editing process), or to add

interest/information.

• 8. Cross-shot (X/S)

• This is a shot sequence in which the camera looks alternately at one or the other person, with the camera-near person completely out of the shot.

• Cross –shots

Some Rules of Framing1. Rule of Thirds

The basic principle behind the rule of thirds is to imagine breaking an image down into thirds (both horizontally and vertically) so that you

have 9 parts. As follows.

Points (or lines) of interest should occur at 1/3 or 2/3 of the way up (or across) the frame, rather than in the center.

Remember that breaking the rule can result in some striking shots – so once you’ve learnt it experiment with purposely breaking it to see what you discover.

Everything in your frame is important, not just the subject. What does the background look like? What's the lighting like? Is there

anything in the frame which is going to be distracting, or disrupt the continuity of the video?

CORRECT USE OF THE RULE OF THIRDSA.Still object

First image of the tree is incorrectly framed

This tree image uses the Rule of Thirds, framing the tree to the left third of the frame.

B. PERSON

This image of the person is incorrectly framed. The girl is centered in the picture.

This image of the girl uses the Rule of Thirds, moving the girl to the right. Don't center people unless you need to (such as in a news broadcast.)

2. Headroom:

• No Headroom: • The person may seem to be glued to

the top of the screen!

• Too Much Headroom: The person may look like they are sinking in the frame!

• Proper Headroom:

• The person has adequate space above the head.

•"Headroom", "looking room", and "leading room".

These terms refer to the amount of room in the frame which is strategically left empty

• The shot of the baby crawling has some leading room for him to crawl into…

• The shot of his mother has some looking room for her to look into.

3. Framing (faces)

• Give people "eye room" in the frame towards the direction they are looking. Do NOT center a person looking to one side of the frame.

• Look to see what is behind the person or object. Don't let the background take over or alter the look of the person or object.

• Allow the background to give the main subject some depth and dimension but don't allow people or objects in the background to distract from the scene.

Depth and "not boring" are two very important things to think about in a scene. You don't want flat looking

pictures.

Have some background but try to

control what is going on at all times. Use people in your shots to add interest and to add more depth.

Camera Angles, Panning and Zooming

The angle of the camera can have a very strong and direct impact on viewers.

The following are 3 examples of camera angles:

1) Low Angle – Placing the camera at a low angle suggests a dominant subject, having power over the viewer. This angle may be used to portray

kings or rulers, rock musicians, gun fighters, or majestic architects. DO NOT OVERUSE THIS ANGLE IN ANY ONE PRODUCTION.

2) High Angle – Placing the camera at a high angle suggests a recessive subject,

giving the viewer a feeling of power over the subject. This angle may be used to portray a character in despair. DO NOT OVERUSE THIS ANGLE IN ANY ONE

PRODUCTION.

3) Straight-On Angle – Placing the camera straight on suggests a neutral relationship

between the subject and the viewer. The subject appears to be an equal; a friend; unbiased. This angle may be used for newscasters, or in documentary and educational videos.

A. Panning: Try NOT to pan when shooting. But, if you must:

• 1. Use it to show a wide panorama that you can't fit into the camera frame such as landscapes and moving objects.

• 2. Make the pan last at least 6-7 seconds but no more.

• 3. Try to start still for 5 seconds, then do the 6-7 second pan, them hold the shot for 5 more seconds.

• 4. Practice panning to get a smooth move or to follow someone or something moving in a smooth manner. Most of the time "cut" to a close-up or long-shot, don't zoom.

• 5.TILT

• 6. DOLLY IN AND

• OUT

B. Zooming: Zooming in and out is a sign of someone just begriming to use a video camera. Try to NEVER use the zoom for a shot. Can your eyes zoom? No. So zooming is not a natural type of shot. But IF you do zoom, make it meaningful.So why have a zoom? To get closer to something when you can't physically more closer to it.

• Zoom in on something or someone specific to make a point, like a dramatic zoom in to see an expression of surprise.

• Use zoom to frame up a shot. Use it to frame up the next shot. In other words, shoot a scene, stop filming, zoom in, and film again.:

• A very slow zoom might work if you need to move closer to a subject who is busy doing something.

FILM MAKING TECHNIQUES: Video

CHARACTERISCTICS OF A FILM MAKER

• 1. A film maker is POETRY

• 2. A film maker is CINEMATOGRAPHER

• 3. A film maker is a screen writer

• - put spectacle in your film-(pampagising)

• 8. A film maker is an AUTOBIOGRAPHER

• - direct emotions

• 9. A film maker is an ACTOR

• - identify your dream shot

• 10. A film maker is a LOVER

• - frame your ideas

• - proper screening of the role is important

• 11. A film maker is HISTORIAN

• 12. A film maker is a SCIENTIST

– - apply logic

• 13. A film maker is a SHAMAN ( Magician)

Film sample: Hele niLorna

SCREEN PLAY• How to write a script?

• Every paragraph of action lines should be 3 lines or less;

• use the least amount of words possible;

• remember to keep everything in present tense;

• The best screenwriters keep their action description at two lines per paragraph

• Every single one of those four aspects is important (short sentences, terse description, easy to visualize and evocative verbs;

• Only write what we can SEE or HEAR on screen – and nothing more.

• Example:She’s hurting inside, and we can see it. She’s a fighter though, so finding her inner composure, she puts the journal down on the table.

• That’s amateurish screenwriting for several reasons:

• She angrily wipes away a tear before slamming the journal down on the table.

• Try to keep 95% of your dialogue lines to 3 lines or less.

• Cut anything about your characters or their actions that doesn’t add depth, layers, or insight into their state of mind;

• . My rule of thumb is to always try and stay 3 lines or less with action, and 3 lines or less with dialogue, back and forth, back and forth, and keep it MOVING

• AIM BIG

SAMPLE SCREEN PLAY

• ANG HELE NI LORNA•

• SEQ.1. INT. SALA. DAY.• Baby shower. Masaya si LORNA habang isa-isa nitong binubuksan ang mga

regalo galing sa mga kaibigan na guro. Nakapalibot sa kanya ang MGA KAIBIGAN. Papalakpak at maghihiyawan ang mga ito tuwing iniaangat ni Lorna ang laman ng mga regalo. Maririnig ang ring tone ng cell phone. Makikilala niLorna ang ring tone. Dali dali nitong kakapain ang paligid na puno ng gift wrappers at boxes hanggang sa matagpuan niya ang cell phone. Tatayo ito at maglalakad papalayo.

FRIEND 1Bana siguro.

FRIEND 2Hoy, Lorna. Ayaw dagan.

Basig ma-slide ka.

ORDER OF SEQUENCES(Matrix type)

• 1. Seq. number

• 2. 1 liner

• 3. Interior/Exterior ( I/E)

• 4. Location

• 5. Character/s

• 6. Special Requirements

LOG SHEET( Matrix type)

• 1. Serial number

• 2. Sequence number

• 3. Description

• 4. Angle

• 5. Take/s

• 6. Remarks

• 4. A film maker is a MUSICIAN

• 5. A film maker is an ARTIST

– - think the overall composition of your film

• 6. A film maker is an EDITOR

• 7. A film maker is Fearless

– - as long as it talks about truth!

THANK YOU & GOD BLESS!