Film Name Ideas

We came up with several possible film names for our production, all of which represent the theme and genre  of the film. However, we finally decided that Flight would be the most effective and appropriate name for our film. The name itself hints at both the effects of drug-taking, and also her desire to escape from the pressure of her mother.

My Role: Cinematographer

My role within the production will be cinematographer. 


This will require setting up and shooting the shots for the film, and ensuring that all are of a high quality. The camera will have to steady, and any movements will have to flow smoothly. All of the shots will have to be appealing to the eye. The shots and movements I chose to use will also have to portray meaning to the audience. The shots will also have to have some relevance to how the character is feeling, as this will allow the audience to connect with them more. Framing is of high importance when considering cinematography, as this is one of the key aspects that the audience notices upon viewing films and productions.

Key conventions of cinematography include:

• Using framing to convey meaning. One convention used in many films is that if the character is positioned to the left of the frame, it holds negative connotations, whereas if they are positioned on the right it holds positive connotations. Characters are rarely in the complete centre of the shot for the entirety of the film, as this does not look visually appealing. 
• Shallow depth of field is another key technique that cinematographers can use to show meaning. Usually, the character, although it could be an object if necessary, are in focus, whereas the background is blurred. This signifies how important the protagonist (or antagonist) is at progressing the narrative.
• Camera movements are not to be underestimated upon filming a production. They can have just as much meaning as mise-en-scene and varieties of shots. Tracking holds connotations of having scenes of high intensities, tilt tends to focus more on the characters themselves, and panning is generally used to set the location. 
• Different shots are the most evident forms of conveying themes and ideas to the viewer. Close ups allow an insight into the character's thoughts and feelings, establishing shots set the setting, and long shots hold connotations of isolation.

I will consider using all of these methods upon creating my own production. However, to ensure that my film is effective as it possibly can be, I will consider breaking these conventions and stereotypes to make it stand out. 

How has analysing short films inspired my own production?

Analysing short films has greatly helped me gather inspiration for my own short film. Each frame must carefully be set up to portray meaning to the audience, and be visually appealing to the eye. Sound and editing also have to be taken into consideration, as to give the short film a professional-looking appeal.

From analysing the short film 'Heart Work', it is evident that it is important to portray the protagonist of the film, Sophie, in a light which portrays her personality. Her costume is an vital part of this. It may also be a good idea to show Sophie using something like an iPod or a phone, as this will show her age group. 'Heart Work' also uses camera movement to effect. Seeing as my short film will be focusing on the usage of drugs, this may be a good technique to use. Camera movement distorts the audience, and allows them to empathize with how the characters are feeling. Lighting in 'Heart Work' is also used to portray meaning. There is a direct contrast between the lighting of the train station and the lighting of the urban area. The lighting portrays safety in one scene, and has the opposite effect in another. In my short film I will use the lighting in the ballet studio to portray safety, and the dim lighting of the street to unsettle the audience.

The analysis of 'Loved On Water' was very useful to my own production. The short film used sound to great effect. Throughout the short film the sounds of the ocean can be heard. This gives the audience a preferred reading, and makes them feel calm as the events on screen play out. For my own short film I will also use sound to portray a preferred reading. There will be one setting in a confined alleyway. The sound I will use here will be low, tension-building music. This short film also uses colour for effect. It uses cold, harsh colours (bright white and dull blue) which coincides with the shots of the sea. This continuality makes the audience feel more involved in the narrative. I will consider using this technique in my own production. Throughout 'Loved On Water' there are sound bridges. These sounds carry over two scenes, and ease them gently into one another. This is a good way of keeping the audience involved in the action which they are seeing on screen.

Both 'Heart Work' and 'Loved On Water' do not reveal the identity of the characters for a short while. I will do this in my own production. The film will begin by showing Sophie dancing, yet the audience will only see fragments of her body. This keeps the audience interested, as they will not know the identity of the protagonist.

Costume

Sophie Evergreen

 In the first scene of our film, the character Sophie will be dressed in a typical ballet dancer outfit including a leotard and dancing shoes.

In the second part of our film Sophie will be dressed more casually in her own clothes for going out. The contrast between the two costumes shows a divide between the two aspects of Sophie's life and how she feels she has to chose betweern them.

Evanna Evergreen

 
Because we dont see Evanna's face in our film, it is important that her costume reflects her personality. We want her to look 'prim and polished' to reflect her demanding nature over her daughter.

*Edit:*

Due to Evanna no longer being in the film, we no longer require her costume.

Shot list for Flight

First scene - Dance Studio
Camera is still in dance studio, Sophie is in corridor and turns on light. We see the light stream through the glass door. Establishing shot.
Close up/tracking of Sophie's feet walking to studio.
Close up of Sophie, waist down, walking through door.
Close up of specific parts of Sophie's body, stretching.
Camera pans up to Sophie starting to dance. --Music Starts-- 
*Various dance shots* *Collaged together to symbolize ellipse of time*
Long shot of Sophie walking out of room.
Camera slowly pans backwards in the studio and we see Sophie press the light switch, the room is plunged in darkness.

Scene Two - Sophie's Bedroom

--Classical Music fades into being played on a CD Player--
Medium shot of Sophie turning off the radio.
Medium close up of Sophie's face looking out window, sun flare.
Medium shot of Sophie turning on the CD Player and raising her arm ballet like.
Long shot of Sophie taking off her ballet shoes.
Close up of Sophie putting them in her ballet box.

Medium close up of Sophie looking in mirror and putting make-up on. (behind view)
Medium close up of Sophie's face, her still putting make-up on. (Front view)
Scene dramatically cuts to next street scene.

Scene Three - The Street

-- Music Speeds up, starts getting quicker --
Cuts to shot of Sophie's feet walking down street (jump cuts/animation)

Medium shot of Sophie drinking from alcohol bottle
Close up of Sophie buying drugs from man (jump cuts/animation)
*Various street shots TBD included here*

Long shot of Sophie walking into toilets. (jump cuts/animation)

Scene Four - Public Toilets

Close up of Sophie splashing face with water and looking at herself in mirror.

Camera pans backwards as toilet door shuts.
-- Music dramatically stops --
*Credits/Film Name appears of back of door*

Character Profiles

Sophie Evergreen

 played by Leanne Clarke

Sophie was born in the urban area of Hammersmith in London, November 12th,1993. She moved to the countryside district of Kent due to her father's commitments to his work. Sophie lives with her mother, Evanna, and father, John, as an only child. Sophie enjoys numerous activities, including horse-riding, swimming, badminton and ballet, which her mother is passionate for her daughter to pursue later in life, and encourages her to attend three times a week. She is a student at a public school, where she achieves above average grades. Despite her academical achievement, however, she has very little close friendships, due to her commitment to her ballet dancing. Sophie's ambition in life is to have a career in architecture, although she appreciates the time and effort her mother put into her dancing.

Evanna Evergreen

played by

Evanna is Sophie's mother. She pressures her daughter into a career of ballet-dancing, due to it being a previous, and still exisistant passion of hers. Despite her strict and professional approach, she has good intentions, and only wishes for her daughter to succeed. She has always accompanied Sophie to her ballet dancing classes from a young age, and has never missed any important recitals. Evanna teaches Sophie privately in their own dance studio, to ensure her success. Due to her motives for her daughter's success, a distance between mother and daughter has developed. Evanna has a high sense of self-worth, and prides herself in her appearance. The family's social status is of high value to Evanna and her husband.

Flight Information

Narrative
The narrative of 'Flight' is about a young woman tries to escape the pressures of her mother. Instead of conforming to her mother's wishes she resorts to hedomism. The narrative focuses on the young girls struggles of balancing two lifestyles - her mother's wishes and her own.

Location
We have decided to keep the locations to a minimum, to show the vast contrast between her two lifestyles. This also allows the audience to connect with her character and the narrative easier. We have settled on the dance studio, in which her mother is pressuring her to become a ballet dancer, the street (briefly), public toilets and the girl's bedroom.

Genre
The genre of 'Flight' is social realism, with elements of drama. We chose this genre to allow the themes of drug culture to be as realistic as possible which will result in a more effective, hard-hitting film.

Characters
There will be three characters in Flight, although the primary focus will be on the girl. The other two characters, the mother and the drug dealer will remain anonomous, thus to allow the audience to focus more on the girl and her story.