Sound Research

I have recently started to work on sound in film and I have learned a lot about how sound can make or break potential film pieces. Survey's show that 70% of film viewers watch a film at the cinema because of it's sound. Sound is a key feature to film, as it helps tell the story, makes the shots interesting, and makes it real for the audience. Even when the silent movies came out, there was still Non-Diegetic sound (background music) to make it more interesting. 
The types of sound I have been focusing on are non-Diegetic and Diegetic.  

Diegetic

Diegetic sound is sound that we as audience AND the actors could hear. This includes things such as dialogue, footsteps, music on the radio and background noise on set. Even though these sounds seem real, it is very interesting to know that all of these sound effects are in fact Foyle sounds (Added on after shooting). 

Non-Diegetic

Non-Diegetic sound is the sound we as the audience hear, however the actors on set don't. For example, background music and Voice Over help explain the scene to the audience. However, nobody on set knows anything about it. 

The scene I focused on for my research was taken from James Bond's Casino Royale, Click the video clip to watch the scene. 

Short Clip- Camera Shots in practice

In a lesson, we were given a small brief telling us to make a short clip of camera shots, without audio, showing one person giving another some bad news. We had to do this by showing emotion through camera shots. We decided to use lego men for this so we could get the right emotion. We used a variety of camera shots, for example:

• An establishing shot- this sets the scene
• Reverse shot- this shows that the lego men are having a conversation, flicking between characters. This also includes the 180 degree rule.
• Wide shot- this shows the characters within the surrounding, still showing they are talking.
• A close up on the face, showing tension and worry from the build up.
• A high angle shot, showing the other character is 'pregnant' (bad news), also still showing her happy emotion.
• A close up on the face- showing panic and fear from the bad news.
• High andgle shot- used to show the powerless character, dropping his cup in shock.
• Another wide shot- used to show the character falling over, in shock, compared to the surroundings.
• Two ariel shots are used to exaggerate the shock, and the problem, one without the other character, and then one with the other character.
• An eye level shot- used to show the 'evil' emotion on the characters face, looking upon the shoked character.
• A reverse shot- used to show the character walking away, emphasising the point of her'not caring' and leaving him.

We found it fairly difficult to put the shots together and make it run freely, so it does look a bit more like a slideshow then a film.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oGD8BgksQ-o

Lego Movie Planning

Our brief for the short clip is to create a clip of one character giving the other character bad news, not including any audio, just focusing on camera shots and angles. As we can not include any dialogue, it makes us focus more on expressions, angles and shots and how important they are to the film. This is our storyboard:

Camera shots- Fast and Furious 6 scene

Continuing on from my previous post on camera shots, I have analysed a scene from 'Fast and Furious 6' to demonstrate camera shots in films. I have found lots of different camera shots during the scene and have recognised the meanings and purposes of them. 

1. At the very start of the scene, there is a quick establishing shot. This is used to allow the audience to understand the setting.
2. After that, there are lots of reverse angle shots, showing what the people are seeing in the scene, and reinforces the speed of the cars. 
3. Close ups are used on peoples faces to show emotion and feelings and used on actions to show intensity of the chase such as gear changes or exhausts.
4. Eye Level shots are used to draw the audience in and make it feel real for them- as if they are there.
5. Big close ups are used on props from intensity such as cables tightening to trap the tank.
6. Reverse angle shots on the tank flipping. This shows destruction and action.
7. Medium long shots/ long shots are also used to show the vast destrucion and acion packed setting.
8. High and Low angle shots are used to show the vast scale of destruction. 
9. A birds eye few or aerial shot is used also to show the intensity of destruction by showing the height of the blast. 
10. Another establishing shot is used to show the audience the setting in destruction. 
11. Eye level shots are used again to make the audience feel as if the action is coming towards them.

To watch the clip, click the video clip.

Camera Shots

I have created a power point presentation to show the different methods of camera shots used in the film industry.
I have explained how and why these shots work, including the meanings they imply to the audience. All of these shots are recognised. However, the majority of the audience do not understand the reasons why the producer has used the shot. 
The whole purpose of camera shots is to draw the audience in, and help them use their imagination. 

Below is a link to the PowerPoint presentation that you will be able to view in a separate window.

Media Studies- Camera Shots