AS Film evaluation

Lock stock

The first film i evaluated was Lock stock and two smoking barrels by Guy Richie. This is a greatly enspiring film and certain aspects I would ideally like to introduce in to my groups film although this would have to go through the direcet, Layla of whom may chose to discuss it amougst the group.

The film gets off to an intense start featuring a chase, it follows a range of different shots featuring close ups and mid range to long range shots to show the drama taking place, and to ensure the viewer is drawn into the movie, the first few minutes are important, if the viewer is not drawn they may not view the rest. From the beginning of this film I have learnt to ensure that every aspect of my groups production will need to be powerful and effective, entising the viewer..... I have also learnt from the use of camera shots that this can place a large affect on the film, coupled with music. If the camera shot is distant and long range the music may be sudden building up momentum, of cause this will vary depending on aims and objectives set by the Director.

The film envolves four main characters,much like the film I am envolved in, I therefore gain the understanding that with such a succesful film rated 8/10, mine can equally be very good and it does have the potential to work as four characters are present in it also...... however this film is based on commedy and violence where the film I am focusing on is potentially based on the theme of horror , with slight reflection on commedy.

Snatch

The second film I set out on watching was "Snatch" again produced by Guy Richie, both films share simialr characteristics as you may expect and focus on humour and action.

The film combines several stories, from the heist of a diamond to an incomprehensible gypsy with a mean right hook (Brad Pitt). One main element I like about the two films is the fact, Guy Richie manages to cleverly weave these segments and ideas into a whole, however having been a great fan of Guy Richies movies this second and perhaps not so succesful movie seems a little patchy featuring to many uninteresting and unneccasary characters and dialouge reflecting poorly upon the film.

This is an aspect I do not want to carry over to my film, it is important that the characters are lively and play respective rolls, with little or no dialogue present hense few roles have been assigned and no speech will be taking place.

A strong element is the commedy throughout, Brad Pitt plays the role of a Pikey really well, reflecting someone who may be more than he seems. I wish for my film to be exciting and equally leaving the viewer in suspense, throughout Pitts role he continues to excite the viewer and offer suspense, wth humerous lines written by Guy Richie.

Again, having watched the pair their is an undeniable sense of, been there done that with pervades the whole film. The two share very simialr camera shots, starting with close ups on the quick fire opening.

Of course, I and my group are focusing on the introduction to a film so this does not place to greater affect. We will need to look at a variety of camera shots to ensure there is a differential facter keeping the viewer entertained.

Having analyzed both productions I realise how there is allot of focus on close ups, and mid ranged shots placing emphasis on action, whereas shots grabbing the viewers attention and escalation focus on establishing shots.

Though my film will not present commedy, nore dialogue general elements such as the range of shots and the way they are grouped will be introduced to the film.

To gain an accurate understanding to film oppenings and understand why these shots have been performed and the affect placed on the reader I looked at a different genre, which didn't focus so much on commedy.

Lost

The third film analyzed was Lost. Lost is a fairly cheaply producded film, but to no extent is it working with a simialr to budget to that of mine. Season one is an action packed set, featuring large distrubing noises, fires, explosions and abductions...... My film is based on simialr events and settings, I have therfore taken close note to the camera shots and diagetic and none diagetic noises used to see the effect on the viewer and film. This will also help when planning my story board, as i can take note of the individual cuts and set lists.

The film uses a variety of shots to build up tention and suspense In the film, emphasis is also built with the use of a POV placing the viewer in the actors position. The film my group is focusing on bares simialarity to thee of lost. It is set in a jungle/forest and it focuses on an individual being lost, tention is then built up through the use of clever shots, and POV's enforcing the idea of lonelyness allowing the viewer to emphasize with the character, perhaps linking it to a personal experience.

Lost is based on trauma, and action implements a vast amount of this. A strong feature to lost is the flashbacks in which the character flashes back to a moment in which they remember, this is an effective characteristic to the film and it shares the same roll in this as it does mine. Because they have a simialar story line the flashbacks are introduced to pick up the pace of the film, and perhaps give the viewer a greater understanding to what is actuallly taking place, it also build up momentum which is an important factor in the initial five minutes, to draw attention and ensure that the reader wants to see more....

One element that cannot be implemented is, character development. There is a vast amount of characters in the Lost series, these have been cleverly picked and developed, Lost is based on relationships whereas "Black-out" the film I am focusing on is based on deseat and betrail, though this can equally be displayed in the Lost series as survivers gain an understanding they are not the only ones on the island, this provides anticipation which is inevitably a very important aspect.

Of the lost collection season one was picked because it is clearly the first segment to the season, however the main reason being that season one is in effect one great, long introduction to the complete series so this is a mirror to the first five important minutes of my film...... having purchased a copy in blue ray and watched the series two or three times over I am confident that this has worked very well, and the small slice of footage and introduction is all that is needed in order to hook the viewer and ensure they purchase/want to watch the rest.

Having looked at a suitable range of films that potentially place an effect on my film, I have decided to watch a number of shorter, introductories to films simialr to the task set so i can gain an understanding of the quality being produced.

I focused on retrieving information with regards to mise en scene, dialogue and camera shots used in these short introductions. I wanted to see what i was up against, and perhaps gain an understanding of special affects to gain an understnaidng to what software etc, was required.

Five minute movies

I looked at house wifes 14, this is a powerful renowned film famous for it's abillity to engage the audience and keep them entertained, it achieves this through it's choise of commedy, camera shots and mise en scene .

The clip analyzed focused on love and relationships, it emphasized this through the use of dim lighting and red props, reflecting the theme of love and passion. The clip also has a slight twist as you expect the couple to participate in sexual activity, then an argument breaks out giving the viewer the understanding that the red is equally related to hatred, this idea is then reinforced by dimlighting and close camera shots on the face.

This films bears imagery to ours, it poses various camera shots to emphasize the characters state of mind and the mood is set by the lighting surrounding, this is an important factor as lighting plays an important role and it can and will be used to set the mood fo the film.

Trainspotting

The opening five minutes to this film are very effective as they introduce a different stlye of filming to what the average person baring an interest in film is use to. It combines mixed shots ranging from close ups and mid range shots placing emphasis on anger and agression to long range shots placing focus on a different area.

The film kick starts witha chase followed by an extreme close up on a number of characters posing in the form of a "mug shot" thus creating the impression that the film is perhaps violent and drug related. From the first five minutes you are geared up for an intense film but left after the five minutes is up.

One very clever element to this film is the use of a Match on action shot which creates a physcologically great feel to it and it also works very well the way it is used, this would be a shot I would love ti implement though it would seem tricky and it may prove hard finding a suitable scene to shot it.

Never the less this is a very powerful start to a film and although this has a different theme to my groups, certain aspects such as the upbeat music and general pace to the movie will be adapted.

To conclude the film reviews it has been a great help admiring other pieces of art and picking certain aspects which I believe would work well with our film, certain elements such as rhythem and beat to music used to illustrate violence and action, or perhaps Male dominancy and authority.

I concentrated on films that would ultimately place an effect on my final production, be it small or large each film contributed towards decisions made, however to ensure I have a full understanding I will continue to watch films relating to my groups interests.

Films I plan on watching consist of the following:

1. The complete lost series one: In order to greaten my understanding of shots and affects used and see how I can relate them to mine.
2. The cast away: Again this film features a simialar story line about one man (Tom Hanks) who gets cast away and inevitably he goes mad.
3. Shaun of the dead: This is a slightly different film to one you may expect, though it features a handful of action scenes and from this i hope to look at the shots used.
4. The minority report: Very intense opening addressed the film directly .
5. Carpenter: Believed to carry an effective opening wit reference to the tite
6. Saw: Holds an interactive opening which poses danger from the offset.