Introduction to coursework

For our A2 coursework we were set the task of creating and filming a short film. The film must be close to 5 minutes run time and be appropriate to a target audience of our choice as well as fitting into a genre.

The film must also cover several key areas. These are the narrative devices that our film must include:

• The film must have a theme of time
• There must be a secondary theme of reference to technology
• There must be at least one narrative concept used
• There must be a specialized genre of sub-genre for the film

In addition to our film we must also use our practical skills to produce a film poster and then either a radio trailer for the film or a review of the film in the style of a film magazine

Rules for Making Short Films

While researching what different people believe to be the ways to make a good short films i have found what i believe to be the best rules for making short films:

1) You must use an original idea - Short film audiences do not tent to enjoy watching films that are along the same idea lines

2) Have a good script - The script in a short film has to be stronger then it does for a feature film because it has less time to engage and inform the audience

3) You NEED to engage your audience within the 1st minute - Many audiences lose interest in short films if the opening is too slow

4) Keep it short! - it seems a given rule considering it is for Short film but the shorter a short is, generally speaking it will be more successful

5) You must keep every shot interesting - for example during a short film your film making skills will normally be assessed more then it would be for making a feature film

6) You need a quality crew - because you have less people working on a short film those people you are using must be the best you can get if you want the best film - this also applies to the actors that you hire

The 3 point lighting system - There a 3 lights all directed at the subject, the key light the strongest of the lights, the fill light to remove any shadows and the back light placed behind the subject.

Backlight - The backlight is used to create a silhouette aro

und the subject.

Ambient - Gentle part of set, calm, warm, gently lit subjects.

Hard Light - Light directly on the subject, strong bold images, creates shadows

Filters - are used either during filming or in the editing process, the colour used usually reflects the mood in the scene.

Health and Safety

• Using the Redheads:

• Extremely fragile - When transporting use the bag and padding. Do not knock them, 2 people should carry them

• Hot! Take extreme care when handling the lights - they get very hot

• Do not cover with anything

• Do not look directly into the lights

• Switch off when not in use

• The bulbs are very expensive and break very easily. Extreme care should be taken

• Tape down the cables

IM HERE - SPIKE JONZE'S - REVIEW

Im Here is a quirky look at human romance through the eyes of a robot in an alternative reality where humans and robots live side by side, using similar techniques usually found in a full feature film, it is fit into a half hour short. It begins by showing the routine of one of the robots, Sheldon, a lonely librarian who wants more from life but lacks the confidence to do anything about it, that is until he meets Francesca, a fun loving female robot who helps to bring Sheldon out of his mettalic shell. The film shows the change in Sheldon's personallity and life from his old empty self to the more confident, exiting person Francesca helps to bring out as they begin to fall in love. As the characters are robots, there emotions to each other should be hard to show, but through different events in the film Jonez manages to show Sheldons love for Francesca. Very much worth a watch but in my opinion feels a little rushed, as you dont get to learn a great deal about the characters.

Short Film Prezzi

Short Film's on Prezi