If Only...

If only I could review TV dramas on here!!

Since starting Media A Level, watching TV Dramas have been different. I'm now talking about camera angles, editing, sound and how it affects the characters and me (the audience)

With that, there have been new TV Dramas that were amazing. Performance and plot wise. But now, with a bit of media knowledge, I see how the shot and how framing can also impact how good a TV Drama can be!

BBC have the best Dramas. HANDS DOWN

For example, you have London Spy (BBC Two) which is currently still going on. Fantastic.

River (BBC One) which finished last week. Fantastic.

Doctor Foster (BBC One) finished a month ago, but I can still remember scenes and shots from episodes and how Suranne Jones slays (can I say that? YES) drama shows and how important it is that women should lead more shows and films. 

With all the new and re-occuring dramas this Christmas, My whole December/January blog would be reviews on TV Shows. But I cannot. 

FILMING ISSUES

We were planning to film these past 2 weeks, but unfortunately on 15th/16th November, Hurricane Barney struck Enfield and left my garden fenceless.

My feelings expressed through a child on goggle images.

 So, we left it that weekend.

That left it to the weekend just gone (28th &29th). My family realised that we need to get new fence, which means that my group would have to re-shoot the garden scenes or inside shots where you can see the fence out the window again. Nevertheless, I spoke to the group today and they understand so hopefully we can shoot and re-work shots to finish the filming before Christmas.

British Film Institute

On Thursday 19th November, we travelled as a group to Southbank to witness a lecture to help us for our coursework side of Media Studies.

Corin Hardy, the director of The Hallow, was my favourite part of the whole day because we saw an insight as to how much planning is involved. Also, he showed us the first 5 minutes of this film and when they stopped  it, it made me want to go see it because it was so intriguing and the shots were so simple but effective. Definitely the best part of the whole day.
                                                     
                                                       This is just before we saw Corin 

Overall, this trip was beneficial as it has helped me start thinking about ideas for the titles in our opening. Looking at James Bond's title sequence it was too much I thought for a film like ours but when I saw the opening of The Hallow, I was admired by how simple the shots were and where the titles were put in the frame. That made me start to think about what our shots could be like and how we can fit the titles in. 

 

 

Filiming Day 1

 On Saturday, we finally started filming for our 2 Minute Opening.

After sunrise, I thought I would see what our two shot would look like for shooting next week.

Here is our result.

Obviously, there would be no tripod in the way but I realised I was a genius when I thought of this shot a couple weeks ago! However, my struggle to get up on the shed was humorous. 

Here is JB taking a photo of me on the shed, Behind The Scenes.

Here is our "Vlog" of the round up of the day. 

Gogglebox

Here is our Gogglebox! We gave it our best shot and it really did help me with learning how camera angles, mise-en-scene, sound and editing reflect gender in a TV Drama

  

Unfortunately due to copyright (I think) our voices have been changed and I feel like that is what I would sound like if I was a man. I did not like that. It was a shame because the clip JB provided had such good detail to talk about!



Finally, better speaking voices! Personally I found it hard to talk about at the start but as we got into it, I found it easier and it has really helped me with learning the terms and how to incorporate it into gender or whatever the exam paper will ask



I did enjoy this clip, and there was a lot to talk about and I do highly recommend this series

Questionnaire

How would react to seeing someone in the back of your garden?

Would You

Scream?

Swear?

or be Silent?

Here are our results

Scream - 3


Swear - 6


Silence - 9


Additional Notes
Some people did say they would swear and then run away.
One said that they would do the typical "Scream" scream.
A couple of people said they would tense up and stand there frozen.


In the end, I have found from my results that the vulnerable person should be silent and hopefully clutch their coffee as she turn around too see the rest of the garden.  Personally, I think she should be silent as this opening is so open that any little detail will effect the audience and Jodie with or without sound.

Too Scream or Not Too Scream

JB and I had a discussion with Miss Foster whether or not Jodie should scream or not at the end of the opening 2 minutes.

As we have been in this media class for a while now, and looking at previous work and Film/TV clips, it will be unlikely that Jodie will scream but instead may jump, hence dropping the coffee.

Furthermore, we also realised that if she was too scream, it may be a typical Drew Barrymore scream in the film "Scream"

So, we decided to stay away from that and have no dialogue apart from a gasp or clutching her coffee for dear life. 

Shooting Schedule

Timeline

6:15 - 6:30  : Cast arrive
6:30 - 6:40  : Discuss last minute camera shots
6:40 - 7:10  : Indoor Shots
7:15  : Estimated Sunrise. First P.O.V Shot from figure
7:30  : Outdoor shots.
8:00  : Two Shot, revealing the figure

Storyboarding for Our Opening 2 Minutes

Our artist Jodie, finally created the storyboard to help us now go and film, to help us give an idea of what each shot will look like and the duration of each shot.

Some of this involves props, so the other girls will be going to get the white mugs soon as we start filming this Saturday (14th November)

Sound for Opening 2 Minutes

We have a few ideas for our sound.
Although, there will be no non-diegetic sound until the very last seconds when the figure is spotted by the vulnerable character: Jodie.
Also, we wanted some sharp, crescendo sound that makes people jump when they scene is coming to an end.

We have a few clips that give us that "OMG" jump.

The sites we have used are:

• imcompetch.com
• bensound.com

Ofelia's Dream

Phantom of Space   (start at 30 seconds)

Urban Gaintlet        (0-6 seconds)

The Endless            (start at 0 seconds)

When we edit the opening 2 minutes, hopefully each clip can bring something different and make our decision even harder!

Coursework Idea Updated

Group Vlog: From our first pitch idea, we have expanded on our ideas by starting our storyboard! 

Here is us talking about our opening 2 minutes. 

Filming Location

The quality isn't the greatest but I tried to take them at a time where we would realistically film the opening 2 minutes. However, I took these at 17:30, we would film it early morning. I hope these pictures help my group with the storyboard this week so we can start filming before Christmas! Although, I hope the idea can fit the setting and we can get the right people to act in this.

MY HOUSE

We decided to film in my house because it fits the atmosphere of the vulnerable woman and the figure in the garden.

*Please excuse the messy house and football kits on the washing line*

ACTORS

In need of someone tall to be this figure, my brother Billy was the only person I could think of. I have asked him if he wants to be in it but I had to negotiate unfortunately. Nevertheless, he knows that their will be no dialogue which is great because his voice isn't the scary. Furthermore, I knew my mum wouldn't want to be filmed but my sister said she can come back from University to film anytime we ask. Hopefully her bed hair will make her acting skills more realistic!

Finally, I'm not sure if this counts but my dog will finally have his acting debut! hopefully he'll do as we ask and he can behave!