Childrens Film: Second day filming

Today we sorted out most of our video, we had a better idea of the plot and what props we needed to make it better. All of the film in the woods has been recorded several times for efficiency although there are many bits we need to add in. Next lesson we are planning to use the green room and to finish off filming in the woods.

Health and Safety whilst filming

General

• Be considerate of other classes- be quiet, don't film if they are in the shot and don't want to be
• What's the loaction? - Is it safe and approriate?
• Make sure you are not in the way of traffic or casuing traffic

Camera Use

• Keep all the camera equipment together
• When carrying the camera, keep it in the camera bag.
• Make sure your tape is rewound
• Capture shots more than once to make sure there are no faults or unwanted items or people.
• Do not leave the camera on and filming.

Childrens Film: First lesson of filming

Today we filmed our forest scenes. we were introduced to our leprechaun (Will) and also the other main characters in the opening two minutes. We filmed some of the scenes twice so we can make it more reliable and can get some good footage. Today we were not able to film the opening scene of our film as we did not have the props so we plan to film this in the second lesson of filming we have wich is going to be Tuesday last lesson.

Childrens Film: Planning

In the five lessons we will be given to make our childrens film, we will use two lessons to film the sequence and three lessons to edit it. We will use on of our editing lessons to make the music for our film.

In the first lesson we will film our scene which is set in a woods, we will use the woods by the side gate to film. For this lesson we will need a coat, a mobile phone and a lepricorns outfit.

Opening scene music

For our film we have to create our own music using Garage Band, despite this we have studied the opening themes to some films to help us pick the right tune for the genre.

For example: rom com - upbeat, chart music

                      thriller - depressing, low pitch, spooky

                      comedy - jolly, happy music

                      romantic - love, meaningful lyrics, slow

The video above shows a few film soundtracks and some of the most common ones. This way we can study what will make ours effective.

Childrens Film: Storyboard

Our storyboard will help us to plan our film as we know exactly where to be and when, we also know how we are going to do it. We have kept the shot types and effects quite simple although they will still look good and eye grabbing. The music we put with the opening sequence will be upbeat and should bring it all together, despite this we haven't included this in the storyboard as we haven't covered it yet. By planning the film we can work quicker and more efficiently, by organising it this way we will hopefully get a better result.

Childrens Film: Ideas for first shot

The first scene in this clip (the panning shot of the photos) relates to our idea of the opening scene as we want to do something similar. Despite this we want the music to be more upbeat so it draws peoples attention and shows the film as fun and exciting.

Inspector gadget credits analysis

The opening sequence of Inspector Gadget helps the viewer get into the genre and gives some information on what the film is going to be about.

 

At first we see the disney logo, this logo has been adapted in order to suit the film. As you can see the disney castle has been changed to fit in with the gadget theme of the film for example the cog is over the back if the castle which shows that gadgets and mechanisms are going to be a key feature in this film. The opening scene is very appropriate to the film as it includes many gadgets e.g. mouse traps which could imply what is going to happen in the film. The title "Inspector Gadget" is shown in the opening sequence as it involves a lot of cogs and bolts which implies that the film is going to involve building gadgets or alread having them for use. It also reaches its target audience by using everyday items and childrens toys to engage the younger audience. Also using random items like scissors makes the viewer wonder what is going to happen or what the film is about meaning they are more likely to want to watch the film. The use of the credits in this sequence makes them more interesting to watch rather than listing them. This may make the film see more interesting and that the film makers have thought about how to make the viewers more interested in the film. Having something interesting at the start of the film like this will make more people want to carry on and watch the film due to being intrigued by what is happening in the credits. The soundtrack is also played over the top to make the credits even more upbeat and interesting. The sound effects of what is happening in the scence is then played over the top of the soundtrack to add effect. 

Bedtime Stories

Bedtime stories is a PG, the opening sequence gives off a main impression of what the film is about. It does this by using key item, in this case it is a book. For example, the beginning of back to the future shows many clocks, this shows the whole idea of time. The book in this opening sequence shows the idea of stories. The theme to the film is fantasy and magic, this is also included in the opening scene because there is a soundtrack which is easy for children to relate to, the many different bright colors and the pop up book is exciting for children. Also, the font used for the credits is swirly and bright, this also relates to children. There is also a narrator explaining the book, this helps people understand.

Despite all this, the reason Bedtime Stories is a PG rather than a U is because kids may find it hard to understand as it is to with an adult loosing his job and some scenes could be quite scary.

We will consider this when making out own film to make sure we aim it at the right audience and keep it suitable to them.

Music for Film analysis

 In this sequence the soundtrack is first shown to be jolly and upbeat. The soundtrack gets the viwers ready for the film as it gets them in a good mood and feel as if the film is going to be humerous and light-hearted. The soundtrack rolls into the opening scene and then is changed via gorillas playing drums and George screaming. This adds humour as the surrealism of gorillas playing drums could be seen as quite humourus. There is a narrator over the top of the music which helps introduce the main character, George of the jungle. The music underneath the narrative is very light hearted and is based around the sound of handheld drums e.g. congos. This adds to the effect of the setting being in the jungle. There is a constant reminder of the setting (the jungle) as you can hear insects and other animals in the background. The music gets louder as the narrator is about to talk, this acts as an introduction to the narrator. The music sets the adventure genre as it is flowing and never really stops. The music follows the action and raises when it gets exciting. The happy music makes the film seem enjoyable and not scary. Although we never get fully introduced to the main character, the music enables us to imagine what he may be like.

Back to the future

First we watched a clip of back to the future to get an idea of what we had to draw and write about and then we started to plan and draw up our 12 box story board.

U+PG classification

U CLASSIFICATION-

• Suitable for all over 5 years
• Positive moral framework
• offer reassurances to any threat/horror
• suitable for children to view alone
• NO bad language or discrimination
• drugs-unless referred for education
• NO emphasis is on realistic or accessible weapons
• No sexual content 

PG CLASSIFICATION-

• suitable for 8 years or over. parents should consider if it suitable for younger
• some discrimination but for educational purposes
• drugs must carry an anti drug message
• horror-short and not intense
• more grown up themes discussed 

'Harry Potter' - Example of Fantasy Film

• Music - Composed - Starts slow and mysterious, reaches a crescendo then becomes upbeat and like an action film.
• The film is about magic which is fantasy.
• Non-human characters used 
• Introduces main chrarcters
•  Flying on broomsticks, links to everyday life - household item.
• Children may watch because there are children in the film- easier to relate.

Ice Age

Ice Age Trailer

- Sets the location (ice age) 

- Narrator explaining the plot as film clips show

- Bright colours to grab kids attention and make them excited

- Happy music to show its not serious and more fun

- Adult and kids humour (showing its a family film)

- Alot of action included in the trailer

- Introduction to main characters

- Get an idea of what the plot is about right from the start. Despite this the ending is not given away

- Short snappy clips

- Characters personalities are shown, they come across as loveable and funny

- Sid (the sloth) is dopey and gormless

- Diego (the tiger) seems suspicious but intelligent

- Manny (the mamouth) comes across as concerned and the leader of the pack

'Monsters inc.' Fantasy film Example

• Music - Upbeat, happy, friendly and gives a sense of comfort which is opposite to the theme of monsters.
• Introduction credits- Gives the viewer an insight of the theme of doors.
• Main characters introduced, their status's in the film are introduced.
• Characters and opening credits are both quite colourful - engages young child viewers.
• Monster is scared of child, helps the child to relate to the monster because it should be the other way round.
• Humour is used - Monsters are made to look stupid, this interests parents as well as children.
• The plot is summed up, an indication of what is going to happen is given.

Jurassic Park

• Uses extinct animals to engage audience
• Special effects to create dinosaurs
• Links modern people to extinct animals. More exciting to watch as they never existed together.
• Elements of surprise, makes children want to watch it
• Young children fascinated by animals, therefore increasing the chances of them wanting to watch this film
• Children may have toy figures of dinosaurs, they can relate the toys to the dinosaurs on the film
• Engages the adult audience as well as the childs as it keeps all ages focused on the film
• May not be suitable for the young children, may be scared by the dinosaurs .
• Very good soundtrack which is suitable for the film
• Gives basic overview of what the film is about
• Introduces the characters vaguely
• Opening sequence isn't dull which is key to an opening sequence, the viewer will want to watch more
• Children may be fascinated by surreal things, in this case dinosaurs, which may want them to keep watching the film
• The opening sequence is easy to follow which helps the viewer as they do not have to try and work out what is going on from the start.
• Uses a variety of different camera angles to enable the viewer to see the setting of Jurassic Park and how big the place is in comparison to the human beings

Bugs Life

- Happy theme, birds singing, very sunny, blue sky.

- Sets location (from a distance) then zooms in to show characters.

- As it zooms in credits are shown and them main logo and title are in big bold letters while relaxing music is playing

- Major zoom into grass to show that the characters are small (ants)

- Ants look happy, shows them picking seeds and food.

- This shows what the film could be about, sets the scene.

- Attracts children - bright colours, happy music.

- Simple, easy to follow

Conventions of an opening sequence

• Morals
• Mood/Atmosphere
• Engage audience
• Introduction of plot
• Equilibrium- everything's ok
• Action
• Soundtrack
• Credits
• Outline the character personality
• Not always human
• Builds tension
• Easy to follow
• Sets scene/location
• Humour
• Shows genre
• Colourful/ colour presentation

Childrens Film Character

Buzz Lightyear

Buzz Lightyear is one of the main characters in the famous childrens film- Toy Story. The character appeals to children, specifically boys because of his action hero status. He has a colourful apeareance, and he has gadgets and he is like a robot which also appeals to children. Also because he is a toy in the film, children can relate to him easier with their own toys and they may even have their own action figures of him.
Toy Story also appeals to adult parents because it has comedy in it this is a good selling technique because it's the adults who take their children to the cinema. 

Preliminary fiim

We learned how to edit and create a short film using a variety of different camera shots e.g. establishing shot, close up, reaction shot. In our real piece, we want to improve our lighting as in this film it is quite dark. This practice has shown us that we need to think more about our lighting when filming because our film was quite dark, also we need to think about improving our transitions for each clip when editing.