Storyboarding

Why are storyboards essential to the film making process?

• They provide a basic outline which in pre-production allows the director to get the correct feel for the movie
• This also helps them to overcome any potential problems before going on set
• The storyboard also provides a useful basis when shooting to guide the camera man and actors around the set, helping them know where to stand to avoid colliding with the intended special effects in post-production
• It can also help with post-production for the editor to understand what feeling to give the movie and a sense of how the story is meant to fit together

P is for psycho analysis

The storyboard shows us that the film begins with a low angled wide shot of a toilet door in low key lighting.  The shot is then mixed to a low angle midshot, slowly tilting up from a mans lower body to see him clutching his hand from a low angle which makes the character seem larger and possibly more dominant. The scene then cuts to an array of possessions which the camera pans across from left to right very slowly. These possessions will reveal details about the character. It then cuts to a close up of a plug hole, down which an alarming amount of blood appears to be flowing. The man in question literally has blood on his hands, a clear metaphor for some form of attack having just taken place. Cutting to a close up of his hands, we see he is bandaging them up. It then cuts to the reflection of his hand, clenching into a fist in the mirror, giving a clear sense of aggression and strength. The camera pulls out and tilts up to show his face turning suddenly to the left of the frame as a sound effect of the door opening is heard. The shot is cut to a midshot of a boy entering, walking from right to left. Cut back to who the audience can only assume is the killer, mid shot. He tucks his gun into his belt and the shot cuts to an extreme close up. This shows the emotion in his eyes deep in shadow to present his dark feelings. We hear him say "bad move kid" as the scene fades to black. After a pause, still in darkness, we hear 2 gunshots.

The narrative flow of this sequence is established first of all by the shot of the toilet door. This sets the scene and the audience knows where they are without having to have dialogue to spell it out for them. After that, the use of interesting transitions and varied shot types keep the viewer interested as they get more and more detail from every shot. The tension is created through slow pans, low key lighting and the fact that allot of information is still being with held. The final few shots are made more dramatic by speeding up the motions and hiding what truly happens.

Although i love this sequence and the way in which the tension is built and emotions change, i would add a few things if i were to direct it. First of all i think the shots are too focus on the subject, only looking away once to see his possession's and another time to see blood going down the drain. I think more suspense would be created by looking at the surroundings, such as blood patterns on the floor left by his hand as he entered the room.

Analysis of my first still

The shot is an ECU of a young white male who appears to have a sinister smirk on his face. It is a slightly high angle and the lighting is high key. In his dull reflective glasses that cover his eyes, you can see a second white male of similar age cowering away into a corner, hands raised in protection. The closeness of this shot really puts across the boy in shades emotion but also gives a very claustrophobic feel. Partnered with the high key lighting and sense of entrapment given in the reflection, this shot could easily be considered to be in the 'Horror' genre.

To achive the effect i used a spotlight on the boy in shades face and stood on a chair at just the right angle to position the second boy in the centre of the glasses reflection.

I really like the emotion you get from both characters and the massive feeling of entrapment given from the boy due to the claustrophobic effect of the "frame within a frame" and the fact it's clear he has no where to turn to escape.

In hindsight I would have prefered to make the boy in shades seem darker, possibly by wearing a black blazer instead of the childish blue top that can be seen bottom left. Also the setting (due to time restrictions) was chosen to be in a very bright/happy room whereas a darker one would put across the horror aspect much nicer. Finnaly a different pair of glasses with a higher reflective capability without a curved surface would mean that the second boy is both clearer and larger in the shot. However i am very happy with the end result considering i only had 10 mins in which to frame it.

DYM homework 1

Analysis of opening sequence to "The Lion King"

The Walt Disney logo slowly reveals over sounds of the rain forest. Tension builds and is broken by the sun rising over the horizon to traditional African music. The wide open plans of Africa can be seen. Various animals begin to look up to the sky with a sense of purpose. The lack of knowledge of what they are looking at raises tensions further. After a flock of birds is seen to be taking off from a river we see various birds eye view shots of the various animals traveling across beautiful scenery. A giraffe and her child step over a grassy hill into the sunlight and as the shot pans across we can see a large herd of assorted animals traveling together. The giraffe run to join them and more tension rises as the audience now knows that something big is happening where all these animals are traveling to.

The next shot shows a tree of ants ECU then the focus changes to a flock of zebras running along. This still promotes the idea of travel but also shows the many layers of the animal kingdom working in close proximity. This is then shown again as we see a shot from the floor of running tiny birds followed by huge elephants, walking just behind. A shot image of comedy comes from one bird avoiding being stepped on as he trails behind the other birds.

We then start to see the animals really converging, birds riding on elephants through a river while antelope and zebra run by. The music begins to reach a climax and the audience suspects whatever they've been traveling to is close by now. The camera pans across a huge number of animals to see 'Pide rock' a large table-top mountain. The camera follows a bird to the mountain and lands by a lion standing regally at the edge. We know he is important from the respect given by the bird and his possition, solitary on the rock.

A baboon is seen to be separate from the large herd, being made a path by the others for him to walk through. He steps into a beam of light and holds a stick, connoting his spiritual importance and old age, making the audience see him as wise. The music begins to soffen as he climbs the mountain and is given a welcome hug from the important lion, then led to a cute young cub, held by a lioness who appears to be the cub's mother. The baboon plays with the young cub then blesses him with fruit juice and dust of the earth. This furthers his image as a holy man and puts the cub in a very important light.

The baboon takes the cub very caringly and carry's him slowly to the edge of the rock. The animals can be seen to stand to attention, pricking thier ears up at what must be the climax of their journey. The music once again builds as the cub is nearing the edge. The baboon hoists him up and the animals all erupt into applause. The audience see's the cub's importance, which is reassuered by the beam of light that falls from the sky onto the cub. The camera pans round to see the cub's face looking slightly confused by the attention causing more comedy. The camera pans away from the big event to the far distance and the words "The Lion King" appear in large red letters.