See You Soon - Scene analysis for my roles

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                                        1             INT. LIVING ROOM - MOMENTS LATER    2
We see PEARL (45), slim build, her NHS uniform too large for her; evident bags under her eyes and a straight face. She is knelt down next to the COUCH with a PREGNANT WOMAN, THEA (28) laying down.
Pearl is holding a DOPPLER in hand, moving the Doppler closer to Thea’s head, the babies heartbeat heard beating away.
Thea listens in wonder.
THEA
(anxious) Is that                              good?
Pearl, looking slightly distant forces a smile and replies.

                                        PEARL
You have a perfectly healthy child. She has a strong heartbeat.

The sound of the heartbeat increases as Pearl focuses on the display.
SOUND - 
Living room - 
Birds outside, traffic passing, general outdoors atmopsheres. Also any noises such as television, humming from the kitchen or appliances. 
Pearl - Rustle of the fabric of her outfit as she moves (especially as it is too large), movement of the carpet under her knees as she moves, gripping of the doppler in her hand and any adjustments she makes to her posture, the doppler itself, both breathing, if thea moves, the sound of the fabric of the couch. 
The heartbeat needs to be dominant but not too overwhelming. It could even be in the background as they are speaking and then brought to a higher level once the shot focuses on the display. 
Then postioning for appropriate recording for dialogue and making sure that it is a clear and undisturbed recording (outside noises etc)
LIGHTING - 
The scene is day (as mentioned just before), so a light natural glow on each woman, needing to focus on their position as to how the light will bounce on each of them. Need to use the light to effect how Pearl is perceived, especially if she is meant to look tired. Need to have appropriate lighting for the doppler, so can clearly see the information & making sure the audience understands what it is. 
FOCUS - 
Not much movement in this scene, so wouldn't be much of a focus apart from potentially if the shot was to focus more on the doppler as it is moving around Thea. Also if Pearl is shown to kneel at the beginning of the scene. 


Reflection - 
Analysing a scene can show me just how much focus has to be done to each role, and to be honest, it is a little overwhelming. Especially sound needs to have a full focus on it, which is why we are in discussions to get some help. You have to really think of every single sound there could possibly be to make it seem more realistic, so it will be a hard task. 

Reframing The Interface - Discussion & Tutorial

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After the discussion, I felt a lot more focused on what I need to achieve & what would work best for me. I realized that maybe it would be better to do lots of pilots of all the ideas I have, so that I can have a better understanding of them and then I can reflect on them and decide whether I want to pursue on a bigger scale. Then if I don't create them on a bigger scale, I at least have something to show for myself.
I also have some questions about See You Soon which me and Kathleen discussed, and i'm sure these will be further discussed through Kathleen, Rosie and my group. I need to really focus on what it is I am doing within the group, and just make sure that I am being directed properly because otherwise I feel more stressed and that's never good!


I wrote a lot of reflective notes during the discussion, I feel that it's good to write down what I feel when I feel it, because it's harder for me to think of my approach afterwards quite a lot. I also think it helps me feel more focused. Also in these notes are reflections on projects we were shown. A couple of them gave me little ideas for projects or concepts I like so wrote them down. 
Here are these notes (once again they are broken down because I usually work in short sentences.) -

See You Soon - 
Need to focus more on emotion of the film.
Rehearse before the film, like a play?
Running Machine?
House needs to be thought of element by element.

Personal -
Multi-screen could show my post production skills. Possibly do small versions of all my ideas so that I can focus on it more. 
So - Indecisiveness - me & just me with visuals. 
Nature - do the dawn light one morning.
& Depersonalisation.
Try to do each week/a small amount of time like the everyday vids because I sit on projects & doubt myself. If I make them & they don't feel right to do bigger, I would at least have the smaller projects done. So basically, create & don't sit on it. 
Also start with photography & decide if it's worth it.

if I am creating, it also gives me time to think about what I want. 

Could also do the soundscapes too.
Have done by Dec/Christmas.

Instead of worrying about what I come out with, just create & then evaluate what works for me. Not just uni for my portfolio, can make anything while I can.
So could even re-create stuff I did in the past if it would help.
Starlings could really be pushed to be more beautiful - sound, long shots. 
Think of more aspects of me for film and photos. Reflect on my life? My interests? My morals?

Learning Agreement - Analysing how I will achieve my goals.
If doing my own little projects, find out how much paperwork I will need - risk assessment etc. 
If doing small projects, do need research but will be developing alongside the practical so that I can sculpt a well rounded project.

What does my work mean to other people?

Could think of stylistic stories - Record Player, I love eras, memory of objects.
A room with sounds to show memories?
So instead of a montage, have a flowing story, like the competition. Inspired by the work in the V&A (need the name of it)
Grandma? Or someone to that degree.
Could consider music video or doing a piece to music I have composed.

Still would loveto do something era based, but simple because of the time I have & being on my own (could ask for help if anyone available) - Pride etc.
If historically based, it would be interesting to study.
Would give more relevence to the audience, but depends on what it is and how simple it would be.

Documentary can mean based on true events.

For See You Soon it would be good to be in contact with Jacob. But also do individual tests such as lighting - natural, how women's features look, inside etc. 
This means I would have things to show & add to my own body of work. 

Film on Autism, interviews with dodgy visuals. But good concepts. Works well as it is an interesting subject so just needed better visuals which I would focus on. (this is in reflection to my ideas based on interviews or conversations)


Assessment

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I found the assessment to be a lot more calming then most of us. I have got quite used to presenting, even though i'm never perfect at it. I think it's because I know everyone & we're a pretty little group. I also know that I have a good relationship with my tutors, so will usually know what they are going to say before I present so try to make sure I fulfill everything I need to do.
I felt that the See You Soon presentation went better than the Individual, but this is purely because the See You Soon felt more academic. The individual was just me going on about my own doubt and thought processes. But I felt that I did a good job, and now I need to focus on the future.

General feedback/notes I took after -

See You Soon - Don't focus as much on sound, get someone else to focus on it?
If this happens, can focus on another project/personal.

They like depersonalisation, but could do in a beautiful way.
Could even do project on being indecisive - interview, abstract. Writing etc.
The struggles of anxiety and being a creative.
Discuss with Nathan/collab? (my housemate came up with a similar idea on not being able to come up with ideas)
Think of any other projects I can do, if possible. 
Speak to Alex about what I am doing and when. 
Contexualise photos more.

Now I need to focus on how my year will look, and then can reflect on this to decide how big my personal projects can be. I am interested in some other projects, but I want to be able to know what it is, how it will benefit me, and whether i can realistically do it while doing See You Soon.
I will contact the other people on the course that need crew and try and gain information from them. I also need to make sure that they are reliable & can work well with me.
I want to have a range of work, so some projects I am apprehensive about, but I will try to evaluate this when contacting them/sorting out everything.

While I am doing this, I will be focusing on my dissertation, and also trying to do little projects here and there. I do a lot of little bits of filming for Youtube, and after a quick chat post assessment with Rosie & Kathleen, I think producing little experiments will help me have a clearer view on what I might want to focus on in a personal project.
I also need to organise what & when I am photographing, if it is focusing on Christmas. I have desires to go back to Lincoln for the Christmas Fair, because I have personal connections, but it all depends on time management and why exactly I plan on going.
If i do this, I will contact the organisers of the fair just to make sure it is ok for me to photograph, and maybe even see if I can be part of the publicity (i can also do this for other events, I have a possible Charity Shop connection to this too)

C300 Induction

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We were inducted with the C300 on 4th November. I found it to be a very good experience in terms of getting to know the camera, but also working with my group. it was a fun exercise, and the focus pulling exercise we did the day after really opened my eyes onto how important it is, and how much I am going to have to practice!
I am glad that we were given a step by step process, it was really easy to go through, and when I had the go through with the camera, I slowly made sure I fully understood each step I was doing, so I was sure I felt confident with the camera. 
I'd still like to continue working with this camera with tests, especially with lighting and focus pulling. I think it's a really good camera and will serve us well on our project. 












See You Soon - Sound - Life On Mars

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Life On Mars constantly uses the motif of hospital and 'real world' noises to portray the idea of sam not being fully in the world he's been placed in. It's to hint that he might not actually have time travelled, or he has and someone is communicating with him.
It's presented as a dream like soundscape, fading in and out, with 'outside' noises such as Life On Mars on the radio in this scene. 

I like this motif, and I think it lends itself well to our idea of having the noises of the hospital fading in and out of the mother's subconscious as if she is daydreaming or has more important stuff on her mind. 
I am going to continue my analysis of individual scenes as I go through the DVD as there aren't many scenes available online. They use different ways of communicating the sound so I am going to explore this. 

See You Soon - Potential Lighting Set Ups

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Living room with two characters.
Going to be hard lighting as if naturally with little space & two characters involved in the scene.
The light doesn't need to exclusively be from the front window as the patio is at the back of the house any way and obviously, movie magic.

Same with the second set up, but there's more issues if we are filming directly in front of the window. There are blinds that could be used to add a subtle twinkle in the background (shrubbery), but we'll have to think about the temperature.



The main issue with the bedroom is that there isn't as much room. Similar issues with where the light is coming from, if warm/night, can be used more effectively with the use of the practicals in the room plus obviously emphasis  on warm hues/additional lights etc. 




See You Soon - Sound Research

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Notes on "Sound Design;  The Expressive Power of Music, Voice, and Sound Effects in Cinema.
By David Sinnenschen.

(handy diagrams are print screened for future reference from Google books)


"When reading the script for the first time, you'll get a lot more out of it if you do this from beginning to end with no interruption, and at a pace as close as possible to the final film pace (usually a minute per page.) if you can do this, you'll get a more accurate feeling of the storytelling pace and the rhythms inherent in the drama, and it will be your only opportunity to get it like a first time viewer. After this reading you'll be digging into individual elements, pulling things apart and putting them back together while consciously searching for creative solutions. So close the door, turn off the phone, and get into it for a few hours non stop, as if you were sitting in a movie theater. But leave the lights on and have a pencil in hand. You will use the pencil like a conductors's baton, nimbly marking the script as your eyes dance down the lines."
Page 2

As soon as I get the new script, I will do this. I know i needed to do this with the last script, but I wasn't sure I read it in the right environment, and it's hard to try and visualise and think of it sonically at the same time. 

Listen out for - 
"1. Sounds linked to people, objects, and actions on screen that are explicitly described.
2. environments that can be fleshed out with sonic ambiance.
3. Key words in both scene description and dialogue that give clues to the emotions of the scene (both of the character and the spectator)
4. moments of physical or dramatic transition."
Page 3

If you go through each scene and think of each character and what they might be doing/what is happening etc, it can help in the story boarding process/visualisation of the film because then the sounds can link to the action & heighten the amount going on in the scene. 

Sound is associated with genre, so if it was quiet, in a horror film, you would heighten any other sounds to add suspense & potential for jumping. 
There's a difference between sound for the characters and sound for the audience.
Turning points in the script also indicate changes in the sound design & soundtrack.
Predominant feeling before and after turning point.
Once you have read the script & broken it down, think of associative words for sounds, and group them together by type - action, object, emotion etc.
This example is to show polar opposites in sounds.

Visual Maps for Sound Design - 
Choose the polar opposite words, like life & death, & create a visual map so that you can determine how you will shift between them in the film. 
You can then create a second line for other themes, such as power/weakness.


Have a continued dialogue with the director to establish that you are on the same wave length in terms of the themes, types of emotion, how the character is/is feeling etc.

Sound map - draft
(is also used by editor)
Add the sounds that are the main ones that tell the story, and that you thought of during the script read. 
TIPS -
Reducing or removing shots that might be expensive or time consuming, by substituting the sounds.
Assist in the selection of locations by considering acoustic factors.
Indicating proper equipment and materials for specific sound recording situations.
Planning to record wild sounds on a location shoot can save time and money in post production. 
Page 24


I will continue to read this book and reference it for tips on how to do sound design, but I am really enjoying its simple explanation of what feels like a quite complicated process.
 I think for now I will focus on these techniques, and will pursue them with samples of the first draft, and continue with the second draft.





See You Soon - Lighting

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Desaturated, very natural light. Work with the idea of the windows/blinds, soft light. use the idea of the practicals in the bedroom etc. Not sure whether there should be empathsis on colours just yet for grading, i think a subtle hint would be nice but nothing overpowering or suggestive for the audience.
It should highlight but not dominate, this film feels very realism-y, and i want to stick to that. Make the lighting feel cold, but not overpowering or stylistic, just soft & a way of really bringing the emotion to a real place and less of a cinematic place.
I should:
Focus on screen shots/films and think how they might have shot that film/scene.
Think of more ways to advance the soft look i am going for.
Discuss with other members to see whether this fits the vision/the new script.
Build on references and research into my craft.
If there are films i am inspired by, look for cinematographers & see how they might have approached/spoken about the film. look at their other work.

http://www.hurlbutvisuals.com/blog/2013/07/shane-hurlbuts-go-to-lighting-package/
Fino flo
http://www.kinoflo.com/
http://provideocoalition.com/aadams/story/a_tale_of_forbidden_love/P2












See You Soon - Pre-Vis

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ADD PHOTOS -

I decided that during the pre-vis, I would basically get a general idea of the location in terms of sound and lighting. I used the natural and electric light situations as a basis for how I might light the room to make it look as natural as it can be. I also took photos to accompany my notes.

Notes from my notebook (apologies if they don't fully make sense, I kept walking around/moving when the others were photographing, so I would go back to rooms/make general notes.)

LIVING ROOM -
Blinds, curved window with shrubbery outside.
Low chandeliers, table/box in the middle of the room, fire place opposite sofa.
Positioning of lights would have to depend on how much furniture stays the same (table etc) living room has middle for lights, just need to decide how to have lights within the room.
 There is a gap between the chair and draws in left far side of the sofa. Two lamps either side of the sofa. If same colour, could use as practicals for light touches.

COLOUR SCHEME FOR LIVING ROOM -
Living room - light teal/blue, with complimentary light, soft yellows. Quite ice creamy, pastel.
Chandelier casts shadows onto the ceiling and walls.
Draped curtains - blue silk.
4 candles on windowsill.
Old fireplace, brick.

LIVING ROOM LIGHT OFF -
slight flow if other rooms light on. Soft light coming through blinds. Each blind when moved will cast different shadows/soft light in different places.
When lights are a warmer tone, it compliments the yellows and makes the blues feel warmer.
Same with natural light, it brings the temperature down.

MIDDLE ROOM -
A lot less dense with furniture, wardrobe, table on side, clock etc.
Same issues with light & shadows. Warmer hue, yellow one side, blue the other.

KITCHEN -
Wide open patio doors.
Letting in a lot of light, reflects onto table & chairs & floor.
Mirror on the wall with brick behind.
Wide kitchen is darker & goes in to the room.
Another window to the right letting in a soft light.
More creams in this room & whites. Hint of grey on walls. Curtains yellow.
Spotlights are spread throughout room. Even close to windows.
Garden is quite open but a lot of white space with the sky.
A few candles on table.

SOUND -
You can hear an underlying pitch from the kitchen. Possibly a fridge?
Front of the house is close to road. Quite gentle. Goes from left to right (corner)
Bushes & trees on both sides of house so can allow nature noises.
 Downstairs -
Carpet with kitchen tiles.
Table in kitchen plastic.
Slight creak as you walk through the house.
Soft movement of fabric as you sit (pbuuump)
Might be slight echo in kitchen.
Slight creaks from upstairs.
Also possible distant sounds of traffic from a far/rumbles.
Clock in middle room clicks.
Next to kitchen is a utility, this seems to be where the noise comes from in the kitchen.
 Also hint of planes.
Squirrel in garden, pigeon, birds, trees etc.
Actual bell for doorbell.

HALL -
Hall lights beam down & provide sharp shadows on people's faces.
Daylight it's dark, soft light comes through each side of the door.
Light on inside & 3 outdoors, 2 side & one above. (door)
Window half way up stairs.

BEDROOM -
Light reflects on wardrobes, 2 mirrors - on 2 walls.
2 lamps on either side of bed.
light on top of big mirror.
Balances the light of the lamps.