All AS Film students need to complete an evaluation for the  film sequence that you have made.

It needs to be 750 words and should be a reflective analysis of your individual contribution to the project.

You need to select the key features of your micro element and demonstrate how they make meaning(s) and aim to provoke response(s) in audiences.

For example if you were the cinematographer how do your shots create meaning for the spectator? Why did you shoot things in a certain way? If you directed the sequence what type of performance were you hoping to get from the actors? How does their performance help create meaning? Why are certain props used? Why are these significant?

You need to make references to other films that have influenced your work and include screen grabs to help illustrate your points.

Here are some questions that might help you:
How has the genre/sub genre that you have been working in influenced the decisions you have made?
How have you developed the narrative through you specific area of micro responsibility?
How did you work with other group members to develop the narrative, character and genre in your sequence?
In what way did you adapt and change your plans as you went?
How did you want the audience to respond to your micro aspect within the sequence you created?
What has the feedback you received told you about the successes and or problems with the decisions you made?
Have your technical skill enabled or hindered you making the creative choices you wanted to?

Use the following links are good examples from previous students.

Example one – Very good with clear links to how sound links to the chosen genre.

Example two – Good use of other films to back up their points and to illustrate how their extract fitted into the genre

Example three – Good use of screen grabs to help back up points about the film extract

Example four – Clear explanation of how and why certain shot types were included and the desired impact on the audience

Editing is a key part of the film making process and is often misunderstood. Editing is responsible for the structure of the film, the dynamics that we see on screen, the manipulation of time and the colour of the film. Alternatively it is “cutting out the bad bits”. It is likely that in some projects the bad bits will far outweigh the good bits and if this is the case then it is important to remember the maxim “you can’t polish a turd”. In some cases it may be beneficial to re shoot footage particularly on student projects.

The Oscar winning editor Walter Murch works to a ‘Rule of Six’. These are six criteria that should be staisfied by every ‘cut’

1. Emotion – is it true to the emotion of the moment?
2. Story – it advances the story
3. Rhythm – it occurs at a moment that is rhythmically interesting and “right”
4. Eye-trace – it acknowledges what you might call “eye-trace” – the concern with the location and movement of the audience’s focus of interest within the frame
5. Two-dimensional plane of space – it respects “planarity” – the grammer of three dimensions transposed by photography to two. (The question of stage-line)
6. Three-dimensional space of action – it respects the three-dimensional continuity of the actual space

(from ‘In The Blink Of An Eye’ – Walter Murch)

Here are two videos of Walter Murch discussing his career and editing.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Click here to view the embedded video.

This short extract illustrates the work of a foley artist. A foley artist is responsible for making the everyday sounds used in a film. A good foley artist’s work will be invisible to the audience but without their work the film would appear quiet and strange. The Mean Streets task you worked on was your attempt at recreating the work of a foley artist.

All groups need to have a rough cut of their work complete by the last lesson of the week. This should include some rough sound even if effects or colour correction needs to be added.

Jake Wynne, Director and Editor is coming in on Friday 26th March to talk about his work and to offer advice to groups making their short films and sequences. Jake has directed a number of music videos and adverts as well as working regularly as an editor, he has not long finished his first short film which is currently being supported by the British Council and being shown at Film Festivals around the world. You can view a trailer here http://jakewynne.powweb.com/didshortfilm2/.

The deadline for both AS and A2 filming is Friday 12th February please make sure that you have filmed by this date.

The final AS deadline is Monday 8th March, by this date you should have finished and uploaded your video to youtube and also completed you individual reflective evaluation by this date.

The final A2 deadline is Wednesday 31st March, by this date you will have finished your film and also completed the DVD evaluative commentary by this date.

Both the Y12 film sequences and the Y13 short films have been uploaded onto the youtube page. Please feel free to have a look at them and leave your comments.

We are really pleased with the hard work that went into making theses sequences and you should be pleased with the results.

Given the recent problems with the weather and the college being closed for 2 days this week we have decided that we will extend the practical deadline by a week. This means that the deadline for practical work will now be your last lesson next week. The deadine for your written evaluation is now the 27th February. You will get guidance on your writing after half term.

Thursday 5th June @ the Picturehouse cinema @ 6pm a screening of In Search Of A Midnight Kiss followed by a live Q&A with the director and two lead actors. This is a fantastic opportunity to watch an American ‘indie’ film and quiz the director.