BBC - Mark Kermode's film blog

Monday 25 October 2010

Got a response from my cousin, its interesting to hear an interviewees experience.

"It wasn't anything very special, but a researcher and a camera man came round to the house one afternoon and spent a few hours filming and asking questions. All a bit over the top for the few minutes of footage but I suppose that's how it goes! They filmed me answering a few questions posed by the reasearcher and then asked me to repeat the answers so they could get it from a different angle - I don't think the answers were at all similar the second time around tho! I had been told it would just be someone with a camcorder but they did bring a big camera and even one of those big furry microphones, although I think that only helped pick up the sound of planes flying overhead."

Family Points of View

My cousin on points of view!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00vkxyj/Points_of_View_2010_2011_Episode_3/

at 11min mark...

Im going to email him and find out if researchers got in touch with him and how they filmed his actuality and sequences.

Wednesday 20 October 2010

Direction Unit - Pre-production



A copy of my call sheet.

Having now completed my adapted shot list and script I'm ready to shoot on Thursday. Yay!

Tuesday 19 October 2010


I hope we can pull off our films better than this man:





He's even wearing the director's cap!

Wednesday 13 October 2010

COMMISION PROJECT BLOG

Will and Troy's blog for the commision project.

http://cwdoccom.blogspot.com/

Tuesday 12 October 2010

Screenwriting resources

Books
Chris Vogler - The Writer’s Journey
Blake Snyder - Save the Cat
Story:
substance, structure, style and the principles of screenwriting - Robert McKee

Podcasts
The Grim Reader: Screenwriting advise from beyond the grave

Sunday 10 October 2010

Hans Petch & Billy Williams


A day of lectures on Thursday, which turned into one of the most informative of the term.

- We started by watching an episode of Imagine... Love, Loss and Anthony Minghella. Hans highlighted that it gained 2.5 million viewers in 2007 and pointed out that it was the only arts show, and still is, being aired on BBC 1. He mentioned that its all star line up of contributors would be at the top of the show to keep viewers attention.

- We talked about the Audience Appreciation Index

- Discovered there is a 'bible' for Producing an episode of Imagine. They utilise long lens and use natural light.

- We then studied working with talent, looking at Jonathan Ross, as Hans working on his Film series for 7 years. Eg. Lord of the rings special, James Bond Special

- Were assigned the task of becoming a Studio Director for the afternoon, we drafted a script over lunch for an intro and outro of Film 2010, interviewing Brendan Fraser in a mock interview. I was very please with our work and the look of everyone's interview.

Later that day I drove back to UCA Farnham to a lecture by Cinematographer, Billy Williams. It was a fascinating talk where he began by give us some background info.

- Grew up in a filmmaking atmosphere
- Maintained father's camera equipment
- 1st job was on British Transport Films as an assistant cameraman filmed on 16mm black and white film.

- Filmed with his father in Iraq and Mesopotamia.
- Then 50's commercial TV arrived and a new technique evolved opeing new experimental opportunity's.
- Shot with Ken Russell originally and learnt how to handle light.
- At the time,

"Feature [films] were like the Premiere League"

His first major feature was Billion Dollar Brain Directed by Ken Russell featuring Michael Caine.
Harry Saltzman, Producer, said to a 37 year old Williams,

"Let's give the guy a break"

- Williams' next feature would land him with and American Academy nom for Women in Love

- Captured the essence of the locations.
- Billy on the famous fireplace scene

- Next was John Millius, the writer/director of the Wind and the Lion (filmed in Spain) and Williams actually had a small role in the film which he mention was an eye opener making him realise how hard it is to be a performer.

- He was then enrolled on the film On Golden Pond dir: Mark Rydell starring Katerine Hepburn and Henry Fonda

- The Films Opening Williams got up at 3am and shot the sunrise

- Tells the story in moving images: light and shade.
- Cinematographer will set up the scene and light it with their crew.

- Scene in the lake was shot in 'The Magic Hour' the 10 minutes of light before dark.

Gandhi
Dir: Richard Attenburgh
With Ben Kingsley
(Funny anecdote from QI)


Advise he gave to young professionals:
> Experiment with light
> Cinematographer is there to fulfil the vision of the director
> Be organised, quick and efficient.

Friday 1 October 2010

D-UNIIIIIIIIT



(Points to who can guess who the directors above are answers at the foot of this page)
After careful consideration I have decided to chose a director fromt the following list:
* P.T Anderson (Magnolia)
* Terry Gilliam (Brazil, 12 Monkeys)
* Shane Meadows (Dead Man's Shoes, Room for Romeo Brass)
* Edgar Wright (Shaun of the Dead, Scott Pilgrim VS the World)
* Brian De Palma (The Untouchables, Carlito's Way)

All have disticntive styles. I deemed Gilliam's work as over-elaborate and could prove hard to film with his fantastical style... Edgar Wright, my second choice, has few feature films under his belt and his films are often parodies of his favourite practitioners. I'd like to use Shane Meadows. I'm going to explore his work at the libary and look for potential frame grabs to use in the Case Study and inspire me for the Creative Video.

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