San Dhinsa Year 12 AS Media Studies Blog: November 2014

What I learnt about narrative and how it will be used in my production.

Something that I learnt this week that I did not know before was about omniscient narratives.
Third person omniscient is a method of storytelling in which the narrator knows the thoughts and feelings of all of the characters in the story, as opposed to third person limited, which adheres closely to one character's perspective, this will be displayed through the series of archive shots.

We also looked back at Todorov's theory that I first learnt a couple years back in year 10.

A new narrative theory we looked upon was McKee.

As my production is only a 2 minute opening sequence, I will only be using two parts of McKee's narrative structure which I have explained below.

My opening sequence needs to have the traditional conventions that every opening sequence has,but my passion towards my work means I want my production to be unique and different.
Similarly to the opening sequence of This is England , I will have an archive of clips. As part of McKee's exposition I will introduce the setting with a variety of different establishing shots ; for example - a high angle to show buildings because my film is predominately set in an urban working class area , and a pan to represent the scummy streets that will portray the location.

However, I am planning for my opening sequence to have a flash forward to excite my audience as it goes right into action. For the archive,the clips I will be using will be old footage of the protagonist at one of her birthday parties, a clip to her walking home and getting robbed , a clip of her at work and hand-held camera shots of her with her friends, the hand-held camera style makes it fit the realism of BSR films and the amateur clips almost make you feel more familiar with the character because it feels more natural and real. The archive shots will always cut back to my protagonist on top of the building about to jump.I do not want to give too much of the story line away in the archive clips.I am introducing the main character as the clips will focus on her, I am establishing the genre as the clips connote some of her struggle, and I am establishing the setting through the shots of her on top of the building because a pan and birds eye view will portray the gritty area.

Agents of change will also be used through archive clips.The situation antagonist will be her depression which in turn ,leads to shots of her on the rooftop about to jump, the more personal antagonist will be through the men at the the work place harassing her at work and the men who rob her on the streets.This will also inculcate the themes of violence,harassment and mental illness,which fits in the BSR genre because they exhibit struggle.

Shooting script

The shooting script is a more elaborate, precise, overwritten version of the screenplay. Unlike what common sense may suggest, the shooting script is not written by the screenwriter. It is written by the director alongside his cinematographer, while both discuss their ideas and shot plan desired for the movie.

The shooting script is normally broken into shots, featuring precise cinematography terminology such as close-ups, dolly in, overexposed. The idea here is to inform the crew what is going on. Before principal photography starts, the shooting script will be divided into dates, so everyone knows what is being shot when.

Although terrible to read, the shooting script is essential to a complex production such as the one of feature movies. The goal is to let all the crew members know what they will need to bring or arrange beforehand.

In class we had an exercise using another persons shooting script and following what it detailed. I learnt how hard it can be to use another persons shooting script because their vision may differ from your own readings , thus teaching me that in my own shooting scripts , I would need to use lots of detail to ensure clarity.You need to make sure you film exactly as the script reads, everything needs to be precise to keep the production as planned.The shooting script we used was good at adding details about camera work i.e camera angles , but the script was confusing because the actors and characters names were mixed together,sometimes the description for each shot used the characters name and sometimes the actors name, if you want the filming to be fluid,the shooting script needs to be clear and easy to understand!

Below is my groups first try at using the shooting script.

Our strengths includes the fact we use the series of shots the script mentions, our finished work is easy to follow and we used all the props mentioned also such as the pen and notebook.We payed good attention to the detail such as the close up of one of the actors sweating.

However, this was our first attempt at using some one elses shooting script, we accidentally broke the 180 degree full and couldn't re-film as we was using a tape rather than a memory card.The shooting script itself did not specify the lighting either, but this was only a mini practice so it was okay to make mistakes as we learnt from them and we had lots of fun shooting this.

“A young woman who is mentally, physically, sexually harassed by the men at her workplace which then spirals her to drugs”

“Pushing Buttons”

Pushing buttons denotes the concept where the metaphor “pushing buttons” is used to describe how women feel when they are harassed, pressurised, discriminated and be littled to the point where they feel trapped, where they can’t go and seek, help and express their inner feelings because they simply don’t want to lose their job or lose the opportunity to be independent. They have been cornered into depression which could have severe consequences physically and mentally. This is the narrative of “pushing buttons”. The title will truly fit into British social realism as it is a unique title, as the audience reads the title they will instantly think about what the meaning is to pushing buttons which therefore create enigma. Many British social realism titles symbolize the characters persona or themes which are portrayed through the whole storyline. Pushing buttons his highlight the women’s life n the workplace which creates symbolism throughout the whole movie. This will appeal to the target audience as the title capture a mysterious side to the movie as to how the woman is treated.

Target audience

Age- 16-24 year olds

Gender- both females and males

Interest- British social realism movie

Location- London

Ethnicity- all

This British social realism movie gets people to think about their behaviour and raises awareness of bullying and harassment, this also highlights responsibilities for all staff and managers, outlines organisation policies and procedures for dignity at work and the options to stop bullying and harassment and prevent their recurrence, it also displays to the audience how to take personal action. This will be great for my target audience 16-24 as mainly you would start working at that age and also young people are targeted to harassment as they are seen more vulnerable. My film “pushing buttons” will give realization to the audience as it can inform people to keep the workplace free from bullying and harassment by spotting and stopping inappropriate behaviour and nipping it in the bud. It also might inspire people by gaining listening, criticism, coaching, and dispute resolution and mediation skills which could help other people.

Unique selling point-My film will appeal to my target audience as its sending awareness to the younger class in addition there have been alot of cases on sexual harassment and it has become a huge topic over the news. Not that many people are taken action over this so for that reason this why I’m creating a two minute British social realism opening sequence on sexual harassment. The case which I will be exploiting in my movie is Jian Ghomeshi. The case of Jian Ghomeshi has raised concern about the extent of such behaviour in all workplaces. This gave me alot of inspiration to create a British social realism movie on this topic. This is a short summary of the case “Eight women from across Canada now accuse former CBC host Jian Ghomeshi of abusive behaviour ranging from allegations of beating and choking without consent, to workplace sexual harassment”. This will be a great unique selling point as I’m making a case into an actual movie and also it will send great awareness as not that many British social realism movies send messages to the audience.

From this video I could get ideas of what type of footage to include in my opening sequence. I could connote real life events of this women getting sexually harassed.

Technology

The technology we are going to use is a hand held camera/tripod camera which the school has accessed for us. The use of the hand held camera will give a rustic effect to the footage as it creates realism to the audience. The use of a tripod will create a smooth footage however I’m going to try to avoid this as it doesn’t create that much realism. All my footage is going to be hand held. The dolly which gives movement to the piece will be helpful as it creates more action. I would love to try to put the camera on top of the car but I will need to try to find that certain equipment to do that. I need to be aware of the atmosphere around the camera as it might disturb my filming.

Representations

The key character in our film is Sundeep, she’s going to portray the protagonist, the men and interviewer-antagonists. Other antagonists could be sexual harassment as its affecting her life to become independent. Drugs can also be an antagonist as its exploiting her bad nature and she’s trying to avoid the fact that she is being verbally and physically harassed. The archetypes of our BSR which are shown in my film are; sundeep who embodies the lost boy. This is shown when she got an offer at a big office and she might get a successful career however during the interview she never got through but the interviewer gave her a chance to become a member but to do that she had to have sex with him which therefore affected her to get the job. During that she then got sexually harassed and verbally harassed throughout the workplace as rumours were spreading around the office that she would do anything to get the job. The men in the work place will be a range of different ages to show the significance of sexual harassment at any age they could be a target. There is going to be no dialogue involved as it brings out to much of the narrative so I will try to portray some action for example a man touching the ladies waist or eyes staring at her. I’m not going to try to make it to obvious as I’m going to portray some enigma throughout the opening sequences.

the protagonists clothes

Our film subverts to the typical representations of some men as they are sometimes violent and also very sexually exposed. This is shown in our movie when one of the men forcefully sexually harassing the women at the workplace and everyone is avoiding it. By subverting these representations it truly fits in to the British Social Realism genre and some of our audience might even feel as though they are able to relate to this typical situation hence its creating awareness as workplaces.

different aged men

Narrative

Pushing buttons introduces a young working class woman who gets an offer from an office. Throughout the stages of interviews she didn’t get the job however the man gave her a chance to get the job if she has sex with him. As the women got the job she gets, harassed, pressurised, discriminated and be littled to the point where she feels trapped, where she can’t go and seek, help and express her inner feelings because she simply doesn’t want to lose her job or lose the opportunity to be independent. As the harassment proceeds, rumours are spreading around the work place about her sexual acts. The men have cornered her into depression which leads her to severe consequences physically and mentally. This is a real life story which involves “sexual harassment”. This follows the case of is Jian Ghomeshi. The case of Jian Ghomeshi has raised concern about the extent of such behaviour in all workplaces. This story is going to be linear, omniscient narrative as the film will show the point of view of the women getting harassed.

In the two minute opening of the sequence I’m going to introduce a smash mouth opening. Firstly I’m going to introduce the main character who is getting ready to work and then she goes to an interview. The interview touches her hand. A long shot of the door closing. This will create enigma as to why is she doing this certain act with the interviewer. The door opens of the interviewer sorting his tie out, the screen fades. At the workplace men are looking at her and touching her. A shot will be portyed of her in a train looking depressed and overwhelmed. The next shot has her and a few drugs in her hands and then it ends there with a cut.

The actors in our movie are not famous which perfectly fits in to British social realism as they use unknown characters We will use engaging music so it will create tension and also a bi of excitement as what the shots are portraying. A voice over is going to be used right at the beginning to introduce the character.

Conventions

Throughout the footage I’m going to portray British social realism conventions for example the film self giant uses pathetically throughout the whole movie. Mise-en-scene is used in a Establishing Shot with a cut (transition) which pictures a gloomy grey sky. The Mise-en-scene connotes the danger and ambiguity. The dreary clouds could imply a metaphoric storm that is almost immediately to destruct the lives of the characters thus it could be hinting out a characters death. I could use this in my own production by having the character in the park, and then it starts raining, this shows the intense atmosphere. I’m going to use natural lighting to keep the realism flowing and to make it more natural. All the actors are unknown which fits in to British social realism; if we had Hollywood stars hey would over exaggerate the whole movie making it to fake. I’m going to use real locations for example canary whalf and cbni office, this will introduce the theme of working class people. The set is going to be very simple dont want it to be too grand as it takes away the realism. Throughout the shots I’m going to use hand held camera teqniques as it creates atmosphere towards the footage and also it also makes the audience involved. I’m going to also use jerky camera movements to highlight the uneasy persona of the character. Throughout the whole footage a pan will be used as it create more movement in the footage. Loose framing is going to be used as well.i going to have arranged of medium/close-ups to highlight emotions from characters particularly the main character. I am going to include a high angle to portray the dominance of men and low angle to portyed how women are degraded in society. Our takes are going to be slow pace at the beginning and then very fast till the end. My British social realism movie is not going to include a hybrid as I want to denote a serious opening sequence.

Style and Iconography

The types of camerawork which I will love to use are the hand help camera. The unsteady camera illustrates the restlessness in the characters’ persona. For example I could have a footage of the women in the train sitting in the corner crying has she has been harassed by a guy. This will create a great effect to the audience as it highlights her uneasy persona. In Social Realism films they use handheld camera shots mainly to add to the realism and give a natural feel to the scene. I could also use quick cuts or long takes to make the footage flow and to make the quick cuts reflect how characters feel or the intensity of the scene. This is specifically used well in this scene of shifty how as an audience we see a guy in the bus with the camera shaking which is reflecting his uneasy mood. This could be my interpretation of my won scene of women in a train crying. I can also use a bird’s eye view shot from canary wharf. This connotes the location of the movie will based around this certain area. This is common in British social realism as they use very realistic areas to highlight the theme of working class people. I would also want to include a shot of the women standing in the middle and at the back we see alot of people walking past here. I would use a fast pace edit as it highlight her enclosed personality. I could also portray track of here walking towards her work place. Throughout all the shots I’m going to use the movement pan so the audience feels more involved in the situation she is at and also it doesn’t make the shot to boring and still. I’m going to use some close-ups to highlight her emotions and also include a loose framing.

During the beginning of the clip I would like to use a voice over of the women talking about her experience in the workplace however I would not like to give away to much as I want to try to create enigma to the audience. I also want to include no sound in someplace of the footage to exploit the intense atmosphere; as a result this gives the audience an intense feels towards the movie. I’m going to include an urban soundtrack which is non-Diegetic. This might represent the films locations and the different types of characters.The urban music may represent a rough, underprivileged area in London which is common in British social realism however I dont want the urban music to overshadow the footage. Hence I would like to make the urban music a less upbeat.

Institution

25% of an independent film’s budget. Film Four Productions have built a reputation for producing social realist films, often referred to as kitchen sink dramas. They often use a very rough and ready style of camerawork and design, using real life locations, unknown or untrained actors and are often set in regional, heavily accented areas. They deal with politically sensitive and controversial themes such as race, social taboos, homosexuality in a very extreme and graphic fashion Using unknown characters is going to be useful as I'm going to pick myself to be the main actress for the movie inaddtion this connects with the ethos of developing new British talent as its states that The ethos of film 4 is that they want to "Develop new British Talent and be leader of innovation in the British film industry”. This could devolpe my acting career as producers can access to YouTube pages and look at the talent which I produced. Film four also like creative ideas and this will perfectly fit in as my idea is about a women getting harassed. This could make the audience think about what they do in the living and how some of these causes could affect them. Also film four proper highlight the gritty life of some peoples life and we are exploiting a life of women who gets harassed verbally and physically.

The target audience we were given was between the ages 16-24. As our film is a British Social Realism film, this will have to appeal and communicate to the British public hence the movie will be distributed in the UK as we mainly have a British audience here. The age range could be a disadvantage as that age you would be concentrating on study and exams. This is why I’m going to stream my movie on the internet and make them as pop-ups/adverts on the side of the website however I would like to showcase my movie in a main stream cinema. For new technology we could showcase the movie on Amazon prime or twitter as they could be a trending topic. This could really bring out our target audience as they mainly use technology these days and they could trend the topic around worldwide. The movie will be very popular on the internet however the audience will not be paying attention to the cinema as students dont have that much time to go there.

I think it good to put the movie online instead of being it in the cinema as it is easy to access and easy to watch. Also it’s going to be free online so that gives an advantage to our audience to watch the movie.