Live studio shows job roles

In our lessons with Paul we have been working in the live television studio, in groups of four to five we have all put together our own twenty minute news shows which we will be assessed on. The whole class have to work as a production crew to make each groups news show, after many weeks of rehearsals.

Channel 21 News

Channel 21 News was the group I was in, the role I played in our group was director. As director I had to lead the creative input of the show, briefing the three presenters on how I wanted them to present each story. As well as this , I also set up where I wanted the cameras to be positioned, especially the moving camera as that was one of the most engaging shots, so I needed to make sure it was pulled off correctly.

Below is the moving camera for our news show, which I assigned Peter to, however he got all his direction from me. The camera started off pointing in the vision mixing studio and then it would move into the studio with Lee moving with it. Him being the moving presenter at the start of the show. However on the day, due to technical faults because the auto queue wouldn't stretch that far, we decided to place the moving camera in the actual studio and it would only move a small fraction.

Channel 4 News

For Karla, Dani, Yas and Andrew's group I was a presenter. In this job role I had to read the script off of the Auto Queue correctly, presenting their news show in a correctly formal manner. To prepare for this role I had to run through the script with my associate presenter Karenza. Once we both familiarised ourselves with what we had to say, we had to be briefed on how they wanted us to present each story.

Below is an image of me sitting down in the presenters chair, I am covering my face from the strong lights. This pointed out to the lighting mixer that the lights were too strong and that they needed to be turned down.

Untitled news show

For Dom, Elliott, Georgia, Ollie and Rosie's news show I was a sound operator. In this role I had to set up all the clip mics for the presenters, as well as positioning the boom mic stands and setting up all the shotgun mics facing towards the presenters. The purpose of setting up boom/shot gun mics and clip mics was because we needed a back up in case one of them decided to play up on us. As well as this, four headsets needed to be set up for the three camera operators plus the floor manager of the production. The reason for this was because the camera operator all needed to be communicated to the vision mixing room so that if a camera went off at an angle or it cut out, the vision mixing room could tell the camera operator straight away so they could fix the solution.

Below is an example of me setting up the headset mics which needed to be used by the three camera operators so that they could communicate with the vision mixing room.

I also adjusted some of the sound levels on the sound mixing desk so that I could check they all worked correctly.

As a sound operator I also had to set up the boom/shotgun mic stands, this is them all set up. They are now ready to be placed in the correct positions I was briefed on.

Box News

In Peter, Paige, Sid, Mitch and Lee's group I was yet again a presenter. Similarly for this role I had to present their news show in a correctly formal manner. To prepare for this role I had to run through the script with my associate presenter Ollie, who was the weather man. Once we both familiarised ourselves with what we had to say, we had to be briefed on how they wanted us to present each story.  I also had to come already prepared for the live shoot, by this I meant that I had to come in a suit to class so that I adhered to the terms and conditions they wanted.

TFOM - First Draft - Script

EXT. Streets, hill, park, back garden – Night

The shot opens up with a boy named LUKE PHILLIPS, 17, medium height. Running frantically along a street, you can hear lots of cars rushing about. He constantly looks behind, obviously scared at the sight of someone after him. He eventually finds a house to hide in; he opens the gate and sneaks in the garden. He is then startled at the sight of a person with a revolver.

LUKE PHILLIPS

Please. Look, I mean no harm. I’m fine I promise.

All that can be seen between LUKE talking is a revolver (close-up shot), which then cuts back to Luke.

LUKE

This country is dying; don’t make me another number on the list of the dead.

LUKE is quite clearly panicking, he doesn’t want to die. Cuts to the revolver.

LUKE

I promise it’s a mistake. They didn’t mean to mark me, I swear.

Cuts back to a shot of the revolver.

LUKE

Hurt me and you’ll have a much bigger guilty conscious on you, and that’s something you won’t want in this world. Be prepared to –

Two gun shots are fired, cut to the title sequence.

CUT TO:

EXT. Field – Day

Various shots of the character LUCY PEACH dancing and looking happy in a field are shown. It looks quite blurry and dream like.

CUT TO:

INT. House – Day

A new location is established, the scene starts off with a point of view shot looking up at the character LIAM WESTWOOD. The shot is a bit shaky and blurry. This shows the character of GEORGE LEWIS waking up.

 LIAM WESTWOOD

George. George. Wake up George.

GEORGE LEWIS

(MURMURING)

LIAM

George you need to get up, we have a problem.

GEORGE

Whaaa

LIAM

Stop, I’ll give you a hand.

LIAM reaches down and pulls GEORGE up, he then gives him a glass of water. GEORGE and LIAM then walk over to the window.

LIAM

There’s a boy in the garden, he must be one of the marked ones. We need to –

GEORGE

Oh my god, Lucy. Where is she? I have to find –

As LIAM is speaking, GEORGE picks up his phone and dials LUCY. There is no service.

LIAM

NO. You aren’t going anywhere George, it’s not safe outside. We have to barricade the house, that boy is going to wake up eventually outside. And boy we don’t want to be in a radius near him when he does.

GEORGE

Then why don’t we just leave?

LIAM

We can’t, don’t you remember what they said?

It’s not safe

GEORGE

Bu..bu, but

George collapses on the floor, the scene then cuts to a flashback.

CUT TO:

EXT. Woods – Day

A new setting is established, this is a flashback from when LIAM and GEORGE went out skating and they encountered four military personnel. It is a sunny day, everything seems happy.

GEORGE

You have to have more of a spin on it; otherwise you will never get the technique right.

LIAM

Let’s just call it a day; I’m pretty useless at skating. I’d rather go for a run.

GEORGE

HA, I knew you’d give up. Don’t worry; I was pretty crap when I first started off.

LIAM

Shall we get something to eat?

GEORGE

Nahh, I’m not feeling too good. I feel a little dizzy at the moment.

LIAM

HA, probably all that pretend spinning nonsense you do on your board.

GEORGE

NO, it’s worse than that. Look I’m going to get going now

LIAM

Alright mate, I will –

Machine gun fire can be heard, LIAM and GEORGE are startled. They run to take cover, afraid of who is shooting.

Four military personnel, dressed in full green combat gear are running in sync as a squad. They are coming out of the woods; two of them have machine gun weapons. The soldiers refer to themselves by their surnames only.

BLACKBURN T

OI you two, what are you doing outside? Get in now

BLACKBURN A

Cut em some slack, I doubt they know what’s going on

LIAM

What’s happening? Is this an exercise or something?

GEORGE

Liam let’s just go, who knows what they’ll do to us

LIAM

Shut up George

BLACKBURN T

There’s been a breakout, a high security holding facility in the south of York –

BLACKBURN A

A virus, originally caught off of rapid dogs. It quickly spread to humans. People went crazy, started attacking and tearing apart innocent people.

BLACKBURN T

Those with the infection were rounded up in a facility, where they couldn’t escape. Except –

BLACKBURN A

Someone hatched a plan to let them out, that’s why it is of the upmost importance you stay inside. This has gone nationwide.

GEORGE

And you expect us to believe you?

BLACKBURN T

Those with the infection have been marked, a black line across their hands. Don’t believe us then, but when you see one you’ll soon change your mind.

BLACKBURN A

It’s time to take up arms. The fall of man is now; you must fight to stay alive.

LIAM

But surely you lot and the government will sort this out?

BLACKBURN T

Mate it’s too late for that, the government have known about this breakout for years. It’s all been planned.

GEORGE

But we have no experience in firearms, what use are we?

BLACKBURN A

Then you hide, barricade yourselves in. But there will come a time when you can’t hide no longer.

LIAM

We have no weapons anyway?

BLACKBURN T

Here take these, you put them on and you run. Get inside, don’t speak to anyone

GEORGE

But –

BLACKBURN A

No more buts, when the time comes you do what ya gotta do

BLACKBURN A hands LIAM a revolver, they hurriedly start walking off in the distance. The scene cuts back to present day.

CUT TO:

INT. House – Day

The scene then cuts back to the present day, where LIAM is sitting talking to a now woken up GEORGE.

LIAM

How do you feel?

GEORGE

Better

LIAM

You don’t look great

GEORGE

Neither do you but I don’t complain

LIAM

Have something to eat, just to be on the safe side.

GEORGE

Have you got any meat?

LIAM

No

GEORGE

Then I’m not hungry, are you going to let me leave?

LIAM

You can’t –

GEORGE

I can do what I want

LIAM

Lucy’s gone, she’s probably dead and buried for all you know

GEORGE

How dare you say that, that’s my girlfriend

LIAM

Not any more she isn’t, you haven’t heard from her, for all you know she’s been marked –

GEORGE stands up and gets all up in LIAM’S face, LIAM stands up as well. They both look very on edge with each other.

GEORGE

NO SHE HASN’T

LIAM grabs GEORGE and gives him some angry advice.  

LIAM

Shut up and listen to me, you want to survive? Do ya? Do ya? Because you know what’s become of this country, five days have passed and nearly half the population are deceased. Soon that could be you.

GEORGE collapses again on the floor, it is quite clear that his condition is worsening. LIAM goes to pick up the revolver, his hands are trembling. He contemplates shooting GEORGE. The scene cuts to another flashback.

CUT TO:

EXT. Streets, hill, park, back garden – Night

The flashback is an extended version of the opening sequence; it shows who shot the marked boy LUKE PHILLIPS. It is LIAM who killed him; this scene is an exchange of sentences between the two and then LUKE’S death.

LUKE PHILLIPS

Please. Look, I mean no harm. I’m fine I promise.

LIAM

It’s got to be done

LUKE

This country is dying; don’t make me another number on the list of the dead.

LIAM

Don’t you think I don’t know that?

LUKE

I promise it’s a mistake. They didn’t mean to mark me, I swear.

LIAM

I’m sorry but I value my life, it’s time to take up arms. And that’s exactly what I’m doing.

LUKE

Hurt me and you’ll have a much bigger guilty conscious on you, and that’s something you won’t want in this world. Be prepared to –

Two shots are fired, LUKE is dead. There are then various fade in fade out transitions which show LIAM dragging LUKE’S body onto the grass and then rapping a sheet around him.

CUT TO:

INT. House – Day

The scene cuts back to GEORGE lying on the floor unconscious. LIAM tries to wake him up.

LIAM

GEORGE, c’mon George

Close-up shot

LIAM

Don’t die on me

GEORGE starts to go into a fit, his whole body shakes like crazy, and black liquid starts to spew out of his mouth. Various quick cuts are shown of LIAM panicking and trying to find something to help GEORGE.

LIAM remembers something BLACKBURN A said, the line is shown again showing LIAM is remembering.

BLACKBURN A

It’s time to take up arms. The fall of man is now; you must fight to stay alive.

 

LIAM looks at the revolver he is holding in his hands again.

There are a few different shots of LIAM looking at GEORGE on the floor, when there is a thumping sound. He turns around; LUKE is at the door, this time in a fully rapid state. He leaves a blood hand print on the door. His face in covered in blood and black liquid, he has a very sinister looking face.

 LIAM

It’s time

There is a titled angle; LIAM looks down at his revolver. He then looks back up, close-up shot.

LIAM

I’m sorry

Another close-up shot of LIAM is shown, two gun shots are heard. Fade to black. End credits are shown.



TFOM - Proposal

Working title: The Fall of Man

Company name: SamGoodfellowFILM

Intended audience: 15-60 year olds 

Contact: South Essex College 

The Concept

In a country that has been infected by a deadly virus, creating rabid humans. Best friends Liam Westwood and George Lewis must use their wits and strength to survive the oncoming apocalypse. After being told to evacuate themselves into a secure indoor home, Liam and George relocate to Liam's house. Barricading themselves in, however with George's sudden decline in health it is quite obvious he may have the disease. With his love of his best friend, Liam must do the right thing otherwise they will both be dead. George's overpowering desire to find his missing girlfriend is putting a strain on their relationship, so creating a protected environment isn't so easy.

For my single camera drama I will looking to add colour correction effects which will make Liam and George's world look de-saturated and gloomy. There will also be six other minor characters who will appear so the narrative will make sense. The MacGuffin for my movie will be the character Lucy Peach, this is George's girlfriend and she is the burning desire he is after, also coincidently the character which adds conflict amongst George and Liam.


 

TFOM - Diary Entries

First diary entry - Tuesday the 24th of April 2014

During our lesson with Pat, I discussed with Matt my 10 minute single camera drama idea. I discussed with him the basic plot and my intention of where I was going to film it, I also spoke about what I had already contributed to the project. That includes, filming a short scene, writing the first draft for the script and an idea generation list, composing various ideas to get my main result. He also spoke about his idea and what he was going to include in his narrative. We also gave advice on what would better each others ideas.

My idea for my 10 minute short single camera drama which I discussed with Matt is a post-apocalyptic thriller. It focuses on the two main characters Liam Westwood and George Lewis. It is a survival story about a virus which has broken out and infected humans in the UK. Making them rabid and crazy, attacking innocent civilians. Those with the virus have been marked with a black sign on their right hand. People have been told that if they come into contact with a marked one then they must kill them by any means necessary so to end the virus. Other than if they see one, they should barricade themselves in and wait further instruction. Liam Westwood and George Lewis are two friends who have evacuated in Liam's house so to avoid the virus. George is becoming increasingly ill from the virus, Liam is to afraid to act upon it and George is completely unaware. All he wants to do is find his girlfriend who has missing.

I also told Matt about my flashback elements which I will add into my 10 minute short single camera drama. There will be two flashbacks which helps to add up the backstories of the characters and explain how the apocalypse started.

Progress Diary Entry - Thursday the 1st of May 2014

Throughout the last week I have been completing various pieces of work, going towards my single camera drama short film. For example I went at the weekend on a location recce for one of my flashback scenes.  This was at a field near The Ivory Rooms in Billericay, I took various different pictures and assessed the area. Checking out all the surroundings and sound to make sure it was suitable  for the scene I wish to film there. I filled in a location report and recce checklist just to ensure that I didn't miss anything. I also filled in a risk assessment form of the location so that in case a risk occurs, I will know what to do. During this week I also did my final draft of my script, checking over all the mistakes that were present. As well as making the dialogue more interesting and getting rid of lines that aren't necessary.

Filming the opening sequence - Sunday the 4th of May 2014

Today on the 4th of May I filmed the opening sequence for my single camera drama short film. Shooting started at 2 o clock and commenced at 4.30pm. The opening sequence featured the character of Luke Philips (played by my friend Jack Hornett) being chased by an anonymous person. I filmed at various locations around Billericay, these all included the Queen Elizabeth park, Mill Meadows and the South Green area, as well as the back gate to my house. I filmed Jack running, using various different angles to capture the full essence of what I was going for. These different angles included, close-up, tracking, medium, long and extreme long shot.

Filming the house scenes - Monday the 5th of May 2014

Today I filmed the main scenes which take up the main feature of my single camera drama. As well as this I also filmed the rest of the dialogue scene between the characters Luke Phillips and Liam Westwood which occurs during my opening sequence. After filming the rest of my opening sequence , I then filmed all the house scenes mainly between the two characters Liam and George. The most ambitious part of the shoot today was covering my actor Jack in fake blood, making him look as menacing as possible. I also had to get my actor Sean Bilner who plays George Lewis to spew fake blood out of his mouth. This was also challenging as it was hard for him to not laugh, as well as this it also had to look as realistic as possible.

Re writing a scene in the script - Friday the 9th of May 2014

Today has been quite a stress in terms of my production, this evening at 11pm one of my main actors who is playing George has told me that he can no longer film his final scene tomorrow. Along with the three soldiers and the character Liam. Baring in mind I was meant to film from 11 until 1. But due to work commitments he can't make it, however I cannot re schedule to film another day because, this is a very important and large scene which will take a while and my main three actors are on study leave for exams post the 10th so they have said they want to focus on revision. So tonight I have had to re write the scene slightly, without the character of George appearing.

Filming the army scene - Saturday the 10th of May 2014

Today was the day to film my last scene, my main actor Sean who is playing George told me he could make filming. This was a large nuisance because I had re-wrote the script, however all I had to do was print off the old one. We picked up the three actors playing the soldiers at 10.50 and we then headed off to the field we were filming in. I told my actors Matt Flower who plays Liam and Sean Bilner who plays George to arrive at the field at 11.50. They were okay to walk to location because they only live a few door down. I asked them to arrive a bit later at that time because, I wanted to film a lot of cutaways of the soldiers just running and lots of close-ups. Therefore I did not need them until a bit later, once we finished filming all the cutaways , they then read through the script so that they could familiarise themselves with what they were saying. Once my other two actors turned up, we filmed all their dialogue exchanges. Filming finished at 1.20, some problems which occurred on the day were;

• Wind effected dialogue being heard
• Sun kept changing so my picture either looked bright or dark
• Started to rain
• Passers by in shot

The dialogue was easily fixed, as I turned on my high pass filter setting on my Rode Video Mic. This enabled the wind to be heavily reduced, pulling out the dialogue my actors were saying. The lighting was adjusted using my on camera white balance, the rest I will fix in post-production. As for the rain ,we had to postpone filming for 15 minutes, while taking shelter under a large tree. And for the passers by I positioned the camera differently and also waited for them to walk by.  

Re-filming some of the character Luke - Friday the 16th of May 2014

So I am way into editing my single camera drama now, however a few of my classmates mentioned it to me and it made me re-think. But during my opening sequence, the character Luke Phillips is seen running, being chased by someone who we don't know. However as he runs to find cover in someone's back garden, he starts to walk into the garden as opposed to run. And this didn't really make much sense after people brought it to my attention, as if you were being chased you wouldn't just start to calmly walk in. So I figured I should re-film this bit. As well as that I am still a bit under the ten minutes and am worrying I won't make the full duration which has been set. So I decided that I would film a load more cutaways of Luke's hands and body when he is dead under the sheet. I started re-filming at three o clock and finished at half four. I am happy after the re-shoot that my shots look a lot better, as I compared them to the old ones. Just to see what improvements could be made, for example I changed around the white balance settings and altered the contrast to get a more gritty feel to it.

Re-filming in the field with the characters Liam and George - Saturday the 24th of May 2014

After completing my whole  rough cut during post-production and moving on to spotting and colour grading. I realised a few of the shots of Liam and George in the flashback army scene were really bright, exposing all the colours making them really white. This definitely did not look good and after fiddling around with the colour effects for a few hours, colour grading just made the shots look worse and even lesser quality. So I decided that I would just re-shoot a few of these shots, baring in mind it was only three shots so it was not too much of an upset. So I started filming at two o clock and finished at half past two. I decided that after I filmed the re-done shots, I would film a few more pieces of dialogue while I was there, just so that I could pad the scene out a bit more and make the duration a bit more longer, just so that I would  stand an even better chance of reaching ten minutes.

Notes on Jaws

What formats does this fit into?


What is the narrative structure?

The narrative structure in Jaws is of a linear structure, the opening sequence sets up the feel and theme of what the film is about. It then starts off into the same environment after the title sequence, but at a different time a few days later. The narrative is very easy to follow throughout as the story is told through a string of events all in the same order. This is often very appealing to audiences as it doesn't require too much complex thinking, and it means that because you aren't thinking about a jumbled up narrative you can focus more on the plot and characters.


How is the camera used?

Throughout the film Jaws, multi-camera techniques are used. For example during the Kitney boys death scene, various differently angled shots are shown of his death. As well as a close-up birds of view shot showing a higher up perspective making it more dramatic. A extreme long shot of everyone running out of the sea is also shown. This shows the vast expanse of all the seaside residents and how extreme the situation is, this all adds to making the narrative more engaging. A point of view moving shot is also used for the shark when he is going in to attack his victims, the reason the camera is like this only for the shark is it shows that there is a clear difference between the shark and humans, it also adds an element of danger and suspense. Clearly being different from the other camera techniques.


How is lighting used?

The lighting underneath the water when the shark is going in for the kill is very murky blue and dark, this connotes a very eerie feel and is also quite mysterious as it metaphorically leaves you in the dark not knowing who will fall victim to the sharks next attack. Also when they are on the boat near the end, the lighting is fairly dark when the shark first attacks. This yet again adds to the themes of the film.


Talk about relationship between visuals and sound

Whenever the shark is approaching we immediately as the audience know about it, this is because there is a strong relationship between the visuals and sound. The visuals throughout the whole film of the shark (minus the end on the boast) are as a point of view moving shot, not showing the shark. To accompany this there is a very powerful score which is very popular among television and film culture,  this theme is dark and eerie but it adds an edge of excitement which we instantly know is the shark.

TFOM - 10 Minute single-camera drama - Brainstorm ideas

Ideas

• Post - apocalyptic genre 
• Two survivors are trapped in a house, a body is lying outside. They are afraid of what to do next.
• The survivors are two boys, one has a gift of reading minds.
• A major global pandemic has happened which has the world devastated, they must use their wits and abilities to survive while working out the real reason they are still alive. 
• The survivors that we meet all have different gifts.
• Possible flashbacks are shown to help aid the narrative in what has happened.  
• Soldiers run out of forest telling the survivors to evacuate.

• The story centres on a girl who is terminally ill and her wish is to meet her long lost brother
• She is granted her wish, and one more as her brother might just be able to save her life. 
• She meets her brother and finds out that he has the ability to heal.
• The narrative is a light hearted story about one girls journey to find her brother and how her illness has been cured.
• The single camera short film will also focus it's attention onto the girls diary, it will open with a voiceover of her reading her diary.

Endings in film

MacGuffin

A MacGuffin is something which drives the film and moves around the character, however it isn't important or what the audience usually care about. It is an element which drives the narrative. For example in Harry Potter and The Philosopher Stone, the MacGuffin is The Philosopher Stone.

A characters want and need 

In the film Lord of the Rings - The Return of the King, the main character Frodo wants to destroy the Ring by throwing it into Mordor, however his obsession with it is destroying him. The main character of Frodo needs to be strong within himself like Sam, so that he can beat his obsession with the Ring. Something which Sam could do.

The want which my character I created - Albert would be that he wants lots of money. Every con he does is a contest to him, and he must win that contest or he won't be happy. My character of Albert needs to let the money go and find inner peace with himself while staying happy with having a good relationship with his wife.

Michael Feit Dougan's Creative Compass

Below are four different possible endings to what could have happened in The Return of the King

Triumphant ending 

The Return of the King is already triumphant ending.

Transcendent ending

Frodo would be happy within himself and felt like he has beaten his obsession with the Ring, however he leaves Sam to continue the quest to destroy the Ring at Mordor.

Tragic ending 

Frodo does not destroy the Ring and it falls into the hands of Sauron. He also does not achieve strength within himself, ultimately ending in demise because of the Ring

Existential ending

The existential ending would be that Frodo successfully destroys the ring by throwing it into Mordor, however he is not strong or happy within himself like Sam and his obsession only worsens at the loss of the Ring.

Below are four different possible endings to what could have happened in the narrative for my film idea

Triumphant ending 

Albert successfully finds peace among himself, staying with his wife. Along with the millions of pounds which he has earn through cons.

Transcendent ending 

My film is already a transcendent ending - because he does not go away with much money, however he does finally become happy within himself as he has to learn to deal with what he did to his late wife.

Tragic ending

The tragic ending to my film would be that Albert walks away with no money and he is not happy with himself. Eventually dying as did his wife.

Existential ending 

Albert walks away from his murdered wife with millions of pounds from his successful cons, however he is upset and unhappy within himself because his cons have caused a misery to his life.