Shoot One
Date 18 April Location My House Cast and Crew Ben (Me) Liam Collns Scenes Post-break up scenes that only involve Ben Shoot Two Date 20th April Location Wellington CityCast and Crew Ben (Me) Tyler Cruse Emily Villanueva Daphne Martinez Scenes Relationship scene (Ben and Daphne and Emily) Breakup Scenes (Ben and Daphne and Emily and Tyler) Post breakup scenes (Ben and Daphne) Shoot Three Date 23rd April Location My House Cast and Crew Ben (Me)Emily Villanueva Daphne Martinez Scenes Relationship scenes (Ben and Daphne and Emily) Party Scenes (Ben and Emily Practicality How it May Affect A Production Strategies to Overcome Cast/Crew - Availability Not having the actors available will slow down production or stop it completely if there is nothing that can be filmed without the necessary actors. The availability of the actors will also dictate how long each shoot can be and where each shoot can take place. If all of the actors are not available there are scenes that do not involve each of the actors, so the shoots can be worked around who is available. Purchasing transport and food for the actors will also help in terms of getting the actors to come and enjoy being part of the film. To have the most amount of availability and flexibility possible I will film during the school holidays. Time Constraints A lot of the shoots will have to take place outdoors and during the day time so the main constraints will be the daylight and also when my cast and crew are available. The time constraints will dictate how much I can shoot during each shoot before it is no longer viable. To work around time constraints I will storyboard my film and scout accessible locations so that I am organised and that the shoot runs smoothly and efficiently, maximising the how much is filmed during each shoot. To find days with maximum time to shoot I will film during the holidays where we will have the most time per day. Money Constraints Money will not have an impact on the filming, as the only costs involved are for transport and food, with very few or no props being needed. I will pay for the transport of my cast and crew if necessary, as well as buying them food as a thank you for filming. Locations - Availability/Accessibility Accessibility and availability will have a minimal effect on production as the filming will either take place in my house or in public places in town, so there will be no issues in terms of location, with the only difficulty being getting to and from town. To get to and from town we can catch the bus which I will pay for, or get a ride in with my parents as we can fit all of the cast and crew in one car. Weather Our outdoor filming is very dependent upon the weather as it must be nice and sunny for us to be able to film and to suit the style of the film. I will check the weather forecast to organise outdoor filming on days with good weather. For days of bad weather when my cast and crew are available I will film my indoor scenes instead to make my filming efficient. Equipment - Camera, Editing The camera availability will dictate when I can film, so the lack of could halt production entirely. I will book a camera for a week during the holidays so that I will have a full week of being able to film. If I do not finish filming in the week that I have the camera, my friends may also have a camera booked that they will not be using the entire time. Safety - Physical Safety My cast and crew won’t be put into any dangerous situations during filming, with all of the scenes taking place in my house, or in public places in town during the day. Safety - Emotional Safety of Audience The film is light-hearted and doesn't pose any threat to the emotional safety of the audience. The reference to Dreamgirls may lead to somewhat awkward conversations coming from the younger audience, but there is nothing explicit involved in any of the scenes. Because of the wide range of people within the Noscar’s audience I have not included any graphic or innapropriate imagery that would offend the audience. Daphne
To play the first girlfriend. The film is not reliant upon dialogue, but more so on the images within the scenes, so being close friends with Daphne means that the scenes will seem more natural than acted. It will play into the upbeat style of the first part of the film during the relationships scenes. Although Daphne is not experienced with acting, a lot of the film will not necessarily be acting as no dialogue is needed, instead will just be Daphne and I hanging out. Daphne is also available during the holidays when I will be filming which helps in terms of production. Emily To play the second girlfriend. Similar to the reasons behind casting Daphne, Emily’s personality and our friendship will lend themselves to making the interactions on screen seem natural as none of us are very proficient with acting. Tyler To play the snake charmer lover boy, Tyler’s personality and quirky sense of humour lends him to the part as he adds to the character through his body language and improvised dialogue. Ben (Me) I will play the main character in the film as it means there will be one less actor to try and work with. With the film being called Being Ben making the film somewhat autobiographical adds another layer of comedy. Being my own actor will also alleviate pressure during filming as I will know what shots I want and what type of acting I want for each scene. It also means that I won’t have to ask someone else to film scenes that they may find strange or uncomfortable.
Sein Ben is a German romance comedy which follows Ben, a teenage boy, through a relationship, heartbreak, and recovery only to end in heartbreak once more. Narrated in German by Ben as he recounts the story, the film will revolve around the steps to getting over a break up and being in a new relationship having left a relationship behind. The comedy of the film will be set on a backdrop of sadness, subverting the expectations of the comedy audience. It will add depth to the comedy and to the film overall, as there is a deeper meaning behind the laughs so that the film will not only be funny and enjoyable for the audience, but also meaningful.
The film has a circular structure opening and ending with a shot of tragic-post-breakup-Ben, but starting in equilibrium with Ben in a happy relationship. The equilibrium is thrown out by the break up. Ben and the breakup make up the majority of the film, but a new relationship forms. Back in equilibrium, the film is abruptly thrown out of equilibrium by yet another break up. The film will be a comedy, with the depth to make it both memorable and meaningful for the Noscars audience. Repeated Shot Composition
Throughout the film there will be various shots where the composition is copied and repeated in other shots, especially at the start and end during both relationships. It will create a paralell between the two relationships, with the same settings and shots, but different characters. It will add some familiarity back into the film after the relatively strange and hectic nature of the middle of the film. It will also reflect the familiarity that the character is feeling, being in a relationship once again. Creating a pattern in the film, repeated shots of similar or identical composition will make the second half a reflection of the first, creating calm after the calamity and turmoil of the break up. The first and last shot of the film will be identical, creating a film with a very circular structure. It is a technique not often seen in Noscars films so will be interesting and unique for the audience. Whether the audience notices these repeated shots, the shots will seem familiar, which is a feeling I want to convey as it is what the character will be feeling. Symbolism of Blankets and Colour Because my film is a very reliant upon visual elements over dialogue, the use of symbolism and colour will aid in conveying the mood and ideas whether the audience is fully aware of them or not. The main symbol of the film will be the blankets. Throughout the first half the film the main character will have an orange blanket. In all the scenes portraying the first relationship the blanket will be present. During the breakup the main character will cling to this blanket. Eventually he will burn it as he lets go of the old relationship. A new blue blanket will be introduced with the second relationship. The blanket will symbolise each relationship, with the ideas of comfort and warmth. The character holds on to the old blanket as part of not being over the old relationship. The new blanket is symbolic of moving on and the same familiar comfort of a relationship. The colours of the blanket will also symbolic, with the same colours being present in all the scenes in some way. The dark orange of the first blanket/relationship is said to be associated with distrust and deceit. It’s also very eye catching which will work for the aesthetic of the film. The blue of the second blanket/relationship is said to be associated with stability and calm. It is also a contrast to the orange of the first blanket. The colours will not only be on the blankets, but in the settings and props of the film. Even if the audience is not fully aware of the symbolism or colour it should have an impact on a subliminal level, with the film being enjoyable either way. For those who do notice the symbolism it will add depth to the film, making it more enjoyable for the audience. Montage Style Editing Through the use of montage style editing there can be a relatively long time frame and large spectrum of events that can take place in my film. Each scene will be a snapshot, with the audience only seeing the most significant parts of a multitude of scenes. In this way the entire experience can be conveyed without relying on building up scenes and settings. The quick flashes are in a broader context and make sense because of that, so even though there is relatively little information the audience will be able to follow the film. It will also work well in culmination with the use of repeated shot composition. The use of montage will make these parallels more prominent and noticeable, enhancing the effect. Montage is also good in terms of controlling the pace of the film, being able to hold shots and make them more meaningful amongst the flurry of scenes. The main benefits come from the sheer amount of moments that are able to be put into the film and the vastness of the characters experience that can be covered in a relatively small amount of time. Each scene will be a snapshot of the experience, taking the audience through a long term experience within a short film. Shot Reverse Shot The sequences of shots used and how they are edited together will aid in conveying the emotion of some scenes instead of just being reliant upon actors. The use of shot reverse shot throughout the film will help build emotion with reactions in various scenes. In scenes such as the break ups, and some of the dates, shot reverse shot will help convey the relationship and emotions between the characters. Shot reverse shot will also be used for comedic effect with non-human objects when the character is alone. It will help develop how he feels and portray the loneliness of the break up. The use of shot reverse shot will help to include the audience within the character’s relationships, making the film more heartfelt as it builds a connection between the characters and the audience. Voiceover Fundamentally having a voiceover will help to explain a the story, but having it in German will make it unique and interesting. If the voiceover wasn’t in a foreign language the audience may get bored. Using a foreign voiceover is comedic in itself, but the content of the voicover can be used for comedy by contrasting what is on the screen. Helping to orientate the audience throughout the film and to guide viewers through the fast paced editing, the voiceover will also help with the pacing of the film. Without the voiceover it would be easy for the audience to become lost within the fast paced editing and montage style of the film, so having the voiceover will have a reassuring stabilisng effect on the audience. Setting Each scene will take place in a different setting, keeping the film visually interesting and also opening up the film to the audience who will have visited and been in a lot of the settings throughout the city. With very little dialogue the various settings will keep the audience engaged and stimulated with settings such as the harbor, alleyways, street art and other aesthetically pleasing or interesting places. One
Have a voiceover with every shot which is the middle of a scene. The film would follow a child through to adulthood. From being born to dying, but the majority of the film playing through the time spent at school. The start and end of the film of childhood and adulthood will be fast paced, with a voice over for each moment. The film would slow down and flesh out the time spent at college, specifically relationships and figuring out the future. In doing this it will be from the perspective of a teenager. Everything before college is perceived as a a fast paced blur, but life seems to slow down as the reality of growing up dawns on everyone. It is this passage of slow time before launching into the harrowing pace of adulthood. This structure of fast, slower, fast, will be good for portraying the period of time the year thirteens are in. If I follow a child through school for the majority of the film, to add comedy I could have a very fast paced comedic summary of the rest of the characters life. It will cut from a slow paced sentimental ending as the character finishes school in a positive way, to the character’s life going off the rails in a very hectic final sequence. It would add comedy and be a surprising juxtaposition for the audience. Two The purpose of making a film to span a lifetime is defeated if only the school years are focused on. Instead, the film will just focus on the task of school and growing up through dealing with relationships. This was the main message of the original idea, but has been distilled, into the over arching theme of growing up and what that means. Each moment will be like the middle of a scene, a snapshot of what is occurring so that only the most important parts are captured. There will be a voiceover for each scene, in an attempt to add comedy and context. Three The main conflict of the film is relationships, being a short film with little time, I believe it will be better to focus mainly on the relationship and breakup. The sub-plot of deciding upon life after school can still be explored, but the majority of the film will revolve around a break up and dealing with the fallout. A voiceover will still be used, but there will be some images that can stand to tell a story on their own. Four Although the sub-plot of deciding upon life after school is interesting and relatable for the Noscar’s audience, it is not very cinematic. With the majority of the film focusing on the break up, the school sub-plot seems like a distraction that may do more to take away from the film than add to it. There is also the issue of the ending. Without the sub-plot of school and coming out the other side optimistic, there is currently no effective end for my film. A part of the break-up process is moving on. So instead of spending time on the sub-plot and only the immediate effects of the break up, I would rather add some longer term events of the break up. This would include not only the initial break up, but getting over the break up, moving on and finding someone else, followed by a second relationship. In doing this the message of the film would be more positive, with more turning points to drive the film, instead of just the break up. Having a second relationship introduces the opportunity to have a second break up, which I think would be a relatively unexpected, but funny way to end the film. It would allow the very first and very last shots of the film to be the same. With this change to the plot, there is in fact a plot instead of just the first turning point of the break up. The plot now goes: Relationship: Break up: Emotional Wreck/Getting Over Break up: New Relationship: Break Up Five The story line will stay the same, but I think the voiceover or type of voiceover should be changed. The current concept allows for somewhat lazy story telling, with the voice over doing a lot of the work. The voicover should not just explain what the audience is seeing, but add to it by being comedic, or different to what the audience is seeing. Instead of ditching the voiceover, to keep the audience interested and to differentiate my film from all the others, the use of a foreign language would be interesting. By using a foreign language I could still use a voiceover, but in a way that is unique and engaging. Voiceover is used this way in the short film, "A Lesson on Probability" which uses Spanish with subtitles instead of English. In this film the voiceover is relatively abstract, not just describing what is on the screen, but developing the story in a different and less literal way. Six The use of a foreign voiceover is relatively impractical, especially to the extent of spanning the entire film. There are also parts of the current concept voiceover that are to literal and descriptive. Moments of the film need voicover to make sense or be funny, but the voiceover is an all or nothing element of the film. It would not work if only certain parts of the film were voice-overed, but it is not always necessary and doesn’t always add to the film. My solution is to improve the film by not having a voiceover at all. The voiceover doesn’t do anything but describe what the audience is already watching, so it doesn’t serve much of a purpose. I think the film would be more impressive and cinematic if the story was told through images alone. The scenes that need a voiceover can instead have diagetic dialogue, keeping it to a minimum. Having minimal dialogue also means that there is still a possibility to use a foreign language, only having to learn a few words for each line of dialogue. It also means that the film can be shot in both English and a different language, as there is no lengthy dialogue. By doing this I think the film will have more depth and impact. It will be similar to the film Life’s a Bitch. Once the film has been shot and cut together there is always an opportunity to do a voice over if the film isn’t as good as it could be. If I were to do a voiceover I think I would get Mr Jones to do a David Attenborough nature documentary style voiceover. This would make the film less artistic, but would make it more enjoyable if it isn’t already. Having Mr Jones do a voiceover would also be a hit with the Noscars crowd, as no matter what he says, the context will make it funny. By doing a nature documentary style voiceover I would be able to avoid describing what the audience is seeing, putting a humorous twist on it. The combination of nature documentary voiceover and Mr Jones’ voice would make for a far more comedic film, but the goal is to pull off a film that is as good with it or without it. I would prefer to make an artistic film, but I have a feeling that the more comedic option would be more appealing to the Noscar’s audience. Seven Having a German voiceover instead of the nature documentary fits more with the style of the film, and will be unique for the Noscars audience, as there has never been a foreign language film at the Noscars. The storyline will stay the same with the same characters and events, but the point of difference will be the use of the German voiceover to narrate the film. Eight Adding music that cuts off with a door slamming noise will be a sudden shock for the audience as the break up occurs, especially of the music is upbeat and happy. It will add to the shock of the break up after the happy scene, conveying the feeling of the main character to the audience who will share in the surprise. As well as a cut to black which is an contrast in imagery, the sound cut will be very jarring. The music will also act as a motif in the film, being repeated during both relationships. It will signify the end of both relationships, so the audience will start to realize what is going to happen before the second breakup. It will add to the comedy of the moment as the music leads into the joke, which is the breakup. |