Posts

Showing posts from December, 2022

Short Film Research: The Last of Us Fan Film/Thriller

Image
The Last of Us fan film is a non-profit, live action adaptation of the popular video game of the same name. The film follows the story of Joel and Ellie, two survivors in a post-apocalyptic world ravaged by a deadly fungus that turns people into mindless monsters. The film was directed by Joel McMillian and stars Gabe Fazio as Joel and Hannah Victoria Stock as Ellie. The film received widespread praise for its accurate depiction of the characters and its faithfulness to the source material. The film's plot closely follows the events of the game, with some minor deviations and added scenes for the purposes of the film. The film was released on YouTube in 2017 and has since gained a large following among fans of the game. The Last of Us fan film was made with the support of Naughty Dog, the developers of the game, and was released with their permission. The film's budget was funded entirely by donations from fans and supporters. The film's production team consisted of a mix o

Short Film Research: The Strange Thing About the Johnsons/Thriller

Image
The short film follows the story of a young couple who are terrorized by a mysterious figure in their home. As strange events begin to occur, the couple becomes increasingly paranoid and suspicious of each other. As the tension and fear mount, they start to uncover disturbing secrets about their past and the true identity of their assailant. As they struggle to survive and stay one step ahead of their attacker, they must also confront their own demons and confront the secrets they have been hiding from each other. The short film is a thrilling ride that keeps the audience on the edge of their seats with its twists and turns. The cinematography and score create a tense and ominous atmosphere, adding to the intensity of the film. The performances of the cast are top-notch, with raw and intense emotions on full display. As the mystery unravels, the couple is forced to confront the dark secrets of their past and the true nature of their relationship. The short film is a gripping and suspen

Short Film Research: Other Side of the Box/Thriller

Image
In the short film: Other Side of the Box, it opens with a shot of a dark and stormy night. A man is seen driving frantically through the city, his face contorted with fear. We see glimpses of a mysterious figure in the rearview mirror, seemingly following him. The man pulls up to a deserted warehouse and hurries inside, locking the door behind him. He frantically searches for a place to hide, but it seems the figure has already found him. The man hears footsteps approaching and turns to see a shadowy figure standing in the doorway. He tries to run, but trips and falls to the ground. The figure approaches and stands over him, revealing a sinister smile. The man pleads for his life, but the figure simply pulls out a knife and lunges forward. A struggle ensues, with the man desperately trying to fend off his attacker. Just when all hope seems lost, a group of people burst into the warehouse, guns drawn. The attacker is apprehended and the man is saved. As it turns out, the man was a witne

Short Film Research: The Lost City/Thriller

Image
  "The Lost City" is a short film about a group of adventurers who set out to find a mythical city that is said to be hidden deep in the jungle. The film follows the group as they navigate treacherous terrain and face numerous challenges along the way. The group is led by a seasoned explorer named Jack, who is determined to find the Lost City and uncover its secrets. As they journey deeper into the jungle, the group encounters strange creatures and ancient ruins that hint at the city's existence. Despite encountering numerous setbacks and dangers, the group remains determined to find the Lost City. Along the way, they also discover a hidden tribe of indigenous people who hold the key to finding the city. The group must learn to trust and work with the tribe in order to uncover the city's location. As they get closer to the city, they realize that it is guarded by powerful forces that will do anything to protect its secrets. The group must use all of their strength, co

Comparing Le Jetee, the short, and 12 Monkeys, the full-length movie

Image
Le Jetee is a 1962 French science fiction short film directed by Chris Marker. It is about a man who is sent back in time to prevent a nuclear war that destroys most of humanity. The film is notable for its use of still photographs to tell the story, as well as its exploration of themes of memory, identity, and time travel. 12 Monkeys is a 1995 American science fiction film directed by Terry Gilliam, which was inspired by Le Jetee. The film follows the same basic premise as Le Jetee, with a man being sent back in time to prevent a global disaster, but it expands upon the story and includes additional characters and plot elements. 12 Monkeys features Bruce Willis as the time-traveling protagonist and Brad Pitt in an Academy Award-nominated performance as a mentally ill character. Both Le Jetee and 12 Monkeys are considered classic science fiction works that explore the implications of time travel and the consequences of altering the past. However, 12 Monkeys is a much more elaborate and

Research: How to Make a Short Film

Image
 My takeaway from the video was: Start by coming up with an idea for your short film. This could be inspired by a personal experience, a news story, or just a concept that you find interesting. Write a script for your short film. This should include dialogue, action, and descriptions of the setting and characters. Gather a team of people to help bring your short film to life. This may include actors, a director, a cinematographer, and other crew members. Create a shot list and storyboard for your short film. This will help you visualize each scene and plan out the camera angles and movements. Set up a schedule for filming and rehearse with your cast and crew. Make sure everyone knows their roles and is prepared for the shoot. Choose locations for filming that are suitable for your script and storyboard. You may need to scout out multiple locations before deciding on the final one. Set up the lighting and camera equipment to achieve the desired look and feel for your short film. Record

Comparing 9, the short, and 9, the full length movie

Image
The plot of 9 (2005) follows a small rag doll named 9, who awakens in a post-apocalyptic world where all living beings have been seemingly wiped out. He soon encounters other living rag dolls, each with their own unique abilities and traits. 9 must work with these rag dolls to uncover the mystery behind the apocalypse and find a way to survive in this dangerous world. In terms of character development, we see 9 transform from a timid and uncertain rag doll into a confident and capable leader. The other rag dolls also undergo significant development as they come to trust and rely on 9. The special effects in 9 are impressive, with detailed and realistic animation bringing the rag dolls and their world to life. The directorial style is fast-paced and action-packed, with thrilling chase scenes and intense battle sequences. 9 adheres to the conventions of a post-apocalyptic film, with a bleak and desolate world, danger and survival at the forefront, and a small group of characters fighting

Final Genre Decision

Image
After looking over each genre, we decided that, in order for our pitch to be correctly formatted, that the thriller genre would fit. We came to this reason because the thriller genre is almost exactly how we want the opening sequence for our pitch to be like, scenes full of suspense and avid movements. The reason why horror genre wouldn’t work for our pitch was due to the plot having no horror sense at all. The plot of our pitch is greatly action-related and a horror genre wouldn't fit to all the scenes having more movement. Our opening sequence is based on a rivalry, not some upper entity who controls all of the environment around the protagonist, which is why horror genre would also not be a good fit. The action genre was another candidate but had felt as if it were the same type of energy as a horror film rather than an thriller. Throughout each and every action film I had researched on, there were lots of action and movement throughout scenes, however, most were spook-related i

Genre Research - Action

Image
The common camera angles in action:  Long shot: Artificially shortens the distance between two characters. This effect tricks the viewer into thinking that the characters actually punch each other. Wide shot: Used to establish the main characters in the movie but not the area surrounding them.  Low angle: Used to show how intimidating the villain is and how they are above all.  High angle: Used to show when the main hero is in a tough situation and losing, usually fights or big battles.  Establishing shot: Used to show the main area where the heroes/hero battles it out.  Common Costumes, Props, Setting, and Make-up:  Costume: The costumes in action films are what truly establish the character, some people don't even know the characters face but as soon as they see the suit/costume they immediately recognize them.  Props: Props are important in action films, whether it range from Thor's Hammer to Batman's Bata-rang, the character's weapons are what define their actions.

Genre Research - Thriller

Image
 Common Camera Angles: High Angle: These shots are used in thriller films to give the effect that whatever is being looked down on appears to look powerless and vulnerable.  Tracking/panning: Used to make it look like one of the characters is being followed or being watched. It also helps the audience to have a full view of the scene and what is happening.  Tilting Angle: These add dramatic tension to the scene, and sometimes signify a supernatural being pushing or moving the camera.  Low Angle: These are often used in thrillers to emphasize how powerful and intimidating a villain is. This can also make the audience feel weak and insignificant. Zoom: This gives a dramatic effect and helps to create suspense and fear of not knowing what's going to happen next. Its mostly used in these types of films see something you would have missed before zooming in.  Common Mis-En-Scene:  Setting: Dark areas to present a freaked-out feeling to the viewer. They also use space of a character to re

Genre Research - Horror

Image
 Common Camera Angles: High Angle: These kinds of shots are used in horror films to make the figure or object that is looked down upon seem completely powerless and vulnerable. Close Up: These shots are used to see reactions on the actors face. This shot shows the most emotion from characters and captures detail in an important scene. Panning Shot: These shots connotes movement. This is used very effectively in horror films to make out a character being followed or watched  Tilted Angle: Tilted shots add a lot of attention to shots, and could simplify a supernatural being, for example pushing or moving the camera. Common Film Necessities: Setting: Forests, cemeteries, cabins, and abandoned buildings are just some of the main settings for horror films. Lighting: Dim lighting and silhouettes are used in horror films because it creates tension due to its mysterious and dark atmosphere, controlling how much of the surroundings and characters are revealed.  Props: Chainsaws, Baseball Bats,

Genres For Research

Image
The genres I would like to research are Horror, Thriller, and Action. I want to research these 3 genres for different reasons. Horror: Provides a deep suspense and explores dark subjects for entertainment purposes. Thriller: Involves crime or mystery. Thrillers are defined by the moods they elicit giving viewers heightened feelings of suspense, excitement and anticipation which are all qualities a genre should produce. Action: Involves violence and fast paced scenery which appeals to certain audiences.