Rehearsal Notes:

We were able to rehearse just about every scene in the movie this weekend. I went over the planned way of filming each shot and recording sound for the movie while leaving room open to suggestions and new ideas. Everything seemed to work out well. Although i wanted to pick up sounds of the wind as well as the streets below my filming location, I did have to be careful of the levels I set my equipment to. Little children in the distance could be heard if not too careful. Such is one of the issues with filming in a public place.

Rehearsal sparked many ideas as to how I would visually portray the fall from the building. I had my own ideas, and the crew had theirs. We decided to put them together and film them all to decide which methods were the most effective. The final fall in the movie will be depicted with a combination of these techniques.

There is no dialogue, but there is an emphasis on sound effects.  We experimented with recording sound specific distances away from the camera and actor to create the sounds we want.  I have recorded extra sounds during rehearsal that I may be able to use over my footage from this week's shooting to create a more fully realized environment for my movie.

I do have a couple of worries about filming the actual movie based on rehearsals. Things went so well during rehearsal because I had the sunlight and clear sky I wanted all day. The 5-day forecast for this week predicted rain, which would be a big problem. There was some earlier reports this week that the weekend should be sunny, so I am hoping for the sunlight to return.  I am currently working on backup plans just in case it does rain this weekend.

Additional Pre-production Information

Actors:
The only actor I have is in all scenes of the movie. He plays two different parts, his present self, and his past self.

Locations:

The Peabody Hotel roof, and a bathroom floor. The bathroom floor is more or less used for a few shots towards the end, to document the space. The Peabody Hotel roof is where most of my movie is shot, and there are plenty of ways to take advantage of the space.


Wide open space, with many outlets to use if any electrical equipment is needed.




There are a number of establishment shots I can get from this elevation. With the aid of a step ladder, I can get the shot I originally wanted for my movie. Here is the example again.




With a cheap digital camera, I filmed an example shot of the view I want of the city. (disregard my finger in the shot, won’t happen in the final movie.) Using the sound of rushing wind and car horns in these first person perspective shots, I want the viewer to become as immersed in the environment as the main character himself. At that elevation, the slightest wind blowing can be very loud, not to mention the sounds from the other buildings in the area. It may be a good idea to record my movie silently, and record sounds over it.


Lighting Quality:
Will be fine as long as it does not rain. I am checking the weather channel constantly, insuring that the day I shoot is a bright and sunny one. Bounce cards should suffice, but there are plenty of outlets I can take advantage of for other lights if necessary.

Conceptual drawing of the basic colors of the environment and how they contrast with the wardrobe of the main character.  The red cape helps the character stand out from the background, while creating a backlight with bounce cards, will help the rest of my character stand out from his surroundings.

Stunts and Special Effects:
Most of the major effects are camera based. No bumps, or falls, just specific camera angles to convey the environment and the character in specific ways.

Special costumes, makeup?
I want the character to appear child-like in appearance, so his current wardrobe consists of wearing clothes that are a smaller fit than what would be considered normal. Currently I have him wearing pajamas.

Conceptually, I like the idea of conveying a memory by having the memory’s subject appear as it does in reality physically, but with the mentality of that time. Any other ideas on making an adult appear as a child would be appreciated.


Props:
A bright red towel. I have a portable fan I plan to use to simulate wind if necessary.

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Planning went well for my movie. I have a clear distinct idea on how I will get my shots. By using the Peabody Roof, I can get the camera angles I originally envisioned when pitching my movie before spring break.

The weather is not a problem at the moment. Friday appears to be a bright sunny day, so I will try to shoot everything then. Currently I am redrawing my storyboard, blocking my shots, and trying to plan out every detail to limit the amount of time it takes to record footage.

Response: Puce Moment

It was not until I did a little research on the title that I learned that puce was a color.  That said, the film does a nice job of using the texture, and fabric, and little details of each dress with the soundtrack in the background to denote different moods and mentalities.  It almost seems as if she is picking which person she wants to be that day.  The perfume she sprays along with the sparkles of her dress work nicely together giving the woman a sense of extravagance.  The ending itself surprised me, where the viewer finds out that she made all this preparation just to take her dogs for a walk.  I think it does a good job of noting the glamour of the era expressed, that even the most mundane of activities are executed with a hint of flair.

In class exercise: 3/3

#1  I tried something different from what I usually do when I present information and tried to be extra forceful and convincing.  Ironically the one time I attempt to be intentionally forceful, I come off as preachy.  That is perfectly fine; I just need to practice this method of speaking more. I need to refine the way I convey my thoughts verbally.

From the feedback I received it seems that the major ideas behind my manifesto came across save for a few ideas that could be rewritten..  However, I do agree that the term "fun" should be changed.  It is a word that, when used in excess, makes my entire manifesto appear as if I feel everything in life should be fun, all the time.  I do not want that, so it will be changed.

I plan to rewrite or reword my manifesto so that the idea of working with a degree of satisfaction and excitement when creating one's movies is paramount.  I may even use that phrase somehow.

The conflicts in my manifesto that were mentioned did not seem to affect its overall quality, with regards to the idea of meticulous planning and blatant effort.  It does represent a current crossroads within my own work where I must push myself to make the effort first, then prepare a plan later.  I am happy that came across.

Someone mentioned that my manifesto tends to make everything black and white, but did not specify if that is a good thing or not.  It is something I need to think about. Do I want to leave room in my manifesto for answers that are not "Yes and No?"

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Currently, my essay and visuals are supporting the "original idea" I had for my manifesto where I create the storyboards and develop the shots I want from desire, and not any pre-conceived notions of if they will actually work in the long run or not. I know how I want my story to be conveyed and am working to make it become just that.

Even if they are supporting the mentality of my manifesto, I can push it further, with riskier camera angles, more developed storyboards, and ideas that I have not even come up with.

In short, the feedback I received was very helpful. It seems the core issue of my manifesto is the use of the word "fun", which I will revise. I believe changing that will fix everything else.  If not, I will revise further.  In the meantime, I will continue developing my essay, and storyboard.

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Oh... and any other comments about my manifesto or what I inferred from the class discussion, if anyone has any, would be appreciated.

Manifesto and Memory Essay (Updated with pitch details):

My Manifesto:

Today is the day that I have fun.

Fun in doing, not in thinking that I can do.
Fun in making, not in hoping I can make.
Fun in planning, not in hoping that everything works out in the end.

To create is to have fun, to have fun is to create better.

Better than those around me, who reject ideas that may not work out too well.
Those I fear may not like what I have to say.
SAY IT! Something left unsaid will never be verified.
The only way to know right from wrong is to try.

As I say this, I do not jump in headfirst.
Oh no! Organization is paramount!
I think, I execute, I think again.

The ideas I store in little files, just in case I want to come back to them one day.
All alphabetized and numbered,
But not ranked in effectiveness,
For a bad idea is a good idea that was not executed properly.

How do I execute properly?
Execute again.

My work reflects my feelings whether I like it or not.
I might as well have fun while creating
So my audience can have fun while watching
And want to share that experience with others
Who then create (and have fun while doing so)
So others can watch and then create themselves.

I want my work to inspire others to dare themselves to create.
But the only way I can make work of this quality is if I enjoy making it.

Gone are the days where I hope things will work out in the end.
Today is the first day I enjoy creating.


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Memory Essay:

I stand on the edge of the building, looking down at the many people below me. In my mind, I can do anything at this moment. There is no one else with me, all are below, unaware of the feat that is about to take place. I look around, short of breath due to the elevation I am at. The faint echo of car horns teases my ears. So high up I am. All I can see is blue, with little white clouds.

I tie my cape around me, almost ready for takeoff. My feet are cold, as if standing on porcelain, but I do not care. The only thing that matters is the red cape behind me, cotton soft, like the towels my mother bathes me with. It is the symbol of my ability; my belief that I have surpassed those around me, that in the four years I have been alive, I have achieved the power of flight.

I jump.

For a moment, I am weightless. I look around in pride at everything around me; the blue sky, the white clouds, the tile-shaped buildings below me. I blink as I descend towards the ground. Wind passes by my ear quicker than it ever has before. As I blink, the buildings move closer and closer, yet never seem to change in elevation. Something is amiss, yet I can not stop the speed at which I fall. Everything around me is a mess of wind and blurry visuals. Suddenly the edge of a building comes into focus. I try to make an emergency landing. The reflection of porcelain blinds me; I can not see where I land.

Everything becomes black, and a loud, clear ringing can be heard. I see green and yellow triangles.

I awake face up. My father is looking at me with extreme concern. His eyes lack their usual focus and his brow concaves upwards towards the middle of his head. Regardless of his demands I look left and right. What was once buildings and streets is now bathroom tiling. What was once sky is wallpaper. What was once my emergency landing strip is now the edge of my bathroom sink.

On the very corner of the sink, at the pointy end, there is blood.

I begin to cry.

STORYBOARDS:

Pitch Details/Desired elements for movie:

(Camera angles and wardrobe that contrast the main character with the world around him.)

Camera Angles:

Two points of view: third person, and first person for sensory shots from character.

Want the viewer to see what the main character sees, and hear the sounds he hears.

Views from above character to contrast his size with the size of the city around him.

Emphasize the scope of environment while making him stand out from it.

Sounds:

Car horns and traffic in the distance, the sound of rushing wind as he falls, sounds of each step he takes and the sound of his "cape" in the wind.

Visuals:

Bright red cape.  Contrasts the blue sky and white clouds seen from area.

Highly saturated, bright colors on main character, enhanced with lighting. (gels?)

Two color schemes:  

1. Muted greys with blue tint. (Bathroom)

2. Bright and colorful, saturated. (Top of building.)

grays,with blue tints.

On a bright day, colors of the environment will be bright enough that further saturation of the background may not be needed.

Scene Breakdown:

Scene 1:

Extreme low shots, of character, denoting his importance and his feeling of supremacy. Shots from above the character, contrasting the scope of the character to the environment around him.  Bright red towel around his neck, contrasts greatly with blue sky.  Sounds of traffic and wind in the distance.  Character's clothes blowing in distance.

Red cape sharply contrasts the sky.

example of one of the shots I want in the scene.

Scene 2:

After the character jumps, camera switches to first person view.  Shots that ascends slowly, then 

 descent towards the ground.  Animated blinks overlay descent, like iris ins and iris outs, with each blink transitioning into a change of scenery.

(Link to closest example of sensation i want to create as he falls with sound and video, minus music.  14 sec - 28 sec mark)

(I want to greatly contrast the mass amount of color in the child's imagination with the muted surfaces of the bathroom.)

Scene 3:

Very short; A shot of the main character falling on the bathroom floor.  Color scheme changes, paler, less saturated color scheme.  Bluish tint.