Tuesday, November 10, 2015

First Project Script + Progress

First project: Although I haven't begun filming my opening project, my mock-documentary is almost finished being scripted, and actors have been cast for each role. I plan to begin shooting near the beginning of this week, and into the following week on campus.




Script (working)

Opening monologue by narrator
opening shots consist of VARIOUS VIDEO GAME FOOTAGE, WITH VIGNETTE OF GAMER JAV JAVINSON (JAVIN DANA)
Narrator
Welcome to "EXTREME GAMING BEHIND THE SCENES" Where we get the dirt on the hottest gaming icons and interview them with no respect to their private lives while providing absolutely nothing of substance! Today we have Jav Javinson of Super Smash Bros. Melee fame. He is considered... THE WORST FIGHTING GAME PLAYER IN EXISTENCE. 
Shifts to just outside the interview building (pre-interview)
Jav
So I heard I'm being interviewed because I'm one of the best video game players in the world? I mean I don't like to brag but...
Cameramen stare at each other, uncertain.
Cameramen 1
Well uhhh, like.
JAV
Great! I'll be plucking my eyebrows until you're ready, see you there.
Cameramen both sigh.
Interview scene
JAV
I've been dedicated to playing games competitively for about 18 years now, and I'm 17 years old...so it's kind of a big deal. I haven't broken into the mainstream competitions yet, I've been spending years honing my craft in the "underground scene". Which is why I haven't won a single tournament...or a match.....I'm indie as f*ck so I can get away with it.
NARRATOR
Javinson has been tearing up the indie scene with a white hot record of 0-124 in Super Smash Bros Melee, yet he refuses to quit the sport, showing absolute determination and perseverance.
JAV
You know I have a family to feed so I take my profession very seriously.
Javin pulls out a bag of Doritos from his backpack, eats them on screen obnoxiously for a few seconds.
NARRATOR
We sat down with Javinson to play a round of his game of expertise and test his skills, because we couldn't think of any remotely intelligent questions to ask!

Tuesday, September 29, 2015

Two Cents Storyboard

Part 1: Two Cents

My first project of the year is based of a screenplay written by Gregor Peach in 8th grade, revitalized into a mystery suspense/cheesy spy film. It follows a detective team on the hunt of a world renown thief by the name of Two Cents, who always leaves two pennies (1984) at the scene of every crime and is always on the run. A young female intern takes interest in the man pursuing Two Cents who dedicated his life to hunting him down, and the two become friends. The female meets Two Cents later the same night she meets the detective, who proposes to her that they work together to commit crimes and make money together, she begins to live a double life.

Unsure of whether I want to turn this into a four part series or just a one of film. (Screen play would be re-written for the script).





Part 2[?] The Worst Video Game Player in History

Satirical Documentary of someone so bad at fighting video games, but goes to multiple conventions to compete. Features one on one interview with gamer who really sucks at everything but is on such a high horse and thinks he's being interviewed because he is one of the best.




Friday, September 18, 2015

Shot List/Setting/Storyboard for Chapman Project

Potential Scenes for shooting:
- Streets near Catlin (to the northwest of campus)
- downtown Portland (likely Pioneer square)
- Park near Garden Home Recreation Center

Shot List:
1. Mid sized left to right pan of me (actor) getting up from the ground, start walking.


. more fast paced scene, person riding skateboard, falls+rolls off (the roll transitions back into more relaxed scene, as they're lying on their back again)

Wednesday, September 9, 2015

Chapman Project Outline

Story Elements:
Rather than track a "day in the life" of me, I'd like to start from the most stressful point of the day, with various harsh lights and sounds for around the first 20-25 seconds of the video, only to be interrupted by a pin fall (or a ringing of a toaster or alarm, maybe something more subtle like a candle going out and the smoke emerging) which would transition into the more calming

I'll probably have a narration going on throughout the film, but I'd like for it to be more sparse and separated between each of the segments of my film, with brief pieces of monologue at the beginning of the relaxed and intense moments. I'd like the film to end on with an open shot with my actor/actress looking outward with a feeling of resolution.



Cinematography:
I want my film to be focused on very drastic shifts between ambient, relaxing elements and more erratic and out of control themes with a precise yet seamless transition. I want this to symbolize mood changes and my perception of the outside world as a day occurs.

Thursday, February 26, 2015

Props/Motivated Lighting for Silent Film

Describe in detail how you will use props in your film to add dramatic value to your silent film, have props function as characters or externalization of character.
Most of the possible "externalization of character" stems from the use of costumes that add certain degrees of flair or ridiculousness (as my lead wears a stereotypical superhero attire, with plenty of wild designs across the spandex). I suppose a common thing associated with superhero costumes would be the large amount of gadgets and tools that accompany the hero. I want to give my aged hero his own signature "lightning bolt" of sorts that he carries around (to try to look threatening I guess).

Describe situations in your film where you will use motivated or unmotivated lighting.
Although lighting doesn't play the largest of roles in my narrative, I could definitely see having a strong motivated lighting scene during the beginning when the lead (out of his super suit) is in his office, dark lit with only a lamp light alongside his desk. He would grab his mask and outfit hung on the wall alongside the desk and as the scene finishes, he'd switch the light off as the scene ends in the pure dark.

Thursday, February 5, 2015

Treatment Form: Silent Film

Working Title: Super Senior
Central Character: Super Senior
Central Character’s Dominant Need: TO SERVE JUSTICE
Other Major Characters:  Robber (antagonist)
Settings: street/school
Occasion / Event: Robbery in place
Major Conflict / Dilemma as it appears in ACTION Super Senior isn't strong enough to stop the robber.
Resolution: Makes him laugh so hard the robber passes out.
How Central Character changes by the end:  Realizes where his true power lies.
Visual Treatment:
  • Color Choices for Filming
  • Warm
  • Cool
  • Vibrant
  • Black & white

Lighting Choices
  • Dramatic
  • Natural
  • Dark
  • Bright
  • Other

SubGenre
  • Horror
  • Slasher
  • Thriller
  • Suspense (not exactly but close enough)
  • B-Movie

Costumes
Normal Clothes
All black (including mask for robber)
Red and Yellow Spandex (for superhero)

Props
Water Gun
Sack


Locations

Catlin/Home/Street Downtown

Reflection of Comedy Scene

1. We were successful in finding a time to film for all 3 of our actors and directors alike during the weekend. It took a long time in order to schedule and prepare for both days we shot, but we were all punctual and productive with that allotted time.
2. Rather than having the directors seek out work, we had some of our friends seek us out because of their interest in participating in "Little Brother". Our cast was rather flexible with the filming location, and willing to drive to any particular place in order to setup base. Each of our actors were willing to take directions and did their best to follow them as they performed.
3. The editing eventually became our biggest challenge, partially because I was still new to the editor we were using at the time. We cut each scene at rather abrupt times, leaving small room for transitions to implement during editing. Due to using a different camera between both days we shot, we had some definite color correcting issues and got a naturally more yellow tint on the second day, which was quite noticeable during editing.
4. We had a number of scenes where there were no particular transitions were able to come in smoothly as said before, I would like to create more scenes that leave less wide gaps between certain actions when filming for the next project(I.E Kyle going to get the parmasean).
If in the next project I were required to film the same scene again a different day, I would try to remember to bring the same camera I did previously, as that let to a large continuity error in our comedy scene.