Inspiration photos

Inspiration for framing: How I can convey loneliness in the shot

 


Here is a collage of photos I am taking inspiration on for this shoot. I am hoping to create my film to similar effects to visually demonstrate Stephanie's isolation. I hope to take inspiration from these shots while shooting. This will juxtapose with the intense football scenes later on.

 
 

This opening shot of the goal is a great way to set the tone of the film. I love the atmospheric look on the pitch and how the depth of field is open to convey the barren landscape. I could use this as an opening to my film and gently fade in the audio of girl's playing football before cutting to the action. Even though this shot may not make it into my film I found it a wonderful picture that captured the mood of my film.

The second photo inspired a shot I am sure to experiment with whilst filming. Steph can walk past the team warming up. We see her hunger and desire. The camera tracks along with Steph and the spectator becomes intrigued as to what she has seen. We CUT to see her looking at the team together, CUT back to show her reaction. These simple shots can also convey isolation without the need for wide angle shots every time I pick up the camera. This will also prevent the spectator from getting bored and the film becoming predictable.

This third shot will be good for my 18-55mm lens. I can shoot the football team playing football and allowing the spectator to see why they are creating the movement they are using. I watched an insightful video called 'The things wrong with Action Films Today', although I would consider my film to be a drama, the way I shoot the ball moving is much like an action film. The spectator needs to be aware of:
Why the character is moving to that position
A sense of the surrounding so the action does not become disorientating
A narrative behind the movement (e.g. the girl's want to score. The opposition don't want them to)

The fourth shot is one I like a lot. It can be used to show Steph's growing strength and ability as a character just by placing her in a powerful position. The lighting changes from an obscure and harsh light to one that fills the arena and gives the shot a spectacle. This reminds me of the poster for Rudy as it plays on the same idea of a young man against the odds of others.

Style and traits
There is a wide depth of field in all of these shots, opening up to the spectacle of the shot. In order to do this with my camera I will have to increase the F-stop on my camera to gain the same effect. To add to the effect further I can have Steph standing powerfully or to the side to show the imperfections as the protagonist.

Thinking about the colour of my film

Aim: To investigate the creative process of choosing colour and define what my look is in colours.

As I prepare the second draft of my script, I keep thinking about how to create a cinematic look for the audience to hang onto. Not only would this help tell the depths of the narrative (Isolation Etc.) To improve my production value of my film. Combined with careful consideration of cinematography and movement, I feel that choosing my colour palette will improve the look of my film and give it that extra edge. I plan to enforce Stephanie's loneliness with dull colours, using browns and greens to not only represent her; but play homage to the football pitch she craves.

The article discusses the use of colour palettes with its new launch: Shutter Stock Labs. This website allows the creator to surf and discover photos with varying colour palettes. I loved this website because I could see how different shots use the colours; right down to the clothes that the actor is wearing. 

Overall, I was impressed by the colours on this website. The different colours available to explore informed me of the different colours that go together. I immediately became drawn to the door handle icon as it held a severe look to life that Steph is trying to escape through her football. This made me think of how to express Stephanie's joy through colour, and I figured that I should use the colours of the green Astro pitch and the girl's pink football kits to display this. 

This colour palette drew me in because of it's professional look and 'reality'. I think this would be good to use in the opening scenes to show Steph's legislation. This can also be used in parts of the montage to convey how society wants Steph to mould to their expectations. 

The photo that drew me in the most is the middle frame. It shows a young man with his arms open wide, in a victorious framing. His clothes match the colour of the background without washing him out. The rain adds fantastic detail to the frame and adds atmosphere to the piece.

This research allowed me to discover the importance of colour within my short film and how it can influence the Audiences mood. I plan to experiment with different white balance effects and seeing if by choosing an unusual balance it will create another mood visually for the audience to pick up on.

Memento Hotel Room

Inspiration: Making the theme of isolation prominent in my film

Aim: Visualise how Nolan uses isolation in the Hotel Room scene in Memento and how this can be used to effect in my film.

                            

I was thinking of best how to show Stephanie at her most vulnerable and how to show this without any dialogue. I remembered this scene from Memento: Leonard Shelby is sat alone in a Hotel Room with no clue where he is or how he got there. This scene inspired me to create a subjective scene in Stephanie's bedroom were we can see the area around her and consciously view and judge her. I intend to use high angled shots to demonstrate how isolated she is as a person. 

I looked deeper into the scene and discovered a 24 minute documentary on how Memento was made. They discussed the Hotel Scene and how the cinematographer wanted the camera to feel as if it was a CCTV camera looking down on Lenny, the spectator being allowed to see Leonard on his own yet sill feel constricted due to the tightness of the shot. 

(Insert Drawing in here)

 I decided that I would add a trophy on top of the cabinet into the shot to force Stephanie to the left hand side of the frame. This shows her vulnerability as a character and allows the spectator to see the impact of not making the team had on her. It can also symbolise how important football is to her and the momentous task that she is facing to get into the school club. 

PRE-PRODUCTION: The Creative Process

PRE-PRODUCTION: THE CREATIVE PROCESS

Aim: to write down all my ideas and get them onto paper

Result: This allowed me to narrow down my pathway for my film and the message I wanted to convey.

I started out writing anything that would come to mind. I was sure to assemble something from my aims and goals for the shoot. This work accumulated over the process of two weeks, as I dedicated time to thinking about the major themes of my narrative and how I was going to make a story I would be able to show others at the end of post production.

I was sure to add notes as I went along. Soon I had a mixture of notes that I could experiment with I felt happier about the script writing process. I also began analyzing shots from 'Pressure Makes Us' by Nike to gain influence from their kinetic shooting and style. I found this very helpful because by watching how they moved the ball I was able to pick up on simple techniques that will help me create energy within the film.

One of the main adjectives of this shoot is to add subtle hints to the audience. My themes will be present but will not dominate the screen-allowing for enjoyable viewing and a moral lying underneath. For example, I can have Steph sat isolated in the bottom right hand of the frame, conveying her as isolated and alone on her mission. This is more effect than having dialogue because it gets straight to what I want to say about Steph and her position.

I have also been thinking about using the tragedy genre into my film. Maybe my protagonist could injure herself before her trial, either through overworking herself or through a flawed act? I was sure to write down the idea, but henceforth haven't came up with any creative decisions around this motif. I did find it useful to write down as I can now refer to it if it becomes a more relevant plot line later on in Pre-Production.

I tried using different diagrams in my creative process. I initially tried using the circle diagram, but I found it just made me subconscious about the narrative lining up. I was sure to write down the colours in my head as I was writing, as I want to get the image out there as clear as possible.

 Overall I have learnt: 

• My narrative is to show the progress of a young girl named Steph. She is the only one who believes she can get onto her football team. We see her hard work and the pressure she puts herself under to get into the team. When she finally does score The Impossible Goal, we feel for her as we have made this journey with her.
• There will be two main character. Steph, who wants to play football, and Jane, who is Steph's older sister. After receiving feedback from friends they said it would make the script stronger if Steph had someone she could look up to.

 

Aims for next week:

• To narrow down my options between the draft scripts
• Plan the movements I want the girl's football team to make as this will play a big part in continuity. 
• Think about the impact of lighting and how I can intensify the scene with harsh lighting. 

Themes for my Short film: Prejudice

When EA announced it was including women in FIFA 16 it was a milestone in the game and for the careers of the women who play it. However, amongst the hype and expectation Twitter allowed outrage to break as a flow of sexist tweets appeared:

Your top scorer refuses to play cuz the second kit makes her look fat #FIFA16

— Hugo (@Hxgo__) May 28, 2015

I hope @EASPORTSFIFA would mak bOObies look realistic and bounce in #FIFA16

— Loai El Nomeiry (@The_Loai) May 28, 2015

Your star player is having a bad game bcos of her period #fifa16

— KING OF MEMES (@PhemieB) May 28, 2015

Feminists have won. I'm so hurt. #FIFA16

— daddy (@tackyz) May 28, 2015

This is a worrying problem for women's football as the game has never had female football players established on the game before. Although it is national teams only, this is a big leap into the development into the women's game and how they are represented by the media.

Storyboards/ mood for the film

Over the past week I have been analysing the ideas behind Pressure Makes Us and how the cinematographer uses the camera to enforce the game. Unlike most football films, these cinematographers use the ball in a unique and effective way, displaying the talent of the women while keeping the kinetic energy up in the game.

The Impossible Goal Draft Script

The Impossible Goal

First Draft

By Shona Kinal

Scene one- EXT.-Astro Turf

Steph is watching her school football team train from the sideline. The footballers feet are mesmerising.

One of the girl's heads the ball to another who then scores in the top right hand corner of the goal. The girl and her friends celebrate. Steph sighs and walks away on her own.

Scene- EXT. - Pavement

On the way home Steph spots a stone lying on the floor. With adrenaline Steph begins to dribble with the stone. We hear the sound of a crowd cheer her on. Steph gets more and more excited. The commentators expect a goal. Steph spots a place where she can score. She emulates the girl’s run from the previous scene. The voices and crowd echo away...Steph swings her leg back...

Scene-INT.-Changing Room (FLASHBACK)

...We hear the voice of a coach echoing towards us.

Coach

Your shooting ability isn’t up to our standards. I’m sorry, Steph. Maybe next time.

we fade into an empty changing room. Steph is hunched over with her legs curled up to her chest. She is devastated and trying to hold in tears…

Scene-Int.-Pavement

Steph kicks the stone but it flies into the air. She stands in the empty street alone. Sudden cut to black. Title.

The Impossible Goal

Scene-INT.-Bedroom-Evening (GRAPHIC MATCH)

...Steph is in her bedroom sat with her back against the wall. Her room is dark and moody (Harsh lighting). We see Steph from above as the trophies from her previous club loom over her.

The door opens. An inch of light hits Steph’s face. Jane appears at the door.

Jane

Steph...

Steph looks to the ground. Jane sits on the edge of the bed.

Jane (Cont.)

It’s not nice being rejected, but you can’t just give up now.

Steph

I don’t know what to do.

Jane

Don’t worry about it. It’s just a blip in your stride, okay?

Steph

but it’s not.

Jane

If I let everyone's opinions bother me after I made my drawings I wouldn't be here. You’ll learn in time that only your opinion matters.

Steph

Do you think I can do it?

Jane

(sighs) It may be hard, but it’s not impossible. Look, no one can make you a better striker but yourself. Just have a little faith, Steph.

Jane exits. Darkness exhumes the room. Steph puts her hands over her face. She sits there for a long time before she looks up again. Her eyes drop onto her football on the other side of the bedroom.

Steph shuffles forward and picks up her ball. She looks at her heros on the wall and the analysis she has made on the wall. She looks up with determination.

Scene-EXT.-Park

Extreme close up on Steph’s boots as she runs (Low level)

Cut to show Steph’s face going full pace and determined.

Cut to a wide shot in which we see Steph doing a Arrowhead agility test.

Scene-EXT.-Park

Steph’s feet do ladders in and out of the bottles. Steph fakes lefts and rights and attempts to score. She misses all of them.

Scene-EXT.-Park

Steph watches tutorials on Youtube for training drills. She walks over to the cones she has set up. She runs in and out of them and takes a shot at the end of them.

Scene-EXT.-Day-Park

Steph tries to improve her previous training session. A group of girls giggle at her behind her back. Steph ignores them.

Scene-INT.-Lunch-OLC

A group of sixth formers are sitting eating lunch (foreground) while Steph trains by her own (background). She is framed by the window in the background.

Scene-INT.-Lunch-Hallway

Steph walks by a notice in the hallway. She runs back. It reads ‘FOOTBALL TRIALS: ALL YEARS. TWO WEEKS TIME’

Scene-EXT.-Evening (Golden Time)- Country Road

Steph is jogging along the road trying to increase her stamina. The sun lays in the background behind her as we see her with tired eyes. She presses on.

Scene-INT.- Evening

Steph is sat analysing the movements of Abby wambach and the US Women’s team.

Scene-INT.-Evening

Steph is playing out in the dark in her back garden. Jane spots her out of the window. She turns back to her drawings, satisfied.

Scene-INT.-Morning-Changing Room

The air is still. Steph is sat on her own, this time in the pink football kick of the school’s football club. She sits quietly thinking to herself. A quiet murmur of voices is heard. Steph’s heart jolts. She hears giggles from the door. She runs over to the door but the boys have already shut it. Steph seems to slow down.

Stephs

Guys...

The boys continue to laugh from the other side of the door. She begins pulling on the door handle.

Tom

Shut it, lesbian!

The boys laugh among themselves. They put all their weight onto the door. Steph sits back and waits patiently.

They continue to shout abusive language while Steph sits there and waits for the moment to pass by. Suddenly the boys run away. Jane swings the door open quickly.

Jane

Come on! Coach is looking for you!

Scene-EXT. Astro Turf

Steph runs onto the football pitch where training is about to start.

Coach

We have you been?

Steph

I got held up

The Coach gives her a stern look. Suddenly The Coach notices the boys mocking Steph from the playground. She returns her attention back to Steph.

Coach

Get on. You’re playing in midfield.

The players get into position. Steph notices her sister standing on the side-line. The coach shouts for play to begin.

The game moves rapidly. The opposition grains possession of the ball first. They run towards the defence. A girl shoots and hits the crossbar. Steph looks around. Her sister gives her a thumbs up. Steph retains her focus. Steph gets the ball and passes it well. The Coach has to do a double take.

Coach

She’s got a good touch. Who does she play for?

Jane

Her team folded

Steph runs with the attack. Steph notices the goal is open. She calls for the ball. We watch Steph pull her leg back and aim at goal.

The world goes into slow motion. Jane tires to hold in her excitement...Steph foot gets closer to the goal... The coach watches with her cold eyes....Steph remains focused... Her foot makes contact with the ball.

The goalie’s face changes to one of horror. We return to normal motion to see the ball smash into the top corner of the goal.

The girls erupt into cheers and suddenly Steph is surrounded by her new teammates. Jane pumps her fist into the air.

Jane

Yes! Yes! That’s how you do it! Get in!

The Manager makes a single look at her to be quiet. Jane returns to silence but smirks over to Steph. Steph looks up, smiles confidently and a black shot swoops into place.

END

Posters:Taking Inspiration

Football Posters

Title of Production: Pressure Makes Us

Genre: Promotional/Documentary

Aim: To show the Ladies American National Team as they prepare to compete in the World Cup in Germany.

These colours are saturated and monochrome, much like how I want the opening of my short film to be. I feel that these posters convey a grittier side of women's football and give it a serious tone.

Graphics wise, I like the use of the diagonal cut through the side of the frame. It allows there to be a balance between Abby Wambach and the title of the film. This not only balances out the shot but allows there to be a focus on the player.

The photographer has taken care with their shot, using a shallow depth of field to give prominence to the player and the concentration on her face. furthermore, the

Other sports:
I feel it is important not only to look at how my sport is represented, but how other sports are presented through the media. The tale of adversity and not giving up is something that is prominent through all sports, and I feel this is a message that is important in my short film.

Title of Production: Bend It Like Beckham

Genre: Film

Aim: Nelson Mandela meets with captain Francois Peinarr to motivate their country through the 1995 World Cup Championship.

This poster uses the idea of the white background I originally had in mind. It gives the poster a polished look and allows the colours of the South African team to stand out. The way Mandela and Peinarr rise out of the poster increases their strength, as well as highlighting the lower part of the frame which the African team uses to embody the frame.

Title of Production: Rudy

Genre: Film

Aim: A young man faces obstacles in his efforts to play for college football team, Notre Dame

The reason I like this poster is because of the isolation of the main character. Much like my own protagonist, Rudy is the only one who believes he can play for the team he loves the most, but it is his drive and character that get him to that place. Unlike Invictus, which displays unity and strength, Rudy is on his own in a wide open pitch.

 

Title of Production: Bend it Like Beckham

Genre: Comedy/Drama

Aim: A young woman must overcome her parent's negativity of playing football in order to play for her local semi pro team.

Although this film is about women playing football I find the poster to informal for my liking. I prefer the hard hitting Invictus poster compared to this, as it uses the white space to enforce the space around the protagonist's faces. It also makes their stature larger, unlike this poster which is full on empty space.
I also do not like the colours. Unlike the 'Pressure Makes Us' Advert, This cheerful poster displays all the happy smiling faces to attract its audience. With my film I want it to make a statement about determination in a tough situation, not to be comical and laughable.

Targets MGS

• Storyboards (DONE)
• Test footage (Test out the line of the field) 
• colourisation (DONE)
• look at posters (DONE)
• poster and review (DONE)

Colour Pallete within The Impossible Goal

Within my film I intend to learn more about colour grading and how to make my audience feel a particular mood within my film. Becuase the opening is restaining my character from her goals, I want the opening shots to convey be desaturated and monochrome. This will help sell to the audience that my protagonist is down on her luck or there is an obsticle against her.


  

These wide isolationg shots are perfect demonstation for the feel I am going for at the begining of the short film. Although there is more depth of field in these shots, they are to show how far away the subject is from were they want to be. Photo One makes the spectator want to understand what the character is staring at, while Photo Two allows us to see what this character is looking at. But combind with the blue colour correction and body of water is allows the spectator to feel the distance between the place that character wants to be.

As the film progresses, however, I will open up the colour within the film and let the greens of the feild and the pinks of the kit shine through. After seeing the pormotional videos 'Pressure Makes Us'  I was able to see how having strogn colours can convey positive emotion.

Script Idea: Outline

The Impossible Goal

Narrative and main characters
The narrative is simple to get the emotional conflict out of the film: A footballer cannot score. She has failed once already to get into the team at school and feels pressure to get in a second time around.
The film follows the protagonist, Steph, as she improves herself and faces up to her challenges. I have also added the element of social prejudice that many young girls face, especially in football, as when I was competing I found this to be an element that was an unwelcoming side to the sport. I have tried to capture this image that many young girls face this and it can cause tension to arise within their own year group.

Characters:
Steph- the main protagonist that must overcome the obstacle in the film. Her obstacle is inability to shoot on target.
Jane- Jane is the older sister of Steph who motivates her not to give up. Jane is an art student that has failed to get into Art school, so is able to inspire Steph that her task is not so impossible.
Coach- A silent but strong character who holds a formidable force among the schools.
Tom- A bully who sees Steph as an easy target.
Darren- A friend of Tom's. He hates the fact that Steph gets attention for football as he sees her as 'Another football player'
Robert- A friend of Tom's.
Football team- a highly respected team that have won the cup three times in a row. Steph wants to join not only to prove others wrong, but her team she was a part of has folded, making it even more crucial that she gets into a club.

Title and the films underlying meaning
The reason why I've decided to call this film The Impossible Goal is because of its relation to Steph's position. Not only is Steph trying to prove herself that she can score goals, she is trying to prove to herself that she can fit into her society. A young teenage girl is surrounded by pressures from her classmates and herself, so this goal to fit in is something that links into her intention to score goals.

Creating emotion in the script
While writing the script, I tried to focus on the emotion of the scenes. With this particular narrative I wanted to focus on an area I knew well enough that I could represent and have an opinion on.
With the opening, I wanted the protagonist to feel isolated and lonely. I had her stand on the side-line, close but not close enough to join in. We as the sepctator watch from the sidelines with her as the action commences, such as scoring and celebrating with team-mates.
This will leave questions into the spectator's mind about why Steph is not playing and why she isn't involved within the action. This then leads to the reveal of her poor performance and unfortunate failure to get into the team.

Kinetic Energy
The energy within the football scenes is something that I am hoping to capture in the climax of the film. I will be analyzing the movement of the football ans the players in the frame because continuity and how much energy will come through the performances.
Over the weekend I hope to improve on my awareness on cinematography and how to frame the subject on the feild.
In time I hope to mix with isolation and being in a team. The team that steph desires to be a part of is restricted from her at the begining, but as she trains more and more the depth of feild opens, conveying her confidance and ability to carry herself on her own. The colours within the shot will also change from tinges of deep blue and brown to warmer amber colours, depicing Steph's mental state.

Kinetic energy: Measuring the movement of the ball

Kinetic Energy

Over the next week I will be focusing on how to immerse the audience into the action on the pitch. This will involve mixing the idea of the spectator watching the football game, making our protagonist feel like and outsider, compared to the high octane battle in the final sequence.

UPDATE: Monday 16th November 2015
Over the weekend I have been analysing football clips online to deetermine the styles other use to keep up the knetic energy on pitch. During this I found 'Pressure Makes Us' which is what I used to watch before the Women's World Cup in Germany. It was a compact list of shorts detailing with the US combat with Illness, pressure and integrity following the build up to the Wolrd Cup.

Pressure makes us: Abby Wambach

What I found interesting is the use of levels in the playing field. I hadn;t thought of this levels before and it really helped me consider this before shooting. In my storyboards I have been inestigating how different levels give different views to the flat landscape. Because of this I will consider framing more carefully and where the eye is naturally drawn. 

This shot is well framed with a good depth of field. The shot is at a lower angle to make the shot more dynamic. I also like the mixutre of pink in the sky wth the green of the grass, it gives the scene a professional look.

What I have noticed most is that the ball is a character in the scene. Although the ball has no personality or character development it motivates the shots. If it leaves at the top right of the frame, for example, it is sure to appear coming down from the same height in the same space. Also, if the ball leaves the side of the frame at one level, (middle of the frame) in the next it will go to the next player at the same height.

The framing of these two shots corrolete with the framing hypoesis. Lloyed recieves the ball in one frame and appears with the ball in another, but she is still in the same side of the frame.

These shots helped me identify the framing I am going to need when making my short film with the football team. The idea that If I have a routiene or plan that the girls can play out three or four times in order for me to cover the field is exellent.

 Notice how the framing of these two shots are very similar. We see Carli Lloyd recieve the ball from the sideline. We then cut to her in the fame side of the frame ready to attack. Although these are from idfferent times in the game this allows the spectator to have somthing to hold onto continuity wise.

Pressure makes us: Carli Lloyd

New Target

MGS

1. Shooting has to begin next week (13th November 2015)
2. Intention that the majority of footage will be shot before Christmas
3. Film form research link to genre, sound camera and Mise en Scene. show how film form in my genre has inspired me
4. research into different narratives in the genre
5. Ensure that our Mind map of revision ideas, narrative ideas and shot plans is up on blogger
6. Plan the story as much as possible before writing the screenplay
7. draft filmmaking
8. draft photographs

Music Links

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F96ZyfLtG8E -Lost Cause beat. Duration 00:03:44

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yOPslR7R_GA -Distance beat. Duration 00:04:46

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BxL_2qBtRWU -Atmospheric music

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m7ebYtkiXSo Epic Technology

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7B3uCFE-y68 Epic Rock Opener


https://www.youtube.com/user/NoCopyrightSounds
The link I believe to hold most hope is NoCopyrightSounds, which allows the user to use their music in their videos for free as long as they are credited in the details section of the YouTube video.


This music will help build up momentum in the narrative of the video and create an atmosphere.


Favourite Sounds from NoCopyrightSounds


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p7ZsBPK656s Disfigure- Blank (NCS)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EP625xQIGzs Tobu- Hope (NCS)
I really like the clapping at 1:05. This is a great way to build momentum and rally everyone up for the finale
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VtKbiyyVZks Cloud9-Itro & Tobu (NCS)
There is a good build-up to the main drop of the song. I can imagine the narrative taking off after the inclusion of the bass.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lq2UrnDsI_s Fall to light- Laszlo (NCS)
The build-up is quick for this song which would be good after the main titles. This would make the shots a lot faster for the narrative but would keep the energy up.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yw9-WYvv4y8-
This is slower burning, with about 30 seconds of piano to gradually introduce the characters.


Emotion/ feel (Inspiration)
These tracks are only inspiration for our film.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2iMKnzFDCL4 -Do you feel alive

Feedback MGS

• Planned narrative for film (DONE)
• Completed individual storyboard 
• Begin doing experimental film making (DONE)
• Scripted (were appropriate)
• Considering sound (soundtrack, diagetic sound)