MCC128: Screen Production 1

Hi All!

A few further tips on your movie:

• It should have no dialogue.  I have highlighted this in many lectures, but noticed that a few people still might not be sure.  A scream, moan, exclaim, etc, is cool.  Just no actual dialogue.
• Do not use footage that you have not created yourself.  You cannot use a shot of a TV. You cannot use Youtube videos.  You cannot use anything you have created prior to commencing this unit.  If there is any doubt we will call for raw footage tapes.
• Any music that is not yours must be copyright cleared, not pending.  It must be cleared not just for private or classroom use.  It must be completely cleared.  If in doubt, don’t take the risk it will affect your grade.
• Keep it simple on yourself.  Massive productions with many locations and multiple actors will only make it harder for you to shoot.  Go for biggest bang for least amount of risk.  Remember the Rodriguez list; use people, locations and things you have easy access to.
• Make a movie about what you know, not what you’ve been watching recently.  Blood and murders and car chases are probably not things you know much about.  They’re also things that are very ordinary as movie content and don’t show much creative thought.  Creative and original thought is something Damian and I will be looking for during assessment.
• Don’t be afraid to experiment.  My guess is that the best films we get will be experimental in some senses.  Even a narrative drama can be experimental in it’s movie-making techniques and approach.
• Have some fun – it’s supposed to be fun too.  It’ll show in your movie.

JM

Hi All,

Please note that all the footage used in your one minute movie must be shot by yourself specifically for this unit this semester.  The only thing you will be allowed to seek copyright on and clear to use in your film that is not specifically of your creation is music and sound effects.  Sound and vision must also be edited 100% by yourself.  Anything less will be deemed plagiarism or, at the very least, collusion.

Cheers

JM

Hi All,

I want to open some discussion as to the difference between narrative drama and experimental film.

I’ve talked about 3 part classical narrative structure, and that to achieve this you must have a protagonist, a conflict, rising tension, a climax and denouement.  Some students are coming up with short film ideas that don’t fit this structure; usually as they don’t have a conflict and rising tension.  Some cases just “show” what happens in a situation.

How would a short film without a conflict or rising tension be classified as “experimental”?  Is it enough to say “Oh, it’s experimental – that’s why it has no real narrative”?

How is an experimental film defined?  Can it be defined?

What do you guys think?

I welcome and encourage people to submit their short movie ideas here if they consider them experimental.

JM

Hi All,

I’ve been talking to a few people about their evolving movie ideas.

It’s very important to be able to ask yourself, “What am I trying to say in this?”  If you can’t say it, you won’t be able to video it.

You also need to make sure that what you are trying to say comes across.  Ask someone else to read it and then ask them what they think it’s trying to say.  you’d be surprised how different they can be!

Don’t make a narrative if you don’t have a good one you can tell well in 60 seconds (and a narrative must have a beginning, middle and end – with a protagonist and an obstacle/conflict and climax/resolution).  Just convey a feeling, an emotion.  Think visually and metaphorically.

Remember the floating plastic bag….

Explore the world through a lens.  Be experimental.  Create your own soundtrack.  Have fun.

JM

[youtube uR_PzFZgsHU]

Another “no-dialogue” short.

Do you think this one works?  Why?  How?  What’s good/bad about it?

A great film with no dialogue.

[youtube ZrDxe9gK8Gk]

Hi peeps,

The footage for the editing assessment is on a DV tape in the edit suites, which are opposite TV Studio B in the Media Arts Center.

Don’t forget, you don’t have to use ALL the footage, and you can interpret the narrative and temporal montage any way you like.  As Murch says, strive for emotion and story over continuity.  And have fun with it!

Add your own sound in way of music or sound effects.  In this case I will accept any music you want.  I will NOT accept copyright music in your final 1 minute movie.  More on copyright in the Producing lecture.

JM

Hey all,

This Thurs (26th Feb) Damian will be holding a Premiere refresher in E/H 3.028 at 3:30pm.  It will ONLY be the button pushing details of Premiere and is not a full make up tute.  It’s mainly for those who need a recap and will last about an hour.

First in, best dressed!

Cheers

JM

Gday all,

I’ve revised the assessment for Screen 1 this semester.  Please check LMS for the new structure.

Engage with this piece, let me know what you think.

[youtube b4nFdhLgyR4]