Micro Features

Micro features work together to form the language of film and communicate meaning to audience.

Cinematography-Shooting\Developing
Sound
Light
Performance
Mise En Scene
Editing

Coursework2_Idea

My overal film idea is based on a mixed genre of both horror and thriller. The main idea is focused on a typical Zombie plot but with a twist.

After getting bit on the way home from work late at night, the character (not yet decided on sexuality most likely female) gets bitten by a standbyer. I have not yet fully decided whether this standbyer is a zombie or just a typical homeless man with an unknown disease.

She gets home and the next few days she stays hidden in her room due to both depression (from the incident) and a raging fever! Unlike the basic zombie film I've decided to change the plot. The teenager then goes on to live her life like how she did before the bite ie; going to college, getting the bus ect!

The change in the plot is that slowly and slowly over a time period of say 4 weeks she changes appearance. By this I don't mean typical girls dying hair and changing makeup brands I mean taking the form of a flesh rotting female aka zombie!

The first part of her body to change will be one of her eyes, I will be able to do this by usin a unusable colored contact lense(yellow)which I used on Halloween! The second thing could be either a section of her neck or arm. By this I mean I will cover and design the section of the skin in a way that looks like the flesh is peeling!

I thought of this idea because I discovered on Halloween I was able to deface an area of skin in a way that makes someone look like a deadly creature! 

I think this overal idea is good as I will not need many props and I can use everyday environment. 

Above_Zombie Makeup on Halloween.

CourseWork1_StoryBoard

This is a very rough outline of the layout of my Alevel Film.

DEADLINES!!!

AS Film Project Deadlines from ALEVELFILM

Dirty Pretty Things_ Stephen Frears

Written by Steven Knight in 2002, Dirty pretty things focuses on various themes including crime. This theme is the strongest as constantly throughout the film we see different characters dealing with changes throughout due to the events that enfold In the film for example the reveal of the heart in the toilet lead Okwe to discover the truth to what is really happening in the Baltic Hotel. Another theme I felt was strong throughout this film would be determination because we see each character struggle with different challenges but they show determination to overcome them. 

The genre for this film would be social realism as it includes realistic content such as the overall idea that people have about the illegal immigrants and right they are allowed. Overall this theme is the main thing that affects the audience and their views on the public.

The protagonists in this film are Okwe and Senay, I think Okwe was the strongest protagonist as he completed many of his goals and in the end he got the freedom he longed to get. Senay was a protagonist as she dreamed of living the life of a New York City girl and in the end reserved her freedom to live that dream. 

Mis en scene for this film in my opinion would be the workers scene in which Senay is working, this shows their mood through their body language and facial expressions. You can identify the atmosphere due to the emotions portrayed in their actions. 

The narrative began by introducing us to the main character (Okwe) and his struggles of holding down several jobs. In the second scene we understand his secret love affair with one of the maid in the hotel (Senay). The plot dramatically changes when Okwe meets the hooker (Julia ) and his conscience changes for the worst. Towards the end of this 120 minute screening Steven Knight grabs our attention with the plot twist leading to a fortunate ending ... For some.

Overall I feel this film kept me intrigued as each scene had a different challenge however I feel the realism made me think more closely to the present day in which many of these events happen. 

Evil Dead_Fede Alvarez

Evil Dead is a 2013 horror based film written and directed by Uruguay man Fede Alvarez, focusing mostly on the theme of friendship and survival. Alvarez choose the correct actors to play the role of these life changing characters as you begin to feel sorrow for their outcomes. Main star Mia, played by the amazing Jane Levy, really wows the audience with her unusual role of the Possessed sister/friend.  The overall Narrative of this film really intrigued me as it was different to any other possession film Ive seen, this is because we learn from the introduction of the film that Mia has a drug problem which then fools the friends to believe her possession is just a break down from lack of drugs.

Like all horror films they are completely filled with loud music and flashy scenes, with Evil Dead i think Fede Alvarez too the sound and lighting to a new level as constantly throughout they increased. The Mise En Scene was well thought out as they had many props(shotgun, scalpel, toilet seat ect) and their body language constantly changed depending on their current situation. The best use for Mise En Scene has to be with main character Jane Levy, as she had a variety of costumes(depending what character she was playing), amazing facial affects and cleverly acted injurgy scenes.

The whole movie was based in the siblings family home, surrounded by a dark and gloomy woods. You'd think the main protagonist would be Mia as she needed to become 'un'possessed however I personally think the protagonist was Mias brother David(Shiloh Fernandez), I think this because throughout the whole 91 minute he was constantly changing his goals. He began by trying to win to love and respect of his sister and friends, however towards the end he focused more or saving Mias life and sacrificing his own. This part of the film was very touching as it showed how much he loves and regretted not being there for her. 

This film was recently made meaning the CGI and Special Affect were expected to be up to date and at the best of there ability. Personally I think Alvarez did a great job with the layout and overall outcome of this production, however the only negative opinion I have is that the ending draged on as just when you thought the screening was about to end the action started up again again a further 15 minutes. Saying that some people would disagree as they think the longer ending gave them their money worth and kept them intrigued for longer

Harry Brown_Daniel Barber

Harry Brown is a more recent film made my Daniel Barber just after Britain’s riots(2009). The film focuses on Social Realism along with the themes of Age, Revenge and Violence, I think the combination of these themes together gave a very powerful and relatable outcome to the film. Because this film was set in London and during a time people where I was alive I was able to understand and acknowledge what happened.

Michael Caine stared as the main role of Harry brown, along with Emily Mortimer as Alice Frampton. Mr Caine was the best choice for actor as he came across as a polite elderly man with a violent pass. The Narrative of this film was very intriguing as throughout there was rotten language, violent actions and off putting scenes. These off putting scenes however were real shots of the London riots which added chaos to the overall film.

The beginning of this film shows us the strong bond between to elderly men living in a youth neighborhood. Before the violence reaches its worse we see the two elderly men playing chess in the pub. Studying the conversation of the lowlife youths and Harrys past in the Royal Marines Len goes on to ask Harry ‘Did you ever kill anyone’ this questions contradicts itself as Harry then goes on to kill many teens in a search for justice.

Mise En Scene was used constantly throughout the 103 minute films due to the multiply use of weapons, costumes, and environment. The sound also varies due to the characters; example; harry and lens conversation based upon manners and polite constructions, the teenagers on the other hand differ from shouting and a high quantity of rude language. The lighting tends to stay the same focusing or light and day, however the night is exaggerated due to it mainly being set in pitch black environments with only objects like lighter and fires to make light.

Harry Brown is the main protagonist as he is constantly trying to find justice for the death of his loved ones. However id say that Noel(main youth) played by Ben Drew was also a protagonist as he was forever trying to make himself look powerful around his friends and constantly wanting to ruin ad disrupt other peoples lives.

The camera quality was surprisingly good throughout the whole film, as I was expecting the camera to have a low density to represent the youths. The camera was at its best during the day times as it captured all the detail in the scene, the violent shots that were taken from recordings of the riots were expected to be rubbish as they were not recorded by professionals however the wonky camera angles and dodgy shots made the scene more relatable.

I think Michael Caine and the other actors did a brilliant performance and it kept me interested throughout the whole 103 minutes. Daniel Barber did well with the layout of the movie as it makes everyday teenagers think closely towards theirs and others actions as it can affect everyone.