Key conventions for a heist
Texual analysis
In this vlog I give my textual analysis of the planning scene from oceans eleven.
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Conventions of trailers
Trailers like films have key conventions that they try and follow so it provoke the intended target audience so they can decide on whether they will enjoy the film and it also does the opposite by letting people know if they wouldn’t like the film.
A trailer will start with the production information; this will be the age restriction and the company logos. Production logos can be a genuine indication of the genre of the film you are watch.
The key conventions are as follows:
Here is an example, Deepwater Horizon - Trailer
A trailer will start with the production information; this will be the age restriction and the company logos. Production logos can be a genuine indication of the genre of the film you are watch.
The key conventions are as follows:
- Opening - establishes setting and introduces characters
- Build up - relationships established and development of characters and their world
- Problem - a dilemma or series of compilations, characters are faced with an obstacle to over come
- Event - a series of events/actions as characters try to overcome obstacle, solve problem, discover truth
- Resolution - the protagonists are victorious, problems are solved
- Ending - characters reflect on events, reinstate relationships and look forward
Here is an example, Deepwater Horizon - Trailer
The key conventions are as follows:
- Opening – opens with oil port indicating what the film is about, introduced to main character it also introduces you to the villain the oil rig.
- Build up - builds character development with his family, trailer cuts to a storm to indicate fear, the girl explains about his job and how dangerous it is she calls it a monster this mirrors forthcoming events in the tailer and movie
- Problem – machines stop working, pressure levels for to high, they run in to something called mud, they try and stop it but they can not.
- Event – the oil rig explodes killing people
Production role
In this vlog a talk about my role and responsibilities are as the Director of cinematography.
Reflection I did not cover enough about my role in this vlog and wish i done more research in to this role. i think i only covered the basics of a cinematography if i have this role again in the future i will doing more detailed research and why i chose this role. |
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Production
Preprodction
Brief two we have been set to create a production of a 30 second trailer for any genre our choice, in our group we discussed what genres everyone like and why we would like to use for this project, and our top three choices were spy, superhero and crime. We all agreed on to create a SPY genre like a James Bond trailer. The key conventions should be easy to meet and achieve with the audience understanding in a 30 second what the genre is. Next we decided what production roles we would like to do I wanted to be the camera man so I was chosen to be the cinematography as everyone was happy for me to be the camera man. Once we knew what roles were and what genre we are going to use we set to work on creating a basic storyline, locations, characters and props.
Brief two we have been set to create a production of a 30 second trailer for any genre our choice, in our group we discussed what genres everyone like and why we would like to use for this project, and our top three choices were spy, superhero and crime. We all agreed on to create a SPY genre like a James Bond trailer. The key conventions should be easy to meet and achieve with the audience understanding in a 30 second what the genre is. Next we decided what production roles we would like to do I wanted to be the camera man so I was chosen to be the cinematography as everyone was happy for me to be the camera man. Once we knew what roles were and what genre we are going to use we set to work on creating a basic storyline, locations, characters and props.
Preproduction
We had a brainstorming group chat Holly wrote down the idea’s that we though of that we can use in this project, some ideas like an assignation, terror, weren’t use because it just wouldn’t work with in the story also with only having a week I think we would need more planning and some of us just didn’t like the ideas. |
So we had a few problems with this production, as some of the crew did not turn up for meetings, so the crew that did turn up had to take control of the situation. A few of us changed our minds about the genre we chose so we changed it we decided that the spy genre was to complex to create in such a small time frame also with the lack of crew members. So I change it to a heist trailer and action genre. I chose this because early on in the day I was having a conversation with Kurt and he mention about the Bookcase shop in Carlisle that has old safes in the basement this gave my inspiration and I started generating ideas for a story.
We went to scout this location as we had been told it had old safes inside in the basement which is perfect for a heist trailer as we need a safe to use in the trailer as it one of the key conventions of a heist film. After spending some time in inside bookcase looking around the shop, looking at the safes and talking pictures we agreed that this location is perfect for our project. I talked to the owner about filming here and what day would be best for him we agree on a day Friday we exchanging contact details so I could contact saying we were coming to film.
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While on my way home on the train I created a basic story, early on in the day we were learning about the key conventions of a film trailers in Debbies class. So I used this as a way to create this simple story, thanks to visiting the Bookcase shop at Carlisle it gave me inspiration.
The story is very simple and only need two locations, three actors and minimal script.
I thought about some props you would see in a heist film and what props this story would need:
We are also going to use the studio as well, we are going to try and make it look like a warehouse using lighting and a smoke machine, Ed suggested this to me and I thought it was a really good idea also he said he would help with the set up which is a big help.
As I am the cameraman I need to write up an equipment list I will need for this shoot:
The story is very simple and only need two locations, three actors and minimal script.
I thought about some props you would see in a heist film and what props this story would need:
- Plans
- Bag
- Bomb
- Phone
- Balaclava
- Pen
We are also going to use the studio as well, we are going to try and make it look like a warehouse using lighting and a smoke machine, Ed suggested this to me and I thought it was a really good idea also he said he would help with the set up which is a big help.
As I am the cameraman I need to write up an equipment list I will need for this shoot:
- Sony A6000
- Sony FE lens 18-50mm
- Canon 600D
- Canon EF lens 18-50mm
- Canon EF lens 50mm
- Canon EF lens 70-120mm
- SD card 64GB
- 3 x batteries
- Tripod
Production Today is filming day, we still haven’t got everything yet like the props and costume so we went in to Carlisle city centre and bought props and costumes. We got back to college started to create the props the bomb, blueprints, maps. Next we started setting up the studio bring in a table from a classroom and setting to props out on it. I went to pick up the equipment, I started setting up the camera, tripod and audio equipment in the studio, Ed help us set up the lighting and smoke machine. We are now ready to film the warehouse-planning scene with Emily and the target scene we didn’t have a script or a shot list to follow so we just improvised on set trying to follow the trailer conventions we leant in Debbies class. |
Next we went out on location to the bookcase shop, we went inside to talk to the owner of the shop to let him know we are here to film. I went though the same process of setting up the equipment and started filming the first shots I filmed were out side in the car park for the establishing shot and the end of the planning scene. The last shots I all filmed inside the shop in the basement these scenes were the heist it’s self and the escape scenes. I encountered a problem I battery had ran out and I had no back up battery, thankfully I had a camera from college to use just in case something happened. This might cause a problem in editing as my camera looks better than the college cameras do and is better in low light but its happened and we haven no time for a reshoot so we will have to work with what we have got. The film is now finished so we packed up making sure it was all packet away correctly, said thank you to the owner and we went back to college handed in the equipment. I went in to the mac lab and exported the footage on to the shared drive.
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In this video I discuss about how I edited my version of the trailer and the use of sound.
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Evaluation
My primary role in the production was to be the cinematographer but I ended up doing more directing, producing and editing. I had to deal with the situations and create solutions in a very short time space. Overall I think my performance on this production was up to a good standard considering all of the set backs we had over the production. My camera work and editing I really like the way I edited this trailer. I am personally happy with it.
We face a few issues during preproduction and production, with people not turning for meetings because they are sick, so I had to take control of this and become the producer/director so I was going to locations, inquiring with the owners and also creating a new story because halfway during preproduction I changed the story to make it simpler to make it easier for production as we didn’t have many crew members. On production my camera ran out of batteries this was my own fault lucky we had a camera from college so I just used that the quality isn’t as good as mine but is doesn’t matter as long as we have something that’s all that matters.
On this production there were problems manly with people not attending, taking this in to account overall the production ran smoothly and I really enjoy myself. We all communicated and worked good together on set bouncing ideas off each other. Next time people need to attend more if they can, take their role more serious as I had to take over their roles and do multiple roles. I felt like I couldn’t fully achieve what I wanted out of my role in my research and my blog work. In preproduction we need to communicate more.
I need to stop taking control of the situation because it is not helping me in my own personal progression in my roles.
The audience feedback I have received was well received, a lot of people liked the way I edited the trailer together and the use of sound.
My primary role in the production was to be the cinematographer but I ended up doing more directing, producing and editing. I had to deal with the situations and create solutions in a very short time space. Overall I think my performance on this production was up to a good standard considering all of the set backs we had over the production. My camera work and editing I really like the way I edited this trailer. I am personally happy with it.
We face a few issues during preproduction and production, with people not turning for meetings because they are sick, so I had to take control of this and become the producer/director so I was going to locations, inquiring with the owners and also creating a new story because halfway during preproduction I changed the story to make it simpler to make it easier for production as we didn’t have many crew members. On production my camera ran out of batteries this was my own fault lucky we had a camera from college so I just used that the quality isn’t as good as mine but is doesn’t matter as long as we have something that’s all that matters.
On this production there were problems manly with people not attending, taking this in to account overall the production ran smoothly and I really enjoy myself. We all communicated and worked good together on set bouncing ideas off each other. Next time people need to attend more if they can, take their role more serious as I had to take over their roles and do multiple roles. I felt like I couldn’t fully achieve what I wanted out of my role in my research and my blog work. In preproduction we need to communicate more.
I need to stop taking control of the situation because it is not helping me in my own personal progression in my roles.
The audience feedback I have received was well received, a lot of people liked the way I edited the trailer together and the use of sound.