summer work

1. 2019
FILMDEPARTMENT
REIGATE COLLEGE
20/06/2019
A Level Film Studies NEA Summer Work

2. A LEVEL FILM STUDIES
COMPONENT 3: MAKING SHORT FILM
Summer Work
Overthe summeryouwill needtostart developingyourfilmideasforyour FilmStudiescoursework. The activitiesinthisdocumentwillhelpyougetstartedandensure
that by the time yourestartthe course inSeptemberyouare readytobeginwritingyourfive minute filmscreenplay.
The itemslistedbelowwillneedtobe completedbythe firstfilmstudieslessoninSeptember.
1. Analysisof three shortfilmsfromthe BritishSetShortFilmList.
2. Mind map(or anothervisual format) of yourfilmideas.
3. A PitchPresentationof yourfive minute film
THE BRIEF
You will individuallyresearch,planandcreate a5 minute shortfilm.
Thismeansyou musthave creative control,asa director,cinematographerandeditor,of all material createdforthe film.
Starting Points
You are expectedtofollowone of these startingpointsforyourwork.
A shortfilmbaseduponeither
A ‘Revelation’
Definition;informationthatisnewlydisclosed,especiallysurprising,orvaluable
RelatedWords;Surprise,Shock,Eye-opener,Exposure,Disclosure,Leak
OR
A ‘Decision’.
Definition;somethingthatsomebodychoosesormakesuphisor hermindabout,afterconsideringitandotherpossiblechoices
RelatedWords;Choice,Result,Conclusion,Verdict,Pronouncement,Judgment,Resolution,Assessment

3. RESEARCH – ShortFilmAnalysisTask
Choose three shortfilmsfromthe BritishSetShortFilmListbelow:
SLAP - https://www.shortoftheweek.com/2016/06/11/slap/
TIGHT JEANS- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BcPBCrUc8YI
THE ELLINGTON KID - https://vimeo.com/60639863
OVER- https://www.shortoftheweek.com/2016/04/16/over/
ECHO - https://vimeo.com/44040317
OPERATOR- https://www.operatorshortfilm.com/
THE ARRIVAL- https://www.shortoftheweek.com/2016/06/10/the-arrival/
THE FLY - https://www.shortoftheweek.com/2015/09/21/the-fly/
Usingthe template providedbelow,analyse your chosen films. The template isa guide and can be expandedto accommodate further writing. The examplesbelow
demonstrate what we are looking for.
Music - "Non-diegeticsoundhasbeenusedthroughoutof theshortfilm tocreate certain atmospheresinwhichrelate to the visualelementsbeing shown. Inthe
beginning of thefilm, the non-diegeticsoundof theintenseanddramaticmusic usedhelpedto complimentthe dialoguehappeningatthistime in order to enhancethe
idea thatzombiesare nothumanandarein fact highly dangerous;however,thisideais then challengedasthe musicchangesintoa softerandmoreromantictone when
the zombiefirst sees thegirl in which hehas feelingstowardswhichnotonly juxtaposesand challengesthegenericstereotypesof zombies,butalso givestheaudiencea
senseof reality andromancebetweenthetwo characters.The ideasof romancearefurtherenhancedtowardstheendof thefilm in whichclear romancesongsare
played so that it is evidently clear to the audienceof the romancestemmingbetweenthetwo characters."
Cinematography- "Inthe beginningof the film,establishingshotshavebeenused in order to showtheaudiencewherethe film is set as well as showingthedesolateand
abandoned area connotingthatsomethinghashappenedinorderto leadto the loss of civilization. Furthermore,theideaof abandonmentandattackisenhanced
through themid shotsandcloseupsof onecharacterwho informsthe audienceof the viral outbreakwhichleadto zombies.We are first introducedtoone of the main
charactersusing a trackingshotin whichwe see the characterattackinga humanwhichreinforcestheidea of zombiesbeinginhumane.Inconclusion,shotreverseshots
havebeen used betweenthecharactersto showtheir facialandbody expressionstoclearly showtheaudiencethatthe zombieis notthe generic zombieandin fact has
human emotionsandtendencies."

4. Film title: ____the fly _______________________________________ Duration: __________________________
Micro Features -Describekey features and explain what meaning is given: Macro Features - Explain whatthe micro elements suggest about:
Mise en scene (e.g. setting, costume, performance, colour,props and proxemics.)
The car setting in a sidestreet creates the feeling of a dodgy situation, it’s a very
urban setting and its very quiet so you know something is goingto happen. The
performance of the main character is very important in the filmbecausethe focus is
on him for the majority of the film. The actor acts very stressed and shorttempered
because of the situation heis in which adds to the comedy of the filmbecause
everything is over the top. The props used are those typical of a bank robbery movie,
the shotgun and masks arevery typical of this genre.
Genre (What are the key themes? Iconography?)
The key theme of this filmis that some people overreact on small things when they
are under pressure.The fly in the car wouldn’t have been a bigdeal but becausethe
main character is waitingto drive away after a bank robbery he is stressed and
clearly pressured by the situations so freaks outwhen the smallestthingannoys
him.
Camerawork e.g. shot types, angles,movement, composition,lightingand depth of
field)
To establish thesetting of this filma longshot is used to show the car parked up next
to a bank, the use of this shotis to show the audience what circumstancethe person
is in.when we see the man insidehis car a closeup shot is so the audience can see
the discomforthe is in becauseof the fly.The camera angles arefocused mainly on
the insideof the car because that where the action is takingplace
Narrative (Whatevents are shown? Are there any conflicts/oppositions?
Narrativestructure? Use of dialogue? Character development)
There is definitely a sense of character development becauseat the beginning of
the filmthe man is clearly stressed but only slightly and atthe end of the filmhe
has really had enough and shot the car with a shotgun. The conflictIs between the
guy and the fly and how the fly causes the guy to go insane.The narrativein this
filmis linear becauseeverythinghappens in chronological order.
Editing (Paceand rhythm? Motivation for the transition? Creatingrelationships? )
The editing is very quick and choppy and we get to see the man from different angles
as he is attackingthe fly. The editing is used to see different views of the guy so we
can see 5the situation he is in and every movement he makes.
Representation (Howare characters,places or events represented?)
The character in the car is represented as some tough guy at the startbut then we
find out that he is unstablewhen he meets the fly. The fly is representing the
pressurethat the guy has on himto stay calmin the situation.The fly is the anxiety
in the guys head
Sound (e.g. music,dialogue,voiceover, effects)
There is no music in this film.Mainly diegetic sound is used for sound effects as he
hits the steering wheel or screams in pain.
Audience (Whoisthe targetaudience andhowisthis evident?)
The target audiencefor this movie is for people who enjoy dark humour and liketo
laugh at the misfortune of others

5. Credits and titles (Any text elements, don’t forget idents and ordering) Spectatorship (Emotional response? Preferred and alternativereadings?)
I think the preferred readingof this filmis that stress can causepeopleto do bad
things and that even the getaway driver,the easiestjob,still hs a hard time
Film title: _the arrival__________________________________________ Duration: __________________________
Micro Features -Describekey features and explain what meaning is created: Macro Features - Explain whatthe micro elements suggest about:
Mise en scene (e.g. setting, costume, performance, colour,props and proxemics.)
The setting is in a dim litcaféwhich is a very basic settingfor meeting someone. The
performance of the actress in this shortfilm is very importantbecause she doesn’t
have any lines except from when she talks to the waiter, so the characters facial
expressions really tell the audiencewhat sheis goingthrough. The coffee being filled
too much and overflowing was used to show that the lady had so much on her mind
that she wasn’t concentrating on what she was doing.
Genre (What are the key themes? Iconography?)
the genre is a drama. The theme is loveand happiness becausethe woman is trying
to tell herself she should get rid of the baby but she is also thinkingshecould fall in
love with the man.
Camerawork (e.g. shot types, angles,movement, composition,lightingand depth
of field)
The main thing I likeaboutthe shot types and camera angles and the movement is
how the whole shortfilmis done in one take. It has a the continuous feel to it and it
focusses on the character in the centre of the frame and also somedistractions in the
background.The lightingchanges to dark lightingwhen you here a train goingpast
and the thoughts the woman has starts to get deeper and more emotional.
Narrative (Whatevents are shown? Are there any conflicts/oppositions? Do you
get a sense of the full film’s beginning-middle-end?)
You don’t really get a sense of the beginningand end becausethe short filmfeels
likethe middleof a much larger story. You don’t know how the woman got in the
position sheis in and you also don’tknow how shewill progress

6. Editing (Paceand rhythm? Motivation for the transition? Creatingrelationships? ) Representation (Howare characters, places or events represented?)
The woman is represented as someone who has made a mistakeon a night and the
typical conversation thatneeds to happen with the dad of the baby is aboutto
occur
Sound (Whatdiegetic and non-diegetic sounds areused? Mood? Key dialogue?)
There is some diegetic sound such as the door bell to the café and the
waiters voice and the sounds of the other customer. The main piece of
non-diegetic sound is the women’s voice over. The diegetic sound of
typical café noise really immerses the audience into the filmand makes
them feel as if they are in a café. The key dialogue is the woman
arguing with herself whether she should keep the baby or not
Audience (Whoisthe targetaudience andhowisthisevident?)
Credits and titles (Any text elements, don’t forget idents and releaseinfo) Spectatorship (Emotional response? Preferred and alternativereadings?)

7. Micro Features -Describekey features and explain what meaning is created: Macro Features - Explain whatthe micro elements suggest about:
Mise en scene (e.g. setting, costume, performance, colour,props and proxemics.)
The setting is a quiet kabab shop with only two lads in it.The actors actliketwo
teenage boys who are interested in what goes on around them in there town. The
costumes are simple,tracksuits.Thetracksuits showthat could be in a town in
London and the boys areyoung. The boys arecloseto each other when one is telling
the other a secret.
Genre (What are the key themes? Iconography?)
Camerawork (e.g. shot types, angles,movement, composition,lightingand depth
of field)
Narrative (Whatevents are shown? Are there any conflicts/oppositions? Do you
get a sense of the full film’s beginning-middle-end?)
The Ellingtonkid

8. DEVELOPING IDEAS – Visualisation Task
Writing a short film requires a good deal of time; remember the saying that ‘All writing is re-writing’ and this is certainly true of writing a short film. Finding
the inspiration for your story can be a frustrating process – with the dreaded writer’s block impeding progress! It has been argued that the most effective
short films concentrate on a single orsmall number of main characters and explore internal conflict through a sequence of events. At the same time short
films have to be visually strong enough to reveal that internal conflict while maintaining the drive of the story and achieving an emotional impact on an
audience.
TASK - Create a mind map or scrapbook of your ideas and thoughts to galvanise your creativity. Think about favourite genres, films you like, events or
situations you were involved in, news stories, real life, opening images, closing images, characters (stereotypes and counter-types), heroes, villains,
conflict, objects of desire, etc. Use words, sentences and images.
Editing (Paceand rhythm? Motivation for the transition? Creatingrelationships?
The editing has a fastpace to it. It shows the drama of the situation and the severity
of the scene. At some parts itis in slowmotion to add drama and the voiceover adds
to the overall effect of a frighteningscenario.
Representation (Howare characters,places or events represented?)
Sound (Whatdiegetic and non-diegetic sounds areused? Mood? Key dialogue?) Audience (Whoisthe targetaudience andhowisthisevident?)
Credits and titles (Any text elements, don’t forget idents and release info) Spectatorship (Emotional response? Preferred and alternativereadings?)

9. The key is to use this to develop a film narrative from these ideas and thoughts.
DEVELOPING IDEAS – Pitch Presentation Task
What is a pitch? A pitch is a concise verbal (and sometimes visual) presentation of an idea for a film or TV series generally made by a screenwriter or film
director to a film producer or studio executive in the hope of attracting development finance to pay for the writing of a screenplay.
Create a pitch presentation (power point/prezi, etc.) that contains the following:
 A brief over of your film’s narrative. Make it simple, but significant.
 Discuss yourkey character – theirappearance, personality traits, relationships, background biography.
 Show your filmworld – discuss the mise en scene, key settings and atmosphere.
 The film’s style – how will it look? What lighting? Mood? Genre? Editing?

10.  Importance of sound – how will your soundscape be created? You must develop a multi-layered sound – music, sound effects, dialogue (not too
much) and ambient sound.
 Target audience – who will your film be aimed at? Mainstream or niche audience? What gender, age and lifestyle?
Remember all of these tasks must be complete by the first lessoninSeptember.