FMP- Primary research

As part of my FMP I was tasked with conducting some primary research into my idea. I wanted to see what people thought of the noir style, how they would build a believable 1950s environment and how other films similar to mine achieved the look and feel that I want to mimic. To do this I utilised to methods, the first was creating a survey and putting it out online. In the questionnaire I asked for the age and gender of the participant to gauge what different demographics wanted. These were my results:



As you can see, the survey was mainly done by 18 to 21 year olds with the gender predominately being female. Next I asked them to rank a number of elements in levels of importance in creating a 1950's feel. The most important from are surveyors was clothing, with 72.7% of people putting it the essential need of the spectrum. However, all 3 choices (Clothing, Vehicles and locations) received at least 5 essential votes, showing how important all 3 elements are in creating a living breathing 50s world. The only one that got a 1 in importance was Locations. 

The final part of the survey came from watching the opening to "A touch of Evil" by Orson Welles as then answering which part of the scene caught the viewers attention most. It was clear that one element stood out above the rest. That being camera movement. The other two that share the remaining 33.4% are shadows and the set. Getting those 3 elements will be important in getting right during production.


The next part of my Primary research came from watching the aforementioned film, A touch of Evil. The classic film is famed for not only being a cinematic masterpiece but also it as hailed as the last proper noir film from the golden age of cinema. The film is directed by Orson Welles and stars Charlson Heston, Janet Leigh and Orson Welles in the crime drama. The story follows an investigation into a car bombing on the american side of the Mexico Boarder.  


What I learned for watching the film was just how affectively you can use shadows and reflections to tell a story. For example, at the very beginning of the film we see a mysterious stranger plant a bomb in a mans car. As he runs towards the Vehicle, he casts a shadow on a large wall. This shot really hammers home that this is a shady characters whos identity will remain a secret and the only way to learn that secret is to watch the film. The use of reflections was also fascinating. It was obvious that mirrors and windows were placed and used strategically to add an extra dynamic to a scene.


A good example of this technic is when Janet Leighs character opens the blinds of her motel to look out over the desert. Instead of it being a shot over her shoulder showing the view and the a reverse of her reaction, we get best of both worlds by the use of reflections. This adds a depth to the scene and visual intrigue that otherwise wouldn't exist. 

Another shot type used throughout the film is the low angle shot. Now Orson Welles is famous for using low shots, even digging a hole in the studio to get the camera lower during filming of Citizen Kane. They are used predominately to show a character as powerful and he uses it with mastery. Take the opening shot where Orson Welles character, Hank is introduced. He is meant to be an intimidating man, and therefor having the camera low emphasises that idea. 

FMP- Compare and Contrast

To best explain a new idea or concept, its normally best to compare it to a preexisting property or IP. This means people can get an idea of what your product is and it's use. The same goes for the Media industry. When selling an idea to an executive, comparing your show/movie to something that already exists (and thats more importantly is successful) gives them an idea of the genre and audience you going for.

So it seems like a good idea to get a few examples which are similar, or you can at least compare against, my film. The first property that comes to mind has to be Breaking bad. As I want the short to be apart of Tv pitch, it seems fit to start with a TV show. Breaking bad encompasses a lot of what I want to replicate. From the non-chronological order to it's look and tone, the show oozes that old school noir vibe. It does this through it's character development and unique shot types. It also has a very distinctive look with an orange tint which always accompanies desert scenes. It also follows the idea that anyone can die, and will die, when you least expect it. Similarly, we want to build that same sense that no one is safe.

Another film which could compare to are film is Quentin Tarantinos World war 2 masterpiece, Inglourious Basterds. In particular a certain scene in a small bar where the main characters stand-off against a SS officer who figures out they aren't what they seem. The suspense that Tarantino builds using just a few simply shots is amazing. You really feel the weight of the situation slowly weighing down on you as the scene progresses. This is the kind of feeling I want to replicate in our film. That feeling like everything is building to an inevitable crescendo.

The final example of what I want the film to be like is my favourite film of all time. The Coan Brothers masterclass in filmmaking, which is of course No Country for Old Men". Everything about the film is perfect from it's cinematography to spot on dialogue, it nails it. What I want to glean most for it however is it's tone. That feeling of we have just entered into a shady part of the world, one we do not understand and where normal rules don't apply. Another thing to learn from NCFOM is building up a good bady. Someone who isn't silly or over the top, but creepy and scary. The final thing that the Coans have gifted me is there use of colours. I love the grade on all of their films but No country is one of the best. Every image looks like a painting and that is down simply to angle, lighting and colouring,
 

FMP- Proposal analysis

To start of any project, you must first write a proposal. A Statement of intent if you will, on where you are planning to go and how your going to get there. This includes the idea itself, why you chose the idea, the skills you will need to achieve your desired end product and how you will assess your success at the end of it all. A proposal is a useful tool for reflection as you can compare your end product with your beginning idea, learning what had to be changed and what challenges you faced. You can then use this knowledge in future projects to better assess a production.

Looking back at my UNIT 12 research, I think my proposal is a good one. I looked into how ideas go from mind to paper to screen and a recurring theme I saw was that of using short screen tests or films to sell a bigger idea. This is exactly what my idea is and from my proposal it makes that clear. One clear strength is the kit we will be using. Giving the short a very cinematic feel will be important to selling the look of the film, as well as solidifying us as professional filmmakers in the eyes of an executive. Also, having the unique style we want for the short will help to make it stand out from the sea of wannabe TV show pilots.

Taking into consider my primary and secondary research, I believe that the proposal best reflects what I want to achieve and how I can achieve it. Granted, things will change and challenges will arise, but for now, it is a pretty tight proposal. To conclude the analysis I have produced a Strengths and weaknesses of the proposal: