Digital Filmmaking - Week 2

12/07/2019

It is a requirement for our project to have internal conflict if it is a drama or documentary. I would say this would be more challenging to do in a documentary than it would be in a dramatic short film. A promotional video doesn't have to need internal conflict.

 Patrick has suggested talking with Duncan Sarkies when he comes back down in a couple of weeks and do a brainstorming session with him on how to shorten my screenplay for State of Mind or what subject that I could do for a documentary.

15/07/2019

Paul Cleave

 I am aiming the screenplay for this paper's project to be 10 pages long, so that it is possible to film in three days.

 Idea for project: Crime action-comedy about a wise-cracking vigilante

  • Social justice warrior
  • Internal conflict about using guns
  • Uses a taser?
  • Internal conflict concerning the death of her uncle - who was close to her
  • Timaru mention
  • Scene with scary stairs at SIT
  • Sidekick?
  • Protagonist was uncle's sidekick
  • Changes between IMAX and CinemaScope like in The Dark Knight, but colour with CinemaScope and B/W with IMAX.
  • Flashbacks applied to build and visualise the conflict
  • Protagonist feels empathy for someone
  • The antagonist is a double agent or merc for North Korea and wants to infiltrate New Zealand because of getting involved with America. Winston Peters wisecrack
  • Breaks the fourth wall with writers debating about the dialogue. Choc almonds. 'I have a film for course to make'.
  • Scene outside old railway station and alley on Esk Street.
  • A scene where her uncle claims to be a master manipulator just as they enter to an interrogation, only to be a bullshit artist
  • Grainy B/W for flashbacks in a style similar to what is seen in Natural Born Killers.
Potential influences

  • Shaft (2000)



  • Deadpool
  • Jessica Jones
  • Writer's Block
  • The Dark Knight


Music sites
Freeplaymusic.com
filmusic.io


We watched past second year short films, ranging from narrative to documentary to promotional. Years ago, the course required us to do three films - narrative, documentary, and promotional. Thank goodness we don't have to do that anymore for the second year.

Notes about student films

In Dawned, mental health seems to be play a part in the short film's internal conflict.

The Tropfest-winning short film, Tunnel have impressive production value and cinematography. It seems like it provokes a hypnotic environment when combining extreme close ups with abstract sounds. At first I thought the characters were alive, but it eventually eventually becomes clear that they are in some sort of purgatory. 

Rub of the Green is a drama that tries to be a comedy like when the lawyer accesses her internet through dial-up.

Dread is a psychological horror.

We watched past promotional videos that I was familiar with, including promotional videos for SIT and the Southland Art Society, and a web-series on flatmates that don't get along, but have to work together for a student film. It's The Dynamic Duo. When I first watched it on YouTube a few years ago, I saw it as a short films split into three short videos.

Dreamweaver is truly an almost perfect film that uses great editing, especially when it comes to archival material like films and newspapers.


Key ingredients of documentary filmmaking

  • Characters with interesting problems / challenges / dilemmas (principles of drama)
Who wants something
Has a problem or an obstacle stopping them from achieving what they want
  • Story arcs
Change over time
Plot points help to determine journey of characters
  • Conflict
Internal: Difficult choice or dilemma
External: Battling between two points of view. It can be a protagonist's view vs an antagonist's view

  • Honesty / authenticity
  • Sympathy
  • Point of view: subjective or objective
Who's story is it?
How will their story be told?


Costa Botes believes that documentaries should include compelling characters with interesting problems / challenges / dilemmas.

17/07/2019

I thinking about that I do a short film for the Digital Filmmaking paper this year and make a documentary for my Digital Video project for third year next year.


19/07/2019

Title for short film: Badass Beth

 Project notes
Toenail clippings in victim's hand
A man suddenly just collapses to death
Beth has a habit of eating chocolate almonds, as did her mentor
Beth talks to witness

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