Age certification and target audience:

The BBFC (The British Board Of Film Classification) is an organisation that regulates the British film industry. It is in charge of the rules and in charge of setting the rules in the production of film (what is allowed and what is not allowed to be shown in films). It is also in charge of the age certificates which are assigned to every film in the UK. 

Age certificates in the UK

- U films: Tend to be aimed at the very young children.

- PG films: Are mainly directed for the ages of 8 and older. In PG films they include no detail of potentially dangerous behaviour, discriminatory language / behaviour is unlikely, if drugs are presented they make sure there is a visible anti-drug message linked, mild bad language, nudity without sexual context, sexual activity is discreet and infrequent, frightening situations where the character may be in danger is not prolonged or intense and violence is usually mild. 

- 12A films: Available only at cinemas. You can watch a film rated 12A if you are under the age of 12 but you must be accompanied by an adult. In 12A films they would include no promotion of dangerous behaviour,  drug use should not be glamorised and must be infrequent, moderate bad language, nudity is allowed but when portrayed in a sexual context it must be brief and discreet, sexual activity must be brief and discreet, verbal references to sexual violence are allowed but must not be graphic and must be negatively presented, moderate physical and psychological threat and horror sequences and there may be moderate violence but should not be in detail. 

- 15 films: Must be 15 or older to rent/buy or see a 15 film in cinema. In a 15 rated film they would consist of dangerous behaviour but should not be in detail, may be racist, homophobic or other discriminatory themes and language, drugs and drug use may be shown but must not promote or encourage it, strong language, no constraints of nudity in a non-sexual or educational context, sexual activity may be displayed, may be strong verbal references linked to sexual violence, strong threat and horror and violence may be strong. 

- 18 films: Suitable only for adults, you must be 18 or over 18 to watch/rent or buy a 18 rated film.

What determines the age certifications?

- Violence

- Sex and nudity

- Obscene language

- Discriminatory language

- Self harm

- Criminal activity

- Dangerous behaviour 

- Drugs, alcohol and cigarettes 

- Child actors / characters

- Strobe lighting

Context also has an input on the age certificate that the BBFC assign to a film i.e is the film realistic or fantasy based? They also take the way the issue is handled into accountability. For example portraying drug use and the consequences / negative issues associated with drugs may receive a lower film certificate in comparison to a film that portrayed drug use as fun and consequence free would receive a higher age certificate. The BBFC also look at the format of the release. They tend to be stricter when classifying films for DVD release then for films which are released in the cinema.

Film certificate for my production groups film idea 

We decided our film production opening sequence would have the age certificate of 15. Our sequence would have this age certificate because it contains violence, dangerous behaviour and gore, but it has a slight positive tone to it and the violence / dangerous behaviour that takes place could easily be seen as a positive aspect. 

Sound in film:

How important is sound? In terms of the impact it has when telling a story.

Diegetic sound, which is the Greek term for 'world'. This can be a dialogue, sound effects or ambient sound which all come from a source within the film world (we would be able to hear it if we were there).

Non-diegetic sound, is sound which has been added to support the mood and atmosphere that the filmmakers are trying to convey. This can be voice-over or background music.

The best sound design in filmmaking is something that we (the viewer/audience) do not recognise unless we really concentrate on it - this creates the most affective and best atmosphere.

Layers of sound

- Ambient sound: sound that is always around us (background noises, distant chatter, wind, traffic etc).

- Dialogue: speech (conversation between actors or monologue).

- Music: non-diegetic (mood) diegetic (ambient sound).

- Foley sound: sound effects (any sound that helps the narrative).

- Voice over: can be diegetic or non-diegetic.

John Williams who is a master of sound design in filmmaking, talks about how music is about sculpting it, and how at the beginning you don't really know where it's going or whats going to happen, but by experimenting and trying different things you can play around with the meaning that you're creating.

Theme music

You must make sure you use a recognisable melody/tune for your theme music, as majority of all the consumption is based on this. You need to create music which creates mood, and shouts at you which grabs your attention and in a way plants it in your head.

Leitmotif

Acknowledging the characters, and what you are trying to say about these characters. Therefore what sound will you associate with these characters in order to indicate the characteristics of that person. This can also be associated with a idea or situation

Task:

Create my own soundtrack for the short film sequence I made. 

Workshop 3: Shooting a sequence

A sequence is multiple sections of videos which you shoot at different times and when you put them together they join into one and create one whole clip.

This is one of the key thing you need to know how to do in filmmaking.

When filming a scene you must make sure you record the whole scene from each camera position. This may sometimes result in you getting extra shots which you didn't plan on getting and will also provide you with much more choice when it comes to editing the final piece and putting it together,

When filming different camera shots and scenes you must have all the different compositions in mind (rule of thirds, 180 degree rule, foreground / background, camera height, depth of field and lighting). You also must make sure that all the props, actors and lines are the same in each take.

Task - Create your own sequence 

Here is my attempt at creating my own sequence.

I used 10 different shots, all with different camera angles and put them together to create one full piece.

Step-by-step

 Step-by-step for our opening sequence 

- Female detective walking into the house (The lodge) - walking in-front of the camera / camera follows her in - tracking shot.

- She hears heavy breathing / someone 'struggling' to breathe - close up on her facial expressions

- Follows the heavy breathing - tracking shot.

- Finds the young girl / boy lying on the floor, close to death - extreme long shot to show her and the body in frame.

- The 'detective' then kneels down to the body - changing camera height so that the camera is at the same height as the detective.

- The girl / boy close to death then struggles to say "he's still here" - close up on the individuals face as they say this line.

- Extreme close up on detectives face to show her change in emotions through facial expressions.

- Point of view angle from the detectives perspective of the individual fighting for their life and struggling to breathe.

- Slow zoom out which becomes an extreme long shot of the detective slowly grabbing hold of her gun which is in her back pocket.

- Detective slowly stands up and turns around - mid shot

- Detective pulls her gun up close to her face as if she's ready to shoot - mid shot.

- Camera goes to point of view angle of the detective walking around.

- Hand held camera movements as she is walking around the house cautiously (holding her gun in front of her face).

- Detective turns the corner into another room - point of view camera angle. 

- Murderer (attempt murderer) standing ahead of her - point of view camera angle.

- Extreme long shot of the 'murderer' running (speed walking) towards the detective holding a bloody knife.

- Extreme close up on female detective as she shoots the male / female 'murderer' with no hesitation.

- Shot reverse shot. 

- Long shot portrayed to show the dead body of the male / female that the detective has just shot.

- Cuts back to the female detective.

- Low angle portrayed as the female detective turns her back away from the body but then sharply turns back towards the dead body and shoots again.

- Long shot used to portray the dead body and a slow zoom into him/her.

- Back to a low angle of the female detective walking away - towards the door with the sound of her boots / heels pressing against the floorboards 

- Background goes out of focus as she reaches and exists the door / house and the sound of police cars and an ambulance slowly approach.

My Production Groups Storyboard:

My production groups storyboard. We divided our step-by-step plan which consisted of 24 steps into 3 parts - beginning 8, middle 8 and last 8. We decided that I would complete the first 8, Neave would complete the middle 8 and Bashy would complete the final 8. 

Maddie's:

Maddie's:

Neave's:

Neave's:

Bashy's:

Bashy's:

Storyboards

What is a storyboard?

A storyboard is a drawn-out version of each of the shots you are planning to film for the opening sequence.

- A storyboard helps plan and organise what you are going to film.

- Storyboarding enables you to experiment and try new things without wasting time on set when filming.

- Provides a brief idea of what the final sequence may look like after being edited.

- Allows you to see what you may need / what you don't need, what works / what doesn't work (can see the film visually).

- As we have very limited filming time, by storyboarding we save a lot of time and therefore we will have more time to film as we will be ready and prepared on the day to just film and go. 

- A storyboard is still important after you film because it helps the editor to visually see what follows what and what comes next after each shot. Provides you with a visual layout. And it makes it simpler and more organised for the editor as they will just have to follow the storyboard.

How to draw storyboards?

What goes on a storyboard?

- The shot number - so you are aware of exactly what shot you are working on and the order.

- Location - Allows you to identify all the location you will be filming in (inside or outside, house or apartment, kitchen or bedroom)

- Action - Description of what happens and where the 'action' takes place.

- Camera shot / movement type - Is there any movement? Does the shot change?

- Sound - What dialogue is there? Point out the particular sounds that will be needed.

- Lighting - Point out the particular lighting that you know you will need / want, i.e. bright light shines on her face, torch light on floor...)

- Transition - Any particular transitions? Gets you to think about the following shots and if they match up.

- Timing - How long will the shot be?

Template

Examples

Tips

- Plan a step by step first. Don't just start drawing.

- Think about composition. Draw the subject / object as they would appear in the frame i.e. slightly to the left or right, close up, foreground / background.

- Don't number them till the end. May need to add or more the shots around.

- You can write on the boards and use arrows to show / indicate movement.

- Take photographs of each storyboard page when you finish.

Production group meeting 4:

We met again as a production group and received feedback from Matt and Mike and we came to the conclusion that we should adapt the idea and this would consist of the female detective arriving at the house as the murder has just happened.

The detective arrives at the house and she is looking for the victim around the house and hears heavy breathing coming from the other room. The victim is on the floor clearly wounded and has been hurt - detective goes over to the victim and attempts to help her and calls for backup as the victim is visibly about to die. The victim struggles to breathe but then uses all her energy and says to the female detective "There still in the house". The female detective goes to reach her gun and slowly stands up. She goes around the house to find this murderer and she finds him and kills him without hesitation - as she finds him she speaks into the microphone "got the bastard". The clip then ends with the sound of police cars arriving. This completes the opening sequence as we are told the whole 'story' and its not like it ends on an unanswered question - the question is answered and we know this murderer is dead and this action is over. 

We as a group are feeling very positive about this idea and pleased with how it may turn out.