how did I write my screenplay? How did I format my screenplay? what is action description/character/dialogue/scene heading?
I made the script the way it looks through StudioBinder which made it look like a real script.
I wrote my screenplay through a bunch of websites and as-well mostly inspired by Agatha Christie’s whodunnit novels, like the part when the most innocent character the cleaner Ash was found Guilty for the crime that had took place at the beginning of the film which mirrors the character from the novel ‘Death on the Nile’ Jaqueline De Bellefort which was in the same situation as the character Ash. the dialogue was clearly more of a sophisticated style of writing which makes it suits the classic kind of story telling the story is going to .
the scene heading meant it would be in an outside place or an interior place by saying INT or EXT, which makes it sound professional and make it look like a real script.
the action description was mainly how the characters are moving and what they are doing which and the location was already told in the scene headings, the script took me around 2 to 3 weeks to write and finish.
Who did I cast and why?
I casted a bunch of people from performing arts course since it’s their field to do stage acting so they are the perfect people for the job, but then something came up , a final project they had too so they had to turn down the roles for my short film. The main reason I casted these actors was because of how good the actors were at the rehearsals and how natural they were in finding which character suits which.
What were my aims for production? (photos of studio)
Aims for production was to shoot a short film inside the Tv studio inside the David Hockney building, Rehearsals for a week then 2 weeks for filming then another week for editing.
This is what the inside of the tv studio looks like. On the right you got the tv screens where we see what the camera is shooting the studio through the tv screens that you can see in the picture, on the left you got the vision mixing station where we switch cameras in the filming process, on the far right that small computer screen is when the program where we start recording.
Now this is the inside of the studio where we thought we would have a green screen in which we can add different backgrounds on the back in editing the short film so basically as Graphics.
This sign was made when we decided it would look better if we film it outside behind the college where we can stick this sign on one of the buildings or a door and pretend it’s a police station but none of it happened since there was no time left for the practical which the production bit.
What happened?
The actors had a final project to do so I had no choice but only to do a trailer or a short scene taken out from the short since I couldn’t replace these 7 actors with others so I picked a short scene where the short film ends basically the Finale which only required 3 actors but they kept giving me excuses every week for the last 2 weeks that I had to finish it up so at the end of the last week my course leader told me that I should focus more on the digital space work since there is only one week left to hand everything and that I can’t risk it finding more actors and editing the short film which will take me about a week or so which is the same time that I should finish all of my digital space work.
The idea is a fe film written and acted by the same person, the story is about a young man aged around 20’s suffering from his alter-ego as-well as having Schizophrenia.
The plan for this will be that we would have around 16 rehearsals, it will be 3 every week. we will need to book the studio for all of the rehearsals, we will be changing the lighting to have some effect on the audience. the alter-ego would also be recorded by the same person who does the main character in the background. the girl who would be acting as the main character’s girlfriend. the plot would be more intense and dramatic than romantic.
Strengths
The scenario is half way done for the short film and all the cast and crew are in place.
Weaknesses
We don’t have all the cast and crew members which will lead us to hire new people which will take time.
Opportunities
You will get experience in the field being based in a set and filming environment as-well as it being for practice you will still get some experience
The first feedback was Positive through how interesting the idea is and planning wise But moreover most negatives came on The timeline which wasn`t planned correctly or in an organizable way.
The second feedback had a very positive point about my project having a potential and how my PowerPoint is craftly made but the negative points came on the lack of planning which needs improving.
The third feedback hinted at some good positive points like the good planning and vision as well as the proposed idea and some negatives that might affect the project as a whole like the cast not being good and the weaknesses were how short the presentation was and not finished timeline.
The fourth and final feedback hinted at some good positive pointes like how the idea was unique also how i would make it more interesting to the target audience as well stuff that might be a concern on the project as a whole like the audibility of camera and equipment which is really good but the negatives were more on planning and how there is not much to go on in this project and that my timeline and presentation should be improved.
Task 2- Research and idea development.
Genre
The murder mystery is a sub-genre of the crime genre that, of course, focuses and follows the homicide of a character or characters. Involving crime, violence, investigative teams and heartbreak rippling across the victim’s loved ones, the potential for drama is rich.
A murder mystery tends to be along the same lines as a psychological thriller but has its own rightful place in the genre world. There is and can be often a crossover in this respect.
It specifically focuses its plot around the homicide of a character and the piecing together of who was culpable. The murder tends to be at the beginning of the film and the audience is given clues of varying degrees before the grand reveal of who has done the murder at the end.
A murder mystery has always been popular in the context of novels. And this popularity has transferred onto the screen. Moreover, the genre is constantly shifting and updating, keeping itself relevant.
Examples of Modern Murder Mysteries
‘Murder mystery films and TV shows have appeared on screens pretty consistently over the years. The genre can be traced right back to the origins of cinema itself.’
‘But the genre has managed to survive into the modern-day relatively seamlessly. And this is because such movies both play with the genre expectations and fulfil them, creating original and memorable works. Two great contemporary murder mysteries that take different forms and show the range of the genre include…’
Knives Out (2019)
‘Knives Out follows a detective investigator who is trying to get to the bottom of a suspected homicide that was made to look like a suicide. Taking an interesting angle on the murder mystery, Knives Out makes you chuckle, hold your breath as well as keeping you guessing as to the murder’s culprit.’
‘Knives Out has been said to be a modern stylisation of an Agatha Christie novel, as the film takes classic murder mystery techniques and refreshes them. The perfectly developed idiosyncratic characters ensure this peculiar murder mystery grabs your attention as the pressure starts to rise on the Thrombey family.’
Zodiac (2007)
‘This highly rated murder mystery is based on the true serial killer famously named the Zodiac Killer. Starring Jack Gyllenhaal and Robert Downy Jr, Zodiac keeps you on the edge of your seat for its long runtime.’
‘Zodiac takes on the classic murder mystery formula to ensure the genre is preserved even for those who know the storyline. Taking full advantage of timing to ensure that the rise in tension is not too premature to become anticlimactic, the film hits murder mystery beats whilst employing a structure that has something unique to say’.
‘The way in which the mystery peters out in its pacing reflects the real-life trajectory of the case. And in this, it not only keeps the audience guessing but reflects the real-world frustration of the unsolved case’.
‘These two films are examples from the genre that do something interesting with it. And we’ll continue to refer to them throughout the article. But let’s now get down to what exactly makes up a successful murder mystery script…’
Script Writing
1. What is Your Murder Mystery?
Deciding on what your murder mystery is will obviously be key to a successful script. And this should be the starting gun on your story. It needs to be believable, not too complex, and yet keep the audience guessing.
To do this, draft out some key moments in the mystery.
What makes the murder a mystery?
Who is going to be the suspect/s?
Will a murder actually happen and will we see it?
What does the murder look like?
All these questions will help you think through what your murder mystery actually is. From there you can start developing the structure and a proper storyline.
The nature of the murder is often what will make the story distinctive within the genre and marketplace. So don’t botch this bit. Make your murder original and remarkable.
2. Setting Up Your Murder Mystery
‘This leads nicely on to setting up your murder mystery. After you have developed your idea for a murder to be solved you need to think about how you will set it up in the narrative’.
How is it going to be introduced into the storyline?
Will your screenplay start with the murder?
Is the murder just implied, or will you see someone be mysteriously murdered?
Who will discover the body?
‘Setting up your murder mystery script should feel like a natural process, nothing too complex in the lead up to ensure everyone is on the same page whilst watching.’
‘As this is the sub-genre of choice, the screenplay should be mainly focused around the murder. So setting it up will need to be a delicate procedure in terms of you tackling it’, Like for my Script I only focused on the murder and what follows it I didn’t try to take it in other directions or focus on unwanted details .
‘Making sure these characters work together to tell the story you want, in the way you want, is crucial. These are the characters that will make your story convincing. Therefore, building their personalities, their relationships with one another and their connection to the audience becomes a turning point in the process of screenwriting’. I lacked this in my script since I only focused more on how the story is going and how the characters are contributing to the events.
‘Choosing who your protagonist will be is a big part of how you will convey your story and what you tell the audience. This will be the character that leads your narrative. So understanding the details of the character is essential to building a convincing murder mystery script’. There weren’t that much details given because it’s a short film and mainly focused on minor details.
This research is taken from this website https://industrialscripts.com/murder-mystery-script/.
I think undertaking an experience like this really gives you an idea of what a real live tv broadcast would look like which will help you in the future. The team members were really helpful which made it easier and more comfortable for me , honestly I would actually take that experience again if I could. Talking about feedbacks it was really positive as in how the idea was original and it looked real as in adding public aids and phone calls which is not done in most gameshow but most of the negative feedbacks came in on the audio which will be improved for next time. The other feedback which was positive on having buttons to answer the questions which made the show look interesting as well as the display but the negative part was on that the actors were too quiet it is true though because both of the actors weren’t loud enough. Talking about improvements is there should be more action on set which was true because the action wasn’t made to the required level as well as the other feedback to improve the audio. Talking about other positives was about the public aid footage when the director was asking people outside of the studio and adding it to the final broadcast. The last feedback hints at some good stuff made like how the show has its own vibe and it is similar to the chaser which is another gameshow. for one of the points the rating that was given for that feedback was 9 out of 10 which is really good for a first time when the question was production wise. for another point the rating that was given was 10 out of 10 which is outstanding saying the reason was because there was a lot of passion that had gone into it which is very true. For the improvements that would have been made to this broadcast was the editing through stating a really good point when the wrong question came on the screen when the host was saying a different question. In conclusion the feedbacks gave me an idea of what would I improve on next time, what were the positives and what were the negatives.
Peer assessment
I believe Omar did well in his project as host. However I do think that he could have been more efficient in bringing the energy he needed to have, way quicker than he did. I think Omar was successful in presenting himself in a way that looked professional and unique. However, I feel like it took to long for him to find his character.
I think it was a really good feedback which really hinted at all the stuff i have done and what i would have improved.
This our ideas for the show that is called Justanothershow short for JAS. Harley planned the intro, the outro and what we need to speak about. the first thing which is the intro on this show i to introduce ourselves explain what is upcoming on this show. the ideas are showing news in an old school style, Publicly asking questions with a mic and a camera and then the last section would be a game show. The outro then would be “That is all for today, that is all we have- On JAS Justanothershow.
The floor manager was replaced because we were having some issues with getting a hold of Usman and there was one more team member that we lost which is Liam which made it even more harder so we only have 4 people on set which are Harley which is vision mixer, Youssef as director, Abbas as floor manager and me as host. the cameras are static because we have a shortage of members and we really don`t need camera operators because camera 3 is the one that moves much.
This is the script which took around a week to make by Youssef (our director), each page has a question and Yousseff planned it cleverly when he made for each contestant to answer what question and for which question both contestants won§t know so it was all planned out for the contestant who was gonna win at the end to make it easier.
This is the 50 pound note that was designed by Harley our designer and we have got our director’s photo on the note to show that we claim it and the title of the episode which is one for the money.
The seating plan was decided on an example gameshow which inspired us to make this plan which turned out like that.
Due to our shortage of team members I had to jump in and take up the role as host which was a great experience and it needed a lot more energy so I kept practicing until I became perfect, It was a bit hard at first not gonna lie but after some encouragement from my team members I did good in the end. The way everything was set up was fun as in the actors knowing who is gonna win in the end and all that and the actors themselves wonderful people they did really put in the hard work which made it look better for them to interact with the host which was me.
The idea of the lighting was mine which Harley (Vision Mixer) and Youssef (Director) developed it and put it in the studio. I think the choice of the colour purple really gives you the vibe of that game environment kind of programme or show and the good thing about also is that it was original there is no other show who uses this type of lighting.
A producer’s job involves planning, coordination and management around a movie’s script and writing, casting, directing, and editing as well as finances, marketing, release and distribution. A film producer can work for a production company or independently to oversee film production.
The following are just some of the items that would typically be considered filmmaking gear: cameras, lights, sound equipment, microphones, tripods, and any other types of stabilisation devices/equipment needed for filming purposes.
knowledge of media production and communication
the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure
knowledge of English language
leadership skills
to be thorough and pay attention to detail
the ability to use your initiative
to be flexible and open to change
the ability to organise your time and workload
to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently
Producers are at the financial, practical and creative heart of a film or TV drama. They are often the first to get involved, spotting the creative opportunity and commercial viability of a production. They continue as the driving force right through to distribution.They are the overall decision makers. Producers will come up with story ideas and hire writers or choose and secure rights to scripts. This is known as ‘optioning’ a script. They decide on the scale and budget of the film and source financing from investors, studios and distributors. They work with creative ideas from the director and approve production costs. They spot and solve potential problems throughout the production process. They approve locations and hire a team of staff for the production, delegating certain responsibilities to a line producer. It’s their job to create a good working environment and they constantly communicate with everyone to make everything run smoothly. They have ultimate legal responsibilities for the health and safety of the crew on set and delivery of a completed film at the end of the production process.
A film begins and ends with the producer. The producer is the catalyst for a project coming together, its complete production cycle, and its eventual release, marketing, and distribution. A good producer will cultivate a kernel of an idea into something significant, tangible, and bright on screen.Producers, or Film Producers, oversee the business and financial matters of a movie, music album, stage production or television show. Their main duties include hiring production staff, like Directors, Crew Members and Cast Members, building the budget for the production and gaining intellectual property rights.
Director
Film Director responsibilities include reading and editing scripts, directing film crews and actors, and overseeing the production of the final film. Ultimately, you will work with Actors and other individuals on set to ensure the film matches your creative vision for the final production.
1. Storyboards
Essentially comic-style breakdowns of shot selections, storyboards are an integral part of visualizing your film before it’s shot.
Storyboards help both the director and the director of photography by laying out camera placement and movement, actor movement (blocking), and light position and placement.
A great tool for creating storyboards is the program, Storyboarder. Storyboarder is free and open-source and allows you to quickly and cleanly draw boards for your film. It has space for dialogue and shot type as well.
Even better, the software works in tandem with Photoshop, allowing you to fine-tune in PS and see your edits appear in Storyboarder. And the cherry on top: you can export your boards to PDF, Premiere Pro, FCP, AVID, or GIF.
If drawing the old-fashioned way puts you off, check out the app Celtx Shots. It’s free for iOS and syncs directly with your screenplay if you used Celtx to write it. Celtx Shots lets you create multi-shot storyboards with a library of stock photos, or you can import your own drawings and work on them directly.
You can also use it to block camera and lighting within your boards, and the app boasts a feature allowing you to view your storyboards as animatics.
2. Shot List
Similar to, but not the same as storyboards, a shot list is a simple list of the shots you need to cover for each scene before you can move on.
Generally prepared by the cinematographer, a shot list works in tandem with storyboards and helps you keep a handy checklist of the shots completed and those still needed.
In the long hours on set, it’s easy to lose track of that one insert shot you left for last, or that quick reaction shot that requires its own camera setup. Shots like that are simple to miss, but big problems when you get to the edit and realize you never got them.
A shot list will keep you on track to get all the coverage necessary for each scene of your film.
3. Director’s Viewfinder
This is that funky-looking lens contraption you see all the big-shot directors squinting through like pirates looking for ships to plunder.
A director’s viewfinder like the Cavision VFTW-11X pictured above lets you frame a shot with different focal lengths and aspect ratios. This is very useful for framing a shot without having to shift the entire camera setup just to see how the shot would look.
All you have to do is align the settings to match that of your camera, and you’ll get a fairly accurate representation through the lens of your viewfinder of what the framing of a shot would look like through your camera. This is very useful for planning your future shots.
Here’s the rub. Viewfinders can be quite pricey. Luckily, there is one that requires no money down from you.
Magic Viewfinder is an app available for free on both iOS and Android devices. The app uses your smartphone camera and lets you make focal length and aspect ratio adjustments as needed.
The only downside is that Magic has released a separate app for each camera brand it emulates. So, you’ll have to download the correct version to most closely mimic the camera and sensor you’re using.
Currently, Magic Viewfinder has apps for Sony, Canon, RED, Blackmagic, Lumix, Arri, and Nikon. Whatever you’re shooting on, they’ve most likely got it.
4. DSLR
While it’s understandable that you may not have the time on set, a DSLR is a good idea for rehearsals and photographing the set itself for continuity’s sake.
If you have the opportunity to rehearse before shooting, and, even better, to rehearse in your location, then it’s beneficial to film your rehearsals. You can use these clips as a reminder regarding actor blocking and emotional beats once you get to set.
The other use for DSLRs is for photographing the set. As an indie film director, you’re most likely not going to have a script supervisor, so photographing the set before shooting takes can assist with catching continuity errors and making sure everything looks as it should from take to take.
Also, using your DSLR during different camera setups can be a useful endeavor for monitoring how things like eye line play from shot to shot. Take a photo from Camera Setup A, then take on from the position you’re thinking for B and see how the eye lines and framing play from one to the other, all without having to move your main camera.
If you’re looking for a budget-friendly DSLR, you can also use for video, we recommend that you read our guide Best inexpensive entry-level video cameras.
5. Monitor
As the director, you need to see how your scenes are turning out. This doesn’t mean watching your scene unfold in-person like a stage play, nor does it mean bulldozing your cinematographer’s personal space to see the tiny camera monitor like a nightclub crowding random girls at the bar.
Be professional and get yourself a monitor.
With a monitor hooked directly up to the camera, you can find yourself a comfortable place out of the way, and, best of all, you’ll be seeing what the camera sees, the way it will eventually be viewed by your audience. What better way to judge how your shots are turning out?
Some monitors such as the Atomos Sumo 19″ even have the option to load pre-set LUTs, which you overlay on the footage to give you an approximate look, furthering the representationalism of your monitor as a movie screen.
If you can, rent a wireless monitor and a broadcast pack, hook it up to the camera, and then you can literally set Video Village up anywhere you like without worrying about pesky cords and tripping anybody up.
If not, then any relatively modern computer monitor will do, as most cameras have HDMI ports nowadays and can be hooked in directly. The only constraint here is the length and awkwardness of the cord as you move camera setups.
6. Light Meter
This one might cause some debate. Light meters measure the intensity of light on a subject in a measurement called footcandles.
While these are generally used by the director of photography or the gaffer to figure out how high or low to set the camera f-stop in order to achieve good exposure, as director, it’s a good idea to have one on you as well.
Though it’s never good to be an over-the-shoulder cameraman, constantly checking your director of photography’s work like an overbearing teacher, having your own light meter on set can be beneficial.
It may help you discuss lighting and camera options with your DP and assist in staying more informed about necessary camera changes and why they’re happening.
Why is the DP taking time to stop down and shift the light a little off your actor’s face? You check the light meter reading and find it coming in a bit hot. You’ve answered your own question and haven’t slowed down anyone else with it.
It’s always good to be as informed as possible, and your crew will appreciate your understanding of their process and their work.
Light meters come in all shapes and sizes as well as price ranges. A good option is the Sekonic LiteMaster Pro L-478D-U Light Meter, which offers a lot of great features.
There are also some free alternatives in the form of apps like Light Meter for iOS.
Light Meter the app uses your iPhone camera to measure light intensity and provides you with the best shutter speed, aperture, and ISO settings for a correctly exposed shot. While arguably not as accurate as a real meter, it works for an approximate reading.
7. Annotated Script
This one should be a no-brainer. What’s a director without a script to work from, and, one step further, what’s a director with no notes on their script to help them work?
As a director, you should have pored over your script multiple times before the shoot—in discussions with the screenwriter (unless that’s you, too), in rehearsal with the actors, at the desk of your day job, etc.
Storytelling through filmmaking affords us the opportunity for emotional, surprising, and in-depth beats within a story. Marking these moments in the script ensures that you will remember to reveal them while shooting.
Annotating is also a great way to cement collaboration. Your actors improvised a great character action during a specific line of dialogue in rehearsals? Mark it down in the script to bring back during the shooting. You just realized a whip pan would be a great accent to a character realization? Mark it down so you can tell your DP.
You just realized a whip pan would be a great accent to a character realization? Mark it down so you can tell your DP.
Script notes serve as inspiration, reminders, and informed digging into the subtextual meanings of the scenes in your script. All of these are necessary to you as director, so scribble away.
1. ADR (Automated Dialogue Replacement): Automated dialogue replacement (ADR) is the post-production re-recording of an actor’s dialogue. Whether it’s a plane flying overhead, misread dialogue, or voice-over narration and dubbing, ADR gives you a second chance to get your production audio right.
2. Aerial shot: An aerial shot is shot from even higher than a bird’s eye view which is usually captured with a helicopter or drone. It shows miles of scenery or cityscape from above, and while the subject may not be not visible, it communicates to the audience that they’re somewhere within that world.
3. Aspect ratio: An aspect ratio describes the width and height of a screen or image. An aspect ratio consists of two numbers separated by a colon, the first number denoting the image’s width and the second its height. For example, an aspect ratio of 1.33:1 means the image’s width is 1.33 times the size of its height. To eliminate decimals in this ratio, you can write it as 4:3 instead.
4. Assistant director: The first assistant director is directly in charge of overseeing all department heads in a film production and ensuring that the entire cast and crew is working on schedule. From pre-production through post-production, the first AD plans both the daily schedule and long-term production timeline while also serving as a liaison between the director and the rest of the cast and crew.
5. Best boy: A best boy is a crew member who serves as the chief assistant to either a gaffer or key grip. When the best boy works with the gaffer (the head electrician and chief lighting technician), they are the best boy electric. When they’re second to a key grip (head of the grip crew), they are the best boy grip.
6. Bird’s eye view: A bird’s eye view shot from high in the sky looking down on a subject and/or their surroundings. Also called an overhead shot.
7. Bridging shot: A bridging shot is a shot that indicates the passage of time between two scenes, like a montage of seasons or newspaper headlines changing.
8. Call sheet: A call sheet is a daily filming schedule created by the assistant director on a show or movie. Based on the director’s shot list, a call sheet contains important details of a production like the location, the cast call times (what time to arrive for work), and the shooting schedule. The document is distributed to all cast and crew before each new day on set so they know when to be on set and where to go.
9. Camera angle: A camera angle is the position at which the camera is pointed at the subject in a shot. You can film from wide angles, low angles, high angles, or eye level.
10. Camera movement: Camera movement refers to how you move the camera in a scene, which shapes the audience’s perception of the action, controls how the narrative unfolds and influences the film’s stylistic tone. Some examples of different kinds of camera movements are aerial shots, dolly shots, and pan shots.
11. Camera operator: The cameraman, or camera operator, is responsible for setting up the camera equipment, as well as framing and capturing footage. They know which types of cameras, lenses, and gear will achieve the director’s vision. They collaborate with other film crew departments to establish all of the scene elements to execute the director’s orders. They work with the first assistant camera to pull focus and make sure the shot stays clear.
12. Camera shot: A camera shot is how much space the audience sees in a particular frame. Cinematographers choose specific camera shots to portray things about a character, setting, or theme to the audience.
13. Cinematographer: A cinematographer, also known as a director of photography (often shortened to DP or DoP), is the person responsible for creating the cinematic look of a film. A cinematographer works with the camera and lighting crew to make sure that the camera is capturing the action in the way that the director intends.
14. Cinematography: Cinematography is the art of photography and visual storytelling in a motion picture or television show. Cinematography comprises all on-screen visual elements, including lighting, framing, composition, camera motion, camera angles, film selection, lens choices, depth of field, zoom, focus, color, exposure, and filtration.
15. Close-up: A close-up shot is a type of camera shot size in film and television that adds emotion to a scene. It tightly frames an actor’s face, making their reaction the main focus in the frame.
He/She is able to meet tight deadlines, coordinate with the production cast and crew to plan studio operations. He/She may be expected to travel to various production locations. He/She should be proficient in organising and communicating to manage multiple issues during production, and stakeholders from various teams.Even though they may not appear in front of the camera, the director is one of the most important people on a film set. They do more than shout “action” and “cut” behind the scenes—they’re the person who determines the creative vision and makes all of the film’s biggest decisions.The importance of directing are as follows: Directing Initiates action: Directing sets an organisation into motion, and helps other managerial functions to initiate and activate. It helps the managers to supervise, communicate, lead, guide and motivate the subordinates to achieve the organisational goals.The most important role of a film director during the production phase is directing the actors and the camera to get the right angles, shots, and results.
Camera Operator
Camera operators are employed by television and cable companies, film production companies and video production houses. They are responsible for operating a variety of technical equipment including single and multiple portable cameras, remote-control and electronic cameras, cranes and mobile mountings. Other responsibilities include:
assembling and setting up equipment
planning, preparing and rehearsing scenes
following camera scripts
creatively framing and capturing action
responding quickly to directions
liaising with lighting and technical staff.
1. Video Camera
Let’s start with the most obvious piece of equipment that a cinematographer needs: a camera. Which type of camera you purchase depends on what kind of projects you are looking to shoot (documentary, action, etc.) and where you intend to display your work. For example, online-only tasks have different camera needs than television news. Nowadays, you also have the option to shoot on a smartphone. Oscar-nominated filmmaker and cinematographer Sean Baker shot one of his most acclaimed films, “Tangerine,” entirely on an iPhone (with help from downloaded apps) and many more upstart creatives have followed his lead.
Cost of a video camera
The range of camera costs is the widest on this list; you can get a used iPhone for $100 or less, while the cameras used on big-budget film sets can cost tens of thousands of dollars. There are, however, many options in between; you can find sophisticated models for around $2,000.
2. Lenses
If you’re just getting started as a cinematographer, you don’t need a ton of lenses, which are the “eye” through which your footage is captured. But having a couple of lenses at your disposal allows you to capture very different shots depending on what you’re filming. Beginners should have wide-angle, zoom, and macro lenses on hand.
Cost of lenses
You can pay a lot or a little for various lenses, depending on how high-end you want to go. Basic non-zoom lenses start at around $30.
3. Sound Equipment
Recording quality sound is just as important as capturing images—it may even be more important. High-level film sets have a separate audio department and boom operator. But during the self-starting phase of your DP career, you’ll frequently need to capture sound yourself—and you’ll need equipment to do so. The most cost-effective and simple-to-use microphones are lavalier mics, which adhere to the clothing of the subjects you’re shooting. There are also portable recorders, which can be placed directly on the set.
Cost of sound equipment
Decent lavalier microphones start at $30; portable recorders start at around $100.
4. Tripod
Depending on the kind of film you’re making, you may not need to rely too heavily on a tripod, which is a three-legged stand that stabilizes the camera. However, because almost every project has at least one shot or instance in which you’ll need a static camera position, a tripod is an essential piece of gear. You can either get a basic tripod, which does not move, or a “fluid head” tripod, which allows you to swivel the camera around.
Cost of a tripod
Quality tripods for video cameras start at $125.
5. Gimbal
A gimbal serves a similar purpose to a tripod in that it stabilizes the camera. The difference is that you as the DP can fasten the gimbal to your own body, allowing the camera to move with you (as such, gimbals are ideal for shooting action). The gimbal counters natural human movements, creating a smooth shot even as the cinematographer is in motion.
Cost of a gimbal
Basic gimbals start at around $200.
6. Lighting
On a studio or even an indie film set with a bit of a crew budget, there will be someone whose job is lights and lighting. But you want to be a one-person cinematography machine, right? So you’ll need some basic lighting equipment. Many filmmakers nowadays use LED lights, which are cooler—temperature-wise, though they are also hip—than traditional halogen lights. They are also the greener option as they run on batteries, whereas halogen lights need to be plugged into a power source. The bigger the panel you’re using, the softer the light will be.
Cost of lighting
The most inexpensive multipurpose LED panels start at around $250, though if it is within your budget, you should plan to spend about twice as much for a more enduring option.
7. Reflectors
Reflectors go hand-in-hand with lighting, and, often, one can be used in lieu of the other. Still, you should want to have both on hand—especially if you are shooting outdoors. Reflectors use three different methods to manipulate natural light to serve whatever purpose you need: they diffuse (reduce and/or soften light), they fill (eliminate unwanted shadows), and they flag (block out the light that’s coming in to enhance shadows for effect). Each of these feats is achieved using one of five colored variations of the reflector; luckily, you can get a single reflector that performs all of these functions in one.
Cost of reflectors
Five-in-one reflectors (meaning a reflector that has five colors: gold, white, silver, black, and translucent) start at about $13.
8. Computer
Video editing is an art all its own, but as a cinematographer trying to make inroads in the industry, being able to upload and edit your footage—in a basic fashion, at least—will go a long way. You will need a computer to organize your footage, but which computer is best for filmmakers is a hotly debated subject. While you can edit on Macs, PCs, and most tablets, the commonly held belief is that Macs are more user-friendly when it comes to filmmaking. PCs, however, are less expensive.
Cost of a computer
You can get a used Mac for as low as $300, and new ones can run up to several thousands of dollars. Used PCs can be found for under $200.
9. Editing Software
Along with your computer, you’ll need some form of editing software to—you guessed it!—edit your footage. There are free programs available depending on which computer you’re using; Macs come with iMovie, for example. But there are great, reasonably priced options, too, including Final Cut Pro and Adobe Premiere Pro. Of course, which software you use will depend on your working style and which computer model you have.
Cost of editing software
Some software is a one-time purchase, while others are subscription-based with ongoing payments. You can buy Final Cut Pro for a one-time cost of $299, including updates. Meanwhile, you’ll pay for Adobe Premiere Pro via a monthly subscription, which starts at $20.99 per month.
10. Storage
Video footage takes up a whole lot of digital space, and you’re definitely going to need an external location to store it. Cloud storage is an option, but it can be very costly when storing large files, so an external drive is the more cost-effective option. You’re going to want to have at least two external hard drives: a primary storage source and a backup. There are tons of basic options available; the WD My Passport external hard drive is a favorite among filmmakers and can store up to 5 terabytes.
Cost of storage
A 5T WD My Passport runs for $109.
11. Camera Bag
Finally, you’ll want a durable camera bag to ensure your equipment doesn’t get damaged—particularly when you’re traveling to and from your shooting locations. Needless to say, buy your camera first and then figure out which bag is the best fit.
Cost of a camera bag
No-frills video camera bags—those with compartments for lenses as well as other material storage—start at around $60.
They are responsible for operating a variety of technical equipment including single and multiple portable cameras, remote-control and electronic cameras, cranes and mobile mountings. Other responsibilities include: assembling and setting up equipment. planning, preparing and rehearsing scenes.
Camera terms aren’t just jargon for one exclusive department to throw around like code as they shout at each other across the set. Everyone working on the film should be privy to them and use them day-to-day in order to get things done efficiently. Here are 20 camera terms that every crew member should know:
AKS – Abbreviation for accessories. Often labeled on the boxes of camera equipment.
Camera Left/Camera Right – The direction of left and right in relation to the direction the camera is facing. Usually opposite the subject’s left and right.
Check The Gate – Called out after a take that the Director is satisfied with, for the 1st AC to check the internal part of the film camera called the gate. They check for any signs that may cause the film to be unusable in that previous take. Nowadays, as we use digital media rather than film stock, some people use the term ‘check the chip’ as there is no film gate but a camera hard drive. The 1st AC may playback the last take on the camera to ensure there were no technical faults.
Cowboys – A shot that is framed just above the knees of the subject.
Crossing – Called out as you walk in front of the lens if the camera operator is lining up the shot. Courteous to let them know you will block their shot momentarily but are passing through.
Cutaway – A shot of something that isn’t directly related to the action sequence. E.g. A cutaway shot of a clock, as a student rushes down a hallway late to class.
Dirty – Something is in the foreground of the shot. E.g. An actor’s shoulder or some set dressing.
Eyeline – Where an actor looks relative to the camera. This may be adjusted on different camera setups to ensure the shots can be cut together smoothly.
First Position (Ones) – The place where an actor starts in the scene. They may then have a move to a second position and so on.
Jam – To sync something, usually the camera to the sound time code.
Marks – Colored tape, sausage-shaped bags, or t-markers put on the ground to help the performers know where to stand. It can also be used as focus marks or dolly marks to help the camera and grip team through their camera moves.
Master – A camera setup that runs the entire scene and keeps all characters in view. Often used as an establishing shot of the scene. Most directors will begin by shooting the master coverage of a scene and then move onto the closer coverage of singles, etc.
MOS (Mute On Sound or Mit Out Sound) – Rolling cameras without recording sound. MOS is written on the slate so those in post-production know there are no sound files to sync with the takes.
Off Screen – The actor is not in the camera frame but is still required to be on set for an eyeline or to deliver their dialogue for the other actors.
POV (Point of View) – A shot taken from the view of the subject. Normally what the actor is looking at but can be the POV of any item. E.g. An animal’s POV looking up at its owner.
Second Sticks – The first clap was missed so the 2nd AC does a second clap and calls “second sticks” so the post-production team can sync the sound and image effectively.
Singles – A close-up shot containing just one character.
Slate (Clapper Board) – The clapper board used by the 2nd AC’s to put an ID on each take so the editor can easily see what scene this shot is for and what take it is. It is also used to sync the sound between the camera takes and sound rushes during post-production.
Spraying – When spraying any aerosol such as hairspray or water around the camera, it’s considerate to call “spraying” so the camera department can either cover up the lens or turn the camera away from where you are so nothing goes on the lens.
Tail Slate/End Slate – The clapper board is added at the end of a take rather than at the beginning. The slate is turned upside down or 90 degrees to identify it is a tail slate.
There are a lot of roles on a film set. And, while they all might be important in their own right, none is perhaps more critical than the camera operator. You know, the person who actually handles the camera for every shot and scene.
Yes, there’s a director and a cinematographer, and often an entire camera team involved, but at the core of the role, you need someone with a specific set of skills to operate the camera for the cinematic results.
This podcast is hybrid which hosts Elric Kane and Brian Saur which focuses on specific directors like Quentin Tarantino and David Lynch. This podcast talks about a variety of genres and makes you know new movies stuff that you haven’t heard of or stuff that you have but they talk in depth about it. controversey is a good thing that is used within this podcast.
The rewatchables which is presented by Bill Simmons and Fellow podcaster Chris Ryan talks about the most iconic scenes from great movies which makes it interesting to know more movies which makes it stand out. This podcast has a lot of controversy takes you on a real long playlist of movies.
Target Audience
for Pure Cinema Podcasts it targets less audience because it focuses on limited topics for only 2 directors and not a lot of people will listen to it but for the rewatchables podcast it has more controversy so it will get more people to listen to it because it doesn’t speak about limited topics but rather it talks about the most iconic scenes from great movies that you can rewatch which make it stands out and more interesting.
Format
Both of the podcasts talk about movies and they are both hybrid because it`s two people which makes it this typep of format but when it comes to their ideas that they present it is so differently, for pure cinema podcast it’s talking about more the cinematography behind the certain directors but the rewatchables talks about more movies and different genres which gives you more stuff to think about more suff to add to your watchlist.
Style
The style used for these two podcasts is informal because that`s how they want to present it to people which is gonna make it more comfortable for the audience.
50 percent of people who listen to the rewatchables listen to pure cinema podcasts because they are both about the same topic which is movies but the portrayal of ideas of different so in my opinion i think that there would be a higher percentage of people would be watching the rewatchables rather pure cinema podcasts for the reasons stated above.
This is the mic that I have used which records in to an SD card.
Scripting
The scripting was mostly depending on the finale of the series that the whole podcast is about so i waited for it to come out then i started writing my script which took me around half an hour to finish. The editing took me around a day and a half to get audio all done along with searching for the right music which summed it all up to my final finished podcast.
Task 3- Branding and distributing a podcast
I then added my logo into a tote bag.
Task 4 – Evaluation
the feedback was very positive it really hinted the good things i have in my podcast like for example the logo the sound was okay but I had a comment from my tutor which said I was speaking too fast which didn’t turn out the way i wanted to.
things i would have made better would be the duration because 3 minutes was too short so my target limit would be at least 10 minutes.
my podcast was mostly about a series finale so it was mostly about characters who were gonna die, possible spin-offs and if it was a suitable finale for a series that lasted 12 years. i think the main point was more of a tribute to the whole series and i had to make it special so i have added the theme song of the opening credits of the finale in the intro and the closing credits of the finale i used it on my outro.
The language was mid-way it wasn’t too informative and it wasn’t too laggy so It can meet a wider audience of adults and young people. the choice of the language was a bit difficult to choose because at the end it’s just a podcast but you have to know what language to communicate with the audience so they can like the podcast and interact with it.
the logo was the series first season poster which marks what along way this series came for 12 years and what a journey that started on the day of 31 October 2010. my overall opinion on my podcast is that it was perfect in all kinds of ways which made it even more special. If i used the series finale poster it would have been a cliche something that someone else would have already thought about.
The struggles I had with the podcast was the proposal getting all the planning written down into one paper which impacted my script because the plan i have done in my proposal i would stick to it in my script so my work won’t be seen messy.
the research part was very easy finding two interesting podcasts talking about movies and to comparing them together was good.
the audio formats was a bit hard to find a good quality piece of music for the intro and the outro which was the series finale intro for my intro and the final soundtrack that was at the end of the finale. I used the series finale intro music not the original theme song because i wanted to make it so different and make it stand out.
it was a really positive response from things that lacked in my advert, which I could improve on in future projects. The overall feeling about this feedback is really positive. it really details what I have missed out on this advert.
Task 1 research
the research part was a bit hard especially finding the music , at first I used avatar which was water themed like because the product was a water game but then I switched to San Andreas theme song which suited more it made more of a mood while me playing and song playing in the background which made it look perfect and also very satisfying but when it came to pick the logo and having a certain colourful background made it harder because i was looking for something that would really suit the advert and the editing process which came to an orange background and a colourful logo which is fish tales. the idea of me playing the game and that is the advert and no extra footages was intended for people to be encouraged to buy this game and make it entertaining. I had the brightness and the contrast to make it look presentable and to be in the highest quality for it to be seen. making the log fly into screen was intended to make the audience feel enthusiastic as well as the insanely addictive warning.
Task 2 pre-production and production
The main idea was to film in city park but due to filming difficulties which was because it was raining but we tried the best we could because we thought the rainy atmosphere would fit into the advert and make it more entertaining. my peers took about 2 hours shooting their footages and getting it together but mine took about half an hour to finish shooting, it took us a really long time to find the best location to film till we found the photography studio which had a really nice background on which decided to film in, we got rid of a lot of unnecessary footages for us to focus only on the footages that we needed for the advert then everything wrapped up and we gave back the cameras to the media department and it was a success by all means!
My overall feeling about this project is very satisfying and really entertaining, the purpose of this project is to get used to the cameras and filming for future projects and I guess its a really good start. The funniest parts of this project was when we were deleting unnecessary footages and we found real funny videos filmed without us knowing that camera was on and when we were out in the rain filming came a car full of trees which missed up the whole thing. the team work and the assistance was really nice and co-operative. I would actually like to give a rating for their finished adverts and yeah that’s it.
This advert is talking about a red velvet new flavour from OREO adding the quote ‘Looking for something to sweeten your life?’ Which captures the target audiences’ attention through that saying people will start buying the product. The idea of putting it in cups and adding with ice cream increases how delicious it is for the target audience which will make more people buy it. a good detail I have noticed as well as there is a section where the recipe is put in step by step which will show how safe and natural the product is.
This advert is talking about a burger deal that is going to be 50% off only for a certain amount of time which is going to capture viewer’s attention to get that deal before time is out. the poster grabs attention by the cheese melting on the burger which shows how delicious it is. I think the editing techniques used for this picture to come out like that was just to cut half of it and putting all the details about this special offer which made it so much better vision wise.
Demographics
With nearly four billion users worldwide, the power that social media sites hold in growing a business cannot be denied. Crafting an effective social media marketing plan requires understanding the finer details of its users. So aside from knowing what the most popular social media platforms are, it would also help to really know who those users are, starting with the age demographic of social media users.In the United States, social media usage is higher among users aged 18 to 29. But what about on a global level? Worldwide, what age group uses social media the most?
Technical Requrirements
Social media age demographics of users worldwide
According to recent research, global consumers aged 20 to 29 are the biggest users of social media—not entirely dissimilar to social media age demographics in the US. Those in this age group make up nearly one-third (32.2%) of all social media users worldwide. Of these users, the majority are male. They make up 18.1% of all social media users, compared to female users aged 20 to 29, which constitute 14.1%.
Users aged 30 to 39 form the second-largest group, with 22.2%. Like the younger age group, male users form the majority. Of all the social media users worldwide, 12.1% are males aged 30 to 39, while 10.1% are females from the same age group.
The data analyzing the social media age demographics of global users worldwide shows that the third-largest age group is 40 to 49. They account for 14.4% of the total number of active social media users worldwide.
This is followed by users aged 13 to 19, who make up 13.1%, and those aged 50 to 59, accounting for 9.8% of all social media users. The age group with the least number of active social media users is 60 and above. Just 8.4% of global users fall in this age group.
This social media age demographics research shows that in post-teenage years, the older the demographics, the less likely they are to be active on social media. According to experts, this may be because young adults tend to use social media as a go-to source of information. The older generation, on the other hand, is typically more skeptical and prefers to rely on traditional mediums like television for information.
Advertising and Marketing Basics
Under the law, claims in advertisements must be truthful, cannot be deceptive or unfair, and must be evidence-based. For some specialized products or services, additional rules may apply.
Children
If you advertise directly to children or market kid-related products to their parents, it’s important to comply with truth-in-advertising standards. (Questions about kids’ privacy? Check out the FTC’s resources about COPPA, the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act. The FTC also has a special page about food advertising to children and adolescents.)
Endorsements, Influencers, and Reviews
If you use endorsements in your marketing, do they meet the standards of the FTC Act and the FTC’s Guides Concerning Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising And what about social media influencers? If your business works with influencers or if you’re an influencer yourself, are you both taking necessary steps to clearly disclose material connections? Find out more by consulting FTC compliance materials. You’ll also find resources about consumer reviews, including information about complying with the Consumer Review Fairness Act.
Environmental Marketing
Companies are offering consumers an ever-growing assortment of “green” options. But whether your environmental claims are about the product or the packaging, you’ll need competent and reliable scientific evidence to support what you say. Find out more by consulting the FTC’s revised Green Guides. Have you spotted what you think might be a deceptive claim or practice? File a complaint.
Health Claims
Companies must support their advertising claims with solid proof. This is especially true for businesses that market food, over-the-counter drugs, dietary supplements, contact lenses, and other health-related products.
Made in USA
Do you promote your products as “Made in the USA”? Under the law, some products must disclose U.S. content. For others, manufacturers and marketers who choose to make claims about the amount of U.S. content need to know about the FTC’s Made in USA Labeling Rule and Enforcement Policy Statement on U.S. Origin Claims. Is your company up on what’s required?
Online Advertising and Marketing
The Internet connects marketers to customers across the country and around the world. If you advertise online, remember the rules and guidelines that protect consumers also help businesses by maintaining the credibility of the Internet as a marketing medium. In addition, truth-in-advertising standards apply if you sell computers, software, apps, or other products or services. (Questions about kids’ privacy online? Read about the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act.)
Telemarketing
The FTC’s Telemarketing Sales Rule helps protect consumers from fraudulent telemarketing calls and gives them certain protections under the National Do Not Call Registry. Companies also need to be familiar with rules banning most forms of robocalling. If you or someone working on your behalf is telemarketing products or services, know the dos and don’ts before you plan your strategy.
