Monday 15 July 2013

Thoughts!

I've again been thinking about ideas for my practical project. I think, due to the school audience and context as a piece of A2 coursework, I might stay further away from the slasher horror/gore filled short film. I'm unsure on whether or not it would work for two reasons.
  1. Can I realistically portray violence and gore on a pratical and academic level? Will the exam board allow me to and if I did, could I even pull it off?
  2. Can my actors be taken seriously?
I think point to is the most important, I only have access to 16-17 year olds at the oldest and I find that the audience of the piece, both the students I have to show it to and secondly the exam board, might not be able to take a sixteen year old seriously in the role.

I've been told by many people on the internet to "cast teenagers as teenagers". Don't make them out to be something that they're not. They're not 65 drug lords and their also not murdering psycopaths. I'm probably going to have to figure something else out.

As an abstract short film I want it to revolve around a theme, something that the visuals can represent and something the audience can understand and connect with. I believe that themes like isolation or happiness will suit it well. Although the film hasn't been released yet, I think that in Only God Forgives the director uses corridors to represent the character's inability to pursue their hopes, even though they can see it stretched out before them. That sort of thought is what I want to include in my short film! I will post sometime later this week with more solid ideas.

Monday 8 July 2013

Short Film Example


This is an example of a really successful short film with a very simple premise. I love the execution and think its a great piece of work.

Friday 5 July 2013

Short Film Ideas

I'm currently brainstorming ideas for my A2 short film. I've been thinking for a while for what to do, having written some ideas already for narratives that heavily feature dialogue, but I would rather do something more abstract. The short five minute format is best suited for abstract short films that are visually striking and force the audience to draw their own conclusions. I've tried writing a short film already for the practical, but I feel that the quality might be effected by the short length, whereas in an abstract short film I can focus on creating interest solely from the cinematography.

I recently watched Stanley Kubrik's A Clockwork Orange again and while brainstorming I feel slightly inspired by the visuals and the character from the film. I think I would like to make a psychological thriller/horror short featuring a character with an interest in violence. The cinematography would represent the narrative, which is a direct representation of the sinister complexity of his thoughts and brain. I obviously have to speak to my teacher about how far I'm allowed to actually go with it, but I think it would be great and interesting to be able to play around with lighting and editing to create a horrifying yet interesting short.

I also want to take inspiration from the directing style of Nicolas Winding Refn. He is my favourite director and creates some of the most visually impressive films I've seen, Drive is my personal favourite. His use of high contrast and saturation, as well as lighting, always produces a beautiful product. I think I want to try and replicate his style of cinematography in a homage way, not a copying way.


Drive, directed by Nicolas Winding Refn