MDA1400 - Film Language & Production 2

In our workshop lesson we was introduced to our new module, entitled: MDA1400 - Film language & production 2. Personally i think it was one of the best lessons i've been to since i started uni. My reason for thinking that, is because we learned about the different kind of films there are. By saying different kind, i don't mean the genres, i mean type. Such as:

• Commercials
• Corporate 
• Documentary
• Music Videos

I was glad to finally be informed of all the other opportunities out there in the industry, instead of everyone's ambition to be on the same thing, which is most probably Hollywood. This lesson has surely motivated me alot and can't wait to get ideas and put them on the screen.

Also, we got our first assignment for this module, and it is to create a 1 minute video, about our interpretation of the word 'space' and what it means to us. Sounds pretty challenging as the topic requires alot of thought, but i think whatever my partner and i produce, will be great. This module is going to be in groups of two, instead of a larger group like the previous module. This will be a bit harder but, it's preparing us for the real world and we will learn alot about the different roles and responsibilities in film. 

MDA1300 - Three Point Lighting

In one of our earlier workshop lessons, we was introduced to lighting. Lighting is an essential part of movie making as it not only to light the set, but to also add a certain effect to match the genre of the movie. For example in a horror movie, lighting will be used to darken images, and create shadows and much more, this builds up suspense and all you have to do is adjust a couple lights.


This image shows the basic 3 point lighting set up. By looking at the image alone you can kind of get a basic understanding of how and why these 3 lights are in the position they are, and what they are used for. 


The key light, is what lights your subject, or the action happening in the scene, to not just make it visible but to also stand out a point of interest. This light, alongside the fill light, creates depth, and gives the audience a well lit, and clear shot of whatever is happening on screen. The back light makes the actor/point of action stand out from the background, to make it clear what should be visual to the audience first. It also in some way blocks out any shadows which may be unwanted. 


The key & fill light are big lights which have an adjustable light control, which is beneficial as the person on lights, when on a gig, can increase or decrease the amount of light, to get a perfect image on camera in the different surroundings they may be in. Both of these are white light, where as the back light is a sort of orange light which cannot be dimmed. This can cause a bit of a problem, because if the lights are not positioned and set right, you could have a shot that looks too white, or too orange.  

MDA1300 - Short Film Project

Our last assignment for MDA1300 was to make a short film no more than 5 minutes, my group and i did so, and personally, i think it was a great success. We managed to do all of the filming over 2 day, editing it took a bit longer. Our story was basically about a young girl, who was kidnapped from her country, and brought to the U.K to work as a slave for a wealthy family. A neighbor notices the young girl always doing housework for the family and never goes to school or socializes, so she begins to investigate and find out her story. In doing so, the young girl told her everything, and the neighbor said she will get help, and by the time the help arrives, the young girl commits suicide. Sad i know, but this makes our film more serious and emotional towards everyone really, as the point of our movie is to raise awareness about child slavery in the U.K, and that it needs to be brought to a stop.

My role on this project was the camera man, i have been the camera man on previous projects aswell but i feel this one went much better than the others. Reason being i think of myself to be more experienced and motivated to produce good work. I had a great team and everyone put in all their effort and made the film shoots exciting and straight forward. We used actors we found off a website which advertises actors that are looking for work in short films, to give them experience and to go in their port folio. These actors made our film superb, as their acting skills were really good and they helped portray the genre of the film really well.

This project could not of gone any better, it has brought me and the team together and deepened our relationship. We have all walked away with new experiences, and inspiration to continue making masterpieces.

P.S - The editing is going through some final stages, so once completed, i will have the finished film, on a post on my page very soon.

MDA1800 - Macbeth Retelling

Mac Williams was an employee at a well known law firm in the city of London. After coming out of a meeting, him and his executive assistant, (also close friend, Benny Quill) recieved an e-mail from what seemed to be a defendant in need of legal aid, asking the pair to meet with him so they may discuss the details of his court case. Mac and Benny arrive at the coffee shop they'd agreed to meet at, and they saw a man standing up waving them over. The man had a suspicious look about him, and he was also accompanied by 2 other gentlemen, that instantly gave Mac the impression this meeting wasnt what he had been led to believe.

Mac and Benny sit down and introduce themselves to the three gormless looking men, where they were then silenced by one of the three mens rude hand gesture. The man sitting in the middle began to talk about how he has forseen Mac being promoted in his line of work, and then becoming leader of the law firm. Also that his close companion Benny, would also move up in the line of business. The man told Mac that to make these events take action, he must kill the current leader of the law firm, instantly, that struck Mac with many thoughts. Being that the current leader is old and in Mac's eyes is useless, so killing him would mean no great deal. The three men, then get up and leave, nothing but confused eyes on Mac and Benny's faces.

They then depart and Mac goes home. When he walks through the front door, he gets a earfull from his unsatisfied, and purposly annoying wife. The reason for this is because she wants to have kids, and Mac told her from the first time she asked that he wants to wait until he's at a comfortable position in his job before he plans to have new borns. He tells her about the strange meeting and what the three men had said to him. She then tells him to go through with it and murder his boss so then he can achieve more and set things right at home. She demmands he does it instantly as it's better than doing it early, than waiting till the boss dies from natural causes.

Later that night, Mac comes home, looking frieghtened and full of anger. He told his wife what he had done and how he done it. He had suffocated the old man and then cleaned the scene to leave no trace of his own pressence. Within a matter of days, the man's predication came true and Mac had gotten a call informing him of his promotion, but also recieved bad news about the death of his close friend Benny, he had unfortuneatly been able to overcome a heart attack. Mac then starts seeing ghosts, so straight away he e-mails the man from the coffee shop and demands to talk to him again.

The man told him that he must beware, fellow co-worker Morris, the one man who had objections regarding Macs promotion. Also the man told him that he cannot be harmed by any man born to woman, that made Mac feel relieved and superior. Mac had heard a rumour in the office that Morris had moved away to USA, he had remembered what the man told him so he had Morris's wife and child assasinated by a trained hitman. Morris heard the news and swears vengence on Mac, knowing he had a hand in this from all the hate messages regarding his objection to Macs promotion. Marlon, (Macs bosses son) had heard this news and had arranged to meet with Morris and for them to kill Mac and his wife.

Mac phones his wife and tells her the news, instructs her to lock the doors and stay inside, and that he will be home shortly. By the time he reaches home, he finds his wifes dead body and a bottle of prescription pills. It seemed she could not cope with all the death and death to come. Mac then is struck with sadness and heartbreak. Then, the front door bursts into pieces, followed by Morris and Marlon, they approach Mac, and with no talking at all, Morris shoots him in the head. Marlon is then given leadership over his fathers law firm.

Fin