Project – jzhang065

F4D Project 3: Genre and Narrative – the Net

the NET

Video link

the NET – YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=txn1LCQfSGk

Done by: Natasya, Jane

Concept

Storyline

The story is about a girl who is unwanted by her father and stepmother, got comfort from a online stranger. She decided to meet the stranger, but kidnapped by the stanger, then she struggled and tried to get out of the place.

Inspiration

Our film is based on “Hansel and Gretel “. Hansel and Gretel is about two young brother and sister kidnapped by a witch living deep in the forest in a house constructed of cake and confectionery. The two children save their lives by outwitting her.

We try to add a modern twist to the fairy tale.

Firstly, we designs a online hoax instead of a candy hoax based on modern background.

Archetypal Character

Secondly, we try to combine two characters Hansel and Gretel’s personalality into one character. In original story, Gretel is cowardly while Hansel is brave. In our new story, we design Gretel to be cowardly at first, but with the development of the story, the character growth to be a brave person.

However, we still try to keep the concept of the original fairy tale.

Dramatic Structure

Dramatic structure	Hansel and Gretel	MMMMMMMMMMMMMthe Net
1.Exposition	The stepmother and father decide to abandon the kids in the woods.	Gretel’s first phone call, her father doesn’t allowed her to go back home.
2. Inciting Incident	The stepmother and father abandon the children again. Hansel and Gretel failed to find home.	Gtetel’s second phone call. Her father doesn’t want to visit her.
3. Rising Action	3.Hansel and Gretel discover a in a house constructed of cake and confectionery. Hungry and tired, the children begin to eat the rooftop of the candy, the children enter the house which belongs to a witch.	The online stranger comforts Gretel online, they decide to meet.
4. Climax	The witch locks Hansel in a cage, and forces Gretel into becoming a slave.	The online stranger kidnaps Gretel.
5.Resolution	Gretel kills the witch then frees Hansel from the cage	Gretel struggles then gets free from the rope, found her weapon and be prepared to againsts the stranger.

Storyboard

Challenges

Shot Compositions

For shoting, it is hard to take different range of shots at the same time. So we shot our film in the order of long-rang shots, full figure shots, mid-range shots, close-up shots. Then combine them together during editing.

For lighting, we have a scene (which is the last scene) in a dark room. We turned of most of the light but just leave one light. But we soon realized that if the light is too dim, it will be difficult for us to shot, so we decide to shot in a normal light first, then change the color during editing later.

Editing Techniques

We have long-rang shots, full figure shots, mid-range shots, close-up shots in order, so what we need to do is to combine them.

For color correction, we set the color into black and white to represent the past, then set the normal color but with less saturation to represent the present. Initially we wanted to use white subtitle, but we realized that white is unclear expecially when some scene are black and white, so we change the subtitle into yellow.

For sound, in order to avoid noise, we delect the initial sound of dialogue during shotting, then re-record it in a quite place. Moreover, when there is a dialogue, we will lower the volume of background music, so that two sounds won’t mix together.

For background music, initially we used the horror music, but doesn’t really fit out film. Our finally background music is called “Heart cry”by Drehz, which is actually a song that usually used for contemporary dance. We choose this song because it has different layers, which gives the feeling of gradation when the story develops.

Drehz – Heart cry choreography by Tanya Hrestina Ukraine Nikolaev – YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oSvE86J6Vig

Research/Inspiration/References

We are also inspired by some trailer online.

Trust – Trailer – YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RlXj9VGHDaM

Hard Candy (2005) Official Trailer #1 – Patrick Wilson, Ellen Page Movie HD – YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hvx0m2SeOSk

Not only storyboard, we also prepare screenplay before film shot, so we can have a clearer idea about how should the actor and actress act during the shot.

the Net-Screenplay

Characters: Gretel, Wilson, Gretel’s father

INT.BEDROOM-AT NIGHT

Gretel stays alone in her room, she hesitates for a long time, but finally decides to make a phone call to her father.

GRETEL

(Anxiously)

Daddy, am I allowed to go home during holiday?

FATHER

I am afraid not, darling.

Gretel puts the phone down, keeps silence.

FADE OUT

INT.BEDROOM-AT NIGHT

Gretel frowns at the computer screen and types in front of the computer.

GRETEL

(Sadly)

People who I love gave me up, no one wants me, what’s the point for me to stay in this world?

Gretel bends over the desk and cries. She is surprise when she received a message

WILSON

Be optimistic. There is always someone need you in this world.

Gretel stares at the reply for a long time and smiles.

FADE OUT

INT.BEDROOM-AT NIGHT

Gretel takes the phone then put down the phone. Finally, she makes a phone call to her father.

GRETEL

(Carefully but hopefully)

Daddy, please, can you visit me during holiday?

FATHER

I am afraid not, darling.

Gretel signs

FADE OUT

INT.BEDROOM-AT NIGHT

Gretel stared at Wilson’s name on the computer screen for a long time. Finally she types.

GRETEL

I don’t know you, but I really want to meet you……Should we meet, Wilson?

She hesitates for a long time, but finally clicks: “Send.”

WILSON

Sure.

Gretel looks hapy.

FADE OUT

INT.SOFA AREA-AT NIGHT

GRETEL

(Crying)

My father doesn’t want me to go home, because my stepmother doesn’t like me, what should I do?

Gretel feels cold and hugs herself, Wilson takes out his jacket and passes it to Gretel. Gretel cries for a while then raises her head, Wilson passes a tissue to her.

WILSON

(Softly)

It’s okay, everything will be alright.

Gretel uses the tissue to wipe her tear, but stars coughing. Wilson passes aa cup of water to Gretel. Gretel drinks the water, then looks at Wilson.

GRETEL

(Dizzily)

Wilson, I feel sleepy.

WILSON

(Smiles and hugs Gretel)

Have a nap.

FADE OUT

INT.DARK ROOM-AT NIGHT

Gretel wakes up. Looks at the surrounding and feels scared. Lower her head. Remember her father’s saying. Slowly raises her head, looks determined ( Hansel part). She clams down. Find a tool, struggle then gets away from the ropes (takes a long time). She hears the sound of steps. She is scared again. She looks around and notices another tools under human skeleton, hestitates but plucks up the courage to picks up the tools. She hears the sound of steps. She stands besides the door, grabs the tool then slowly raises it with determination.

THE END

F4D project 2: A dream

My story is about how the character explored herself and became mature.

This story is inspired by my friends story. He is afraid of superpower and he hates it. So I wonder whether there are some reasons behind. He is the character setting for the girl, when the girl was at the second and the third stage of exploring herself.

By creating this story, I want to show the audience a problem that most of us will face in real life, that is: the difference between ideal world and reality. For the character in my story, she has superpower in her ideal world. But the reality is she never have superpower. The true color of superpower education centre break and drag her out of the ideal world, her saw the reality. At first she was confused, angry and embrassed. But later she got used to it. She hided her secret, she became those adult who doesn’t believed in superpower. However, her friend and hers conversation inspired her, she rephrase the word “superpower” as “talent”, so she find a way to be a girl with “superpower”. As the saying “Where hills bend, streams and the pathway seems to end. Past dark willows and flowers in bloom lies another village.”(山穷水尽疑无路，柳暗花明又一村).She explored herself in different stage and finally bacame a mature.

Here are several stage in the character’s life.

First stage: be in ideal world. Second stage: out of ideal world. Third stage: be in reality. Final stage: find a balance between ideal world and reality.

I believe that these are the stages that a lot of audience will or have experienced. My purpose is to spread positive energe to the audience. Whether you are confused in the second stage or upset in the third stage, there are always some way for you to move ahead.

Here are some technique I used in the story.

For color, I used color transition to show emotion. This is inspired by “DREAM World” by Hans Bacher.

When the color is bright, it implies that the character has positive attitude.

When the color is dim, it implies the negative mood of the character.

I also used balck and white to implies the flashback of the character.

For pacing, I use lesser photos for some not important part of the story but more photos for emotional and sruggle for the character.

Besides some close up on the character face to show her facial expression, I also used close up for the character clenched her fist to show her anxiety and tense. This is inspired by a Japanese movie” A Short Distance Relationship” by Naoto Kumazawa.

I also inspired from literature. For example, the symbolic image of light in the darkness symbolize the character’s hope. Three repetition of these images showed up in the three transition/turing point in the story.

Moreover, the symbolic image of window and door are inspired by a saying” Life closes a door on openning a window for you,” which encourages people to be optimistic. In my story, the window and door symbolizes different way the character faces the world.

Here are some part of the storyboard of my story before I stared photo taking.

Here are my 90 images.

Here is my narration script. The number in front is the slide number.

When I was young, I believed that I have superpower.
For example, sometimes before I open the door, the door just opened automatically. Although now I know that it is because of the wind.
My imagination world outside the window is much more interesting than the adult’s.
But no one understands me.
Until one day, I received a flyer from superpower education center.
I knew something had changed.
I found my light.
Although we did all the weird thing there, I thought that is my world.
However, something changed after a phone call.
Hello, mum.
My mum called me and asked me the reason for using so much money recently. She asked me whether I bought luxuries.
I started to recall all the things I did recently.
Then I realized my mistake.
I went to the center, but failed to get my money back.
My light was off.
I called my mum and explained to her. Even she forgot me, I couldn’t forget myself.
I never talk about superpower and my embarrassing memory anymore.
My world became the same color as adult’s.
Until one day, I visited my friend. My joke made her laugh. “ You really have superpower you know.” She said.
I was really nervous and anxious, all memory comes to my mind.
How much did she know about my past?
“You have superpower in telling jokes. It is a power because it makes people happy.” She said.
I realized that I was wrong. I focused too much on the window such that I forgot there is a door besides.
My light was on again.
A few days later, a stranger came to me and told me that I really have superpower. Is it a joke?
Then I realized that it was not a joke!
It was a dream! I mean, everything was a dream.

Continue reading “F4D project 2: A dream”

F4D project 1: picture story-curating self

Introduction:

We say that camerists are often behind the camera. Though we are not camerists yet, this time we are in front of the camera. I feel like the three tasks is not only about task, but a process for us to explore ourself. It is the process of self-realization and reflection. Make us to think about some questions that we might ingore in daily life, but really need to consider. I am really appreciate this chance to share.

Task 1: Me

In this task, I used to think about use items to represent me. For example, I can play instrument, so I may use instrument to represent me. However, I realized that those are part my experience, but not my all. Then I started to think about other aspect how do I gain my experience? In other words, how do I connect to this world? Since there is saying that “No man is an island, entire itself “John.Donn. I have the inspiration to use my 3 out of my 5 senses as a media to explain the relationship between this world and me.

I used close up in this series of photos because I want to give more details of my senses, to let the audience focus to my sences but not other things. Firstly, I used my eyes to look at this world, my eyes receive imformation then send it to my brain to analyze. This is how I observe this world and my first impression about this world. Secondly, I use my ears to listen to this world, that means how I listen to people, how I gain ideas and suggestions, and different opinions, this is my second impression about this world. Lastly, I use my mouth to speak, to share my ideas and talk to people, and this is how I communicate to this world.

Task 2: Object and representation of self

My object is a water bottle. It is important to me because my water bottle stay with me for many years. As a personal belonging, I will always bring it whenever and wherever I go, so it is like a watcher to watch me all the time. My most unforgettable experience was that I went for some marathons with it. Sometimes as volunteer, sometimes as participant. Only at that moments I realize that how important my water bottle is and I much I need it.

For the first and second photos, I used full figure shot to give a overview of my action of doing sports. For the last photo, I use medium shot, so that I can not only show my action, but show my facial expression, capture my emotion and feelings about the water bottle. I arranged my photos in chronological order as: before the sports, during the sports and after the sports. For this series of photos I try to show that how thirsty I felt after doing sports and I was eager to drink water and need my water bottle.

Task 3: My World

I would like to say that my school is the place that is significant to me. I woud say that I am a indecisive person. I had not even made up my mind to major in art untill high school. To be honest, I used to consider more about how to make a living than how to enjoy myself. Though I changed my mind later on because I do not want to regret when I become old. That’s why school is so important to me. Because choosing course is one of the hardest decision to make in my life, and where I stay now is the result of my decision.

I used long shot in this series of photo to give a overview view of the place. I chose to take series photos of different staircases in my school as a signifier to signify my journey in my life. The view of back walking on the staircase signifies the start of my journey, and the process of my journey, it signifies the process of my self-actualization and how I am going to achieve my dream. For photo 3 and photo 4 the direction of staircase is different, it signifies that in foundation year I am exploring different areas though I am going to choose a major next year. I arranged my photos in chronological order as outside the school building, inside the school building and outside the school building again. In order to signify the process of start of my study journey, in process of my study journey and the end of my study journey in school. The last photo is my figure walking out of school, it signifes that: one day we will graduate, leave our school and step into the society. My figure signifies how our school build me up and makes us different.

Overview of my 3 series of photos