Research 9: Short Film vs Feature Film

Overall, I want to start off with saying both films were amazing in their respective ways. For a young producer to be able to sell his idea to a large conglomerate like Universal is strikingly amazing, and from a film festival as well. The first film I wanted to talk about is the Short. To begin with the duration of the film was around 7minutes in length. It featured two protagonists, 9 and what we now know as 5. Additionally, the was a robot antagonist that was chasing the two of them, trying to harness what I believe to be their souls. The short did not include any dialogue between characters but rather fancied for a spooky and gloomy sound track accompanied by sharp sound effects. The overall plot structure had some depth, considering the short duration, but obviously left much to be desired by the audience. 

On the contrary, the feature film was much longer having a duration of about 1 hour and 15 minutes. With this extra time, there was obviously much more time to develop the characters of the protagonists and the antagonists. As such, from memory there was an additional 8-9 extra characters that served alongside the protagonist 9. Their names were also numbers: 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9, etc. Additionally, there was a new antagonist. This human brain like robot, was much large than the predator that appeared in the short. It served as the brain for a robot manufacturing plant. It had previously wiped the world of humans when robots took over. Additionally, unlike the short, this film actually had dialogue between characters. A relationship that stood out to me was between 9 and 5. Similar to the short, they stuck together throughout the course of the film, and ventured out together taking many risks along the way.  

Despite these differences, the films as they should had many common aspects. A prominent feature as stated previously was the relationship or bond between 9 and 5. In the short, 5 had sacrificed himself for 9, while in the feature 5 at first saved 9, and then they stuck together. Additionally, another common occurrence was the tones these movies portrayed. While in an animated form, they portrayed a dark and gloomy tone which left the audience excited to see what would happen next. A key aspect that assisted in this was the sound tracks. Both movies carried a low, yet gradually building track, that did not feature dialogue  but instead built suspense. Overall, as stated previously, the films were amazing in their own respective ways and I believe this is much my group can take away and use to enhance our own Final Task.

Research 9: Feature Film

Overall, the movie 9 was an amazing production considering the idea for the movie was chosen out of a film festival and not "professionally" planned out. However when compared to the short, the plot of the feature was not directly apparent. I was impressed with how Shane Acker expanded on the gloomy, animated film with no dialogue, into something that was an hour and 10 minutes long. He introduced multiple new characters that were friendly with the protagonist. Their names were all numbers, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 etc. In addition, a new antagonist was selected. Unlike the short, the "predator" was not the main antagonist. Instead, the antagonist was a robot, that acted similar to a human brain, that controlled a robot factory and was engineered by the same engineer who created 9.Throughout the plotline of the feature film, there was much more character development than the short. As stated prior, there was previously only 2 protagonists in the short. However, with the addition, of new characters the dynamics changed significantly. Despite this reality, the character that I saw the most development was 1. In the beginning of the feature, 1 appeared to be a smug leader, who ruled for the good of himself. It was made apparent that he was the one who directed 2 to "scout" which ultimately led to his demise. Contrastingly, towards the end of the feature, I found 1 to be slightly humbled by the situation at hand. He had lost his body guard 8, had his sanctuary burned down, and had many near death encounters. There was many characters that developed throughout the story, this was just the most prominent to me.

In addition to the new character development, I found the sound additions made to the feature greatly benefited the overall production. The feature made us of intense yet spooky sound tracks, loud and explosive sound effects, and real dialogue just to name a few. Additionally, the world simulated in the production appeared to have diegetic sound. This is a testimonial to the production quality of the film, as the animated world almost simulated an entirely real world of its own, which in itself it amazing.

Overall, this film was extremely action-filled and intense. The well developed plot line, in a relatively short duration for a production film really made the film worth while. While the film did not exactly convey the same emotions to me the short had, I thought the overall production was amazing. The ability for the producer to simulate a real world scenario in an animated film is certainty amazing. This film is definitely a testament to the power of producers, no matter how big or small, and their backgrounds.

Research 9: The Short Film

     
After watching the 7 minute sort film 9 it was very apparent to me the craftsmanship of the short and the depth the producer likely went into. However, with no previous knowledge of the film I was skeptical at first. The short does not include any opening sequence or background information, and instead jumps right into the film. The opening 20 second of the film appears to be the character 9, in an unknown world, alone by himself, matched with a much larger "predator" in this portion. This left portrayed tone of loneliness and gloom is very apparent through the authors choice of dark lighting, a mysterious sound track, and props such as the "baby doll" in the background. When the flashback transition took place, things began to look a lot more optimistic. Now 9 could be seen with another character, who appeared to be more "worn down" than him, which to me made it seem as if the character has likely been around longer. Despite this reality, this perceived friendship is short-lived and the audience learns the characters are being hunted by the "predator" in the opening sequence. The predators size and ominous tone, made it very well apparent that the outcome for 9 and his friend would likely not be ideal. And not my surprise, the 9's friend sacrifices  himself to give 9 enough time to escape the wrath of the predator. I was amazed by how well produced the mute and animated film portrayed emotion, as I was genuinely upset when 9's friend died. However, I was intrigued by how 9 was going to survive the ordeal, and as such, I kept watching.

    Eventually, the flashback appeared to end, and we were brought back to the ominous and lonely time that was previewed in the early stages of the short. It was not a surprise when green lights started blinking signaling the predators presence. The predator the last time had made quick work of his friend, and with his perceived youthfulness my hopes were not optimistic for 9. However, as the plot thickened a strategy seemed to arise. Slowly, 9 led the predator down the cave, which at first seemed like a restriction of options for the protagonist and would likely end in 9's demise. But then, a trap was played out, in which the predator actually attacked a decoy, and 9 jumped him from above. He managed to steal an additional green blinking light, but once again I was not optimistic as 9 had failed to due any "real damage" with trap. Eventually, 9 went down the cave far enough where he reached a ravine, with a plank like structure holding out over it. 9 was standing on the edge of this "plank" and it felt as if all hope was lost. But then, to my surprise, 9 had come prepared and once again pulled a trap on the predator in which the predator fell down the ravine and was further impaled by the plank structure.  At the end of the short, what appeared to be ghosts of all the previous victims of the predator, including 9's friend, appeared as green ghosts. It was very heart warming to know that 9 was now safe from the predator, and had some resemblance of his friend. Overall the production of the short was amazing, as it drove my emotions up and down like a roller-coaster, and I am excited to watch the feature film next. 

Genre Choice for Film

The three genres researched by our group were action, horror, and thriller. In our research for the action genre we found consistencies that greatly contribute to the aspects of action films that make them what they are. Some of these consistencies were appealing to us, such as the building of suspense, gradual building of sounds, jump-cut and action match editing techniques, and the common settings. However, the prolonged chase scenes, weapons and martial arts, and dangerous stunts are not among the characteristics we are looking for for our film. We are glad that we chose to research action films because, although our movie will not be within the genre, we will certainly take advantage of the different features we can adopt in order to enhance the quality of our final product. Following action, we chose to research the horror genre since our pitch sets the scene for a somewhat suspenseful and eerie film. Within our horror research we found the editing techniques to be the most helpful and appealing parts of the films. The use of cut away and eyeline matches to portray the message in the film will be beneficial to our movie. Yet, the genre fell short when we attempted to match it to our film due to the use of gruesome props and actions as well as the dark color scheme. When we researched the thriller genre we were automatically very attracted to its conventions. The fast pace, the emotional behavior of the characters, and the more chaotic/suspenseful filming style could all make significant contributions to the outcome of our film. In addition to these, the camera shots and angles that are usually consistent within the thriller genre will also be extremely favorable in our own filming process. There was very little overall that we did not like about thrillers. We are hoping our film will be able to deliver a very powerful message to our audience, 2020 has been quite the year and all of a sudden the notion of a virus that overtakes the world and changes the lives of so many is not so bizarre and actually quite imaginable. With the fast pace we will have acquired from thriller movies, we should be able to create a complete and well-developed storyline in our limited time frame. In our film we are also planning on there being a number of scenes that create a heightened sense of anxiety. Our pitch: “Friends go on a trip together and the world suddenly gets shut down by a virus. The virus is much more powerful than expected.” is already conveying intensity and creating the prospect of a high stress situation. One of our favorite things about our film, that also helped us to come up with the pitch, is our plan to include a plot twist at the end; the thriller genre only contributes to this inclusion and helps enhance its overall effect. As of right now we don’t think that our pitch will need to be tweaked, but there is still a lot to be determined as we move forward with the process. The thriller genre fits our current pitch almost perfectly and we are so excited to use it as a basis for our movie.

Genre Research - Horror

Horror films are designed to incite fear, panic, and shock while still being entertaining for the viewer. Movie producers use camera angles, camera movements, editing techniques, sound, and Mise-en-scene to create horror films. Horror films traditionally use high angles, close ups, tracking shots, low angles, and establishing shots to convey the message. For example, a tracking shot may be used to create the image that a character is being chased. Diegetic and non-diegetic sound is extremely important in horror films to help enhance the fear and shock. Diegetic sound in horror films may be the sound of a chainsaw, a character screaming, footsteps, or creaking doors. Non-Diegetic sounds may be creepy music as well as eerie sounds. Mise-en-scene is also a key part in the production of horror films. Typically, the setting is in a dark, maybe abandoned or isolated area. This creates mystery and suspense for the viewer. Props may be knives, axes, chainsaws, or some type of weapon. Makeup may include dark eyes and fake blood. Black, red, and brown are colors seen throughout these films. The victims in these films may be dressed casually, just like someone is society. The villains may be dressed in a way to create an image of a character that incites fear upon the audience. Common editing techniques used are cut away, jump cuts, fades, and eye-line match. The editing is highly important to create the scary and gruesome parts of the film. Three examples of horror films are Halloween, A Nightmare on Elm Street, and Night of the Living Dead. When researching horror films, we identified some elements that we liked but also many that we did not. For instance, we like the use of cut away and eyeline matches to portray the message, but we do not like the use of gruesome props and actions as well as the dark color scheme. Although the horror genre fits some elements of our film we will continue our research to find the genre that best fits for us.

Genre Research - Action

A movie enrolled in the action genre, also known as an "action adventure," is defined as, "a genre of film, TV, literature, etc., in which the primary feature is the constant slam-bang of fights, chases, explosions, and clever one-liners," according to literaryterms.net. Action adventures often follow a certain set of conventions or codes that producers either choose to follow or go against to convey the purpose of their film. These conventions include, but are not limited too, the camera angles and movements, the lighting, the editing techniques. and Mis-en-scene. To start off with, movies or productions in the action genre, that follow the conventions of the genre, typically use two-shots, tracking-shots, drone, shots, high angles, and finally close ups. As an example, tracking shots are typically used to convey a sense of high suspense, such as in a high speed car chase or an antagonist running from a protagonist. On the other hand, two-shots may be used to convey a sense of safety, as typically people are safer in groups. Another key aspect of the action genre is the mis-en-scene. Mis-en-scene by definition, "refers to what we see onscreen in a film. It’s the film’s visuals; meaning, all of the elements that appear on camera and their arrangement." This includes, the costumes, staging of the set, makeup, the actors, props, and locations. To kick it off, costumes in the action genre are typically used to convey the roles of an actor in the film. For instance, a cop may be dressed in their full uniform or a criminal may be dressed to blend in with the local area. In terms of lighting, action films are typically well lit accompanied by large bright flares such as explosions or flames in order to convey a "rebel" like character. Actor gender and racial profiles are typically not of significance, but in recent years we have seen increasing minority casts in large and significant roles, to protest social injustices. Furthermore, settings are usually in well populated areas to convey a sense of suspense as typically the antagonist is putting others in danger while the protagonist is in hot pursuit. Finally, props typically consist of weapons, such as handguns or knives and fast cars. Another important aspect of the Action genre is editing. Many post-production techniques, are used in action films, as if they were to happen in "real life" many actors in addition to the common public would be put at risk. As such green screen overlays, flashbacks, flashforwards, cross-cuttings, jump cuts, and actions matches are used to convey the purpose of the action genre. At last, action films make use of certain sound effects that convey or break suspense, for example gradual and slow building sounds that peak at the climax of an event or sharp sound effects. 

Generally speaking, the action genre makes use of multiple, smaller, aspects in the 4 aspects of general film. However, in terms of the overall plots common themes consist of continuous movements, quick plot developments, multiple stunts or dangerous tasks, battles or armed conflicts, martials arts or hand to hand combat, and prolonged chasing acts. A few examples of action films that have been produced include Spectre (2015), Skyfall (2012), The Incredibles (2004), Enter the Dragon (1973), and Kill Bill Vol. 1 (2003). 

In conclusion, after extensive research into the Action genre there are both elements that we do and do not like. For instance, the building of suspense, gradually building sounds, jump-cut and action match editing techniques, and common settings are all aspects we like, and believe would benefit the overall production of our film. However, there are certain aspects that we believe are not fitting to the overall theme of our movie. For example, the fast and continuous pacing, prolonged chase scenes, weapons and martial arts, and dangerous stunts. Overall, the action genre seems to be a relative fit for our movie, but is missing key aspects that are important to convey the purpose of our film. We believe we may need to go back to the drawing board and dive into the thriller and horror genre to make an appropriate decision.

Genre Research - Thriller

A movie in the thriller genre is often characterized as having immense conflict, tension, and unexpected twists. This genre is extremely intriguing to us because of its conventions. We are very interested in the prospect of creating a film that would have a very intense or powerful meaning. Common CAMS in this genre include close up shots, tilted angles, handheld shots, and high angle shots. These shots are key to a genre like this because it gives the audience a heightened sense of anxiety. For example, close up shots convey especially intense emotion and tilted angles make the scene appear more daunting and confusing. Common sounds in this genre may include footsteps, gun shots, car engines, or banging. Oftentimes, thrillers will include car revving or scared whispering to convey something stressful and that the characters are somewhere they are not supposed to be. Common mis-en-scene in this genre could be guns, clocks, and harsher lighting. There are often elements of “time running out”, or something that threatens the well-being of the characters, so the use of clocks, televisions, or guns would be appropriate. Common editing in this genre includes shot-reverse-shots, eyeline matches, cross cutting, and cut away shots. These shots provide very quick connections to be shown throughout the films. These elements of editing are very helpful to creating a thriller film. Including a split screen or cut away shots allow the audience to track a fast-paced storyline, which is very common in a thriller film. Example films in the thriller genre are “Get Out” and “Bird Box”. The common elements of thriller movies that we like are the fast pace, the emotional behavior of the characters, and the more chaotic/suspenseful filming style. Our idea directly coincides with these common elements. We would like to use shots and angles like the ones listed above to illustrate the high stakes that the characters are in. The elements of the genre that do not appeal to us as much are the very complex story lines because we do not have the ability to do that in such a short film. We must make our film concise enough to fit in a five-minute time frame, so we would like to implement the mood and feelings of a thriller movie, but not the complicated and long progression of the plot. We believe we can make our plot follow these conventions to illustrate our vision.

Genres We Would Like to Researh

In the previous blogs, our group came to the conclusion about our pitch decision. We decided we want to to pursue, "Friends go on a trip together and the world is suddenly shut down by a deadly virus. The virus is much more powerful than expected." However, a key aspect of the film we did not discuss amongst ourselves during this early planning period was the genre which we were going to center our film around. The selection of a genre is of uttermost performance as it will likely ease how the film's  purpose is conveyed to the audience. Additionally, genres have attached conventions, or codes, surrounding them, for example in the camera angles/shots, mis-en-scene, editing, and sound aspects respectively. With these "attached conventions" a director needs to choose whether or not they would like to follow or go against them. Overall, the selection of the genre is VERY important to our Final Task and such we need to make an appropriate decision. In more current deliberations we have decided upon the 3 following genres: action, horror, and thriller. Their loose definitions are as follows, cited from literaryterms.net:

Action Genre: A genre of film, TV, literature, etc., in which the primary feature is the constant slam-bang of fights, chases, explosions, and clever one-liners.

Horror Genre: is a genre of fiction whose purpose is to create feelings of fear, dread, repulsion, and terror in the audience—in other words, it develops an atmosphere of horror.

Thriller Genre: is a genre of literature, film, and television whose primary feature is that it induces strong feelings of excitement, anxiety, tension, suspense, fear, and other similar emotions in its readers or viewers—in other words, media that thrills the audience.

Despite this reality, to ultimately make a decision regarding the genre selection, much research is going to need to be done. As stated previously, the conventions entailed to these selected genres is going to have a large impact on our films overall meaning. This includes, but is not limited to, the camera angles/movements, the sounds, the editing, and the mis-en-scene. It is important we get this right. Appropriately, we are going to do our homework and determine how these genres' individual conventions either match or reject our overall idea for the movie. From there we will have to make some serious considerations and a judgement call.