The Actor playing the protagonist in the film 'Candi'
Name: Graham Hewitt
Character to be played: Cole Kelso
Age: 62
Height: 6ft 1
Weight: 13 stone 10 pounds
Hair Colour: Black
Eye Colour: Blue
Build: Skinny
Experience in acting: Amateur Dramatics and 3 Television Appearances.
Ethnicity: White English
Skin Colour: White
Hair Length: Medium/Short
Other Information: Has an interest in film, particularly Film Noir.
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Pre-Production - Shot List
After talking with chris who is going to operate the camera during filming, we decided to split some of the longer shots up into smaller more manageable ones, as it would have been too difficult to film. The shot list reflects the changes that have been made to the final plan post that was posted on this blog a few days ago.
Candi. Shot List
Candi. Shot List
Final Plan - Candi (opening scene)
Legend - [ ] = extra info
- { } = camera shot
- each colour = 1 continuous shot
Fade In
Typical dramatic noir music
Shots showing various newspaper clippings
Camera pans across & down, moving toward the door where Cole Kelso is stood
As the camera reaches his feet,
[credits begin] the production company logo will be shown on a shot with only his feet in frame
Kelso will begin to walk extremely slowly to his seat
Credits superimposed over the shot of his feet
[credits end]
Shot ends either at the front/back (to be decided) of Kelso, sitting in the seat at his desk.
{close up infront of kelso}Kelso looks distraught & anguished - puts his head in his hands, leant on the desk
{as above}Reaches for the radio, switches it on [voiceover begins] & returns to having his head in his hands
{as above camera moves toward the clippings}Newspaper clippings catch his eye, he looks down as the camera follows his sight
{camera moves back up to the original close up of kelso's face}Kelso stares blankly into the clippings
{camera moves back down to the clippings}before swiping them off the desk onto the floor.
{moves back to a close up from the front}With more anger, still anguished puts his head in his hands & runs his hands through his hair
{as above but camera moves over the desk, and back again as he slumps and gets up}Throws himself into the chair, slumping slightly, looks upward, closes his eyes and sighs deeply.
{as above, but with the typewriter in the bottom of the frame (may have to be a mid shot)looks toward the typewriter
{camera moves around the desk to show a reverse angle of the previous shot (over the shoulder) with the typewrite keys in the top of the frame, showing no paper)Leans slowly, back onto the desk, leaning his head on 1 hand, he seemingly randomly (& slowly) taps keys on the typewriter
{as above, shows only an over the shoulder of his head turning abruptly in reacton to the bang}O.S a loud bang is heard from the corridoor
{reverse shot (close up) follows his hand, then the glass when he puts it down} Kelso stands up, downs the glass of bourbon on the desk, winces, and places the empty glass of bourbon down in front of the typewriter. then continues to walk out of shot.[noise of footsteps possibly?]
{extreme close up}camera moves from the glass, up toward the writing on the paper in the typewriter revealing the word 'candi'}[voiceover ends]
{camera continues to move into the word on the paper}
fade to black
- { } = camera shot
- each colour = 1 continuous shot
Fade In
Typical dramatic noir music
Shots showing various newspaper clippings
Camera pans across & down, moving toward the door where Cole Kelso is stood
As the camera reaches his feet,
[credits begin] the production company logo will be shown on a shot with only his feet in frame
Kelso will begin to walk extremely slowly to his seat
Credits superimposed over the shot of his feet
[credits end]
Shot ends either at the front/back (to be decided) of Kelso, sitting in the seat at his desk.
{close up infront of kelso}Kelso looks distraught & anguished - puts his head in his hands, leant on the desk
{as above}Reaches for the radio, switches it on [voiceover begins] & returns to having his head in his hands
{as above camera moves toward the clippings}Newspaper clippings catch his eye, he looks down as the camera follows his sight
{camera moves back up to the original close up of kelso's face}Kelso stares blankly into the clippings
{camera moves back down to the clippings}before swiping them off the desk onto the floor.
{moves back to a close up from the front}With more anger, still anguished puts his head in his hands & runs his hands through his hair
{as above but camera moves over the desk, and back again as he slumps and gets up}Throws himself into the chair, slumping slightly, looks upward, closes his eyes and sighs deeply.
{as above, but with the typewriter in the bottom of the frame (may have to be a mid shot)looks toward the typewriter
{camera moves around the desk to show a reverse angle of the previous shot (over the shoulder) with the typewrite keys in the top of the frame, showing no paper)Leans slowly, back onto the desk, leaning his head on 1 hand, he seemingly randomly (& slowly) taps keys on the typewriter
{as above, shows only an over the shoulder of his head turning abruptly in reacton to the bang}O.S a loud bang is heard from the corridoor
{reverse shot (close up) follows his hand, then the glass when he puts it down} Kelso stands up, downs the glass of bourbon on the desk, winces, and places the empty glass of bourbon down in front of the typewriter. then continues to walk out of shot.[noise of footsteps possibly?]
{extreme close up}camera moves from the glass, up toward the writing on the paper in the typewriter revealing the word 'candi'}[voiceover ends]
{camera continues to move into the word on the paper}
fade to black
Pre-Production - Story Synopsis
Cole Kelso was once the top reporter in New York, he was regarded highly in the eyes of the general public, fellow reporters & almost everyone else in the city. None more than the New York Police Department however, who relied not on his reporting, but on his detective ability. Kelso would always be the first reporter to arrive at a crime scene. When he gathered information for his article in the New York Daily Tribune, he would also piece it together, solving the crime within a matter of days, at most. He would then provide the NYPD with the information, allowing them to prosecute the offenders, before Kelso published the article in the newspaper. His article would always receive rave reviews.
However, after falling for Candi - wife of notorious New York Mobster & Drug Importer John Bekowski, he was persuaded into doing 'favours' for Candi. This started off small, but eventually led him further & further into the criminal underworld of NYC, culminating with Kelso using his power over the NYPD and the citizens of New York, to write newspaper articles covering up crimes Bekowski & his mob had committed or framing them onto rival mobs.
Bekowski rose to power quickly. But the crime rate in NYC began to rise. Eventually, Kelso was caught out. The NYPD spotted a mistake in one of his articles, leading to an investigation into Kelso. Kelso was all over New York - labelled as a crook.
Bekowski was now the prime suspect of all of the previous cases Kelso had 'solved'. The police were now after him, but couldn't catch him. Bekowski was after Kelso, so were all the mobsters that had been wrongly imprisoned because of Kelso.
When Kelso realised he was never going to get Candi, and it was all a scheme to help Bekowski rise to power, he turned to alcohol & drugs. He became depressive, he had noone.
At the point of the opening scene, Kelso is at his lowest point.
The knock at the door is 2 of Bekowskis men, looking for him.
After the end of the opening scene he is forced into killing them, or they will kill him. This triggers a turning point in Kelso's life. As he kills the 2 men, the movie tracks back to when Kelso was at his prime. It then tells the story of his fall from grace, eventually ending up back at the point where he kills bekowskis men.
From here, the movie then shows Kelso as he begins his ascent to clear his name, clean up the city, get his life back on track & most of all, get the girl that caused all of this; Candi.
However, after falling for Candi - wife of notorious New York Mobster & Drug Importer John Bekowski, he was persuaded into doing 'favours' for Candi. This started off small, but eventually led him further & further into the criminal underworld of NYC, culminating with Kelso using his power over the NYPD and the citizens of New York, to write newspaper articles covering up crimes Bekowski & his mob had committed or framing them onto rival mobs.
Bekowski rose to power quickly. But the crime rate in NYC began to rise. Eventually, Kelso was caught out. The NYPD spotted a mistake in one of his articles, leading to an investigation into Kelso. Kelso was all over New York - labelled as a crook.
Bekowski was now the prime suspect of all of the previous cases Kelso had 'solved'. The police were now after him, but couldn't catch him. Bekowski was after Kelso, so were all the mobsters that had been wrongly imprisoned because of Kelso.
When Kelso realised he was never going to get Candi, and it was all a scheme to help Bekowski rise to power, he turned to alcohol & drugs. He became depressive, he had noone.
At the point of the opening scene, Kelso is at his lowest point.
The knock at the door is 2 of Bekowskis men, looking for him.
After the end of the opening scene he is forced into killing them, or they will kill him. This triggers a turning point in Kelso's life. As he kills the 2 men, the movie tracks back to when Kelso was at his prime. It then tells the story of his fall from grace, eventually ending up back at the point where he kills bekowskis men.
From here, the movie then shows Kelso as he begins his ascent to clear his name, clean up the city, get his life back on track & most of all, get the girl that caused all of this; Candi.
Diary Entry 11 - Props Acquired
Today i was able to get the last of the props required for filming on thursday.
Although i had already agreed to borrow the 50's style typewriter, i also had to get the 50's style radio which I have now managed to obtain. The glass, cigarettes etc. are all easily accessible, so i will collect these on wednesday evening/thursday morning ready for filming on thursday night.
I will need to collect the typewriter & radio at some point between now and thursday, as well as creating the newspaper clippings from the template I have made, and printing them out ready for the shoot on thursday.
One part of the costume we require for Cole Kelso is a typical trilby hat, which i have asked will & chris to get before the shoot on thursday.
The actor playing Cole Kelso has also been asked to wear a suit (preferably pin striped) on thursday.
We will also need an old looking chair, not necessarily of the era, but atleast looking like it would suit. A wooden chair, with cracked green leather seat is the sort of thing needed.
Although i had already agreed to borrow the 50's style typewriter, i also had to get the 50's style radio which I have now managed to obtain. The glass, cigarettes etc. are all easily accessible, so i will collect these on wednesday evening/thursday morning ready for filming on thursday night.
I will need to collect the typewriter & radio at some point between now and thursday, as well as creating the newspaper clippings from the template I have made, and printing them out ready for the shoot on thursday.
One part of the costume we require for Cole Kelso is a typical trilby hat, which i have asked will & chris to get before the shoot on thursday.
The actor playing Cole Kelso has also been asked to wear a suit (preferably pin striped) on thursday.
We will also need an old looking chair, not necessarily of the era, but atleast looking like it would suit. A wooden chair, with cracked green leather seat is the sort of thing needed.
Pre-Production - Location Info/Photos
We have decided to film the opening scene of 'Candi' at Graham Hewitt's House (Meadow Garth, Duddington, Stamford, Northamptonshire). This is partially because of accessibility, but mainly because the study he currently uses for business is the perfect style for our film. Including not only the décor, but also the size of the room & in particular the furniture.
The following pictures show what the room currently looks like. However, we intend to rearrange the majority of the room, removing anything that will diminish the 1950's look we are looking for, including any modern technology in the room. Some of the clutter within the room will be kept for effect, as it is likely Kelso's office will be extremely messy. However, we will have to be selective of what can be kept in shot in order to preserve the 50's setting.
Most notably, the computer, electronic cables, large painting shown in the first picture below & any personal pictures will have to be removed.
We are able to use this location to film almost any day we wish, for as long as we require. However, when we know which potential dates we are able to film (filming equipment is free to be booked out), we will have to confirm a definite date with Graham.
After completing a 'recce' we have confirmed that this location is suitable for the production & the requirements of the production team & our equipment. Direct Link to RECCE
Diary Entry 10 - Actors Assigned
For the production of the opening scene of 'Candi' we only require 1 actor. This is to play the role of Cole Kelso - a washed up New York City reporter with detective abilities that far exceed that of the NYPD. Cole is in his 50's but the last couple of months have taken their toll & aged him considerably due to the alcohol, drug abuse & being on the run from various prolific New York Mobsters.
For the scene, the actor is required to do very little in terms of action & no dialogue is involved in the scene at all. Due to this, the actor needs to be extremely good at portraying emotion & feeling through the use of movement & expression.
Taking all of this into account, William casted Graham Hewitt to play the part. This was useful because it was his house in which we were planning to film anyway. Chris & I have never met Graham before, so have had to have faith in William's casting & Grahams acting ability.
Although Graham is slightly older than Kelso's age in the scene, William has assured us that he will still fit the part, even if it requires a little extra effort to make him look a little younger.
William has Graham's contact details and has passed them onto Chris & I.
For the scene, the actor is required to do very little in terms of action & no dialogue is involved in the scene at all. Due to this, the actor needs to be extremely good at portraying emotion & feeling through the use of movement & expression.
Taking all of this into account, William casted Graham Hewitt to play the part. This was useful because it was his house in which we were planning to film anyway. Chris & I have never met Graham before, so have had to have faith in William's casting & Grahams acting ability.
Although Graham is slightly older than Kelso's age in the scene, William has assured us that he will still fit the part, even if it requires a little extra effort to make him look a little younger.
William has Graham's contact details and has passed them onto Chris & I.
Pre-Production - Screenplay
Initially, I created a basic script that followed the ideas we had for the opening scene. This is shown below.
Film Noir - Candi - Script Draft 1
This script was then handed to other production teams in order to get their feedback. Their feedback is annotated below:
Chris then made some revisions to the script, creating the second draft. Shown below:
Film Noir - Candi - Script Draft 2
Finally, the script was then passed back to me, where i made revisions that i thought necessary, as well as changing elements that we decided as a group should be changed, such as the lighting of the cigarette, which was changed to the swallowing of the bourbon.
The final draft is shown below:
Film Noir - Candi - Script Draft 3
As a team we have decided that the final script is correct, so we will disperse this to the actor, then progress to use this for the shoot on Thursday.
(Note: when the scripts were uploaded to scribd, some of the formatting has been affected)
Film Noir - Candi - Script Draft 1
This script was then handed to other production teams in order to get their feedback. Their feedback is annotated below:
Chris then made some revisions to the script, creating the second draft. Shown below:
Film Noir - Candi - Script Draft 2
Finally, the script was then passed back to me, where i made revisions that i thought necessary, as well as changing elements that we decided as a group should be changed, such as the lighting of the cigarette, which was changed to the swallowing of the bourbon.
The final draft is shown below:
Film Noir - Candi - Script Draft 3
As a team we have decided that the final script is correct, so we will disperse this to the actor, then progress to use this for the shoot on Thursday.
(Note: when the scripts were uploaded to scribd, some of the formatting has been affected)
Monday, February 27, 2012
Diary Entry 9 - 50's Style Newspaper Template (credit creation)
Today I made a template for the newspaper clippings we intend to use in the scene. We are either going to use the clippings for the following:
- Incorporate the credits into the clippings, then film them being dropped one by one onto the desk, then have Cole Kelso throw them from the desk in frustration
- Create the credits in the editing software, using the newspaper style, then have the clippings on the desk for Cole Kelso to throw from the desk in frustration
- Just have them to set the scene in the first camera shot before the camera pans to Cole entering the room, then have the credits roll as he walks in the door.
The clippings have been made landscape a4, so that when a slither is ripped from the bottom, it will look like they have been ripped out of an original newspaper from the era.
As you can see the name 'The New York Daily Tribune' has been used to enforce the authenticity, as this was an established newspaper during the time the film is set.
The newspaper is named 'The New York Daily Tribune' because this was a popular newspaper during the time in which the production is set. It follows all the conventions of a newspaper from that time including the fonts, paper colour, text & image placement as well as the boxes in each of the top corners. Vast research was required to find out the conventions of 1950's New York newspapers.
The newspaper is named 'The New York Daily Tribune' because this was a popular newspaper during the time in which the production is set. It follows all the conventions of a newspaper from that time including the fonts, paper colour, text & image placement as well as the boxes in each of the top corners. Vast research was required to find out the conventions of 1950's New York newspapers.
The images below show the template being created in Microsoft Word, and a test image being edited in Adobe Photoshop cs4 & Picasa in order to find the right image style for the newspaper. For the image I used various levels of contrasting, shadowing, gray-scaling & added a grain.
This template will probably be changed slightly before we start filming, but the basis of it will be as shown. Also, several different articles will have to be created depending on what style opening credits we are going to use. Also, a picture of Cole Kelso will be used rather than the test image shown.
Pre-Production - Recce
RECCE Checklist:
Permit required? - No
Toilets? - Yes
Parking? - Yes
Sound check completed? - Yes; no background noise interference
Electrical Outlets - Yes, 6 3-pin plugs
Checked with nearby residents? - Not needed
Contingencies put in place for bad weather? - Not needed
Time restrictions? - None
Permission needed? if so, has it been granted? - Yes, granted by the home owner
Easily accessible? - Yes
Will filming cause disruption? - some slight disruption to the household, nothing major.
Health & Safety risks? - No high risks, low level risks will be the responsibility of the team members & actors. No one else will be near the set because the room/area will be closed off.
Permit required? - No
Toilets? - Yes
Parking? - Yes
Sound check completed? - Yes; no background noise interference
Electrical Outlets - Yes, 6 3-pin plugs
Checked with nearby residents? - Not needed
Contingencies put in place for bad weather? - Not needed
Time restrictions? - None
Permission needed? if so, has it been granted? - Yes, granted by the home owner
Easily accessible? - Yes
Will filming cause disruption? - some slight disruption to the household, nothing major.
Health & Safety risks? - No high risks, low level risks will be the responsibility of the team members & actors. No one else will be near the set because the room/area will be closed off.
Main Task - Production - Lighting
All video uses some sort of lighting. Whether that be natural lighting (direct/indirectly from the sun), or artificial light. Artificial light can take many forms; it may be the light from a lighting kit used by the film crew, the lights from the ceiling of a room, the light from a computer monitor that's been left on etc. It is basically any light that doesn't come from the sun.
Although a lot of time & effort is required to set up the lighting apparatus as you require in order to get the effect/look you require, it is also equally as important to control external lighting factors on the set, other than your lighting apparatus. This may include, if shooting outside, to take into consideration the large amount of natural lighting that will affect the location, or it may be as simple as using an opaque material to cover up sources of light such as windows etc. or even just turning off/on the lights.
Even small factors such as white walls can have an effect on the shots you are filming, and potentially diminish the effect you are trying you obtain.
Things to consider when lighting shots:
Although a lot of time & effort is required to set up the lighting apparatus as you require in order to get the effect/look you require, it is also equally as important to control external lighting factors on the set, other than your lighting apparatus. This may include, if shooting outside, to take into consideration the large amount of natural lighting that will affect the location, or it may be as simple as using an opaque material to cover up sources of light such as windows etc. or even just turning off/on the lights.
Even small factors such as white walls can have an effect on the shots you are filming, and potentially diminish the effect you are trying you obtain.
Things to consider when lighting shots:
- What effect do you want to obtain?
- What sort of mood?
- What sort of character?
- What do you want the audience feel?
- How will you achieve this?
- What are the lighting sources?
- Will these interrupt the effect you're trying to achieve?
- How can you reduce/eliminate the effect they have?
- How can you incorporate the lighting sources into the lighting of the shot effectively?
Lighting terminology & definitions:
- Scrim - A translucent material, usually a thin sheet, used to soften a harsh light.
- Gels - A translucent material, slightly thicker than scrim, and more 'gel'-like. Comes in a variety of colours, that are put in front of lights to change the colour of the light on a subject/area.
- Spill - Light that has seemingly 'spilled' out from the light. When the barn doors of a light are closed/partially closed, the gaps between the doors will let light out. The light from these gaps is also known as spill. Although the spill is usually unwanted, it can be used to give certain effects such as lighting up only very small areas of a subject such as their eyes, leaving the rest of the shot in darkness.
- Silhouette - The dark outline of a subject displayed on something with a lighter background. e.g. a person's silhouette against a wall (created using dim light)
- Shadow - An area that is not lit, due to the light being blocked.
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Diary Entry 8 - Pre-Production Progress
Earlier on this week will was able to cast an actor to play the role of Cole Kelso, the only actor we need. Chris & I will clarify the actor is suitable for the role as we're not sure the age of the actor will fit the stereotype we're trying to portray with the character.
We now also have our choice of filming location approved, so we are able to film there whenever we are ready.
We are looking to start filming on Thursday 1st March. We would have completed it this weekend, but restrictions on the use of filming equipment means the 1st is the soonest we can. This is helpful however, as it gives us more time to complete the pre-production rather than rushing & making mistakes.
We now have a contact for the voice over. Simon Ockington was a name given to us, as he is frequently involved in acting workshops for directors creating productions such as ours, and he is apparently very good at american accents. We have been assured that he is likely to be happy to help us, but I will contact him at some point within the next few days. The voice over is not required until we have at least started the editing process, as Chris & I discussed that it would be better to tailor the voice over (pauses, emphasis etc.) to the edited production so that it suits, and looks professional
One problem i have faced this week(end) is that due to other commitments, i was unable to complete the tasks Chris & I decided i would do by Monday in order for him to create material such as storyboards that is reliant on the completion of the script. This will put the progress of the team behind, but I will aim to complete the material by the end of the school day tomorrow (Monday) in order for Chris to get on with the storyboard etc. as soon as possible.
The aim for the rest of the week is to get all the pre-production material sorted by the end of the school day on Wednesday. The team will meet at some point tomorrow to discuss what needs to be done by Thursday.
We now also have our choice of filming location approved, so we are able to film there whenever we are ready.
We are looking to start filming on Thursday 1st March. We would have completed it this weekend, but restrictions on the use of filming equipment means the 1st is the soonest we can. This is helpful however, as it gives us more time to complete the pre-production rather than rushing & making mistakes.
We now have a contact for the voice over. Simon Ockington was a name given to us, as he is frequently involved in acting workshops for directors creating productions such as ours, and he is apparently very good at american accents. We have been assured that he is likely to be happy to help us, but I will contact him at some point within the next few days. The voice over is not required until we have at least started the editing process, as Chris & I discussed that it would be better to tailor the voice over (pauses, emphasis etc.) to the edited production so that it suits, and looks professional
One problem i have faced this week(end) is that due to other commitments, i was unable to complete the tasks Chris & I decided i would do by Monday in order for him to create material such as storyboards that is reliant on the completion of the script. This will put the progress of the team behind, but I will aim to complete the material by the end of the school day tomorrow (Monday) in order for Chris to get on with the storyboard etc. as soon as possible.
The aim for the rest of the week is to get all the pre-production material sorted by the end of the school day on Wednesday. The team will meet at some point tomorrow to discuss what needs to be done by Thursday.
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Diary Entry 7 - Film Name
Today Chris & I went through some possible ideas for the name of the film.
Some ideas we had were:
The final name we decided on was 'Candi'
We chose this as the character 'candi' will play the vital role in the downfall of Cole Kelso, she is the initial reason he got involved in the criminal underworld of New York, and as you would see throughout the film, she will be the reason he intends to get out.
Just the name 'Candi' alone has a sense of mystery about it, whilst having a relevance to the film & its storyline. This is a common way for Film Noir movies to be named
Some ideas we had were:
- The Fall & Rise of Cole Kelso
- Criminal Reporting
Victoria Olivia GraceRose Annabel- Life of Cole Kelso
- Trials Tribulations & Tabloids
- Brights Lights, Cold world
- Into Enemy Hands
- Success to Less
- Candi
The final name we decided on was 'Candi'
We chose this as the character 'candi' will play the vital role in the downfall of Cole Kelso, she is the initial reason he got involved in the criminal underworld of New York, and as you would see throughout the film, she will be the reason he intends to get out.
Just the name 'Candi' alone has a sense of mystery about it, whilst having a relevance to the film & its storyline. This is a common way for Film Noir movies to be named
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Diary entry 6 - Finalised plan of opening scene
The ideas we have had for the opening scene, including credits, shots, actions, music and voice over are as follows:
Fade in -
- Typical loud dramatic Noir music (to be decided)
- Shot on desk
- Fade in logo (to be created)
- Fade out logo
- Newspapers stack - show 2 other characters
- Final newspaper to say: 'detective extraordinaire caught covering up killings'
- Tilts downward
- Tracks and pans to the door
- Frame showing feet of actor
- Tracking shot showing main character walking back to his seat
- Turns on radio (this triggers the beginning of the voiceover talking - which is the main character looking back)
- Looks at/through newspapers, then throws in the bin
- Looks stressed/uneasy, sitting in seat
- Figgitting, taps typewriter seemingly randomly, in boredem
- Bang on door (out of shot)
- Main character looks towards the bang worried
- Camera pans from face to back of head
- Progresses out of his seat and out of frame, as camera moves towards the typewriter keyboard, then upward, revealing a silhouette on the wall, as he lights a cigarette and walks out.
- Camera pans across slightly, revealing the word candy on the paper.
This word will act as the title of the film.
Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device
Monday, February 20, 2012
Target Audience Research - Results & Conclusions
After receiving the questionniares back that were dispersed to the proposed target audience, I was able to collate the results, and ultimately come to several conclusions.
Results
The results of the questionnaires are shown in the spreadsheet screenshot below:
As you can see, those questioned were a range of ages. However, those questioned were typically british, whether that be black, white or other. Generally, those questioned ranged from low-middle class to mid-upper class, all from the south-east of the UK. Overall, those questioned were from a range of backgrounds, ages & ethnicities, therefore giving a reasonably reliable set of results from which to gain an understanding of what target audience the Film Noir movie should be aimed at, what they expect from a Film Noir movie, and the sorts of elements I could put in the movie to make it more appealing to them specifically.
The information gathered could have been more reliable if there were an equal range of ages, locations, status, ethnicity & Gender. Especially as the final Film Noir product will be broadcast on Youtube, where almost all people of any ethnicity, gender, social status etc. will be able to view it.
The results of three of the vital bits of information required from the target audience research are shown in the graphs below:
Whether or not people like Film Noir; and if so, which style of Film Noir do they prefer is a question that must be asked purely to gain an understanding of what percentage of people will like the genre, therefore giving an understanding of how popular the film is likely to be. The age of those that do like Film Noir must be considered mainly however, as they are likely to be the age groups the film should appeal to.
As you can see, from the toal 15 people questioned, only 2 said they did like Film Noir movies, with 13 saying they didnt. This is slightly disappointing as the film is unlikely to appeal to a wide range of people. Of the 2 people that did like Film Noir movies, one prefferred the 'conventional' old style of film noir, with the other preferring the 'new' style film noir movies such as sin city etc.
The audiences expectations of Film Noir must be considered, in order to understand which general concepts, themes etc. they are used to seeing in Film Noir, therefore knowing which of these work well, and which dont. From this, you can also understand which sort of things can be added in to make the film different and quirky, in order to set it apart from the others.
As you can see, all 15 people said that they would expect to see mystery & crime in a Film Noir movie, followed by 13 saying handsome men, 11 saying crime, 10 saying detectives, and 7 saying beautiful women. They least expected to see modern language with nobody expecting to see that, 2 people saying modern clothing and 3 saying violence. This indicates that Mystery, 50's cars & handsome men should be incorporated into the film when appropriate to fulfill the audiences expectations, while modernisation & violence should be steered clear of.
The low amount of votes for modern clothing/language also indicates that the audience dislike modern Noir movies in comparison to 'conventional' films with older settings.
Due to the fact a villain is a core character of any Film Noir movie, it should be taken into consideration what type of villains people prefer. From this, it is possible to understand which types of villain would go down well with the audience. This can then be incorporated into the plan of the film, creating a storyline that can incorporate this character, therefore increasing the likelihood of interest from the target audience.
As you can see, the majority of people said they prefer a cunning & clever 'bad guy', just under half chose this option, with 4 people and 3 people saying they prefer a super villain and killer respectively. A clueless & comedic villain was preferred by only 1 person, which indicates that this sort of bad guy shouldn't be incorporated into the film. From this, it is clear that the audience prefer a serious villain.
Conclusion:
Who is the target audience?
From the evidence of the questionnaire, I conclude that the target audience is for my Film Noir movie is people aged 28-67 with particular emphasis on those aged 38-67. They will be primarily white-british, but other ethnicities of British people will also be interested. The main socio-economic bracket will be middle to upper class people, with middle class & upper class people also being targeted indirectly. The audience will be a range of both males & females.
What will they require?
In order to meet the needs of the target audience, the film should be a 'conventional' Film Noir movie with a typical 40's-50's setting, as this seems to be the 'safe option' in terms of what an audience wants from a Film Noir movie. It should however, have aspects of modern day life in which the audience can relate to, in order to increase their appreciation of the film.
The audience seems to prefer conventional themes, such as mystery, handsome men, beautiful women, detectives & crime, so including these in the film would increase the interest from the target audience rather than modernised themes. The audience show an interest in handsome men & beautiful women, so a typical 'femme fatale' should be included in the film, as well as a possibly good-looking male protagonist, as well as a 'cunning & clever' villain to prolong the mystery & excitement of the storyline.
Due to the age of the target audience, the film should have more mature themes in order for them to relate to.
The target audience for film Noir in general is very similar to the target audience for my film, with the socio-economic status, ethnicities, genders all being the same. The only differentiation is the age bracket, which may be slightly different. This is mainly because of the place the final product will be broadcast. If it were to be a feature picture, the target audience may be slightly lower in age, due to the age range of cinema audiences being lower. However, as my Film will be broadcast on YouTube, people of any age will be able to access it, with the main age group being adults, especially mature adults, who are accountable for a large majority of the sites usage.
Results
The results of the questionnaires are shown in the spreadsheet screenshot below:
As you can see, those questioned were a range of ages. However, those questioned were typically british, whether that be black, white or other. Generally, those questioned ranged from low-middle class to mid-upper class, all from the south-east of the UK. Overall, those questioned were from a range of backgrounds, ages & ethnicities, therefore giving a reasonably reliable set of results from which to gain an understanding of what target audience the Film Noir movie should be aimed at, what they expect from a Film Noir movie, and the sorts of elements I could put in the movie to make it more appealing to them specifically.
The information gathered could have been more reliable if there were an equal range of ages, locations, status, ethnicity & Gender. Especially as the final Film Noir product will be broadcast on Youtube, where almost all people of any ethnicity, gender, social status etc. will be able to view it.
The results of three of the vital bits of information required from the target audience research are shown in the graphs below:
Whether or not people like Film Noir; and if so, which style of Film Noir do they prefer is a question that must be asked purely to gain an understanding of what percentage of people will like the genre, therefore giving an understanding of how popular the film is likely to be. The age of those that do like Film Noir must be considered mainly however, as they are likely to be the age groups the film should appeal to.
As you can see, from the toal 15 people questioned, only 2 said they did like Film Noir movies, with 13 saying they didnt. This is slightly disappointing as the film is unlikely to appeal to a wide range of people. Of the 2 people that did like Film Noir movies, one prefferred the 'conventional' old style of film noir, with the other preferring the 'new' style film noir movies such as sin city etc.
Of the 2 people that said they did like film noir, 1 person was in the 18-27 age bracket, with the other in the older bracket of 58-67. I expected the voters to be more towards the older age brackets, but this shows that there is similar interest from younger audiences.
The low amount of votes for modern clothing/language also indicates that the audience dislike modern Noir movies in comparison to 'conventional' films with older settings.
Due to the fact a villain is a core character of any Film Noir movie, it should be taken into consideration what type of villains people prefer. From this, it is possible to understand which types of villain would go down well with the audience. This can then be incorporated into the plan of the film, creating a storyline that can incorporate this character, therefore increasing the likelihood of interest from the target audience.
As you can see, the majority of people said they prefer a cunning & clever 'bad guy', just under half chose this option, with 4 people and 3 people saying they prefer a super villain and killer respectively. A clueless & comedic villain was preferred by only 1 person, which indicates that this sort of bad guy shouldn't be incorporated into the film. From this, it is clear that the audience prefer a serious villain.
Conclusion:
Who is the target audience?
From the evidence of the questionnaire, I conclude that the target audience is for my Film Noir movie is people aged 28-67 with particular emphasis on those aged 38-67. They will be primarily white-british, but other ethnicities of British people will also be interested. The main socio-economic bracket will be middle to upper class people, with middle class & upper class people also being targeted indirectly. The audience will be a range of both males & females.
What will they require?
In order to meet the needs of the target audience, the film should be a 'conventional' Film Noir movie with a typical 40's-50's setting, as this seems to be the 'safe option' in terms of what an audience wants from a Film Noir movie. It should however, have aspects of modern day life in which the audience can relate to, in order to increase their appreciation of the film.
The audience seems to prefer conventional themes, such as mystery, handsome men, beautiful women, detectives & crime, so including these in the film would increase the interest from the target audience rather than modernised themes. The audience show an interest in handsome men & beautiful women, so a typical 'femme fatale' should be included in the film, as well as a possibly good-looking male protagonist, as well as a 'cunning & clever' villain to prolong the mystery & excitement of the storyline.
Due to the age of the target audience, the film should have more mature themes in order for them to relate to.
The target audience for film Noir in general is very similar to the target audience for my film, with the socio-economic status, ethnicities, genders all being the same. The only differentiation is the age bracket, which may be slightly different. This is mainly because of the place the final product will be broadcast. If it were to be a feature picture, the target audience may be slightly lower in age, due to the age range of cinema audiences being lower. However, as my Film will be broadcast on YouTube, people of any age will be able to access it, with the main age group being adults, especially mature adults, who are accountable for a large majority of the sites usage.
Sunday, February 19, 2012
Diary Entry 5 - Target Audience Research Problems
After dispersing the questionnaire I developed, I have been waiting almost 2 weeks to get them back. It wasn't until yesterday that i got the final questionnaire back.
This has left me a little behind, but I'm sure I can catch back up with the rest of the pre-production in the next week, so that filming can commence and the production can get under way.
I am currently collating the results of the questionnaires. A post will follow in the next 24 hours outlining the results.
Monday, February 13, 2012
Main Task - Research - Props & Costumes
'Typical' Film Noir has many conventions that were generally adhered to throughout the 40's & 50's, hence developing a well known style & 'common ground' which is today vaguely referred to as Film Noir.
Possibly the most well known & easily distinguishable features of almost all Film Noir movies, especially the original films from the 40's & 50's is the costumes worn and the props used.
The majority of Film Noir movies are set between 1930 & 1960 - mainly because this is when the majority of the films were made - but even today, many filmmakers decide to set the films in this era. In doing so, the Mise-en-scène must be accurate, especially the costumes & props.
After some research into common costume & props from this era, and also within Film Noir movies from this era, I discovered the following...
Males:
Although many of the male costumes would differ very little (possibly because the same archetypes are used across the majority of Film Noir movies), it would often inform the audience of the type of character he was, both in terms of his profession & his class. For example, something as small as a crisp white shirt compared with a slightly darkened, old looking shirt would insinuate that the first character was more socially established than the latter.
Conventional costume components include:
Trilby Hats
Trench coats (often excessively large & beige)
3 piece suits (variations such as pin stripes showed a man's wealth/status/profession)
Females:
As with the male characters, females would all, at a glance, wear similar clothing. However, on inspection the clothing they are wearing does differ slightly, depending on the character. An example of subtle costume changes that affect the way the character is perceived by an audience would be the use of elegant dresses with fiery colours; insinuating the character is typically flamboyant, with a fiery nature but still with some essence of sexy classiness.
Conventional costume components include:
Flowing, elegant dresses (usually of colours like reds & deep blues, with a sexy edge to them)
High heeled shoes
Conventional Props:
Cigarettes
Cigars
Typewriter
Radio
Alcohol
Guns
Neon street signs at night
Cigarette holder (usually used by femme fatale to provide elegance)
Other role specific props & costumes are also very common. Things such as police outfits etc. come into this category, but can't be defined as conventional as the use of these are ultimately dependent on the narrative.
Our film - 'Candi' is set in 1952, so the Mise-en-scène must convey this. After reviewing the information i found about the costume, I have decided that I will use the majority of the costumes & props mentioned above - of course as long as the narrative allows.
I particularly like the idea of using props to intertwine with the action of the narrative, or to be used to push the narrative along, such as the use of a radio broadcast to inform the audience or give them some background information.
The costumes we intend to use will be recorded at a later date once we have a finalised concept for the opening scene.
Possibly the most well known & easily distinguishable features of almost all Film Noir movies, especially the original films from the 40's & 50's is the costumes worn and the props used.
The majority of Film Noir movies are set between 1930 & 1960 - mainly because this is when the majority of the films were made - but even today, many filmmakers decide to set the films in this era. In doing so, the Mise-en-scène must be accurate, especially the costumes & props.
After some research into common costume & props from this era, and also within Film Noir movies from this era, I discovered the following...
Males:
Although many of the male costumes would differ very little (possibly because the same archetypes are used across the majority of Film Noir movies), it would often inform the audience of the type of character he was, both in terms of his profession & his class. For example, something as small as a crisp white shirt compared with a slightly darkened, old looking shirt would insinuate that the first character was more socially established than the latter.
Conventional costume components include:
Trilby Hats
Trench coats (often excessively large & beige)
3 piece suits (variations such as pin stripes showed a man's wealth/status/profession)
Females:
As with the male characters, females would all, at a glance, wear similar clothing. However, on inspection the clothing they are wearing does differ slightly, depending on the character. An example of subtle costume changes that affect the way the character is perceived by an audience would be the use of elegant dresses with fiery colours; insinuating the character is typically flamboyant, with a fiery nature but still with some essence of sexy classiness.
Conventional costume components include:
Flowing, elegant dresses (usually of colours like reds & deep blues, with a sexy edge to them)
High heeled shoes
Conventional Props:
Cigarettes
Cigars
Typewriter
Radio
Alcohol
Guns
Neon street signs at night
Cigarette holder (usually used by femme fatale to provide elegance)
Other role specific props & costumes are also very common. Things such as police outfits etc. come into this category, but can't be defined as conventional as the use of these are ultimately dependent on the narrative.
Our film - 'Candi' is set in 1952, so the Mise-en-scène must convey this. After reviewing the information i found about the costume, I have decided that I will use the majority of the costumes & props mentioned above - of course as long as the narrative allows.
I particularly like the idea of using props to intertwine with the action of the narrative, or to be used to push the narrative along, such as the use of a radio broadcast to inform the audience or give them some background information.
The costumes we intend to use will be recorded at a later date once we have a finalised concept for the opening scene.
Monday, February 6, 2012
Diary entry 4 - initial brainstorm
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Target Audience Research - Questionnaire
In order to get an idea of what sort of people would watch the production the group is to make, some target audience research is required.
I simply compiled a list of questions that would give an indication of:
I simply compiled a list of questions that would give an indication of:
- The type of people who will watch my production
- Whether Film Noir is 'liked' in the modern day
- What type of thing my production will require in order to satisfy the needs of the audience
- What expectations people have of a Film Noir movie
- Other film likes & preferences
These questions were then compiled into a questionnaire that was distributed to 15 people within the local area.
The questionnaire is shown below:
I chose to distribute 15 in order to assure that the research wasn't bias & it gave an average indication of the audience as a whole.
One way i could have possibly improved the reliability of the results collected would be to distribute to more people amongst a wider geographical area. This was not possible because of time restraints.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)