Plot
I have worked out a rough plot for my film. It's based in Stoke Newington, Hackney. The main character finds himself being dragged into a local gang. He begins to realise that he can make a choice and that he has a chance to turn his life around. He is a talented footballer with offers from lots of teams. The film is about the choice that he makes.
Influences
The Ends, from the BBC film network.
Silent Witness.
Bullet Boy
Kidulthood and Adulthood
La Haine
I'm going to study the style of filmmaker/actor Mathieu Kassovitz. Kassovitz was born in Paris, the son of Chantal Rémy, a film editor, and Peter Kassovitz, a director and writer . Kassovitz's mother is French and Catholic and his father is a Hungarian Jew who left Hungary during the Hungarian Revolution of 1956. He has directed films such as La Haine, Gothika and Babylon AD. The film that inspires me is La Haine, a hugely successful and very controversial film in France dealing with race relations which won the Cesar Award for Best Film. Both the content and style it is shot in are major influences to the kind of film I would aspire to create. However it is filmed in black and white, If possible I would like to do the same with my production.
What I like most about the style that Kassovitz uses to shoot La Haine is the gritty and unhappy atmosphere created. I think filming it in black and white plays a big part in this. There seems to be a tense feeling throughout the film. Kassovitz also uses an interesting documentary style transition at the end of each scene, when the time appears on a black screen. There are a lot of different stories happening at the same time, the ongoing battle with the police, tension building up with two of the characters, how the characters make their money through drugs,which all tie in with the main storyline. I would love to be able to incorporate these techniques into my production, I know if I can achieve this my production will be unlike anybody else's.
I have already worked out some effective shots I would like to use, but after watching La Haine, a few more jumped into my mind. I think the shots of the three friends walking were always good, I like how the camera follows them and keeps a close shot. I would like to try to use this technique when the main character is walking with a friend. I have worked out a shot of the main character setting off to jog but then he is confronted by his fellow gang members, it turns into a chase scene. I have worked out some of the places I'm going to use to shoot my production, all of which are nearby.
I want my film to send a strong message, one that is relevant to teenagers growing up in London. It is not going to be a positive film, it's going to be sad and a gritty reflection of street life and I would say it belongs in the drama genre. I'm going to attempt to create a daunting feeling throughout the film, a feeling that tension is rising and something bad is just around the corner.
I've also been giving some thought about the type of music that would suit my production. With the exception of The Ends all of my main influences have music that suit them. There is an escape scene in Kidulthood that is a great example because the music suits what is going on perfectly. I will use extracts of copyrighted songs because I don't have permission.
I am considering using two songs I have for my film, they are both upbeat but quite aggressive. One is perfect for the chase scene I plan to do and the other would be good for an establishing shot/title sequence.
I'm going to study the style of filmmaker/actor Mathieu Kassovitz. Kassovitz was born in Paris, the son of Chantal Rémy, a film editor, and Peter Kassovitz, a director and writer . Kassovitz's mother is French and Catholic and his father is a Hungarian Jew who left Hungary during the Hungarian Revolution of 1956. He has directed films such as La Haine, Gothika and Babylon AD. The film that inspires me is La Haine, a hugely successful and very controversial film in France dealing with race relations which won the Cesar Award for Best Film. Both the content and style it is shot in are major influences to the kind of film I would aspire to create. However it is filmed in black and white, If possible I would like to do the same with my production.
What I like most about the style that Kassovitz uses to shoot La Haine is the gritty and unhappy atmosphere created. I think filming it in black and white plays a big part in this. There seems to be a tense feeling throughout the film. Kassovitz also uses an interesting documentary style transition at the end of each scene, when the time appears on a black screen. There are a lot of different stories happening at the same time, the ongoing battle with the police, tension building up with two of the characters, how the characters make their money through drugs,which all tie in with the main storyline. I would love to be able to incorporate these techniques into my production, I know if I can achieve this my production will be unlike anybody else's.
I have already worked out some effective shots I would like to use, but after watching La Haine, a few more jumped into my mind. I think the shots of the three friends walking were always good, I like how the camera follows them and keeps a close shot. I would like to try to use this technique when the main character is walking with a friend. I have worked out a shot of the main character setting off to jog but then he is confronted by his fellow gang members, it turns into a chase scene. I have worked out some of the places I'm going to use to shoot my production, all of which are nearby.
I want my film to send a strong message, one that is relevant to teenagers growing up in London. It is not going to be a positive film, it's going to be sad and a gritty reflection of street life and I would say it belongs in the drama genre. I'm going to attempt to create a daunting feeling throughout the film, a feeling that tension is rising and something bad is just around the corner.
I've also been giving some thought about the type of music that would suit my production. With the exception of The Ends all of my main influences have music that suit them. There is an escape scene in Kidulthood that is a great example because the music suits what is going on perfectly. I will use extracts of copyrighted songs because I don't have permission.
I am considering using two songs I have for my film, they are both upbeat but quite aggressive. One is perfect for the chase scene I plan to do and the other would be good for an establishing shot/title sequence.
1 comment:
A good clear direction outline Gus, with reference to your inspiration. This is a strong starting point. I presume your experiment will be in black and white - you may want to look at focus also. Please speak to me about the use of music with copyright.
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