Camera Shots For Romance Films

I found it quite hard to find a list of different camera shots that are used in romance films. However I came about this website for general camera shots and I have picked out the shots that I recognise to be in romance films. The website is really good because it gives you an example and an example of the shot with a picture from a movie. I will list the different shots but I will leave a link here for the website. 

BBC Trip

Today we went on a trip to the BBC broadcasting corporation and house to find out about what they do. We started off the trip by getting to the train station and they we headed for Oxford Circus. When we first got into the waiting room there was a window that showed us the mass of people and computers that collected all the information that we see and find out about. 

At the bottom right, of the room, was the BBC news; we found out that they do not have camera men but robots that film the news presenters. We were also lucky enough to watch the weather lady do her segment. I found that the weather woman does not actually have a script she had to make everything up on the spot from what she sees - I found this very interesting. However, we also found out about the people that have lost their lives and also been captured by other countries whilst they were reporting the news in Syria for example. One of them was shot seven times, however lucky is still alive but paralysed from the waist down. Another man was kidnapped from several months however was in the room we where looking at that day. 

We then moved on to see the old broadcasting house. Here we found the sculpture that was based on a Shakespearian novel. The sculpture represented magic as that is what TV and radio etc are, they are magic. When we walked in we saw the old BBC logo (this can be seen in my video). We then walked around and then came across our own little presenting stage. Lizzy presented the news and Jessie and Katriona presented the weather - again Jessie and Katriona did not have a scripted and they had to guess, where there was rain, fro example as they had a green screen behind them.

Later on in the tour I acted, along side Charlotte in a radio drama, when acting it was very hard to imagine the scene in my head. However with help from Katriona with sounds, listening back you could really imagine the scene in your mind.

The tour then came to a close and we headed home. I enjoyed it so much and learnt a lot to. Thank you to Mrs Williams for organising it. 

Here is a little video that I have made from pictures and videos from the trip, hope you enjoy!

History on Romance Films

A romance film is when a plot revolves around the love between two main characters. They will endure highs and lows however mostly they will live happily ever after.

Essential themes of romance films

Common themes within romance films are: kissing, tragic love, love at first sight, sexual and passionate love, destructive love and sentimental love. These themes all appear in Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juilet'.

The first romance film

In 1896 films were not as long as they are today. Infact the first ever romantic film on lasted 18 seconds; it was created by Thomas Edison. He created his first film with features of a romance film, it featured a kiss. It is called 'The May Irwin Kiss'. The movie was filmed in April of 1896 in Edison's Black Maria studio in West Orange, New Jersey. This was seen as the most popular 'Edison Vita scope' film during this time period.

Different variations of romance films:

Romance drama - Casablanca (1942)

Chick flick - Terms of Endearment (1983)

Romance comedy (rom com) - Trouble in Paradise (1932)

Romance thriller - Sleeping With the Enemy (1991)

'Different from the Others'

This movie was a romance film released in 1919. However this was a different kind of romance film as this was the first film that addressed the issue of homosexuality. Richard Oswald directed this movie during WW1 in partnership with 'sexologist' Dr Magnus Hirschfeld.

Famous Historical Romance Films 

Titanic (1997) - this features tragic love and true love between two people

Gone With the Wind (1939) - this features love and drama from an affair

Jane Eyre (1996) - this features love and drama due to the chaos linked to the person that Jane falls in love with 

Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet (1996) - this features love, tragedy and lust of the death of the characters

Typical conventions through out a romance film 

Affection 

Two main characters that fall madly involve

A male that attracts female viewers

The idea of 'Happy Ever After' at the end of the film

Conflicts and arguments between the characters which then lead to heart break

Climax - when they realise that they are in love with each other

Different emotions - love, sadness etc.

Key Conventions in my Genre

Romantic Film Conventions 

In a romantic film there are many different ways that you can begin it. And I have used these in my latest post on Conventions in Film Openings. However, These are romantic film conventions...

Convention 1

Flashback 

Convention 2

Narration

Convention 3

Landscape 

Convention 4 

Collection of Photographs 

Examples/ description of these can be found on my previous post. 

I have been thinking a lot about my film opening but I think I have now decided that I am going to have so speech. I am going to be doing a mixture of landscape and flashback...

But you will have to wait and see...

Conventions of Film Openings

I have created a powerpoint presentation on conventions of film openings. These are the usual openings that film directors use to open their films to keep them interesting and to entice the audience. The presentation says it all really.... 

Hologram Effect

After being totally amazed by Jessie's work (another AS media student), I thought I might try for myself. It is no way near as good as hers but I gave it a try. This is because I have always wanted to get my iMovie skills up, however never pursued it. So here is my go at creating a hologram....

The process 

The final thing

There are many critical points that can be pointed out in my attempt. For example I am in the middle of the screen when I am seen on the main video image; making it very hard to position the hologram to make it seem as if I am looking at that on my screen - if that makes sense. However it is my first attempt and there is a lot of room for improvement.

Directors

Romance Film Directors 

James Cameron 

James Cameron is a 61 year-old Canadian filmmaker. His first successful movie was The Terminator. 

However, more relevant to my genre of romance films...

James Cameron was the director of Titanic (1997) to which he won a number of awards...

Academy Awards, USA in 1998 he won:

Best Picture, Best Director and Best Film Editing

Golden Globes, USA in 1998 he won:

Best Director

All in all it can be said that he is a very successful director. He also directed the movie Avatar (2009), and is correctly directing Avatar 2, 3 and 4.

Richard Curtis 

Richard Curtis is not only a director but an English screenwriter and producer. He has directed so many romance films. I would say that he is my inspiration because I love the films he has directed! 

The movies that he as directed:

About Time (2013)

Love Actually (2003)

Bridget Jones's Diary (2001)

The list goes on...

He may not have won as many awards as James Cameron but he has been nominated:

Golden Globes, USA

Best Screenplay (Love Actually 2004)

(About Time)

(Love Actually)

Collage

I have created a mood board to show iconic pictures from my chosen genre: romantic films. During my research so far I have come across the fact that there is always a man and a woman that are going to fall in love. And throughout the movie they have a scene that just involves them. This then gives me the idea that I will some how incorporate the same ideas. 

Here is my collage:

Carol

This movie is so relevant to my film opening for so many reasons.

"Therese Belivet (Rooney Mara) spots the beautiful, elegant Carol (Cate Blanchett) perusing the doll displays in a 1950s Manhattan department store. The two women develop a fast bond that becomes a love with complicated consequences."




My film opening has two women that are in love but have complication, much like this movie. They are conflicted as their actions have consequence, much like my opening. I think, to understand more about lesbian love films I will have to watch this to get a feel for them, as the way this opens or is made, may change my ideas completely. 

Better safe then sorry...

Different Camera Shots

Here is the list of all the shots we have to incorporate into our 2 minute film opening..

Film Opening Research

Romance Films 

For my task I have decided to produce a movie opening for a romance film. I have chosen this genre of film because I love romance movies and I thought it would be fun to create my own. My favourite romance films would have to be...

1. Titanic

This movie has to be the most well known movie of them all. However, it does not matter how many times you watch it, it just gets better. The power of love between Jack Dawson (Leonardo DiCaprio) and Rose DeWitt Bukater (Kate Wineslet) amazing, the viewer almost feel as if they are in the movie also, at least I do. The way that James Cameron directs this movies is just astounding, all viewers are glued to the screen with how intense the movie is. It is truly a master piece!

The film is about Rose telling her granddaughter essentially what happened on the Titanic in 1912. When Rose boards the departing ship with the upper class passengers and her mother and fiancé; meanwhile Jack ,an artist, has won 3rd class tickets in a game. She explains the whole story from beginning until their death. The story is so tragic however it is performed so powerfully.

The film opening for Titanic

           

I find the opening of this movie so powerful. There is no speech however it entices you as you watch the real footage of the real Titanic departing. The music, I believe, is what makes this opening; it is so emotional to watch.

2. Love Actually

Love Actually is another one of the greatest romance films, in that, it is so heart warming. It is about a variety of stories that some how link together. 

'Nine intertwined stories examine the complexities of the one emotion that connects us all: love. Among the characters explored are David (Hugh Grant), the handsome newly elected British prime minister who falls for a young junior staffer (martine McCutcheon, Sarah (Laura Linney), a graphic designer whose devotion to her mentally ill brother complicates her love life, an Harry (Alan Rickman), a married man tempted by his attractive new secretary.' 

The film opening for Love Actually (Explicit)

This opening shows viewers how funny Love Actually is. It is not only a romance film but a comedy too. The movie, unlike the others, just begins without a music introduction or an explanation.

3. Hitch

This is more of a rom-com however, it is one of my favourite films as it is a feel good movie, that makes you laugh; yet also heart warming with it's romantic feel. 

It is about the 'Hitch' Alex Hitchens (Will Smith) who is mentoring clients that hope you find love. His newest client is Albert (Kevin James) who hopes to make Allegra Cole (Amber Valletta) fall madly in love with him. Albert is making progress, however 'Hitch' seems to fall in love with Sara Melas (Eva Mendes) who is a reporter that is trying to get dirt on Allegra Cole's love life. Sara soon finds out about the link that 'Hitch' has to Albert and his now girlfriend Allegra and threatens to destroy both relationships.

The film opening for Hitch (until 2:15)

This movie starts with a voice over; this is really common in romance films. The fact that Will Smith is talking to the camera gives the viewer of the movie a personal angle, which is very different to most movies.

A New Task - Film Opening

Beginning to Plan My Course Work

Our next task is to create a 2 minute film opening, the genre is of our choice. I have been researching the different types of movie genres and I am leaning towards, rather: drama, thriller or romance. I will be making up a story board from scratch and I will have to incorporate a list of different camera angles and music to make the 2 minute film opening exciting and entertaining. I am looking forward to begin this work!

Preliminary Task - Evaluation

My evaluation 

Overall my feed back from my preliminary task was good, there were just some underlining factors that I had to change and get the hang of. Most of my criticism was things that I did not even know about; for example headroom. Headroom is when you keep the top view of the camera just above the actors head. The reason that this is done is so that there is no 'dead space'.

Another criticism that I had was that when I was recording my shot/reverse shot, I did not have the heads as the same size. This is important because other whys it looks very jumpy is the distance from the camera and the actor are different in each shot.

Moving on, when I was panning in my video, I need to be the one that is leading the actor to where they need to be; the actor should not be leading me. The reason for this is so that I do not try to catch up with the actor, it is more of a swift action.

Overall I am happy with my feed back and I know now how to improve.

Initial ideas on my preliminary task

Initial ideas on my preliminary task

In my preliminary task I used Tabitha and Lizzy as my actresses. I had no problems uploading my videos to my computer. However, when filming, I was unsure whether or not I used the 180 degree rule correctly. I guess we will see when it is assessed - I think it works now. I am happy with my match on action rule as I believe it used to correctly when Tabitha opens the door and enters the room. Then lastly my shot/reverse shot is used when Tabitha and Lizzy are talking and the camera switches to the people talking. Also when the camera changes from Tabitha walking through the door, then Lizzy looking up at her as she does this action. I believe that my first media project has gone very well and I am very pleased with it.

Preliminary Exercise - preparation

Preliminary Exercise 

At the beginning of our course the first task that we have to compelte is the Preliminary Task. This is where we have to meet the specifications of the exam board by using the 3 different camera angles.

These are the requirements of the exam board:

"Continuity task involving filming and editing a character opening a door, crossing a room and sitting down in a chair opposite another character, with whom she/he then exchanges a couple of lines of dialogue. This task should demonstrate match on action, shot/reverse shot and the 180-degree rule."

My script:

Person 1: Hello.

Person 2: Hello.

Person 1: How are you?

Person 2: Good thank you, you?

Person 1: Great thanks.

Person 2: Great so lets get started.

Person 1: Okay.

My Storyboard:

Continuity Editing Techniques 1

Continuity editing is a device used to cut and maintain continuos and clear narrative actions by following rules. I, today, am going to go though three of these rules. I will give a brief description of three of the rules; then a helpful video and picture to make sure that it is clear how these rules are used.

Rule 1: Shot/reverse shot 

Shot/reverse shot is two shots edited together that alternate characters. This is typically used with in conversational situations. 

A (video) example of shot/reverse shot:

A (picture) example of shot/reverse shot:

Rule 2: 180 degree rule

The 180 degree rule is that: 'the angle between any two consecutive shots should not exceed 180 degrees, in order to maintain spatial relationships between people and objects in any given sequence of shots'.


A (video) example of the 180 degree rule:




A (picture) example of the 180 degree rule:

Rule 3: Match on action 

Match on action is when a video is edited from one shot to another view that matches the first shot that was taken. For example and woman walking up to a door and reaching for the door knob.

A (video) example of the match on action rule:



A (picture) example of the match on action rule:

(3/9/15)