Directions - Research

Life on Mars

Life on Mars is a British television series broadcast on BBC One between 9 January 2006 and 10 April 2007. The series combines elements of the classic Sweeney from the 70's and modern camera technology, featuring an officer from the Greater Manchester Police (played by John Simm) who wakes up in the 1970s after being involved in a road accident. The title is a reference to David Bowie's 1973 single "Life on Mars", with its lyrics of 'Take a look at the law man, beating up the wrong guy'."

Directions - Character profiles

Jack (Reegan)

Jack or formally known as Reegan is one of the two main characters in this film. He has a short temper and a shorter tolerance for people with superiority. He doesn't respect people who give orders and tends to bend the rules. He is the leader of the "Flying squad" which is a small branch of the police force which deals with potential gang/ violent situations. 

George

George is Jack's loyal partner and he has a girlfriend who is pregnant and a son. He is the second of the two main characters.

Nancy

Nancy is a DCI in the Flying Squad and is also having an affair with Jack. However she is married to DCI Ivan Lewis, this creates drama and tension as the two men do not get on whenever they encounter each other so the audience is waiting to see what sort of reaction would take place is Lewis found out about the affair. 

Francis Allen

Francis Allen is the suspect who Jack believes has committed the robbery and and murder they are investigating. Throughout their interrogation each tries to get at the other by either insulting directly or providing facts that cause embarrassment to  the other.

Johnny Wextru

Harry is another member of the Flying Squad who interrogates one of the suspects. He follows the flying squad into the frontline but is not as main a character as Jack or George.

Evelyn

This character also works with the Flying Squad however is only seen in office and action scenes (whenever the Flying Squad is together). 

Freddie 

Freddie is another suspect/ accomplice of Frances' who is being interrogated by George and Evelyn. 

David (Bald suspect) 

David is another accomplice of Francis' and like Freddy insists throughout the interrogation he was at Francis' house for a BBQ.

Directions - shoot prep

Location

The location for my 6 minute piece is the Beadles Vauxhall dealership in Aylesford. I will be using the Finance and Business Manager's office to film the interrogation scene. I will have to change the desk around etc because i have to simulate 3 separate rooms. Because of this i will have to shoot all the scenes from room #1 in one go then wrap for that set and actors and then bring in the next group of actors and change the set etc.

Storyboard:

I drew a shot for shot storyboard for my 6 minute short piece with description of the camera position/ movements underneath.  

Directions - Three point lighting lesson with Ferg

3 Point Lighting:

- Key lighting: the light in the foreground that illuminates the face/ what is facing the camera
- Fill lighting: the lighting to the side of the subject often giving more depth/ creating less shadow
- Separation lighting: This is the lighting from behind that highlights the shape of the back of the head/ subject

Here i have pictures of a subject with different lighting on them separately e.g key and fill without separation on to show you what difference they make.

In the photo above the subject has no separation (background) lighting but has Key and Fill lighting

In this photo he has Separation lighting but no Fill lighting

And possibly the most noticeable is this one with no key lighting but Fill and separation, creating a dark eerie look

Types of Light:

There are types of light as they appear on camera and there are physical types of light e.g. the source they are coming from. The picture below demonstrates the later. Tungsten lighting is the most recognised and used in the industry, the back-bone of film and TV since the industry began. They give a warm yellow light which is good for both lighting small areas or specific spots (due to barn doors and bulb focus) however they can be extremely hot when used for periods of time and if knocked over can cause a small explosion due to the high flow of electricity (approx 600 watts) to and the heat of the bulb. Daylight/ HMI lights are usually a lot bigger in size and power, these can run up to 24,000 watts! These are most likely to be used on large sets or through windows of buildings to imitate sunlight. LED lights are a modern invention compared to the Tungstens and have many benefits concerning heat and weight, however some may have the opinion that you can not beat or imitate the look of a real Tungsten. LED's provide easier lighting for film makers who either travel from location to location and need something carry'able or those who can't afford to have lighting transported by companies to a set or location. Fluorescent lights are great if you as a film maker are trying to replicate the cold look of an interview scene or harsh "cutting table" kind of light. however they unlike some types of light can not be adapted to suit, they are what they are. 

A "Gaffer" is a term in the filming industry used for someone in charge of lighting. The director dictates the Gaffer what look he would like etc and the Gaffer then should know what to do to create that look, they must also be able to do it quickly and under pressure. The five points noted in the picture are things the Gaffer needs to keep in mind at all time and whenever he is making a decision.

Contextual studies lesson

Metaphor = A figure of speech that makes an implicit, implied or hidden comparison between two things.
Example - "All the world's a stage" Shakespeare


Allegory - An extended or complex metaphor, or connected series of metaphors. Usually has two meanings: Literal and Symbolic (or metaphorical)



Allusion - An indirect or passing reference, usually with no metaphorical intent.

Analogy - A literal comparison without further meaning e.g. "life is like a box of chocolates".

Static Metaphor - meaning is obvious and constant (e.g. using red to signify sexuality)

Dynamic metaphor - provides new information as the narrative continues.

The film Alien has repeatedly been referenced as a metaphor for the sexual reproductive system/ cycle.

Director research - presentation

Nick Love (born 24 December 1969) is a British film director and writer. His credits include the films The Football Factory, The Business, Goodbye Charlie Bright, Outlaw, The Sweeney, and a 2009 remake of football hooliganism drama The Firm.

Career

Writer:

 2015 American Hero

 2015 The Sweeney: Paris (original story)

 2012 The Sweeney (written by)

 2009 The Firm (adaptation)

 2007 Outlaw (written by)

 2005 The Business (written by)

 2004 The Football Factory 

 2001 Goodbye Charlie Bright (screenplay) / (story)

 1999 Love Story (TV Short)

 1999 The Escort (adaptation)

Producer

 2011 A Night In The Woods (producer)

2010 Monsters (executive producer)

2008 The Children (executive producer)

2008 Bronson (executive producer)

2008 Faintheart (executive producer)

2007 w Delta z (executive producer)

2006 Dirty Sanchez: The Movie (Documentary) (executive producer)

1995 Skin (Short) (producer)

Director

 2015 American Hero

 2012 The Sweeney

 2009 The Firm

 2007 Outlaw

 2005 The Business

 2004 The Football Factory

 2001 Goodbye Charlie Bright

 1999 Love Story (TV Short)

On 1 August 2012, Love's film The Sweeney made its world premiere at the opening of the Locarno International Film Festival in Switzerland. The film is based on the British television police drama of the same name. Love said that he had interest in making the movie for several years, but had difficult negotiations with studio executives who wanted him to make the film with an Americanised style. This is the film who's scene I will be re-filming in my own way. I have chosen the interrogation scene 40 mins in where the "flying squad" has caught who they believe to be the suspect for the murder of an innocent bystander in a jewellery heist.

Here is a comparison of the two Sweeney Films, the original and the 2012 version

Original Movie

2012 Nick Love version

Loves style of directing seems to consist of trying to capture the "hard man" image and transform that into a genre. He uses fast pace cuts and dark humour accompanied by adult themes such as drugs and violence to create his "films". Most of his early works revolve around hooligan culture such as The Firm and The Football Factory. I would imagine he sends his actors criteria sheets with:
- Must have strong London or cockney accent
- Must walk around with a stride (observe Danny Dyer)
- Must wear a tracksuit at least 84% of the time

Aims of my scene:

• Make it look Badass
• Make it a lot darker in tone, narrative and lighting
• Make the good guys look bad
• Moral ambiguity
• Ray Winstone