I Really like this short film, because of the camera work and the professionalism that it displays and how it incorporates a twist at the end.
Monday 17 December 2012
The use of narration
examples of some good short films with narration:
http://34st.com/2012/03/short-and-sweet-the-best-narrative-short-films-from-sxsw/
Voice-Over Narration as an Active Agent in Film
The use of voice-over narration can and has been used in film to help convey greater depth and meaning to the audience. Whereas on the one hand, there are some who see it as a crutch when the director or writer is unable to move along the storyline effectively within a given scene; yet on the other however, when it is used effectively, voice-over narration can be inserted as an active agent to help provide greater impact and understanding to the audience in a way that a complex actor’s performance or scenery cannot convey. It is within this context that this essay will explore individual examples of voice-over narration from select films in which both sides of the issue will be explored; by not simply analyzing each voice-over narration example as either good or bad, but looking deeper at how the context and overall delivery affect the films, scenes and actors within.
To begin with, a proper definition of voice-over narration in film must be established, “Narration, or voice-over, is used in both documentary and fiction. It may be used to deliver information, provide the point of view of an unseen character, or allow an onscreen character to comment on the action.”(Ascher and Pincus 493) Put more simply, “A narrative text is a text in which an agent relates (‘tells’) a story in a particular medium, such as language, imagery, sound, buildings, or a combination thereof.” (Bal 5) By using this standard, multiple methods of providing voice-over narration in film can be utilized to help tell their respective stories, “In documentary filmmaking some of the key stylistic questions relate to how much the filmmaker attempts to control or interact with the subjects, and to the way information is conveyed in the movie.” (Ascher and Pincus 332)
The style adopted by U.K. documentarians such as John Grierson in the 1930s and 1940s is a kind of hybrid that can involve staged events and real people (non-actors)…Many of these films use a ‘voice of God’ narration-the authoritative male voice that provides factual information and often spells out the message intended for the viewer to take from the film. (Ascher and Pincus 333)
http://34st.com/2012/03/short-and-sweet-the-best-narrative-short-films-from-sxsw/
Voice-Over Narration as an Active Agent in Film
The use of voice-over narration can and has been used in film to help convey greater depth and meaning to the audience. Whereas on the one hand, there are some who see it as a crutch when the director or writer is unable to move along the storyline effectively within a given scene; yet on the other however, when it is used effectively, voice-over narration can be inserted as an active agent to help provide greater impact and understanding to the audience in a way that a complex actor’s performance or scenery cannot convey. It is within this context that this essay will explore individual examples of voice-over narration from select films in which both sides of the issue will be explored; by not simply analyzing each voice-over narration example as either good or bad, but looking deeper at how the context and overall delivery affect the films, scenes and actors within.
To begin with, a proper definition of voice-over narration in film must be established, “Narration, or voice-over, is used in both documentary and fiction. It may be used to deliver information, provide the point of view of an unseen character, or allow an onscreen character to comment on the action.”(Ascher and Pincus 493) Put more simply, “A narrative text is a text in which an agent relates (‘tells’) a story in a particular medium, such as language, imagery, sound, buildings, or a combination thereof.” (Bal 5) By using this standard, multiple methods of providing voice-over narration in film can be utilized to help tell their respective stories, “In documentary filmmaking some of the key stylistic questions relate to how much the filmmaker attempts to control or interact with the subjects, and to the way information is conveyed in the movie.” (Ascher and Pincus 332)
The style adopted by U.K. documentarians such as John Grierson in the 1930s and 1940s is a kind of hybrid that can involve staged events and real people (non-actors)…Many of these films use a ‘voice of God’ narration-the authoritative male voice that provides factual information and often spells out the message intended for the viewer to take from the film. (Ascher and Pincus 333)
Cartoon short film with narration by Tim Burton
Wednesday 5 December 2012
9 tips how to make a documentry:
1) Watch documentary movies. Go see them on the big screen if you can. If not, then hit your local video store or join Netflix or Greencine to get movies mailed to your door. You can even watch them online at sites like FourDocs and the Documentary Film Network. Learn what makes or breaks a documentary film. Think about what kinds of documentary films you like. Learn the various genres and filmmaking styles. For example, Michael Moore's filmmaking style is very different than Ken Burns' filmmaking style.
2) Before you begin your project, think of the END first: Where is this documentary going to be shown (or where do you envision it being shown)? Who is your targeted/primary audience? Answering these questions helps you determine the content, tone, style and length of your film.
3) Choose a subject that you find fascinating and is accessible to you. Choosing a subject that is compelling & timely will result in a strong and relevant film. It is often better to focus on a local personality or local event so that you will have access to loads of resources for your film. Besides, it's much simpler & cheaper to shoot at home than abroad.
4) Become an expert on your chosen subject through research. Research your subject as thoroughly as possible. Gain knowledge through the internet, books, and word of mouth. Attend events pertaining to your chosen subject.
5) Use your own music – Unless there is a very specific reason to use a specific piece of music, it can be a huge hassle and expense to obtain music rights. I had to negotiate a deal with each publisher and record company of each piece of music used in my documentary. I was grateful that at least that two thirds of the music of my documentary was originally composed.
6) Create a structure/outline for your film through visualization. Close your eyes and imagine how you would like the final product to look. Think about how you want to structure your film. What do you want to start with? How are you going to build your film? Write down your ideas. This will give you a blueprint for shooting. But remember that in documentary filmmaking, unlike fictional filmmaking, the footage informs the final structure of the film. Your initial written outline exists to serve as a guideline for shooting.
7) Analyze your wants/needs for making the film. Make a wishlist of any people, locations, items, equipment you WISH you could have for your film. Cross-reference this list with any people, locations, items and equipment that you do have access to. Ask people. Check with local art centers, film departments at universities and colleges. Talk to the local film office. If you still can't find it then go to Myspace or Craigslist and see if you know someone who knows someone who can help fulfill some of the items on your wishlist. If you are looking for footage, check with stock libraries for material that is in the public domain and free to use.
8) Shoot! Don't talk about doing it - get out there and shoot your film. This is the step that differentiates the aspiring filmmakers from the actual filmmakers.
9)Post-production. Fast forward through all of your footage, and take printable screenshots of key scenes. This way you simplify the editing process by creating a visual map of your footage. Once this is done you should watch ALL of your footage and create an action log listing timestamps. This will help you to save time in the editing room.
2) Before you begin your project, think of the END first: Where is this documentary going to be shown (or where do you envision it being shown)? Who is your targeted/primary audience? Answering these questions helps you determine the content, tone, style and length of your film.
3) Choose a subject that you find fascinating and is accessible to you. Choosing a subject that is compelling & timely will result in a strong and relevant film. It is often better to focus on a local personality or local event so that you will have access to loads of resources for your film. Besides, it's much simpler & cheaper to shoot at home than abroad.
4) Become an expert on your chosen subject through research. Research your subject as thoroughly as possible. Gain knowledge through the internet, books, and word of mouth. Attend events pertaining to your chosen subject.
5) Use your own music – Unless there is a very specific reason to use a specific piece of music, it can be a huge hassle and expense to obtain music rights. I had to negotiate a deal with each publisher and record company of each piece of music used in my documentary. I was grateful that at least that two thirds of the music of my documentary was originally composed.
6) Create a structure/outline for your film through visualization. Close your eyes and imagine how you would like the final product to look. Think about how you want to structure your film. What do you want to start with? How are you going to build your film? Write down your ideas. This will give you a blueprint for shooting. But remember that in documentary filmmaking, unlike fictional filmmaking, the footage informs the final structure of the film. Your initial written outline exists to serve as a guideline for shooting.
7) Analyze your wants/needs for making the film. Make a wishlist of any people, locations, items, equipment you WISH you could have for your film. Cross-reference this list with any people, locations, items and equipment that you do have access to. Ask people. Check with local art centers, film departments at universities and colleges. Talk to the local film office. If you still can't find it then go to Myspace or Craigslist and see if you know someone who knows someone who can help fulfill some of the items on your wishlist. If you are looking for footage, check with stock libraries for material that is in the public domain and free to use.
8) Shoot! Don't talk about doing it - get out there and shoot your film. This is the step that differentiates the aspiring filmmakers from the actual filmmakers.
9)Post-production. Fast forward through all of your footage, and take printable screenshots of key scenes. This way you simplify the editing process by creating a visual map of your footage. Once this is done you should watch ALL of your footage and create an action log listing timestamps. This will help you to save time in the editing room.
Outlining plan for documentry
Need to Inlcude:
1. Janet Kane - interview on sexism in the work place in the 60's and 70's.
2. Shot of teenage girls in the bathroom fixing hair and makeup.
3. Narration - Me talking about the issues feminists faced and still face.
4. Teenage girl - Interview about what they know on feminism and whether they it's still relevant today.
5. Paul and Zoe (Parents of three girls) - Interview on how sexism has played on their minds whilst raising only girls.
6. Shots of me talking about facts and dates and raising questions.
7. Interview with teacher about experiencing sexism in the workplace.
8. Caroline - interview about ageing and how that impacts place in workplace.
Certain questions to be raised throughout and leave audience thinking about:
1. Does the word feminism have any meaning in 2012?
2. What do feminists want, don't women have it all?
3. What's the true meaning of feminism? What do most people associate it with?
What I want my documentry to include or be about:
I want this documentry, firstly to make younger girls of today more aware of what feminism is, what it's all about and how it still exists today. I want to this to really impact girls of today and give them the message of they how they may be exploited in todays society in places they don't even know and how simple things that they do as part of their everyday routine is actually helping sexism exist even today.
1. Janet Kane - interview on sexism in the work place in the 60's and 70's.
2. Shot of teenage girls in the bathroom fixing hair and makeup.
3. Narration - Me talking about the issues feminists faced and still face.
4. Teenage girl - Interview about what they know on feminism and whether they it's still relevant today.
5. Paul and Zoe (Parents of three girls) - Interview on how sexism has played on their minds whilst raising only girls.
6. Shots of me talking about facts and dates and raising questions.
7. Interview with teacher about experiencing sexism in the workplace.
8. Caroline - interview about ageing and how that impacts place in workplace.
Certain questions to be raised throughout and leave audience thinking about:
1. Does the word feminism have any meaning in 2012?
2. What do feminists want, don't women have it all?
3. What's the true meaning of feminism? What do most people associate it with?
What I want my documentry to include or be about:
I want this documentry, firstly to make younger girls of today more aware of what feminism is, what it's all about and how it still exists today. I want to this to really impact girls of today and give them the message of they how they may be exploited in todays society in places they don't even know and how simple things that they do as part of their everyday routine is actually helping sexism exist even today.
Facts and dates from history
The Sex Discrimination Act 1975 (c. 65) is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom which protected men and women from discrimination on the grounds of sex or marriage. The Act concerned employment, training, education, harassment, the provision of goods and services, and the disposal of premises.
The Equal Pay Act 1970 is an Act of the United Kingdom Parliament which prohibits any less favourable treatment between men and women in terms of pay and conditions of employment. It was passed by Parliament in the aftermath of the 1968 Ford sewing machinists strike and came into force on 29 December 1975.
1903 - The National Women's Trade Union League (WTUL) is established to advocate for improved wages and working conditions for women.
Germaine Greer (born 29 January 1939) is an Australian academic and journalist, and was a major feminist voice of the mid-20th century. The Female Eunuch became an international best-seller in 1970.
Gloria Marie Steinem (born March 25, 1934) is an American feminist, journalist, and social and political activist who became nationally recognized as a leader of, and media spokeswoman for, the women's liberation movement in the late 1960s and 1970s. A prominent writer and political figure, Steinem has founded many organizations and projects and has been the recipient of many awards and honors.
1960(May 9) The Food and Drug Administration approved the first oral contraceptive, commonly known as "the Pill," for sale as birth control in the United States.
1964U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act of 1964, including the Title VII prohibition of discrimination based on sex.
1963The Feminine Mystique by Betty Friedan was published.
1968 (September 7) The "Miss America Protest" by New York Radical Women at the Miss America pageant brought widespread media attention to women's liberation.
1969 (March 21) Redstockings staged an abortion speakout, insisting that women's voices be heard on the issue instead of only male legislators and nuns.
1913 On 4 June 1913, she ran out in front of the king's horse as it was taking part in the Epsom Derby, she died on 8 June from her injuries.
The Equal Pay Act 1970 is an Act of the United Kingdom Parliament which prohibits any less favourable treatment between men and women in terms of pay and conditions of employment. It was passed by Parliament in the aftermath of the 1968 Ford sewing machinists strike and came into force on 29 December 1975.
1903 - The National Women's Trade Union League (WTUL) is established to advocate for improved wages and working conditions for women.Germaine Greer (born 29 January 1939) is an Australian academic and journalist, and was a major feminist voice of the mid-20th century. The Female Eunuch became an international best-seller in 1970.
Gloria Marie Steinem (born March 25, 1934) is an American feminist, journalist, and social and political activist who became nationally recognized as a leader of, and media spokeswoman for, the women's liberation movement in the late 1960s and 1970s. A prominent writer and political figure, Steinem has founded many organizations and projects and has been the recipient of many awards and honors.
1960(May 9) The Food and Drug Administration approved the first oral contraceptive, commonly known as "the Pill," for sale as birth control in the United States.
1964U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act of 1964, including the Title VII prohibition of discrimination based on sex.
1963The Feminine Mystique by Betty Friedan was published.
1968 (September 7) The "Miss America Protest" by New York Radical Women at the Miss America pageant brought widespread media attention to women's liberation.
1969 (March 21) Redstockings staged an abortion speakout, insisting that women's voices be heard on the issue instead of only male legislators and nuns.
1913 On 4 June 1913, she ran out in front of the king's horse as it was taking part in the Epsom Derby, she died on 8 June from her injuries.
Monday 3 December 2012
Research
Documentries on feminism:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p006ycpt
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p006ycpt
The F Word: Who Wants to be a Feminist?
Feminism. Does the word have any meaning in 2011? Or, at least a meaning all women can agree on? Has it become the “F Word”? Tainted and stained with connotations that alienate some women and men. Or is it simply irrelevant in the 21st Century?
To mark the 100th anniversary of International Women’s Day (March 8, 2011), Doc Zone dares to utter the “F Word”.
Today, more than half of all North American University students are women, make up half the work force and have more choices than ever. So, why are women still marching? What more do feminists want? Don’t women have it all?
Stay at home mom Nicole Abraham with her two daughters in Hamilton.
Credit: Markham Street FilmsNot if you look at the stats. According to the UN, women make up 53% of the world’s population, but they own only 1% of the world’s wealth. Women hold up half the sky, but in Canada they are only holding 11% of the seats on corporate boards and 21% of the seats in Parliament. In the workplace, women hold half the jobs, but are taking home 20% less pay then men. So what happened? Wasn’t Feminism supposed to fix this?
The F Word attempts to answer these questions by examining the trajectory of the First, Second and Third Waves of Feminism and their effects in the 20th century, and then investigating what Feminism – the word and the movement - means today and might mean tomorrow.
In The F Word, the story of Feminism is told through Feminist icons and experts including:
Feminist Icon Germaine Greer.
Credit: Markham Street Films “…if we’re going to liberate women we have to preserve their difference, otherwise we’ll liberate them the way we liberated Vietnamese villages -- by destroying them.”
- Germaine Greer
Germaine Greer – famous feminist provocateur. Author of The Female Eunuch, the groundbreaking 1970 clarion call to women of all ages to examine their lives and demand more. Greer has remained active in feminist issues and the recent 40th anniversary of the publication of her book has occasioned a flurry of both support and contention.
Author Susan Faludi.
Credit: Markham Street Films “It's fun and it's playful, but it doesn't have anything to do with claiming your rights to be a full citizen in the world. If it did, men would be wearing Manolo Blahniks tomorrow.”
– Susan Faludi on High Heels and Empowerment
Susan Faludi – author of Backlash: the Undeclared War Against American Women. Faludi is a Pulitzer Prize winning journalist whose recent piece in Harper’s about matricide in the feminist movement has caused a stir. She feels that each wave of feminism has been met with an equal wave of resistance attempting to get women back in the home.
Author Naomi Wolf.
Credit: Markham Street Films “…the world is getting smaller and we know what women in the developing world are facing -- and they’re still organizing…We have NO excuse for not taking care of our own business.”
-Naomi Wolf
Naomi Wolf – author of The Beauty Myth and media commentator on women’s issues. Naomi Wolf insists that, even though women have been seduced by the media and consumerism, they have enough tools today to complete the task of claiming equality.
Third Wave founder, Amy Richards.
Credit: Markham Street Films “There wasn’t sort of a symbolic meeting that took place in, you know, 1961 where we said, “Okay, here’s our 10 list of demands and we’re going to spend the next 40 years conquering them one through 10.”
- Amy Richards
Amy Richards – author of FeministA: Young Women, Feminism and the Future, founder of Third Wave Foundation and Feminist.com. Amy says she was a feminist ‘in utero’ – the daughter of a single mother and life long feminist. For Amy, there is much work to be done and what will make change is not numbers, but changing the actual space in which we all work and live.
Queen's Law Professor, Kathleen Lahey.
Credit: Markham Street Films“I think that there is a strong emotional attachment on the part of power-holders in the government for a sort of “Dad’s running everything. Mom is in the home and the kids are very happy, thank you,” kind of country.”
-Kathleen Lahey
Professor Kathleen Lahey – Professor of Law and Gender Studies, Queen’s University. Professor Lahey provided research and was a spokesperson for the recent report, Reality Check: Women in Canada and the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action Fifteen Years On. Lahey believes that Canada’s current government has systematically undermined the foundations that support continued work on women’s issues.
Conservative Feminist, Christina Hoff Sommers.
Credit: Markham Street Films “…they want to spend time with their babies and they want to advance a career. Well, my answer to that is that you can’t have everything. You’re not going to be able to win a Nobel Prize on flex time, it’s just not going to happen.”
- Christina Hoff Sommers
Christina Hoff Sommers – Sommers is a resident scholar at the conservative American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy and Research. Sommers is best known for her critique of late-twentieth-century feminism: Who Stole Feminism: How Women Have Betrayed Women and The War Against Boys. Sommers is an ardent opponent of those she calls “professional feminists’. She recently spoke out against the Paycheck Fairness Act in the US, claiming that there is no such thing as a wage gap between men and women.
Native Youth Leader, Jessica Yee.
Credit: Markham Street Films “…if I hear one more person say that they think that young women today don’t care about feminism, I’m gonna scream.”
-Jessica Yee
Jessica Yee – is the founder and Executive Director of the Native Youth Sexual Health Network and works with native youth across North America. She doesn’t believe in the waves but she sure believes that there is unfinished business.
Article from cbc.
Today, more than half of all North American University students are women, make up half the work force and have more choices than ever. So, why are women still marching? What more do feminists want? Don’t women have it all?
Stay at home mom Nicole Abraham with her two daughters in Hamilton.
Credit: Markham Street FilmsNot if you look at the stats. According to the UN, women make up 53% of the world’s population, but they own only 1% of the world’s wealth. Women hold up half the sky, but in Canada they are only holding 11% of the seats on corporate boards and 21% of the seats in Parliament. In the workplace, women hold half the jobs, but are taking home 20% less pay then men. So what happened? Wasn’t Feminism supposed to fix this?
The F Word attempts to answer these questions by examining the trajectory of the First, Second and Third Waves of Feminism and their effects in the 20th century, and then investigating what Feminism – the word and the movement - means today and might mean tomorrow.
In The F Word, the story of Feminism is told through Feminist icons and experts including:
Feminist Icon Germaine Greer.
Credit: Markham Street Films “…if we’re going to liberate women we have to preserve their difference, otherwise we’ll liberate them the way we liberated Vietnamese villages -- by destroying them.”
- Germaine Greer
Germaine Greer – famous feminist provocateur. Author of The Female Eunuch, the groundbreaking 1970 clarion call to women of all ages to examine their lives and demand more. Greer has remained active in feminist issues and the recent 40th anniversary of the publication of her book has occasioned a flurry of both support and contention.
Author Susan Faludi.
Credit: Markham Street Films “It's fun and it's playful, but it doesn't have anything to do with claiming your rights to be a full citizen in the world. If it did, men would be wearing Manolo Blahniks tomorrow.”
– Susan Faludi on High Heels and Empowerment
Susan Faludi – author of Backlash: the Undeclared War Against American Women. Faludi is a Pulitzer Prize winning journalist whose recent piece in Harper’s about matricide in the feminist movement has caused a stir. She feels that each wave of feminism has been met with an equal wave of resistance attempting to get women back in the home.
Author Naomi Wolf.
Credit: Markham Street Films “…the world is getting smaller and we know what women in the developing world are facing -- and they’re still organizing…We have NO excuse for not taking care of our own business.”
-Naomi Wolf
Naomi Wolf – author of The Beauty Myth and media commentator on women’s issues. Naomi Wolf insists that, even though women have been seduced by the media and consumerism, they have enough tools today to complete the task of claiming equality.
Third Wave founder, Amy Richards.
Credit: Markham Street Films “There wasn’t sort of a symbolic meeting that took place in, you know, 1961 where we said, “Okay, here’s our 10 list of demands and we’re going to spend the next 40 years conquering them one through 10.”
- Amy Richards
Amy Richards – author of FeministA: Young Women, Feminism and the Future, founder of Third Wave Foundation and Feminist.com. Amy says she was a feminist ‘in utero’ – the daughter of a single mother and life long feminist. For Amy, there is much work to be done and what will make change is not numbers, but changing the actual space in which we all work and live.
Queen's Law Professor, Kathleen Lahey.
Credit: Markham Street Films“I think that there is a strong emotional attachment on the part of power-holders in the government for a sort of “Dad’s running everything. Mom is in the home and the kids are very happy, thank you,” kind of country.”
-Kathleen Lahey
Professor Kathleen Lahey – Professor of Law and Gender Studies, Queen’s University. Professor Lahey provided research and was a spokesperson for the recent report, Reality Check: Women in Canada and the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action Fifteen Years On. Lahey believes that Canada’s current government has systematically undermined the foundations that support continued work on women’s issues.
Conservative Feminist, Christina Hoff Sommers.
Credit: Markham Street Films “…they want to spend time with their babies and they want to advance a career. Well, my answer to that is that you can’t have everything. You’re not going to be able to win a Nobel Prize on flex time, it’s just not going to happen.”
- Christina Hoff Sommers
Christina Hoff Sommers – Sommers is a resident scholar at the conservative American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy and Research. Sommers is best known for her critique of late-twentieth-century feminism: Who Stole Feminism: How Women Have Betrayed Women and The War Against Boys. Sommers is an ardent opponent of those she calls “professional feminists’. She recently spoke out against the Paycheck Fairness Act in the US, claiming that there is no such thing as a wage gap between men and women.
Native Youth Leader, Jessica Yee.
Credit: Markham Street Films “…if I hear one more person say that they think that young women today don’t care about feminism, I’m gonna scream.”
-Jessica Yee
Jessica Yee – is the founder and Executive Director of the Native Youth Sexual Health Network and works with native youth across North America. She doesn’t believe in the waves but she sure believes that there is unfinished business.
Article from cbc.
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