Introdution to film making

    

Film is a complex text form. The reason for its complexity is that film includes aspects of spoken and visual text forms and can even sometimes include written text forms. It is important to learn each aspect of film so that we can get the most out of viewing films. Before you view a film, think about the effort that goes into making a film. Even a short film can take months to make. The following is a shortened version of the process.

    An idea needs to be pitched (proposed/sold) to the producers. (Films are very expensive to make - they can cost millions of dollars - and the producers will fund the production.)

    If the producers accept the pitch then a script writer/s will need to write the script - this could be hundreds of pages long.

    Once the script is finished, the producers will need to employ a director and a cinematographer who will decide how the script will be presented.

    This will involve a storyboard (much like a comic script) detailing every change of camera angle and shot and movement of actors. (Think about how long this would take! Next time you watch a film, try counting how many times the camera moves.)

    Filming locations will then have to be found. This could involve extensive travel and lots of paper-work in an attempt to find the right place and to obtain the rights to film in particular places.

    A casting crew will need to be hired to find suitable actors for all the parts. Remember, in a film there are many more actors than just the main ones to find. This casting crew will have strict guidelines from the director about what type of actors to hire.

    Sound technicians, lighting experts, catering crews, transportation experts, costume designers and make-up artists will all need to be hired.

    Each scene then needs to be filmed. Whether a shoot goes ahead or not will be dependent on the weather. The director will need to make sure that he informs the actors exactly how to act and where to stand, the sound technicians will need to organise sound equipment, cameramen need to be in position, lighting needs to be set up, make-up on all the actors and costumes prepared in advance. All this needs to happen at the same time for a scene, possibly as short as 30 seconds.

    Even after the labour-intensive task of shooting the film, the work is not yet finished.The editor needs to go through hours and hours of film and decide, with the director, the best shots and how to put all the scenes together.

    A sound technician and musician (possibly with the help of orchestras or bands) need to organise both the diegetic sound (sound that happens on screen) and non-diegetic sound (sound that happens off screen) in coordination with the editor and director to make sure it matches the film.

All this with very little mention of the money involved. Film-making certainly is a huge effort in co-ordination and it is the director's responsibility to ensure that everything runs smoothly.

Types of film

There are numerous types of films. A narrative feature is the feature film that you may often view in a cinema or on DVD at home. The narrative implies a story with a similar structure to a written narrative. Other films that you might be asked to analyse include documentaries, short films, advertisements and even film clips. Many directors begin their careers with short films, advertisements and film clips.

Genre

You should also be aware of genre in films.Most of the films that you view belong to a genre (or type of film). There are many different types of genres and many different aspects to genres. We will focus on the differences in narrative (plot) and some of the features according to characters and setting of just some genres.

Genre

Action

The central concern is a clash or complication between two physical powers.

Horror

The central clash or complication is the need to overcome a supernatural power or monster.

Romance

The central clash or complication is one or two characters' desire to win or keep love.

Comedy

The central clash or complication results in hilarity.

Adventure

The central clash or complication is where characters encounter a new world/s.

Epic

The central clash or complication is between great powers or involves changes of historical proportions.

Science fiction (sci-fi)

Any film that is set in an imagined world that is loosely scientifically possible.

Drama

The central clash or complication involves overcoming injustices of the world.

Thriller

The central clash or complication is to overcome a fierce and dangerous character who is out to kill the main character.