As film script

Robyn Matthews As Film Script

Shot one: Opening credits, music compliment to shot.

      

                                                                        Scene one: Front room

Shot two: Mid shot of front door. To get a clear view of the dvd being posted. Shot then moves forward to a close up of the DVD.

Shot three: Mid shot of DVD case being opened and DVD removed and placed in DVD player.

Shot four: Close up of television. (Broken record sound affect, music compliment stops).

                                                                        Scene Two: Garden

Shot four: Worm shot of garden looking towards house progresses towards cat flap. (Foot steps sound affects).

Shot five: Close up of digital clock. (Crickets sound affects)

                                                                        Scene Three: Daily life

Shot five: Long shot from above. (Different music begins)

Biscuit: “Never a moment of peace in this house!”

Shot six: Over the shoulder shot of Biscuit.

Biscuit: “All these cameras following me about”

Shot seven: Birdseye view of kitchen floor. Cat food poured over floor.

Biscuit: “No. No. No. What are you doing? I’m hungry but that is really unsanitary I mean seriously… Gosh humans are so stupid!”

Shot eight: Long shot of Biscuit in garden

Biscuit: “Pretends to stare deeply in distance in hopes these fools leave me alone”

Shot nine: Long shot of Biscuit sitting on table

Biscuit: “Ok the classic sit on table this will annoy them”

Shot ten: Long shot of biscuit in kitchen.

Shot eleven: Wide shot of Biscuit lying sideways

Biscuit: “BALL! AAHH!!

Shot twelve: Worm shot, Biscuit plays with mouse toy.

Biscuit: Hehehe mouse hahaha so funny I’m dying ahh

Shot thirteen: Close up of Biscuits face

Shot fourteen: Long shot of biscuit on the table.

“Sigh”

Shot fifteen: Birdseye view of Biscuit eating

Biscuit: “God I eat too much might get diebeties,ahh well you get nine lives for a reason!”

Shot sixteen: Wide shot of Biscuit jumping through window , pans out to the right.

Biscuit: “lost about seven lives doing this stunt or was it eight ahh doesn’t matter?”

                                                                        Scene Four: The accident

Shot seventeen: Close up of calendar displaying text ‘The accident’

Shot eighteen: Mid shot of murderer picking up washing.

Shot nineteen: Long shot of biscuit walking up stair

Back to an upwards long shot of murderer walking down the stairs. Finishing in blackout.

Shot twenty: Wide shot of bedroom (Previous music stops, Church bell music compliment)

 Shot twenty one: Worm shot looking up the stairs

Shot twenty two: Birds eye view of kitchen flooring

Shot twenty three: Mid shot of stairs

Shot twenty four: Mid shot of dining room

-Credits-

Nebraska review draft £

Nebraska scene analysis 

Nebraska (2013) directed by Alexander Payne is a black and white comedic drama. An old Married man, Woody Grant and David Grant (Woody's son), played by Will Forte journey together through Woody's hometown to seek his million dollar prize.

 The entire film is in black and white. This cinematography isn't recognized as greatly in more modern films; I feel that it provides us with a more creative perspective to modern filming showing that new filming techniques don't compliment every film. Prior to this film The Artist (2011) was similarly a black and white film which won an oscar. As a result this may have inspired Alexander Payne to make the decision to use this affect in Nebraska. Alexander Payne said at the New York Film Festival, Autumn of 2013, "It's just so darn beautiful,". This monochrome affect also creates an incomplete feeling and makes me emphasize Woody's situation. Perhaps this cinematography was used to create an insight into Woody's perspective on life showing he may not see life to its full potential and this is also reimbursed by his fixation on this one goal. Another interpretation of this technique could be that due to Woody's deteriorating mental state he perceived to be an anthropoid: inhumane. I feel this way because most animals don't have the capability to see in color, he may be more animal like. An example of this is when Woody converses with David his expressions are very bland and mutual. therefor this justifies my interpretation as emotions are one of the main characteristics that make us individual as a species.

In the beginning of this scene there is a wide shot of the car coming towards the camera, (image 1), this connotes that they could be approaching their destination as the director chose not to shoot the car from behind. Alternatively they could be approaching the end of the film. Next the shot pans out the left which presents the rest of the road as it turns, thus displaying that their has been a change in direction for Woody and David. As an accompaniment to this shot slow, dreary music is played to reiterate the mood created in the previous scene.

(Image 1)

The next shot is inside the car we alter between a mid shot of David and Woody giving the affect that we are seeing things through the person not in shot's eyes: (image's 2&3). These shots are also in a shallow debt of field making the subject of the shot very clear in this case: Woody and David.  By doing this it provides a feeling of intimacy between us and the characters as we feel we are personally being spoken to; it is also suggesting that Woody being allowed to drive the car, which is the topic of conversation, is a matter not to be taken lightly and all their focus needs to be fixated on the most important thing at that current moment.

(image2)(image 3)

The performance in this scene is particularly good  the contrast in characters is clearly displayed through the dynamic changes in their vocals. Their thoughts are expressed in different ways as David is presented to be more extroverted; his feelings are clearly portrayed. Also his role of authority is unusual as he plays the son. Woody Grant on the other hand is described as "a man of few words" and his emotions are hard to read especially those towards David. David has a very enthusiastic tone which is amplified by his facial expressions and hand gestures. You see a lot of movement in his face in contrast to Woody who is very stiff and slow.

There next is a medium shot of the pair taken from the inside of the car (image 4). As Woody and David cross over the front of the car the camera is in a shallow debt of field again drawing your attention to Woody now becoming the driver. This connotes that Woody is now in control. Woody is now displayed as the superior character this connotes the progression of the characters and how their roles of leadship develop through the film. Alternatively it could display how David's connection and trust between himself and Woody has increased dramatically. After Woody returned from war his confidence was shattered and his independence was removed. He put all his emotions into driving and when his license was taken away from him so was his man hood. Now this opportunity to drive has arose he has returned to a fixed mental state of capability and maturity as his freedom has been returned. Essentially he been given the tools to recover from war at last.

(image 4)

Silence is in the background of the next few shots of Woody. This adds intensity to the situation; we also are clearly displayed the couples emotions through movements and facial expressions. A close up of woodys hand changing the gear stick into drive is shown and similarly a close up of his foot on the gas peddle close up's are used to make you aware of certain key movements with in scenes. They notify you of the important details about the characters to help you get a clearer understanding of their background with out telling you. Also it was used to make the viewer aware Woody is about to start driving. This connotes he is experiencing a form of anxiety driving the first time in a while. .

The music complement from the beginning of the scene continues as the car starts to move. As this music is slow and calming it reassures the viewer that David has faith in Woody which gives us satisfaction. The music also begins whenever the car is in motion which also denotes that driving is a good thing. This may be because it means the characters are continuing with their journey towards their evident destination. This could also show that Woody has now regained his independence after this was first taken away from him after he had returned for war. His confidence was shattered and now he is driving he feels as if he has regained his self esteem.

A long shot is used of one of Woody's friends, he quotes "Hey there, looking good Woody", this use of speech breaks the silence of verbal communication between the characters. This significantly also shows the viewer that driving gives him confidence again. He then makes a fast snap at David to "Get down." This is also the first quick determined decision he has made which furthermore adds to the progression of the character development. He could also be seen as cocky driving this van however the viewer emphasises with him as this is the first moment he has reached a goal on the entire film.

We then get a wide shot from outside the car. We see leaves being blown away by a gust of wind, (image 5). This connotes that all the confusion between the characters and allegations about this million dollar have been cleared up. A clean slate has subconsciously appeared for Woody as he can now leave this town once again at peace. The road also is being cleared for him as this happens resulting in any obstacles which may interfere with his driving being removed; this is showing that this scene is not meant to make you uneasy but give you a clam, happy atmosphere for the characters.

 

 

(image 5)

The next mid shot is taken from below, David's perspective (image 6). A shot like this shows superiority and confidence. It presents a figurative hierarchy between the characters as Woody is on top he is presented with the most power. We are looking up on him. Alternatively in contrast the next shot is taken from Woody's perspective at David,  taken from above it makes David look small and inferior giving him back the role as the son in this relationship. (image 7)
(image 7)                    (image 6)


The next shot is a mid shot of an old friend of Woody's whom he had conflict with previously in the film (image 8). The camera is moving whilst the shot is in focus showing he is being left behind as he approaches the end of the screen. He looks directly at the camera which is taken from the perspective of Woody with a confused expression. He cannot understand how Woody had received the truck after he was embarrassed and shown his pamphlet to be faux. At this point you realise the film wasn't about the money it was about the understanding of the more important things in life. The bonding with David had made him a richer man than anyone else in that town.

(image 8)

In the final shot you see a long shot of the car driving off into the horizon (image 9). The composition of this shot notifies us that all previous issues have been resolved as they are driving off to a new path. You also can't see where the road leads to which connotes that there is no fixed route for either Woody or David and both can go where ever they like as of now.

My Final Film

Biscuit film shots

Nebraska draft 2

AS film Robyn Matthews First draft

Nebraska (2013) directed by Alexander Payne is a black and white comedic drama with themes of insanity, love, nurture, jealousy and greed. An old Married man, Woody Grant, played by Bruce Dern is indefatigable in seeking his million dollar reward from a unofficial Pamphlet. 

At the beginning of my chosen scene there is a mid-shot of Woody’s son looking up at him. This initially implies to the viewer that he is above Woody physically and metaphorically. This technique is significant in defying the hierarchy of the film as it highlights the directors emotions on how the characters see each other and how they want to be portrayed. The next shot is of Woody, evidently the son is looking down on him while he is in the hospital bed giving the opposite effect from the previous shot. As these shots are consecutive it creates a larger contrast and creates a more vivid interpretation from the directors mind set and how the characters insecurities and displayed.

In these few shots the camera is steady showing that it is on a tripod. The shots alter between a mid-shot of the son, a mid shot of Woody and an over the shoulder shot of the son displaying the back off Woody’s head and the hospital bed. This last shot gives a sense of involvement with in the conversation and gives the viewer a sense of engagement.

This scene is in black and white. It isn't so common that modern day films will use this type of cinematography as modern film has developed the stereotype that the best films are the ones with the most CGI and biggest explosives and colour. However, for the film Nebraska, I agree that the monochrome affect seconded the message presented in the narrative.

Here is a mid shot of Woody Grant. I feel this shot particularly is very well thought out as Woody's facial expressions and emotions are clearly presented as he is looking straight past the cameraman. You can see the frustration in his face presumably caused by the lingering thought of his unclaimed prize. Behind him you can see the train tracks and at first sight you would assume he was in some sort of danger. This was purposely done by the director as he wanted to display how Woody's health and endless determination is putting him at risk. Furthermore the image blurs the further it goes into the distance insinuating that there is no way Woody can return from the state he is in as his past is no longer intact. His mental state is so fix stated on the present the past is only a blur to him. In addition the sky appears quite bright making Woody appear darker; this is unusual as this suggests Woody is also in a dark place and the light, possibly heaven, is creeping top behind him and he is unaware of his situation because he never looks behind.

This scene particularly has a comedic essence about it. David is searching for Woody’s teeth that he claims top have lost at the railway track.

David: Here they are!

Oh, wait, these aren’t yours.

Just kidding, here.

Woody: These are not mine.

David: Of course, if they are.

Who’s who else will be?

See if they fit.

Woody: These are not my teeth.

I know my own teeth

Of course they are my teeth!

Do not be an idiot.

David performs a humorous joke in saying they aren’t his fathers teeth which is comedic itself as who would lose their teeth in this particular area. However Woody begins to agree with David’s point even after David admits he was joking around. When I watched this it made me feel that Woody truly was crazy as his performance was so believable caused by his determination to stay with his original idea. However, the audience are fooled when he turns around and states “Of coarse they are my teeth! Do not be an idiot.” This was surprising as from the previous scenes you are assuming Woody’s mental state is incompatible of having a joke so when he quotes this we are all fooled. This made us all feel belittled and nonsensical which then makes us emphasize for Woody as this is how he is constantly feeling due to nobody listening to him. I feel this particular part of the script was well planned. It gives a comedic value to the film, which lifts the vibe of the current situation, but also it gives you a more personal understanding fro Woody and why he is like this.

My second Proposal

Documentary about the personal life and experiences of my cat. My documentary is going to be about the attitudinal problems of my cat and how he is affected everyday about his habitat and surroundings and how dependant his life is on others around him. He will be followed over a series of days and this will give us an inside into what he gets up to.

I am going to film this at home and i will use a variety of shot sizes. The most common one that i will be using is the over the shoulder shot as this will give a perspective from his point of view and allow the viewer to emphasise his situation.

This is going to be a collection of various shots and sizes exploring his daily activities whether it's eating, sleep or lying around. I am going to add some audio into the background as an accompliment. I aim to find a piece of classical music on my laptop as I feel this will create a comedic value for the silent movie. Further more to add plot to my short film I intend to start with a shot of a dvd being posted through the letter box and then this will be played on my television. Essential you will be watching an inception of films.

I also plan to create a climax to my plot to give the film debth and substance. As this is a silent movie I am going to have to be very particular with my shots and where I order them to convey the situation. I plan to display Biscuits death at the end of the film and this will be caused by an obect falling onto him.

The Selfish Ginat Analysis

Robyn Matthews the Selfish Giant analysis The Selfish Giant (2013) directed by Clio Barnard, written by Clio Barnard and Oscar Wilde. From the opening scenes I established that the narrative of this film is about two working class thirteen year old friends currently living with crime. In the opening scene the mis en scene is clearly thought out. The lighting is dimly lit to represent the emotions portrayed in the scene: anger and frustration. Furthermore this signifies that Conner Chapman, Arbor, is currently in a dark place justified by his aggressive actions as he bangs on the runs of the bed. His friend Swifty, played by Shaun Thomas, forcefully tries to calm Arbor down and contain his violent outburst. This appeared hard to do which shows that Arbor has a determined personality as he will not give up, however eventually Swifty tightly holds his hand and the director purposefully got a close up of this particular shot. This shot is very significant as we are alerted of the love and unity between the two boys and the power a simple hold of the hand has over some beings. This is a display of comfort as universally holding hands in a symbol of you not being alone…you are safe. The next scene is the two young boy riding on a hoarse by the train tracks over a bridge. Immediately this gives us some back ground information on where they come from and how they are brought up. The fact they are on top of this horse shows where their mindset is and perhaps they are a bit ahead of their time. In the past horses were ridden by nights defending the castle so suggestively they feel a need to present their authority. I have come to the conclusion that this is because they are in a dangerous place as not many 13 year old boys will be allowed out in the dead of night by themselves, so to accumulate a protective illusion they have sat on this hoarse to reassure themselves that this is an okay thing to do. The light is dimly lit in the scene also showing that the danger is not over. We have a clear view of two working middle aged men cutting a large piece of cable. The lighting tells us a lot about the danger. As it is dark we don’t have a clear view on the cast, therefore, their safety is blurred and what happens next cannot be foreshadowed. Arbor is then edged by Swifty to check out what is happening as this abnormal occurrence intrigued the boys. This resulted in Arbor stealing the cable and riding away with Swifty to his aid. This scene is very significant as we are exposed to what the boys feel is acceptable to do. The theme living with crime is clearly demonstrated to the audience. Next the boys bring the cables to a scrap yard where we discover they got the hoarse from. Immediately they are approached by a man with an axe and threatened but they barter with him showing the cables and later receive money for the merchandise. Here we see that people priorities money over safety and people are willing to risk their lives for a little bit of cash. In the next scene the boys return to Arbors home where we understand his living situation deeper. We see a basic kitchen which alerts us that this family is not very wealthy. The reduced in price cereal boxes and lack of equipment on the counter tell us this. We are made aware that Arbors mum is single and his brother and he are quite clearly the male dominants in the family. Their mother feels its acceptable to be spoken down to by her son as she is incapable of controlling him this may be because she hasn’t sorted her own life out. We are then made aware that Arbors anger issues are clearly because of a mental disorder called ADHD. This is made clear by the reference to his pills which justifies this assumption. We then as viewers, feel quite sympathetic for |Arbor and our once outraged emotions caused by his actions are softened as there is a logical reason to why this young man is so angry and disrespectful towards his family.