Storyboarding!

Sample of Replacement Storyboard

I found storyboarding for both Lights and Replacement a truly enjoyable experience. As DOP it is quite an important part of my role. Before I started storyboarding I went through each of the scripts and jotted down lots of ideas for shots. As I worked along side the Directors on the storyboards lots of new ideas came to me while we were really immersed in the story.

Sample of Lights Storyboard

Equipment Decisions...

I put a lot of thought into what specialist equipment will help me achieve the best visuals I can.

After discussing stylistic choices with the Directors I have chosen to use the 5D mkII camera to film on as it produces amazing looking footage. I also like using this camera and have used it before so I feel confident with it.

I want to use a lot of movement in both pieces as I think it makes a film look a lot more cinematic, one track I will use is the Wally Dolly, this will produce very slick and steady tracking shots.

I will also use the spider dolly for shots that need to curve or for tracking parts that are longer than the Wally Dolly’s reach. The spider dolly is still extremely smooth but works best on smooth surfaces.

To create POV shots and handheld shots I plan to use a shoulder mount that I have recently bought. This will also allow me to do some tracking shots that would not be that doable with either the wally or spider dolly and will allow me to achieve steady shots in precarious positions like being perched on the edge of a full bath.

Using a follow focus will enable me to perfect focus pulls a lot easier as I will be able to mark out the two separate focus points. It also makes focusing easier in general as it is on the side of the camera rather on the front where it is very easy to change the zoom instead.

For Replacement I will also be using a GoPro to get the shots from inside the bath.

For Lights I have purchased another piece of equipment, which is an LED headlight which will work outside without a generator and will enable us to light up Jessica’s face with ease. It come with a yellow filter also which will mimic the colours of the street lights.

Replacement Stylistic Research

As Replacement is a Black Comedy, I thought what better way to do my DOP research than to watch some movies, ahh it's a hard life!

Black Comedy

“Comedy that uses black humor; the juxtaposition of morbid and farcical elements (in writing or drama) to give a disturbing effect.”

Big Nothing (2006) - Jean-Baptiste Andrea

• Comedy is introduced quite early. He just misses stepping in the puddle, then the car window breaks causing him to drop his lunch and keys into the puddle.
• Gus’ use of swearing about the customer is amusing.
• You feel sympathetic of Gus when you learn that his daughter is going blind.
• Contrast between humour alongside depressing/violent scenes works well.
• Quick paced shots used a lot.
• Accentuated audio, very basey.
• Whip pans used, could work really well for Replacement.
• Very face driven, lots of close up shots of characters.
• Funny/lively/upbeat music is key.
• Split screen - I really like this, could work really well for Replacement, showing facial expressions of everyone when Monica is getting angry? Showing how efficient Kathleen is (making breakfast etc).
• I like the use of drawing when they are discussing the plan, it is a very effective way to illustrate something that has not happened yet.
• Everything keeps going wrong for them, their plan is not working out how they would like. (Funny)
• Shot from outside the house - audio of gunshot and flash of light to illustrate the gunshot without showing it. 
• Music is very important to the feel of the film, we need to make sure we find great music, upbeat and contrasting against the content.
• People getting the wrong end of the stick, crossed wires.
• Things spiral horribly out of control - Replacement, bath etc.
• The ceiling is leaking and it drips onto Jesus, it makes it look like he is crying. This could be something quite amusing to use in Replacement for when the ceiling is leaking?
• Amusing language is used throughout in quite inappropriate places, “Holy Moley!”, “Who says ‘Holy Moley‘?“, “Is it important right now?!”
• Funny useless facts from Charlie throughout.
• Lots of twists and surprises in the plot.

Fargo (1996) - The Coen Brothers

• Things keep going wrong.
• Music is upbeat
• Black comedy - things do not go according to the protagonists plan.
• In 2006 it was deemed “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant” and inducted into the United States National Film Registry.

Keeping Mum (2005) - Niall Johnson

• Shows back story - 43 years earlier. Amusing that she is on a train with bodies in her trunk, she shows no remorse.
• Upbeat music
• Dysfunctional family
• Makes the audience think, has she killed the dog? Everyone loves that it is quiet. The owner is searching for his pet.
• Football match, funny because he is hopeless at being goal keeper.
• Grace sabotages the kids bikes. We, as the audience know that it is wrong that she has done this but it is funny, especially with the use of the ‘magic word‘ broccoli.
• Rev looking at the jokes online to improve his sermons - amusing.
• The family’s dysfucionalism is getting better thanks to Grace’s meddling, “My son is rid of his bullies, my husband is a comedian and my nymphomaniac daughter has discovered cooking. It’s coming along.”
• Man looking for his dog, witnesses Grace burying it and meets an untimely death. The way it is shot is amusing, you see the old lady brandishing the spade and then just audio (which is almost a comedy noise).
• Shot like a normal comedy.
• Comical to see an old lady kill.
• “Mum’s the word dear.”
• It’s wrong that she has killed people but she has sorted the family out.
• At the end it pans down and you see the water men dead in the pond with the other bodies - like Mother like Daughter.
• The comedy aspect allows you to accept the black side more than you would normally - you empathise with the protagonist. It almost makes the terrible acts seem ok.

Shaun of the Dead (2004) - Edgar Wright

• First Rom Com Zom
• Quick cuts - getting ready, making breakfast. Zooms in on action/object (is it done in post?) Would work really well with Replacement when used for Kathleen.
• Nice use of vibrant colours, more so in the beginning. Reds show up a lot, need to choose a colour for a theme for Replacement. 
• Comedy is very obvious in this film, it is not as serious as some black comedies. 
• Shaun is oblivious to the Zombies and blood when he goes to the shop - amusing.
• Music is very upbeat - duke box playing Queen.
• Sound effects used with camera movements, swooshing etc.
• Touching moments between Shaun, his Mum and Step Dad.
• People die which shows the depressing part.
• Whip pans used quite a lot.

Visual Style

4.3.2.1 (2010) - Noel Clarke

         

I really like the colour used in this piece and think it would work well for replacement. I like how the natural colours are accentuated and ‘pop’ with quite a bit of contrast. Hopefully I will be able to re create  a look similar to this.

Magic (2011) - John Williams

I think that the colour grade on this ‘coming up’ TV drama would work for Replacement, the colours are vibrant and this fits the style of black comedies.

Fresh Meat (2011) - Sam Bain, Jesse Armstrong

This popular TV series about freshers at University uses camera angles realy well, it uses a lot of character driven angles which would work well for Replacement. I also think the colour is quite nice, it looks very natural.

Lights Stylistic Research

Jessica is afraid of the dark, she has an obsessive compulsive need to surround herself with light and throughout this piece you see how much this affects her. As DOP I need to show Jessica’s increasing anxiety through building the tension with the visuals. I have watched some films and TV dramas to help find some ways to do this.

Anxiety: “Distress or uneasiness of mind caused by fear of danger or misfortune.”

Tension: “Mental or emotional strain; intense, suppressed suspense, anxiety, or excitement.”

Five Minutes of Heaven (2009) - Oliver Hirschbiegel

• Looking down the lens
• Low budget
• Loud, accentuated real audio
• Breathing clear the whole way through - this is very poignant and I think will work really well for lights     
• Mirror shot
• Camera is like someone’s view point (POV) jerky, looking at an important object like the audience is another person bringing them in and building tension.
• Quick cuts
• Repetitive sounds                  
• Music builds tension, then suddenly cuts
• Close up of face, centred
• After killing goes to a party - juxtaposition
• Extreme wides - could work for Jessica running with light bulbs
• Nice use of silence alongside movement
• Lots of shots of hands
• Movement in most of the shots                   
• Changing pace - fast to slow
• Repetition - need to repeat things like the tapping and turning bracelet in lights
• Suppressed emotion
• Very moving monologue - this will work well for lights too
• Repeats hiding the gun in front of the mirror and hiding the knife in front of the mirror
• Music with a heartbeat rhythm to it
• Something there, look away, look back and it has gone
• Pan to reveal something
• Slow track and tilt to show them on the floor/street below

Red Riding Hood (2011) - Catherine Hardwicke

• Lots of dark scenes
• ‘Watching’ shots, from a distance
• Implying she is being watched                
• Tension building music
• Heightened breathing
• Nice colour grade                       
• Great use of lighting, especially at night
• Lots of close up of eyes
• Quick cuts

The Woman in Black (2012) - James Watkins

• Lots of mist used - scary unknown ahead
• Slow paced most of the film and then get quicker at the scary parts - builds up tension really well
• Silence used really effectively                            
• Freaky objects - dolls and children toys
• De saturated colour grade
• The scary bits happen mostly at night when he cannot get away     
• The flashs of shadows work really well and make the audience jump. This could work for the ‘monster’ in lights
• Things appear near him that the audience can see and he can’t.This could also be a good technique that would work for lights             
• Sound is key to building tension in this film
• Things move suddenly and make you jump

Memento (2000) - Christopher Nolan

• Slow paced
• Makes the audience think about the story
• Black and white and colour for different times - the story going in different directions             
• Clues as you go along
• The audience is finding things out as he does, draws them in to the film                                        
• Tattoos to remember things
• The fact that he does not know what has happened builds tension and anxiety                                             
• Are people lying to him?
• The pace works really well
• Nice use of flashbacks

Visual Styles

Food (2011) - Jonathan Van Tulleken

The colour grade of this ‘coming up’ programme would work really well for lights, it is de-saturated and looks almost inky with lots of blue tones. The use of light in dark parts is really effective. Extreme close ups with shallow depth of field would add a great look for the repetitive shots of the bracelet etc.

Home (2011) - Baff Akoto

Another ‘coming up’ programme that I think the style of will work well for lights, the use of shallow depth of field with lights blurred in the background is really effective amoung other things.

Misfits (2009) - Howard Overman

As well as being a massive fan of the content of this TV series I am also love the way it looks. It was one of the first TV dramas to use the de-saturated colour grade with lots of contrast and very shallow depth of field. The dark bluey inky tone of the shadows contrasted against the oranges in the jumpsuits makes a really great colour pallete, I think blue and orange/yellow of the street lamps could work for lights. If I manage to produce a piece just a fraction as good as this visually I will be happy.

Channel 4s Coming Up Brief

“Coming Up 2011 showcases seven original new dramas from some of the UK’s most exciting emerging film-makers”

As DOP I found watching the ‘coming up’ dramas an extremely interesting, insightful and useful exercise. I like being able to see how dramas are progressing visually with the new directors. Watching these dramas also enables me to fit my style within the correct margins for this brief.

Rough Skin

Director - Cathy Brady | DOP - Tim Palmer

“After nine months in prison, Kelly struggles to adjust to life outside. Back in the family home with her mother Linda, Kelly is determined to start anew. But the foundations of their relationship are shaken to the core when her mother uncovers her closely guarded secret.”

• Cinema scope - I am a big fan of the look created by the cinema scope, I have used it in my last piece and will be advising the Directors to use it for our 5-minute dramas
• A lot of movement in the shots - could be a hand held rig? I want to use a rig for parts of the dramas we are doing, I think it makes the piece look more cinematic, but subtly.
• Nice use of scenic establishing shots
• De-saturated colour - I really like the look created by a slightly desaturated colour grade, it seems to be very popular at the moment, whether in TV, Film, Videos on Vimeo etc. I think this could work well for the dramas.
• Shallow depth of field - this again I think is a good technique to making a video look more cinematic, shallow depth of field like in this piece can be achieved using a Canon 5D mkII (I am pretty sure I will use one of these!)
• There are a lot of close ups of faces in this piece.

Home

Director - Baff Akoto | DOP - Tim Palmer

“Homeless couple Tommy and Mary search for the enigmatic Howie, a friend from the streets who has seemingly disappeared. As they dig deeper on their quest, new, unsettling truths emerge.”

• Cinema scope
• Quite a lot of hand held shots - I think this is a good device to help draw the audience in to the story.
• Shallow depth of field
• De-saturated colour grade - matching the gritty subject matter.
• Nice use of lighting, especially at night and in the garage.
• Excellent camera movement - the camera moves with the character almost so subtly that it is unnoticeable. I hope to achieve a similar level of camera operation.
• Powerful face shots of the characters.

Micah

Director - John Maidens | DOP - David Marsh

“Martha is retiring to Nigeria and must entrust her beloved home to one of her sons. Golden boy Micah is enraged when his errant brother Malachi returns laying his claim on the house.”

• Cinema scope
• Shallow depth of field
• Really camera movement, pans tracks etc
• Similar music the whole way through
• Ends on an extreme close up of Micah’s eyes - very powerful
• 
  

Food

Director - Jonathan Van Tulleken | DOP - Tim Palmer

“In the near future, a catastrophic food crisis has led to the collapse of British society and the rise of extremism. An official from the ailing government goes on an odyssey to find the leader of the dominant far-right party, intent on ending the madness and inhumanity.”

• Cinema scope
• Effective use of subtitles
• Very shallow depth of field
• Lots of extreme close ups - these work really well when showing actions of the characters in an interesting way, eg. opening the peaches, removing the fish guts.
• De-saturated colour grade
• Really good use of lighting in low light conditions.
• Quite a lot of movement - hand held, tracks etc

Magic

Director - John Williams | DOP - Felix Wiedemann

“The local branch of magic enthusiasts suspect that their chairwoman Felicity has some involvement in the death of their favourite magician. So when she suggests a dramatic and spectacular finale for the society, the members resolve to stop Felicity at any cost.”

• No cinema scope
• Bright colours that pop, could work well for replacement?
• Nice use of zooms, track forwards and pans
• Lots of face shots
• Animation used for the re-enactment

Geronimo

Director - Nele Hecht | DOP - David Marsh

“When Jim’s illicit dealings threaten the family haulage business, son Barry has the chance to help his father. But will he sacrifice his own beliefs to save business and their relationship?”

• Cinema Scope
• Slightly desaturated colour grade - makes the piece look grimy and gritty to fit theme
• Shallow depth of field
• A lot of steady hand held shots adding nice cinematic movement

Hooked

Director - Henry Darke | DOP - David Marsh

“Prepared to go to any lengths to halt the ravages of age, Maggie seeks help from her daughter Yolanda. This unlikely olive branch gives Yolanda the opportunity to confront her mother and resolve her own obsessive behaviour.”

• Cinema scope
• Slight de-saturation to the colours but with an orange tint in places (inside the flat)
• Camera moves with the character
• Most shots have at least slight movement - handheld
• Nice composition throughout - using thirds and centring where appropriate
• Really effective use of mirror shots

Looking at all of these films side by side I can see a new style of TV emerging. It is clear that more than ever new Directors are striving to get a ‘cinematic’ look to their work, through the use of cinema scope, colour grading, shallow depth of field and using lots of movement in the shots. I can safely say I am a big fan of both David Marsh and Tim Palmers cinematography styles and I think I will be using some of their techniques in the future.