Film Project Planning Research- Black Mirror Playtest S2 Ep.3

Although Black Mirror is a television series, the episode Playtest focuses on the idea of as simulation which is why we are researching it to benefit our film making.  In the first two minutes, the story of a man moving away from home is shown and him flying outside the country.  The episode foreshadows by having him refuse to turn off his cell phone while playing a video game.  There is shot of him walking down the stairs and his shadow covers his family's portrait. This wide shot expresses the true hardship of him leaving home.  The editing used for the title of the episode of Playtest is very video-game in the font and the way it blinks on the screen.  This helps the viewer understand that the episode will be about some sort of game.  When the man is leaving his house, incidental music is played to underline the mood of the first two minutes.  Through mis-en-scene, the lighting is very dim to show the solemn mood of the episode.  No jobs were feature, but this is because it is a television series not a film.  Season 2's budget for Black Mirror was 2.4 million US dollars, and they made a total profit of 40 million US dollars from Netflix. Playtest was nominated for a British Academy Film & Television Award in best visual and graphic effects.While planning the film, researching television episodes that focus on simulations will further my research.  Although it is not a film, the television episode Playtest benefits the idea of a simulation and how the first two minutes of our film can be expressed.

Film Project Planning Research- The Hunger Games

While planning the film project, I'm looking at films in the same genre.  The Hunger Games is a science fiction and Utopian fiction which helps me when researching for the project. In the first two minutes of the film, the Hunger Games is described by picking two tributes from every district.  It is seen the people in the capital versus Katniss and her sister in District 12.  The camera shots help detail the poverty and despair of District 12 with over-the-shoulder shots of Prim Rose crying in Katniss's arms, and a close-up on Prim Rose's expression.  The editing used through cross-cutting showed the very distinct difference between the capitol and District 12.  The sound of a crowd listening to the talk show helped establish many enjoy watching The Hunger Games.  The mis-en-scene used through the costuming aspect gives the audience the understanding that the capitol was rich in fancy clothing while District 12 was poor in rags and worn-out dresses.  No jobs are featured in the opening two minutes, but a shot synopsis of the drawing of tributes is featured.  The film's budget was 78 million US dollars and they made over 200 million in the box office. The movie has been awarded with many nominations varying from places such as MTV, People's Choice, etc.  Therefore, when planning my film project it is essential to look at successful movies such as the Hunger Games in my genre of film to get a better understanding of how to execute the first two minutes.

Film Project Planning Research-The Matrix

The film we are creating is a science fiction based around the idea of a simulation.  One of the most iconic simulation based movie was created in 1999 and had a series of movies created in the early 2000's, this movie is called, "The Matrix".  In the first two minutes the audience meets Trinity who has just don't something illegal and is caught red-handed by the cops.  This leads to Trinity fighting off the cops and running away from the men in suits.  The first 2 minutes offered an establishing shot of the cops looking for Trinity in a very eerie apartment complex.  There is an over the shoulder shot showing the high number of cops shining flashlights and weapons at Trinity's back.  The editing of used on the computer made it seem as if the audience was going into the computer adding a suspense in the first 2 minutes.  The dialogue spoken by one of the men in suits says, "The orders were for your protection.". This adds a suspense element to the cops and men trying to catch Trinity.  Incidental music was played while Trinity ran away from the men in suits which added a danger and suspense element to the runaway sequence. The costuming used for men in suits and glasses makes them look out of the ordinary and mysterious, when compared to the traditional uniform worn by all of the cops. No jobs were featured in the opening credits, but  the Warner Brothers and Village Roadshow Pictures logos were featured.  The Matrix's budget was set at 63 million US dollars and made 463.5 million US dollars.  The film received many awards at the Oscars in 2000 such as best film editing,best sound, and best effects.The film won may other titles besides the Oscars at many other film ceremonies.  While analyzing the first two minutes of, "The Matrix", it will help furthermore my planning for the film project.

Project Selection- My Decision

Upon deciding my media studies project, I have chosen the film project because it fascinates me more so than the magazine project.  My skills include prior to script writing and on-camera acting classes. I love the art of acting which holds film-production at a higher stamina than print media in the form of a magazine.  The film would be about a simulation and a man figuring out what is real and whether or not his life is even real. Our film would be in the genre of science fiction because  it incorporates the characteristics of science  such as scientists, technology, and the idea of a simulation.However, it is fiction because life is not a simulation.   I will be working in a group with three others-Carl Fedora, Victor Garcia, and Mary-Margaret Steber. All three members have experience in film which add to the skills of our group.  Specifically, Carl would contribute to the filming aspect by providing the necessary camera and editing skills. Victor would contribute heavily to the editing of the film and the actual filming of the movie. Mary-Margaret has had siblings who have taken Media Studies before which means she knows how the project will run.  She will help with finding the appropriate actors and actresses to star in our film. I will provide the adequate script that fits everybody's expectations in my group, and I will coach the actors on how to portray the appropriate emotion during filming.  With a group of four, everybody will be dependent on each other and the different jobs that will dependent on the film being produced.

Project Selection-Film

Upon deciding my project, I'm taking in consideration that making a film has always interested me which adds value to perusing the film project.  However, creating a film also creates a lot of problems.  As seen in the documentary behind the film production of, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, many problems occurred which affected all areas of the movie ranging from the cast to the editing room.  The film did fix these problems which resulted in a happy ending for the film and all those who watched it.  This poses a threat to choosing the film project because prior history of movie-making proves that dire problems can occur that can affect the movie.  Although, when working with a group of peers on the film crisis would be resolved quickly with many minds at work.  I would bring the strength of prior acting knowledge of film with experience in theater and many years of on-camera acting classes.  However, the challenge of the film would be the editing of the movie because I have never learned how to edit.  Thus, choosing the film project would show my strengths as well as challenges which could result in problems.

Project Selection-Magazine

Print journalism is an interesting aspect of informing the media which fascinates myself. As seen in the movie, All the President's Men , the journalists Bernstein and Woodward were given the story of exposing Richard Nixon and the men involved in the Watergate scandal.  The journalists in the movie showed that print media is the watchdog for the public eye.  Exposing foul movements of the government interests me because it is all done through writing in the form of print journalism.  I could choose the magazine project because I love writing and interviewing to find the real truth for the public.  However, it would be extremely hard to expose the truth in Sarasota where there is nothing to expose about the local government and I have no connections.  Although, not all forms of print media are about exposing government there are a multitude of other topic areas to choose from for the magazine option.  These different topic areas would still pose an issue to where I would interview people for my magazine. Therefore, the magazine option from prior knowledge of print media and my own skills possesses opportunity for my project as well as dead ends.