Research into Short Film Companies

Channel 4's Random Acts

Channel 4 have their own segments of air time after advertisements that is solely based on showing and promoting short films and their makers. This air time is called 'Channel 4's Random Acts'. Being broadcasted on Channel 4, the short films are often of an abstract, artistic style and representing the directors views on something.

The Mob Film Company

The Mob Film Company are a media based company, that are part of the Red Arrow Entertainment Group, that create a variety of different films and moving image pieces to express their creativity and offer interesting advertisements and visuals for other media companies (such as products in need of advertising). They also focus strongly on culture and international commissioners. They create lot of short films, basing their purpose on  creating high quality videos and trying to look and be as professional as possible, without being a major production company.

Initial Planning Ideas for my Short Film

I am planning to make a short Film Noir movie, including the codes and conventions of generic Film Noir as well as parodying iconic film noir scenes.

The short film is most probably going to be a comedy film, with the same sort of humour as in 'Dead Men Dont Wear Plaid'.

The narrative would follow the story of a Private Detective (who would be a generic new york detective, wearing suspenders, fedora, trench coat etc. he'd also have a stubble beard.)

The first scene would most probably be of the detective walking from the shadow into the light, smoking (in the rain hopefully, if not we might just make the floor wet to reflect the lights). We'd most likely be filming at night, with strong lights to make the footage made up of extreme black and extreme white. The audio would be a non-diagetic narration by the detective.

The second scene would be of him in his office, also which this extreme black and white. A woman would walk in, with a light behind her shining through the doorway to show her as a silhouette. This would instantly portray her as a dangerous character who is going to end up putting the detective into trouble. The only shots of her that wont be silhouettes would be of her hands and lips, as she'll be smoking. The audio here would be made up of diagetic voices.

Conventions of Film Noir

Influences of Film Noir

Photography of Locations

Production Log: 15/06/13

As my dad is in an acting group, and they have recently done a play set in the 1930's, I decided am definitely going to make my short film a Film Noir. I will be able to get adult actors, with years of acting experience, in 1930's costumes and also get appropriate props for the era, to be able to set the film in the 1930's-1940's. Looking at previous years short films, the fact that most of them have used teenage actors and have set them in modern suburbia makes them look like amateur, student films rather than a genuine, well-done short film. Hopefully, due to being able to create a period set and have decent actors in period costume, mine wont look amateur. 

As Film Noir movies are conventionally set in New York or Chicago, I went Location around London today for any buildings that appear to be Art deco, for future reference from when I actually come to scripting and then filming the short film. This is possibly the best one I got that day, however I need to be careful to not catch anyone or anything modern in the shot if I am to actually use this. 

Film Noir Mood Board

History of Short Film

Potential props, people, places etc. for video

Actors:

• Marshall Mallow- Craig Cameron-Fisher
• Lotta Clevage- Mandy Gasson

Props:

• Venetian Lattice Blinds
• Lamps
• Door
• Desk
• Cludo Board
• Cigarettes
• Matches
• Blank Firing Gun
• Vintage Radio
• Vintage Books
• Vintage Stapler
• Vintage File Case
• Vintage Pens/Pencils

Mallows's Costume:

• Blue Shirt
• Blaser with matching trousers
• Worn out Smart shoes
• Tie
• Suspenders
• Gun Holster
• Black Fedora
• Black trench coat

Clevage's Costume:

• Red Satin Dress
• Black Wig in 1930's/40's style
• 30's style Hat
• High heels
• Necklace

Locations:

• Detectives Office- 37 Vicarage Way, Colnbrook, Slough
• New York Back Alley- Fullers Brewery, Chiswick
• Underground Tunnel- Greenwich Tunnel

Pitch for my Idea

Summary of Pitch

• I plan to create a short film.

• I want to replicate conventions of Film Noir.

• I shall research more closely into the genre to gain a greater knowledge of the genre of Film Noir so that I can.

• My reason for doing Film Noir is due the fact that I know a lot of actors in theater who have access to props and costumes which are apt for the genre and the era that I am trying to replicate/create.

• I have access to antiques to help dress the set to make sure that nothing in shot is modern; for example a vintage radio, a vintage office chair and a vintage desk.

• There are a few props that I need to purchase, such as a globe and model plane for the films ident (which I need to have the company name 'A One Rehearsal Production' printed onto the globe), a door with a glass panel (with the detectives name printed onto the glass panel) etc.

• I also want to create a Film Noir short as it is more original in terms of what most people make when creating a short film. As most students use their friends the quality of acting tends to be limited, as does their accessibility to props and costumes. Due to this, their narratives tend to be basic so as I have access to actors, props and costumes I feel that to replicate Film Noir isn't out of my reach.

Production Log: 05/06/13

At the beginning of this course, I decided that I wanted to do a short movie rather than a music video due fact that I have more of a passion for film, and hope to one day go into the film industry. When I was thinking of ideas as to what style of short film I'd want to do, I decided it best to watch some short film on YouTube for inspiration and a general idea of the way a short film is structures; as it appeared hard to me before how an entire narrative can be played out in such a short duration. I am a huge fan of Ridley Scott's Blade Runner, not only for it's gripping narrative but also for it's more aesthetic qualities. Since first ever watching it, I was blown away by it's interesting, neo-Noir lighting effects that are forever present in the movie. It reminded me of a short film that I was shown years ago called Batman: Dead End, which also used these lighting techniques. I hope to be able to use interesting lighting techniques in my short film to create stylized shots. I will most probably create a Film Noir as I know actors who will have suitable costumes and props accurate for the Film Noir period.