Format Research
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Beginning:
Chronologically, starting at the beginning of the film, it is very typical to see the title card of the film as a form of marketing. It links to the cohesive marketing aspect of the project. This is because of the brand identity created with the film and this is usually what is seen on products made by synergetic relationships between companies. Some credits also role to show some of the actors that are featuring in the film. This is used because if the audience didn’t already know who was in the film and was sceptical about watching the film, seeing some familiar names may entice them to continue watching. Furthermore, the production companies involved are also always shown, this is a method of marketing their other products.
Beginning:
Chronologically, starting at the beginning of the film, it is very typical to see the title card of the film as a form of marketing. It links to the cohesive marketing aspect of the project. This is because of the brand identity created with the film and this is usually what is seen on products made by synergetic relationships between companies. Some credits also role to show some of the actors that are featuring in the film. This is used because if the audience didn’t already know who was in the film and was sceptical about watching the film, seeing some familiar names may entice them to continue watching. Furthermore, the production companies involved are also always shown, this is a method of marketing their other products.
Form Conventions - Production Companies:
Typically, almost every film regardless of the genre will have a starting sequence that contains all production companies involved in the making of the film. The purpose of this is to promote and give recognition to the companies involved. This aspect of the film gives a genuine feel to it, the fact that there are companies that have horizontally converged in order to create this piece of media. This isn’t always the case however, as some of the time there are media conglomerates that are able to produce the film without any outside help, also known as vertical convergence. For our indie project, it is very unlikely that we would be able to produce this from vertical convergence. For this reason the companies that we show will be a long list of many different companies specialising in many different areas of media.
Form Conventions - Title Card and Starting Credits:
Following the production companies, conventionally the next thing that is shown is the title card of the film and the starting credits which announce the staring characters in the film. In higher budget films, emphasis is usually put on the more well known actors to keep the audience gripped. This is still a method used in films with lesser known actors because it is a chance for the audience to remember the actors name. Title cards are a huge convention in films but they are more commonly seen in television programmes because the show is often reoccurring and it becomes iconic for that show. The same can be said for films that have prequels and sequels such as Star Wars, however, this isn’t a convention for dramas or short films so I think we should try to avoid this.
Following the production companies, conventionally the next thing that is shown is the title card of the film and the starting credits which announce the staring characters in the film. In higher budget films, emphasis is usually put on the more well known actors to keep the audience gripped. This is still a method used in films with lesser known actors because it is a chance for the audience to remember the actors name. Title cards are a huge convention in films but they are more commonly seen in television programmes because the show is often reoccurring and it becomes iconic for that show. The same can be said for films that have prequels and sequels such as Star Wars, however, this isn’t a convention for dramas or short films so I think we should try to avoid this.
Content:
After the beginning of the film, when the title card and starting credits have rolled through, the content of the film itself is screened. I will now explore some of the conventions of the film that makes a social realistic drama look and feel the way that they do when we consume them. Some of the things that make the film feel the way they do are lighting, characters, story and some other.
Form Conventions - Lighting:
In the majority of other drama short films, they are mostly low key lighting. The feeling that the consumer gets when seeing this low key lighting is a dark, hopeless feeling. This feeling can often correspond and relate to the story of the main protagonist in the film. The significance of the low key lighting is that it creates a mood before any of the story has even been revealed. Furthermore, it also indicates a minimalist approach because it is suggesting a lack of hope and a dull feeling. In our short film, we plan on sticking to these conventions because although it may set a negative mood, it can complement the story without the audience realising it.
Form Conventions - Story:
Typically, there are too main ways around telling a story. The first is to tell the audience the full story through the portrayal of many different characters and let the audience decide how they feel about the events shown. The second way is to tell a very small portion of the story and allow the audience to either ask questions which make them want to get more into the community of the film or to fill in the blanks with what they think may have happened. When done correctly, both ways are effective but my group and I are going to opt for the second approach because we have all agreed these are the type of films that we prefer. Also, in a very short 5 or so minutes it will be difficult to tell the full story of any character so this is the more practical approach.
Form Conventions - Settings:
There are not really any set conventions for the setting of a drama short film. In the examples that I have seen, the setting has ranged from a big city to a theme park. For this reason there are no set locations. However, social realistic films are always in a real setting, it is never a fantastical setting. We will definitely follow this form convention because not only will it be impractical to have to try and figure out how we will create a fantasy setting for free, it wouldn’t make sense to the story
Form Conventions - Characters:In order to make a film feel the way it does, regardless of the genre, there are characters that reappear in every film. This idea was theorised by Vladimir Propp. He suggested that each film contains these different character types:
•Villain – Fights against the hero.
•Hero – Often the main character.
•Donor – Gives the hero something to aid their quest.
•Princess (reward) – Won when the quest is completed.
•Helper – Stays alongside the hero throughout the quest.
Often, these character types do not have to be an actual characters, for example the princess could be an object or a feeling, the helper could be an animal of some sort. This is likely the structure we will follow when creating characters because they generally are the main components of a film.
After the beginning of the film, when the title card and starting credits have rolled through, the content of the film itself is screened. I will now explore some of the conventions of the film that makes a social realistic drama look and feel the way that they do when we consume them. Some of the things that make the film feel the way they do are lighting, characters, story and some other.
Form Conventions - Lighting:
In the majority of other drama short films, they are mostly low key lighting. The feeling that the consumer gets when seeing this low key lighting is a dark, hopeless feeling. This feeling can often correspond and relate to the story of the main protagonist in the film. The significance of the low key lighting is that it creates a mood before any of the story has even been revealed. Furthermore, it also indicates a minimalist approach because it is suggesting a lack of hope and a dull feeling. In our short film, we plan on sticking to these conventions because although it may set a negative mood, it can complement the story without the audience realising it.
Form Conventions - Story:
Typically, there are too main ways around telling a story. The first is to tell the audience the full story through the portrayal of many different characters and let the audience decide how they feel about the events shown. The second way is to tell a very small portion of the story and allow the audience to either ask questions which make them want to get more into the community of the film or to fill in the blanks with what they think may have happened. When done correctly, both ways are effective but my group and I are going to opt for the second approach because we have all agreed these are the type of films that we prefer. Also, in a very short 5 or so minutes it will be difficult to tell the full story of any character so this is the more practical approach.
Form Conventions - Settings:
There are not really any set conventions for the setting of a drama short film. In the examples that I have seen, the setting has ranged from a big city to a theme park. For this reason there are no set locations. However, social realistic films are always in a real setting, it is never a fantastical setting. We will definitely follow this form convention because not only will it be impractical to have to try and figure out how we will create a fantasy setting for free, it wouldn’t make sense to the story
Form Conventions - Characters:In order to make a film feel the way it does, regardless of the genre, there are characters that reappear in every film. This idea was theorised by Vladimir Propp. He suggested that each film contains these different character types:
•Villain – Fights against the hero.
•Hero – Often the main character.
•Donor – Gives the hero something to aid their quest.
•Princess (reward) – Won when the quest is completed.
•Helper – Stays alongside the hero throughout the quest.
Often, these character types do not have to be an actual characters, for example the princess could be an object or a feeling, the helper could be an animal of some sort. This is likely the structure we will follow when creating characters because they generally are the main components of a film.
Ending:
At the end of the film, typically the conflict is resolved and then the credits begin to role. In the credits, all of the people involved in the production of the film have their names listed. The title card is also often shown again at this point. Typically, the longer and bigger the film is, the longer the credits will last in order to showcase each person’s and company’s name.
In conclusion, there are a wide range of aspects in order to make a film feel the way it does. I think we will be sticking very close to the conventional form of films, in order to make our film feel professional.
At the end of the film, typically the conflict is resolved and then the credits begin to role. In the credits, all of the people involved in the production of the film have their names listed. The title card is also often shown again at this point. Typically, the longer and bigger the film is, the longer the credits will last in order to showcase each person’s and company’s name.
In conclusion, there are a wide range of aspects in order to make a film feel the way it does. I think we will be sticking very close to the conventional form of films, in order to make our film feel professional.
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