Research

Example 1

The first film that took my inspiration is sister act, it provides the viewer with an exciting and funny approach to a convent in America. I was also inspired by the Abbey in Minster in Thanet that has been their for hundreds of years and within the stone walls lives the nuns. Below is a short snippet of Sister act;



When you think of nuns you would not connect them with comedy and humor, however through the film sister act this common image is broken and foreseen as humorous and witty. Sister act was introduced in 1992 starring Whoopi Goldberg, a huge American star that is recognisable throughout the world. The main plot consists of a lounge singer who witnesses a mobster gang ordered by her boyfriend that then entails her to be hidden by the local authorities.

The sequence shown as an example contains short cuts lasting approximately 10 seconds showing the characters in the choir showing full passion and enthusiasm. It also portrays the personality and facial expression of the characters by showing fast shots shown as a medium close up to see how they are reacting to the songs.

The sound in the sequence portrays a traditional and some what expected image of a convent by turns a twist half way through to a more lively and thrilling drama to help attract the viewers attention and enigma of what the plot is about.

The costumes are traditional likewise is the location that the characters are located with the huge historical hall with stone walls and stained glass windows. The characters are dressed in their typical uniform and represent and formal and mild mannered view of the women in convents.


Example 2


The third example I have gathered is actually a music video for Dido - Let's Do The Thing We Normally Do, however I was fascinated with the camera shots that were used and sends an image of professionalism and emotion.





Although this appears to be a music video I loved the flow and motion that was shown through the sequence. The video represents a young lady from Mumbai which follows her trip as a taxi driver through the city visiting a number of locations on her way, she also takes a number of passengers during her journey which helps keep the narration flowing to see these different sites. The story-line and the title of the video certainly help create an enigma and shows how she lives in a routine frequently traveling to earn her way and seeing many characters while doing her work.

The main reason the film became inspirational was the different range of shots that were shown throughout the piece from close ups of the ladies face during the journey, showing she is hot in the humid climate and that she is thinking deep into her mind. The shots appear simplistic but work perfectly for the plot, it shows the vast land and focuses in to the ladies feelings and emotions. The colours used are simple and bright which shows a perfect contrast with the blue sky and rich yellows of the clothing and taxi that flow and work together.

Example 3


The fourth example is actually of a A2 film studies project that is entitled "A Father Remembers his Daughter through Music". The footage is moving and although is a different genre to our project it is interesting and imaginative. I like the raw simplicity the director has created and the setting that has been used is top of the game. The setting is very similar to how we would like to create our film, on the other hand we are creating the film to be comical and brings a real 'smile' factor to the audience that are going to watch the film.

The takes are relatively long and are right for the genre, we can visually see the emotion of the father and the drama that he has been through.

The clothing that the characters are wearing are seen to be typical dress for a middle class father and young daughter in smart casual dress. The gentlemen is dressed in a jumper and shirt and is seen casual, the colours are subtle and neutral and match the tone of the short. The use of diegetic sound of the piano allows the sequence to have an emotion of itself, it somewhat challenges the title because the music is upbeat but calming. Around 2.04 minutes the music freezes as the gentlemen's daughter disappears causing him to break into his own thoughts.

The sequence then fades out and in, to then reiterate the past using black and white which appears a flash back. The music that the man was playing on the piano in the church was repeated that shows that the music was relavant to the father and daughter relationship.