Micro features of film and how I'm using them

• Mise-en-scène includes setting, props, staging, costume and make- up, figure expressionand movement and off-screen space.
  I will be using a wide range of props within my imagined film which are connected to Naomi and to her baby. This is so that the film appears to be more realistic. Some of the props which I will be using in my film are:

·         Doll-(Bethany-obviously using a real baby wasn't an option, so I'm using a doll to represent Bethany-most of the shot include her facing the other way so the spectator will assume it is a real baby)

·         Baby clothing-hat, trousers and a top

·         Blanket (To show that Naomi is buying essentials for Bethany and that she has changed)

·         Baby bottle( ^)

·         Dummy

·         Teddy bear

·         Furniture in the house: kitchen appliances, bedroom furniture-wardrobe, draws, bedside tables etc.

·         Bag

·         Cards

·         Glasses

·         Cups                         

·         Bottles

The setting of my film will be in a house, using various rooms such as the kitchen, bathroom, bedroom and the hallway. There will be a scene outdoors in the driveway, which is the place I have decided to use for the scene where Naomi's waters have broke. 

In terms of costume, everything will be kept simple, and the characters will wear things such as jeans, t-shirts, jackets, vest tops etc. This portrays a realistic image of many teenagers and the baby clothing is very realistic of the type of clothing in which babies often wear. 

Make up will be very minimal with only a few products used, such as mascara or some lipstick. 

• Performance includes physical expression, vocal delivery and interaction between performers (with reference to issues of staging/choreography where relevant).

Performance will be a key feature in my imagined film. Much of the story telling will come from the things which the characters say, or by their actions, so it is essential that everything is done properly and that time is spent on this. The protagonist, Naomi will have a couple of scenes where she is crying, and this needs to look realistic. Since it is hard for people to 'cry' on demand, I have decided to show that Naomi is upset in a different way. I have decided that when she is crying, I will focus more on the sound of the crying, rather than the image of her crying, and by having the actress put her head down and use her hands to exaggerate the crying also. 

• Cinematography includes photographic elements (e.g. camera position, colour, lens, depth of focus), lighting, framing and composition and special effects.

In terms of cinematography within 'Naomi's Choice', I have decided to use a variety of different angled shots in order to show things such as the dominance of a character; or to help express how they are feeling. I am going to be using a few zooms, which will be used to higlight important things, for example, one scene will involve a zoom in on the bin in the bathroom, which is used to show the audience a pregnancy test-telling the spectator that Naomi has found out she is pregnant, instead of having Naomi say that she is pregnant to someone, I want the props to tell them.
In terms of special effects, I have decided to make the first few shots black and white. This is to emphasise that these are the memories Naomi has before she found out that she was pregnant, and also to show the characters development and transition; to highlight how she has matured over the time between the beginning of the film, and the end of the film.

• Editing includes the organisation of time, both within a sequence and across sections of the narrative and the organisation of space, especially in creating coherence for the spectator. The principal conventions of continuity editing, such as shot/reverse shot and the 180 degree rule, will be studied. The uses of montage editing will also be considered.
  

I am going to be using dissolves in order to show a change over time, as these will help the film to progress to different parts of the narrative and I feel that they will help to tell the story to the spectator.   I will be using continuity editing for my film, as this will also help to tell the story.

• Sound includes diegetic sound, non-diegetic sound and the variety of ways in which aural elements (e.g. speech, music and noise) are used in relation to visuals.

I have decided to use speech in my imagined film, to help the narrative progress. The only music I am including in my imagined film will be at the end. I have decided to use 'Never Grow Up' by Taylor Swift as it fits perfectly to the story and the situation Naomi was in, and connects to her being a mother and how she feels. I want this to gradually fade in as the film is coming to an end, and to carry on playing whilst the final credits are shown on screen. I think that this will provide a powerful ending to my film. 

Todorov narrative theory applied to 'Nomi's Choice'

1. Equilibrium Naomi goes to Wyke college, and is like every other student; she enjoys nights out and having parties.

2. Disruption 
She finds out that she is pregnant, realising that she has a decision to make before it is too late.

3. Recognition of the disruption
She spends her time trying to decide what she is going to do. She spends less time with her friends, basically putting her socail life on hold. She finally decides to keep the baby after she has thought it over.


4. An attempt to repair the damage
Naomi decides to keep the baby, and go through the process on her own, because many people no longer want anything to do with her.  There is a flash forward, which shows that she had bought things for the baby, and is seen pushing her in the pram and spending time with her, which shows that she is maturing.

5. New equilibrium 
Naomi has started a new life with her baby, having matured and accepted the big chnage in her life.

Aims and Context

Aims and context:

Context: I am going to photograph all of my imagined film, including all of the sections following the todorov narrative structure.

Aims: For my FM1 creative project, I am going to produce a short imagined film called 'Naomi's Choice'. The genre is drama, and I hope to use the codes and conventions. This is to appeal to my target audience of young people aged 15-25, predominantly female of both working and middle class. .
My main aim is to move the audience emotionally, to create feelings towards Naomi and her situation, and to manipulate the audience into feeling sorry for Naomi through the introduction and use of the micro features: cinematography, mise-en-scene, performance, sound and editing.
In order to asisst with this project, I have been studying films such as 'Juno', 'Ferris Bueller's Day Off', 'Stand By Me' and 'Bend it Like Beckham', whwere I have gained a wider knowledge on the drama genre.

Codes and conventions of the drama genre and how they fit into my imagined film

Conventions of the Drama genre and how they fit into my imagined film:

·         Focus on real life situations: Many drama films are focused on telling the story of real-life situations and things which happen in our everyday lives. They usually follow normal people, and their problems, highlighting what things affect our lives and the way in which we live.

·         The theme of character development: Often, the main character will go through a transition, or will change dramatically throughout the film, for example, in my imagined film ‘Naomi’s Choice’, the main character Naomi goes through a transition, and overtime, matures into a young woman raising her child in the best way that she can. This shows a dramatic change to the person she used to be before having Bethany in her life.

·         Emotionally affect the audience: Because of the truthfulness of many drama films, the spectator is often left feeling emotional at various points of the film, whether this is sadness or happiness, as seen in ‘Stand By Me’(Rob Reiner, 1986).

·         Particular themes explored: There are a variety of themes which are often explored in drama films, including: drug and alcohol abuse; growing up, bullying; class division, and religion.

Codes:

·         Characters must be easily accessible for the audience-this means that they are easy to relate to.

·         A form of realisation towards the end of the film

·         The character has a clear relationship with people and to themselves.

·         Use of realistic storylines

·         Usually some form of a journey

·         Use of realistic settings

·         Guidelines

·         Verisimilitude within the storyline-There is truth within the story.

·         Paradigmatic: Social issues involved, such as Naomi wanting to be accepted by people and wanting to have friends supporting her.

Synopsis

FM1 Film synopsis

Name: ‘Naomi’s Choice’

Story type:

Genre: Drama

Audience: Aimed for an audience between the ages of 15-25, predominately female.

Synopsis:

 Naomi is a seventeen year old girl,who spends the majority of her time partying with friends, drinking, smoking and playing cards.  She has the whole world to herself, and she's very popular at her school-everyone knows her, everyone wants to be her friend. She's known as the girl who parties hard, smokes like a chimney, and has a 'whatever' attitude.

But all of this changes when she finds herself in a situation-a situation which leads to much contemplation, and a dramatic change to her life style. At first, finding out she's pregnant shocks her, but then, she decides she's going to keep the baby-something only she seems to want. After everybody finds out about this, they want nothing to do with her, except her best friend, Chloe.

Chloe stands by her throughout the pregnancy whilst Naomi takes on the challenge of being a mother, and comes to terms with the fact that her life will no longer be the same. It’s a big change to her lifestyle, but Naomi soon sees that having a baby will change her more than she thinks; she realises that her baby is the most important thing in life, an that nothing could make her as happy as Bethany does. Naomi has transformed from a teenager, into a matured young woman, with a new job: being a mother. 

FM1 Brief

Task:

Students are required to create a film sequence that demonstrates how the micro features of film construct meaning. This is to be completed in three parts.

1. Aims and context: A clarification of the aims and context of the sequence.

2. Film sequence: (40 marks) The film sequence will be an extract from a longer film that the student will develop. the emphasis will be on visual communication rather than dialogue.

A photographed storyboard will have a maximum of 25 shots. There can be up to five found (and credited) images.

3. Reflective analysis: (750 words) (10 marks): The reflective analysis should select key micro features of the sequences and discuss how they make meaning and aim to provoke responses in audiences. This is to be done as a continuous piece of writing and can be supported by illustrative material.