keep it up guys - you can do it!
Mrs T xx
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Friday, May 30, 2008
action adventure help!
Hi guys!
To help with this, I have posted a clip from Casino Royale to my youtube – http://www.youtube.com/user/juliestarchild so you can watch a chase sequence with no cars – I think this is a VERY IMPORTANT part of what we didn’t cover yet.
Just been thinking about some important parts of Action Adventure that you may not have covered with Miss Dymioti OR done for some time
The following is my little pointer for revision.
KEY POINTS IN ACTION/ADVENTURE
- ACTION
- MOTION
- SPEED
- SPECTACLE
- CHASES
- FIGHTS
- THINK ABOUT PARTICULAR MODES
SPY GENRE – like bond (casino royale for example)
ADVENTUE – like indiana, pirates etc
PAST TIMES – like indi, pirates, king arthur
CARTOON/SUPERHEROES – like hulk, spiderman, iron man
THRILLER CROSS OVERS – with elements of DETECTIVE/CRIME/SPY – like
the italian job
Think about these particular techniques:
In no particular order as they say, remember to be ready to comment on
Music – to add pace, tension and atmosphere
Interspersed Longshots – often repeated to show location of action
Frequent close up shots to focus on the hero
Lots of stunts – not always hi tech – could be hi tech stunts but with no CGI as such – i.e. focussed on real action/people/locations (I mean no monsters,sci-fi, mummies etc etc) but could be more like the latest Bond)
Fast cutting for action BUT changes in pace in a sequence, slow bits as well!
So editing dictates and establishes changes in pace
High angle shots, often using cranes to give perspective on action and to give sense of place and continuity (and sometimes spectacle – in Casino Royale, the crane sequence is intercut with long shots so we know how high the fight/chase is taking place). This is linked to…
Stunts themselves have many quick edits showing the action from multiple angles – it lengths the ‘stunt’, makes it a ‘money shot’ and slows the pace a little
Very quick edits and spinning camera shots can show disorientation, speed, multiple action – this is important – we see the one shot from various angles
The use of low angle shots to emphasise power/hero
Remember to look for crane work that swoops in on the action
Costume can be very important, especially if it contrasts across characters or seems incongruous to the surroundings – remember also it’s a staple of how the audience will read a character
Remember to think about WHO the audience is and how that affects content
PROPS can be very important, phones, cars etc can be seen as (sometimes low) status symbols and watch out for details that tell you things related to meaning and the narrative – why is that number on the phone screen? Why that number plate? Why that sign?
Dialogue can often be a clumsy way to tell both the audience and the characters on screen what is happening elsewhere – like ‘how’d it go Harry? Is he dead yet?’ or ‘I’m off to pick up the drugs now’ you get the idea
Silence or quiet moments work well as contrast and can often indicate that what seems like ‘all clear now, it’s safe’ are not what they seem and can be merely a precursor to ‘uh oh – I knew it was too good to be true’!
Remember to think about a sense of impending peril
QUEST is important or a MISSION – usually to save someone, uncover the truth, beat the bad guys etc etc
Heroes are often maverick characters and break the rules and expectations
They are often abnormally super or multiply talented! (ie can speak greek, Spanish and do karate, play the piano etc etc)
Narrative is SLOWED with the pace of editing as I have said but this OFTEN happens when the hero is in danger so a screen chase can traverse a whole street block in 20 screen seconds but the one moment of jeopardy might get at least 20 seconds ALL OF ITS OWN!
That’s about it for now – any other questions, email me!
To help with this, I have posted a clip from Casino Royale to my youtube – http://www.youtube.com/user/juliestarchild so you can watch a chase sequence with no cars – I think this is a VERY IMPORTANT part of what we didn’t cover yet.
Just been thinking about some important parts of Action Adventure that you may not have covered with Miss Dymioti OR done for some time
The following is my little pointer for revision.
KEY POINTS IN ACTION/ADVENTURE
- ACTION
- MOTION
- SPEED
- SPECTACLE
- CHASES
- FIGHTS
- THINK ABOUT PARTICULAR MODES
SPY GENRE – like bond (casino royale for example)
ADVENTUE – like indiana, pirates etc
PAST TIMES – like indi, pirates, king arthur
CARTOON/SUPERHEROES – like hulk, spiderman, iron man
THRILLER CROSS OVERS – with elements of DETECTIVE/CRIME/SPY – like
the italian job
Think about these particular techniques:
In no particular order as they say, remember to be ready to comment on
Music – to add pace, tension and atmosphere
Interspersed Longshots – often repeated to show location of action
Frequent close up shots to focus on the hero
Lots of stunts – not always hi tech – could be hi tech stunts but with no CGI as such – i.e. focussed on real action/people/locations (I mean no monsters,sci-fi, mummies etc etc) but could be more like the latest Bond)
Fast cutting for action BUT changes in pace in a sequence, slow bits as well!
So editing dictates and establishes changes in pace
High angle shots, often using cranes to give perspective on action and to give sense of place and continuity (and sometimes spectacle – in Casino Royale, the crane sequence is intercut with long shots so we know how high the fight/chase is taking place). This is linked to…
Stunts themselves have many quick edits showing the action from multiple angles – it lengths the ‘stunt’, makes it a ‘money shot’ and slows the pace a little
Very quick edits and spinning camera shots can show disorientation, speed, multiple action – this is important – we see the one shot from various angles
The use of low angle shots to emphasise power/hero
Remember to look for crane work that swoops in on the action
Costume can be very important, especially if it contrasts across characters or seems incongruous to the surroundings – remember also it’s a staple of how the audience will read a character
Remember to think about WHO the audience is and how that affects content
PROPS can be very important, phones, cars etc can be seen as (sometimes low) status symbols and watch out for details that tell you things related to meaning and the narrative – why is that number on the phone screen? Why that number plate? Why that sign?
Dialogue can often be a clumsy way to tell both the audience and the characters on screen what is happening elsewhere – like ‘how’d it go Harry? Is he dead yet?’ or ‘I’m off to pick up the drugs now’ you get the idea
Silence or quiet moments work well as contrast and can often indicate that what seems like ‘all clear now, it’s safe’ are not what they seem and can be merely a precursor to ‘uh oh – I knew it was too good to be true’!
Remember to think about a sense of impending peril
QUEST is important or a MISSION – usually to save someone, uncover the truth, beat the bad guys etc etc
Heroes are often maverick characters and break the rules and expectations
They are often abnormally super or multiply talented! (ie can speak greek, Spanish and do karate, play the piano etc etc)
Narrative is SLOWED with the pace of editing as I have said but this OFTEN happens when the hero is in danger so a screen chase can traverse a whole street block in 20 screen seconds but the one moment of jeopardy might get at least 20 seconds ALL OF ITS OWN!
That’s about it for now – any other questions, email me!
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