WEEK 7. LIGHTING AND COMPOSITION and those FINAL FLOURISHES.

LIGHTING RULES

1. Know which direction the light is coming from and how many sources.

2. Contrast will change the feel of your film dramatically. Bright, diffused light tends to give a

more dream like feel. Where as harsh bright light will create harsh shadows giving the

impression of oppression.

3. Know what you want your lighting to say. How it will speak to your audience. For example

if you want a happy feel good film, keep the scene light. If you want a sinister feel, keep it

dark and use the light harshly and controlled.

Here are some examples of lighting and how it affects a shot.

Shadows can make a break a scene into strong shapes. They can help draw the audiences eye to an

area.

Lighting can instantly draw you into a dream state. A place of peace.

Natural softer light can give you freedom, softening the edges making the audience feel at ease.

The placement of your light can pull you into a shot. Creating intimacy or secrecy.

How you light your characters will give the audience different feelings about them. You can turn a

happy smiling man into a sinister grin with nothing more than the movement of a light source.

If you need to keep track of where your lighting sources are, draw a floor plan and highlight the

source and direction. You could even create basic 3d models to help you if you wish

TASK.

Using the below frames, experiment by pencil shading shadows into them. See if you can transform

this simple shot to invoke a different response or feeling.

COMPOSITION and THE RULE OF THIRDS

In its most simple form the rule of thirds refers to a 3 by 3 grid that fits on top of any image.

HOW IT WORKS

The grid-shaped rule of thirds concept helps you understand the places on an image where a person

is naturally drawn when viewing an image

Following the rule of thirds philosophy, images that fall into “thirds” regions are the most pleasing

and are associated with balance and harmony.

You can chose to work with or against the rule of thirds, but you can't eliminate it.

Things to note.

Watch the horizon: In photos with a horizon line (especially landscapes), try to place that line in

the top third of the image. It will help better focus the rest of the image and add the proper feeling

of where the sky is located.

Watch dead space: Be aware of pieces of objects in the corners of images and crop. Pull the part of

the image you really want to be showcased forward and near one of the primary grid-lines.

So now you know what you need to create and develop an idea to a storyboard level. So

lets reset and do it for real!

Pitch EXAMPLES

Gargoyles, original 90s pitch

https://youtu.be/u8nWTHZVFz8

Initial Pitching and Development

Pitching storyboards.

What we have exercised so far in group, are an ideas pitches. If you are lucky and you manage to

get interest in your idea, possibly even development funding from it, then you will have to jump

through a few more hoops before you secure that final finance for your film. This is where pitching

a storyboard will come in, an art-form in itself.

“Trouble shooter” Storyboard pitch Eric Goldberg

https://youtu.be/z6EmiysFpoo

“Lion King” Storyboard scene run through.

https://youtu.be/YjGWY4y-ES0

The aim is to sell your story as much as it is to simply tell it. If you have a quirky character, animate

it yourself with your voice or movements. Don't just tell someone in a monotone voice, he's an

angry roaring dinosaur who growls his words or she's a fiesty cat that purrs with sarcasm. Make

sure you show them!!!

Also if youre describing action or sadness, be expressive. This will help you develop the idea itself

as much as the pitch.

YOU NEED TO GET INSIDE YOUR FILM.

Understand your actors and dilemmas as though you were them. If it's a terrifying ordeal, try to put

yourself in that mindset. Don't just think up a characters reactions, try and grasp their emotions.

UNDERSTAND YOUR CHARACTERS!

UNDERSTAND THEIR PERILS!!!!

Don't force a character into reacting to plot arc that is against their character. By all means conflict

is great, you need it! Make the meek starving mouse sneak into the hibernating bears lair to find

food. But remember the character is meek, it can't suddenly become brave in one shot, it has to

learn to become brave or have something happen where it has no choice.

IF YOU DO NOT STAY TRUE TO A

CHARACTER'S CHARACTER, WE

WILL NOT BELIEVE IT!

HOMEWORK

Develop a completely new idea. Start rough

storyboarding it. Prepare your pitch to sell to the

group next week, talking us through your film