Example sequence for micro analysis

This fight scene of Fist Of Legend is a good choice where cinematography and editing are combined effectively to create anticipation. The distance of the shots range from extreme close ups to long shots with both characters in frame. These shots are edited to make the sequence seem fast paste and intense. A close up shot of one character attempting a deadly quick kick uses match on action editing in order to emphasize the action. This allows viewers to feel involved with the duel by experiencing the brutality of their physical attacks. We think that our fight scene should consist of a similar style with fast paste editing. From what we've seen so far, these are strong typical conventions of martial art action films.

However in order to achieve this we'll need to focus heavily on performing the right choreography. This may take some time as well as creating the shot list to illustrate how the fight should flow. The sound proves to be very effective in this scene. When Jet Li has the upper hand, he momentarily pauses before he wants to punch his opponent. There is a non-digetic gloomy struck effect to indicate the danger his opponent is about to be in. This SFX greatly enhances the tension between the two combatants as well as the viewers expectations. In reverse fortune, Jet Li chooses not to punch his opponent. This leaves the audience with an ambiguous reaction. We don't know why he chose not to punch nor are we aware why he tried to physically taunt him.

The fast paste editing also has intervals where a slow motion occurs. These slowmo effects help in developing the emphasis of the punches/kicks delivered. Usually, the slow motion effect is used on close up shots which create a dramatic effect. This effect displays an odd discomforting feel to viewers as we're made to see the thundering clash with the absence of their facial expressions. We're driven to feel engaged with the action by seeing how intense the characters deliver their blows.

Storyboard Screens

Examples of helpful inspirations

Soundtrack -
Naruto Shippuuden - Shippu Kumikyoku for (1)
Naruto Shippuuden - Utsusemi (4)
Naruto Shippuuden - Guren (4)
Naruto Shippuuden 2 - Beni Sobi (3)
Audiomachine - Inevitable discovery (2)

Checklist

Because of the technical scale of our project we'll need to keep track of stuff that needs to be accumulated. This list summarizes what needs to be done during pre-production before filming begins.

CHECK LIST


Costumes

• Academy Students - Trainers/Tracksuits/T-Shirts (Y)
• Chou Yi Long/Young - Thermal Top/Face Mask/Combat Gloves/Bandage Tape/Trainers (Y)
• Zhang Jie Ying/Young - Thermal Top or shirt/Bandage Tape/Trainers (Y)
• Lin Jie Jun - Sandals or flipflops/Kimono or Robe/Prosthetic Beard and Moustache (Y)

Props

• Tripod/Camera (Y)
• Weapons - Plastic Sword/Paper Shuriken/Pole Rod (Y)
• Fake Blood - (Y)
• Portable Chair - Optional but a bike is also feasible for creating height (Y)

Pre-production arbitrary

• Film script and translated (Y)
• Storyboard and Shot list (Y)
• Available locations (Y) - Flashback in hall @ St.Columbus Church and Fight scene for Coldhams Common.
  
• Actors/Cast assembled for roles (Y)
  
• Schedule of Shooting (Y/N) - Expected to start filming early February during weekend.
  

Pitch Feedback

We presented our ideas to the class with the posts included on our blog as evidence. Overall we received an adequate reception for our presentation. We were given some advice to take into consideration in case our project doesn't accordingly to how we want.

• Make sure the choreography of the fights isn't too comedic or effortless, know the limits of how the actors can perform.
• Find suitable locations and make sure to ask permission to use any specific residential areas.
• Be sure to find the necessary cast to speak Mandarin.
• *Construct a timetable to determine in which order the scenes should filmed and how they should be edited together (Due to parallel editing with flashbacks)
• *Beware of the films budget. The idea is ambitious so some spending may need to be considered.

Micro / Macro Elements

Mise-en-scene

- Dark and Vivid
- Contrast of dominance between Yi Long/Jie Ying

Sound

- Brief voice overs by Jie Ying
- (1) Solemn dark mysterious tone soundtrack (Intro/Flashbacks)
- (2) Sentimental nostalgic moderate paste (Flashback)
- (3) Fast paste intense soundtrack (Fight)
- (4) Calm subtle grief soundtrack (Ending)

Cinematography

- Close ups of Yi Long and Jie Yings faces / Extreme close up of the eye for Yi Long
- Low angle shots to be framed against Yi Long
- Extreme long shots of the landscape with both Yi Long/Jie Ying
- Tracking shots of the students training at the academy

Editing

- Mostly Parallel from start to middle section
- Some continuity editing during confrontation
- Shot-reverse-shot for conversation
- Match on action during battle
- Echo effect on the voice overs
- Alot of sound effects to be used involving nature/battle such as wind blows, punches, branches snapping.

Location

- Clear private field with no traffic or public pathways (Battle scene)
- Indoor hall or training grounds outside (Flashback scenes)

Pitch Idea's

Film Title - Dogma of Wrath (復仇的教義)

Premise/Plot - Set in the present day, two academy students who are childhood friends soon end up becoming enemies. Chou Yi Long and Zhang Jie Ying are orphans who live under the care of their sensei, Lin Jie Jun. They work under their teacher's benign martial arts training. All is going well until Yi Long decides he no longer wants to be part of the academy. By treachery, he show's his wrath by annihilating the academy leaving everyone on the brink of death while Jie Ying is absent. Jie Ying left in confusion chases after Yi Long and confronts him in battle. The end result shows how vengeance can be the most devastating emotion to be traumatized with.

Filming Order

Present - Estimated to take 3 minutes screentime
(P1) - Jie Ying dashes in search for Yi Long, the atmosphere is cold and dry, its about to turn dawn.
(P2) - Both students meet back to back. They both stand within a deserted field.

Past - Estimated to take 2 minutes screentime
(F1) - Flashback of Jie Ying/Yi Long first getting acquainted. (Young versions)
(F2) - Flashback of the Academy with many students lead by Lin Jie Jun. (Younger/Older)
(F3) - Flashback of Jie Ying/Yi Long preparing for a practise dual. (Younger/Older versions)
(F4) - Flashback of Massacre within the academy. (Older version)

Costumes -

~ Chou Yi Long

• Dark coloured clothing (thermal top/tracksuit)
• Face mask (to conceal his true identity)
• Combat gloves
• Fighters Tape
• Trainers

~ Zhang Jie Ying

• Bright coloured clothing (thermal top/tracksuit)
• Fighters Tape
• Trainers

~ Lin Jie Jun

• Mellow coloured fighters robe or Kimono
• Sandals or flipflops
• Fake moustache hair / beard

~ Academy Students

• Tracksuits
• T-shirts varying colours
• Trainers

Props/Decor -

Tripod - Steady still shots and panning
Weapons - Paper Shuriken/Plastic Swords

Fake Blood - For bloodshed around the academy and wounds
Portable Chair (Optional) - To achieve high angle shots

Example Short Film Analysis

INJUSTICE - Short Action Film. Great Fight Scene! - Watch more funny videos here

What was really effective about this short was the solemn soundtrack in the opening credits. We're presented with a secluded room with an unknown man sitting in isolation. The sequence then cuts to a flashback as proposed by the fade to white transition. Immediately we're given a complication to the short. The husband who finds his wife laying hopelessly on the floor triggers the injustice theme revolved around this movie. The cops arrive and they accuse husband of being the murderer. He continuously reassures he's not guilty and points out to where the real culprit is but is too late. During the chase, we're given parallel editing cuts of the present where the husband is stuck in solitude. As the situation gets more desperate during the chase, the cuts start to become more frequent. This is clearly shown when the husband and policeman are exchanging blows. The climax leaves us with a disheartened result as the police fail to recognize the husbands pledge. For our film we want incorporate a tragic climax where the theme of vengeance doesn't go the way according to Yi Long. Hence we'll go for a similar title like "Injustice".

Student Work Analysis

I liked this film because of the twist element it plays. The setting is set in a typical suburb where there's no indicative plot until the parcel on the pavement is discovered. The ending has interesting twist because we never expected what the boy was going to found out in the empty mansion. We don't know what happens to the boy and so we're left with an ambiguous ending. The music also cuts in at the perfect time when we're left to realize that a person was held captive in the deserted house. However, when we follow our protagonist out of the house, the complication of the plot changes and we're aware that this was a prank.





I think that the idea for this short was well thought out. The short consisted a lot of parallel editing which is a similar feature that our short will be implementing. There was also a voice-over of an unknown person talking through out the whole film. We believe this unknown character plays a vital role in explaining the premise of the short. Despite it's distorted quality, the idea of working with a voice over seemed appropriate with the parallel editing.

Props/Equipment Brief Summary

• Camera/Tripod
  
• Fake Blood
• Dummy weapons - i.e. Nunchuks/Paper Shuriken/Plastic Short Swords
  
• Thermal Tops (to convey the appropriate mise-en-scene the characters would wear for training martial arts)
  
• Gym/Rugby Gloves (for Chou as it allows to show that he's a rebel)
• Wrapped Bandages (For both characters to indicate the intense training they've been through)

Influences

We want to attempt to make an action film with some strong story elements involved. Apart from tense fight scenes, we want to include some dialogue so the combat isn't redundant.

Rough Plot / Initial Envisionment

The short will consist of themes based on revenge, friendship and hardship. We have two friends where they train at an academy which specializes in martial arts. Friend 1 has an outgoing care free personality while Friend 2 has a serious introverted demeanor. Friend 2 is an orphan who lost his parents when he was young, his goal is to take revenge on the culprits who took his parents life's. Likewise to Friend 1, he is an orphan but focus' on trying to live a life of serenity.

Our short will have parallel editing to explain the story. The flashbacks will consist of scenes from when both students were good friends and working hard at the academy. This sequence will eventually lead to Friend 2 treacherous act of abandoning everyone. Shots of the KO's/deceased students from the academy will be shown and we're given the oppressed reaction of Friend 1.

In the present, we'll have Friend 1 trying to find Friend 2 with many shots of the environment and close up of his feet. A mysterious eerie soundtrack will be implemented while more flash backs are continuously edited in of Friend 1 and 2's past.

Eventually they both meet. Extreme close ups of Friend 2's eyes will be shot to indicate the hostility in his emotions. Shot-reverse-shot will be used to show there's conversation. The framing will be covered mostly by Friend 2's body with Friend 1 far in the distance. A variety of shots consisting of long and close ups will come together in order to build anticipation before they fight.

Quote -
"He who seeks vengeance should remember to dig two graves" (TRANSLATE TO MANDARIN)
"The human heart in its perversity finds it hard to escape hatred and revenge"

Characters -
Zhang Jie Ying (暲傑鷹) - Happy guy who thinks positively and enjoys the company of friends, attempts to bring Chou Yi Long back.
Chou Yi Long (仇義龍) - Reserved and silent orphan who lost his parents and wants to take revenge.

Lin Jie Jun (林玠均) - Leader of the academy, gives his last dying words to Zhang.
Extras - Other academy students who also train along side Zhang and Chou.

Positions of Production

Director - Vincent / All
Editor - All
Cinematographer - Tom
Sound - Matt

Essentially the director will be everyone's priority as it's important for all of us be aware of the pre-production stage.