The birth of Avatar (3)

Although the main purpose of HD camera is to provide references for Weta Digital animator, but it also has other uses, this can create a similar movie with real film shooting environment. This helps the director to shoot and design the screen, and helps actors to understand the relationship between them with lens. When Cameron increase in the digital environment, he can not image what the picture will be. Murthan said:” Depending on the position of camera, the way of actors’ acting are different. When the action extend the close-up frame, the traditional way is shooting the motion capture and then add all other cameras. This method would cause a problem, because all the actors do not know when should take close-up and long shot. When shooting close-up vision in motion capture stage, all the cameras are the same. So there is no acting details difference between close-up and long shot.

When the background adjustment are satisfied, Cameron began add cameras. He uses the virtual camera moves in the CG scene. Matt Madden said:” Cameron will be selectively used the camera to shoot the performances are real-time virtual camera output will be allocated to Avid, the editor will combine all the shots together. When upload the new wcene, Cameron sometimes sit near the editor, and see the editing work, and waiting for the next scene loading. After loaded all the scene, if  he feel the previous shots are good, he will prepare for next shot.” After recisely cut a good camera lens, we regards it as “template”. We hand the template to Weta Digital. Nolan Murtha said:” In fact, the shots we give Weta Digital is rough, but with the complete special effects.”But what in the final movie that will included in these shots.

When create the Avatar model, we added more features to make sure people recognize the actor who plays them. In all Avatar, Grace’s avatar is the hardest sculpture, it is the mixture of The Na'vi and youth Sigourney Weaver, that can comply with the story, because Grace’s Avatar is cultivate out 18 years ago. In order to follow the age of Sigourney Weaver, Stan Winston studio input Zbrush (Alien 3), and use these pictures to create the characteristics of Grace’s Avatar. Jim Cameron explained: . " Na'vi has a wide , like a lion 's nose , like the middle of a brick face, high cheekbones. All of these features are matched with Sam Winthington’s face. In some places it is suitable Sigourney face, she also has high cheekbones and angular chin but her nose narrow high. We tried to add Na'vi wide nose to her face , but it do not like her. You can no longer recognize she is Sigourney Weaver. So we must communicate with John and his team many times, they are great and they have many years of experience in make-up, they know what to do, how to make the different length and width nose of Avatar Grace. We used Sgourney nose to create Grace Avatar, this approach also produced good results , because the role still have big eyes and other features .

The birth of Avatar (2)

Shot in the combination of scene, Cameron firstly use the virtual camera and a stuntman to create the shot. Cameron said:"We are basically shooting while post-production, so it will not destroy the final results, but will make it messy, because we were not able to figure out the technology in a timely manner, we did not complete the pre-motion capture before shooting. Later another deadline is approaching, the main role of the actor have come up, but we never give using the idea that design a good shot through stuntman. We always design a scene then design a good shot, finally shoot the acting. "

Most of the time, Cameron are shooting the actor wearing motion capture constume, and facial capture device, spend only a few days before shooting scenery inspections and design lens. Cameron said:” Normally, we are probably 10 days to inspect the scene motion capture, then use 10 days to capture the actor's movements. Then we will back to editing room, editing all the shots while send them to Weta, after that we inspect few days.” The actors on stage, Cameron regards virtual camera as a viewfinder, the virtual camera is a window leading to the virtual world. Nolan Murthan explained:” Jim regards the virtual camera as a viewfinder, to watch the virtual environment. Although other actors are leave, he often change some camera position. But they still need to arrangement a good shot before shooting.

After all the lens arranged, Cameron pay attention to the performance and high-definition cameras. Cameron stan on 8-12 HD cameras arena, shoot actors from different angles, the virtual camera as “Camera A” is the centre of scene. Richard Baneham said: " We should shoot the angle the main camera can not shoot. If there are two actors in one scenes, we should take the long shot to show their interaction, medium shots to present their relationship, medium shot is always taken parts above the knee, and then focus on close-up. If you want to capture the details of a complex hand props or exchange something like that, we will use a specialize camera.”

The birth of Avatar (1)

In 2007, the virtual makers have tested the positions of actors’ body in captured system. In April, Cameron started to shoot Avatar in Playa Vista studio. In general, the virtual arts sector will design the shooting circumstance according to the idea of film. Then the assistant director Josh McLaglen will check the scene setting in advance to make sure all the setting are available. Cameron mentioned that the previous times he came here they spend half of a day to revise the scene setting. Till the end of shooting, my requirement is solving some basic problem, and basically makes sure the setting is appropriate to low requirement. This is the first step.

After the virtual arts sector collect all of the scene setting, stage properties and role material, the motion capture workers should test to ensure all the virtual shots are not excess the real time broadcast. Nolan Mutha explained that the more the shots are, the less possible could broadcate in real time. So the test is to makesure the they could catch the realtime scene.

Then, send all the virtual information to stage worker. They create the hill, forests, river and other model of environment. Cameron thought that, if they need to create some virtual objects in post-production they should create a real scene, that could not only support the actors acting, but also import it into virtual environment rapidly.

Camera practice

This video is the interview practice we did in the camera workshop. The aim of making this video is to know how to make an formal interview by ourselves.

When we doing this First of all is select a proper background, it should be tidy and clean. If the interview is in the open air or near the window, the natural light should be considered. Once choose the background, we should set up the camera. This time we shoot in the studio, and we set three point lights. The main light is from the left side, the fill light is from right side, last one is in right back. We constantly check the camera when adjust the lights, and look for a best light effect. Then, the interviewer should sit close to the right of camera. After everyone is ready, the interview could start.

What I have learn from this practice first is the lights setting. Interviewee should looks natural in the screen, it is hard to define the position and the intention of the lights. It depends on the real situation of shooting the interview. When the interviewee talk about something sensitive or emotional, we can zoom in to close up his face. This shot enable audiences feel close to the interviewee and easy to push audiences emotion into the interviewee's situation.

Learning Agreement

School of Art and Design                                                                             2013/14

MA:	Learning Agreement

 

Name: Muyang Li

 

Course: Film Practice

 

Date: 13/11/2013

 

 

 

What is your subject of study?

     My subject is how post-production create the characteristics of fairy tale film. I will mainly research how post-production works in visual effect, narration and the sound features when making fairy tale film.

 

What is your research question?

   How is post-production used to create the characteristics of fairy-tale film?

 

Research aim(s):

What are the overall aims of the project?

   My research aims are in following aspect:

1.      Investigate the features of fairy tale film.

2.      Researching how post-production present the visual effect of fairy tale film.

3.      Explore structure of the fairy tale stories.

4.      Understand montage editing, how it works in film.(The narration of film)

5.      How post production technique makes fairy tale film in different styles?

 

 

Research objectives(s):

What are the specific tangible project objectives?

Note: these are separate to what you personally need to learn in terms of skills and knowledge, see learning objectives below.

1. Search more references about post production and fairy tale film.
2. Using case study of some typical directors’ films such as Telry Gilliam and Jean Pierre Jeunet or others.
3. Analyse some best editing award films
4. Make 2 short live-action fairy tale films.

 

Rationale

·         What is the wider context of your project?

Fairy tale film is not only presents a fiction story, but also shows a reflection of audiences themselves.  As Greenhill and Matrix stress in their introduction, “the mirror of fairy tale film reflects not so much what its audience members actually are but how they see themselves and their potential to develop (or, likewise, to regress). Fairy tale film is a way to make people know more about themselves.

 

The way how to use post-production techniques present fairy tale film on screen is important. Pauline and Sidney (2010) mentioned in their book ’Fairy Tale Films’ that “the artistic re-creations of fairy tale plots and characters in film are significant because they mirror possibilities of estranging ourselves from designated roles and the conventional patterns of the classical tales”. Therefore, the post-production will influence the audiences’ feeling directly.

 

 

·         How does the project relate to your previous experience/practice?

I have edited short films, and I get some post production skills from it. It helps me know the meaning of post production.

 

My bachelor dissertation was the study of Tim Burton’s films. From the research of his films, I found some features of fairy-tale film. I think I can use some familiar research methods to deeply investigate my project.

 

·         How does it relate to relevant current practices, debates and theory?

Tim Burton and Terry Gilliam are both famous fairy tale film directors. Although their film genre is the same, their films are in different style. The key point should be the post-production way. For example, ‘Sweeney Todd’ is a black fairy tale film, the visual effect is dark and bloody, and the sound of it is horror and abnormal. However, ‘Brazil’ presents science fiction movie features, the visual effect is colourful and the sound of it was more nature than ‘Sweeney Todd’. These two films are presented in different way that is mainly because of post-production.

 

Narration of post-production is also mentioned in many books. One of the most import ways to present the fairy tale film is the narrative method (Jack, 2011). Narration of fairy tale film is an important role to show the idea. Once the story has explained what the supernatural event is, why it has occurred, and its meaning within the person’s life, the fantastic then becomes either the “marvelous” or the “uncanny.” If the story attributes a rational explanation (such as drug-induced illusions or bad dreams) for the “apparently supernatural event”, it instantiates the uncanny. But if the narrative instead accepts the supernatural event as real and magical, it is marvelous (such as in fairy tales). If the narrative does not specify how the actions took place (as in Henry James’s The Turn of the Screw, which offers no rationale for its supernatural incidents), the story remains simply classified within the fantastic cited by Pauline and Sidney (2010, 63).

 

·         Why is the intended research significant? (So what?)

Research the post-production features in fairy tale film would offer better understanding of making this genre of films. Filmmakers could easily deliver their thought to audiences when making a fairy tale film. As Pauline and Sidney (2010) argues that “the fairy tale film’s frame—not only the physical limits of what it actually shows but also its containment in time and space—allows an often-succinct and telling expression. Its metaphorical flexibility means that viewers can potentially return at different times and receive different, sometimes even contradictory, impressions of the film’s meanings and intentions.” The key point of a film is created by filmmaker, so their thought would finally influence the viewer’s opinion.  Therefore, my research is significant.

 

·         How does this project relate to your plans for the future?

In the future, I will work in the media company, and I tend to be a video editor.

Methodology

·         Outline the research, creative and intellectual methods you will employ to develop your research project.

1.      Read books, articles and journals to search theory evidence which could support my ideas.

2.      Watch more fairy tale films.

3.      Summarize the post production features in these films in journals.

4.      Make my fairy tale film that can show my thought.

·         Identify ethical considerations where appropriate.

 

Learning objectives

·         Link to your personal skills audit and development plan; identify the skills that you will develop and knowledge that you need to acquire. Match the objectives against the MA programme learning outcomes.

Learn Editing technique such as Final Cut, After Effect.

Learn the editing thought, such as parallel montage, cross cutting.

Study how to structure a good film.

 

Submissions (practical and/or written work)

·         Describe your intended body of work, including your reflective journal and the summative critical review

My reflective journal will show my investigative progress, include some relevant references from book and my critical thinking; I will analyse some movies that I watched, and the progress of making my films.

 

·         Specify the audience and communication context for your project.

The audience of my project can be the people who prefer film post production. Then, it is better to via email or other online tool to share opinions about my project.

 

·         Describe how you intend to evaluate/ test project outcomes with your audience.

I would like to show my film as project outcomes to my audience. I am willing to accept suggestions and answer any questions from audience.

 

Resource implications

·         List what resources are required within or outside of the University

Camera, lighting, editing equipment, voice recording equipment, tripod, and studio.

 

·         Identify other organisations or individuals involved that you will rely upon and describe what role they will have

I might need actors and photographers in making my film.

 

References

Cite material using the Harvard System referenced in the previous sections.

 

Book:

Jack Z. 2011, The Enchanted Screen: The Unknown History of Fairy-Tale Films.

Pauline G. and Sidney M., 2010, Fairy Tale Films Visions of Ambiguity.

James, Henry, 215; The Turn of the Screw, 63

 

Movie:

Telry Gilliam, 1985, Brazil

Tim Burton, 2007, Sweeney Todd

 

Bibliography

Cite essential background or contextual material using the Harvard System of referencing

Books:

 

Elizabeth E., 2008 Jean-Pierre Jeunet

Jack Z., 1996, Towards a Theory of theFairy-Tale Film: The Case of Pinocchio

 

Joanna C., 2008, Jay Cassidy on Into the Wild: The RT Interview [online]. Available at: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/into_the_wild/news/1717991/jay_cassidy_on_into_the_wild_the_rt_interview/

 

John P., 1975. The effects of context and order in film editing, AV communication review [online], 23(1), pp 69-80. Available via: Springer Link

 

Dudley Andrew J., 1984. Concepts in Film Theory

 

Kokaram A. et al, 2003, A Bayesian framework for recursive object removal in movie post-production, Image processing [online],pp I – 937, Available via: ieeexplore

 

Matthew T., 1980. Means for post-production film-making

 

Roger C. 2006. Fine cuts [electronic resource]: the art of European film editing

 

Sergei E., 1970. A Dialectic Approach to Film Form

 

Toby M., 1999. A Companion to Film Theory

 

Vincent LoBrutto, 1991. Selected Takes: Film Editors on Editing

 

Walter Murch, 2003. The Conversations: Walter Murch and the Art of Editing Film

 

 

 

 

Films:

 

Jean-Pierre J., 2001. Amelie from Montmartre

 

 

 

Timetable

·         Outline your plan of action; give dates of developmental milestones linked to the PGC / PGD / MA stages; include personal tutorials and your vacations.

Week 11 confirm the general idea about my project.

Week 12 add information about my project.

Week 13 find problems in my learning agreement and revise them.

Week 14 read books and understand film theory from them.

Week 15 watch more films and classify the features of fairy tale film.

Week 16 research reference and continue writing Learning Agreement.

Week 17 analysis some individual style of directors.

Week 18 gain films theories and editing experience.

Week 19 practice post-production technique

Week 20 look over my research, and find some disadvantages.

Week 21~23 read more book and prepare for presentation

Week 24 Presentation

Week 25~28 write a screenplay, design a cinematic storyboarding, shoot this film and edit it.

Week 29~30 show the short film to audiences and get some advices from them, and I also need some professional suggestion from them.

Week 31~32 do more post-production practice and read more books about fairy tale films’ features

Week 33~34 read some books about shooting and editing. Watch some films and do research on shooting

Week 35~40 analysis some typical fairy tale director’s film, and make a chart to show the elements make their film fairy tale genre.

Week 41~42 learn more post-production skills, do more practices

Week 43~45 write 2 or more screenplays and storyboarding and research its practicability, and how to make the fiction part looks reality.

Week 46~49 shoot the final project and edit it

Week 51~52 prepare for presentation

Week 53 final assessment preparation

·         Identify a programme of events in which you intend to participate: lectures, exhibitions, tutorials, seminars, workshops, research visits, interviews, searches, on-line activities, etc.

I would participate to some film festival and attend film directors’ lectures. It is better for me to interview them and ask questions about film.

 

 

Agreed as a viable programme of study

 

Signature of student:                               Date:  

 

 

Signature supervisor:                         Date:

 

 

Include this document within your submission at the end of each stage (PGC / PGD / MA).