Coverage!

Since we just received our film group assignments, I am not quite sure what kind of short picture we are going to be making. The members of my group represent a very diverse style and whatever we create promises to be something both odd and memorable. It would seem that the style of film my group chooses to create will dictate the structure, effects, and filmmaking methods that we employ. Doug had mentioned a desire to create a comedy, and as far as film making projects go, it seems that comedies would be some of the easiest films to shoot and edit.

Because the comedic mood is light, there would be no need for specific lighting patterns. Specific genres like horror, mystery, or even suspenseful action rely on lighting techniques to convey mood and create viewer emotion. While experimenting with specific lighting setups using things you can find around the average dorm room, the ability to put all of our focus into the story line and shot composition will enable us to create a more enjoyable picture overall.

Over the past few weeks, Eric has shown us numerous examples of shooting styles to make a shot work. The wide shot, the trolley shot, the close up, and any other of the various ratios of zoom and focal length fit well into a comedic performance. The way that our scenes are set up and shot should reflect the type of comedy that is being performed. If it is a dance, a trolley shot should effectively encompass the motions. If it is a facial expression or an impression, a close up or specific zoom and focus setting could capture the moment and bring attention to specific areas of the scene. Simple things like this are easy to pull off with the advanced technological devices we have been supplied with and, when used effectively, can make a motion picture exponentially better.

One of my favorite comedic motion pictures is Rush Hour. That trilogy is comprised of a perfect mix of comedy and martial arts action. Chris Tucker’s comedic dialogue is presented in a series of close ups and moving close angle shots. When the action segments kick in, the shots take a generally wide angle stance to get the entire room or setting into each shot. I think our movie will be shot in much the same way.