Film study - 35 second film

Before starting this film, we learnt about music, lighting, colour and camera angles that helped us make our own 30-second film. Me, Jolly Rose, Lilly and Sharney made a 35-second film about as student stealing a book from the school's library and then getting caught by a teacher. Jolly helped me with the storyline and we immediately agreed with each other on what we should do as actors. Sharney did most of the filming while me and Jolly acted as the thief (me) and the teacher (Jolly). Me and jolly did most of the editing. Filming was fun but the editing...not so much, I did most of the editing at home and had enough time to finish it off by myself.

Workshop 5: Creating the illusion of the Other Mother

Changes of the Other mother through-out the movie

1. - looks like normal mum but with button eyes

    - dresses like the real mother

    - softer/rounder edges ( hips, head, knees, elbows )

    - clothes are basic design, no patterns, covers most of her body

2. - head and nose gets pointer and sharper

    - sleeves get shorter

    - addition of red colour palette

    - starting to get battle shape from the apron

    - long baggy pants to keep the idea of softness

3. - all weight has moved to hips/bums, accents beatle shape of the dress

    - red, black, white, more pattern, better/tighter fit, more skin showing

    - getting longer and pointer, a stretched neck, pointed elbows, shorter hair, pointed head and nose

4. - scissor/twig-like, very skinny

    - huge height increase compared to oven

    - pointy head and elbows

    - high heels

    -fully black dress with red shoes and apron

    - little to no fat left on her body lots of skin showing

5. - skinless, needle-like, no face, paper-thin

    - has grown extra legs

    - looks like an alien and has non-human like appearance 

    - clothes are more like tattered rags

    - very tall

    - has become hunched over

Gradual changes over time

- takes more time to notice

- looks can be deceiving

- changes as Coraline perception of her changes

Start - the colour is warm and inviting

End - green, unnatural and creepy

Workshop 3: Follow up task

The Real World:


The lighting in the real world was gloomy, dull, boring, and quite lifeless. The real world isn't really a place you want to be in, the lighting and colours used in the scenes are quite sad and cold and it definitely looks quite uncomfortable because the house looks run down and old.

The colours in the real world have a grey colour palette and it makes the place look cold instead of warm. The real world doesn't really seem like a very inviting and safe place to be in. The directors probably did this to show how much The real world and the other world contrast each other based on lighting and colour itself.

The Other World (Good):

The lighting in the other world is really warm and inviting, it really does contrast from the grey and gloomy real world. The lighting wasn't bright and still had parts that were in shadows. Everything did look bright and beautiful and it definitely is a place someone wants to be in. Compared to the house in the real world, the house in the other world looks new and welcoming.

The colour palette of the other world was warm and it wasn't really bright because there was still some spaces that were dark and shadowy, but despite having such a dark and slightly creepy appearance, the other colours made everything look warm, bright and welcoming.

The Other World (Bad):

The lighting in the other world when the other mother finally revealed true self to Coraline had such a creepy atmosphere and the lighting made it even scarier. The light had a green tone but it was dark as well, this just made the scene look like it came out of a horror movie. Although the other mother was wearing something that was all black, she still stood out in the green light.

The colours that were used had a purple and orange tone which made the room look quite warm but still scary. The colours that were used made it look like the whole place was unsafe because everything was dark but still was full of colour but it definitely looked like a place no one would want to be in. This created such a huge contrast from the innocent look of the other world where the other mother still didn't reveal her true self to Coraline. 

Workshop 3: How does 'Lighting and Colour' enhance the story?

Atmosphere - feel, the energy around
Mood - how you feel, emotions
Location - where something is happening

Lighting:
Natural - Produced in nature, often sun, moon, stars, lighting
Artificial - Man-made light, usually electrical

Warm - Yellow tone, makes it feel safe, warm
Cold - White/blue tone, makes it feel clean, clinical

Bright - Fills room, makes it feel happy, safe
Dull - Fills part of a room only, often creepy/murky

Colour Palette - Predominant colours used in the scene.

Brainstorm: Colour/Lighting ( The Real World )
What's happening - Coraline and her parents are having breakfast in the kitchen.
                               -They look depressed, dull and lifeless.
Technique:
Lighting - cold, natural (from the cloudy window), dull.
Colour - cold, dark, washed out, faded, muted, off white, creams and yellows.

Effect on viewers ( feel/think ) - feels boring, don't want to be there, boring, dull and lifeless.

Director Purpose ( theme ) - Set the mood so that the real world is boring and empty.
                                              - Makes the other world more appealing.
                                              - Looks can be deceiving, not actually a bad place to be.

Other Techniques ( costume/shots/music ): 
Costume - real parents in simple, plain colours and fabrics in dull colours.

Brainstorm: Colour/Lighting ( The Other World )
What's happening - Coraline and other parents having dinner in the other kitchen.
                                - Characters seem vibrant and appealing.
                                - Good food in offer.

Technique:
Lighting - artificial, ceiling light, warm yellow-ish tone, dull, parts of the room in shadow.
Colour - yellow/oranges/black colour plate, warm, makes it feel safe/comfortable.

Effect on viewers ( feel/think ) - happy, want to be there, welcoming, colourful, and comfortable.

Director Purpose ( theme ) - Looks can be deceiving, looks nice but in reality, it is unsafe.
                                             - Makes Coraline feel comfortable, huge improvement form the real world.

Other Techniques ( costume/shots/music ):
Costume - Colourful, friendly-looking, lots of black/red, more fashionable, comfy, warm.

Workshop 2: Linking themes to the impact of Angles, Movement and Shots

High angle - makes the character 'Otherworld Wybie' look small, weak and vulnerable.

P.O.V 'Other Mother' - Dominant and powerful.

The audience feels - Powerful, we are looking down on Wybie through Other Mother's P.O.V sad/innocent for Wybie - he looks small, sad and Innocent, first characters in another world to suggest something is not right.

 Directors - Purpose makes us feel sorry for Wybie. Makes audience think that maybe the other Mother isn't nice - foreshadowing.

In the other shot with the 'Other Wybie' and the 'Other Mother', High angle shots are used effectively to show the theme 'Looks can be deceiving' This can be demonstrated through a high angle shot from the P.O.V of the 'Other Mother', She is looking down the front porch steps at a scared 'Other Wybie'.

This makes the audience feel sorry for 'Other Wybie' and make the 'Other Mother' seem powerful.

The purpose of this scene was to make the audience think that maybe the other Mother isn't so nice after all. Combined with the use of lighting, 'Other Wybie' is in a warm lightened scene but is surrounded by darkness, their director has created an atmosphere that suggests that something is not right. This reminds the viewer of the other scene where Coraline was looking up at the 'Other mother' horrified, she throws her through a magical portal and into a locked room. This shows that looks can be deceiving because The Other Mother wasn't as nice as Coraline had hoped she would be. 

In the second picture, the scene was on a dutch tilt which gives the audience a sense of fear because dutch tilts are mostly used in shots to inform the viewers that something bad is about to happen. the audience is looking through the doll's point of view and shows that Coraline is trying to find the doll and that the doll is watching her every move. The director did this to show that the doll is informing Coraline to go to the portal which leads to the Other World. The lighting is dark and gloomy which makes the mood and atmosphere seem intense and creepy.

Workshop 1:Unpacking themes and ideas

Theme/idea - something that links throughout the story.
Looks can be deceiving - things aren't always what they seem.

Example 1: The Beldam/The Other Mother
-She starts off as good/kind but is revealed to be an evil soul devouring metal spider demon.
-Shows theme because the other mother changes gradually over time so that Coraline and the audience don't notice.
-Important to the story because it helps the audience understand Coraline's choice when she realises that having everything perfect wont make he happy.

Example 2: The Other world and The Real world
-The other world is a perfect web/trap to trap Coraline, whereas the real world is boring but safe.
-Shows theme because even though the other world seems better in every way, the real world is actually better/safer because it isn't a trap.
-Important to help the audience understand why Coraline goes back to the real world.

SEXXXY Paragrph
Statement - In Coraline, themes and ideas are used effectively.
Evidence - For instance, the theme 'looks can be deceiving' is shown through the character of the Other mother. The Other mother starts kind, but is revealed to be a soul devouring demon.
Explanation (audience) - This makes the audience feel that we shouldn't trust things or people that seem perfect at first glance.
Explanation (director) - This was done to make the audience feel weary or develop a sense of caution towards new situations.
Explanation (compare) - Coinciding with this is the use of colour to show the Other Mother is becoming more evil. At the start she was surrounded by warm colours that make us feel safe, but by the end it was dark with neon green which make her seem dangerous.
Your Link - This theme is also shown through the changes in the other world as it is revealed to be a spider web design to catch Coraline.