Mindmap: Final Idea- Prank wars

Initial Ideas Children's Film

Initial Ideas for Childrens Film:

• Child superhero - Child gets superpowers, saves the whole world with those abilities, etc.
• Drama - Child getting bullied. Child overcomes bullying by resolving
• Action genre - missions for children, save the world, etc.
• Animation - Using plasticine, figures, fruit. Stick goggly eyes on the fruit and set the scene. Argument?
• Comedy - A children version of Punk'd? Pranks. A film called 'Prank Wars'

Our final idea is going to be 'Prank Wars'. This short children's film will include a group of people pranking each other to win some sort of prize. 'Prank Wars' will be filmed on the college premises.

Storyboard:

Possible Locations:

Action film analysis. spy kids

Spy kids is an example of an children's action film. The cinematography involved uses tracking shots , close ups , long-shots  and conversation shots.  The use of tracking shots gives a fast pace flow to the feature and helps the audience feel involved in the scene.

The props include a variety of gadgets and interesting equipment which is exciting to the younger audiences. The costumes used by the "Spy kids" are futuristic and fun to appeal more to the younger audience. The settings are colourful and over the top. For example the secret lairs and bases that are included are extravagant and plays the youth audiences imagination. The lighting is mostly high key and low key to suit the location of the characters. For example the lighting is low key in places of danger. Also the darkness plays on a common children's fear. This makes the young audience more unsettled and they feel for the protagonists.

Special effects are mostly consisted of green screen. The green screen allows impossible structures to be created with little effort and costs very little compared to creating an actual structure.  This also allows imaginary gadgets possible e.g. the jet pack.

The soundtrack was a classic orchestral "secret agent" style piece influenced perhaps by Mission Impossible. The music was punchy and fast paced. This increases the amount of excitement that the audiences feels, plus emphasizes the fact that it is an action film.

Spy Kids Trailer:

Conventions in Opening Sequences - Children's Film

In children's films, opening sequences are vital for children to understand the plot, storyline, plus the characters in the film as youngsters (between 3-5) may find it difficult. Opening sequences may include the following:

• Main storyline - For the audience to understand what is going on in the first couple of minutes.
• Characters (Main) - To introduce the main characters so they become familiar to the audience. Also, it makes the audience focused on that particular character.
• Setting - To give the audience a feel of where the film is set.
• Simple plot - For not to confuse the target audience as complex plots may confuse children. 
• Titles and credits - To introduce the film, giving everyone credit for the their part in part.
• Funny openings - To entertain and entice the audience. This will make the audience remember the particular scene.
• Bright and colorful - To capture the moment.
• Basic camera angles - So it does not get too complicated for the younger members of the audience. Plus, to show the characters emotions, etc.

Jumanji - Mise en scene

The misenscene hat we noticed in the short clip of  jumaji included : The use of time period props such as 1800s costume  to demonstrate the year of the scene.  Natural lighting of the night scene burial gave a slightly n nerving and gloomy fell to the film.  When the timeline jumps to 1960s the setting feels like a safe environment and the tension is released from the previous scene. This is soon broken when the bullies chase the main character on old style chopper bikes. After the chase scene has ceased the main-character talks to his father in the families company. The father tells him to confront his own fears. This will be an obvious goal for the character which will be reached at the end of the feature.

The film reaches a number of the conventions of a typical children's film. The music is varied in the emotions it creates and the characters are introduced almost instantly after the establishing clip. The plot seems simple enough for young audiences to follow but it does seem a little more complicated than most very young films.

SpongeBob The Movie

In our group we analyzed Sponge-bob square-pants movie trailer the main camera angles that were used was long shot, close up and extreme close up. The main characters is in the film was heavily concentrated in most shots.  The colours in the trailer were over the top and vibrant to help interest the younger embers of the audience. The music used is quite happy and fun. There are plenty of jokes for younger audences so the humor is basic.

Preliminary Evaluation

The overall filming process went smoothly except for a few complications. Our first problem we had was finding a suitable location for the shots. We eventually stumbled onto a disused office in one of the blocks upstairs.  We began our filming and were making steady progress but a member of staff had to use the office which we were using. This restricted the shots we could of done in the office also were pressured to hurry and leave the room.  All the shots were completed in our given time and we started the editing process.

We uploaded the film to the macs and used final cut pro to edit the clips.  Some effects were added and the task was completed.

Preliminary Task