Directors Statement- Sam Mckeown

8/12/2019 Directors Statement- Sam Mckeown

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DIRECTORS STATEMENT

A JOURNEY THROUGH ANGER

BY SAM MCKEOWN


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INTRODUCTION

I have been asked to create a four minute film based around the script of A Journey

Through Anger. Using this as a film I have decided to try and create a film that conveys the

mood of the title in a creative and interesting way. I would like it to show a realistic

interpretation of anger through the emotions portrayed on screen.

CINEMATOGRAPHY

The type of Cinematography that I want to use will mainly be wide shots and shots from a

low angle. This will help bring the atmosphere closer to the theme of anger because it

focuses directly on my character David and the detached sense of stability he has. This type

of filming will give an impression of the emotional struggles he is going through and his

relationships with his girlfriend and addiction by making the audience feel a closeness you

could not get if the angles were higher away from him.

The set design choices I will be using will blend seamlessly with the cinematography.

When I think of how the camera should move, I think it would be better to have the camera

use a lot of slow panning, with some fixed shots for the exterior scenes. I think this would be

a good choice of showing my character Davids idiosyncratic behaviour. I feel that the

panning shots will also show that the world is constantly moving around him and he finds it

hard to cope with his almost bipolar tendencies.

I want to use some close up shots of my characters to show both the erratic emotions thatDavid is feeling and the fear in Dianas character.

For the main style of cinematography I have taken my inspiration from the film Falling Down

(1993). The film stars William Foster (Played by Michael Douglas) and relates to my film

because he has problems dealing with anger issues. Joel Schumachers directing really works

towards the movies advantage and the cinematography used is captivating in establishing

how his character reacts to everyone else. He mainly uses wide long shots which give off a

slightly detached sense of perspective for the main character. The shots are also incredibly

atmospheric and give off a sense of the anger and desperateness of Fosters character.

Fig 1- Falling Down (1998)


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SPACING/DEPTH OF FIELD

The most important thing to remember for me as a director is the framing of the picture and

how it will come together in the scenes. Even

though the interior location will be quite

small, I want it to have to feeling of being

quite spacious. This means as long as the

audience doesnt question it too much, it is

possible to basically have a room within a

room. This will give more emotion to the

story and uncover hidden depth.

LIGHTING (INTERIOR/EXTERIOR SHOTS)

For exterior shots there will be a direct contrast between the well-lit and angry lighting of

Davids household and the heightened difference in atmosphere he feels when he leaves his

house. The lighting will also be quite well lit in the house to represent the empty comfort his

house provides. I want the lighting to represent the depressing, cold and shallow

atmosphere of winter; this represents the unhappiness in David and Dianas moods. The

lighting is very important when it comes to the film I want to make. The biggest cause for

concern is that the lighting will be natural so it will need to be filmed sometime between

mid to late afternoon around 12am-5pm in the day for the picture to be the most effective.

I aim to prevent the use of too much overexposure in my film.

COLOUR THEORY

I would like to get some dark red tones mixed into the filming, I want this to represent

Davids anger as well as his fiery temper. For this I have been doing some research into

colour theory to get a clearer idea for setting the films mood.

I really responded to the red background used to represent the theme of anger in The

Temptations movie. This will be used for interior scenes only as it would be very hard to use

for the exterior scenes without editing the shots which I presume could come off quite

tacky.

Fig 2- Falling Down (1998)Fast Food Restaurant Scene

Fig 3- The Temptations (1998)

Drug Scene


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RESEARCH/CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT

I have been looking at clips from different films to help me target my depiction of drug

abuse in the film such as in The Man With The Golden Arm (1955), Trainspotting (1996) and

Pulp Fiction (1994). But for one of the best overall examples I will use The Temptations

(1998) as an example.

Although it is relatively quite

obscure compared to the

other films a few of the scenes

give a closer vision of how I

want the film to look.

The main difference between this film and the ones previously mentioned is that this is a

biography and is based on the lives of the original members of the sixties group, The

Temptations. A large part of the movies has to do with David Ruffin (portrayed by Leon

Robinson) and how he and his band members deal with the excess drug abuse and ego

problems he develops during his role as the lead singer. There are some obvious similarities

here to my story, with drug use playing a part in Ruffins life and causing him to act

differently then he previously had.

This has made me look at my character, (also named

David) and the way he interacts with his world

through anger. The red background that is featured in

some of the scenes links back to what I previously

mentioned about colour theory and it represents

Ruffins descent into anger and bitterness. Many of

the camera shots used are effective in showcasing the

anger Leon Robinsons portrays by bringing it to the

forefront of the screen with close up shots of his drug

use.

TONE/ATMOSPHERE

When making the film, I want to capture the feeling of hopelessness that drug abuse has

brought to Davids life, as heightened byhis ex-girlfriend leaving him. The music will

heighted the creepy atmosphere I plan for the film to have, the lighting, music and the drug

abuse as shown onscreen will all be intertwined as way of showing Davids paranoia andgeneral loss of reality.

Fig 4- The Man With The Golden Arm (1955) Starring Frank Sinatra in

a Drug Scene.

Fig 5- The Temptations (1998)Choreography

Scene


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PROPS

Three major props featured in the film represent changes in these characters personalities.

The first prop is a major plot point in the film; it is a watch that the film uses as its first and

last shots. This is when it becomes full-circle and links to

the fact that time is running out for David and the choices

hes made in his life.

The second major prop featured is a framed photograph of

her character featured on Davids desk. This picture shows

her smiling and you can sense the enjoyment in her life.

When we finally meet her, its almost like her happiness

has been sucked out of her due to her unhealthy prior relationship with David. The thirdprop is the actual package, the wedding ring box. This represents the end of these

characters involvement in each otherslives.

CLOTHING

The clothes that David wears at the start will be fairly worn

and scruffy but after agreeing to meet Diana for the exterior

scenes I have an idea that he could slightly dress up in a lasteffort to try and impress her. This would mean his set clothes

changing from a baggy t-shirt and scruffy jeans to a more immaculate shirt and smarter

trousers. Diana will be wearing ordinary clothing to show that she has lost the desire of

impressing him and become more cynical. This is shown by her wearing very basic clothes

which mirrors her current state of depression and cynicism. The contrast in clothing

represents the different ways their personalities are clashing in the film.

CASTING

In terms of casting I would like my main character David to be portrayed by an actor that is

on the short side and could pass for the age bracket of early 20s, particularly around the 22

year age bracket. Most importantly the actor who plays David should have an innocent look

about him but also look quite haggard. This will show the transformation he has taken from

the type of person an innocent, shy girl like Diana would have fell in

love with to a drug abuser and angry man. For this reason I have

selected Chris Sarmiento to play my main role. I have also worked

with him before and I know he is the upmost professional that can

be relied on.

Fig 6- Watch

Fig 7- Wedding Ring Box

Fig 8- Chris Sarmiento will feature in

the role of David.


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For the casting of Diana, I think it would make sense to have a skinny, short and somewhat

fragile looking woman to play the part of a character who you imagine would be scared of

her unstable ex-partner. For this reason Ruby Rogers is going to be portraying the role of

Diana. I know that the actors I have picked will give great performances for their characters

as I have built the script with them in mind. Im confident that I have succeeded with pickingthis choice of actors.

LOCATIONS

Throughout the creative process, I have been asking myself what would be the best place

for filming as an interior location. For this I have decided to use a house for filming/lighting

purposes. The use of this style of location is because a simple bedroom can be changed to

suit my characters identity and the issues he is dealing with by making the room messy and

erratic looking. The lighting will also reflect this.

When it comes to an exterior location, I have decided to go with a garden pathway in

Rochester as I aim to have the film look as good as possible and I know this location will

achieve that with its beautiful sea background and maze like corners. I also know it will

create a great contrast with the

red tinted interior scenes.

SOUND

I will use only dark ambient music

for the interior scenes that will

blend well with the onscreen

action, I dont the film to distract

the audience from the viewing

experience. For the outdoor

scenes I wont have any music

because I want to create a huge contrast between the world David has created for himself

inside and outside of his home.

The film will also feature a mix of digetic and non-digetic sounds, I decided that it would begood to use both because the digetic sounds will add some realism to the story whereas the

non-digetic sounds could be quite effective at showing across the anger portrayed on-

screen.

EDITING

The editing will be done using Final Cut Pro X on my

Macbook Pro, I will have to check that the sound levels are

balanced correctly and that the cuts are seamless when

editing. I am also confident that I will have the right amount

Fig 9- Rochester, Kent

Fig 10- Final Cut Pro Advertisement


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of coverage when it comes to using different takes for the scenes to be realised to their full

potential.

THEORY

At the end of the day, this is my work; and it is my job as a Director to make sure that it allcomes together. I have been researching into this role from the very start and I have to say

that one of the things I have enjoyed most of all is using other directors methods as a

yardstick. I have been looking at the different techniques that all of these actors have used

such as Alfred Hitchcocks innovative ways of using

unusual angles. I have been looking at Tim Burtons style

of films recently as well. His films are normally quite

tense and suspenseful with dark lighting. I think it is

interesting that he has used this trick for so long it has

become a trademark that is so unusual yet instantly

recognisable.

I would like to incorporate this sense of putting your

stamp on your own film but also paying homage to other

directorsfilms. In some ways my film pays homage to a

movie like Requiem For A Dream (2000) because it is

dealing with addiction and the consequences it brings.

This is a topic that has been tried and tested many times

before but it is all about putting your own stamp on agenre and portraying it in your own way.

Fig 11- The Tim Burton

Collection (2012)

Fig 12- Requiem For A Dream- Poster Advertisement (2000)


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Bibliography: Using the Harvard Method

Fig 1- Falling Down (1998) Directed By Joel Schumacher, Warner Bros:

http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film2/DVDReviews45/falling%20down%20blu-

ray/800%20falling%20down%20blu-ray5.jpg

Fig 2- Falling Down (1998) Fast Food Restaurant Scene, Directed by Joel Schumacher,

Warner Bros:http://www.periodismoudec.cl/tiemporeal/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Falling-

down-movie.jpg

Fig 3- The Temptations (1998) -Drug Scene, Directed by Alan Arkush, Hallmark

Entertainment:

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_xNO59OxlB8I/RpvQPNi0ATI/AAAAAAAAA_0/uDlt8h1eIl0/s200/david%2B

ruffin,%2Bleon.jpg

Fig 4- The Man With The Golden Arm (1955) Directed by Otto Preminger, United Artists:

http://cdn.filmin.es/resources/destacado_film/633x269/el-hombre-del-brazo-de-oro.jpg

Fig 5- The Temptations (1998)Choreograpy Scene, Directed by Alan Arkush, Hallark Entertainment:

http://s3.vidimg.popscreen.com/original/9/eGlibW01MTI=_o_the-temptations---my-girl-movie.jpg

Fig 6- A Watch:http://www.thatshouldbemine.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Omega-

Seamaster-Skyfall-1.jpg

Fig 7- A Wedding Ring Box:https://reader010.{domain}/reader010/html5/0619/5b284ab63f458/5b284abb88693.jpg

Fig 8- My main actor, Chris Sarmiento:http://sammckeown.blogspot.co.uk/2013/11/story-telling-

unit-production-casting.html

Fig 9- Rochester, Kent. Doust Way- Path:

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/Doust+Way/@51.384066,0.513503,3a,37.5y,15.56h,89.29t/

data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sIPViPHowmuHJZlJ3QXxX_w!2e0!4m2!3m1!1s0x47d8ccfe8ab6bf53:0xadd616

3a9b43ebb9!6m1!1e1?hl=en

Fig 10- An Advertisement for Final Cut Pro X from 2011:

http://chrisreed.stevensonuniversity.org/files/2011/08/Final-Cut-Pro-X.png

Fig 11- The Tim Burton Collection (2012), [DVD] Directed by Tim Burton, Warner Bros:

http://goodfilmguide.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Tim-Burton-Collection-3D_DVD.jpg

Fig 12- Requiem For A Dream (2000), Poster Advertisement, Directed by Darren Aronofsky, Artisan

Entertainment:http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-

PiRi3zSVTkw/TVqw_mj9KYI/AAAAAAAADcA/2IXhR5JxViI/s1600/requiem_for_a_dream_0.jpg
http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film2/DVDReviews45/falling%20down%20blu-ray/800%20falling%20down%20blu-ray5.jpghttp://www.dvdbeaver.com/film2/DVDReviews45/falling%20down%20blu-ray/800%20falling%20down%20blu-ray5.jpghttp://www.dvdbeaver.com/film2/DVDReviews45/falling%20down%20blu-ray/800%20falling%20down%20blu-ray5.jpghttp://www.periodismoudec.cl/tiemporeal/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Falling-down-movie.jpghttp://www.periodismoudec.cl/tiemporeal/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Falling-down-movie.jpghttp://www.periodismoudec.cl/tiemporeal/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Falling-down-movie.jpghttp://www.periodismoudec.cl/tiemporeal/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Falling-down-movie.jpghttp://2.bp.blogspot.com/_xNO59OxlB8I/RpvQPNi0ATI/AAAAAAAAA_0/uDlt8h1eIl0/s200/david%2Bruffin,%2Bleon.jpghttp://2.bp.blogspot.com/_xNO59OxlB8I/RpvQPNi0ATI/AAAAAAAAA_0/uDlt8h1eIl0/s200/david%2Bruffin,%2Bleon.jpghttp://2.bp.blogspot.com/_xNO59OxlB8I/RpvQPNi0ATI/AAAAAAAAA_0/uDlt8h1eIl0/s200/david%2Bruffin,%2Bleon.jpghttp://cdn.filmin.es/resources/destacado_film/633x269/el-hombre-del-brazo-de-oro.jpghttp://cdn.filmin.es/resources/destacado_film/633x269/el-hombre-del-brazo-de-oro.jpghttp://s3.vidimg.popscreen.com/original/9/eGlibW01MTI=_o_the-temptations---my-girl-movie.jpghttp://s3.vidimg.popscreen.com/original/9/eGlibW01MTI=_o_the-temptations---my-girl-movie.jpghttp://www.thatshouldbemine.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Omega-Seamaster-Skyfall-1.jpghttp://www.thatshouldbemine.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Omega-Seamaster-Skyfall-1.jpghttp://www.thatshouldbemine.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Omega-Seamaster-Skyfall-1.jpghttp://www.thatshouldbemine.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Omega-Seamaster-Skyfall-1.jpghttp://weddingringspix.com/diamond-wedding-ring-box.jpghttp://weddingringspix.com/diamond-wedding-ring-box.jpghttp://weddingringspix.com/diamond-wedding-ring-box.jpghttp://sammckeown.blogspot.co.uk/2013/11/story-telling-unit-production-casting.htmlhttp://sammckeown.blogspot.co.uk/2013/11/story-telling-unit-production-casting.htmlhttp://sammckeown.blogspot.co.uk/2013/11/story-telling-unit-production-casting.htmlhttp://sammckeown.blogspot.co.uk/2013/11/story-telling-unit-production-casting.htmlhttps://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/Doust+Way/@51.384066,0.513503,3a,37.5y,15.56h,89.29t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sIPViPHowmuHJZlJ3QXxX_w!2e0!4m2!3m1!1s0x47d8ccfe8ab6bf53:0xadd6163a9b43ebb9!6m1!1e1?hl=enhttps://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/Doust+Way/@51.384066,0.513503,3a,37.5y,15.56h,89.29t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sIPViPHowmuHJZlJ3QXxX_w!2e0!4m2!3m1!1s0x47d8ccfe8ab6bf53:0xadd6163a9b43ebb9!6m1!1e1?hl=enhttps://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/Doust+Way/@51.384066,0.513503,3a,37.5y,15.56h,89.29t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sIPViPHowmuHJZlJ3QXxX_w!2e0!4m2!3m1!1s0x47d8ccfe8ab6bf53:0xadd6163a9b43ebb9!6m1!1e1?hl=enhttps://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/Doust+Way/@51.384066,0.513503,3a,37.5y,15.56h,89.29t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sIPViPHowmuHJZlJ3QXxX_w!2e0!4m2!3m1!1s0x47d8ccfe8ab6bf53:0xadd6163a9b43ebb9!6m1!1e1?hl=enhttp://chrisreed.stevensonuniversity.org/files/2011/08/Final-Cut-Pro-X.pnghttp://chrisreed.stevensonuniversity.org/files/2011/08/Final-Cut-Pro-X.pnghttp://goodfilmguide.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Tim-Burton-Collection-3D_DVD.jpghttp://goodfilmguide.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Tim-Burton-Collection-3D_DVD.jpghttp://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PiRi3zSVTkw/TVqw_mj9KYI/AAAAAAAADcA/2IXhR5JxViI/s1600/requiem_for_a_dream_0.jpghttp://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PiRi3zSVTkw/TVqw_mj9KYI/AAAAAAAADcA/2IXhR5JxViI/s1600/requiem_for_a_dream_0.jpghttp://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PiRi3zSVTkw/TVqw_mj9KYI/AAAAAAAADcA/2IXhR5JxViI/s1600/requiem_for_a_dream_0.jpghttp://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PiRi3zSVTkw/TVqw_mj9KYI/AAAAAAAADcA/2IXhR5JxViI/s1600/requiem_for_a_dream_0.jpghttp://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PiRi3zSVTkw/TVqw_mj9KYI/AAAAAAAADcA/2IXhR5JxViI/s1600/requiem_for_a_dream_0.jpghttp://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PiRi3zSVTkw/TVqw_mj9KYI/AAAAAAAADcA/2IXhR5JxViI/s1600/requiem_for_a_dream_0.jpghttp://goodfilmguide.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Tim-Burton-Collection-3D_DVD.jpghttp://chrisreed.stevensonuniversity.org/files/2011/08/Final-Cut-Pro-X.pnghttps://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/Doust+Way/@51.384066,0.513503,3a,37.5y,15.56h,89.29t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sIPViPHowmuHJZlJ3QXxX_w!2e0!4m2!3m1!1s0x47d8ccfe8ab6bf53:0xadd6163a9b43ebb9!6m1!1e1?hl=enhttps://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/Doust+Way/@51.384066,0.513503,3a,37.5y,15.56h,89.29t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sIPViPHowmuHJZlJ3QXxX_w!2e0!4m2!3m1!1s0x47d8ccfe8ab6bf53:0xadd6163a9b43ebb9!6m1!1e1?hl=enhttps://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/Doust+Way/@51.384066,0.513503,3a,37.5y,15.56h,89.29t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sIPViPHowmuHJZlJ3QXxX_w!2e0!4m2!3m1!1s0x47d8ccfe8ab6bf53:0xadd6163a9b43ebb9!6m1!1e1?hl=enhttp://sammckeown.blogspot.co.uk/2013/11/story-telling-unit-production-casting.htmlhttp://sammckeown.blogspot.co.uk/2013/11/story-telling-unit-production-casting.htmlhttp://weddingringspix.com/diamond-wedding-ring-box.jpghttp://www.thatshouldbemine.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Omega-Seamaster-Skyfall-1.jpghttp://www.thatshouldbemine.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Omega-Seamaster-Skyfall-1.jpghttp://s3.vidimg.popscreen.com/original/9/eGlibW01MTI=_o_the-temptations---my-girl-movie.jpghttp://cdn.filmin.es/resources/destacado_film/633x269/el-hombre-del-brazo-de-oro.jpghttp://2.bp.blogspot.com/_xNO59OxlB8I/RpvQPNi0ATI/AAAAAAAAA_0/uDlt8h1eIl0/s200/david%2Bruffin,%2Bleon.jpghttp://2.bp.blogspot.com/_xNO59OxlB8I/RpvQPNi0ATI/AAAAAAAAA_0/uDlt8h1eIl0/s200/david%2Bruffin,%2Bleon.jpghttp://www.periodismoudec.cl/tiemporeal/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Falling-down-movie.jpghttp://www.periodismoudec.cl/tiemporeal/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Falling-down-movie.jpghttp://www.dvdbeaver.com/film2/DVDReviews45/falling%20down%20blu-ray/800%20falling%20down%20blu-ray5.jpghttp://www.dvdbeaver.com/film2/DVDReviews45/falling%20down%20blu-ray/800%20falling%20down%20blu-ray5.jpg

Documents

Directors Statement- Sam Mckeown