Final children's film

this is our final children's film opening, we didn't have time to finish the titles.

'where the wild things are' audience and inspiration.

WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE:

1.      Which different audiences would this film appeal to and why?

2.      Would you consider this to be a typical children’s film? Explain answer.

3.      Research the inspiration for the film.

1.     AUDIENCE:

-Adults/Teens: may feel like they want to indulge their inner child.

-Older generations: would’ve read the original book that was published in 1963 or other versions.

-Children: the film contains oversized furry and feathery creatures and a great quantity of imagination.

-Parents: may feel like they can empathise and relate to the mother having an ‘out of control’ child.

2.     TYPICAL? :

Quite an un-typical children’s film as the director had set the movie out to be a movie about children for adults on ‘how children master various feelings’. The film contains some elements that may be seen as scary for young children. Some critics said it was more of an indie film, than a children’s movie.

3.     INSPIRATION:

The film was inspired by the book ‘where the wild things are’.

Comparison of 4 Childrens Films.

TASK: compare the four sequences and comment on how the micro-elements are used to introduce genre, location, characters and the story. What type of audience are they targeting? [400 words]

1.       THE SPIDERWICK CHRONICLES:

Sound:  a chime sound effect is used to create mystery and an almost magical atmosphere. A lot of bass is used in the background drums. A large unsettling roar is heard from within the house but the source is not shown. Orchestral non-diegetic music is being used.

Editing: As the camera pulls away from the window and into the trees the title of the film gradually fades onto the shot blurring out the background. A caption has been added at the bottom of the shot stating ’80 years later’. Captions and title are both in gold. Cuts are used for transitions to create a continuity style of editing. The pace of the shots in the opening scene is quite fast showing the various different odd objects and drawings in the room. The pace of the shots is then slowed down as the family arrive at the house and get settled in. As Jared is looking around the room the pace is very slow and it gradually speeds up as he gets closer to finding the book in the chest.

Camera Work: Close ups on the words and drawings that the man is doing suggest they’re important. A low angle is used on the house as the family pull up in their car to show the house in a sinister intimidating way. Point-of-view shot is used as something in the bushes is watching Jared. A panning movement is used when Jared is looking around in the secret room.

Mise En Scene:  lighting: artificial candle light used to light up the room. Very low naturalistic lighting is used. Flashlight is used as Jared is looking in the room. Location: it’s set in the middle of a forest in an old creepy looking wooden house. The three children uncover a dumbwaiter that had been sealed with plaster suggesting that it leads to somewhere secretive and hidden. Costume: the man in the opening scene is wearing a weird eye piece and old fashioned clothes. The characters are all wearing very casual clothes. Simon comes across as very intelligent by wearing button up shirts and his hair neat whereas Jared is very laid back. Props: insects, lizards and other things are kept in jars and bones are presented neatly with old handwriting written on various labels and scraps of old off white paper. An old looking tarnished key is shown. Salt placed around windows. Large quantity of honey, oats and tomato sauce stored on shelves. Jared finds an old looking chest and sealed book that appears very secretive. Colour design: cold colours used such as blue, adding a mysterious atmosphere to the house. Body Language: the man in the opening scene appears a little agitated and slightly in a rush, he begins to look fretful. The children argue with each other, gives the impression they fight regularly.

Audience: possible age range of 7 years and up. It’s a family entertainment so it has been made to keep adults engaged in the film as well as children.

Genre: Adventure, fantasy and family entertainment.

2.       NANNY MCPHEE:

Sound:   a chime sound effect is used to create a magical atmosphere. The scene opens with a man talking over the clips like he’s telling a story. Slightly medieval music is played as the camera moves closer to the house. Orchestral music is used that changes dramatically to emphasize the atmosphere and emotion of what’s happening in the scene and the presence of different characters. The music dramatically changes when nanny McPhee arrives at the door.

Editing:  captions and lettering are coloured gold with a glowing outline to appear magical and the letters are a little out of place to suggest it’s a playful film and to show the children’s mayhem and un-organisation. The title ‘Nanny McPhee’ appears onto the screen by different letters moving into the middle with gold dust behind them. Continuity editing is used.

Camera Work: An extreme long shot is used to establish the location of the film. A point of view shot is used as the letterbox is opened and a shot of Cedric is seen through it.  Close ups on nanny McPhee’s warts, snaggletooth and monobrow are used to emphasize her appearance and eerie presence.

Mise En Scene: lighting: the general lighting of the film is very naturalistic and the rooms in the house are lit up by daylight, even the artificial lighting appears natural. Location: it is set in the countryside, on a farm which gives the film a very friendly and comfortable environment. Costume: as the film is set in 19^th century England the clothes of the characters are quite old fashioned. Props: the man telling the story at the beginning states that the story starts with an empty chair, the empty chair represents that there used to be a mother in the household. The walking stick of nanny McPhee is very significant to the story and the character of nanny McPhee as it is magical. Colour design: very bright and bold colours used, such as pinks, greens and yellows to suggest a lively, fun environment. Body Language: Cedric comes across very agitated and unsure of how to deal with his uncontrollable children. The body language between Cedric and Evangeline is a little awkward as it’s clear they have chemistry together. Cedric trips over something at the top of the stairs and falls all the way down to the bottom, it’s presented as humorous by ‘slapstick’ comedy which is targeted for children who’re watching the film. The cook, Mrs.Blatherwick comes across as very disciplined and as someone who feels like they’re in control when really they are not.

Audience: Ages 7 and up. It’s a family entertainment so it has been made to keep adults engaged in the film as well as children.

Genre: family entertainment, comedy and fantasy.

3.       WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE:

Sound: the soundtrack of the whole movie is very easy on the ears and pleasant, with the use of children humming and singing.

Editing: the classic Warner brothers logo and other logos have been edited to look like they have been drawn over by a child. Cuts are used for transitions that give the style of editing a more continuity feel to it but some jump cuts are used with the hand held camera work that give a different tone to the film. The title and captions scribbled onto the clip in white.

Camera Work: many of the shots are hand held to create a more disorientating, lively and imaginative atmosphere and a lot of point of view shots are also used to show how max would see it. A point of view shot is used as Max goes up to the window and can see Claire, his sister. Various different angles and distances are used to capture different scenes which make the film quite interesting and different to other children’s films.

Mise En Scene: lighting: the lighting is quite naturalistic overall .location: at the beginning of the film it is set in a little neighbourhood house and then ventures off into a magical unknown destination of max’s imagination. Costume: throughout the majority of the movie max is wearing a wolf suit. When he is not wearing a wolf suit he is wearing casual winter clothes like his mother and sister. The creatures don’t wear any clothing but have thick fur or feathers and lots of hair. Props: the wolf suit that max wears shows that he is a very creative and imaginative boy. As max is angry at his sister he rages into her room and rips up a  paper heart glued together with lollipop sticks with his writing on it that clearly shows he had made it for her . Colour design: in the forest with the creatures the colours used are very warm, such as browns and oranges, showing it’s a comfortable place for max. Body language: max’s mother’s body language is very tense and agitated and she is clearly stressed out with her work and the behaviour of Max, she seems t relax when she’s alone with max as he tells her a story. Claire comes across as not that interested in her brother and what he does as she leaves him when he is crying and ignores him when he’s trying to show her his igloo. Max is very fun and playful and has a wild imagination which is shown when he tells his mum a story and when he makes up how he became a king to the Vikings. He is quite uncontrollable and lets his feelings take over him, an example of this is when he bites his mother and runs out the house because she asked him to get down from the counter.

Audience:  the film is rated a PG for family entertainment but the director’s intent was to make the film about children for adults.

Genre: Adventure, Drama, Family entertainment and Fantasy.

4.       NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM:

Sound: chimes are used to suggest mystery. Orchestral music is being used. The music changes pace and pitch showing the different personalities of the figures in the museum, for example when a clip of the giant Easter Island head drums are used the music comes across as very tropical whereas with a clip of the Mongolian figures the music is very big and forceful to suggest they are very forceful and aggressive people. Music is used to create suspense as the old security guard creeps up on Larry and spooks him.

Editing: The gold coloured title is quite bold placed as if it is really in the scene in 3D. The pace of the shots is quite slow paced in the opening scene and remains quite slow paced as Larry is being introduced to the museum. A continuity style of editing is used, with cuts for transitions. A fade transition is used to introduce the city scene.

Camera Work: there are lot of panning high angle establishing long shots of the various rooms and places in the museum.

Mise En Scene: lighting: the lighting is very artificial in the museum .location: the film is set in New York in the Natural History Museum .costume: the clothes of the characters are very casual. For the majority of the movie Larry is wearing his blue/grey security guard uniform. Props: the main props in the film are the models, statues and stuffed animals in the museum, including the giant bones of the dinosaur near the main entrance of the museum. Colour design: a lot of neutral colours, such as brown are used. Body language: Larry comes across as a very funny person as he makes a lot of jokes. Larry’s ex wife comes across like she’s annoyed at Larry for being unstable with his change of jobs and apartments. Larry’s ex wife’s new husband is shown as quite arrogant and is made out negatively to the audience. The security guard that shows Larry around the museum appears very mysterious.

Audience: the film is targeted at a variety of ages because it’s considered a family film with elements for all ages to enjoy.

Genre: Action, Adventure, Comedy and Family entertainment.

our first day of filming

we think our first day of filming was productive, we got all of the shots done that we needed inside the old room in the on site house, and also all the shots Ed writing on the white board in his room.
next lesson we need to record our voices reading the journal and shoot all the shorter shots such as the reaction shots and match on action.
we found it difficult positioning the camera to get all of the action in shot in the small room in the house, but after working together to make the frame right it all came together successfully.

comparing four childrens films opening sequences

The four films ‘the Spider wick chronicles’ ‘nanny Mcphee’ ‘where the wild things are’ and ‘night at the museum’ are all aimed at a similar target audience but target them in different ways using the microelements of sound, camerawork, editing and mise en scene to introduce the genre, location, characters and story.

‘The Spiderwick chronicles’ is aimed at children aged eight upwards because its genre of fantasy would appeal the age group, the genre is introduced with the use of sparkling sound effects which accompanies the gold overlaying graphics on screen at the beginning of the sequence which introduces the name of the film. ‘Nanny Mcphee’ uses the same effects to introduce the audience to its magical genre, it helps to set the scene of the story and also introduces the narrative, the same effects of twinkling are used when the main character, nanny Mcphee, is first introduced so the young audience can associate the sound with the character.

All of the four films dominantly use continuity editing to give a more true to life feel to the film, with the cuts the change from shot to shot more naturally, than another transition, for instance fade, although these are occasionally used in ‘Nanny Mcphee’ to portray a sense of magic.

The sounds in the films are appropriate to the genre, and characters emotions, for example in the beginning of ‘where the wild things are’ there is a non diajetic soundtrack, which consists of child like humming, helps introduces the main character and establishes who the film is aimed at, it also conveys a sense of the Childs innocence. Similarly the music at the start of ‘night at the museum’ the pace and style of the music changes as the camera pans around the different themed rooms, such as the animal room which had low fast paced music whereas the room with Sacagawea is accompanied by slow and higher music to suggest her femininity and the love which takes place later in the film.

In each of the films establishing shots are used to introduce the location and setting of the film, in ‘night at the museum’ a shot of the city is used, similarly in ‘spider wick chronicles’ there is a mid shot of the house, also in ‘Nanny Mcphee’ an establishing shot is used in the form of a high angle shot of the village into a zoom to a mid shot of the door to the house, which reveals the last nanny, this represents the narrative of the film.

The lighting in each of the film are similar, right at the beginning of the sequence of ‘spider wick chronicles’  very dark and eerie lighting is used, also after the child has gone up the dumb waiter, a torch light is use, to make the audience feel like they are in the scene, as well as this effect the scene makes use of a point of view shots and hand held camerawork to again get the audience involved. Similarly point of view shots and handheld camerawork is used in ‘where the wild things are’ during the snowball fight scene to make the audience feel as though they are a part of the action.

The diajetic sounds in the sequence range from traffic and seagull sounds in ‘night at the museum’ to give a sense of place, putting the scene in a city location. Whereas the footsteps and rustling leaves places the location of ‘the spider wick chronicles’ in a cold and windy eerie atmosphere. The school bell sound effect in ‘where the wild things are’ again introduces the location as the scene changes from at home to in the classroom.

In both ‘nanny mcphee’ and ‘where the wild things are’ the non diajetic soundtrack behind the shots reflect the emotions of the characters and the pace of the shots for example, during the snowball fight as the boy in happy there is a fast cut rate and the music is fast and upbeat, however when his igloo is ruined and he starts crying the music gets slower and sad in the same way in ‘Nanny Mcphee’ when she is at the door and the mood is tense and scary, the music behind the scene where the children are playing in the kitchen and they are having fun the music is upbeat and faster. In ‘where the wild things are’ during the scene where the boy is laying under the table a high angle shot is used to look down at him suggesting his youth and how he looks up to his mother, and a low angle shot is used to look up at the mother like the child’s point of view, to show how she looks down at him like she is authorities, representing how she has power over him, later in the clip when she shouts at him later in the clip when she shouts at him , reinforcing his innocence as a child.

Angles in the shots are used in the same way in ‘Nanny Mcphee’; there is a high angle shots of the father as he lays in a state on the floor after trying to deal with the children and failing, then a low angle point of view shot looks up at Evangeline to suggest she has authority over him when it comes to disciplining the children although she is the slave in the house.

In both the ‘Spiderwick Chronicles’ and where the ‘Wild Things are’ a montage of clips is used. In ‘Spiderwick’ the shots are of multiple props in the house which introduces the genre of the film, where as in ‘Wild Things’ the montage is various clips of the boy as he rages through his sisters room.

The two shot types that I found in all four of the films is reaction shots and over the shoulder shots, they are used because they support the style of the films, continuity and editing, for example in the ‘Spiderwick Chronicles’ there is an over the shoulder shot whilst the boy is on the phone and the mother is in the shot behind him, the audience can see her reaction. Similarly in ‘Nanny Mcphee’ we are shown the back of the father and the letter box over by the shoulder. However  ‘Nanny Mcphee’ is the only film which uses a voice over to introduce its main character, the other three films do not directly introduce them but does it through dialogue.

The use of costume in the films helps to portray the characters, for example in ‘Night in the Museum’ the older characters are depicted in the security officers uniforms, giving them authority over characters such as Larry who wears very casual wear, by contrast the characters played by Gervais  wears a posh suit portraying him to be very upper class. The child in ‘wear the wild things are’ is shown wearing a childish wolf outfit suggesting his growth and innocence. In ‘nanny Mcphee’ the characters a;; wear very periodic clothing, introducing the time the film was set in.

In conclusion the four micro elements are used successfully to introduce the genre, setting, location and characters of the four films. They are all very similar in the technical effectiveness  .

childrens film idea

Adventure

Time Travel

Setting: old house/ deserted building

My idea is that 4 brothers move into an old house and find an old book which can time travel, but each boy gets sucked into a different point in the previous owners of the books timeline and have to try and find a way back.

Children Film Idea

My idea for the children's film is that there is an object lost in time. As the object is lost in time the great great granddaughter would follow up where her mother and the rest of her family left off to try and find the object by travelling through time looking everywhere she could and getting in many sticky situations and making lots of new friends from all around the world and different moments in time.
In the intro there would be a section showing how the object was lost in the first place and some of the different adventures the girls family have been through. it would then show the girl being told the story by her mother and telling her 'to never stop the search for magic, never give up hope.'