Mise-en-scene Project

     For this project, we got into groups, and we were asked to pick a random slip of paper. This paper gave us a character we had to expand on and create.

   The character my group got assigned was a high school athlete with a secret passion for poetry. He was torn between expectations and self-expression; he learns to balance ambition with authenticity.

   To create our character, my group and I made a mood board that looked like a bulletin board filled with many football related items, general papers (like a report card and schedules), and poetry that was scribbled to show his secret passion for poetry mixing with his expectations. We also made a playlist of songs we felt represented him well. The songs started off slow, classical and had jazz elements, but they later transitioned into rap to show his very different interests. We also created a bedroom for our character that represented him. It had football posters on the walls and poetry in the trashcans.

  

    In our character station my group and I grabbed 4 laptops and put a different part of the project on each laptop. One laptop had the playlist the other three had the description of the character, the mood board and the bedroom setting. The items we chose to bring in to represent the character were placed in the center, so it was easy for the viewers to see. 

   To develop our character, we created a description on how we interpreted the character to be. We used certain music to illustrate how his two sides are able to overlap and how it is possible for him to balance what he wants to do and what he feels he's expected to do. The mood board and bedroom setting also shows his mixed hobbies and how he is torn in what he chooses to do. We made sure our characters internal conflict was shown in all of our creations. The main point is learning to balance both sides to become his true, real self.

   When assigned this project, my group and I split up the parts of the project we will complete equally among the three of us. Although we divided the work, we still helped each other in perfecting each part of the project just to make sure we presented the character correctly. My group and I worked very well together and overall did a great job in creating our character.

Here are some links to view the parts of our project!:

Mise-en-scene playlist.png

Moodboard and Description.png

Setting(bedroom).mov

   

Genre Research- Comedy

Why is Comedy so Hilarious?

The comedy genre is one of the most consistently popular and financially successful genres in filmmaking, The comedy movie genre always changes to keep up with what society finds funny. Today, funny movies are successful because they mix comedy with other types of movies, like action (for example, Deadpool & Wolverine) or romance (like Blended). This makes them appealing to more people. Big names in comedy, such as Adam Sandler, and large studios like those behind the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), continue to make very successful films in this area. Comedy is popular because it appeals to everyone; it offers a chance to escape reality and share the fun of laughter.

Genre conventions – content: The typical content in comedy films is centered on characters in exaggerated, ridiculous, or relatable everyday scenarios. The main idea often revolves around a character or ensemble cast facing an unusual or challenging situation that is played for laughs. This can include characters undergoing a journey of self-discovery, confronting social norms, or simply experiencing over-the-top conflict. Comedy usually relies on:

• Fish-out-of-water scenarios or a clash of personalities (the straight man/funny man dynamic).

• Satire and Parody which target popular culture, specific social issues, or other film genres.

• Running gags or recurring jokes.

• Dialogue that is witty, fast-paced, or filled with humorous non-sequiturs.

• Exaggerated characters or stereotypes whose flaws and reactions are the source of humor. The ultimate goal, regardless of the plot, is to elicit laughter.

Genre conventions – production techniques Productions within comedy often lean on specific techniques to enhance the humor and timing.

• Editing and Timing: The cut to a reaction shot is critical in comedy, amplifying a punchline or a piece of physical comedy. Quick cuts are often used to maintain a fast comedic rhythm, while strategic pauses are employed for timing a verbal punchline.

• Mise-en-scène and Visual Gags: Lighting is generally bright, high-key, and colorful, reflecting an upbeat and positive tone. Costuming and props are frequently exaggerated or ridiculous to establish character or serve as visual gags. Slapstick and physical comedy utilize wide shots to capture the full movement of a pratfall or comedic fight.

• Sound: Sound effects are crucial for accentuating slapstick (e.g., a cartoonish "thud" or "boing"). Music is often upbeat, and needle drops (using well-known songs) are selected to ironically contrast with or heighten a ridiculous scene.

Institutional conventions – how is genre marketed Comedy movies are advertised in ways that highlight the funniest parts and the famous, funny actors who are in the film.

• Trailers and Adverts: These ads always show the movie's funniest scenes. They feature the best jokes, physical comedy, and funny conversations so you immediately know the movie's vibe and that it will make you laugh. Plus, the ads often rely on the actor's well-known funny personality to convince you to watch.

• Posters: Movie posters usually show the main actor(s) up close or performing the movie’s central joke. They often have funny faces or silly costumes. For movies with a lot of stars, the poster will put everyone together to show how well they get along or how they fight with each other, just like in the posters for many Adam Sandler films.

• Social media: Comedy is highly shareable on social media, with short, funny clips, memes, and out-of-context lines from the film being used to get people talking and help the movie spread naturally (without paying for ads).

Here are some samples of films:

Film sample #1 – Deadpool & Wolverine -Deadpool & Wolverine (2024) is a great example of a modern, successful comedy. It’s a mix of funny action and dark comedy. The main character, Wade Wilson/Deadpool (Ryan Reynolds), is funny because his main trick is "breaking the fourth wall." This means he talks directly to the audience. He turns the whole movie into a big joke about superhero rules, actor deals, and the Marvel universe. The jokes are for adults only, meaning the film uses rude, dark, and mean talk. It shows a lot of extreme violence, which is made funny through shock, and it uses repeated jokes throughout the movie. The film is a classic "buddy comedy" with the smart-mouthed Deadpool and the very serious "straight man," Wolverine (Hugh Jackman). Their constant arguments—Deadpool’s endless teasing against Wolverine’s angry seriousness—create the main funny parts of the movie. For filmmaking, they use fast editing for the fight and joke moments. They use bright lights that sometimes look strange next to the bloody violence, which makes the joke even funnier.

Film sample #2 – Grown Ups and Blended (Adam Sandler) Adam Sandler's movies, like Grown Ups (2010) and Blended (2014), are examples of a different kind of comedy—one that’s often more focused on family, though it still uses lots of childish jokes. These movies get their humor from using groups of famous funny actors (Grown Ups) or a very popular funny couple (Blended, with Drew Barrymore). The stories put the characters in strange or unusual situations that people can still understand. Old friends getting back together for a weekend, or two single parents accidentally taking the same family trip. The jokes are often simple and basic. They rely heavily on physical comedy (like someone falling down), jokes about the body, simple visual jokes, and lines you can see coming. Filmmaking-wise, they use bright, sunny looks (like a fun lake house or resort) to keep the movie feeling light and happy. The way they edit the scenes is timed just right for the physical jokes to land. Finally, these movies are sold mainly using the funny reputation of Adam Sandler and his friends. Their posters often show the whole group looking happy or chaotic.

Here are some other comedy film examples:

Sound Projects

   In class, we watched a video and took notes on how certain sound techniques are used in film. We were assigned homework to watch and take notes on the process of Foley and what Foley artists do to make certain sounds.

   After learning these sound techniques, we were assigned two projects. The first one, we were told to create a 1-2-minute-long story using only sound and no video clips. We had to make at least four Foley sounds to add to our project. The second one, we had to use the video we created for the One Word Film project and add sounds to it. Just like project 1, we had to also make Foley sounds.

    For my first sound project, I thought it was a good idea to do a western cowboy showdown. I thought it would be cool to use stereotypical cowboy dual music and make sure to add background noises such as coyotes, snakes and sand blowing with the wind to show the setting and allow the listener to visualize the story in their head.

   While brainstorming this idea, I wrote down the sounds on a brainstorming outline sheet and kept track of which ones I was going to make my Foley sounds that I do on my own and the ones I would find online. I also wrote down the order in which I would make the sounds be heard.

   To edit both sound projects, I used Clipchamp on office 365 on my clever page.

   I think I did a good job using the sounds to clearly tell the story, making it easy to picture. Next time, I'll just add a bit more detail, but overall, I felt I did a good job creating the story.

   Here is a link to my project:

https://browardcountyschools-my.sharepoint.com/:u:/r/personal/0615099335_my_browardschools_com/Documents/Videos/Clipchamp/BenhamuRoberts%20soundcape%20per1/Exports/BenhamuRoberts%20soundscape%20per1.m4a?csf=1&web=1&e=aD47dC

    For my second project, I tried to make it as realistic as possible, because I made my One Word Film project in an outdoor school setting. Since it was mostly filmed outdoors, I added sounds you would normally here outside like birds and wind. Also, because it was in a school, I made sure to add footsteps and other people mumbling in the background to make it realistic.

   While brainstorming I did the same this I did for project 1. I made a list of each sound I was going to incorporate and sorted them into which I would make my Foley sounds and which I would search online for.

   I think I did a good job matching the sounds with the movements and using the correct sounds in certain moments to make it realistic. I think I could have added more sounds just to add to make it smoother, but overall, I think I did good with my sounds.

   Here is the link to the project:

OWFSound_Roberts.mp4