Russell



I'm a Sagittarius, I like long walks on the beach, candle light dinners and stalking potential love interests.

1. When reading a film script, what do the following acronyms stand for and what do they mean? LS-Long Shot MS-Medium Shot MCU-Medium Close Up CU-Close Up XCU-Extreme Close Up EXT-Exterior INT-Interior VO-Voice Over POV-Point Of View OS-Off Screen SFX- Special/Sound FX

2. What do the following terms mean? CUT-
 * 1.:** What the director says to end the filming of a shot. **2.:** The cutting apart of 2 shots at the frame line, or the point where the shots have been cut apart. **3.:** In the different stages, or at the completion of editing the edited film itself can be referred to as “the cut” or “the edit.”

DISSOLVE- A transition between two shots, where one shot fades away and simultaneously another shot fades in. Dissolves are done at the lab in the printing phase, but prepared by the negative cutter, who cuts in an overlap of the two shots into the A&B rolls. Labs will only do dissolves in fixed amounts, such as 24 frames, 48 frames, etc.

FADE-IN and FADE-OUT- A transition from a shot to black where the image gradually becomes darker is a **Fade Out**; or from black where the image gradually becomes brighter is a **Fade In**. Fades are done at the lab in the printing phase, but prepared by the negative cutter, who cuts in an overlap of black into the A&B rolls. Labs will only do fades in fixed amounts, such as 24 frames, 48 frames, etc

CUTAWAY- A shot, usually a closeup of some detail, or landscape, that is used break up a matching action sequence, and is often very helpful in editing to rescue you from an impossible break in continuity or coverage. A cutaway, as the name implies, is a shot that does not focus on some detail of the shot before or after it but cuts away from the action at hand, unlike an insert shot however, the two terms are sometimes used vaguely or interchangeably, although this is not always a useful practice. The best cutaways are the ones that have some logic to them, that relate to the scene.

ZOOM- A shot using a lens whose focal length is adjusted during the shot. Zooms are sometimes used in place of tracking shots, but the differences between the two are significant. A zoom normally ends in a close up, a zoom-back in a general shot. Both types of shot imply a rapid movement in time and space, and as such create the illusion of displacement in time and space. A zoom-in picks out and isolates a person or object, a zoom-out places that person or object in a wider context. A zoom shot can be seen, therefore, as voyeurism at its most desirably perfect.

DOLLY- A set of wheels and a platform upon which the camera can be mounted to give it mobility. Dolly shot is a shot taken from a moving dolly. Almost synonymous in general usage with tracking shot.

3.How long is the average feature film script? Can you estimate the length of a movie from looking at the script? The average script is approximately 120 pages. One page of properly formatted script equals approximately one minute of screen time.

Comedy Clip 1 media type="file" key="Clifford_comedy1.flv" width="360" height="270" Comedy Clip 2 media type="file" key="Clifford_comedy2.flv" width="360" height="270"

1. Can music by itself (without lyrics) be humorous or funny?

Yes, Music can cover all ranges of emotion. It's well known that music can make us cry why wouldn't be able to make us laugh.

2. What musical techniques can be used to make music funny or humorous?

Instrumentation, light major chords and upbeat tempo.

3. What kind of instruments and sounds are used to make a piece of music humorous or funny? Make a list.

Kazoos, slide whistles, tubas, calliopes and horns always make me think of humor.

4. Can you think of a funny or find humorous piece of music that doesn't have lyrics? If you can, post a link or an .mp3 for your answer. media type="file" key="Silly" width="240" height="20" Emotional media type="file" key="Clifford_emo.flv" width="360" height="270" Intellectual media type="file" key="Clifford_intellectual.flv" width="360" height="270" Emotional media type="file" key="Clifford_emo2.flv" width="360" height="270" 1. What is a film montage? is a technique in [|film editing] in which a series of short shots are edited into a sequence to condense space, time, and information.

2. What is the difference between American, French and Soviet interpretations of montage? 3. List some examples of montage sequences: Karate Kid-Best around http://www.comedycentral.com/videos/index.jhtml?title=workout-montage&videoId=342025
 * 1) In [|French film] practice, "montage" has its literal French meaning (assembly, installation) and simply identifies editing.
 * 2) In [|Soviet filmmaking] of the 1920s, "montage" was a method of juxtaposing shots to derive new meaning that did not exist in either shot alone.
 * 3) In [|classical Hollywood cinema], a " [|montage sequence] " is a short segment in a film in which narrative information is presented in a condensed fashion.

4. How are these types of montage different?
 * Metric :where the editing follows a specific number of frames (based purely on the physical nature of time), cutting to the next shot no matter what is happening within the image. This montage is used to elicit the most basal and emotional of reactions in the audience.
 * Rhythmic: includes cutting based on time, but using the visual composition of the shots — along with a change in the speed of the metric cuts — to induce more complex meanings than what is possible with metric montage. Once sound was introduced, rhythmic montage also included audial elements (music, dialogue, sounds).
 * Tonal:a tonal montage uses the emotional meaning of the shots — not just manipulating the temporal length of the cuts or its rhythmical characteristics — to elicit a reaction from the audience even more complex than from the metric or rhythmic montage. For example, a sleeping baby would emote calmness and relaxation.
 * Overtonal:the overtonal montage is the cumulation of metric, rhythmic, and tonal montage to synthesize its effect on the audience for an even more abstract and complicated effect.
 * Intellectual:uses shots which, combined, elicit an intellectual meaning.

5.Can montage become a cliche? If so, give some examples. Yes! Team America's montage It's Always Sunny: http://www.comedycentral.com/videos/index.jhtml?title=workout-montage&videoId=342025

6. How might you approach choosing or composing music for a montage sequence? What would you want to know about the sequence? I would base the music on the overall feel of the film. I would like to know the point and overall feel of the montage. 

I will be writing A leitmotif for Steve Urkel. The annoying, Polka loving, accordion playing, Laura stalking, nerdy now hipster neighbor from the smash TV show Family Matters.

This would be Urkels regular theme music. media type="file" key="urkel Regular.mp3" width="240" height="20" This would be the music that plays if Urkel were being chased by Carl after ruining yet another Winslow family event. media type="file" key="urkel chase.mp3" width="240" height="20" If Urkel was sad because Laura was dating another guy. media type="file" key="urkel sad.mp3" width="240" height="20" If Urkel was sneaking into the Winslow house to dig through Laura's underwear drawer. media type="file" key="urkel sneaking.mp3" width="240" height="20" If Laura were to break up with her boy friend and Urkel thought he had a chance. media type="file" key="urkel hopefil.mp3" width="240" height="20" A recognizable melody that a part or all of a composition is based upon. An overall "feel" of the film/production. Gives the audience a sense of how they should feel watching the film. "Guides" emotion. A musical theme is an overall theme that’s fits a scene or place. These themes continue throughout a film or opera when a place or particular mood is revisited.
 * What is a musical theme?**

A recurring musical theme that is associated with a particular person, place, or idea. A leitmotif is a symbol or theme within the overall theme. A leitmotif is more descriptive, and is set to a particular character typically. So when a main character enters the screen or stage, that character is given a theme that signifies him/her. Usually the most important characters are given a theme, but a leitmotif is also used to pronounce what is happening in stage or screen.
 * What is a leitmotif?**

A theme is more encompassing than a leitmotif, in other words, a leitmotif is a character's theme or a place's theme as opposed to the theme of the whole movie or composition. Leitmotifs are more specific in that they relate directly to a person or place whereas a theme encompasses the entire production. The main difference is that a leitmotif is used in conjunction with a theme. In other words a leitmotif changes or adapts depending on what is happening. So a main character may have a theme dedicated to them, but if they were to die, the leitmotif would still be there, but morphed into something more sorrowful. So it’s still that characters theme, but changes to affect the audience’s mood. In contrast to an "idea" or "Motif", a theme is usually a complete phrase or period.
 * What difference is there, if any, between a theme and a leitmotif?**

A formal technique that repeats the same material but in an altered form. This is music that has been repeated, but in a different form. A leitmotif uses musical variations to show the adaptation of characters and places. The changes may involve harmony, melody, counterpoint, rhythm, timbre, orchestration or any combination of these.
 * What is meant by a musical variation?**

In the film Gladiator, whenever something positive happens to the main character (kills opponent, wins major battle), a certain theme is played. It is very dramatic, but it’s also uplifting.
 * Name/identify some uses of leitmotif you've heard in movies, TV, or video games**

In the television show Lost, every main character has his/her own leitmotif. The score is only played when something of major significance happens to one of those characters.

1. What is Underscoring and how does it work in films? Underscoring is the orchestral sequences that go with the film to set mood and theme.

2. How might the following musical qualities be useful in underscoring a scene? What considerations would you give to each of them when applied to underscoring?

Tonality-Use the right key to set the desired mood Melody-Don't get in the way of dialog Rhythm-Use rhythm to match to tempo on screen adding to the drama Harmony-consonance and dissonance can be used to create a desired feeling Timbre-use right tone to fit the scene

Bombed out village and bird :25-1:10 media type="file" key="CHAP_384_2_Wild_Horses_Dragazis_647913.mp3" width="240" height="20" Creepy flower guy :17-:35 media type="file" key="GM_060_30_Unclear_David_Teller_65525.mp3" width="240" height="20" Doggie in window 2:52-3:06 media type="file" key="RCR_007_5_Goodbye_I_Love_You_Krueger_642632.mp3" width="240" height="20"