Importance of an Art Director

Importance of an Art Director

A director gives his/her vision to the team, where the actor/actresses contributes their part in portraying the role of the character, the cinematographer executes by shooting the scene the way the mood, and the ambiance is with the help of the lighting, and so on. But what about the Art Director? The Art Director's contribution is also one of the most essential for the film, as the look of the movie is depended mostly upon them. According to the genre, and the story the set up will take place. For example if the story revolves around the century before we live in currently has a lot of research work, and also according to the Art director's talent the set will be built up as well. If the story takes place in future, that is the century after us, then the imagination of the Art director should contribute a lot with the director's vision. Basically the Art Director helps giving life to the visual ambiance, and look of the film from the director's vision. In my point of view, the art director is the one who mostly should intake what the imagination in the director's mind, and also give quality to the particular story. The audience also will enjoy the film more if it is visually appealing, as the film at the end of the day is seen, and heard by the audience. It's very important for giving the eyes of the audience a view which helps them get involved more in the story. It's but obvious that more beautiful the set up, and if I mean beautiful it is related to all kinds of genre, the better the shot will look in the frame of the camera, giving the scene a stunning look as well. One very vital point to remember that the job of the Art director is vast as well. The art director works across various departments such as the Location Manager, where he/she will recommend a location according to the particular scene, then also look at the Floor Plan if the arrangement is planned perfectly. The backbone of the storyboard is also the Art director. 

Being an Art director is not an easy job as you have to be creative, as well as technical at the same time. Research is very important for the art director to prepare the setting also. The characters will also have an alluring look because of the help of the background being set up. 

The budget is one of the main factor in art direction which is to be considered as according the what the producer has input in the film the sets, and locations will be set.

Mise En Scene

Mise En Scene

Everything appearing in front of the frame from elements such as props, set up, costumes, acting, as well as lighting, actors, etc. is a Mise en scene. A film is made up of different shots, and is sequenced later on according to the scenes, in the editing stage, and a film is made up by different Mise en scenes as well. Each aspect of a Mise en scene has a hidden meaning within a film. It's very essential for a film maker to understand the film space which will make the scene look more organizing and appealing after all the elements in the frame are arranged, and visually looks appealing as well. There are many elements in a Mise en scene. The first one is the Set up, which is related to the setting of your scene, and every element has a role and objective which is why it is placed in front of the camera, and in the scene as well. It also helps making the scene look visually appealing for the audience. This particular element also helps in establishing the setting of the scene that is where currently the story is moving. The Art director should ensure that the Setting of the scene is also done according to the director. Moving on to the next element is the costume which helps describing which time the story is based on, and also enhances the look of the character. In a Mise en scene the costume is also used as a prop and for a purpose in the narration in the film.  Lighting which is the next element of a Mise en scene is very essential as well as it also is used to convey the mood, and ambiance of the scene. It also helps in highlighting important objects or characters within the frame. Without lighting are frame will look flat, so this as well helps enhances the visual look of the film. Lighting are also best used in evoking the emotions, and reflecting the mental state of our character. The next element is the Acting of our actor/actress, as in how he/she portrays the character which is given to them. It's also very essential for this to be successful, as hence the story is moved on by the actors/actress's acting as well. This also is related to the element Body Language where the personality of your character also with feelings are conveyed, and cleared for the audience. Then comes the most important element which is the positing of the frame related to film space, where all the elements are positioned perfectly helping the frame to look arranged, as well as appealing. The characters/objects are positioned with an objective as well with significance in order to convey a meaning. 

A Mise en scene also establishes how different elements can work together, and make a scene look perfect helping the film to become a success. 

Choosing the Perfect Cast

Choosing the perfect cast

This stage is one of the most essential and critical as choosing the perfect cast for your film brings your story to live, and mostly your characters which you have created as well. Whenever as a film maker you plan to make your film after writing the story you imagine how your characters will be with their characterization as well. After stepping out of the imaginary world, into the real world as a film maker you start hunting for the perfect cast to suit the role of the character. A films story is enhanced by the cast and the acting as well. It's very difficult but at the same time worth it for being patient during this task. Some film makers choose new comers for giving fresh look on screen, and some chooses superstars as there film's name can be spread out on a wider range. But at the end of the day the actor's acting, and characterization suits a lot. The story is told through them only, and emotions evoked also by the help of the cast. With the help of the perfect casting your audience grasps the story, and as well as believes whatever is happening on screen is in reality. There might be phases where you just have one actor/actress in mind to cast, but unfortunately they do not agree for playing the role in the film, you must be pre planned and have options as well. Even there are casts which you might have a feeling that they won't be able to play the character, and it will go just the opposite as well.An actor/actress takes your audience to the other world through their talent, and also as a director you should make sure that they get into the character, and perform their role in a realistic manner.

It's very vital for a director to be satisfied with his or her cast chosen for the film. The film look look appealing, real, and as well as perfect on screen because of the cast. At the end of the day they take the film ahead.

Recognizing yourself as a Film maker

Recognizing yourself as a Film maker

Deciding to become a film maker, and portray your talent on screen is one thing, and Recognizing yourself as a Film Maker is another. After entering this field, and especially learning about film making during this journey you understand that where as a film maker you actually can fit in. For some people it is decided just before entering the field, and for the others it may happen when they are either during the journey of film making, and learning about it, or can experiment with different styles, and techniques later on recognizing themselves as a film maker. Every Film maker has a unique talent, and visualization which is executed on screen. Now, the word 'Unique' can be related to the story chosen for making a film, or the treatment, and execution, even the way of using the technical aspects of film making, and so on. Mostly every film maker in the industry is known because of the kind of genre they use in the film with the story picked up to make a movie, some film makers can make films on different genres, but mostly every film maker is known just for a particular genre or story used with the treatment and execution. Anyone can choose a common event or incidence but portraying the same incidence will surely be done in a different manner by different film makers with their own style of film making. A simple and common topic can be chosen and the treatment of the film will be different, which will then become successful, and this can be done by a witty director with their own styles of making a film. There are many directors in our film industry who has a style of film making because of which his/her identity is created. It same with the actors/actresses, that sometimes if they have portrayed a character with the genre romance, most of the time different directors having the same genre will take that particular actors/actresses, and it may become stereotype as well. But at the end as a film maker you have recognized yourself, and your work. Experimentation is no harm, but in most cases if film makers try to go out of their box creating something else it hardly becomes a success. Every story of a director will be different but the kind of 

lighting, characters, location, treatment will be somewhere similar as well. 

It's very essential to know at a certain point of time that what kind of films you make and what is different in your execution of the film than others. Because walking in facts will help you keep your foot on ground looking into the reality, and in the film industry you have to have your own identity by recognizing yourself as a film maker.

Floor Plan - A guide for shooting

Floor Plan - A guide for shooting

During the pre-production as a film maker you go through a lot of stages from the screenplay writing to the script breakdown, then the storyboarding, etc. There is also a very essential stage which needs to be covered that is the 'Floor Plan'. This particular part is usually used for higher budget films, and is the best guide for a director. It helps in establishing the relationship between rooms, spaces, and other physical features in the particular location. With the help of a floor plan the director can also visualize the shots which can be taken for the scene, and then translate it into reality. We all know that the pre production stage is mostly for everyone in the crew to understand what the director's vision is and then bring that out into reality with the help of the stages during the pre production. It's very essential for understanding how and at which position will the shot will be taken in the location with the amount of space being covered, and the positioning of the central characters or elements as well, basically film space can be analyzed before the production stage also, because of having a 'Floor Plan'. With the 'Floor Plan' it will help save a lot of time. The cameraman, and director will have a better understanding for the camera positioning as well and can also identify the problems which may occur and solve them before the production stage takes  A floor plan is basically a drawing showing the top view layout of the location for example a room, with the amount of space being covered and the size of the room with the lengths of the walls, including other elements such as furniture, etc. Floor Plans also may include notes for the construction and technical scouts also.

 

Example of a 'Floor Plan'

Floor Plan in a film can either be made or not made, but it is usually made for higher films budgets. It gives a lot of advantage to the crew with saving time also, and is the best guide for the director to understand the location in a much better way, and help imagining the shots to be taken in a certain manner. 

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The 180 Degree Rule

The 180 Degree Rule

Making a film is just not preparing a story, and gathering a team with budget but also to understand some specific rules in the world of Cinema. Rules make us perfect, and after you are perfect in them, only then you have the right to break it. A smart film maker surely ensures following the rules, and also breaking them at the right point of time. In today's post I will specify about one of the most common rule in film making, which is also very essential as well that is the 180 degree rule. This rule helps to establish the relationship between characters, and deals with the relationship of space from one character to another character, or object within a scene. The 180 Degree Rule is the crux of 'continuity editing' of a film, which is very vital to be perfect. According to this particular rule, the characters between them, for example say if we have 2 characters have an imaginary line between them which is called the 'Line of Axis'. This connects the characters together, and also the camera is just kept in one side of the axis to take the shot. The space around the characters diving two semi-circles is of 180 degree. Then 'Shot reverse Shot' will take place where it will show one character looking at the other character, so the camera can also move to closeup of both the character, but ensuring that the camera is on just one side of the axis. Breaking the axis will reverse the angle of the shot. Now this rule is followed till the 'Line of Axis' that is the imaginary line is not crossed, otherwise the rule will be broken. 180 degree rule is mostly used for the conversations between characters.

(The 180 degree rule)

The 180 degree rule is very helpful for your frame to look perfect on screen, and it's also essential for a film maker to understand the rules of cinema. With these rules it can make you a better film maker and then give you the ability to break the rule as well. 

How Color Impacts a Film

How Color Impacts a Film

As we all know that for a film the story to be impacting and strong is not the only important part, but there are various other elements which matter in a film, such as the technical aspects, the art of using your camera to also tell the story, etc. In this particular post I will mention about how color impacts the film, and also the audience as well. The use of color in a film also helps impacting the audience psychologically, and also is the best way to grasp your viewer's attention. It is the best way to built up emotions which will be aroused from the particular scene. A film should look visually very appealing also, and the color can play a role for this enhancing the film look. As we all know that each color has it's own meaning, so it also helps to take the story forward, by the color tone or temperature, and even the costumes as well. Even sometimes without any dialogues, and just action in a particular scene the use of color helps establishing the mood, and ambiance, and even what is happening on screen. But it's also very essential to know that some color also varies with culture, such as black for Western is for death, and white for Indian. Well the common colors used to express moods are the Red which is for anger, aggression, and even power, or the Blue for coldness, and sometimes depressing also. There is Warm colors (yellow, orange) which will make to mood energetic, and also bright. Cool colors (Blue, purple) gives a soothing and calm feeling. In the editing table, the primary and secondary colors can be mixed, and also it can help enhance the look of the film as well through the use of for example, the color wheel. Usually the color temperature usually is set after production that is in the editing stage, but in my point of view the product will come out in a much better way depending upon how was it created. So it's very important to ensure that during the shoot the lighting's, setups and every element is set perfectly in front of the frame. Sometimes you can create the mood and ambiance using the color on set that is live during the shoot itself. Color can help also to draw the focus to significant details in a scene.

Color impacts film in setting the mood, and atmosphere which is needed, expressing an emotion, giving details of the elements which is seen on screen, creating a more appealing film look, and most importantly also helps making the story move forward. 

Film Genre

Film Genre

How do you get a story? From an idea which leads to a concept, with a fixed subject, and genre. Your story can either be adapted, fiction or non-fiction, etc. But as we all know that every story has a genre. Film genre is not only about the film being either romantic, or a comedy film. It also consists with different film making elements. There is also sub genres such as, action adventure, or romantic comedy, etc, and this also is not just about the film being either romantic comedy, but different elements for making a film is also to be seen as similar to Film Genre. According to the genre of your film the ambiance which is to be created on set is decided, and also the location where the shoot will be taken place. The lighting of the film most importantly will be very much also depended upon the Film Genre, as for example, if it will be a horror film low lighting in most of the scene will be preferred, and if it will be a romantic film then the lighting differ as well. In my point of view, to establish a particular genre also the lighting somewhere plays a role as well. It's very essential for a film maker to ensure that the lightnings of the scene or film is according to the genre which helps create the mood or ambiance. Another important element related with the Film Genre is the color temperature of the film. For action film usually you will notice 'Red' color in most of the scenes, and vibrant colors in a romantic film. So the color temperature also differs from one genre to another. Costumes also can be considered as an important element of film making which will help establish your Film genre. For example western where there will be a cowboy's outfit helping establish the particular genre. Set up plays an very essential role also in the film genre, and the set up also comes under the location which you will be shooting your film.

From the setting to the mood, theme or subject, costumes, lighting, and color temperature will mainly help you establish the genre of a film with it's format. When you write the story of a particular genre it is just your imagination, and for a Film Genre bringing that particular thing life will grasp your audience's attention, and make your film successful also.

Location Manager

Location Manager

During the pre-production stage the director, screenwriter, storyboard artist, cinematographer, etc. all plan for the execution to be taken place during the production stage with tight schedules, and detailed planning. After the director has got the vision of what he/she will want the scene or film to look on screen, with the help of the screenwriter to write it down in a structured manner. As we all know that instead of studios there are also locations which are real, and not also a setup. So over here the role of the location manager takes over. The location manager sits closely to the director, and also the production designer during the stage of the pre-production to make the vision of the director come into live for the shoot to be taken place. The job of the location manager apart from arranging a particular location is mainly to arrange the locations, and for also all securities during the shoot with also the legal permission being taken place. There are 'Location Scouts' who work under the Location Manager helping to find interesting, and appealing location according to what the director needs, so the Location manager's first job is to ensure that they are clear with the director's vision, and managing them as well. A very essential thing for a location scout is to be aware of the fees which will be comfortable according to the budget of the film, the amount of equipment's required during that particular day of shoot, safety of the cast and crew, and other external distractions to be avoided in that particular location. After the location is final the location manager then schedules the date for preparation, wrap, and also deals with the other factors impacting on the location which is fixed. The location manager should also ensure and give the guarantee that the way the location is provided to the production will be given back the way it was without any damage. Needing to know the production need's is also very essential for a Location manager. That's only not it, it's also vital for the requirements such as the facilities, electricity, weather conditions, etc. to be taken care of so that you can always be aware during the shoot. For example, if you are shooting in a village it's very essential to know that when there will be electricity, or the weather conditions will be according to the scene needed. 

The location manager is also hence an important part of the pre production stage. as at the end of the day the shoot will be possible, and taken perfectly according to the Location given.