Story-Telling Unit: The Meeting (Script-writing)

After the feedback from my tutor I have decided to make some changes the ending of the storyline and also the structure. I developed an idea for the plot which is to show flashback scenes of the previous attack during the second meeting between Dean and the thugs.

Precious (2009)

TITLE: Precious: Based on the novel 'Push' by Sapphire

DIRECTOR: Lee Daniels

GENRE: Drama

PLOT: Set in the ghetto of Harlem 1987, an overweight and illiterate teenager Precious (Gabourey Sidibe), is pregnant with her second child for her father while living with a dysfunctional and abusive mother Mary (Mo'Nique). 

She is taken out of high school and referred to an 'alternative school' in the hope that it will help shape her life in a better direction. 

The film follows Precious as she deals with unimaginable hardship and fantasies of a stardom lifestyle.  

IMDB RATING: 7.4/10

HONOURS: 2 Oscar Wins and 77 other awards & 50 nominations.

VERDICT: Heart warming and Inspirational movie with a powerfully emotive story. (7/10)

FAVOURITE QUOTES: "Clareece 'Precious' Jones: The other day, I cried. But you know what? Fuck that day. That's why God, or whoever, makes other days."

Work Experience: JML

Working on the JML Itv Pilot production was a great experience. I acted as a runner on the set, going around all the departments helping out whenever needed; from making tea and coffee to getting the set ready for the shoots. It was an experience I will cherish forever, getting the opportunity to see how things are done behind the scenes is second to none.
Last friday, we produced a live show at the video center in the UCA campus and that was pretty much the exact scenario and set up for this production except of course that it was on a bigger scale and level. This just goes to prove that we really do get the real deal from this course and makes me feel even more confident and appreciative of it. From feeling like a director under pressure of producing "a five minute talk show in a student TV studio" to watching an actual director work under immense pressure on a big scale studio production, it gave me a real sense of what it really is like to work in the TV production industry.
I look forward to more experiences like this and hope that it proves to be a stepping stone for my career in this industry. Onwards and Upwards!

Studio Production at the UCA campus

We had the opportunity to produce a little talk show at the video studio in the UCA Maidstone campus. Getting hands-on practice with all the equipment including video camera's, vision mixers, sound recording system, tracker etc. This was a great session that gave me a good idea of what the process of studio produced TV shows are like.
I got to be a Director for one of the recorded shows. This was a great feeling and experience for me as I am more used to Film productions so this painted out the real differences between both systems.
Afterwards, I decided to exercise my Final cut Pro skills by editting the recorded takes on the studio show we produced. I will upload the finished product as soon as I can.

Media Strategies: Representative Organisations

Around the early 1880’s, the Reverend George Staite voiced the need to establish an organisation similar to that of the ‘Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals’ due to a fact that social deprivation and hardship was at an alarming level for children.

On the 8^th of July 1884, his wish was granted and ‘The London Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children’ was founded.

By 1889, the London Society branched out to 32 others around England, Wales and Scotland, raising funds for inspections and investigations on reports of child abuse and neglection. As a result of an annual general meeting the society decided on changing its name to the ‘National Society for the Prevention of Child Cruelty’. In the same year, Queen Victoria was made Patron and the first Prevention of Cruelty to Children act was passed.

Since then, more than 10 million children in the UK have been rescued by the NSPCC.

The NSPCC recently faced criticism for allegedly exaggerating and fabricating facts and figures in its research and also using ‘fear mongering’ techniques in its advertising.

The Independent Television Commission (ITC) received 150 complaints regarding the NSPCC TV Ad which was aimed to encourage viewers to report suspected child abuse situations. The advert included objects like teddy bears, children wallpapers and magazines while a voice-over of adults is heard speaking to children either aggressively, sexually and mockingly.

Some of the viewers, who reported, claimed that they had been abused at a younger age and found the adverts to be distressing. Others either claimed that the campaigning advert was to hard-hitting for children to watch, that it implied only parents abused children or that it could potentially encouraged abusers in a stimulating or reassuring manner.

The ITC sympathized with the viewers who claimed to be victims of child abuse and found the advert distressing but stated that it however, approves of such strong material to be shown in the context of charity or public service advertising. Although the campaign was powerful and emotive, the ITC judged that its cause and objectives were generally acceptable.

The NSPCC then explained that they also offered arrangements for counselling sessions with counselling organisations.

Furthermore, the ITC disagreed with the complaints suggesting the advert to be “suggestive of only parental abuse” and “encouraging for abusers” and concluded that the advert should be allowed to continue, leaving the complaints un-upheld.

Bibliography:

History of the NSPCC: http://www.nspcc.org.uk/what-we-do/about-the-nspcc/history-of-NSPCC/history-of-the-nspcc_wda72240.html

Television Advertising Complaints Report: http://www.ofcom.org.uk/static/archive/itc/itc_publications/complaints_reports/advertising_complaints/show_complaint.asp-ad_complaint_id=207.html

National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Society_for_the_Prevention_of_Cruelty_to_Children#Campaigning_and_controversy

Final Cut Pro - Making a Film Trailer (SOFT)

Week 6 and we embark on a two-day project of trailer making using FINAL CUT PRO!!!
We were placed into groups of two and given the task of producing a trailer for a short film titled 'SOFT'.
I was paired up with Neill Morris and this is our finished product!! Enjoy!!!

Story-Telling Unit: The Meeting - Synopsis (Draft 3)

‘The Meeting’ is a film about a confrontation between a male in his mid-twenties Dean Chamberlain, his girlfriend Chloe Richards and two hooligans Gaz Maloney and Sid Graham.

Dean was attacked by a group of teenage yobs as he walked through an alleyway. Chloe came along shortly afterwards and seeing him in a state, she helps him out. Shortly afterwards they begin dating and have been together four years to the day.

It’s the eve of Valentine’s Day and Dean decides to take Chloe to a river side view where they regularly visited when they first started dating; he intends to propose to her. Dean however, forgets the ring in his car and so when he goes back to get it, he comes across two mobsters hanging around the car park. He instantly recognises them as two of the boys who inflicted that brutal attack on him four years ago which has haunted his memories ever since.

Gaz Maloney and Sid Graham who also recognise Dean decide to approach him with intentions none other than to replicate the events of the previous meeting. Chloe who hears loud noises from the direction of the car park becomes worried about Dean as she has been ever since the attack and decides to go after him only to find him getting beaten up by Gaz and Sid.

The whole repeat incident has a major psychological effect on Dean but he tries to fight his inhibitions especially as Chloe is now part of the situation so he strains himself to also protect her. This causes him to lose his self-control with raging and chaotic consequences.

This is a 5-10 minute short film that touches on dynamic subjects such as ‘bullying’ ‘love’ and ‘redemption’ with a dramatic plot.

Story-Telling Unit: The Meeting - Pitch (Draft 3)

'The Meeting' is a Romantic/Drama about a couple Dean and Chloe who get caught up in a violent confrontation with two yobs in relation to a brutal attack a few years back.