documentary film script - seminole cinema: sehs …...camera movements and angles such as title...
TRANSCRIPT
Documentary Film Script
ABCD: Any Body Can Dance Step Up 3D
Intense Competition in Film
A comparative study of how directors use cinematic language to portray intensity within dance competitions.
Ved Patel
Southeast High School {0010650032}
Rationale My documentary examines how different cinematic techniques such as camera movement and angles are used to portray the intensity and competitiveness within the films. The directors of Any Body Can Dance and Step Up 3D employ such techniques in order to deliver the hype and excitement concerning the competition. The highly styled filming characteristics of each director help create an actionpacked mood, thus drawing the audience into the competitive atmosphere that is created. Word Count: 72
Film Director Country Year
Step up 3D Jon. M. Chu USA 2010
ABCD: Any Body Can Dance
Remo D’Souza India 2013
VIDEO AUDIO
1
Fade in a of a film leader
countdown starting from 8
seconds
NON DIEGETIC SOUND:
A beep at every second
A project light shines up
the screen and projects the
title, "Film Comparison" and
then fades away.
NON DIEGETIC SOUND:
Wooooooshhh
Another title is projected,
"Step up 3D vs. Any Body Can
Dance" and soon fades away.
NARRATOR V.O.
Ever wonder how different films in
different counties portray
Fade in of dancing shot from
Any Body Can Dance
NARRATOR V.O.
hype!
Fade in of dancing shot from
STEP UP 3D
NARRATOR V.O.
intensity!
Fade in of dancing shot from
Any Body Can Dance with
a camera pan and another
shot from STEP UP 3D right
underneath with a camera
title
NARRATOR V.O.
Common in art and reality, intense
dance competition has gradually
become more powerful in the world
of film. Many directors have created
films dedicated entirely to the dance
world. Intense dance competition
films are created with the use of the
cinematographers camera techniques.
Ranging from camera shots to camera
angles. In these films, directors
create a new atmosphere in the world;
They make dancing a way of life.
Through such unique and exquisite
cinematography, these films are able
to fully set the competitive and
intense atmosphere for the audience to
experience. In this documentary we will
be examining two films that displace
intense dancing competition through the
use of camera movement and angles: "Any
Body Can Dance" (2013) and "Step up 3D"
(2010)
Map of India and America
pop up on the screen to
show where the two films
originated from.
NARRATOR V.O.
However each film has it’s own way of
conveying this atmosphere as they are
originated from two different counties
with different film histories that
influence their different filming
techniques.
VIDEO AUDIO
2
Maps fade away and is
turned to a close up of the
narrator.
NARRATOR-
Although many aspects such as lighting,
editing, and costumes are taken into
considerations to convey the intensity,
the camera movement and angles within
cinematography has one of the greatest
impacts. Camera movements and angles
such as
Title slides with the
corresponding cinematography
techniques pops up.
NARRATOR-
Panning, tilting, dolly shots, high
angles, low angles, and hand-held shots
are all used within these two films as
great cinematic techniques.
Wide shot of narrator comes
up
NARRATOR-
Now that we know what we will be
focusing on, we can start comparing
these two films on how they convey the
competitive intensity through aspects
of cinematography.
EXTRACT FROM Any Body Can
Dance 1:01:03 - 1:03:00
NARRATOR V.O.
Here we see that there is very few
movements with the camera. Instead we
just see different shots with different
frames. For example, it goes from wide
shot to close up and back to wide
shot. This is done to emphasize the
quick movements within the shots.
Also with less camera movement and
keeping the camera at a wide angle,
the cinematographer is able to show
the incredible synchronization within
the performers which intensifies the
scene. However the camera is also not
completely still but the camera tilts
up and down very slowly which helps
introduce the hype and intensity of the
competition.
Fade to narrator standing in
front of white background
NARRATOR-
There you just saw a small introduction
to one of the dance competitions
through Indian film techniques. Now
lets take a look at how the American
film, "Step up 3D" compares to this.
VIDEO AUDIO
3
EXTRACT FROM STEP UP 3D:
0:33:20-0:35:00
NARRATOR V.O.
Here we see that it lacks extreme
camera movement, however it starts off
with a slow dolly shot to introduce all
the members of the dance team. Next we
are introduced to an eye level and low
angle shot in which the camera is still
tilting and panning very slowly. It
can be noticed that the camera moves
in sync with the directions of the
dancer’s arms which brings the shot
to life as it intensifies the scene.
Fades back to NARRATOR in
front of the white screen
NARRATOR-
Now that we have seen two short clips
from both films we can see that there
is a lot in comparison. We see that
both films go slowly into the hype as
a way to create intensity within the
competition. Both films lack extensive
camera movement for the introductions
of the competition and
SCREEN BEGINS TO ROTATE AND
MOVE IN THE DIRECTION AS THE
NARRATORS ARM - NARRATOR
MOVES HIS RIGHT ARM TO THE
RIGHT AND THE CAMERA SHOT
MOVES TO THE RIGHT. NARRATOR
MOVES HIS LEFT ARM TO THE
LEFT AND THE CAMERA SHOT
MOVES TO THE LEFT.
NARRATOR-
both films stick to slow and small
tilts towards the beginning to show off
the synchronization with the dance and
let the audience solely focus on the
dancers which intensifies the mood. As
you can see the different film origins
have used very similar techniques to
introduce the hype and intensity within
the competition.
COMPETITION.
NARRATOR WALKS TO ANOTHER
SET WITH A BLUE BACKGROUND
AND PRESSES A PLAY BUTTON ON
SCREEN.
NARRATOR-
Now lets take a look at other clips
from the different films to compare
their filming techniques. Try paying
close attention to camera movement and
angles.
VIDEO AUDIO
4
EXTRACT FROM Any Body Can
Dance- 2:11:15-2:14:00
NARRATOR V.O.
We can see that there are numerous
shots in these scene. However, these
shots change every time a dance
step ends and starts a new one. As
this is a dance film and a dance
includes numerous steps, there are
also numerous shots. Although the
angles don’t get too complex the
director is still able to show
the intensity of the dancers through
the dancers attitude and facial
expressions through the repetitive use
of close up and wide shots.
Fade back to narrator in
front of blue screen
NARRATOR-
Now lets compare and take a look at a
clip "from Step Up 3D"
Extract from STEP UP 3D-
00:46:10:-00:49:00
Fade back to narrator
in-front of white screen
NARRATOR-
As compared to the first scene
we reviewed in Any Body Can Dance,
this specific scene from Step up 3D
using a variety more camera angles and
shots. Here we experience continuing
pans, high angles, low angles,
birds eyes, and many more. A
great technique used by the camera is
the hand held shots. The camera is able
to move along with the dance moves in
the same manner and it also takes us
closer into the individual dancer. In
film , emotion is the ultimate goal
of each scene. And as Alfred Hitchcock
said, "Emotion comes directly from the
actor’s eyes"
VIDEO AUDIO
5
Image of a close up face
showing emotions and
intensity through eyes.
NARRATOR V.O.
and also said,"A conversation may be
quite trivial, but often the eyes will
reveal what a person thinks or needs."
Directors control the intensity of
these emotions by decided how close
or far they want to position the
camera from the eyes. With the use
of hand held shots in this scene the
director is able to get close enough
to the dancers to show their facial
expressions which easily express’
intensity. This famous technique is
called "Frame for Emotion"
Fade back to narrator in
front of white screen
NARRATOR-
keeping "Frame for Emotion" in mind
which is a great technique to express
intensity, lets compare to how the
Indian film, Any Body Can Dance, was
able to portray this same technique.
EXTRACT FROM Any Body Can
Dance- 1:22:07 - 1:24:00
Paused Video at 1:22:50
Close up image of character
is blown up to full screen
Picture of D’s serious
face under the rain is
brought to the side of the
screen and the narrator
comes out in-front of the
white background next to
the picture.
NARRATOR-
Similar to what we saw in Step Up 3D,
the director uses the techniques of
"Frame for Emotion". The direction
position the camera in the perfect
angle and shot and turns it into a
slow motion shot so that the emotions
can be seen through his eyes. Lets
take a closer look at the emotions
expressed through this single shot. We
see that his facial expressions convey
his emotion, his intense emotions. We
are able to put ourselves in the
characters personal space and share the
same feelings as them making a great
impact on the audience.
VIDEO AUDIO
6
Narrator walks to another set
with blue background
NARRATOR-
Moving on, to make things even more
intense in dancing films the director
will leave the audience thinking who
will win the competition. Along with
leaving this question, the director
will position the camera in such
ways before the winner is revealed
so that even more tension is created.
Lets take a look.
Extract from Step Up 3D-
1:33:22-1:33:55
NARRATOR-
As you audience members just saw, there
was a great amount of tension
created in this scene. One way this
tension was created was through the
concept of "whats going to happen
next" which really attracts the
audiences focus creating tensity.
Next is the camera angle facing
directly at the judge. This is done
because as the clock ticks, we the
audience impatiently wait for the
judge to make his move. With the
camera not moving a single bit the
intensity is created between the
audience and the movie. Now keeping
this exact same concept in mind, lets
take a look at this clip from Any Body
Can Dance.
Extract from Any Body Can
Dance- 1:52:53:-1:52:58
NARRATOR-
As you can see the same except was
used here as the used an eye level shot
of the judges with no camera movement
which caused intensity within the film
as we’re trying to figure out what is
going on in the mind’s of the judges
hoping they enjoy the same performance
as the audience.
Fade to narrator in front of
white screen
NARRATOR-
As we take a look into our final
comparison, we should again play close
attention to the camera movement...lets
have a look
VIDEO AUDIO
7
Extract from Any Body Can
Dance - 1:01:00 - 1:02:00
NARRATOR V.O.
Here we see that against here is very
few movements with the camera. Most the
shots taken are still shots. However
they are switching very quickly to move
along with the pace of the dance to
increase the hype and intensity. The
camera moves in a wide shot followed
by an extreme wide shot which is again
followed by a mid shot. Now lets see
the difference with Step up 3D
Extract from Step UP 3D comes
up on screen
Narrator runs in front of
extract
NARRATOR-
wait wait wait! Before you watch this
extract make sure you focus on the
amount of camera movement within each
shot.
Narrator presses the play
button on the screen and
runs out of the shot as
the extract going to full
screen.
Extract from Step up 3D -
00:48:00 - 00:49:00
VIDEO AUDIO
8
Pause button pops up at
the end of extract and the
extract is minimized exposing
the narrator in front of a
white screen.
NARRATOR-
Now that you have seen both extracts,
lets compare. As we said earlier, the
shots from Any Body Can Dance lack
camera movement within the shots as
most of them are repetitive and quick
still shots. However camera movement
within the shots in Step Up 3D is in
almost every shot. The camera movement
is hand held and goes through the
dancers and pans around them. He does
this to make it seem as if the camera
were the eyes of an audience member
watching the competition since the
audience member is obviously move
around a lot in excitement. As we look
into the same "eyes" we feel as if we
are there watching the competition,
thus making it seem more realistic and
intense. As you can see one film sticks
to numerous still shots and the other
uses continuous camera movement, but
both use these techniques to portray
intensity.
Narrator is now walking
through a park
NARRATOR-
As we conclude this movie comparison,
it is clear to see that intense dance
competition must rely on the clever
use of camera angle and shots so
that the right amount of intensity
is created. It can be seen that
both films did very similar and an
outstanding job showing the use of
different camera angles and shots for
various reasons which include creating
that competitive intensity and creating
a dancing world atmosphere.
Narrators continues his walk
in the park as he goes off
frame and the screen tilts up
in the bright sky.
THE END
0010650032
Annotated Bibliography
Written Sources
Block, Bruce A. The Visual Story: Creating the Visual Structure of Film, TV and Digital Media. Amsterdam: Focal/Elsevier, 2008. Print. Used to gather background information regarding how different camera angles and movement portray different moods and tones.
Electronic Sources
"Falling in Love with Bollywood." 'Falling in Love with Bollywood' N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Feb. 2016. <http://www.fallinginlovewithbollywood.com/2014/03/settingthemood5songsaboutloveandlifebymohitchauhan.html>.
Used as a visual representation to show the emotions expressed by facial expressions along with the camera angles. The HD picture gives the audience a better understanding of the narrative as it gives them time to visualize and analyze.
"Film Techniques of Alfred Hitchcock Suspense, Camera Angles, Style, Editing, Basics." Film Techniques of Alfred Hitchcock Suspense, Camera Angles, Style, Editing, Basics. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Feb. 2016. <http://borgus.com/hitch/hitch2011.htm>.
Used to refer to a quote by Alfred Hitchcock to emphasize how important camera shots are to express emotions. Helps emphasize how important shot types and movement is to express the facial expressions which helps with the portrayal of emotions.
0010650032
"FilmISM." HITCHCOCK: Basic Film Techniques :. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Feb. 2016. <http://film.ismonline.org/2012/01/17/hitchcockbasicfilmtechniques/>.
Used to gather background information regarding “Frame for Emotion” to discuss how camera movement captures emotions within the dancers in the shots.
Filmography Step up 3. Dir. Jon M. Chu. Eagle Pictures, 2011.
Used to show a visual representation of the different camera movements within the shots. This film was then used to compare with Any Body Can Dance as my two comparative films for this study.
Any Body Can Dance. Dir. Remo D'Souza. Perf. Prabhu Deva. 2013.
Used to show a visual representation of the different camera movements within the shots. This film was then used to compare with Step up 3D as my two comparative films for this study.