Sense of Urgency – How the Pros Do It
 Print This Post
|
|
Reading time: 2 – 4 minutes
What is failure…?
…an opportunity to learn! – Let’s critique the shots that did get shot for Free Parking, and juice it for all the gems and lessons we can get from it. The first scene from the compilation of yesterday’s post is of our main character going tschool while he’s late. Lets compare it to something we may already be familiar with…
The following is the scene from “Back to the Future” where Marty realizes that he’s late for school.
http://www.leechonfilms.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/11/bttf_marty_late_for_school.flv
This next sequence is from Chicken Little where Ace is rushing to school because he has missed his bus.
http://www.leechonfilms.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/11/chicken_little_late_for_school.flv
Now let’s compare that to the sequence I posted yesterday:
Here are a few things that I’ve noticed that were different from my own “Late for Class!” scene:
- If you have seen the entire movie, you will notice neither of these two scenes are the opening sequences, they are actually after the major opening sequence. Read my script and You’ll notice that I’ve opened the film with this before I’ve even managed to have the audience’s attention.
- There is an upbeat sound score for each of the sequences to add to the fast-pace nature of the scene and the sense of urgency the character has.
- There are a lot of shots of the surrounding area and environment which gives a feeling and vibe for the character’s setting. Most of my shots were close quarters.
- There are many elements of humor in the sequence. There is hardly any humor in my sequence…which is sad considering the film is suppose to be fun and entertaining.
- There is hardly any dialog, just action.
- Scenes consist most of long-shots and extreme long-shots of the character, with the occational medium-shot and medium close-up to give off elements of the character’s personality. My own medium close-ups and medium shots didn’t give out any elements of the character’s personality except perhaps in the part when the engine isn’t working in the flash back.
- The camera is always in constant fast-pace motion either to keep up with the object of focus or to follow it as it goes, bring about, while most of my own shots are just simple fly by follow shots and static position.
- There is plenty of interactivity of the character with its surroundings, while in mine there was hardly any.
Was there anything else that you noticed?
Can anyone recommend any good sequences from movies that I can compare the “Gimmi My Keys!!” scene?
A E Says: 19.11.07 at 9:13 pm
The only thing I noticed, was the lack of conflicts the students faced on the way. Some of the things, that would have made it really funny are:
- Traffic (office space had a scene, although different theme)
- Trouble finding a parking space (I think VW and some other makers have made commercials regarding)
- Trouble getting into the parking lot, like having to argue with the guard for the lack of ID or something
- Being pulled over (I was once pulled over, and the trooper told me he went to the same university as me… that didn’t make him any more lenient). That may be a bit cliche if about speeding, but if you make it something totally out of ordinary (a bumper sticker, or question about the car, or whatever) then it would fly.
just my $.02. Hope I answered the question.
Safi Says: 19.11.07 at 9:35 pm
Check this out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KicitohI0VA
hk Says: 19.11.07 at 10:26 pm
I find the flashback scene a little confusing–for me it only made sense because of having read the script, and then the character’s inner dialog explaining it in this sequence–but I felt that that was a bit redundant; I guess because I like to figure out why I was shown the flashback scene without having it interpreted for me in the same minute? It’s probably hard to convey that through film, but just something that stuck out for me. Also, I had to replay it to really pick up on the cars being switched (I didn’t notice the parking pass hanging from the shot through the windshield). Sound is definitely something needed here–all the action seem really flat without it.
The fight for the keys kinda reminded me of Frodo and Gollum’s struggle in trying to get the ring from each other in LOTR–course, not that intense, but you know, same concept
A.H.N Says: 20.11.07 at 10:26 am
bismillah
salamu’alaikum,
initial reactions:
- boring man. real boring.
no dialogue, nothing happens, no run ins, no pedestrians he may have run over (given you don’t have stunt doubles), etc.
in that video SAFI posted it shows an amature version of what the professional vids accomplish, heightened anxiety and gives a SENSE of urgency immediately (namely the horrible fast paced music). I think it can be accomplished through a few ways:
Analysis:
- more dialogue. have a cell phone go off and him almost hit a car or person or something. anything.
- basically more conflict. it seems like a regular normal average college student late for class, trying to find parking ,and realizing he forgot some things.
the whole fight running thing was confusing. can be done a little better, leaves it in class, keeps running into people, etc.
on the whole, idk a bit rough on the edges on the whole, with some re-vamp could be a nice idea..
WAllahu ‘alam
Abdur Rehman Says: 21.11.07 at 12:01 am
Salamu ‘alaikum,
reallt interesting comparison, though safi’s video is more attractive, your video is unique in itself and awesome work so far…
A.R.
AlBaraa Says: 21.11.07 at 1:36 am
for the “gimmi my keys!” scene, on a seperate post i think I’m gonna compare it to the following:
- B13: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=8970008800328106389
- Ong Bak: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lES8JH2-b5o
- ferris bueller on his way home toward the end
- casino royal beginning scene
- transporter – last scenes when he’s chasing the truck…
- bourne ultimatium – morroco rooftop jumping scene
Amin1213 Says: 23.11.07 at 11:13 pm
Salamualaikum,
About the movie,
There were barely any conflicts, except one in the “Gimme My Keys” Scene. Any more conflicts would’ve made sense for the urgency to look for the free parking spot. The conflict could’ve been something like a cop making the driver pull over and soon get into an argument for some reason, or any other conflicts that would make him take longer to get to the parking spot. If he was late, there would’ve been high chances that he would have to face a lot more conflicts than he wants to handle. In fact, facing another conflict consecutively after another would’ve made it even more entertaining.
Oh, and I also thought that more dialogue was needed in order to make it more in-depth. But everything else was just fine.