Influences: Clip 2

For my own film I would like to feature a scene a little like this one, but opposite, such as with the over the point of view shot of the character realising his vision is blurry with the glasses than without, with my character I would like to have his vision blur when he takes his glasses off. Just like this clip and the previous clip the characters are looking at themselves in the mirror, which is something I would like to try and interpret within my own film, showing the character being self conscious.

Influences: Clip 1

I am influenced by this clip and would like to feature this style of superhero within my own film. Just as in this clip the person who chose to be a superhero is a geeky sort of person and likes to read comic books, of which is the characteristics of my own character. I would like to have the use of the glasses with my own character, being an example of having two different identities. I would like to feature the fast cut shots that are featured within this clip, it can represent fast action within a superhero genre, and I will feature this especially at the begining of my film.

Marvel Sequence

At the beginning of Marvel comic films they usually feature a fast cut sequence of comic strips from a comic book, like this sequence above, on the films they usually are slightly different to this as they are a little slower and sometimes track the comic books story.

I would like to try and feature this aspect in my own introduction of the film, but I would use a comic book that the character is reading and inbetween each shot I would place and extreme close up of the characters eyes, to show him reading the comic book, this sequence will consist of fast cuts, while a superhero style tune will be playing along with the sequence. I feel this will also help define the genre of my film to the audience, as well as feature more conventional aspects of the genre.

Locations

Bedroom:
This will be, in superhero terms, Nigel's secret lair, his base etc. Where he will plan his costume, a place where he will switch between his real identity and his hero identity. And be his place of safety. 

I will be taking into consideration the mise-en-scene of this room and will customise the room like the character would have it. for example, comic style bedding, comic books around the room, superhero posters on the wall, this will tell the audience more about the character, ensuring they understand that he is a big lover of comics and superheros.

College:
This will be where he feels least comfortable, he goes for his education but he hates it there, he has no friends here despite trying to fit in, here he will be on his own, while everyone else has friends around them. Instead he will be reading his comic book.

I will be shooting some of the film within the college, there wont be a great deal that I could do or will need to do in terms of the mise-en-scene; setting, as the college already looks educational and how it would need to look. I will be ensuring I get the correct cinematography that I want, as well as trying to arrange the people around into groups, and ensuring the main character will be on his own.

Alley:
This will be somewhere that the main character will try to save someone who is being robbed/mugged, it will be a place where it is fairly quiet, somewhere that the character wouldn't usually venture into.

I will ensure that I choose a place that looks quite secluded from other places, somewhere that would just look like the type of place that would have crime happen.

Props List

- Comic books (showing the characters a collecter of them and likes to read)

- Posters (showing the characters dedication and idolisation)

- Comic book bedding (further showing the characters likes/hobbies/loves)

- Laptop (On a computer desk, with computer chair)

- Other computer towers ( this will show that he is a usually a very 'stay at home' boy, fixing and building alongside reading comics etc)

Costume

- T-shirt with comic heroes on
- Comic strip hoodie
- Jeans
- Glasses
- Trainers
- Cape
- Underwear (e.g superhero on)
- Socks (e.g pow, kapow)
- Comic style bag

Cast List

Nigel - Matthew Stipetic
Robber - Ben Mattock
Victim - Joe Norris

Comic strips

For my film I would like to display hints of the comic strip style, such as having the framing around the image with a small caption in the top left hand corner, for e.g Meanwhile, Later on etc. This will help me define my genre to the audience and to conventionally achieve a comic book styled film.

Superhero

The superhero is conventionally in costume/disguise and works alone, such as Spider-Man who has no help at all from other people, a secret only he has and are the protagonist of the films. 

My character which is also the protagonist will be like Spider-Man in the fact that he will be doing everything on his own with no help from other people, as well as having no one else knowing his 'secret' which is a conventional aspect with superheroes as it keeps their true identity a secret and unknown.

Aims and Context

My aim for this project is to target the audience of comic book/superhero film lovers which could fit into the mainstream audience, and of any gender, it will aim to interest those who like the concept of idolising people due to their actions, abilities and appearance. It will also aim to entertain the audience.
I aim to create a short film which is based on the genre of superhero/comic book. It aims to focus on a young teenage boy and his quest to try become a superhero but fails miserably.

I will take on the role of director and editor, I will also be in charge of mise-en-scene, sound and lighting for my film.

An issue from my previous study was to achieve the exact mise-en-scene that I wanted, such as the setting which I couldn’t get exactly what I wanted. Costume was difficult to be exactly what I wanted due to not owning everything I needed. I also had some trouble in getting the shots I wanted for cinematography due to the lack of equipment that would be required to achieve my high angle shot effectively, which meant my shot wasn’t as intended.

I will use the knowledge and experience I acquired from my FM1 and apply it to my film, such as getting correct cinematography, creating the correct and desired mise-en-scene as well as editing, lighting and sound.

Character

Nigel - A 17 year old boy, who tries very hard to fit in, with his clothing etc, but still has no friends, people dont tend to notice him. He hates college due to this, he's always got his head in a comic book and prefers to keep to himself.

Todorov Structure

Synopsis

Nigel, a comic book superhero loving boy who highly idolises superheroes and aspires to be one himself. He's seen as a loner, invisible, no friends, but despite this he still tries really hard to try and fit in. It was only until he helped someone who fell over back up again, when he decided to have a go at being a someone, to be a superhero. He begins his journey by making his outfit, then setting out to try fight crime and evil. But gets a bit worried about having to fight a crime that is too serious. He fails miserably at helping people and just makes things worse most of the time especially with not wanting anything too serious to happen that he may have to deal with. He even ends up giving up on helping a girl who's being robbed, he ends up getting himself hurt resulting in him deciding to give up on being a superhero, and be his old lonely friendless self again.

What I Am Doing

For my creative project I will be creating a superhero genre based short film. I will create my own superhero, name, costume everything. It will use superhero conventions as well as challenge superhero conventions as well.

Genre Conventions

Within the superhero genre there are many conventions that need to be withheld to sustain the standards of the genre, I will need to know these to successfully meet the superhero genre conventions accurately. I will be researching and looking at the conventions of the superhero genre to ensure I can incorporate it into my own film accurately. 

The superhero genre began with the Adventures of Captain Marvel in 1941 which started the adaption from comic book to movies, making this genre increase in popularity throughout the decades. Series such as Batman and Robin aimed at children of the 1940's declined and killed the superhero films up until Superman in 1978, along with sequels that were poor which meant that the superhero films were unable to grow for some time. Until X-Men in 2000, Spider-Man in 2002, and the new Batman Begins in 2005, which were all massive successes meaning the following of many superhero films to be made, all beginning a franchise and making the genre far more popular and successful.

This genre has many conventions, such as the superhero being the protagonist, always going on a quest of fighting evil, and saving victims and their home town/city. The good vs Evil has been a narrative convention of this genre throughout each film, the good superhero fighting crime and their enemy and eventually and inevitably winning. A convention of the villain having plans to rule the world or city/town or to create an evil machine etc. in any way to be destructive, and the hero doing all they can to prevent the destruction and possible hurting of innocent people.

There are certain conventions to be had for the superhero, such as having distinguishing powers or abilities of some sort, something that makes them special and giving them the ability to help fight evil in a way no one else could. These can vary from like Spider-Man, Strength and being like a spider, Superman who can fly has superhuman strength, laser eyes as well as x-ray vision. Or like Batman who relies on gadgets and weapons he keeps on his utility belt which help him with being a superhero, and Iron Man who uses his great intelligence with weaponry to create a full body weapon.

Another convention for the actual superhero is an outfit, the stereotype for a superhero costume would involve a cape, of which Batman and Superman stand by, but the convention for a costume would be to have something tight fitting, and some type of boots. Their costume and superhero name are usually mostly relevant to each other, such as Spider-Man having a webbed pattern and a spider on his costume, Superman with his well known 'S' symbol on his costume and Batman with his black and bat symbol, with cape like bat wings. Conventionally these costumes are used to conceal the heroes true identity as well as something comfortable and easy to fight evil in. The superhero always has morals and values and rules, like to help the innocent, save them, don't hurt innocent people, and don't kill anyone not even the villains, just catch them.

Some of the newer heroes don't always follow the typical conventions that were set by older superhero films like Superman. Such as Daredevil, which doesn't have the stereotypical cape, challenging the conventions of the genre, but ensures that other conventions are still used such as having some sort of special power, which is due to radioactive exposure he was blinded but his other senses were heightened beyond any normal persons would be. Captain America also challenges the typical conventions by also not wearing a cape, but being adapted by scientists to make him a capable hero.



Such superheroes like Kick-Ass also challenge the conventions of the hero having some sort of super power or being able to do something incredible and own high tech and amazing gadgets and weaponry, were as this specific superhero has none of these conventional aspects of being a superhero, instead he is shown as an unpopular comic book loving boy who just thought maybe he should try being a superhero himself, without having any powers or even any skills that would help him in fighting crime and evil. This leads to showing him bleeding often and attempting to help people but resulting in himself being hospitalised or seriously injured, this is a break in the conventions of the genre as the superhero is rarely, if not ever shown as to be injured and most certainly not in a serious manor.

Another convention of the superhero genre is that the superhero always has a disguise to be able to separate their real life from their superhero life, ensuring that they can have privacy from the adoring fans and the public eye, which often results in them having a secret hideout, like Batman, which is a place for him to go to be safe and build new weapons etc. Fantastic Four challenged the secret identity convention by being shown in the public eye all the time and not having a separate life, and having their costumes fully showing their identity.

The reason the superhero film has remained such a popular genre is because it inspires the audience, giving the audience a sense of higher meaning of the world that there is always something or someone out there who can help others in need, it promotes that there is safety and help out there no matter what, it inspires the audience with hope that peace and freedom will always be a choice and good will always win.