Recommended Action Films

Evaluation of My Research Methods

For this research project I decided to research into cinematography and editing techniques within action cinema. The reason for me choosing this subject is because it is a genre of film that I do not watch as much, compared to Sci-Fi or comedy. Through me choosing a subject that I did not know too much about I knew that I would be able to use more research techniques and learn more from my research findings. For my research I used methods such as interviews, websites and books. Some of these proved to be a lot more useful than others.

My preferred method of research would be doing interviews as you can get more information from it as well as it being targeted at your own personal taste, because of my subject being quite technical and only relating to one genre that meant that for me, my research was not going to be as easy as finding some books or finding a few interviews or movie reviews online. I am glad that I did do these interviews, as out of all my researching methods for me this was my biggest help in giving me more of an understanding on what I wanted to find out. My other favourite research method was doing a questionnaire, the reason for me doing this was it would not only help me understand what people think about action films but it would also help me understand how much knowledge people actually have in the process of making films like the ones in my examples, therefore I would definitely use this type of research method again.

I feel that the Internet played a very big part in my blog as it allowed me to use videos clips from YouTube for my examples and it also allowed me to do research methods such as looking into film reviews. Although I do not think that the Internet is the most accurate way of researching I do believe it is still a good way to be able to find information more suited for your area of research.  Through using YouTube it allowed me to be able to show people what I was talking about in each post. I found this very useful, as I was able to talk more technically about certain scenes. The only step back I had with using YouTube was that it did not always have the certain films that I wanted to talk about which then made me have to think of other action films I could use as an example instead. In my introduction post I used Rambo as an example and after writing about it I then could not find the scene I wanted to use anywhere, this meant having to use the trailer for the film instead. After this problem occurring a couple of times I have learnt to plan out my posts more accurately, knowing exactly what film I want and exactly which scene. Other than these small step backs I would really recommend using YouTube as a research source to get your information off as it helps make understanding your posts so much more clearer.

For me books were my least favourite method of research as I am more of a practical based person and prefer to watch videos or search on the Internet as my way of learning. Although I did learn quite a lot from the books I rented out, trying to find books that linked to my area of study proved to be quite difficult. If I were to use books as a source of research again I would make sure that my chosen area of study was quite open in what I could talk about, whereas mine was quite closed and was limited to what research I could find relating to it.

Overall I feel that my research methods have been really useful and effective. I feel that because I made my research quite practical based by editing clips together and going out and finding other ways to make a track and dolly. I feel that because everyone has their own ways of researching and learning it is good to get a mixture of research methods involved. Some people are quite visual with their learning, which is exactly how I am, this being the reason I added clips for people to watch and pictures. Because some people are quite academic with their learning I thought that some people would benefit from seeing sources from books and statistics from my questionnaire. I feel that my only improvement in my blog could be some of my research methods. I feel that to get more information from people I could have done a couple of focus group meetings and done a couple of surveys out and around Newcastle. Other than missing out on doing these alternate ways of research I feel that my methods were good and very useful. 

Reflection of My Learning and Knowledge From This Blog

I have really enjoyed doing this research blog as it has widened my knowledge in the area of this industry that I would like to specialise in. Not only have I learnt new skills such as using new equipment but I have also learnt a lot more on how action sequences in action films are put together. I chose to research the action genre, as it is not my favourite type of genre, so through doing this it has given me more knowledge in an area of films that I didn’t know too much about.

Before doing this blog I used to watch films like James Bond and Saving Private Ryan and not realise how much work has gone into the films and I never really understood how certain scenes such as the ones I have talked about in my blog were filmed. Through my research I have learnt how to use new equipment in which will help benefit me in the future. With using examples like the clips of films I used as examples on my posts, it also helped me in being able to pick out what techniques were used within the filming of the film such as my example with The Lord of the Rings and being able to pick out a crane shot. Because of my research into crane shots and track and dolly shots it has helped me understand more on where shots like that should be put into a film and why they are put there.

The post that I did which I learnt the most from was when I interviewed my lecturers. Through doing this I could actually interact with them and if I didn’t understand them I could let them know. Because I got this time alone with them I learnt far more than what I would read in a book. I feel that I learnt more from the editing interview than I did with the cinematography interview solely because I feel that Alex covered a wider range of things, whereas Mike only covered what I asked him in my questions and didn’t really give any alternate ways that he may personally prefer himself. Overall these interviews were a great help to me and I am sure that they will be a big help to people viewing my blog as well.

Overall this project was quite a big learning experience for me as I have covered areas of this genre that I didn’t know existed such as the preparation that goes into each scene that is made in every film, such as my example I gave with the ‘Naked City’. Through all the research that I have done for this project I feel like if someone were to interview me on this area of the film industry, I feel like I would be a great help in giving them the information they need from what I have gained from my own research methods.

Final Post

Before I finish this blog and my research I would like to link you to one of Peter Jacksons video blogs on the making of 'The Hobbit'. Within these video blogs it covers a lot of what I have covered in this blog, such as tracking shots, crane shots and many other techniques. These video blogs don't only just cover what I have spoke about but they cover an extremely wide rang of different departments that will be involved in the making of a film like this. If you are interested in films and what goes on behind the scenes, this video is exactly what you need to watch to get more of an insight into what goes on in a big production like this. I hope you enjoy these production video blogs as much as I did.

Questionnaire

As I draw near to a close with my blog I decided to do a questionnaire. In my questionnaire I simply asked people about what matters to them in films and how they think they are filmed among a few other questions. From doing this I found it quite interesting seeing peoples responses and that a lot of people don't actually realise the time and effort that has gone into the making/planing of films.

Here is just a handful of results that I have had back from my questionnaire:

If you would like to take part in doing my questionnaire then click on the link below.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/HPC5LKN

It has been a big help that everyone does this survey as it has allowed me to understand other peoples thought on my chosen topic of research. Doing a questionnaire is a great way to research and is a good way of getting different opinions that you might not have understood or noticed. 

The Process of Editing an Action Sequence

Today I went to the library to find some books on action films that mainly focused on editing and cinematography. Like I said in my previous post, it is quite hard for me to find material such as books or reviews that solely relate to my chosen area of research with it being quite technical and relating to just one film genre. However I did find a book in Northumbria University library called 'The Technique of Film Editing - by Karel Reisz & Gavin Millar'. Reading this book has helped a lot within my research as it talks a lot about chase scenes, relating more to people chasing one another rather than car chases.

From reading this book not only has it taught me how to make an effective chase scene but it has told me in more detail how the process of a scene like this would be planned out, such as knowing exactly what sort of sound effects should be put in and what sort of music should be added to create more of an effect tense sequence. Whilst I was reading this book I came across a paragraph that I felt was quite interesting and useful to me as an editor, it basically described how cross cutting on screen from the man chasing to the man being chased keeps the conflict in front of the audience and the illusion of a continuous scene is preserved.

This is the full paragraph:

'The use of cross-cutting gives the director a unique instrument with which to suggest physical conflict on the screen. By alternately cutting from the an chasing to the man being chased, the conflict is constantly kept in front of the audience, and the illusion of a continuous scene is preserved. Yet this very asset presents problems to the editor which are in some ways more difficult than those faced in passages of straight storytelling where each cut merely continues the action of the previous shot. There is first the elementary difficulty of keeping the spectator clearly informed of what is going on. Since in many cases the pursuer may be a long way behind his victim, it may become necessary to cross-cut between locales which have no obvious visual connection. In such cases it is all the more important not to confuse the audience about the graphical relationship between the two parallel streams of action. There may sometimes be a temptation to cut an action sequence too fast in the attempt to generate greater excitement: if this involves confusing the spectator about the physical details of the scene, then the editor will have defeated his object.' 

Here is a copy of the extract from reel 10 of 'Naked City' showing the planning of music and voice overs that will be edited in at certain parts of the chase scene.

Here is the scene from reel 10

I have learnt quite a lot form reading this book as it has given me more of an insight into what sort of planning goes into a scene like the one above and how it all relates to creating an effective chase scene. Although reading books is not my favourite and most preferred choice of researching, today this has proven to me that researching through books is actually quite a useful method of research and also quite a detailed way of researching. I would definitely use this method again if I found the right book relating to my research.

I would like to finish off this post by showing you one of my favourite chase scenes which works really nicely with what I've been talking about with cross-cutting and with the right type of music over the top etc. I think that this clip from 'The Dark Knight Rises' is so well made and is very clear on how much detail has gone into this scene. 

Action Movie Reviews

I spent last night trying to find movie reviews for 'Captain America - The Winter Soldier' that contained reviews on the camerawork and editing of the film. This technique of research proved to be quite difficult as movie reviews are mainly based upon the film as a whole and put all the main focus on the story of the film and how it all worked well together. For me as an editor/cameraman these movie reviews proved to be quite useless for my chosen area of research which unfortunately put me one step behind on my research as there was not any content in the review that I could use in this post, however because of this I thought I should do my own movie review on 'Captain America - The Winter Soldier' putting the main focus solely on camerawork and editing for this film.

Before I start on my own review of 'Captain America' here is the movie review I found of the film on the Independent website.

http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/captain-america-the-winter-soldier-film-review-9207486.html

My Review:

Warning Spoilers!!!

Overall I thought 'Captain America - The Winter Soldier' was a great film. Throughout it I was constantly on the edge of my seat never knowing what was going to happen. Some people may think it is quite predictable but I generally thought that you could not predict any part of the film what so ever. Wanting to become an editor myself I would not change any bit of this film I think Jeffrey Ford done such a great job on the editing, for example not releasing the identity of The Winter Soldier until close to the end which then helps build the question of who is the Winter Soldier? and how will Captain America bring himself to defeat him who he finds out to be his childhood friend James Buchanan 'Bucky' Barnes. When it comes to the big action sequences the editing is really invisible to the point where you don't notice when the cuts happen because you are so tied into what is going to happen next. I think because you don't notice the cuts that much throughout the action sequences it makes you be able to loose yourself within the film rather than having to sit and concentrate on what is going on, such as a film like Inception, that sort of a film you have to really sit and think about what is happening.

When it comes to the cinematography I think that Trent Opaloch has visualised this film with great detail as none of the shots are boring for example in the first opening rescue scene there is a shot where the camera glides over the top of the boat whilst you see Captain America as a small dot running about the ship. I love this shot as it shows he is the only person from his team on the ship and how he has the ability to take over the ship on his own. Throughout the whole film there is many amazing visuals although some would have been shot on a green screen the camera techniques used work really well for the film.

Overall the whole technical side of things such as editing and cinematography completely make this film, besides the great story line for this sequel. It is a must see film and I just hope that in future films Marvel keep up the excellent work.

Here are some of the clips I found on youtube some of which relate to what I have talked about and some which just show small clips from my review.

Opening Scene

Featurette - The story of the Winter Soldier

Captain America - The Winter Soldier (trailer)

From doing this type of research (looking into film reviews from news papers and film magazines) I have learnt that it will not be easy to find a review solely on technical things. If I were to do some research like this again I would definitely use YouTube as on there you have videos from the Director/Editor/Cameraman. These help a lot more for me being more technical as I can relate to what they are saying and get more knowledge from their personal experience. Overall I would definitely recommend the method of movie reviews from newspapers if you are researching more into film stories etc. However if you are researching into more technical side of things I would use the preferred method of YouTube videos from the film makers and the film itself.