Welcome to the blog of Rasam Production's Asa Newmarch (The Cinematographer), charting the evolution of the opening to the new feature film "Test Drive", jointly produced with Sam Pollock (The Director) and Rob Shaw (The Producer). You'll be able to see the final cut on YouTube [will be linked on a future day] as well as various short videos and vod/podcasts right here on this blog! Enjoy, and please feel free to comment/add suggestions!

Friday 26 November 2010

Deconstruction of Emma for Rom-Com Task

  • The opening lasts 4 minutes and 14 seconds.
  • Non-diagetic classical music plays during the opening titles which could of become diagetic at the wedding scene (possible narrative enigma). Instruments used include, violin, cello and a flute etc. This signifies the time period.
  • Film name and opening titles written in old English font which also signify the time period.
  • A wedding is signified by the character's clothing, the wedding reception, propps and the colour of the flowers.
  • The furniture, costumes and language used all signify the time period the film is set in (19th Century).
  • Narration can be heard over the opening titles and music, which is non-diagetic.
  • Close-up of women hugging to signify their relationship.
  • Exposition of the film's location after the opening titles (between London and Highbury)

Tuesday 23 November 2010

AN - Deconstruction of The Toolbox Murders

The Toolbox Murders (Dennis Donnelly, 1978)

Banned by the BBFC from 1982 to 2000 in the UK.
Budget: $185,000
Remake released in 2004 and rumored sequel to the remake in the works.
No Box Office grossing, due to being one of the many "video nasties".
Apparently, this film was based on a true story according to the film's epilogue.


  • The opening of the film is eight minutes and fifty-five seconds long.
  • The organ notes which play during the beginning of the film symbolise the film's budget.
  • The music which plays during the first half of the opening signifies tragedy and sadness, along with the film genre, due to the instruments used.
  • The red, Sans Seriff font used for the opening credits symbolises the film genre.
  • A religious speech plays on a car radio, while the car is being driven across a motorway.
  • Different shots are seen of the buildings residing on the highway.
  • At one point, the current scene stops playing and the sound of a car crash is heard, this shows that a flashback is about to take place.
  • Orange tint is used in the flashback to give an olden feel.
  • The flashback takes place where the "present" scene stopped, this signifies that the driver of the car could of be involved in the flashback.
  • The victim's arm movement shows that she is dead, due to the lifeless movement of the arm.
  • When the mysterious figure gets out of the car, there is a narrative enigma, since the face of the figure isn't seen making his identity unknown.
  • Another flashback plays when the figure walks past some flowers, this flashback is parallel to the "present" scene, due to the flowers.
  • The woman's speech in the apartment, makes the viewer think that she and the figure are related.
  • The drill symbolises horror and the fact that the figure is a killer.
  • The woman's smoking, drinking and flirting lead to her demise.
  • The music playing in the background during the killing gives off a comic effect.
  • The clothes of the killer show that he is middle class.
  • Point of view shots are used to show the killing from the killer's perspective.

Tuesday 2 November 2010

Micro drama lessons

In the micro drama lessons we had, we learned about when to use the right camera angles at the right time, in order for a good shot. Besides that, we also learned that, you need to follow a story board, so that the filming of the product, goes well and you know how everything is suppose to happen in it, along with following a script in order to understand what to say and do in the film.

Filming multiple shots is another important thing we learned from these lessons because by filming more than one shot of a single scene, these shots can then be edited together, if one shots had a problem of some sort. Editing is another major thing we learned because it is an important aspect in media, so that things you don't want the audience to see in your production aren't shown. We learned how to use Imovie, in order to learn how to edit our films.