Introduction
This project aimed to film a short video that influenced the film that I have chosen. Using the same techniques and strategies as a filmmaker. The film that I chose will help me through the techniques that a filmmaker used to make that film. In this visual essay will explain the research about filmmaker and film, a visual analysis, my work, and the reflection.
The research
Mike Figgis who is a famous Hollywood filmmaker. He was born on 28th February 1948 in Carlisle. While he was a musician he working as a film making at the same time. He is also a director and screenwriter (Screen online 2014). The techniques that he used in his films mostly were four frames in one such as Time Code, Hotel, etc.
His film used four-screen to show the different angle of character in one video. Each screen shows the different story of the actor. It looks like a security camera CCTV or he called it split-screen. However, Time code has mixed audio, Figgis has arranged the sound to each point of the screen like hear it from a different angle of the video. He aimed people to look at his film two screens in once or they can see four screens at a time. He has his technique that not make people confused about his movie (Perez, 2001).
As a filmmaker, Figgis said ‘the more time you spend with a camera the better it is for you to learn to make a film’. He wants to explain to people who want to be a filmmaker that when they need to spend time on things they love if they want to success on it (Figgis, 2007).
His film used four-screen to show the different angle of character in one video. Each screen shows the different story of the actor. It looks like a security camera CCTV or he called it split-screen. However, Time code has mixed audio, Figgis has arranged the sound to each point of the screen like hear it from a different angle of the video. He aimed people to look at his film two screens in once or they can see four screens at a time. He has his technique that not make people confused about his movie (Perez, 2001).
As a filmmaker, Figgis said ‘the more time you spend with a camera the better it is for you to learn to make a film’. He wants to explain to people who want to be a filmmaker that when they need to spend time on things they love if they want to success on it (Figgis, 2007).
His work
Fig.1 Timecode (2000) director: Mike Figgis
Fig.2 Timecode (2000) director: Mike Figgis
The images above show the connection of the characters in each screen. In figure 2 the two-screen below show the same character and in the same place but the camera was from a different angle.
My work
This is the result of my work after I studied Figgis's film. I went through his film, I understand his work and purpose. So, I make a film by myself. As the story of this short film is to explore a city with my friends. I want to show a different moment from a different screen but the same characters. This short film I am edited in Adobe Premiere Pro on my laptop. I used filter name Sunset from this editing app.
A Reflection
In this project, I have learned a lot from the director and film. I always want to learn about making a film or a video. I learned a lot of experiences from Figgis. I also know more about the editing app which I have time go through the detail. I hope I have more time next time and do better than this.
Reference
Figgis, M. 20007, 'Digital Film Making', Faber and Faber
Perez, G. 2001, 'Mike Figgis's Timecode', The Yale Review, pp.178-193
Screenonline, 2014, Figgis, Mike (1948), screen online, viewed 23 July 2019, <http://www.screenonline.org.uk/people/id/502585/index.html>
