Author: Herbie Debbi

Mirrors in Film Making : Tools for “Jump Scare” Technique

Films & CinematographyTagged , , , ,

A Bathroom wall mirror in a horror movie scene can be ominous and foreboding since film directors typically use the object to create a “Jump Scare” effect. The versatility of mirrors is more profound in suspense or horror movies. Their use is not just to build a scary atmosphere as the movie progresses, but also to symbolize a deeper twist in the plot or in the film’s main character. Filmdom calls the purpose as one that brings on the Concept of Duality.

About Mirrors and the Jump Scare Effect

The jump scare technique of scaring or keeping viewers anxious about the next scenes, often utilizes mirrors. Mainly because their impact has been proven as very effective in numerous successful horror films.
Mirror jump scare scenes usually culminate as having a startling or jarring impact on the senses of viewers. It could even make the audience cringe in fear.

Still, film directors and cinematographers explain that mirrors are only one of several elements that make the jump scare technique effective in startling audiences. The most important factor that makes a jump scare approach effective is timing.

Building a jump scare effect with mirrors in a short period of exposure could deflate tension before it develops into feelings of fear. Too long and the mirror jump scare scenes will likely come on as boring segments. In addition to timing, sounds, lighting and camera positions also help make mirror jump scare techniques very effective in making viewers experience terror, which they eventually want to overcome before feelings of fear overwhelm them.

”The Shining” as Example of Effective Use of Mirror as a Jump Scare Element

A perfect example of a movie that demonstrates the jump scare effect is “The Shining.” The horror movie is about a family of three with the husband and wife taking on the rol3 of caretakers of a summer resort closed for the winter. Aside from the use of mirror to create jump scare effects, Director Stanley Kubrick also attempted to use mirrors in exhibiting the Concept of Duality that triggered Jack Torrance’s desire for Redrum. The latter is the husband who gradually underwent personality changes during the months of stay in the closed summer hotel. Redrum by the way, if reflected on a mirror, is Murder spelled backwards.

Although Director Stanley Kubrick also used mirrors in revealing and terrorizing the viewers about Jack Torrance’s splitting dual personality, Kubrick’s choice of Nicholson to portray the role did not have author Stephen King’s approval. The movie did not achieve box office success, which in King’s opinion is due to the lack of surprising or startling effect about Torrance’s transformation. Nicholson in real life, has been typecasted in earlier movies as a person with unstable personality. Nevertheless, Kubrick’s use of the mirror jump scare technique kept viewers on the edge of their seat

Becoming a Filmmaker and Film Festival Reporter Using a Smartphone

FilmTagged , , , , ,

While digital tech advanced in great lengths over the years, movie enthusiasts have improved their capabilities in creating engaging short films at little costs. This modern development in mobile phone technology has in fact democratized the way film festival organizers consider entries they accept for film exhibits in prestigious cinema festivals.

Many contend that it’s hard to argue poor quality as a basis for rejection. As a matter of fact, smartphones like iPhone 14 have powerful yet user-friendly editing tools including features that can produce enhanced sound effects. Moreover, there are now online platforms that offer digital film distribution support to smartphone-produced short films.

Actually there are nuances when producing short films using a smartphone in its cinematic mode. It doesn’t mean that a filmmaker totally relies on the smartphone’s cinematic tools. What a film maker produces is primarily a video of the subject identified as object of attention; until such time when the filming device recognizes another subject. In the meantime, the smartphone automatically blurs the foreground and background. A smartphone filmmaker can later make adjustments by way of the photo app available in all models of iPhone 13 and iPhone 14.

Film industry vloggers make it a point to make sure their iPhone 14 is encased in a sturdy coque iphone 14 as the case ensures proper protection. After all, it would be an unfortunate experience to lose the filming device with the most fantastic tools for capturing impromptu video content at a moment’s notice.

What is Fair Use Law and How Does It Impact Bloggers and Content Creators?

Practically bloggers and video content creators arriving in popular film festival venues will likely repost official photos, text messages from somewhere, and social media posts and tweets. In fact, sharing messages, tweets or creating screenshots of the official trailer are quite effective in drawing the attention of fans eager for news.

While all these may seem harmless and legal they can also be potential sources of copyright problems. Based on the US Copyright Act, there are Fair Use doctrines prescribing what are permissible to include as shared content or as reposts.

Although this denotes adding a few extra steps to the film making and video sharing process, compliance can get your short films or video content to anywhere without risks of legal impediments.

Take note that under the Fair Use doctrines, film makers and content creators are allowed to use some portions of written works such as quotes, interviews, news and scholarly publications regardless of purpose.

The Life Path 7 – Does It Guarantee a Successful Career in the Film Industry?

Movies, TheatreTagged , , ,

In the field of numerology, 7 is the Life Path Number that points to a successful career of a producer, director, scriptwriter, cinematographer, or musical scorer in the cinema industry. Provided of course that you are skilled and have exceptional ability in any of those professions; or have other artistic talent as a musician, singer, dancer, painter, sculptor or other field of visual artistry.

Some people may have a Life Path Number of 7 but if they pursued higher education, training and experience in a non-art related profession, the astral vibrations and influence of the number 7 will not produce positive effects.

Is 7 Your Life Path Number?

A Life Path Number, also known as Destiny Number reveals the line of work, occupation, profession or career where a person will achieve success and reap financial rewards. A Life Path Number is calculated by adding up all the numbers of a person’s birth date until the numbers are reduced to a single-digit value.

Let’s take James Cameron, as a perfect example being the producer and director of top grossing and highly successful movies like The Titanic and Avatar. James Cameron was born in August 16, 1954, and the calculation below shows that his Life Path Number is 7:

August 16. 1954 is transposed into 8 + 16 + 1954
To reduce the values into a single digit, transpose the numerical equation further into”
8 + 7 (1+6) + 19 (1+9+5+4)
8 + 7 + 10 (1+ 9)
8 + 7 + 1 (1+ 0)
8 + 7 + 1 = 16
James Cameron’s Life Path Number therefore is 7 (1+6)

What to Know about the Number 7 in Numerology

Actually, there is more to know about the mystical Number 7 as far as numerology is concerned. Seven has astral vibrations and energies that resonate with spiritual awakening toward the development of spiritual gifts and wisdom. Embarking on a life path toward the fulfilment of an artistic ambition includes having the determination and relentless persistence to attain good fortune and success.

People taking the Life Path 7 journey can receive astral guidance by way of the 747 Angel Number. An Angel Number is the medium by which one’s guardian angels indicate their support for the course of actions that a Life Path 7 person is undertaking.

The Angel Number 747 carries 2x the positive vibration of 7 and the vibrations of the number 4. While the 747 Angel Number denotes encouragement, the vibrations of Life Path 4 calls for directing energies toward observing responsibility, practicality, enlightenment and of building a sound and stable foundation.

The UK Film Industry 2022 : On the Way to Economic Recovery with High End Film Projects

FilmTagged , , , ,

Hollywood lays claim to being the world’s oldest film industry, but UK’s filmmakers also receive acclaim for producing numerous international box office hits. According to world market reports, in the past years prior to the pandemic, British films have been cornering at least 25% of the global box office earnings. Now that the country has managed to get past the critical phase of the COVID-19 health crisis, the country is currently seeing several high end films being shot in the UK

Some of the ongoing film productions that began in London in the previous past months include The Boys in the Boat, Fast X, Barbie, Snow White, Our Man from Jersey, Heart of Stone and some original Netflix movies. Except for the titles, casts and brief overviews, little can be said and shown about these movies since shooting of certain scenes is still ongoing.

The UK is a Favorite Location for Movie Producers

Actually, the UK has a lot to offer in terms of film locations as there is a vast array of excellent places that suit different types of film projects. In addition Elstree, the UK’s version of Hollywood, boasts of modern studio facilities and an extensive base from which to find film production crew and technicians, offering services at relatively competitive prices.

The newer Borehamwood, known as twin parish to Elstree, is currently the center of the UK’s film industry. Its development over the years include the establishment of six top class film complexes built near each other. Actually, Elstree and Borehamwood have become main attractions to tourists travelling to London. Mainly because the UK’s capital city has a lot to offer for the creative geniuses who live and breathe art and all forms of visual entertainment.

Availability of Supplementary Man and Van Support

The support that filmmakers find agreeable in the UK is not limited to companies offering production crew and technician services. Anyone involved in the movie making world knows that despite the amount of planning and preparations done, there are always instances when the film outfit faces unexpected situations of needing to relocate to another area.

Those kinds of emergency situations though have long been provided with solutions by companies that offer able-bodied man with a van London to any location a film outfit wants or needs to be. The most in demand though are the man and van providers who have had years of experience not only in providing transport vehicle but also in performing other ad hoc services such as

  • Providing the materials to use for packing;
  • Dismantling and Re-Assembling Equipment
  • Rendering Packing Services
  • Furnishing Self-Storage for props and marquees while hired as part of the film outfit
  • Providing Other Forms of Transport e.g. Cars and Motorbikes
  • Committing to stay discreet and keep things under wraps until filming has been completed and ready for advertising and promotions.

The Significance of Cinematography in Film Making

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In India, a career in cinematography can be established in various regional film centers and by becoming active members of professional trade organizations. An aspiring cinematographer of Tamil films can look for cinenatographic jobs in Chennai, while those looking to work on Marathi and Hindi films have to bring their skills to Mumbai. The other regional film centers are in Hyderabad (Telugu films), Kolkata (Bengali films), Kochi (Malayalam films) and Bangalore (Kannada films), which is just to name a few.

Indians who have completed a bachelor’s degree in cinematography from institutions or technical schools that offer cinematography theory and techniques, have to start from scratch in order to have actual work experience as a cinematographer. That way they can hone and develop massive skills that will earn them the reputation of being a well-polished professional cinematographer..

Basically, as a cinematographer, they need to have good vision combined with a strong eye and hand coordination. In addition to having adeptness in handling digital cameras and various photography technologies, working as an assistant cinematographer requires having an artistic sensibility and a deep understanding of capturing shots in different dimensions.

Who is a Director of Photography?

While cinematography can simply be described as a job that requires recording motion, a cinematographer’s main responsibility is to capture such motions in ways that will make the film director’s vision of each scene a visual reality. That is why a full-fledge professional cinematographer is referred to as a Director of Photography or DOP, a distinction gained through years of experience, additional knowledge and excellent cinematographic accomplishments.

Cinematographers must have clear grasps of the technical elements that work toward capturing the best motion pictures, such as the on screen visual effects, lighting, angles, lens and camera movements, focus, colors, filters, focus, colour and exposure. As the cinematographer, he must be able to relate such elements to different shooting techniques that would best portray cinematic views and scenes to the audience.

The overall effect of his cinematic work can greatly impact how viewers will react to the scenes, as they will be a reflection of the director’s job and other technical work contributed by members of the film outfit.

Little Things Season 3 – An Example of an Acclaimed Cinematographic Work

In 2019, Movierulz reviewed Little Things Season 3, the 4-season Indian TV romantic comedy series purchased for streaming by Netflix. The movie review’s overall impression is that Season 3 was “more talkative” than was necessary.

The series starred Dhruv Sehgal and Mithila Palkar as a couple whose marriage was initially affected by long distance separation. In Season 3, the couple are back together in Mumbai, in which episodes are riddled mostly with flashbacks of the lives they spent while separated. Not surprisingly, Little Things 3 cinematographer Aniruddha Patankar won the 2019 MTV IWMBuzz Digital Awards for her excellent work in putting together episode-long montages depicting the individual experiences, fears and dreams of the couple.

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