The application of comedy elements(Part 4)

one of the year a very fiery black humor movie "let the bullets fly", Jiang Wen sentence "say, we share a bed, but not into the body. If I have not regulated, pistol in this, you can kill me anytime, you need it I can never refuse." Because the use of panning, close range and middle switch the lens language, into this movie many classic lines in a sentence. In the Stephen Chow film "the deer and the cauldron", this drama with old Hai Bao palace, plain lines, but with near two king of the switch, to achieve very good comedy. These are the only through the lens of the use of language to achieve.

In the film and television drama creation, the comedy elements in various forms, has the indelible influence to the comedy works, how to better use these comic elements also have innovation and reflect constantly in the future work, play their light and heat.

The New MA_Learning_Agreement of XINRUI REN(Part 1)

School of Art and Design                                                                    2012/13

MA:	Learning    Agreement

Name:

XINRUI REN(Susan)

Course:

MA Film Practice

What is your subject of study?

The forms of comedy film, the definition of film technique and comedy, especially farce, to research the advantage of laughter, the useful of film technique in comedy.

What is your research question?

How can film techniques be employed to attract more audience in comedy, especially farce?

Research aim(s):

What are the overall aims of the project?

To understand what is farce different to other forms comedy. To understand what effective by film techniques in a comedy, especially farce. To understand how to attract audience by using film techniques in a comedy film.

Research objectives(s):

1.    Literature survey

a.    What is comedy?

b.    How many form of comedy? And what are them?

c.     What is film technique?

d.    What parts are included in film technique?

e.    How does cinematography makes comedy more attractive.

6. How does mise-en-scene make comedy more attractive.
7. How does story structure makes comedy more attractive.

h.    How does lighting make comedy more attractive.

i.      How does sound makes comedy more attractive.

j.      How does editing and timing makes comedy more attractive.

k.    What is farce?

l.      How to make film more attractive

2. Film analysis

a.  The film techniques in comedy films, especially farce.

b.  Analysis the detail of film techniques

c.  To understand how to use film techniques to make a more attractive farce comedy film.

  

3. Experimenting

a.  To write one comedy script about.

b.  To make the film and make two-difference style, analyse the audience reaction use the results of the audience reach in to choose the best one that successfully combine comedy film techniques.

4. Presentation

a.  Conclusion to my research.

b.  Explain my work in my presentation

c.  Show my 2 audio-visual experiments

d.  One short film based on the conclusions of my research.

Rationale

·      What is the wider context of your project?

It has been said that the theme under the comedy face is very important, cannot have an eye to funny, otherwise, it will be a farce film. (China daily, 2012), from this sentence, we can see that, farce’s aim is bringing funny and making people laugh. At the same time, Paul Ogata said that, ‘Laughter is the key to world peace’ (China daily, 2012). American Scientist--Robert R. Provine claimed that, ‘Laughter is a powerful and pervasive part of our lives - an important component of that biobehavioral bedrock of our species known as human nature.’ (Laughter, 1996). So laugh can bring the positive energy, it can release people’s pressure, we cannot be without laugh.

In the research which has been published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B. shows that, People feel less pain after a good laugh, because it may cause the body to release chemicals that act as a natural painkiller, …They were then split into two groups, with one being shown 15 minutes of comedy videos, while the other was shown material the researchers deemed boring - such as golfing programmes.

The researchers found that those subjects that had recently experienced belly laughs were able to withstand up to 10% more pain than they had done before watching the videos.

(BBC NEWS, 2011). From this research, it could be said that laugh is the best medicine to treat disease.

·      How does the project relate to your previous experience/practice?

It is a wide research direction for my previous experience and practice, because, I mainly did post-production in the last year, and I made a comedy film—Borrow Money and did cinematography in another comedy film, from these works, I have a little of understand about comedy film, so I need to learn more knowledge. In the past, I often put my focus on editing the film, and I find that only editing comedy is not enough, so I have decide to focus on other parts, like film techniques.

·      How does it relate to relevant current practices, debates and theory?

Farce is difficult to pin down. ''The Shorter Oxford English Dictionary'' says simply that it's ''a dramatic work (usually short) intended only to excite laughter,'' and ''The Oxford Companion to the Theatre'' defines it as ''an extreme form of comedy in which laughter is raised at the expense of probability, particularly by horseplay and bodily assault.''

(NY times, 1982)

About the farce film, The famous comedy actor in China—Zheng Xu said that the theme under the comedy face is very important, cannot have an eye to funny, otherwise, it will be a farce film. (http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/hqgj/jryw/2012-09-29/content_7143914.html), but the China director—Jing Shang said in interview of Chinanews, ‘The overstate way about technique of expression in my own film, farce is not bad.’(http://www.chinanews.com/yl/2012/01-11/3597689.shtml), and Mr. Bean also claims that ‘farce is one of the few forms that is pure comedy.’(http://www.timeout.com/london/theatre/whats-the-farce-about)

·      Why is the intended research significant? (So what?)

Mr. Bean think that ‘farce is one of the few forms that is pure comedy.’(http://www.timeout.com/london/theatre/whats-the-farce-about), it can bring pure laughter to people, bring positive energy and release pressure to people.

So laugh can make people more health, in <The New Yorl Times>, JAMES GORMAN written that, ‘All the happy people will be healthier, live longer and have more sex than the unhappy people.’ and laugh can reduce pain, Cousins wrote, "Ten minutes of genuine belly laughter had an anesthetic effect and would give me at least two hours of pain-free sleep" (http://cogweb.ucla.edu/Abstracts/Provine_96.html)

·      How does this project relate to your plans for the future?

I want to be a camerawoman or editor in the future, so film technique can make me understand that how to make a film, it make me understand comedy more deeply, I can be more skilled in the future comedy making.I can get more experience for making comedy film, and know how to improve it.

The New MA_Learning_Agreement of XINRUI REN(Part 2)

Methodology

I. RESEARCH PHILOSOPHY

Positivism

The film techniques can affect the attractive of audience in farce. So I want try to confirmation this viewpoint: film techniques can be employed to attract more audience in comedy, especially farce

II. RESEARCH APPROACH

Deduction

This approach can help me to prove whether the theory is correct.

 III. RESEARCH STRATEGIES

Case study

Action research

Survey

Experiment

 IV. DATA COLLECTION METHODS

Sampling

Secondary data

Observation

Interviews

questionnaires

Learning objectives

To learn about how to direct a comedy film, especially farce film.

To learn about the film technique in a farce film

To learn about application of cinematography in a farce film.

To learn about how Mise-en-scene makes farce more attractive.

To learn about how Story structure makes farce more attractive.

To learn about how Lighting makes farce more attractive.

To learn about how Sound makes farce more attractive.

To learn about how to use film technique perfectly in a comedy film, especially farce films.

To learn about more editing skills to bring my farce films more attractive.

To research about make-up skills to make more attractive in my farce films.

Submissions (practical and/or written work)

1.    Study proposal

2.    Learning agreement

3.    Pitch

4.    Script

5.    Storyboard

6.    Shotlist

7.    Risk assessment

8.    Research result

9.    PPT of the presentation

10.Final project—5 short shots that are no more that 30 seconds and one 90 seconds short film.

Resource implications

1.    Equipment

Camera, tripod, laptop, recording room, editing room (post-production & special effect making), sound recorder, microphone.

2.    Human resource

Stage manager, prop master, actor, scriptwriter, sound and music maker, planner, editor (post-production & special effect making), art director.

3.    Other

Music, reading resource.

Bibliography

<Zheng Xu: Comedy is not farce>, http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/hqgj/jryw/2012-09-29/content_7143914.html, 29/9/2012, Seen by 09/2013

Mary Katherine Smith, <Laughter is the key to world peace>, http://europe.chinadaily.com.cn/culture/2012-09/14/content_15757821.htm, 14/9/2012, Seen by 09/2013

Robert R. Provine, <Laughter>, http://cogweb.ucla.edu/Abstracts/Provine_96.html, 1-2/1996, Seen by 08/2013

Pallab Ghosh, <Study reveals laughter really is the best medicine>, http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-14889165, 14/9 2011, Seen by 09/2013

Vincent Canby, <Film View; BLAKE EDWARDS-THE PEERLESS FARCEUR>, http://www.nytimes.com/1982/04/04/movies/film-view-blake-edwards-the-peerless-farceur.html, 4/4/1982, Seen by 09/2013

Xiqian Pu, <Wei Fan act a lovelace and dance pole dancing in his new film, director: farce is not bad>, http://www.chinanews.com/yl/2012/01-11/3597689.shtml, 11/1/2012, Seen by 09/2013

Caroline McGinn, <What's the farce about? >, http://www.timeout.com/london/theatre/whats-the-farce-about, 4/5/2012, Seen by 09/2013

JAMES GORMAN, <SIDE EFFECTS; Laugh Your Way to Good Health and a Longer Life>, http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F60E12FF345A0C7A8DDDAD0894DD404482, 19/4/2005, Seen by 09/2013

Timetable

1.    Week 15 to Week 25----Research for theory.

1. Reading books, journals, news articles.
2. Watching interviews and films, then do the film analysis.
3. To finish study proposal and learning agreement
4. To do tutorials, and communicate with supervisor
5. To finish the presentation in Jun.
6. To do a detail plan of this year.
7. Write the script of the project.

2.    Week 26 to Week 52---- Research for practice.

1. Week 26 to week 39—make two short shots

week 38----------------To finish first shot

week 39 ----------------To finish second shot until

every week------------To do tutorial and get the feedback

To do the final presentation

2. Week 40-47-----------To prepare the final project

week 48-50---------- To filming and finish it before

week 51---------------To finish the final presentation and final project

week 52---------------To finish all paper works and uploading my whole work.

The application of comedy elements(Part 3)

A successful comedy works, in addition to the main actor best performance, the supporting cast were the important function of the works. In the Stephen Chow film series, as everyone knows, we must not overlook the gold medal is Ng Man Tat's supporting role. He played in the film as an absolute work, have neither learning nor skill, very thick skinned little man, and Stephen Chow's a bit obscene images against each other, complement each other. In such a Ng Man Tat set off after Stephen Chow, by contrast, the audience in mind some feeling. This shows the form of Zhou Wu's, is to create the Wulitou Comedy Film era, the figures were two people portrayed most incisive, classic. Their behavior, are also fans to follow suit.

In addition to the role of choice, outside actors, the use of camera language, but also to a proper extent increase the full performance of comedy elements in the creation of film and television drama. In the film and television drama creation, whether the writer creation, two degrees of creation or director, if only in the hope of performances by the actors to achieve the effect of comedy, so even if the actor eventually play very hard, very much in place, in the audience, over time will be the aesthetic fatigue. If if to show the film directed by painting and painting together movement, then form also allow the audience to find everything fresh and new, resulting in more interested in performing comedy.

The application of comedy elements(Part 2)

The United States of America famous comedian Jim Carry is one of the limbs and facial expression how very successful actor. His extremely exaggerated facial expressions bring comedy effect even with the stunt is not other actors can easily show up. For many years Jim Carry's Circus career, accumulate a lot of performing skill and experience for him. He starred in the comedy film "the mask", "the first two big", "Evan Almighty", his body performance and facial expressions to show, the audience was attracted. Especially in the "the first two big", in the performance of his because of schizophrenia, two completely different character actor inside the body fight scene, the performance of the classic characters scheduling and limb, let the comedy drama reached a higher level of sublimation.

A interview to an audience——Two versions of [Man and Woman/What a ** Day!] (by Susan and I)

A questinare of short video [Man and Woman/What a ** Day!] and audience's answer

Suan’s version: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9XFRg4YW6CA

Tiki’s version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=-BxKu2OZ3Eo

1. These two versions are directed by two different directors. However, they filmed it together and share the video. Do you think these two versions have the same theme? If yes, what is the theme of the film do you think? If not, what is the theme of these two version respectively?

A. Yes. 

Theme of these two version:

B. No.

Theme of susan’s version:

Theme of Tiki’s version:

Haik(the audience): I will choose A. I think these two version has the same theme. At least for me it is. I believe the theme of this film is the different between Man an Woman.

2. How funny do you think about these two version? (From 1 to 9, 1 is the lowest and 9 is the highest) 

1——2——3——4——5——6——7——8——9

Haik: Actually it is a very interesting story. Even you filmed two versions, the story is the same. So I think both of these two versions are very funny. I will choose level 6 for them. It hasn't make me to have a sidesplitting laughter, however, I still laughed for many times.

3. In Susan’s version, what elements do you think is important to make people laugh in a comedy film? (Multiple choice)

a. sound      b. story structure     c. color   

d. editing     e. characters         f. action   

g. plot        h. environment       i. Other

Haik: I will choose b. f. e. and g.

4. In Tiki’s version, what elements do you think is important to make people laugh in a comedy film? (Multiple choice)

a. sound      b. story structure     c. color   

d. editing     e. characters         f. action   

g. plot        h. environment       i. Other

Haik: I will choose a. b. d. and g.

5. What do you think about the difference between man and woman in the film? Is it also happened in real life? 

A. Yes. This is the fact.       B. No. It’s too exaggerating.

Haik: Yes, I think it will happened in real life. Man always focus on one thing. Woman probable will think about many things simultaneously. Man and woman is different, that's why they loved each other, didn't they?

6. Which version do you prefer? Why?

Haik: That's very hard to say.(laugh) I think your version is more interesting than Susan's. But Susan's version is  more convenience to understand. If I have to do a decision, I will select yours. Because of the music in your version and the color of your version.

7. What’s the different between two directors’ filming skill do you think?

Haik: Music, color, edit and story structure.

8. Which part need to be improved in these elements of this short film? Do you have any advice? 

Haik: Firstly, I think maybe you need to add more details in the film. Just like the feature article of character's expression. Secondly, I consider maybe you can use more experimental ways to shoot. Like a long shot or a Hand-held shot.

The application of comedy elements(Part 1)

Comedy is a popular, common, and general film genre, it is very important in the film production. The question that how to apply comedy elements, become the creative and grope detail until now. a successful comedy film include different comedy elements. Now, according my research for comedy element, I want to show my opinion.

the wonderful body action of actors and the changeful face expression are the most key links to effective successful works, are also the most directly feeling of audience.

The most famous comedy artist in British--Rowan Atkinson is a successful example, this Classic image --Mr. Bean he created let him popular all over the world. Mr. Bean is a littles of stupid, the brain a little of shuts down, a little of shy, a little of childish and a little of directional thought guy, his comic effect  from our general daily life. Bean's lines and dialogue is a few, he almost shows audience by body action and face expression, he shows the British humor on fully embodies. This point is very obvious display in this series of <Mr. Bean>.

My exhibition plan

second draft:

third draft:

Comedy Editing--my research

http://www.tangdou.com/v32/dAMENUMjwzxD3Q2.html

this video is some chinese people adapt a TV play, and use a different editing to show.

My exhibition plan

My exhibition plan:

Start： 

1. Picture (show my research in the year)

2. Sound (one of my research)

3. Storyboard (story structure & cinematography)

4. Editing

5. Character development

6. Conclusion

7. My final short film