Just a quick post, we have changed the name of Funny People to Punchlines to fit in more with the whole comedy boxing match style!
Tomorrow we have a meeting with the CAFT team at Rochester to go over set designs! Things are getting exciting!
Thursday, 28 February 2013
Sunday, 24 February 2013
Fiction Adaptation - The Raven cont.
Originally a gothic horror piece, I want to give this a more modern setting, but mix some gothic features into it, to combine the both.
The whole style of the piece will be vey dark and mysterious; an older gravelly voice will be narrating the poem in a very solemn way. Whenever there is speech within the poem, the actor portraying the man in the piece will talk, rather than the narrator.
Rather than using the traditional raven in the sense of the actual bird, research indicates that the raven in the poem represents Death. As such, my adaptation of this poem will contain the portrayal of the Raven as the embodiment of Death. In other words, the Grim Reaper. I think this will make it different to many adaptations of the raven that I have seen, as most use the bird in a literal sense - I feel I am being a bit different.
The part of Lenore The man's lost love, will be given the look of an Angel, however she will look dead, kind of zomibified, as if she lost her beauty in death. She will however still be dressed quite elegantly - imagine the legend of the White Woman spirits across the land - I envision here like one of these spirits. She will pop up in past memories as the man reminisces about her in the poem.
The piece will take place in a modern house, where the man is living alone, and looking over past memories in a photo album of him and his lost love Lenore, whom is now dead.
The poem is partially about acceptance, and how the man cannot accept the reality that his love Lenore has passed to the other side. I will play on this fact with the photo album, and as well as the Grim Reaper taunting him, he will keep seeing Lenore in the corner of his eye as if he is being watched by both her and the Grim Reaper - essentially tapped, and he can't escape.
The tapping on the door, and throughout, is said to be the Raven's beak (making sense as it is a bird). I will replace this by having the tapping as Death's Scythe. I will use digital voice editing for Death's voice, as the Raven constantly says to the man 'Nevermore; and I shall make this voice very dark, deep and disturbing.
The whole style of the piece will be vey dark and mysterious; an older gravelly voice will be narrating the poem in a very solemn way. Whenever there is speech within the poem, the actor portraying the man in the piece will talk, rather than the narrator.
Rather than using the traditional raven in the sense of the actual bird, research indicates that the raven in the poem represents Death. As such, my adaptation of this poem will contain the portrayal of the Raven as the embodiment of Death. In other words, the Grim Reaper. I think this will make it different to many adaptations of the raven that I have seen, as most use the bird in a literal sense - I feel I am being a bit different.
The part of Lenore The man's lost love, will be given the look of an Angel, however she will look dead, kind of zomibified, as if she lost her beauty in death. She will however still be dressed quite elegantly - imagine the legend of the White Woman spirits across the land - I envision here like one of these spirits. She will pop up in past memories as the man reminisces about her in the poem.
The piece will take place in a modern house, where the man is living alone, and looking over past memories in a photo album of him and his lost love Lenore, whom is now dead.
The poem is partially about acceptance, and how the man cannot accept the reality that his love Lenore has passed to the other side. I will play on this fact with the photo album, and as well as the Grim Reaper taunting him, he will keep seeing Lenore in the corner of his eye as if he is being watched by both her and the Grim Reaper - essentially tapped, and he can't escape.
The tapping on the door, and throughout, is said to be the Raven's beak (making sense as it is a bird). I will replace this by having the tapping as Death's Scythe. I will use digital voice editing for Death's voice, as the Raven constantly says to the man 'Nevermore; and I shall make this voice very dark, deep and disturbing.
Thursday, 21 February 2013
Studio Production - Funny People
So my show got commissioned! Very happy. Now the real work begins as a producer!
I got a very good team to work with as well, so I am happy with that! I have many new ideas, and tweaked things slightly as to what appeared in my pitch.
We had a production meeting once the groups were decided, giving everyone different roles. As Producer, I gave out different jobs. My AP has to make a contact list, and start scouting, my Director must start scouting and sending messages out, my VT team are on the task of location hunting in London (only online though), and my Promo team have to come up with a logo for us. I myself am organising things with my main talent, and host Joz Norris, while at the same time attempting to scout out talent for the other comedians and tweaking the show so it will properly work.
I got a very good team to work with as well, so I am happy with that! I have many new ideas, and tweaked things slightly as to what appeared in my pitch.
We had a production meeting once the groups were decided, giving everyone different roles. As Producer, I gave out different jobs. My AP has to make a contact list, and start scouting, my Director must start scouting and sending messages out, my VT team are on the task of location hunting in London (only online though), and my Promo team have to come up with a logo for us. I myself am organising things with my main talent, and host Joz Norris, while at the same time attempting to scout out talent for the other comedians and tweaking the show so it will properly work.
Studio Production - Funny People
So after making my pitch on Monday, my studio production, "Funny People" has been commissioned, and I am now the very proud producer!
Production teams are being decided today, so I am very excited to see who I will have in my main team working with me, so we can crack on and get the ball properly rolling.
I have been told that by next week I need, along with my AP and Director, to come up with a set to brief the Theatre team so they can build it, so thinking caps on! I have some ideas, but when i have my AP and Director I shall run what I have in my mind by them and they can help develop it ready for the theatre team!
So I guess I should write a bit about Funny People, now the idea has been chosen and more developed.
It is a comedy/improvisation show, being hosted by Josiah Norris, featuring 2 comedians who will have a comedic boxing match if it were, where they will play a series of games and do a series of challenges in an attempt to become the "Funniest Person".
The games are still being developed, but I have some ideas, I shall say what these our soon as they become more developed!
Production teams are being decided today, so I am very excited to see who I will have in my main team working with me, so we can crack on and get the ball properly rolling.
I have been told that by next week I need, along with my AP and Director, to come up with a set to brief the Theatre team so they can build it, so thinking caps on! I have some ideas, but when i have my AP and Director I shall run what I have in my mind by them and they can help develop it ready for the theatre team!
So I guess I should write a bit about Funny People, now the idea has been chosen and more developed.
It is a comedy/improvisation show, being hosted by Josiah Norris, featuring 2 comedians who will have a comedic boxing match if it were, where they will play a series of games and do a series of challenges in an attempt to become the "Funniest Person".
The games are still being developed, but I have some ideas, I shall say what these our soon as they become more developed!
Thursday, 14 February 2013
Studio Production - Idea Development
After watching a lot of Stand Up comedy shows, and Improvisation Television shows, I have come up with an idea, which I shall be pitching on Monday. It is a Stand-Up/Improvisation show, which I shall be calling 'Funny People'
The show will feature the host, and 4 semi pro comics/improvisations/contestants if it were. It will start with the host coming on, and doing a short Stand-up set, lasting a couple of minutes. Then as he introduces the comics that will be playing, very short VT's about each contestant will be shown.
The show will then feature a series of rounds, all improvisation games and stand-up games. For example, one round may feature the contestants being given objects or items, and they must come up with a series of uses to use them as different props in little skits, or even create a joke based around the prop they get.
Others may include being given a topic, and the contestant must tell a short joke based on that topic, or a short improvisation skit based on those topics.
Audience participation will also be included, where the host will ask the audience for an opening line, to set a scene, etc. and the contestants will have to act out that scene.
I shall post up later a detailed list of all the rounds :)
I think this idea of mine is very good as it will be original, people don't see improv shows on television anymore after Whose Line is it Anyway ended years ago, and I would like to bring it back, but with a modern twist of stand-up, which is all the rage at the moment!
The show will feature the host, and 4 semi pro comics/improvisations/contestants if it were. It will start with the host coming on, and doing a short Stand-up set, lasting a couple of minutes. Then as he introduces the comics that will be playing, very short VT's about each contestant will be shown.
The show will then feature a series of rounds, all improvisation games and stand-up games. For example, one round may feature the contestants being given objects or items, and they must come up with a series of uses to use them as different props in little skits, or even create a joke based around the prop they get.
Others may include being given a topic, and the contestant must tell a short joke based on that topic, or a short improvisation skit based on those topics.
Audience participation will also be included, where the host will ask the audience for an opening line, to set a scene, etc. and the contestants will have to act out that scene.
I shall post up later a detailed list of all the rounds :)
I think this idea of mine is very good as it will be original, people don't see improv shows on television anymore after Whose Line is it Anyway ended years ago, and I would like to bring it back, but with a modern twist of stand-up, which is all the rage at the moment!
Studio Production - Ideas
Ever since we were given the Studio Production topic, even beforehand I knew that I wanted to do some form of comedy show. The reason for this being I have a good friend named Josiah Norris who has recently become a very successful, semi-professional stand up/character comedian, and he currently tours the country with his shows. Upon mentioning I wanted to do a show with him, he jumped at the opportunity to either be in it, or host it IF my idea gets chosen.
So upon going down the comedy route, I thought maybe I could do a stand-up show, however I was told I need to be more creative and different, so I thought, I could mix a stand-up show, mixed with an improvisation show, like 'Whose Line is it Anyway?' So i have been thinking of effective ways of doing this!
So upon going down the comedy route, I thought maybe I could do a stand-up show, however I was told I need to be more creative and different, so I thought, I could mix a stand-up show, mixed with an improvisation show, like 'Whose Line is it Anyway?' So i have been thinking of effective ways of doing this!
Monday, 4 February 2013
Fiction Adaptation - The Raven
My second idea for a poem to do would be 'The Raven' by Edgar Allan Poe.
I would post the poem up here but it is way too long. If you fancy a read however just follow this link:
http://www.heise.de/ix/raven/Literature/Lore/TheRaven.html
Having studied this poem in length during my A Level studies, I have a good idea of the meanings behind the poem, the biggest being, that the Raven symbolises death. He constantly refers back to the angelic maiden 'Lenore', who is the main characters lost love.
Poe wrote the poem as a narrative, without intentionally creating an allegory or falling into didacticism. The main theme of the poem is one of undying devotion. The narrator experiences a perverse conflict between desire to forget and desire to remember. He seems to get some pleasure from focusing on loss. The narrator assumes that the word "Nevermore" is the raven's "only stock and store", and yet he continues to ask it questions, knowing what the answer will be. His questions, then, are purposely self-deprecating and further incite his feelings of loss. Poe leaves it unclear if the raven actually knows what it is saying or if it really intends to cause a reaction in the poem's narrator. The narrator begins as weak and weary, becomes regretful and grief-stricken, before passing into a frenzy and, finally, madness.
I figure that if I were to do this poem, I feel I will not use a bird at all, but maybe have an incantation of Death it/himself. Appearing at the door, when he see's nothing, but yet hears the raven, upon closing the door the figure of Death would be beside him, scaring him half to death. (haha).
Death would not move, but instead just stare at him, watching, creepily answering his questions at the end of every stanza 'nevermore'.
I would have narration for the poem, however when a character is to speak, they would speak rather than the narration.
I may also take a few of the verses out, not all are entirely necessary and it may be too long if all are included.
I shall continue working on both of my ideas until I can decide which one I will be able to adapt better. I shall keep you all updated!
I would post the poem up here but it is way too long. If you fancy a read however just follow this link:
http://www.heise.de/ix/raven/Literature/Lore/TheRaven.html
Having studied this poem in length during my A Level studies, I have a good idea of the meanings behind the poem, the biggest being, that the Raven symbolises death. He constantly refers back to the angelic maiden 'Lenore', who is the main characters lost love.
Poe wrote the poem as a narrative, without intentionally creating an allegory or falling into didacticism. The main theme of the poem is one of undying devotion. The narrator experiences a perverse conflict between desire to forget and desire to remember. He seems to get some pleasure from focusing on loss. The narrator assumes that the word "Nevermore" is the raven's "only stock and store", and yet he continues to ask it questions, knowing what the answer will be. His questions, then, are purposely self-deprecating and further incite his feelings of loss. Poe leaves it unclear if the raven actually knows what it is saying or if it really intends to cause a reaction in the poem's narrator. The narrator begins as weak and weary, becomes regretful and grief-stricken, before passing into a frenzy and, finally, madness.
I figure that if I were to do this poem, I feel I will not use a bird at all, but maybe have an incantation of Death it/himself. Appearing at the door, when he see's nothing, but yet hears the raven, upon closing the door the figure of Death would be beside him, scaring him half to death. (haha).
Death would not move, but instead just stare at him, watching, creepily answering his questions at the end of every stanza 'nevermore'.
I would have narration for the poem, however when a character is to speak, they would speak rather than the narration.
I may also take a few of the verses out, not all are entirely necessary and it may be too long if all are included.
I shall continue working on both of my ideas until I can decide which one I will be able to adapt better. I shall keep you all updated!
Fiction Adaptation - When Will the Forest Speak?
Here is one of the poems I am considering for my adaptation project.
It is called 'When Will the Forest Speak?' by the band Sikth.
Why can I not sleep?Why am I turning?Why are all the trees burning?Forest fires, crooked liars,Why am I so sullen and drained?
In the bush, it's raining,Lost man on his own,Has anyone thought to save him?
The monkey is waiting in the treeCounts to threeHearing the sound of the fume-fuelled wagonHe leaps on the back...Attack! Attack! Attack!No old heathen, not today.
The rain falls upon the acidic trees of the millennium scornThe fire has vanished, leaving behind a trail of death for all to see.The birds & the trees, then you & meLay twitching on the forest floor.The yeti is waiting for us to take us into his home,Care for us just like one of his own.
Wild bones!Wild bones!
Wait! The yeti no longer has a homeThe trees are gone & nothing has grown.A table, a chair, an internet nightmare,When will the forest speak?When all is dried up and way too weak?
Wait for nightfall, it's so beautiful out here.Up high in a wave of oxygen love I sit,Up high on this glorified cement postcard I spit.I spit, I spit upon thee.
Wait for your red skies,Wait for the red skies,Do you know how it feels to be alive?Let me know, let me know how you feel...When will the forest speak?When the trees are dried up and way too weak?
Wasting a life on calculations,Not enough money for operations,Waste of life, statistics, plastic soldiersSound of sticks rubbing together.All the people gather.
Wait for the man, he must have a plan,Show me and make me a smile I can wear.Me & you we can make up too,No use for hate if you're wearing my shoes.
Be happy, be sad, be a wild rotten lamb,Don't bother me now, I'm drenched to the bone.
A sound of a truck and an axe and a fallOf a tree and a life and a planet so smallSick to the bone of your dour heart of stone.Let me know how you feel...
You say it's too hot so you can take off your topA clank of a slot machine, coins bled unclean.
A beaten old lizard staggers over the road,A hand and a heart, the lake in the park,The candle won't light and the fire won't spark.
I'm worn and I'm torn but I still carry on.The money is angry, the money has taken the...
Watching mayhem leaping from truck to truck,This is where he rejoins his friends.They feast, they drink, they talk aboutHow things used to be...
I still can't sleep.I still can't sleep.I still can't sleep.
A million minds and a million voicesA million thoughts, and only one choice.The need to find peace.
It is called 'When Will the Forest Speak?' by the band Sikth.
Why can I not sleep?Why am I turning?Why are all the trees burning?Forest fires, crooked liars,Why am I so sullen and drained?
In the bush, it's raining,Lost man on his own,Has anyone thought to save him?
The monkey is waiting in the treeCounts to threeHearing the sound of the fume-fuelled wagonHe leaps on the back...Attack! Attack! Attack!No old heathen, not today.
The rain falls upon the acidic trees of the millennium scornThe fire has vanished, leaving behind a trail of death for all to see.The birds & the trees, then you & meLay twitching on the forest floor.The yeti is waiting for us to take us into his home,Care for us just like one of his own.
Wild bones!Wild bones!
Wait! The yeti no longer has a homeThe trees are gone & nothing has grown.A table, a chair, an internet nightmare,When will the forest speak?When all is dried up and way too weak?
Wait for nightfall, it's so beautiful out here.Up high in a wave of oxygen love I sit,Up high on this glorified cement postcard I spit.I spit, I spit upon thee.
Wait for your red skies,Wait for the red skies,Do you know how it feels to be alive?Let me know, let me know how you feel...When will the forest speak?When the trees are dried up and way too weak?
Wasting a life on calculations,Not enough money for operations,Waste of life, statistics, plastic soldiersSound of sticks rubbing together.All the people gather.
Wait for the man, he must have a plan,Show me and make me a smile I can wear.Me & you we can make up too,No use for hate if you're wearing my shoes.
Be happy, be sad, be a wild rotten lamb,Don't bother me now, I'm drenched to the bone.
A sound of a truck and an axe and a fallOf a tree and a life and a planet so smallSick to the bone of your dour heart of stone.Let me know how you feel...
You say it's too hot so you can take off your topA clank of a slot machine, coins bled unclean.
A beaten old lizard staggers over the road,A hand and a heart, the lake in the park,The candle won't light and the fire won't spark.
I'm worn and I'm torn but I still carry on.The money is angry, the money has taken the...
Watching mayhem leaping from truck to truck,This is where he rejoins his friends.They feast, they drink, they talk aboutHow things used to be...
I still can't sleep.I still can't sleep.I still can't sleep.
A million minds and a million voicesA million thoughts, and only one choice.The need to find peace.
When analysing the lyrics it is clearly about how mankind is slowly destroying wildlife and our land and nature. The title in itself 'When will the forest speak?' can be seen as, when will we take a stand and notice what we are doing to our environment. The audio itself for this poem is very disturbing, no music is used, just vocals, and strange voices, giving a very creepy element and tone to it, despite the poem having sort of 'noble' undertones, speaking out about the destruction of our environment. I feel if I were to do this poem, I would use the original audio, but of course do a lot of sound editing to set the atmosphere better to what I have envisioned.
My first instinctive idea, would be to have humans representing the different animals mentioned in it, but have them looking worn, tired and sullen, maybe even half dead, representing the environment being destroyed. There are however a lot of different messages and meanings given within the poem. I need to take the time to analyse the poem more and work out exactly what I can do with it, but I believe I have an interesting and unique starting point.
My first instinctive idea, would be to have humans representing the different animals mentioned in it, but have them looking worn, tired and sullen, maybe even half dead, representing the environment being destroyed. There are however a lot of different messages and meanings given within the poem. I need to take the time to analyse the poem more and work out exactly what I can do with it, but I believe I have an interesting and unique starting point.
Fiction Adaptation - Poem Choices
As the start of our second year, the first project we have been given is Fiction Adaptation. Here I am allowed to choose any poem, short story or comic book/graphic novel to adapt into a 5 minute long short film.
Immediately when given this brief, I thought to myself that I wanted to do something different, I want to go down the horror route. Baring this in mind 2 poems automatically come to mind. The first is 'When Will the Forest Speak?', a truly frightening poem by the band Sikth. The other poem I thought of is 'The Raven' by Edgar Allan Poe - which has always been a favourite of mine fitting the gothic horror genre.
I believe I could do a lot with either of these 2 poems, whether I go for a literal adaptation or a more stylised root.
Immediately when given this brief, I thought to myself that I wanted to do something different, I want to go down the horror route. Baring this in mind 2 poems automatically come to mind. The first is 'When Will the Forest Speak?', a truly frightening poem by the band Sikth. The other poem I thought of is 'The Raven' by Edgar Allan Poe - which has always been a favourite of mine fitting the gothic horror genre.
I believe I could do a lot with either of these 2 poems, whether I go for a literal adaptation or a more stylised root.
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