Unit 4: Christmas Film

 TASK 1: Research

'Hallmark' Guide

 For this task, we were put into groups to make a guide detailing the key aspects that go into a particular subgenre of Christmas films. We were given Hallmark.

Hallmark Film Guide by Hollie McCreesh

Genre Comparison

Story/Narrative

 Hallmark Christmas films typically have heart-warming and romantic storylines that take place in small towns. The plots often revolve around characters who are struggling with personal issues or challenges and are able to find love and happiness during the holiday season. These films often have a positive and uplifting tone and end with a happy resolution.

 Classic Christmas films tend to have more timeless and enduring storylines that explore themes of redemption, the importance of family and community, and the true meaning of Christmas. These films often feature memorable characters and classic holiday themes such as snow, mistletoe, and gift-giving.

 Questionable Christmas films may not necessarily have traditional holiday themes or storylines. These films may have more adult themes or content and may not always have a happy ending. Despite this, they are still considered Christmas films because they take place during the holiday season. The narrative of these films may be more focused on action, adventure, or suspense rather than holiday themes.

Characters

 Hallmark Christmas films typically feature relatable and likable characters who are struggling with personal challenges and are able to find love and happiness during the holiday season. The characters in these films are often kind, compassionate, and have strong family values. They may be looking for a second chance at love or trying to mend a broken relationship.

 Classic Christmas films often feature iconic and enduring characters who are central to the holiday season. These characters may include Scrooge in "A Christmas Carol," George Bailey in "It's a Wonderful Life," or Kris Kringle in "Miracle on 34th Street." These characters are often memorable and have a lasting impact on audiences.

 Questionable Christmas films may have more unconventional or complex characters who are not necessarily centred around holiday themes. These characters may be more focused on action, adventure, or suspense, and may not always be likable or relatable.

Location/Setting

 Hallmark Christmas films are often set in small towns or rural communities. The settings in these films are typically charming and cosy, and are meant to evoke a sense of warmth and nostalgia.

 Classic Christmas films may be set in a variety of locations, from small towns to big cities. These films often feature iconic holiday imagery such as snow-covered streets and festive decorations.

 Questionable Christmas films may be set in a variety of locations, and may not necessarily feature traditional holiday themes or imagery. Despite this, they are still considered Christmas films because they take place during the holiday season.

Mise en Scène

 Mise en scène refers to the elements of a film's visual composition, such as the setting, lighting, costumes, and props.

 In Hallmark Christmas films, the mise en scène often creates a cosy and festive atmosphere, with a focus on traditional holiday elements such as snow, mistletoe, and holiday decorations. The settings in these films are often small towns or rural communities, and the costumes and props are often tailored to the holiday season. The lighting in these films is often warm and inviting, and is used to create a sense of cheer and joy.

 Classic Christmas films may have a variety of mise en scène elements, depending on the specific film and its setting. These films may feature iconic holiday imagery such as snow-covered streets and festive decorations, and the costumes and props may be tailored to the holiday season. The lighting in these films may also be used to create a festive and joyful atmosphere.

 Questionable Christmas films may not necessarily have traditional holiday mise en scène elements, but may still be set during the holiday season. These films may have a variety of settings and visual elements, and may not always have a festive or joyful atmosphere.

Music

 Hallmark Christmas films often feature original music or traditional holiday music as part of their soundtracks. The music in these films is often used to create a warm and festive atmosphere and to underscore the heart-warming and romantic storylines.

 Classic Christmas films may also feature original music or traditional holiday music as part of their soundtracks. The music in these films is often used to create a festive and joyful atmosphere and to underscore the timeless holiday themes of the films.

 Questionable Christmas films may not necessarily have traditional holiday music as part of their soundtracks, but may still be set during the holiday season. The music in these films may be more focused on creating a specific mood or atmosphere, rather than necessarily being tied to holiday themes.

Conclusion

 Audiences may enjoy these different styles of Christmas films for various reasons. Hallmark films offer a comforting and uplifting escape from the stresses of everyday life, while classic films offer a sense of nostalgia and tradition. Questionable Christmas films may appeal to audiences looking for something different or unconventional during the holiday season. Ultimately, the appeal of these films comes down to personal preference and the mood that an individual is in during the holiday season.

Christmas Film Comparison

 For this analysis, I will be choosing the classic holiday film "It's a Wonderful Life" and the more modern holiday film "Love, Actually."

 "It's a Wonderful Life" is a 1946 American Christmas drama film directed by Frank Capra and starring James Stewart as George Bailey, a man who has given up his dreams in order to help others and is shown the value of his life by a guardian angel. The film is known for its heart-warming themes of family, community, and the true meaning of Christmas.

 One typical genre convention of holiday films is the use of heart-warming themes and uplifting messages. "It's a Wonderful Life" exemplifies this convention through its portrayal of George Bailey's selfless actions and the ultimately positive outcome of his story. The film also features a sense of nostalgia and a focus on traditional holiday themes such as family, friendship, and giving back to the community.

 Another typical genre convention of holiday films is the use of a fantastical or magical element, such as a guardian angel or a visit from Santa Claus. "It's a Wonderful Life" incorporates this convention through the character of Clarence, George Bailey's guardian angel, who helps him see the value of his life and the positive impact he has had on others.

 "Love, Actually" is a 2003 British romantic comedy film written and directed by Richard Curtis. The film follows the lives of eight very different couples in dealing with their love lives in various loosely and interrelated tales during the lead-up to Christmas. The film features an ensemble cast, including Hugh Grant, Emma Thompson, Liam Neeson, and Keira Knightley.

 One typical genre convention of holiday films is the use of a romantic subplot or themes of love and relationships. "Love, Actually" exemplifies this convention through its multiple storylines that focus on the romantic lives of its various characters. The film also incorporates a sense of whimsy and light-heartedness, as well as the use of holiday themes and imagery.

 Another typical genre convention of holiday films is the use of an ensemble cast and interconnected storylines. "Love, Actually" incorporates this convention through its multiple couples and their various romantic entanglements, all of which come together in a cohesive narrative leading up to Christmas.

 In summary, both "It's a Wonderful Life" and "Love, Actually" are examples of holiday films that utilize typical genre conventions such as heart-warming themes, fantastical elements, and romantic subplots. However, they differ in their approaches to these conventions, with "It's a Wonderful Life" taking a more traditional and nostalgic approach and "Love, Actually" incorporating a more modern and light-hearted tone.

TASK 2: Pre-Production & Production

My Christmas Film Idea:

 I was put in a group of 4. We each had to come up with a concept for a Hallmark Christmas movie. We would then pitch these ideas to the tutor, and whichever one was chosen would then be the film that we work on. 2 people from my group were off on pitching day, so it was only me and another person who pitched an idea. This was my idea.

Pre-Production:

 My idea was not chosen, as mine didn't hit all of the criteria for a Hallmark Christmas movie. I was happy that mine wasn't chosen, as I knew that it wasn't meant for this project. I hope to use my idea in another project at a later date.

Oliver's Christmas Film Idea

Job Roles

Mood Board by Leon Place

Character Breakdowns by Oliver Johnson

 As casting director, I decided not to do a casting call, but rather reach out to actors directly, as I already had people in mind for the roles. I cast Sienna Pounder as Jennifer, and Aiden Hope as Mr Grant, both actors that I had worked with on my last project, though their roles were very different. 

 The screenplay underwent many changes in the beginning, which even included an entire character being removed, and an entire scene being rewritten from scratch. This is the final version:

Screenplay by Alex Temperley (Story by Oliver Johnson)

 Though minor issues ensued from the beginning, the real problems began when one member of the group was absent for a week during pre-production. As I was busy preparing the screenplay, I couldn't take on their jobs and responsibilities (such as making a shot list and storyboard) whilst they were away, so the jobs were instead given to the two other members of the group. However, the tasks were not completed.

 The two characters were cast, and the date of filming was set for the 8th of December. Due to conflicts with rehearsals for the show that the actors were doing, were weren't able to film until 2:30 PM. We began filming the café scene at that time, but the actors didn't learn their lines in the time leading up to this. Extras were difficult to instruct, conflicts arose among crew members, and before we knew it, it was 5 PM and the actors had to leave for the day due to the show. By this point, we only had a third of the café scene filmed and nothing else, even though the initial plan was to try and have the entire thing finished in one day so that we could spend more time on post-production, as the deadline was the 16th of December.

 Filming was then rescheduled to the 12th of December, but one of the actors became ill and so a last-minute replacement was needed. This meant filming would have to be pushed to the 13th, to try and give the new actor more time to prepare. However, due to more scheduling conflicts, filming would have to be pushed to the 15th, where we were given an extension onto the deadline so that we could finally finish this. Now that filming has been pushed forward so far, the original actor who was ill would be better by the time the 15th came around, so a replacement actor was no longer necessary. It may also be important to add that the extra time we ended up with on pre-production should have meant that one of the two crew members that were meant to make a shot list and storyboard should have seen this as an opportunity to finally finish them, but they did not. In the future, I hope they work on their spontaneity and time management, as I cannot possibly complete everything myself.

 The 15th of December came, and we were meant to start filming at 10 AM. But, one crew member didn't turn up until 11, and an actor didn't turn up until 11:30, and neither of the actors were in their costumes. The actors also didn't use the extra time to learn their lines properly this time. Just like with my crew members, I also hope the actors work on things like this in the future. We went to our set, but we didn't get everyone together in the room until maybe 1 PM because it was hard to gather people during lunch. In an hour, we might have gotten maybe 3 shots filmed due to the difficulty I was experiencing when instructing people. At about 2, another group came who wanted to use the room, and because so little was done by that point, I admittedly left. I notified my tutors about this, and the film didn't get picked back up until after the Christmas holidays.

 When I returned to college after the holiday, I was now given a new deadline in only three weeks time. So, we tried again on the 9th of January. Even though I had asked again for another storyboard, I still didn't receive one. Actors were instructed to arrive on set at 1 PM in costume. One actor followed my instructions, but the one that was late last time didn't. He was half an hour late, which isn't as bad as last time, however, he wasn't in costume and it took me until 2 PM to get him in costume and on set. We filmed scene 1, but the scene had to be rewritten as I no longer had access to use Christmas decorations as props. I used folders instead and altered the dialogue to fit the new change, and while this change ended up removing probably the only Christmas element from the film, it wasn't something that could be helped, and my focus was more on reaching a final result. I was more determined this time and felt as though I had more of a grip on my objective, and through it all, we ended up completing scene 1. Though I am still very unhappy with the quality of the work produced, its more than I'd gotten out of the project before, and because of the new deadline, I likely wouldn't have had time to go back and try again.

 On Monday 16th of January, we filmed Scene 3, which was a relatively short shoot as that scene is less than a page long. Then, we tried to reshoot Scene 4 on Monday the 23rd, but more scheduling conflicts came up at such short notice. The actors weren't available for that whole week, and the deadline was at the end of that week (the 27th). So, I made the decision to cut that scene and start post-production with the footage that we did have. It was given to another filmmaker to edit, and though I sent in as many reminders as I could, they did miss the deadline and I didn't receive anything until the 1st of February. Though, the film still wasn't completed, as it was missing credits, there was no colour grading/background music, and some shots were even cut. I had to edit a new version to try and fix all of this.

TASK 3: Distribution & Evaluation

The Poster by Alex Temperley

The Film

What Went Wrong

•  There was one crew member that contributed nothing
•  There was a large amount of occasions where my instructions were ignored
•  Another group kept coming and sabotaging me when trying to film
•  Actors didn't learn their lines
•  Half of my crew was unprofessional
•  An actor became ill
•  An actor was 2 hours late to set
•  The same actor continued to be late every time we tried to film
•  The schedules for the actors' stage show kept conflicting with my schedules
•  We had to be given a new deadline

What Went Well

•  The actors supplied appropriate costumes for their characters
•  I learned a few valuable lessons

What Have I Learned

•  Problems and conflicts can arise at any time
•  There are some crew and cast members that I will never want to work with again
•  As a director, in most cases, your work is only as good as the other people in the group allow it to be
•  With these college projects, if it starts off badly, it usually doesn't get any better

What I Should Improve On

•  My ability to be assertive
•  My communication skills
•  The ability to still show passion for a project that may not particularly be of interest to me personally

 Overall, I'm upset with how this project turned out, and I wish I had something better to present here. In the future, in order to avoid a similar situation to this arising again, I need to work on my ability to be assertive and have less faith that the other people in the group have the ability to understand their responsibilities as much. I hope my next experience on my next project is somewhat brighter than this one.