The book: Understanding Body Language

I finish this book, and I find some chapters are useful for my project.

The first one I have mentioned in the formal journal, so I am going to the second one. It is about the hand signals:

clenched hands: when speaking, clenched hands indicate that what is being talked about is frustrating, or was a painful experience.

hiding the thumbs inside the fist: difficulty in analyzing a problem.

rubbing the hands together: quick rubbing indicates a pleasurable sense of satisfaction or expectation, while slow rubbing or wringing of the hands reveals that a 'con' is about to be perpetrated.

hands pressed together, as if in prayer: demonstrates a desire to persuade, or underline a point gently but firmly.

The third one is how to spot a liar. The nervous system is the most important. A dry mouth, produced by fear, will cause the liar to lick his or her lips more often- and perhaps swallow nervously. There may be more throat-clearing than usual too. Breathing may become more uneven- another stress reaction which is easily observed. Meantime, the feet and legs are the most difficult parts of your body to control consciously. When someone chooses to lie during a conversation, he or she will often suddenly cross arms or legs simultaneously. It suggests advance self-defense against challenge.And tell-tale foot signals may include feet pointing towards the exit- revealing a desire to escape the situation - or a lot of foot tapping or jabbing movements in the air, meaning that the person wants to get out.

To conclude, it is a very useful book for body language, and I have learn the knowledge of the eyes, the hands and how to spot a liar by watching the body languages. Also I want create a liar in my film, so this knowledge is useful for that character and make me control it.

a drop water- second practice.

This is the second practice, I use one actor and try to find his respond to a sound. So I decide to make him respond to a broken water-tap.

Comparing the two practice, I improve my directing skills. In the first practice, I spoke with two actors,so that I needed to understand their thoughts about the characters. However, in the second practice, I just spoke with one actor, it is easier to understand his thoughts.

As for the camera, in the first practice, I put the camera behind the box so that I can see the two actors' face and emotions, and I use close-up shots on the main actor. In the second practice, I use two different angles to show the actor's respond to the broken water-tap. In the end I use blur to show the actor is helpless with the broken water-tap.

To conclude, it is a useful way to practice. I learn how to direct the scenario, how to communicate with actor. The way I speak to my actors is from the book called <The film director's intuition>, there is a chapter about question everything. I speak with Roy and Terry in my first practice, they tell me about how they think of their character. So I create two thieves with different character. So I use the knowledge in my directing actors. It is useful.

The Book Thief- a warm film.

I go to Broadway Cinema today to watch 'The Book Thief'. It is directed by Brian Percival, it is adapted by a novel with same name. It tells a story about a spirited and courageous young girl who transforms the lives of everyone around her when she is sent to live with a foster family in World War II Germany.

As for the actors' acting, i have to say it is great! The little girl is fully acted the character, and she shows a brave and strong girl.Her body language is well, too.There is a scene when max got sick, she slipped into the house for stealing books. She was focusing on every details so that the host couldn't find her. I am moved by the relationship and acting of the girl and her papa. I also like the 'papa' character, his warm and smile can add warm to the film, and he loves his wife and the adopted girl. His excellent play of accordion is another element to add his up.

The music, is very strong for creating the character's emotions. It use soft music for the family getting together and the girl and boy, use tension music for the police searching the basement.

To conclude, it is a very emotional film and the girl's acting is very professional. By the way, it is interesting some people watching this film and crying, the audiences are moved by the acting as well.

a practice in Broadway cinema.

The script is written by Roger, we use 4 lights to create the scene. We use two lights for the cinema screen to reflect the light. And we use one light nearby the actors, use reflector to reflect.

Meanwhile, we use 3 cameras to shoot this scene, from 3 different angles, and use two close-up shots, and one mid shot.

The actors acting is brilliant, and we talk with them, tell them the story, and they give us a outline of the actor, so what we can do is communicate with actors and let actors tell us what the character is.

To conclude, it is a useful practice no matter in setting lights or shooting or editing. I know how to set lights in a room now.

two thieves-a short film.

It is my short film. I spend two days on script, and one day in shooting.

There are two actors who are my friends, they don't know acting too much.
There is a scene inside the room, Roy plays the stupid thief, and Terry plays the leader thief. I asked Roy about how he acts the character, he told me a lot of action to show the stupid. Like he forgot he is a thief, he is curious about everything in the house. On the other hand, Terry plays a professional thief, I asked his opinion, he told me the character he wants to play different with Roy. So I agreed.

As for the camera, I use close-up shot for Roy to show the detail actions. And I use a mirror from they come in the house, and it is interesting.

To conclude, it is a very useful practice to show what I have learnt about body language. I will practice more about it, and without using dialogue and music.

Two thieves- a shoot script

EXT.ROOM.DAY

Roy and Terry are walking into a house in silent way. Terry takes up a list of 

the house, and he gives a eyes to Roy,and Roy begins to action.

INT.ROOM.DAY

Roy and Terry come in the room, begin to find the things on the list.They search every corner of the house.

They find a box and try to open it.

Terry use some tools to open it but it doesn't work.

Roy find knife and hammer, he uses up his strength.

Then the door opens.