What is Dubstep?

Dubstep is a genre of electronic dance music that originated in South London, United Kingdom. Its overall sound has been described as "tightly coiled productions with overwhelming bass lines and reverberant drum patterns, clipped samples, and occasional vocals.

Rhythm

Dubstep rhythms are usually syncopated, and often shuffled or incorporating tuplets. The tempo is nearly always in the range of 138–142beats per minute, with a clap or snare usually inserted every third beat in a bar.In its early stages, dubstep was often more percussive, with more influences from 2-step drum patterns. A lot of producers were also experimenting with tribal drum samples, an example being Loefah's early release "Truly Dread".

Wobble bass

One characteristic of certain strands of dubstep is the wobble bass, where an extended bass note is manipulated rhythmically. This style of bass is typically produced by using a low frequency oscillator to manipulate certain parameters of a synthesizer such as volume, distortion orfilter cutoff. The resulting sound is a timbre that is punctuated by rhythmic variations in volume, filter cutoff, or distortion. This style of bass is a driving factor in some variations of dubstep, particularly at the more club-friendly end of the spectrum.

My final idea

For my final idea for a short film, I have decided to go with a music themed concept. I have recently been listening to the radio and watching music channels and one thing that I have noticed is that The genre of music 'Dubstep' is slowly becoming more and more popular. I thought that this weird and interesting new sound would make a good foundation for a film. What if Dubstep became so popular? that it took over the world.! This idea was going to be a cool, fun and unique.

My Short film ideas and concepts

I had three ideas for a Short film.
Idea 1: I had an idea of a post apocalyptic setting but with a different take. A setting where the whole world had turned into forestation and only a few humans remained alive. Two friends, travelling through the woodland trying to survive, stumble upon a lost girl who tells them that there is a last human sanctuary left beyond the wilderness. She must get there to find her Father and asks the two friends to help her there.

Idea 2: An old retired DJ and Music producer decides to have another shot at the music industry but it isn't as easy as it seems.

Idea 3: A series of short stories set in the Town centre.

My Short film ideas and concepts

I had two ideas/themes

Analysis of 'Strangers' short film

Strangers is an excellent short film about diversity and discrimination in religion and race.

The film displays and excellent use of symbolism such as the star of David, The Islamic writing on the newspaper and the SS tattoo on the the man's head. Each of these signs immediately tell the audience about each of the characters differences.

The lack of dialogue is substituted by close ups on the characters faces to create a reaction and to create tension. The tight areas of tube train creates a claustrophobic setting . Quick cuts and pans highlight that the atmosphere has dramatically changed when the Neo- Nazi's walk on the train. The close up shots between the Jew and the Muslim are slightly off centre and could be said to be a cantered angle. This is to show the distance between the two characters.

Strange chanting music is heard as the Nazi's enter the scene this is to make the audience feel edgy and nervous to relate to the main characters. The film is very simple yet conveys a strong message.

Conventions of a Short film

The obvious convention in a short film, is of course the length, which can last from 5-50 mins. Many short films can give the director and creator the independence and artistic freedom to express themselves. They are usually low budget and contain a stable and fairly straight forward story, although in recent times their have been a few exceptions.

The Actors that star in short films are normally unknown and up and coming stars.

Short Film Three- act Structure

There is a Paradigm that most screenplays follow. A paradigm is a conceptual scheme, it holds the structure together. A screenplay follows the three act structure that holds screen plays together. According to Syd Field, Screen plays follow a three act structure and can be divided into three parts: Setup, Confrontation and Resolution.

Act 1 comprises the first quarter of the screenplay.
Act 2 comprises the next two quarters of the film.
Act 3 comprises the final quarter of the film.
The three acts are separated by two plot points. A plot point, often called a reversal, is an event that thrusts the plot in a new direction, leading into a new act of the screenplay. Later screenplay gurus have built on fields theory by stating the plot point 1, which leads into act 2, is the moment when the hero takes on the problem.