Research
In order to properly understand my brief I carried out
primary and secondary research into the theme of ‘The Land That Time Forgot’ in
the form of photographing locations and looking into existing stories that
correspond with the theme. Here are the results of my research:
Primary:
With my DSLR camera I went around College, my house, and my
garden in order to get a wide range of shots.
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| All the contact sheets of my photoshoots |
My general ideas with the shots were to shoot landscapes or
objects that either looked like they could be timeless, or were incredibly aged
to suit the theme. I found this the easiest to do as trying to explore more
contemporary themes were practically impossible with natural shots, however
when I edited the settings on the camera it made some shots conform to these
themes easier.
This was helpful in helping me come up with ideas as if I decided to film my final piece, I will have practise in making places look more suited towards the brief. However this still doesn't help much if I choose to animate my film.
After this I began looking into films, books, and tv shows for pieces that correlated with the brief so I could explore existing pieces to pull ideas and contrast with.
Here is what I found:
With the theme 'The Land that Time Forgot' I was able to pull 3 general plot elements that conform to the theme, but still greatly differ and are still equally popular to base films, books, and TV shows on. These were: Dinosaurs, Time Travelling, and Alternate Dimensions. They all have their separate reasons for being linked to the theme which I shall explain for each one along with examples for each.
Dinosaurs
Dinosaurs was definitely the first thing that came to mind as there is a film baring the same title; and as the theme suggests it being a film in the past, and the furthest into the past we know of is the dinosaurs, it really wasn't a major discovery to make. This is probably why many medias have used them to base their stories off. Here are 3 of the most popular:
The Land That Time Forgot
A pretty famous films, The Land That Time Forgot was one of the first to use dinosaurs, this was probably due to the past inability to accurately recreate dinosaurs in such a basic era of production design and prop manufacturing; But it still wowed audiences and introduced an incredible new genre into film.
A pretty famous films, The Land That Time Forgot was one of the first to use dinosaurs, this was probably due to the past inability to accurately recreate dinosaurs in such a basic era of production design and prop manufacturing; But it still wowed audiences and introduced an incredible new genre into film.
Jurassic Park
Another straight out classic in the dinosaur genre, Jurassic Park was one of the biggest films of its time and blazed a trail for films to come by being both brilliantly written and loyal to its source material, as well as its incredible special effects which still hold up today. This was the very first thing I thought of when we were given our brief, probably due to this film being closer to my childhood than a 1975 dinosaur film.
Another straight out classic in the dinosaur genre, Jurassic Park was one of the biggest films of its time and blazed a trail for films to come by being both brilliantly written and loyal to its source material, as well as its incredible special effects which still hold up today. This was the very first thing I thought of when we were given our brief, probably due to this film being closer to my childhood than a 1975 dinosaur film.
Walking with Dinosaurs
This is the only example that isn't a fictional film. Walking with Dinosaurs was a TV series that explored the possibilities of dinosaurs, how they lived, and how they died. It was also well known for their visuals but even more well known for its factual base; this documentary opened doors for factual study which allowed a theoretical or fictional based outlook to be laced in-between real science and study. Its a fascinating take on the genre, but not one I could use as influence, regrettably.
This is the only example that isn't a fictional film. Walking with Dinosaurs was a TV series that explored the possibilities of dinosaurs, how they lived, and how they died. It was also well known for their visuals but even more well known for its factual base; this documentary opened doors for factual study which allowed a theoretical or fictional based outlook to be laced in-between real science and study. Its a fascinating take on the genre, but not one I could use as influence, regrettably.
Time Travel
Time travel is a pretty expansive take on the land that time forgot as it is a subtler take on the theme. The theme can suggest more drastic issues such as people forgetting important things due to manipulating time, or people getting lost or losing track of time in their new world. I do much prefer this as a topic just for its endless possibilities but it can be a weak for a plot as its difficult to bring a new spin on this; nevertheless, here are some examples of the genre:
Back To The Future
Beginning with another classic, Back to Future was way more literal when it blazed the trail when it featured a delorean (which is now famous for its role in the film) set a trail of fire at 88mph and disappear into the time the driver desired. Now, although time travel was explored in earlier films, shows, and books, Back to the Future made time travel humorous and awkward and is a great example of time travel in cinema.
Seconds
Seconds is a pretty obscure graphic novel done by Brian Lee O'Malley which explores the ability a 29 year old has to warp time when she comes across a notepad and a crop of magic mushrooms which give her the ability to erase her mistakes and try again. She uses it to help get her restaurant built, her ex back to her, and her life with her old restaurant stable and well managed. I really like this take on time manipulation, its really relatable to watch a girl go over her mistakes and end up lost in a land that time forgot.
Seconds is a pretty obscure graphic novel done by Brian Lee O'Malley which explores the ability a 29 year old has to warp time when she comes across a notepad and a crop of magic mushrooms which give her the ability to erase her mistakes and try again. She uses it to help get her restaurant built, her ex back to her, and her life with her old restaurant stable and well managed. I really like this take on time manipulation, its really relatable to watch a girl go over her mistakes and end up lost in a land that time forgot.
Bill And Teds Excellent Adventure
This is definitely on the joke-ier side of time travel when two lazy, idiotic teens come across a time travelling phone box and use it to get the world famous historical leaders in order to present a kick ass history presentation at high school. Although this film only slightly corresponds to the theme, I still find its take enjoyable and lighthearted, its a difficult approach but when its well written it makes a classic.
This is definitely on the joke-ier side of time travel when two lazy, idiotic teens come across a time travelling phone box and use it to get the world famous historical leaders in order to present a kick ass history presentation at high school. Although this film only slightly corresponds to the theme, I still find its take enjoyable and lighthearted, its a difficult approach but when its well written it makes a classic.
Alternate Dimensions
This is the final example, I also feel its a more loosely related one as you have to think a little longer to be able to join it to the theme but I think its just as relatable. You can generally only relate it depending on the story which does add a couple holes into the genre and its likeness to the theme but its so much more interesting and easily has the most varied potential plots of all three. Here are some examples of this genre:
This is the final example, I also feel its a more loosely related one as you have to think a little longer to be able to join it to the theme but I think its just as relatable. You can generally only relate it depending on the story which does add a couple holes into the genre and its likeness to the theme but its so much more interesting and easily has the most varied potential plots of all three. Here are some examples of this genre:
Lion, The Witch, And the Wardrobe
This is the probably one of the oldest examples but it has such a simple concept and such relatable roots of just escaping a horrible world. Because when a group of evacuee children leave to the country, they discover a giant wardrobe in the house they stay in and when they walk through they find the magical world of Narinia but when they return after spending an entire lifetime there, they find that only 15 minutes has passed. This is a really great concept because its essentially a dream, you leave for longer than you think and anything in the world is possible. Its definitely my favourite kind of alternate dimension as its based way more in escapism than falling into despair, but it can get a bit too convenient when everything has no consequences
.
This is the probably one of the oldest examples but it has such a simple concept and such relatable roots of just escaping a horrible world. Because when a group of evacuee children leave to the country, they discover a giant wardrobe in the house they stay in and when they walk through they find the magical world of Narinia but when they return after spending an entire lifetime there, they find that only 15 minutes has passed. This is a really great concept because its essentially a dream, you leave for longer than you think and anything in the world is possible. Its definitely my favourite kind of alternate dimension as its based way more in escapism than falling into despair, but it can get a bit too convenient when everything has no consequences
Coraline
On the opposite scale Coraline is a story that sees our character begin is a normal, albeit boring word, and travel into an extraordinary world full of fantastic people and places and colours and story, but it all turns sour when she can only stay in this brilliant world if she agrees to sew buttons to her eyes. Its really messed and really flips the genre on its head by taken the escapism of a new world and turning it into a hellish nightmare. Its stunningly interesting I love films that turn from being lovely to being nightmare fuel for the unwise.
On the opposite scale Coraline is a story that sees our character begin is a normal, albeit boring word, and travel into an extraordinary world full of fantastic people and places and colours and story, but it all turns sour when she can only stay in this brilliant world if she agrees to sew buttons to her eyes. Its really messed and really flips the genre on its head by taken the escapism of a new world and turning it into a hellish nightmare. Its stunningly interesting I love films that turn from being lovely to being nightmare fuel for the unwise.
Spirited Away
Finally I would like to show an example from a personal favourite. Spirited Away tells the story of a girl who needs to save her parents after they get turned to pigs in a ghosts town in an old abandoned theme park. This one is really interesting because the city is very hidden but when its entered the city becomes a sprawling world and we find the character dropped into something too big for a 10yr old to comprehend but she fights for her parents and to get back home. Its a really interesting and I like the idea of it sounding so simple but then expanding into a world of possibilities and magic, overall its a really good way to interpret 'The Land that Time Forgot' as we watch her lose herself in this world and everyone else's problem.
In conclusion, this research has helped ideas a lot; I definitely want to have an animated piece and I want to explore alternate dimensions and time travel especially as I feel when combined they could definitely adhere better to the theme better and could also make a much more interesting plot. I also liked researching these as it ensures I don't accidently copy another film subconsciously, and it helps widen my gaze for other potential plot points or elements I could use.
Finally I would like to show an example from a personal favourite. Spirited Away tells the story of a girl who needs to save her parents after they get turned to pigs in a ghosts town in an old abandoned theme park. This one is really interesting because the city is very hidden but when its entered the city becomes a sprawling world and we find the character dropped into something too big for a 10yr old to comprehend but she fights for her parents and to get back home. Its a really interesting and I like the idea of it sounding so simple but then expanding into a world of possibilities and magic, overall its a really good way to interpret 'The Land that Time Forgot' as we watch her lose herself in this world and everyone else's problem.
In conclusion, this research has helped ideas a lot; I definitely want to have an animated piece and I want to explore alternate dimensions and time travel especially as I feel when combined they could definitely adhere better to the theme better and could also make a much more interesting plot. I also liked researching these as it ensures I don't accidently copy another film subconsciously, and it helps widen my gaze for other potential plot points or elements I could use.
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