Rought Cut Feedback
05 May 2011 Leave a Comment
in Coursework: 321:Thriller Opening Sequence
Some of the feedback given was that we need to ‘cut the fat’ off our footage, from this we went and cut any footage that was too long. This made the film more exciting as it moved faster. Peers thought the effects were good for the dreams and said it caused a good contrast to the reality of the footage.
Rough Cut
05 May 2011 Leave a Comment
in Coursework: 321:Thriller Opening Sequence
After receiving some feedback from our 1st animatic storyboard, we decided to do a second one as in the feedback and from our personal opinion, the 1st animatic was too short so we wanted to add some more story.
Shooting Experience
05 May 2011 Leave a Comment
in Coursework: 321:Thriller Opening Sequence
Me and Amelia decided that I would act and she would record the film. We discussed camera angles and settings before hand so that we could set this up before filming, this included who brought what props and costume. We also found willing volunteers to star in our film, such as Anissa Lakhani. Our animatic storyboards were a great help as we used it often to plan our next move, and we could easily look back to clarify what shots we wanted. There is no speech in the film and so no speech scripts were discussed.
Our first day of filming went well for the most part untill the camera ran out of battery, we had planned to take an extra battery, however, as we were using the new HD camera there was not a spare that we could take, this caused us to stop filming and charge the camera to the next day. This caused extra hardship as we had to check everything for continuity. The rest of the filming was successful and no other problems occured. One success was the ability to film in school and at home with little ineruptions, allowing us to have a variety of settings.
Animatic Feedback
22 Mar 2011 Leave a Comment
in Coursework: 321:Thriller Opening Sequence
Our first feedback was from our teacher, Mr Dunford, who said our sequence was too short. This can be changed by simply adding another scene. This is a valid point due to the fact it is only 47 seconds and our final piece must be between 2 – 3 minutes. Other responces from peers have said they like how it ends and slowly transforms the knife into the title of the film, and the use of the quick shots showing the blood on the hands and the different angles of the face. However, they thought that the scene that we placed there as a dream was not clear to others and so an effect over this may help make this clear.
So we plan to add an additional scene and make the dream scene more obvious to the viewer, this should improve our story board and our production.
Risk Assesment and Logistics
10 Mar 2011 Leave a Comment
in Coursework: 321:Thriller Opening Sequence
Risk Assessments of filming
Camera battery running out: 5 HIGH – The camera battery running out is a major risk as it will stop the filming all together. To prevent this from happening we will make sure the battery has been fully charged, we will also make sure that we either bring spare fully charged batterys whilst filming or take the battery charger, so if we have been filming for a long time we can still continue filming with the spare battery or charger. Obviously, the spare battery will be better because if we can’t find a plug socket we will not ba able to charge the battery.
Actors not showing up: 4 MEDIUM – This can be resolved by telling the actors where and when we will be filming a few days before, then again the day before to remind them and maybe again in the morning so they definitely wont forget.
Camera braking (by dropping etc): 4 MEDIUM – Dropping or any form of damage to the camera can be prevented simply by taking care of the camera when we are filming or when we are setting up a shot or moving from set to set. We will also experiment with the camera before we film so we know how it works just incase there is something on it we don’t know how to work and we accidentally break it.
Forgetting props: 2 LOW – Forgetting props wont be too much of a problem as we don’t need to use lots of them, and the props we do need will already be at the place we will be filming so will be easy to access.
Filming disruptions: 2 LOW – Filming disruptions can be a problem as it can stop us filming. This risk is quite low as before we even start filming, we will make sure out set/place we are filming at wont be too busy or get disrupted. Most of our filming will be in someones home, so the disruptions will be quite low as we can easily control who comes in or out.
Forgetting to put tape in the camera: 2 LOW – This is a risk as we could be recording a shot that we can’t easily do again, then to find out we havent got the shot on film.
Not being able to film where we want: 5 HIGH – To make sure we are able to film where we want to, we will get permission to shoot there, we will also do a walk-through of where we want to film so we know where we need to get shots and if it’s an appropriate place.
Logistics
Before we start filming, we will make sure that we have permission to film where we want so we don’t upset or disrupt anyone. We will also have a walk-through of where we want to film so we get used to the set and to know which places in it we want to film shots it. We will also make a list of all the props, equipment and actors we need so we know what to get for what days we will be filming.
Costumes, Props and Setting
10 Mar 2011 2 Comments
in Coursework: 321:Thriller Opening Sequence
The props we will be using are:
A photo frame with a picture of out main characters, in summer, plating ringa-ringa-roses. This will be used in the bedroom scene, as a trigger to a flashback memory. It will be in Josephine’s bedroom on her bed side table. This is important in our thriller as it’s a flashback to an important trigger.
Fake blood. Fake blood will also be used in the bedroom scene on Josephine’s hands. This shot will be very quick, as its meant to scare. She will have blood on her hands as it links into the murders she has committed, and because the audience don’t yet know about the murders, this keeps them questioning why she has blood on her hands.
Kitchen Knife. In the kitchen scene, Josephine will be picking up a kitchen knife, and hold it up like she is about to stab something, and then she will stab a chopping board. As the knife is in the chopping board, the title of the film will appear. The knife is important because the way Josephine will use it in the beginning of the film will frighten people as it looks like she is about to stab someone. The knife is also one of the murder weapons she will use later in the film.
Bandana. A bandanna will be casually placed on the banister on the top of the stairs, which Josephine will knock off. The bandana belongs to her brother and is a key part of his personality in the film, which is revealed later on.
The settings we want to film at, are:
A girls bedroom. We will be filming in a girls bedroom, which will be Josephine’s bedroom. Josephine’s bedroom will be decorated with typical teenage style, such as posters of her favorite bands/singers/films, (some of which out target audience will like, so they can connect to the character) and stereotypically messy, so the target audience can relate to Josephine’s teenage personality as it can reflect their own.
A kitchen. We need to film in a kitchen as it is an importance place for the knife scene, which is also where the viewers see the title of the film.
A staircase/hallway. We need to film in a hallway which leads onto a staircase as we have the bandanna scene. The hallway also leads from Josephine’s bedroom to the kitchen so there is a smooth transition from bedroom to kitchen, with detail in the middle.
Garden. We have to film in a garden as we need the garden for an important flashback scene which is vital for our film.
Costume
Most of the character in out thriller opening will be wearing their own clothing, apart from Josephine, who in the bedroom and kitchen scene will be wearing her pyjamas, as she has just got out of bed.
Soundtrack Research
10 Mar 2011 1 Comment
in Coursework: 321:Thriller Opening Sequence
We particularly liked this music and the layers within it. The track had a range of dynamics and effects, some of the effects I noticed were the choir, a train track type noise, drums and piano along with the overall tune. These each put together cause different effects and the dramatic change from heavy drums and bangs to a piano playing alone seemed to stand out.
Digetic and Non-Digetic Sounds:
We don’t need many non digetic sounds as some of them will already be in the footage which we can use. We will use some non-digetic sounds to add a dramatic effect to our Thriller clip.
We will be having a voice over of Josephine’s mum reading out her suicide letter.
We might use some thriller music throughout the clip to create and atmosphere, but we are still unsure about this because we will defiantly be having a voice over so it might clash with the music.
We will possibly use the sounds like opening doors, walking down the stairs and the knife stabbing the chopping board to make a more dramatic effect as the voice over might drown some of the sound out so we want it to be a bit more louder.
Storyboard
09 Mar 2011 1 Comment
in Coursework: 321:Thriller Opening Sequence
Any pans within the clip may just be referring to the movement of the shot, unless it says ‘pan/zoom out’
