Evaluation: 7. Looking back the preliminary task, what have you learnt throughout this process?

Groups

For the preliminary task, I worked with Jack Bowyer and Harry Corden who worked well and we made a sufficient product. However, I felt I would achieve more working alone as I could then do my editing independently, which I feel is my forte, and not hold anyone back in the process. This was quite a selfish decision, but I feel as though I need to have something to show for myself as this is my hopeful career path.

Then I decided to work with Brendan Hargreaves as he had some experience, similar goals to me but also had a DSLR like mine, which could be useful. The planning went well and we had our piece set up. The shoot didn’t go well and he preferred to keep the piece close to the planning although as I have worked wholly independently in the past, I believe in a more improvised shoot in order to create a more natural feel to a film; as you don’t know what the set is going to hold until you’re there.

We decided to part ways and I was again working independently using the planning of the piece with Brendan. This worked well as I was able to shoot more freely rather than strictly sticking with the shooting script.

Preliminary vs Main

Blog size - this was a much larger project and thus required more work using different mediums to present ideas like Prezi and Slideshare.

Planning size - for the main I needed about 20 posts dedicated to various areas of the planning process which was much more challenging.

Location - as the prelim worked as a practice, we used whatever room we could find as the location whereas for the main I found I had to get permission to use the pub and arrange people to be there at the time.

Overall Learning

- 'the worst ship that set sail was partnership' - but it will be neccessary in future

- I learnt how to use blogger, prezi, slideshare.

- Planning heavily weeks before is one method and another is improvisation but dwelling in the middle is a bad idea

- Auditions would be a good idea

Evaluation: 6. What have you learned about technologies from the making of your product?

Camera

Challenges:

1. Only had one camera which was hard to capture different angles and change lenses

2. Keeping steady

3. White balance for the shop

Resolutions or Findings

1. I made sure I shot all the shots using the same lens and similar angles at the same time to avoid time wasting.

2. Glidecam use

3. I decided to shoot as white as possible so I could choose the colours in post.

After Effects

Challenges

1. Using Element 3D for the first time

2. Editing with 60fps

3. Working with 35 compositions

Resolutions or Findings

1. Watching VideoCopilot.net tutorials

2. Making the compositions 24fps to make it easier apart from shots where needed

3. Naming the comps to create some coherence and ease

Blogger

Challenges

1. Embedding

2. Ordering posts

3. Sizing pictures appropriately




Resolutions or Findings

1. Getting the embed code off the site needing embedding

2. Changing the time on the post

3. Checking the blog and coming back in 2 tabs

Evaluation: 5. How did you attract your target audience?

Evaluation: 4. Who would be the audience for this media product? - spoken comm

Evaluation: 3. What kind of media institute might distribute my product?

Evaluation: 2. How does your media product represent social groups?

Evaluation: 1. How did your product use, develop and challenge conventions of real media?

Product

Sound: Music

-I heard a humming sound in the background of a 2Chainz vlog which I downloaded and looped to create the ambient sound throughout my video which is unnerving to match the genre.

-I found the music towards the end on a royalty free music site and which I had got music from before. It had a beat which added to the effect of the escape.

Sound: SFX

I didn't use any sound from the actual shoot.

Glitch Pack

I downloaded a pack of glitchy sounds which sound like a loss of signal for tv and radio which perfectly fit the RGB split and I feel added to the enigmatic feel, matching the thriller genre.

Post Recording

I used a Zoom audio recorder to capture:
-scratches
-glasses clinking
-heavy breathing
-footsteps (running and walking)
-fork scratching a surface and being placed
-Nail tapping on table

Breath Sound

I'm a fan of a cartoonist called Don Hertzfeldt who used this heavy inhale sound at the start of the film, 'It's such a beautiful day' which I think takes your breath away just from hearing it so I thought it would be relevant to start my film with this. It doesn't involve an exhale which leaves the audience on edge.

Stabbing Sound

Downloaded from a site featuring lots of sword sound effects.

Bass Boom

I used the bass boom effect quite a lot as it just adds drama to everything. I use this as a signature sound in most of my videos.

Font

After research, I found Steel Tongs was a font often used in film covers so I thought it would be relevant in creating a professional look.

Final Ident

Steps to my ident:

1. Drawing a mask for my logo. Creating a solid and applying Element 3D to extrude it and bevel it.
2. Create suitable text and apply to Element 3D
3. Make them 3D and create a 3D camera
4. Find a texture on the internet, inverted, screen composite mode, tint purple, fill the 3D world
5. Find keyed smoke or fog and drop into comp
6. Make screen composite mode and horizontally flip one
7. Keyframe the camera position and bring it towards the camera and use aperture to create a virtual depth of field.
8. Keyframe the a rotation of the logo.

Editing: Lens Flare

In this shot, I tracked a lens flare to the wing mirror of the car in After Effects to add extra light to represent freedom in their escape.

First Draft: Audience Feedback

At this point I haven't added sounds including heavy breathing which should be the key to my piece. The feedback I got was regarding sound saying that I need:

-more sounds and layering
-maybe an ambient sound layer of an environment
-some music towards the end

Editing: Time Remapping

The opening shot features a slap in which the man's face moves towards the camera and drifts back. I made the movement towards very fast and then faded into a slower movement which I had the capability for as I shot the whole opening in 60 frames per second and used Twixtor to add to the smoothness.

Editing: RGB Split

At times in the opening when things are out of place I created 3 layers of the same shot, one red, one green and one blue and then moved their individual positions slightly off centre. This creates a trip from reality which could relate to something later in the film but just adds a nice flicker effect.

Editing: Colour Correction & Grading

 

 

Before & After

I took the left shot and used exposure, curves and levels adjustments in Adobe After Effects firstly; to grade the shot to make the skin tone have an impact. I also lowered the reds to bring out a colder tone. I took another adjustment layer and masked around the character using a subtract mask with blur to create a central focus and create a more shallow depth of field which in turn, creates more cinematic feel.

Shoot #2: Overview

We shot at 9am on a Saturday at The Blue Mugge pub in Leek and it went rather well. I used 3 actors where 2 played the hostages and the other played two separate antagonists by change of costume. 

First of all, I got written consent from the owner, Paul Harrison. We had the pub for two hours as they had a busy schedule as a pub would on a saturday. This meant we had to work as efficiently as possible.

I briefed the actors on their character roles beforehand and there was a better feel and tone to this shoot than the previous as everyone there seemed relatively enthusiastic whereas there was an actor at the other who didn't seem as if he wanted to be there. It also helped with an older man there as the younger ones couldn't mess around as much.

Shoot #2: Props

-Bottle of water - for sweat 
-Fork - weapon
-BB handgun - weapon
-Ski Mask - menacing

Shoot #2: Equipment

-Canon 600D
-Studio Light
-50mm lens
-18-55mm lens w/ fish eye x1.5
-Hama Tripod
-Glidecam

Representations of Urban Antagonist

We went for the stereotype, here are the qualities:

-black clothing - darkness connotes malice and evil

-ski mask - protects identity and creates insignificance

-leather jacket - rogue & bandit style

-large build - menacing

Representations of Age

My two main protagonists will be dictinctly different by physical and psychological traits. Here are the stereotypes I am adapting to:

OLDER:


-grey hair
-wrinkled skin
-experienced
-warm clothing

YOUNGER:

-inexperienced
-fresh-faced
-tracksuit
-fearful

Shoot #1: Resolution

We are going to reshoot, but as me and my partner have very different filmmaking methods, we are going to work separately keeping with the planning we developed and thus creating two different openings.

Shoot #1 - Problems Faced

1. We arrived at the fish and chip shop and due to a lack of communication with the manager, we were unable to use the location planned. We saw a second location across the road which we were able to get permission for as a massive downgrade as this was a closed bar which we gained permission to. 

2. One of the actors started to get hungry and left us to get something to eat which disrupted the shoot and showed the lack of enthusiasm to the project. 

3. Half way through the shoot, a dispute between me and my partner occurred over the shooting script and what the true placement of a prop was intended to be. 

4. The last few shots were to be taken outside and it was dark and I empathised to the moaning actors by trying to finish it on the day rather than coming back another day that we had already established was not a possibility. My partner didn't want to do it in the dark and therefore argued and appeared to lack understanding of the shots we were attempting.

Shoot #1 - Equipment

Equipment Taken:

-2x Canon 600D

-2x 50mm lens

-2x 18-55mm lens

-28mm lens

-box light

-steadycam

-tripod

-fork

-shirt

Initial Ideas: Audience Feedback

Initial Ideas: Pitch Audience Feedback

Initial Ideas: Pitch

Final Ideas - Draft

Final Ideas - Final

Ident Research Application

From the examples I examined, I'm going to:

- make my ident using darker colours with hints of bright colours to suggest a dark tone with hints of alteration of this theme meeting the requirements of the thriller genre.

- make a short and simple animation like a zoom to present the title and key images

Ident Research

Thriller Ident

This ident suggests a darker tone using the colours red and black which are associated with hell. The light shining between the clouds connotes mystery which directly relates to the thriller genre.

Unrelated Ident

This film company is known for animated films targeted at a family audience. This is shown by the innocence of the light blue in the background. The simplicity of the whole ident and in particular the lamp connotes ease for people of all ages to enjoy.

Why did we make a storyboard?

We decided to make a storyboard in order to grasp a basic outline of our plot, mise en scene and shots we are going to use in our product. This also helps us learn exactly what our idea is as a group as we can visually collaborate ideas. This reinforces the works of the shooting script as well, so we know exactly what to do on the shooting day.

For example, there is a fairly complex sequence of shots regarding eye movement from two characters which can be more simply explained through the storyboard rather than the shooting script. Visuals reinforce text.

Storyboard - Drawn 1

 

Storyboard - Drawn 2

Storyboard - Animated

Why did we make a shooting script?

The shooting script gives us a clear idea of each shot which will make the shooting experience more efficient which is good as I am using an owned public location where I do not want to bother the owner too much. It's all textual and gives a detailed description of what I will have to do.

Shooting Script - Final

Shooting Script: Feedback

I acknowledge this idea but I will keep to the extreme close-ups to add enigma to match the thriller genre.

Appreciated.

We feel this is key to our piece.

It seems long only for the detail but will be shown in a simple POV flow which will have a simple meaning.

They are fairly approximate as this may change in the final product but for now we have a basic idea.

Shooting Script - Draft

Opening Sequence Research - The Divide

It opens with 5 seconds of darkness which instantly poses an uncertainty and fades into an extreme close up of a female eye crying which shows the mood of the film in general. We then see the destruction she is looking at which suggests a supernatural theme which is a common feature of the thriller genre.

We are shown an excess of people running down a fleet of stairs which shows the danger is imminent but implies people will die in this film which gives a gory element to the film so that already we can see the depressive elements of this thriller.

The opening eventually reaches the neutral silence of a standard opening.

Opening Sequence Research - The Flight Plan

This opening sequence uses a lot of symbols in the media language. Regarding text, it brings titles on screen using the train passing; initially by using the fast train as a scrambling transition to bring them on and transition from the train into an alpha channel text. This gives an enigmatic feel which represents the thriller genre.

We then see a lone woman in a train station which immediately poses questions like, 'Why is there an empty train station?'. This is followed by a limited view of the plot where an casket is discussed in a foreign language. The casket poses questions alongside the mystery of the country the setting is in. The plot shows a vision of present and past time using colour correction as darker in the past. This presents the audience with a curiosity which provokes them the desire to watch more.

Opening Sequence Research - Limitless

The first thing we see is the blue, spac-related idents which could represent philosophy which is a feature of the thriller genre. We then see titles smashing onto the screen with a thudding sound effect which implies the theme of threat. We then see a door which is being compromised but we don't see the person which holds mystery.

With music, it starts silent but become more prominent when the camera scales up a building to a suicidal man. This exhilarates and thrills the audience and asks questions about this man and why he is in the city yet the only man in shot: he must have power.

In regards to mise-en-scene, we see dead bodies across the floor which shows us there is a perhaps gory element to the film.

To finish, the camera falls off the building leading the audience to thinking the man jumps. It then zooms through cars at speed with really bright city lights while the titles come on screen which allude to a 'trippy' feel which could suggest drugs are a feature.

Title Sequence Research - Ocean's 11

This opening uses neon lights to reflect the theme of Las Vegas that is featured strongly in the film. This gives the 'show biz' effect that the film utilises. The credits are shown in the center of these lights which emphasises the words as done in Vegas.

Title Sequence Research - Seven

The title sequence of Seven sets a dark setting for the rest of the film and actually exaggerates the dark themes of the film. The sequence features a series of film reel clips of grimacing acts which render the audience uncomfortable. The director uses shaky text which reflects the inconsistency and unpredictability of the antagonist in the film.

Title Sequence Research - Catch Me if You Can

The sequence uses an animated style which simplifies the plot of the film. It uses a lot of automobility which shows the chases that take part in the full film. The titles all slide in as if were following a route on a mapped road which also represents the chase.

Genre Research: Application

- Using the crime theme, I plan to create a hostage situation in a professional edifice. This could be in a bank(which might not be practically possible), a shop or an office.

- I also plan to use lots of breathing which should take the breathing patterns of the audience unnatural and create a pseudo-exhilaration.

Initial Ideas: Pitch Presentation

Silence pitch from Silence1234

Genre Research: Thriller

Thriller - A movie with an exciting plot, typically involving crime or espionage.


Todorov's 5 Stages of Narrative

This is a theory designed by language critic Izetan Todorov, where there are 5 steps in the narrative in the majority of feature films:
 

1. Equilibrium

2. Disruption

3. Recognition of Disruption

4. Attempt to Repair

5. Equilibrium

Working Groups

My Team

For this task, I decided to work alone initially. However there was another classmate going solo so I decided to form a duo as I believe he has good potential.

George Walker

In this project, I will be the director, co-writer and co-editor of the piece. I will also contribute to things like location finding and cast selection but I can't determine the proportion of this on my behalf.

Brendan Hargreaves

Brendan will do the other halves of my co-roles. He supported the basic idea we have formulated.

The Task

The BRIEF

The titles and opening of a new, thriller, fiction film, to last a maximum of two minutes.

Additional Features:

-signal of the genre

-introduce narrative

-characters/relationships/places/events

-limited information

-create a mood or tone