JV- Group Update- Considerations

• As we are filming partly at night, it can be difficult to manoveur with the camera with the low light obstructing are view. This could result in the camera man or one of the actors tripping and having an accident. To avoid this we will provide some of our own light; in our film we are using candles as our main source of light in the first scene with the others being filmed in the day.
• When we go to Penshurst Place, we will use torches or even the headlights of a car to avoid this. Furthermore, Penshurst Place is a public area and so we have to be aware of the fact that the public can come into the shot, removing the atmosphere of isolation.
• As part of our filming regime, if given permission, we our planning to use a farm which has sheds and shacks available which would be good for location. The problem with this is that people could be coming in and out of the property without notice.
• Also as it is not our property then we have to make sure that everything remains intact and anything moved has to be put back exactly where it was.

Group Update

• Regarding our filming, we have performed our location reccie and have captured shots from our location at Penshurst Place, also we have taken the shots which are a necessary key part for our film. 
•  The photographs are taken from a stalkers point of view of his next victim, in this case it is the girl. This part is key in our filming as it builds up to the main story line and plot, it also gives the audience an idea from the beginning.
• We at this point need to start filming our actual film now knowing the scenes and the necessary shots we have collaborated and also now having an idea of where we are actually filming, however, we need to get props for the actors. 
• The actors that we have included in the film are Jordan Veness (myself) playing as the kidnapper that is stalking  the victim (Brooke Wells) and her partner (Luke French), eventually she gets abducted. Filmed by Connor Jeffery.
• In terms of times and dates, we plan to film every Saturday, during the day and the evening, also we are planning to dedictate tuesdays to filming which will be after school.

JV- Group Pitch

LF: Storyboard Ideas

LF: Location Reccie

When and where did we go?

• we went to penshurst place grounds and took some pictures of the locations we are gonig to film in on friday the 22nd February.

What was the purpose of this?

• we went to take photos to see what the scenes and locations look like on camera and see if they would fit with our film genre.
• also we wanted to know the different camera techniques we could use and what ones would work appropriately with our sequence

What did we do?

• we took pictures of different locations in the close surroundings using shallow and deep focus, while trying to get different distances as well. most of the shots worked but there was some like the long shot which looked unrealistic

What worked?

• we believe the deep and shallow focus worked well with the surrounding nature scenes.
• panning shots also worked due to the fact it establishes the scene in the descolate location that we are using

What didnt work?

• long shots didnt work because it doesnt look realistic as well as shots when it started to get dark.
• The shots when it started to get dark made the picture look fake and becuase the camera tried making the image lighter it looked unsuitable

CJ - Preliminary Task

 

What did you learn about filming?

• I learnt new ways of using a camera including angles, movement and distance.
• When filming i realised the many potential positions for the frame e.g CU of the feet.
• Filming the preliminary task has given me more confidence with filming, bringing new ideas to mind about how to film and what to film.
• The main thing i learnt was the importance of continuity in the film and so many shots are needed to create a smooth representation of time.

What are your best shots?

• Our best shots are the scene with Luke opening the door, showing good continuity and different angles of the door opening.
• The best shot is when the camera is placed on the floor showing a CU of the two characters feet running. This is because i believe it shows the pace of the characters and the importance of the chase.
• Another great shot is the POV of Luke being punched and falling to the floor concussed. I like this shot as it is very realistic and the ghosting effect over the top works well with the narrative.

What difficulties did you encounter?

• The main difficulty we encountered, was the speed of the action, meaning that many shots where needed in order to create a fast cutting rate. However with this we found that we had too many shots for such a small amount of time, causing the cutting rate to be too violent.
• A small difficulty was the change in location due to the weather however i feel, our back-up location was good enough.

What did you learn about editing?

• I learnt new ways of showing time and creating seamless continuity.
• I found some new transitions and special effects to place in the film, improving the continuity and scene changes.

What did you do in post production that was successful?

• We planned most of the scenes before filming allowing us to crack on with the task quickly, giving us more time to edit.
• The in-class discussion gave us inspiration and ideas which helped us develop our concept and start planning the real thing.

Strengths:

• Great continuity
• Appropriate cutting rate for the action in the scene.
• Good use of camera angles and movement.
• Editing effects helped create realism.
• Correct amount of dialogue.

Weaknesses:

• Film was not long enough and could have had more action taking place.
• Dialogue could have been a little longer in the end scene.
• Location was not first choice.

What tips would you give yourself for the opening sequence production?

• Post production planning is crucial in order to make filming smoother.
• The right dialogue can be what makes a film stand out.
• Location is very important, therefore make sure you get it right, and always have a back up just incase.
• Continuity is the most important piece of making a film as time must be shown correctly in order to make the film make sense. 

Group Treatment

• The sequence opens with a picture of a woman standing outside her house. This then matched cuts to another picture of the woman in a different location, following this, more CU's of pictures are shown at a faster cutting rate. This then ends with a crecendo and the flash of a camera. The flash then fades out revealing the many pictures of the girl, spread across the table. A matched cut is then used to show the 'pyscho's' face at an ECU for a brief moment.
• A matched cut of a girl strapped to a chair in the middle of a room at MS. The camera zooms into the girl whilst panning 180' around her head, showing the dominant figure in the background.
• This then cross-cuts to an establishing shot of the husband arriving home, shallow focus is used to show blured headlights. CU of his feet getting out the car. Cross-cut to physcho standing behind door, Cross-cutting back to hunsband walking door. The husband then goes to put keys in the lock, before realising the door is covered in words written in blood and a picture of his wife asleep on the door. The keys are then dropped in shock, a shot of the keys falling in ultra slow motion is used to reinforce the husbands shock.
• A motivated cut shows a slow motion shot of the woman panicking. soundtrack goes silent and selective sound of a heart beat noise will be amplified. The shot will then jump back to the husband, who turns around and runs to his car. On the que of the door closing, the screen will go blank and show the title of the film in a suitable font.

JV- Technical Analysis

Inception (Nolan, 2010)

Technical Analysis;

Shot: Pan across the ocean with the crashing waves.
Duration: 11 seconds
Mise en scene: Ocean, sea, cliffs, rocks.

Shot: Mid-shot
Duration: 3 seconds
Mise en scene: Mid shot of a crashing wave.

Shot: Close up of one of the main characters.
Duration: 8 seconds
Mise en scene: One of the main characters washed up on beach front, appears to be very tired the ways the eyes are shut.

Shot: Mid shot Duration: 2 seconds
Mise en scene: A child having fun on the beach, colour changes dramatically creating a juxtaposition.

Shot: Close up of one of the main characters.
Duration: 2 seconds
Mise en scene: One of the main characters washed up on beach front, appears to be very tired the ways the eyes are shut but then eyes start to open and he lifts his head up.

Shot: Long shot of the original boy, joined by girl.
Duration: 5 seconds 
Mise en scene: Colourful clothing, red dress, as well as bright lighting contrasting with low lighting level.

Shot: Mid- shot
Duration: 4 seconds
Mise en scene: Main character begins to gain strenght, manages to lift arm up

Shot: Long shot of the original boy, joined by girl.
Duration: 2 seconds
Mise en scene: Colourful clothing, red dress, as well as bright lighting contrasting with low lighting level.


Shot: Back to a close up of the main character washed up on the beach
Duration: 4 seconds
Mise en scene: Old ragged clothing, loses strength and closes eyes again and rests head.

Shot: Midshot of man in uniform poking stranded gentleman, to check that he is still alive
Duration: 2 seconds
Mise en scene: Gun, showing that he may be part of the army.

Shot: Mid shot of the man in uniform with the gun
Duration: 2 seconds
Mise en scene: Gun, showing that he may be part of the army, also the way the lighting changes from dim to bright may show a revelation and perhaps a form of help.


Shot: Mid shot
Duration: 3 seconds
Mise en scene: shows the man in the uniform using his gun to show what the other man is carrying, a handgun

Shot: Midshot
Duration: 2 seconds
Mise en scene: cuts back the soldier of him looking up to someone in the distance

Shot: Longshot is used to show the man giving off a signal
Duration: 3 seconds
Mise en scene: Close  up of the soldier giving off a signal, showing his dominant state of authority.

Shot: Longshot, pans up
Duration: 5 seconds
Mise en scene: sends a signal to one of the other soldiers, also pans up to show the size of the building representing some significance. The way the camera is looking up with a high angle shot gives an idea of dominance.

Shot: Longshot, zoom
Duration: 11 seconds
Mise en scene: longshot shows the mysterious nature of the bald headed man as you cannot see his face.

Shot: Mid shot
Duration: 5 seconds
Mise en scene: Reinforces the idea of the mysterious nature of the man by using an establishing shot, makes the audience want to see more, furthermore, it shows one of his 'men' in the background placing something on the table infront of him.

Shot: Close up
Duration: 3 seconds
Mise en scene: Shows close up of gun and and spin top showing significance

• The soundtrack which is played at the start of the scene is triumphant and bold which then juxtaposes with the sound of the waves.
• Furthermore, the use of diegetic sound from the children playing with the background also creates a different contrasting atmosphere which inevitably  creates dramatic tension as the viewer is invariably unsure what is currently happening leading to the characteristics of a thriller keeping the viewer on the edge of their seat.
• The lack of dialogue also the fact that it is in a different language creates more tension with more silence.

• What I have learnt from this is that a lack of dialogue is sometimes key to thriller films at it creates tension for the audience.
• Also this idea of tension is reinforced with a lot of contrasting shots which create a juxtaposition, for example the close up of the main character in distress washed up on the beach front to the long shot of the happy children playing in the background.