AS Media Studies Production: Change in props

Change in murder weapon.

At first we had decided to use a rock as the murder weapon in our storie. We decided to use this because it would of been the most realistic at the time and where the scene was set. However when we had got to filming that part of the opening scene we discovered that we hadn't thought about the problems that having the rock would of caused. First it would been being able to find the right size rock for it to be able to kill someone but be small enough that someone would be able to throw it. Secondly the fact that the colour of the rock would of hidden the fake blood. It would be quite pointless for us to use it. So we had a re-think on what the murder wapon could be. We all agreed with having a type of pole or plank. We were able to find a metal pole with a sharp broken sign on uit. We decide that this would be the perfect murder weapon for the scene. it sowed up in the leaves and it clearly showed the blood that we put on it. it was big enough to be held and it was plausable that it could kill someone.

AS Media Studies Production: Special Effects

Special Effects

For our film we are not going to be using to many sound affects because it is quite a quick and filled starting to a film. We have decide that nearly all of the shot transitions are going to be clean and quick, however there is a scene where the two boys are running down the long path and for this we have used a small fading transition so it make it go quicker and it shows that time is passing by. I think that we have been able to do this well and the transition looks really good and doesn't slow down the pace of the film.

AS Media Studies Production: Sound Affects

Sound Affects

In our film opening we have filmed it in the nature and there were already really good background noises of the birds, wind and leaves. So for the first bit we have decided to not to add any un-natural sounds. However for the new part that we are going to add in and the smaller shots of the hands washing we are going to use some sound affects. For the hand washing scene we have decided to add sound affects to the transition. the affect that we want to use is a static TV sound. This sound affect can be found in loads of movies that are simular to our genre. For instance 'Scream' that is also a thriller has got the TV going to a static screne and having the static sound. This is simular to what we want but we want it quicker and bolder. The other sound affects that we want are going to be at the end of the film. I think that these sound affects that we are going to use need to be more natural so we may be recording them on are own so that the acoustics are correct and so it sound more natural and realistic.

AS Media Studies Production: New Ideas

New Ideas 

Tuesday 11 December

During our editing we realised that we were not going to use some of our shots that we had got. The reason for this was that it didn't tie into what was happening and the continuity was all wrong. To make up for this we have decided to do some more filming for aftern they have run away and when one of the boys is back home. We will then be able to show the emotions that the boys are going through at the time aswell. I think that this would allow us to make an improvement to what the origonal film was going to be. What we have decided to film was one of the boys sending a text to the other with the title in the text. Washing the boys face and throwing away the jumper that the boy was wearing. We all felt that this would make a bigger impact on the viewer that what we had before.

AS Media Studies Production: Different Shots

Shots That Worked Well

The first shot that i really like was in the first scene where the body is being shown and you are able to just see it from a distance as the camera slowly zooms out to show the surrounding forest. I really like this shot because it hold alot of meaning. As you zoom out but still see the body laying there you are able to see how small that the body has become. The surrounding forests really show how weak that the person has become.

 

The second shot that I really like and think works really well is the scene where the two boy are running over the bridge. This is one of my favourite shots because of what it is trying to show. We decided to have the camera focusing on the CCTV sign that is at the front of the bridge and then have the two boys running away from the area. We decided to have this because it shows that the boys didn't realise that they had been watched but are still trying to run away from the area. Thius has got some significance to the rest of the film because it is the mistake of missing the sign that caused them to get caught.

 

The last shot that I thought really worked well was the scene where the boys are running away still but the camera has been set up so we were able to see the boys for quite a long time. This shot is where the boys are running through the field but one of them falls over. I liked this part of the film because it shows you why there were small clips of the boys washing his hands at the start.

AS Media Studies Production: Editing Update First Draft

Editing First Draft

Editing: So far we have been able to do quite alot of editing. We have been able to put together around 1 minute, 30 seconds together. However this does not include the title sequence and the company logos that we are going to put in. We have got all of the correct sounds where we need them and the cuts are very sharp or very quick when it is needed. We have also been able to edit together a sequence of small clips with some fading inbetween whcih create a very good affect of time passing by.

 

Filming: At the moment we haven't filmed everything that we want to film. This is because is because of the weather that we have had. Howver we have been able to do some filming indoor. In our film we have got somne clips that will be cut to very quickly and then taken away again very quickly. these short clips are of one of the boys washing their hands. They are meant to act as a flash forwards. Lately we have been able to film these quick shots indoors. 

AS Media Studies Production: Financing Company's

Financing Companys

The name of our group’s film production company is going to be 'Trouble Productions' we have yet to make a logo for it however we are working on it.

To be able to create the film the film industry will need to get funding from one or two finance companys. This is because these filmers will not have the money to be able to create a whole film. As a low budget filming group we will have to choose from a range of lower end companys. For our film and the genre that it is in we have been looking at a few that can be potential finance companys. From the group of companys we had narrowed it down to two companys and these are BBC Films and Pathe. We decide to pick these two companys because of the type of film we are creating and because of our status of amature filmers.

AS Media Studies Production: Film Title

Film Title

 

When filming we were constantly thinking of new titles that we could use for our main title and the title of the film. Some of these title were 'The Woodland pact', 'Trapstyles Woods' and more. However during our editing stages of our first cut we were able to think of a good title that would relate to our film well and have some meaning behind it. We came up with the name 'It Never Happened'. We all felt that this was going to be a good title because of the genre that we have set our film in.

 

The next thing that we had to find was the font that we were going to use. It didnt take us long until we found a great website with all different kinds of fonts that were free to download and use. The website that we got the font that is shown above from was called www.1001freefonts.com . The font that we found and are going to use is called 'Appetre', this font is going to fit in well with our film as it can show a bit of thriller as it has a bit of shaking in it. The font that we have chosen is similar to the film 'Jeepers Creepers' that is also in the thriller genre. Their titles have got the clear text but also has some shaking in it to add to affect.

 

There are only a few titles that we are going to use. The titles that we use will not have their own slides, they will be in the foreground of our film and they will be in white so that they show up a lot more. The titles that we will be creating, in order are: 1. The title 'It Never Happened'

                                                                                      2. Max Allum

                                                                                      3. Billy Saxon

                                                                                      4. Jimmy Beaton

                                                                                      5. Matt Elsom

AS Media Studies Production: 3rd day of Filming

3rd Day of Filming

 On our 3rd day of filming we started off at the same location as last time but in a different area. To start off with we planned out all the different shots that we were going to take and compare them against the story board that we had created. Once we had planned all of our shots we started to experiment with the different angles and distances from which we should take then. After deciding we begun our filming. 

After two hours we had finally got all of the shots that we needed and we were able to capture everything we needed just before it started to get dark. I think that the shots that we got are very good and are able to create the sense of panic that we were trying to show. I think that after some editing and cutting the shots we took would end up being very smooth and will follow our storyboard very well. We have now done all of the filming that we need, unless there are a few shots that need to be re-done.

AS Media Studies Production: Second Day of Shooting

Filming Day 2

Our second day of filming was during our double Media Lesson on Thursday the 29th of November. During this time we filmed the flashback scene showing Billy washing his hands. He had put dirt of them to make it more realistic (he gets the dirt from when the boys were running away and he fell over). We filmed the scene in the school toilets, it was made to look as if he had found the nearest sink possible and that being a public restroom. We did three different shots a Point of view from Billy, a over the shoulder and a close up this was to show different shots every time it flashes back. Each of these flash backs will be quickly flashed onto screen as the camera zooms out from the dead body. They will be linked in with white noise and a static screen to help portray the sense of panic as Billy is washing his hands.

AS Media Studies Production: Location

Location

For our filming we have found a great location with the potential to film all of our clips that we have planned. At the start we have found a ditch in the forest where we can place the body. The rest of the forest is full of paths that we are able to use for our other two actors. They would be able to run down these paths without any problems. The camera would be able to film without any trees getting the way of the models. We have also found a great location for our final scene where the two boys are running down the path with the trees over the tops of them. Overall I think that this is going to be the best place for us to film.

AS Media Studies Production: Sound and Music

Sound and Music Ideas

The beginging of the scene we want it to be silent other than the noises of the forest. We can not just record this as Trapstyles woods is right next to the A10 so would pick up unwanted traffic noises. This means we will need to make our own diagetic sounds for the scene including wind, leaf crunching, and crow noises to represent death. During the flash back we will need to find a noise that is non diagetic and loud to catch the audience off guard we will also need to seperately record a tap running and heavy breathing. For the boys running away we need the noises of their footprints, heavy breathing and music to add to the drama. The music we are looking to find is some loud drumming music to build tension within the scene.

AS Media Studies Production: Weather Problems

Weather Problems

 

After our first day of filming we decided that we would try and film the following day. However on the saturday before we were going to start filming it started to get really windy and rain alot. The problem that we faced was that we were in the forest so it would of been dangerous for us to be filming there as the ground would of been slippery. We also had the problem of the rain hitting all the leaves on the trees and creating a very different background sound to what we started with. We are now looking ahead of tme. We are researching when the weather will be good for filming and we are going to be filming on the days that the weather issimular to what we started with.

AS Media Studies Production: First day of Filming

First Day of Filming

 

For our first day of filming we had set out a plan to try and film as much as we could. We had our storyboard set up to see what we needed to film and our camera and tripod were ready. We decided to film our opinion scene locally, we were filming in the local woods called Trap styles Woods, show in this picture.

The camera we were using was a Canon Legria FS200 with an additional microphone to be able to capture the sound perfectly.



Our first day of filming did not go quite to plan. In our story board we have go a certain way of filming those first few clips. The starting clips of the body on the floor. However when we came to filming it we couldn't find the position that we needed to get that shot that we wanted. After about 15 minutes we had got the tripod in a place that was able to make the shot look very close to what the storyboard looks like. After filming this scene we didn't feel like we had got the best shot that we could get. We kept moving our camera and tripod around to get different angles and make the body different sizes when zooming out. After an hour or two we were happy with the shots that we had got. Luckily just before it started getting dark. Instead of filming the quantity we had captured quality. We decided we would start on our other scenes in our second filming day. Overall we are very happy with the outcome of our shots.

These were the two main shots that we focus on, on the first day of shooting. We wanted to get the opening scene perfect and we tried it from qa load of different angles. I was happy with the outcome and the look of the videos.
 

Storyboard

Storyboard

Our storyboard isnt too long but we have been able to set the storyline of how we would like it to be. we know that there will be some big changes as we go along but this is how we feel will the best way to layout the film.

AS Media Studies Production: Change in Costume

Change in Costume
At first we wanted for our killers and the victim to quite stereotypical. They were going to look like what you would expect the murderer to look like and what the victim would look like. Before the first day of filming we decided to change the way our film would look and was percieved. We decided to make the film look more modern and try and defeat the stereotypes. We decided that the victim didnt need to look like someone that would get bullied. We wanted them to look more like a normal teenager. We also wanted this for our murderers aswell. We wanted this because we wanted to get the message across that anyone could become the victim or be the murderer. And this was the message we wanted to get to our target audience, teenagers.

For our victim we went with a more modern look. We decided to make the victim wear jeans because it made him seem more normal and quite modern. We still have him wearing the red gloves as a representation of blood and danger. He has got the brown coat on that blends in with the background a bit. he has got a green and yellow hat on. We also got him to wear red shoes so that the colour red was a common colouyr in this opening few clips. Tghis will then hopefully show the veiwer that there has been something bad going on and the boy has been serverly injured or killed.

For the two other boys that are the murderers we also decided to go with a more modern fashion. With these two boys we decided not to really have any signs or items of clothing that woudl show any rference to danger or pain. We made sure that boy boys had hoods on so that they would be able to hide their faces from passers by or poeople they may see on the way. They both have jeans on to make it more modern again.

 Film opening treatment



Red Handed

 This treatment is what I would like to make a two minute opening scene for. i have come up with this treatment and the idea of the film on my own. i think that this film would be good to make a opening scene with.
 

A normal neighbourhood that has got a mystery guest. The innocent town that had a suprise coming to it. A family made up of criminals from London have now decided to move to a smaller town called Ware after they are very nearly caught during a robbery. After moving into their new habitat they soon hear about the worlds largest diamond coming to ware museum for a limited time only. They start planning to steal this, however they do not realise thast their neighbours have realisised who they are. Before the plan is put into action the police are tipped off about where they live. Now their plan has gone from stealing the diamond to escaping with their lives. Follow their story of how they escaped with their lives and witness the rollercoaster ride of a lifetime.

AS Media Studies Production: My Group

 

My Group

 

In our group we have from left to right ( Matt Elsom, Billy Saxon, Jimmy Beaton and Max Allum)

AS Media Studies Production: Costumes

Costumes

 

When our group was thinking about what clothes or costumes we wanted our characters to wear we really thought hard about the type of characters we were trying to create. The story is about three young boys, one, that is dead from the start and the other two that are the murderers. We decided that the first boy should have his own identity then the other two boys could have similar identities.

 

Boy No 1.

Our first character is the boy that is dead from the start. We decided that this character is going to be quite clever so would be classed as a geek. We decided this because we needed a reason for the other boys to then attack him which caused his death. As the plot was that he would be camping we decided that the most suitable clothing for this character would be some traditional camping gear.

To start with we have got the walking boots, walking boots would be the most suitable shoes for a camping trip so we decided that this would be the best shoes for our character to wear. Next we have the jeans, they are just normal jeans, again they are jst a decision that we made beacaus we thought they would be suitable for the characters personality. We have then got the red shirt. We decided to have the shirt red because it is symbolising death and blood. It is also symbolising danger. Then there is just a normal camping coat that we again though would be a good thing for him to wear.

 

Boys No 2 & 3

Our two other character are going to be very similar in character and personality. So we decided that they could also be very similar with the clothes that they wear aswell. We decided that our two other characters were going to be characters that acted like chavs. We also decided that they would dress like them too. To start off we decide to just go with traditional white trainers. Then the black jogging bottoms and hoodie will both symbolise dasrkness and a different side to the boys. It will symbolise that the boys are like the Grim reaper as they are wearing all black. Then the hat is just an eaxtra feature we decided to have. We will have someone wiht a red had as uit is again symbolising death and blood.





 



Film Opening Sequence Analysis

Each one of these different screen shots hold a different meaning or are shown for a different purpose. I have decided to choose the film ' Inside Man' as I think that this film is so well directed and I think that the opening sequence is the best I have ever seen.

1. In screen shot 1, this is the first person that we see in the film so straight away we can tell that he is the main character and he is the most important character of the film. In the film we can hear him talking about being in a prison cell then in the screen shot we see him with a dark background. This background supports him by showing that he is in darkness like being in a prison cell. This is effective for the viewer because we feel like he has already been caught or will be caught.

2. In the second shot we see the same man that has been talking before but he is in front of a different background and it is a lot lighter than before. In the film we can see in the scene that the wall behind him is getting lighter and closer which could show that he is starting to be in the light. This is effective for the viewer because it is a small clue that even though you think he is trapped or caught he has found a way to get out into the light or to be free.

3. The third shot is when the actual title sequence starts and it starts to show the opening credits. In the screen shot we can see a massive roller coaster but underneath this we see a van and a man or woman dressed in a full boiler suit going towards the car. The director has decided to do this because the roller coaster takes the focus from the man/ woman. this could show that these people are being able to hide away without people noticing them and without being caught.

4. The fourth screen shot is just the part where the title of the film is shown, this is to show the viewer that the film has started, this is supported by what is happening in the background as the van drives away with the person inside.

5. Number 5 is only shown for a few seconds as it is not a major part of the film. however it is a clue of what is happening in the film as this hasn't been given away yet. The sign says 'Manhatten State Bank' this is a clue to where the film is going to be set and also to what is going to happen in the film. To the viewer it is till unclear to why there is going to be a bank robbery and who is involved.

6. Screen shot 6 shows the driver of the van, the one who has been picking up all of the other people that are going to be involved in the robbery. The director has done this to show every charcter and to show how many robbers there is. This is becuae of what happens later on in the film and the director doesnt want to give away their identities yet so has them to cover their faces.

7. Screne shot 7 is linked to screen shot 6 as they both are showing another member of the gang that is going to rob the bank. In each of the shots where the people are being picked up their is always a sense of calmness and of quite scenery. All the people around them are unaware of what will happen and it shows that these criminals are able to hide or blend in with the public so easily, you will never be able to tell who is a robber. This is supported later on in the film when the hostages are being interviewed but all the criminals but one is blending in wiht them and they are unable to be detected.

8. Number eight is a screen shot of a well known landmark in manhatten that can be recognised for the area it is in all over the world. This is just supporting the fact that anywhere, anytime, anyone can do something that will change the way that someone thinks about an area or a whole country.

9. The last screen shot is of the last credit we see this credit is of the director, his name comes last because he wants people to know it is his film. In the background it shows the name of the street on a sign post, this is shown to set a scene and to inform the viewer where the film is set.

Evaluation of preliminary exercise

Filming

Overall the camera work worked well. The camera was used with a tripod so the shots are still and clear for the viewer. During the filming there was one or two areas that we forgot about the techniques needed. We forgot to use the rule of thirds for some of the shots.

Editing

Overall the editing that we did on the shots to put them all together was very good. We were able to keep the whole film under 30 seconds. The main problem that we faced was the tiome it took for the videos that we filmed to be converted. This means that we had less time to acctually do the editing and when we watched it back after there was a part that stood out the most. This was when Max opened the door twice creating a sort of rewind in the film. Although this mistake makes the film look rushed and amatuer I think that the film is at quite a advanced standered.

Preliminary Exercise Final Cut

 

Preliminary Exercise

Preliminary Exercise Task

In our group we had:

• Matthew Elsom
• Amber Law
• Max Allum
• Tom Hurst
 

This photograph was taken by our Media Studies Teacher as we set up to film one of our scenes from the task we were doing. We decided that a first person view as the characted entered the room would be best suited for this scene. We filmed all of our scenes in the Media Studies room or just outside of it. All the filming had been done during our lesson. The filming took longer than we had expected it to as we wanted certain shots that were hard to get.

We used a Canon legira camcorder plus to film with and then we used Adobe premiere to edit all of our filming with. We used a few different techniques when we were filming like Shot reverse shot, match on action and a point of view shot. During filming we all used 180 degree rule so that the shot.

 

Overall i think that our video shoot went really well and we worked well as a team. I think that we were able to shoot the video very well and we were able to use all the camera techniques that we need ed to. 

looked right.