Filming Day 3

 Our third day of filming started off at the same location as previous but this time we changed aread of our loaction in order to change the surroundings to enable us to film the running scenes. The waether this time was dry and sutiable for our shots but still very cold. We looked at the storyboard and decided upon which shots we needed to shoot on the day. Once we had planned all of our shots out, we started to variate the angles at which we shot the scene to see which ones worked best and worked with the angle of the camera as well to see what angle was best to use to give the effect we wanted. We shot running scenes through the various terains which included the forest floor, hillsides and bridges. After two hours of filming we finally had all the shots we required and we were able to capture everything we needed just before it started to get dark. The shots that we captured filming throughout the day where of a very good standard and are able to create the sense of panic that we were trying to show.After some editing and cutting of shots we would be able to create a smooth and well flowing sequence of scenes. These shots will follow our storyboard mainly but some adaptations on the day to what we sit fits best may be needed. As far as filming is concerned for now we have all that we require unless when editing one of the scences of shots isnt how we wanted it or we feel that extra shots are needed.

My Group

My Group

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

We all have our specific roles within the production of our title sequence. Matt and I are playing the two young boys who commit the murder. Max is the young boy who is a murder victim. Finally Jimmy is responsible for camera work and deciding the right equipment, camera shots and location to use. Max is also responsible for finding sound with the help of Matt and as a team we have all taken it in turns when it comes to editing. As new roles are acquired and needed we will decide among ourselves who is to take on what new responsibilities which are required.

Logo: Original Ideas

 We decided upon three ideas for our company logo. We decided that our company was going to be named "Trouble Productions". Once we had decided upon a name, Jimmy came up with five initial ideas on paper of what our logo could consist of. Although all five were very good we had to narrow them down to three. We chose the three (Left) due to ideas around the name "TROUBLE Productions". We tried to include objects in the logo which could enable us to symbolise trouble. We did so with the use of a child sitting in the tree, which can give the impression of mischief and trouble. A young childs face which once again symbolises cheekiness and troublesom behavious. Finally we did so by the use of a sling shot. The sling shot takes all of the above points and characteristics into account and was best suited to be the front logo of our company as it best symbolised trouble so we decided as a group upon this logo.

Film Production: Companies and logos

 The name of our group’s film production company is going to be called Trouble Productions we have yet to make a logo for it however we are working on it. One film production company I have looked at is Pathé and BBC films this is because they have produced and funded films that I think are similar to our film opening in particular The Ratcatcher. Our companies logo consists of a sling shot on a white background.

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 me (billy) washing his hands. I had to put dirt on them to make it more realistic as i fall over in one of the scences but once we had started to wash the hands the mud could not be seen so there was no point . 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.

Variety of Shots

There were various shots that really worked well throughout filming. In the first scene where the body is shown lying lifelessly on the floor and the camera slowly zooms out to show the surrounding forest area. The second shot that Ireally worked well s the scene where the two boy (me and matt) are running over the bridge. This is my favourite shot as i feel it is really effective in 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.

Animatic: Storyboard

Issues with the weather

Issues with the weather

After our successful first day of filming we decided as a group that we would go filming the following day. However, there was a slight issue that stopped us doing so. On the Saturday, before we were going to go ahead with the filming it started to become extremely windy, with a fair bit of rain. This was a fairly large problem for us to overcome as were filming scenes in the forest, so therefore it would have become incredibly wet and slippery and since some shots required actors to lay on the forest floor then this could have been uncomfortable for the actor and dangerous for both those filming and those acting due to the slippery ground. We also faced the problem of the rain hitting all the leaves on the trees and creating a very different background sound to what we had started with whilst filming the day before therefore it would have interfered with our film/projects continuity with. We are now looking ahead of time. We are researching when the weather will be good for filming and we are going to be filming on the days that the weather dissimilar to what we started with.

Filming Day 1

On 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.

Mind Map

This is our mind map, a initial plan of ideas used to help create out opening sequence. It includes ideas for the film name, setting, costumes, visual style ect. this is so when we start filming we have a clear idea of what we are doing. 

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.





 

Location

The location we have chosen to film our production is Trapstyles woods. This is due to it fitting in with our original plot perfectly. The dead body would be in the ditch (in the Third picture) zooming out to reveal the rest of the woods (First and Second pictures). With many other locations linking into Trapstyles woods and near by, it enables us to film the other scenes in close proximity to the woods. There is a flyover bridge near by with various fields and the rest of the woods available to do so. The two boys running will incorporate these other various surroundings into our production in the scenes to follow. Due to it being close to the majority of our houses, it is close to access and spontaneous filming can be arranged and done on the same day. It also allows us to easily film inside scenes and outside scenes on the same day with ease, allowing for faster and more efficient filming production and more time for editing and research. 

Sound and Music Ideas

The beginning 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 are right next to the A10 so would pick up unwanted traffic noises. This means we will need to make our own diegetic 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 diegetic and loud to catch the audience off guard we will also need to separately 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.

The Plot

The camera starts off zoomed in on an object covered in bloody leaves. It then zooms out to reveal the object is in fact a human leg. The camera keeps moving up the dead body until it reaches the head when we realize it is actually in fact a human body. It then cuts to a fast moving flowing sequence of cuts showing the two supposed killers fleeing from the scene of the crime, crossing over various terrain; grassland, bridges and forest shrubbery. Showing clues as to wear the criminals are heading with every scene e.g CCTV signs. It then cuts several times to the supposed criminals cleaning their bloodied hands in the sink. Showing at one point one of the accused washing his face and throwing his clothes into a washing machine, trembling with fear. The sequence shows the murder weapon left behind by the victims "ruthless" killers. Towards the end one of the killers who's face nor identity is ever disclosed to the viewer, is shown sending a text to his equally unwilling partner in crime stating the title of the film "It Never Happened".

Film Treatment

A young lad from the suburbs of London is brought up in a self respecting knowledgeable family. The family are well respected by others in the community and have a good reputation within society itself. Throughout his young years he is a star prospect in school and other academic clubs, including sports a keen football player, however towards his teen years he soon becomes lead a stray and off path to his success by various “friends” and “groups” in order to fit in with the modernised society. He starts off just hanging on street corners but one thing leads to another and he soon becomes a social smoker, then drinker. He declares his intentions in life to those around him and suggests maybe a movement in to the crime life. With those around him no longer caring but instead worrying for him, he leads a life of crime and those who truly care for him don’t take action as of fear of taking him further off the rails. With a life of crime and a steady flow of money he soon becomes addicted to cannabis and this soon leads to heavier nastier drugs, even though he declared it wouldn't  His smug attitude is turning those who love care and worry for him away from him, and it turns out the only one who can save himself from disaster is indeed himself.

Title Sequence Analysis

Shot One

In this shot we see the film company Walt Disney; this shows us that this film is a mainstream film with a higher end budget. As Walt Disney are a well respected and well established film company

Shot Two

In this shot it shows the Pixar logo, famous for the light animation for the I. This is to acknowledge their work within the film and also allows the viewer to know who was involved and as it is a trusted and well known company may entice the viewer.

Shot Three

In this shot we see the location we get a feel of what the film may be about. We see what looks like a monster coming out of a door/closet. Maybe giving an insight into what may happen in the film.

Shot Four

Shot four carries on with showing what the film may be about. Showing the same shot as before in shot three but this time the closet shown is filled with normal children stuff and no monster is to be seen. Which once again is an insight into what is to be seen in the film?

Shot Five

This shot shows the Walt Disney name acknowledging their work with the film. The logo has been edited to fit in with the theme of the film and look cartoony and childish.

Shot Seven
This shot shows once again who has helped create the film with acknowledgments. However these credits are designed to fit in with the theme of the film by making them look cartoon like and childish. With a monster and lots of doors visible in the shot. 

Shot Eight 
This shot finally shows the films title, once again fitting in with the films theme. The eye is a key part of the title placed within the "M" in the word monster.

Shot Nine 
This shot shows a empty door as seen in shot three but this time without the monster in it. The camera then follows through the door leading the viewer in a world of what the characters may experience and into the film.

Preliminary Exercise : The Final Cut

For this Preliminary Task I was in a group with Mollie Neal, Shirley Kirby and Ellie MacGregor. We started off the project by using my storyboard as an outline for the storyline of the project. We stuck to it most of the way but we did however make slight alterations along the way, We used and did so correctly all the filming techniques required of us in order to create the perfect scene. The scene however, did not turn out quite that way. Although we used various shots such as match on action shots, following someone walk through a door and over the shoulder shots in order to show and express the conversation that was going on throughout our project, our end result was far from perfect. Due to not following the storyboard to the letter there were some shots we were unaware of shooting when it came to editing . Whilst shooting the clips however, I do feel that the tempo of the scenes and shots taken were done so correctly and to a satisfying quality.

Editing was anything but smooth. The scene we were shooting had a strict duration limit of exactly 30 seconds which we had to follow and stick tightly too. Due to some of the shots not being in the storyboard that we had created the duration of these shots was longer than those on the storyboard, so we had to drastically cut down clips where they were clearly not meant to be. We did however improvise very well and managed to ull off a final piece with some nice shots included within such as the over the shoulder shot of the conversation and the walking through the door shot as well. With the door shot, this only worked as we cut the clip at exactly the right moment in order for it not overlap with the scene we had to place in next. All of the sound went exactly to plan with no unwanted background noise ruining the scene, there was only one shot where the sound did not go according to plan. So overall, on reflection of our final edit, i do believe that me and my group produced a fairly good job with only a few problems when shooting the scene and several with the editing. But overall not to bad but room for improvement and lessons to be learnt for next time.

Preliminary Exercise

For my AS Media studies preliminary exercise I was working in a group with: Ellie Macgregor Davis, Mollie Neal and Shirley Kirby . For this exercise we decided to film in the sixth form coffee bar. The equipment we used throughout the filming and editing process of this exercise was a Canon Legria camcorder and Adobe Premiere editing software. In the exercise we went about practicing match on action, to create a fluent and smooth movement showing someone walking through a door. We also did several over the shoulder shots in order to show both sides of a conversation and also did some panning shots by following someone from one side of the room to another. As a whole the i feel the exercise went fairly well with only minor glitches such as problems following the story board during the filming process and minor interference from other school students as a result of us filming substantial part of the sequence during in the lunch hour. The editing process was also a slight challenge as some of the files uploaded to the computer where hard to find and some didn't even upload at all, but after re uploading and finding the files it was easy to complete and overall i feel it all went fairly smoothly.