As a group we decided on a time and day to meet up to find a possible location we could use for filming. As we were filming in a public forest which is already available to locals and the public, we believed that we would not need permission to film in these premises.
As our film is based on a photographer looking for somewhere to take pictures of and while creating suspense as he sees a mysterious figure around him while he's taking photos, we believed a forest would be the ideal location for us to film our idea.
The main things we were looking for in the forest was for long nice paths that could be used to create 'mystery' and 'suspense' whilst also being beautiful at the same time. The first location we decided to take a look at was Epping Forest. We entered Epping Forest and found very nice paths we could use for a couple scenes in our film. The path photos will be here:
We also needed photos for the photographer in our story to take pictures of. We placed ourselves in the photographers shoes and looked at possible locations for us to take pictures of the scenery. Here are some of the scenery pictures we found:
After reviewing the location and visiting it ourselves, as a group we decided that Epping Forest / Bushwood Forest would be more than good enough for us to film so we are definately planning to use this location in our film.
As a group, we went to Epping Forest / Bushwood Forest to explore the area and have ideas of what locations we could use for our film. We took around 40 photos with the DSLR. I narrowed the photos down and thought of what photos we could use for the pathway where Scene 3/4/5 could be filmed and also scenery photos that our photographer actor could use to take pictures of in the actual movie.
I have also used Google Maps for directions to Hollow Ponds. Hollow Ponds is closer to Leyton Sixth Form College so we have more options on which routes we could take. We could take bus or walk it to Hollow Pond which would only take around 10 to 16 minutes depending on the route. However as the area is mostly a pond, there will be a lot of mud so we will probably check Epping Forest first.
Here I have used Google Maps to route a way from Leyton Sixth Form (where all the group members can meet up) to Epping Forest (a location where we want to check to film). According to Google Maps, the distance is not too far and by car it would take us around 17 to 22 minutes whereas if we were to take bus it would take us around 48 minutes.
We met up after college to discuss which roles each member of the team should take.
After looking at the feedback we got from pitching our ideas, we decided to go ahead and use our second idea and make improvements to it to make it more 'simple' as the audience said.
We discussed the specifications for our actors for example the photographer actor should be able to dress casual whilst the dark figure in the woods should be a tall person.
We began to put the scenes of the film together in order to create a storyboard.
We also began to plan the script of the film so we know what happens in each scene.
As a group we came up with two possible locations for filming our idea, Hollow ponds & Epping Forest - we decided to meet up within the next week to find a suitable location to film.
We began doing the risk assessments to analyse what could go wrong during filming and how we could prevent it.
This is the results for the Surveymonkey I posted in my previous post.
From looking at this post, you can tell that all of the people who contributed to this survey voted for the second idea. Their reason for this was because it was less complicated and the idea of a horror film was more appealing and interesting to the audience. They also gave us some suggestions on how we could make the film idea good which was that as this was a horror film, we should use a fast cutting rate and use ambient sound to create suspense throughout the film. Also they would like character development so we should take it into consideration.
I created an additional survey on Surveymonkey for our target audience to fill in 3 simple questions about our film to help us decide on the final film idea.
We presented our treatment to the whole class to get feedback about our idea to improve our work. In our presentation we presented two film ideas to ask the class which would be the better one to film and why. The first idea was about a comparison of a rich man and a homeless man going throughout their daily routines whereas the second idea was about a young photographer who goes to the woods to take pictures and then gets stalked. The first idea's genre was drama whilst the second idea was a thriller. The majority of the class seemed to like the second idea more as they liked the concept of a thriller more. Other feedback they gave us was that our second idea would be easier to film as the first idea would be too complicated.
As a result of this as a group we decided to listen to the audience and go ahead with our second idea.
Considering the plot of our film so that it's neither too long nor too short.
Maybe try implement ideas of the first film into the second film.
Consider who our actors for each film would need to be.
Who will implement?
This would be implemented by the team.
We will improve our second idea to make it more realistic and interesting for the actual filming.
We have good ideas on what kind of actors and the props we would need to film the second idea so we will get onto gathering our resources.
As the second one will be filmed in a forest, we may need permission using a location release form.
How useful was the focus group?
The focus group was very useful as we presented two ideas and let them choose which one they thought would be better - they will end up playing a big role in our filming.
We wanted their opinions on what we could improve and they gave us many suggestions we could use in our film and take into consideration.
We got constructive feedback so they also told us what was bad about the film e.g. the complications we had in the first idea and also what we could do to improve the second idea.
Genre: Horror
Summary: This short film is set after a war fought about abortion. The outcome of this war concludes as they have reached an agreement in which the parents can choose to have their child between the ages of 13 to 18 'unwound' which means they will have any tissue or organ in their body removed from them and given to someone else who needs them. It has a linear narrative structure and is filmed in live action.
This short film shows the procedure of a girl getting 'unwound' as she is kept concious throughout the whole procedure. It expresses her thoughts and emotions through each step of the process.
The main character who is getting the treatment is represented as a strong character especially at the beginning however as the procedure goes on and she can see them operating on her, she becomes more aware to what is happening and gets worried - but it is too late.
The surgeons are represented as a female and a man. The man is carrying out most of the procedure which is a typical stereotype as men usually take responsibility. The female surgeon gives the girl an injection however is more concentrated on working the oxygen levels and consulting the girl to stay calm. The surgeons make the procedure look normal and do not seem phased by it at all showing that they're experienced and have gone through the procedure many times. The female surgeon talks to the girl as if she were a kid showing how powerless the girl is.
Camera Techniques:
Close up
A close up has been used here showing the top half of the main characters face throughout her operation. This is the main shot they have used throughout their film as they express agony and thoughts from the characters eyes alone.
Point of view shot
This has been used to show how the girl sees the things happening during the procedure before her own eyes.
Extreme Close up
A extreme close up of the girls eyes has been used here underlining her agony and emotions.
Tilt down
A tilt down has been used here when the girl is looking around and also looking at her feet. One side has also been more blurred to show her dizziness. Editing:
In this film a variety of editing techniques have been used.
Cuts - This has been used to change the different scenes.
Transitions - They have used this in between shots so that the change of cuts go smoothly.
Cross Cutting - This has been used between shots of the character and shots of the equipment that suggest impending danger.
Establishing shot - They used an establishing shot of the girls surroundings at the beginning to set the scene in a hospital room.
Eyeline match - Show the girl and the female surgeon talking.
Mis-En-Scene:
Location - The location that the whole film has been shot in was in a hospital room as they were operating.
Lighting - They have used lighting to make the room look bright but dimmed to make it easier to view.
Costume - The short film has used typical surgeon clothing for the surgeons.
Props - They have used many hospital equipments from tools to the oxygen level monitors.
Make-up - The girl has casual everyday make up on.
Sound - Diagetic sound has been used in this film as you can see the patient and the doctors talking to each other. They have also included diagetic sound of medical equipment such as the machines and equipment to show that this is a real hospital setting. Non-diagetic sound in the use of background music have also been used which helps to show suspense in the film/
Target Audience: Adults as it may seem unsuitable for audiences younger than that due to the levels of thought.
Ideas I could use for my short film:
- The use of camera shots such as close ups to convey a lot of emotion / expressions.
- They have used the focus really well to show that the girl doesn't like the way she's in the room and by being unfocused in some bits shows that she may feel 'dizzy.'
- This film uses only one location to tell the whole story, we could implement this into our own film to make it more simple to film.
As this is a horror unlike my other case studies, it will allow me to present more than one idea to the audience as my group are still unsure whether we want to use the first film idea or not.
Title: Gift - Singaporean Inspiration Drama Short Film
Director: Daniel Yam
Date: 6 March 2014
Genre: Slice of Life (a story that is realistic and could happen in everyday life)
Summary: This short film follows a young boy and his resentment towards his father during his childhood and whilst he was growing up, only to realise that his father actions were for the benefit of others and he was a great, selfless and kind man that that done good deeds without others knowing.
The narrative structure is linear. It is filmed in live action.
In this short film, it shows a kids life being shown through his own perspective. There are two main characters, the kid himself and his father, of whom he resented as a child.
The film begins with a frame of the kid when he was older, reflecting on what happens on the past he immediately tells the audience "I didn't like my father." By saying this he sets the tone for the film.
At the beginning, his father is represented as a man that works hard as it shows him doing multiple jobs such as packing stuff in a van, handing out leaflets and delivering stuff. His kid is represented a boy that wants attention from his dad however his dad always seems busy and does not give him attention, this makes him begin to resent his dad. An example of his resentment is shown in this film as his dad gives him pocket money only for it to be taken from him to be taken as 'taxes'.
These 2 screenshots shows the example and this - through the kids eyes, was his dad doing wrong through his perspective and therefore made him begin to hate him. However as the film goes on and as his father dies, he finds that his father was in fact donating to kids in his sons name and only had good intentions for every action that made his son resent him.
Camera Techniques:
Over-the-shoulder Shot
A over the shoulder shot has been used here to show the father talking to his son. They have used shadow depth to focus the scene on the kid.
Long Shot
A long shot has been used here to show the kid sitting on a bench by himself, whilst doing work which shows how dedicated he is.
Two Shot
A two shot has been used here to show the son and father talking to each other in a single scene.
Cut-In
A cut-in has been used here to zoom up the coin as it is the point of the subject.
Medium close up
A medium shot has been used here to show the clothes the man is wearing whilst also capturing his face and emotion. Here it captures the emotion of the dad who is clearly teary eyed and conveys the message in the film.
Close up
A close up has been used here to show the subject in most of the frame, again capturing emotion. The son looks focused in this season as he seems to be focused on one object.
Editing Techniques:
This film has used many different styles of editing throughout
Cuts - They have used this to change the scenes.
Jump cuts - They have used this to show the character at one scene then at another.
Matched cut - This has been used this to continue an action that a character has done e.g. the son walking from outside the door into the room.
Shot reverse shot - Showing the son talk to the guy in a wheelchair whilst they are talking about the good deeds his father had done.
Establishing shot - This has been used to set the scene of the film.
Cut-away - Cut away has been used to focus on different things apart from the subject e.g. into the coin or paper.
Mis-En-Scene:
Location - The location they have used is Singapore where they have produced the film. The main locations they have filmed at are in an apartment, office, school and childcare home.
Lighting - In this film they have used lighting effectively for example in a dark room they have used lighting to make the father and son stand out whilst they are collecting their 'taxes'. They have also used lighting to make some parts look more visible than others to capture the viewers eye.
Costume - During the film they are usually wearing casual clothing an everyday person would wear however there is also use of a clown costume that the father uses to entertain kids. This is suitable as a clown usually matches with fun.
Props - They have used school equipment such as books and pens as the son studies.
Sound - They have used background music and sounds to match the scene.
Target Audience: Teenagers / Adults - This film would suit this target audience as it is more about life and has a deeper meaning behind it - whereas younger people would prefer something with more entertainment.
Ideas: Some ideas I could take from this film is:
- Focusing on certain aspects of the scene using shadow depth.
- Beginning the film with a flash forward to give the film more context.
- The use of camera techniques such as close ups to convey emotion.
Title: Homeless - Short Film
Director: Haider Zafar
Date: 12 September 2010
Genre: Slice of life Summary: This short film follows a homeless man throughout his day. The film shows a story of how the homeless man wants to be a part of society, but is often looked down upon and neglected by others no matter what he tries to do.
The narrative structure of this film is linear. They have shot the film in Chinatown, London in live action.
The main character is a man who from the beginning of the clip you could tell was homeless as he sleeps on a step. They have represented the step as his home, he has used cardboard as a make-shift bed, he has stuffed a plastic bag to use as his pillow and he also keeps his money in his shoes. This shows the struggle the character is facing as he can not even afford necessities such as a wallet to put his money in or even a pillow to sleep on.
Throughout the film, the man tries to approach many different people to interact with them. However every time he does, they seem to neglect him and the tone of their facial expression change showing they are finding his presence unpleasant.
Towards the end however the man is seen as a very caring guy as he gives his suit jacket he recently bought to another homeless person. This shows the moral of the story that sometimes the people with little to give, tend to be the most generous as it showed no one else helping him throughout the film. This narrative links with the narrative theory of Todorov in which there is a clear beginning and clear ending to the film whereas all the complications are developed midway in the film.
The following images shows how a woman that was reading on a bench in the park reacts to the homeless man sitting near her.
The reaction of this woman empathizes on the fact that people were neglecting the homeless man and finding his presence unpleasant. On the first screenshot the woman was simply reading with both hands, not protecting her bag, however as she spots the homeless man she quickly reaches for her bag and starts guarding it, as if she thought the homeless man would steal from her. She eventually decides to put her bag on the other side, which shows she has no trust in the man and is also finding his presence unpleasant.
Camera Techniques:
Close up
In the film they have used a close up at the beginning to show the features of the homeless man. The close up shows his features such as wrinkles, his facial hair and hair. His hair looks scruffy which shows he has not been able to take care of himself well enough.
Long Shot
A long shot has been used to show the way that the homeless man dresses. His clothes look like they have been worn for a long time due to the dirtiness look of them (his white shirt no longer looks white) and they also have holes in them,
Behind Shot
A behind shot has been used here to show the homeless man looking for clothes at a shop.
Medium Shot
A medium shot has been used here to show the man having bought the clothes and wearing it. His expression now seems happier and the story also expresses this. The fact that the man has now bought formal clothes here - the rest of the story shows he has an easier time interacting with people.
They have also used panning to follow the man as he walks around.
Editing Techniques:
In this film a variety of editing techniques have been used that I will list.
Eyeline match - The film has used eyeline match to see things through the perspective of the homeless mans' eye for example when the homeless man was looking at another homeless woman sitting on some boxes.
Cuts - The film has used cuts to change the scene. The cutting rate is usually slow.
Jump Cuts - The jump cuts show the man at one place - then another for example when he was sitting at his step however jump cutted to a different place.
Shot reverse shot - Showing him and a little conversation when he's talking to the 2 people having tea at the cafe.
Mis-En-Scene:
Location - The location they have used is Chinatown, London. They have filmed in different places in this location.
Lighting - Lighting has been used to make the places where the homeless man are look more dull and dark. For example when he was on his step the whole world looked grey however when they changed it to the woman that was reading a book on the bench the scenery looked more bright, cheerful and happy.
Costume - The costume used for the homeless man is typical; dirty ripped up clothing and for others it is casual everyday clothes.
Props - Props they have used to empathize the man is homeless are a make-shift cardboard bed, a stuffed plastic bag as a pillow and dirty ripped up clothing.
Make-up - Make up has probably been used to make the homeless man appear homeless.
Sound - A slow sound track is used in the background to represent the pacing of the film. The homeless man often walks slowly which shows his weakness compared to other people on the street that walk fast, so the music matches. Also throughout this film there is no dialogue - everything is expressed through the emotions of the man and the people around the man reacting to him. Music is used instead to express these emotions.
Target Audience: 13+ Ideas: From this short film I can use the idea of having old ripped up clothing to represent my character as homeless. Also I have learned of props I could use such as cardboard to make make-shift essentials to living on the streets such as his stuffed plastic bag as a pillow. Another idea I could use is the way the guy acts such as the way he walks etc. Also as we plan to have no dialogue in our film, we can use music to express certain feelings e.g. slow pace music for sad moments, and fast paced music for high action scenes.
This is the production schedule I have created using a TimeToast, a website that allows me to create an interactive timeline. I will be using this schedule to keep on track with my deadlines and I will monitor my own progress by adding in filming days, photography days, editing sessions, team meetings and more.
I will be referring to this timeline throughout my whole project.
Today we were editing a Practice Task we had filmed.
The reason we done a practice task was to get used to conventions of a film by using a variety of techniques such as camera shots, camera angles, sound recorders and any props required to film. As we learned the conventions of the camera during AS Media, it was only a matter of getting used to the shots again.
For editing we used the Software 'Final Cut Pro'. This is a software only available on the Mac and allowed us to edit simply even though we were beginners.
Some of the things I learnt today were:
- How to import a video / clips onto the software
- How to adjust things such as sound (to make it higher or lower), as we filmed in the school canteen it was pretty echoey.
- How to cut clips to allow us to piece them together.
- In order to make the clips viewable, we would have to render the clips. This was done by pressing CMD + R on the MAC.
- How to export the video which would allow us to publish the video on youtube
Genre: Slice of life Story: The beginning of the film shows a split screen showing two men as they go throughout their daily routine. On one side of the split screen shows a homeless man on the streets and on the other hand there is a man that is rich. To show this contrast there is a clear difference in the lifestyles and scenery of the two men - for the homeless man the world seems more grey as his life is dull however for the well off man the world is more bright - making it seem as if he is more cheerful and life is more beautiful.
The screen then goes to the rich man, it shows him as he goes out to buy his girlfriend a present. During his day it shows the man wasting things such as food (this would be something that the homeless man would appreciate however for a rich man it shows that these things are considered nothing to them).
The screen then goes to the homeless man. it shows him throughout his day, scavenging for food eventually finding the food that the rich man had dropped off previously.
The scene after this again shows a split screen of the rich man whilst he is on the way home - crossing paths with the homeless man. Here the screen merges to become one. He spots the food that he dropped earlier and without saying a word, snatching it out of his hands and throwing it - only for the homeless man to crawl to recover the food. The rich man continues walking home.
The camera then shows a close up of the rich man's girlfriend at the window having spotted what the rich man had done outside. We then go to a close up of the phone to which the rich man had sent a text to his girlfriend that was meant to another girl, talking about how he is using her. As he comes home, she immediately snatches the present, storming out of the house and walking off. She then gives the present to the homeless man that she saw the rich man harassing earlier. The homeless man smiles and a close up of him ends the film. Audience: Young Teenagers (13+) Comparable Film Examples: Life Stinks Logistics and Feasibility: Will need make up to make homeless man look scruffy and dirty, the location will take place in a house, street and shopping center (maybe Westfield). There will be 2 male actors to play the rich man and the poor man. There will also be one female actor to play the girlfriend. Will also need a phone for the texting scene.
We will be presenting another film idea in our initial ideas pitch.
Flash forward - a boy dead on his bedroom floor.
The film starts off as a boy/girl waking up and the view is seen from his webcam waking up, doing his early procedures (putting on his clothes, getting ready to leave for school), he/she is watched by a webcam, the scene then changes to a scary looking man watching him in his room from his computer/laptop the man then leaves his laptop.
As the boy walks outside to school leaving school, the man is then seen watching him from afar leaving his door. As he leaves the man enters his house.
(My group decided they did not like the idea of this film as it would be too difficult to film so opted out of this)
