Trapped'



Introduction. 

For my main pitch, I have chosen to do a horror film opening. I feel that with the use of different angles and shots I can make the viewer feel agitated and at the end of the scene feel that if there was a 'next clip', they would want to see it. To prepare for this task I looked at clips on youtube of previous footage of horror to influence my own idea.
I chose my previous idea of using 'Trapped' as the film name is short and stubborn but it also creates an effect of mystery and what's behind the name. The opening scene starts with a panning view of the scenery surrounding an abandoned building, the main character is then introduced on a bench and is then shown feeling like they are being watched. Quick 'flickered' shots are shown surrounding them and they decide to go into the building, they are followed down the corridor, the intensity of the scene increases when another actor enters the scene with a balaclava over their face. They then chase the 'panicked' actor towards a dead end door. Only to find that at the end of the scene the panicked character escapes through the door before being stabbed with a knife. The title appears in the center of the screen leaving the audience to wonder how they escaped and what happens through the door. 

Production Schedule.

For the start of my production schedule I created a storyboard to help me know exactly where I was going to film from, and where the actors/actresses need to be in each shot. I then checked to see if I needed a script for any parts of the scene but there are only natural sounds so it wasn't needed. I then made sure I had a shot list so when I came to actually filming I knew exactly what I was going to do. So together with the shot-list and storyboard I was completely ready to film. I then made sure that I had actors/actresses ready so when I came to film I had no mis-haps. As it has snowed I feel that this has added to the effect of the film as it gives a blank canvas and so creates and 'eery' effect. 


Storyboard
I drew a storyboard so that when it came to filming the shots I knew exactly what did and didn't need to be in the picture. I also knew which way I needed to pan and if the speed needed to increase or not.

Shot list

Shot 1 - Film outside abandoned building with random shots. 

Shot 2 - Low angle at bottom of hill of grass.

Shot 3 - Low angle shot of actor on bench staring at phone.

Shot 4 - Following shot of actor walking towards building. 

Shot 5 - Pan side to side over field.  

Shot 6 - Film towards door, as actor gets closer, camera starts to shake. 

Shot 7 - Move at a slow pace towards the door at the end of the corridor, the camera will then increase with the shake.

Shot 8 – Actor opens door slowly.

Shot 9 - Pan from left to right, as if to 'panic'. It will then shake more intensely.

Shot  10 - Actor runs past the camera from the side. (x2, one from each side) Repeat 3 times as if to be a flashback. 

Shot 11 - Another actor appears from the door on the left corner of the corridor. 

Shot 12 - From above left panning towards door.

Shot 13 - Following shot of actor’s footsteps towards door. 

Shot 14 - The actors then run towards the camera.

Shot 15 - Close up of each actor’s faces. 

Shot 16 - Shot from behind both actors and then to the right hand side and followed into a shot in front of them.

Shot 17 - Flickers of odd scenery shots shown from low and high angles. 

Shot 18 - As the first actor reaches the doorway a close up is shown of the chest down of the front actor.

Shot 19 - Close up of knife being drawn from actor behind's pocket.

Shot 20 - Shot from behind of actor stabbing the knife forwards.

Shot 21 - Shot of knife going towards camera. 

Shot 22 - Shot of just the door.

Shot 23 - Close up of the actor in the balaclava’s face looking straight into the lense.

Assets List

Black clothing; balaclava.

Daytime clothing.

Torch (for shadows to appear)

Knife.

Fonts.

I looked at a number of different fonts on 'dafont.com' and here are some samples I thought fitted the theme of my film.  

Sample 1 - 'wired saji'
Sample 2 - 'capture it'
Sample 3 - 'luhyouone'


Sound Effects.

The main sounds used in my film will be natural. Mostly being heavy breathing and footsteps, and at the end will be a slam of a door. I am still looking at copyright-free music that will suit the theme of my film. 

Preliminary Task



 Continuity Task.


I created a scene involving a character opening a door, crossing a room and sitting down in a chair opposite another character. They then had to exchange a few lines or dialogue. I then had to edit this to make the clip flow into one another, I also had to demonstrate the use of shot/reverse shot and match on action in the clip.


Script.

(Camilla enters room with Sam sitting on chair and she sits down opposite)

Camilla – Hello,

Sam – Hi,

Camilla – What you doing?

Sam – Reading…

Camilla – Cool. How’s your day been?

Sam – Mmmm…

Camilla – Cool. What you doing tonight?

(Sam slams book down)

Sam – Excuse me I’m trying to read here!

Storyboard.




Shot list.
Shot 1 - 
Shot 2 -
Shot 3 -
Shot 4 -
Close up.


Production Schedule.
To begin this task I drew a storyboard of each of the clips, to show which camera angles would be used and to know exactly what will happen in the shot. I then created a script that the actors would follow, we then took the camera out with us and managed to film the whole clip in one lesson without needing to go  back to film some parts again as there were no faults with the clips we got. We then began editing in the following lesson, although I wasn't in this lesson I knew how to put all the clips together and how to make the shots flow into each other.

Fiction Film Ideas.
At first when it came to thinking of pitches, I became stuck for ideas and so I looked at numberous openings to give me influences and ideas.


Pitch 1.. - 

'Trap Door'

For this idea I thought that I could have the scene starting at the end of a black corridor aiming towards a door with a light shown on the other side. There would then be shadows rushing past walls as the camera gradually moves towards the door. There would be a soundover of screams and screeches and a character would start running towards the door (running towards the camera) having an uncomfortable and panicked expression. Lights would flicker and violin-like music would start to increase in volume as the tension builds. When they reach the door the character would grab the handle and slam the door, and the lights would go off on their own. The titles would then appear...
Influence...

Pitch 2..
'Searching'
I thought that I would like to do a light weight film as I felt that it would be more challenging to make the audience feel connected with a less dramatic film, so I chose a love film. I would like the actor to be walking through a park surrounded by couples and look as though they are searching for someone, I would like the scenes to switch, then showing a woman looking for someone, they then brush past eachother and it then switches to scenes in towns where they are always near by eachother but never notice it. The audio would be very upbeat but slow paced to make the audience feel like they are drifting along with the scenes. The cuts would run smoothly and the scenes would be filmed outside. 
Influence...


Pitch 3..
'Liar'

For this idea I felt that I would stay along the lines of horror but include a bit of teenage situations to make the audience feel more connected. Although the beginning wouldn't fully include all characters, it would start by showing a girl in the middle of a group of friends and laughing and then a male character would appear and whisper in her ear, her face would drop and they would both leave the location. The next clip would show them walking into a wooded area, and music would start to appear in the background, he would start pushing her and asking her for the truth, but she would not know what to say or what to do. The girl would then walk off a little in front to have a think, in this time the boy would take a knife from his back pocket and stab her. He'd then repeat lines like 'how does it feel to be stabbed in the back' and would walk away from the body. But she would then come back round and give an evil stare at which point the title would come up and the picture would fade into blackness.
Influence...

Evaluation
Filming
From the filming process I have learnt how to use different effects and shots to create different moods in a scene. I also found that using different objects could be used to make shapes in the background of clips. 
I have learnt how to organise and direct film crew to make sure they are not in the clips I am filming and to make sure they are all doing the jobs they are expected to do. I found that our clip was easy costume-wise as the characters were very casual. Our actor; Jordan decided that it would be best if he made his costume scruffy as his character was in distress. We found that some props were harder to find than others like the rat, which we was very lucky to find. 
It also helped to know what camera angles we were going to include in the film opening as that way we could get the shots caught on camera quicker and we could begin editing sooner. 
It was extremely important that we made a storyboard of the clips and camera shots as when we was outside the classroom filming we knew exactly what we needed to film and how we was going to do it. 
Time management is extremely important as if you don't spend enough time on the planning and preparation for the sequence, the end product won't be of the best quality. I feel that the filming took too long and so we didn't get enough time editing, I feel that next time I will make sure that the time is managed better so that I can get more work done. 
I feel that whether the skill is minimal or exceptional, there should be acting skills brought to the project to make the scenes feel convincing and to make the piece look professional. It also helps as you can teach someone to say lines, but being able to have the right expression and quick reaction is more difficult. Being professional about the filming is also key as laughing and not taking it seriously could effect the look and 'mature' feel of the film. 
Patience also plays a big part in the project as if something went wrong, the problem would be resolved a lot quicker and in some cases, not having a lot of patience could result in arguments in the group, meaning the filming process would slow down which wouldn't help at all. It also helps working with reliable people as the project would need to rely on people turning up to the shooting of the clips on time, and if they didn't that piece of film would have to be resumed at a later date, just as above, the filming process would slow down. 
The location of the scenes is extremely important when it comes to getting the right look for the filming. It helps to bring out the setting in the clip and help create the right 'mood' of the film. Weather conditions can affect the process of filming and in some cases, precautions would need to be taken to protect the film equipment. In some clips for example, the sky might need to be overcast so research would need to done to check when the weather would be the nearest to overcast as possible. Comfort would also need to be checked before filming. For example you wouldn't want to cast someone to play a dark character but when they come to film in the dark woods they may have a phobia of the dark and so they would not be suitable to act that part. This would need to be checked before the filming proceeds. 


Editing
All of my editing was done on Adobe Premiere Pro.

Arlington Road Re-make

I created a re-make of the film Arlington Road using Adobe Premiere Pro and recording all the scenes with my partner Lily.

Analysis of Film Openings.




Tomorrow Never Dies'


First Impression

The opening was powerful and fast and the motion of the clips overlapped with eachother to keep the audience hooked. The music in the background also helped to create a mood as the lyrics to the song linked with the image created by Bond. The 'bond girl' in the film is shown to inform the audience watching, who is going to be the main character. An x-ray view was shown of the gun to show the characteristics of his character and to show that he knows how to work and function things without knowing. The red taint on the camera represents the blood and to relate to the 'Dies' in the title. 


Mood
The mood of this film was shown through the abstract images and use of technology in the clips. The woman in the clips are also covered in an interior print of a computer (i.e a mother board) and so relates to the interest of Bond and gadgets. The shattered glass represents the way Bond can break people down and creates an image of glass coming towards the audience which makes them edge in their seats. 


Camera Angles
In the very opening clip the audience is taken 'on a rollercoaster' as the camera zooms through a 'machine-like' scenery. There are numerous shots where the camera is head on, this is very basic but helps the viewer to see everything in the frame. It also adds to the 'action' genre of the fast movement and gun shots. Birds eye view shots are used to show all of the women below to show the control Bond has (as shown in the top right). Close up shots are used on the face of a watch and alongside showing a full length image of a woman to show how Bond shares his time between girls. An extreme close up is shown with the white silhouettes of women to show Bond's view towards women as being the same and to give the audience the effect of not seeing the normal image of a woman from a different perspective. There is another extreme close up on the bullet of the gun and an effect is used of the women standing a fair distance away looking as though they are inside the bullet. This effect is shown when one of the bullets is removed and the woman is still posing. A close up is used to show the bullets being put into the gun and then loaded using an x-ray effect. There is a square that scans the shot and then when it covers the girl the real life image is shown. In the final clips of the scene an aerial shot is used to watch as the girl jumps off a 'cliff-like' scenery and as she is falling the camera follows her until he hits the bottom and the scene fades out into blackness. 

Sound
The only sound in the background of the scene is Sheryl Crow's 'Tomorrow Never Dies' which is used to catch the attention of the audience to listen to the lyrics used. There are no digetic sounds in the scene. 


Editing
Each clip dissolves into the other and makes the opening view close, it also helps to draw attention to the way that the film will flow into eachother and create tension for the audience. 

Hitch'

A number of head on, close ups are used in the first few seconds of the clip to introduce each character and its characteristics. Through the whole opening clips of 'Hitch' Will Smith projects a voice over and explains an overview of the characters shown. A distanced shot is used to show the conversation with the characters and the action-reaction between them. An arc shot of the character walking up the street. An over-the-shoulder shot is used when the woman looks back at the man to show it from a different perspective. An overview shot is used to show the stage and then the camera zooms into the characters' face to introduce them. A distanced shot is used as the woman walks towards the camera and a close up from the side them changes into a head-on shot which then wipes into another side shot. A low angle shot is then used and follows the character into the lift. Each clip is flowing and shows the transition from one location to another. 

NEED 2 MORE FILM OPENINGS. 

Screen Shots.

Here is a set of screen shots I took. Each are taken from different angles and distances. Each image explains what is happening in the clip clearly. In the top right shot Ellie arrives on the first floor plaza. Her character is introduced by using the 'center shot' and shows her arrival to the scene. In the top, middle shot, a 'close up' shot is taken of the women’s toilets symbol to indicate where Ellie's destination is. In the top left shot a 'side shot' is taken to show Ellie walking from the lift on the left of the shot to the women's toilets on the right side of the shot showing the movement from one destination to the other. It also shows distance from the previous shot. In the bottom left shot a 'following shot' is used to show Ellie entering the toilet and letting the audience see the surroundings in the shot. In the bottom, center shot the camera is set from behind Ellie to show her character and what is shown into the mirror. It also gives clarity to the whole shot and what is happening. In the bottom left shot Ellie is applying make up. It also feels like the viewer is is in the photo too as an 'over the shoulder shot' is used.

Film Opening.

Here is a film opening I created. I used audio, transition and video effects to make the clip flow and set the mood of the music. I used the dissolve transition to make each clip flow into eachother to relate with the non digetic sound of the music in the background. I think that the opening overall runs quite well although I think that if I made it again, I would make the ending smoother and not end as quick as I believe that it makes the clip end very abrubtly.

Moodboard.

This is my mood board. I collected a number of images that related to the opening clip to 'Goodfellas' ranging from fingerprints that connected to the American crime side of the film and symbols that represent gangsters.