Film Production: Filming Shots I want to include

Filming Shots I want to include within our opening sequence

From researching into the shot conventions that are used within thriller films I have found that an edgy thriller effect can be created by cutting between lots of contrasting shots. This unnerves the audience and therefore adding to the thriller atmosphere.
I will use Panning shots (if possible), wide angle shots and long shots for running scenes to best show the action.

I will use High angle shots, close ups and Extreme close ups to show Jennifer's emotions and vulnerability. The use of these shots also comply with thriller film conventions and so the genre is conveyed in the opening sequence of the film.

To also and variety to the shot i want to use within my film, my use of a point of view shot will make the audience sympathize with Jennifer as she looks at her blood covered hands. A point of view shot will also be used when Jennifer's eyes close after her shooting. We see her shooter's boots as a point of view because i wanted to create more sympathy and the feeling of vunrability from the audience through Jennifer's eyes.

Film Prodcution: Bruise Makeup

Bruise Make Up

Our character has been abused and so her make-up will have to reflect her past abuse. By doing experiments with different types of makeup and household products that I tried out in order to create some realistic cuts and bruises.

In order to create realistic abuse signs I researched into how bruises form and what real abuse signs look like by looking at websites.

I also found tutorials such as these ones very helpful:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2G-9r6Tv98

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kY6mYYjSfA4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3BAf1yiXehs

Materials will use to create Jennifer’s makeup:

Paint for base/old bruising,

Red food colouring for blood,

Wood clue, foundation and tissue paper to create scared skin,

Purple eye liner for neck bruise

Here are my pictures of the bruise and cuts make up that the character Jennifer will have:

Film Production: Audition Questions

In order to find an appropriate actor for our film, I will ask the following questions:

Question Audition

- Name

- Age

- (Based on our pitch of our film) How would your character be feeling?

- There are may running scenes in the film - Would you be comfortable running through the woods?
- Do you have any health issues or reasons why you wouldn't be able to run in heels?
- What is your shoe size?
- Do you have any experience in stunts?
Practical Audition (all shots we hope to include in our film)
- Look left, right X2
- Hair Flick
- Scene practice (selected depending on actor style to expand each actors potential)

The highlighted questions may be done in the form of a actor profile so that the actor is answering the question so we can hear their voice more. This will help me when we are casting.

This highlighted question is important to me when we are casting as i would like to see the actor's character interpretation and understanding of the role. This will help me when casting.

Film Production: Storyboard ideas

Here are my idea for our story board including some of the shots that i wanted to include when i direct Oscar with the filming. The following images is our initial storyboard that Oscar helped with. The storyboard is mainly mine as i am the director of the filming and it is my job to do all the mise en scene within our opening sequence:

Film Production: Actor Release Forms

Film Production: Lighting experiments

Due to filming outside, I wasn't able to use any artificial lighting as in the woods there is no power supply. By using natural light, we were able to have very realistic lighting as the lighting was real. 

Film Production: Costume designs

Our film is set in the 1980's and we wanted our main character to look innocent to comply with other conventions of thriller films. The vulnerability and time period of our film can be shown majorly through our main characters costume design.

My research into popular 80's costume design

Costume Designs for other characters in our opening sequence
At the end of our opening sequence Jennifer will see her shooters boots. This character will be wearing wellington boots because they would add to the thrilling aspect of our title sequence because the fact that the boots won't show much about who is wearing them adds mystery and a thrilling aspect to the film.

Film production: Filming

The final plans for our filming tomorrow will be that due to the fact that i am suppose to be filming as well as acting, i will be directing my partner in the filming. I have contributed mainly to the storyboard and all the drawings on this blog are my own with discussion and contribution with Oscar Gracie.

Film Production: Production name choice

Our production name choice: Narwhal productions
Oscar Gracie has designed this title and all other titles that are seen in our film opening

Film Production: Problems

We are currently having problems as we because aware on Thursday - three days before we were due to film: our main actress was no longer available to film on the days we had previously agreed. This problem has taught me that in the media industry you have to rely on loads of people from lots of different departments.
The conclusion for this problem as our main character needs to be a innocent looking 17ish female is that i would play the part of Jennifer.
In terms of job delegation i will direct Oscar Gracie and take part in some of the editing.
This solution will take place if we cant reschedule with our previous choice for Jennifer.

Our other problem is that we are currently experiencing some snow which has disrupted our timetable as we are going to be un able to film on Sunday 20th January. We are going to film in stead on Friday 25th January when the snow will have hopefully cleared.

Film Production: Our Job delegation List with Oscar Gracie

Our Job delegation list with Oscar Gracie

Vanessa
Oscar
Both

Oscar – Editing + Titles                                                               

Vanessa – Filming + Sound 
                                                         

·         Deconstructions

·         Genre Expectations

·         Audience Research

·         Initial Practice images

·         Location shots

·         Title Possibilities

·         Story boards

·         Actor photos

·         Film name ideas

·         Prop and costume photos

·         Audition video

·         Practice video (lines +movement)

·         Test shots

·         Rough Timetable

·         Story board- annotation notes (sound, lighting, camera movement, mise en scene)

·         Filming

·         Sound deconstructions and thriller sound conventions

·         Sound ideas + final sound ideas

·         Editing

·         Presentation – Include Voki, Videos, Images

Film Production: Location Shots choices

Location shots choices

Our opening sequence is of a young woman running through a forest in a posh dress. Therefore our opening sequences will be shot in some woods. The titles appear amongst the trees in various ways.

Location name: West Dean Woods

Address: West Dean Village

Contact: N/A

Permission needed? NO

Existing Lighting: Natural Light

Close Amenities: Yes

Potential Problems: Rough Ground (Camera stabilising problems),

           Natural lighting fades depending on time of shooting

Advantages of this Location: Space,

            Lots of choice about shot angles and mise en scene

Film Production: Hello and welcome

Hello and Welcome to My AS Media Blog,
My name is Vanessa Gutowski - Smith 7143 and on this blog i will post all my work for my AS Film introduction task. I look forward to learning more about the film industry and am looking forward to filming our media titles sequence.

Film Production: Main character choice

Main character decision

By following the advice from my focus group I have decided to use a character that complies with the conventions of modern thriller films by using an innocent looking female putting her in a dangerous and tense situation. We have chosen to use a female in our film as they are stereotypically more innocent looking and also from the style of their dress, the setting of the time of the film can be clearly seen.

The storyline of our title sequence is that our main character has come from a posh event from the night before who is running away from something chasing her behind. Because our main character is coming from a posh event they will be dressed in a formal dress with her hair and makeup done looking classy but innocent.

I have chosen to have a character my age (17) as my target audience will be able to relate with the character and may even be persuaded to watch the film. 

For my final character choice i have chosen to use Fiona Watt. Please see later posts for the actor profile.

Film Production: Target Audience and Genre Expectations

Target audience

I have decided that my target audience for my media film will be teenagers of both genders as then I can talk to my target audience and get a clear idea of what is expected from this type of genre.

Genre expectations

In order to find out what was expected from the title sequence of a thriller film I chose to hold a focus group from my target audience of teenagers by asking a group of 10 16 and 17 year old teenagers.

I found out from my focus group that the sound has great impact on getting the audience in the mood for the film.

My focus group also said that the title sequence should set the scenery and introduce a couple/ the main character without being too complicated or too fast paced.

What was also expected from a thriller film is that many different camera angles should be used, there should be a climatic background sound and that the titles should fit in with the film.

The main character should look and act innocent and be in a dangerous setting.

The lighting should be either be dark and gloomy that would create shadows and mystery that would result in the audience feeling tension and suspense OR the settings – including the lighting should be very naturalistic that would also create suspense as the excessive naturalism combined with the tense music would create a thrilling atmosphere.