From the presentation we watched called 'How To Prepare For A Film Shoot' we have learnt many things which we aim to use for our filming to ensure we can use our skills to the best of there ability as well as developing them further. We now know that missing steps could be crucial to our final production, we plan to maintain organisation while being well prepared.
Step 1 was script writing which we aimed to make as detailed as possible, covering all elements that will feature in our film. We learnt that we did not need to include camera shots here as we could use this simple plan to decide shots from later on making it easier for as overall. The advice was just to let all our creative ideas flow, so this is what we did.
Step 2 was to set the scene. This was about walking our production through from start to finish. We were also able to change the script in places where it doesn't run as smoothly as intended.
Step 3 was the location recce, this has helped us to identify problem with the location for shooting. This was a check to see if Jamila's house was suitable for what we wanted to put across on camera. We checked that we were able to use are intended camera angles, for example we have an exterior shot looking onto a bedroom window, we have now ensured that we are able to go forward with this while taking into account the distance the camera will be from the character at all times. There will also be less restrictions as we know what time of day the sun sets so will aim to film our scenes from then and when Jamila's family will be around the house causing disturbances.
Step 4 was a digital storyboard, this worked well to portray a visual insight into our narrative so we can later refer back if needed. We found this was more useful than our drawings on our original storyboard.
Step 5 the shot list we produced allowed us to be creative with the range of shots we plan to use as well as decided how we could use this to build up tension to add to the thriller genre. This also created a basic guideline for us to follow on the day of filming. We may decided to add shots on the day if we think they are needed.
Step 6 due to us all living in different locations we are not able to produce test shots beforehand, we will run our script through on the day and make sure everything is correct before filming.
Step 7 finally we produced a shooting schedule which was useful for checking when everyone is free to film. We also decided on the times we would meet and how we would get to the chosen location.
Overall we hope that our careful planning will equal a successful final video!
Friday 11 February 2011
Font and Colour Research for our Title Sequence
From our research, we have found that the most common used fonts for thriller are blotted, faded and sometimes quite basic. We think that this is because the way it is presented is stereotypical to the thriller genre and automatically indicates to the reader that it is a thriller.
FONTS...
The more basic styles are used to create an effect more than anything and to contrast the simplicity of the title to the sophisticated thriller genre. For example...
The blotted and faded effects add more of a mysterious element to the title, making it clear to the audience that the genre is thriller. The effectiveness of these elements is that they are visually engaging to the reader, grabbing their attention straight away. The blotting effect, we think most likely is their to represent blood and the faded effects are there to add mystery to the title. For example...
COLOURS...
The colours that we found that are most commonly used in thrillers seem to be quite dull and dark colours. These also help to portray the thriller genre
The colours that we found that are most commonly used in thrillers seem to be quite dull and dark colours. These also help to portray the thriller genre
Why 'Thrillers' Thrive
Our group have all spent time reading the article "Why 'Thrillers' Thrive", which was featured in the magazine, Picturegoer. We found this was useful to explain how and why thrillers will live on well past horror films in the future.
We tend to have an awareness that we usually watch a film to experience someone else's life "the kind we don't experience ourselves". Thrillers seem to involve "disturbances which, for convenience, we call 'thrills" which as a person we become intrigued by, therefore getting drawn into the film. It is in our nature to "have these shake ups" through a screen instead of real life situations. This enables us to view another life in the safety and security of "an armchair", whilst we watch the "struggle and turmoil of life through a window". Although we do not simply watch or spectate but "participate" in the thriller, the audience becomes very attached to the film and the characters, just by our human nature. In our opinion we agree with this and have found ourselves imagining ourselves as the protagonist and asking how we would react in that situation.
The most disturbing scenes in thriller and horror films are a result of skilled actors, trained animals along with skillful editing. As students taking a media A-level course we believe we have done well to keep our scenes less disturbing but while still portraying the thriller characteristics due to a lack of these high standard skills. An example of a film that has used these skills is "The Crusades", this did not really feature harm to any of the horses in the production and they were simply "trained to fall". However, horrors are very different in this way, there meaning is "extreme aversion" which provide emotional jolts that the audience experience. In the film industry these genre of films are referred to as no more than "unnatural excitement". So the conclude, the authentic thriller will live on and be successful, just as the horror film will eventually die.
We tend to have an awareness that we usually watch a film to experience someone else's life "the kind we don't experience ourselves". Thrillers seem to involve "disturbances which, for convenience, we call 'thrills" which as a person we become intrigued by, therefore getting drawn into the film. It is in our nature to "have these shake ups" through a screen instead of real life situations. This enables us to view another life in the safety and security of "an armchair", whilst we watch the "struggle and turmoil of life through a window". Although we do not simply watch or spectate but "participate" in the thriller, the audience becomes very attached to the film and the characters, just by our human nature. In our opinion we agree with this and have found ourselves imagining ourselves as the protagonist and asking how we would react in that situation.
The most disturbing scenes in thriller and horror films are a result of skilled actors, trained animals along with skillful editing. As students taking a media A-level course we believe we have done well to keep our scenes less disturbing but while still portraying the thriller characteristics due to a lack of these high standard skills. An example of a film that has used these skills is "The Crusades", this did not really feature harm to any of the horses in the production and they were simply "trained to fall". However, horrors are very different in this way, there meaning is "extreme aversion" which provide emotional jolts that the audience experience. In the film industry these genre of films are referred to as no more than "unnatural excitement". So the conclude, the authentic thriller will live on and be successful, just as the horror film will eventually die.
Tuesday 8 February 2011
Our Shooting Schedule...
Day: Wednesday 16th February 2011
- 1.30pm- 2.25pm: Get the bus from college to Charlotte's house
- 2.30pm - 3.30pm: Set up ready for filming eg. organise outfits, hair and make up, get props ready etc.
- 3.30pm - 5.30pm: Film all indoor scenes (scenes 1-11)
- 5.30pm - 7.00pm: Film all outdoor scenes (scenes 12-18) as it will be getting dark!
We have arranged to film on this day as this is one of the only days in which we are all free. We will be filming from 3.30pm to 7.00pm as this allows us to film and perfect our scenes.
Friday 4 February 2011
Tuesday 1 February 2011
1. Script
A teenage girl is getting ready in the early evening awaiting her friend before a big house party that they are attending together. Despite waiting for her friend she was already part ready listening to music at full volume, sitting applying her makeup in her brand new dress which she had purchased especially for the party and brand new pair of heels with a large cold glass of cranberry and vodka at her side to get her started! She kept checking her phone just to see if her friend had contacted her as she was meant to be there around half an hour ago. She still hadn't. The girl then turned round to just turn the music down so she could phone her friend as she did so she took a large mouth full of her drink and pressed the dial tone. It rings three times and her friend picks up and her friend goes "hello", the girl says "oh hiya, are you nearly here yet", the reply from her friend was "hello??", she clearly couldn't hear her, she raised her voice and asked the question again, "are you nearly here yet?" the reply, again, was "hello?" The line went dead.
Then, there is a knock at the door, the girl quickly puts her drink down onto the dressing table and runs down the stair, trying not to catch her dress and trip in the heels she was in. She opens the door to find that there is no one there, she thought it was her friend. She then goes to close the door when she hears a load of banging and noises coming from the direction of the garage. She turns on the out side light and walks over to the large garage door suspiciously, opens it to find her friend lying there on the floor, covered in blood and cuts, unconscious. All that was there with her, amongst the usual garage clutter, was a torn bloody peice of paper saying ... YOU'RE NEXT.
Then, there is a knock at the door, the girl quickly puts her drink down onto the dressing table and runs down the stair, trying not to catch her dress and trip in the heels she was in. She opens the door to find that there is no one there, she thought it was her friend. She then goes to close the door when she hears a load of banging and noises coming from the direction of the garage. She turns on the out side light and walks over to the large garage door suspiciously, opens it to find her friend lying there on the floor, covered in blood and cuts, unconscious. All that was there with her, amongst the usual garage clutter, was a torn bloody peice of paper saying ... YOU'RE NEXT.
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