Final discussion of the effectiveness of the pre-production

Our group has now spent a long time on the pre production. Overall we now have all the required plans to help us on the day of the shoot. We have reviewed the storyboard and checked the rest of the plans, so now we can go into the shoot with a knowing head and think positively about the day. I feel that our group is ready and well prepared.

Discussion of the production of the shooting schedule

When our group discussed the shooting schedule we split our day into two sections. One of them we would spend 30-40% of our time. This will be the scene of the high street and the other 60-70% of our day will be shooting in the studio, the bedroom scene. We did this because we feel we need more time shooting the close ups than we do on the high street. We only plan to do one long shot for the final shot so spening more than that amount of time would be unnessicary.

Account of props and costumes

For our props list we needed to find electrical equipment of which we could make a bomb out of. This would look realistic. We also chose to use Marzipan as our explosives to look like C4 to add to the realism.

Account of casting decision

When are group discussed who we were going to use for our actors we looked at some people that our teacher recomemded and chose out of them. We needed a man who looked about 35-45 and a woman who looked fairly mature.

Account of locations requirments

The locations we require for our sequence are a bedroom and a corridor. We chose to use the studio as the bedroom as we could build it just as we want it. For the corridor we thought we would use one in a bording house. We needed the corridor to look like it was part of a clinic, so the enviroment had to be very hospital like.

Since our idea changed to a bombing scene we have changed the location to Guilford High Street. We did this as there have already been bombings in Guilford so the setting is realistic.

What institution would produce the film and why

Lionsgate are particularly male orientated films. For example films like saw are aimed at 15-24 year old males. This is because most people who go to the cinema are 15-24 year old males. As our film does not include massive wideshots from a helicopter and CGI effects so i think a suitible institution would be lionsgate. Lionsgate produces films that do not always go to the cinema however they do have some famous actors in their films. I looked at other flim instituions such as Paramount Pictures however this looked a little to ambitious for our film as there are alot of CGI effects which we would not need. However i also looked at some British independent film companies such as Coffee films but i thought are film needed a bit more bulk so i went with Lionsgate.

Lionsgate have made the saw series of films, which started out as low budget films on idependent production and distribution team. I belive that as we are making a relitivly low budget thriller set in england that might appeal to more of a niche audience and may only have a limited exibition in America that Lionsgate would be a suitable institution to distribute our product. They have proven themselfs capable of making quality films on a low budget which still do well at the box office and on domestic dvd sales. I feel that as our film will probably have a platform release and grow through word of mouth advertising we would complement each other. Lionsgate look for quality films with in the thriller/horror genre that are liable to make money, if not at the box office then on dvd sales and i belive our film to be a quality thriller product suitable for them to make money on.

Account of target audience

Our target audience is people aged anywhere from 15 to 30+ . Other filims such as vantage point and Munich appeal to an audience who enjoy exciting, thrilling flims. We see our thriller as a more mature approach to scaring people as we are using a real life fears and problems which can make the film more intellectual so that older people will appreciate it more and enjoy it. The main target audience for thriller/horror's are thrill seekers who enjoy acitvities such as roller-coasters they would enjoy our film as it is mostley about tense situations. The age range of this group is mainly 15-24 year old males but we feel our film would target the older age groups and would go to 30+ as i previously stated. This is because our film deals with terrorism and terrorism is often in the news. We also used an older actor who would appeal to this age range in much the same way as Syriana used George Clooney.

Meeting on Storybording

Old storyboard

(1st draft):Our group dicussed issues such as how long each shot should last for and what type of lighting the set should have at this point. We also decided who would draw the storyboards. I put myself forward and ended up with the job of drawing however were are writting them as a team.

(2nd draft): Our idea got ripped apart so we had to rebuild it with what we had left. I ended up having the role to write and draw the new storyboard.

Account of Research Sources

In the past i have read books about OCD, so i have and idea of what it is like. i knew what sought of behaviours, someone with OCD would carry out so this has helped to the understanding of the group. I did however do some further research into the subject by looking up stories and cases of the condition. An example of this was a man who had a phobia of urine. His OCD consisted of washing himself reppetivly until he felt safe in his own mind.

A film starring Nicholas Cage called Matchstick men uses OCD. It was helpful watching this as now I know more of the symptoms and can understand it better as I have seen it in a movie.

Account of first group meeting

Our production group met for the first time to discuss what shots we were going to use in out Horror sequence. We disscussed issues such as how we were going to interlink the tittle sequence with the shot of the actual sequence. We discussed what type of people we wanted to act as the little girl and as the man. We then discusse the floor plan and the layout of the room to try and create the obsessive effect of the sequence.

Synopsis

The film is set in contemarpy times. My Story contains two main protagonists, a teenage girl, sophie, aged 13, and a mentally ill man Durrenka, Who lives within the assylem where Sophies mother works. The Story dipicts the growth in the relationship between the two main protagonist who are united by the mother's proffesion. Sophies relationship develops with Durrenka over a series of events until Sophie sees him as best freind. Sophie returns to Durrenka out of pure curiosity and lonelyness due to her lack of friends. In Conclusion, Sophie's death is caused by Durrenka believing he is giving sophie love, when infact he ends up smothering her to death.

Floor Plan of Bedroom for Thriller

Treatment

For our sequence we decided to go on the idea of a mental illness. We chose OCD as we thought that it brought an interesting view on a thriller. There are two people in our sequence. One of them is a man in his room in a clinic who suffers from the mental illness OCD. The other character is a Nurse who works at the clinic who occasionally treats the patient. The whole sequence takes place in the clinic. The general idea is that the patient at the clinic is trying to kill himself in a very OCD like manor. For example he is very precise with the electrocution kit he is using to kill himself. The man will measure out wires and cut them to perfection. While this is happening the nurse will be walking down the corridor. The tension is created by the suspense of weather the nurse will save the patient or not. We would do this by building a set in the TV studio of the mans room and filming a corridor which the Nurse will walk down.

Are location for the man’s bedroom will be a set in the TV studio, and we will use one of the corridors in a house for the Nurse to walk down.

Our sequence generate tension by the man setting up his death

What is a Thriller

A Thriller is a genre of film which try's to captivate the audience using techniques such as suspense. A Thiller is meant to make the audience totally focused on the screen and make them jump and scream whenever it is cued in the film. Unlike other films a Thriller is more like a Rolla Costa in the way that it can make your heart rate go up by scaring you. An example of a thriller is the movie 'Disturbia'. This is about a teenage boy who lives a normal life but through his window he see's a woman being murded, so he knows his neighbour is a murderer.

Production group meeting

i was not there

What is a Thriller

A thriller's purpose it to create suspense and fear upon the audience. its meant to keep them on the edge of their seat and and completely focused on the screen. Thrillers sometimes overlap other genres, for example mysteries. This would be used for a story about a murder which could happen in real life. I personally think that more fear is created when the story is more realistic and could happen to you at any time. This factor is what makes a thriller so exiting and such an experience to watch.

Proposal to Horror sequence

In preperation for the initial stage of our coursework production we induvidualy pitched ideas for potential horror/thriller opening sequences.

This is a proposal that i gave to the rest of my class on an idea for the begginning sequence for a horror movie.


For my Horror I wanted to do a psychological style film. It involved a young boy who is deprived by his mother and so develops a condition. The sequence starts with a close up of a TV and a home movie of a boy trying to get attention from his mother but is failing. The scene then cuts to a professor who is giving a lecture to some university students. Every time the professor gives an example of the symptom the scene then cuts back to the video of the little boy and this then gives an example of the symptom. This then happens for about 1 minute then the camera tracks back from the tv so a clear view of the room is now in the mise en scene. The room is messed up and gives a scary effect, the video tape is then paused and then a man walks out holding the same teddy that the little boy is holding. Implying that the little boy is the man.

Filming and Editing The Preliminary Task

In filming the scene i took on the roles of sound and lighting. when doining the sound i used an a2 mic which was a directional mic so i had to point it at the people talking. in between scenes i help set up the lighting as well to get the right affect. we used cues like 'standby' to ready the actors fot the scene and overall i felt the whole thing was organised

When editing the priliminary task we used final cut pro. we soughted out the diffent shots into bins and then started editing. We placed the sound on the timeline so that everything was in sync and used a variety of different shots to make the sequence more interesting.

Introduction to Final Cut Pro

I had used final cut once before to edit some video material during work experience in the summer. in the lesson however i learned how to check in and check out along with logging and creating a bin. i found final cut to be a simple layout and fairly easy to use.When our group edited our preliminary task we each had a go and discussed all the shots we put in to try and make it effective.

Account of shooting preliminary task

In out preliminary task we shot the scene in out classroom.The whole group felt this was a good location as it had a door and a table which was very useful for shoting the scene. My job was to help set up the lighting and camera, but during the filming i was holding the mic. The mic i used was a directional mic so i had to point it at the mouths of the actors whenever the talked.


Lighting:

Are lighting was focused on the subject sitting at the table to draw the audiences attention. it was hard on the subject and it gave shades of darkness.
It gave a sense of ergancy and focused on the subject.
Yes it was as it gave a sense of Urgancy.

Filming:

In filming we made sure that the tripod was level and set up porperly. We then changed some of the settings on the camera itself to fit the task. For example the light setting was for outdoors when we were filming indoors. We also made sure that there were 0 db's and that the camera was in focus.

Conclusion:

I have learned how to set up a camerea and tripod and aliined the air bubble so it is steady. i learned how to adjust the camerea settings so they suit the lighting conditions. I have also learned how to use a directional mic so this will come in handy for A2.

Intro to the Studio, Video Camera and Tripod and Photoshop

Practical Assessment Ben Norris

Introduction to Photoshop:

When I was introduced to Photoshop I only knew how to do very basic skills like cutting and pasting. Since then I have picked up skills such as cloning, warping, liquidizing, lassoing and burning. I can now cut my head out and stick it onto someone else. I found photoshops layout to be easy and practical. The cloning effect is one of the most useful tools in my opinion as you are able to reconstruct a face if part of it is missing (I did this in my Obama picture). The liquidizing effect is also helpful as you are able to change the appearance of anything in the photo. For example you could make a nose longer of eyes bigger. The burning effect is really good for changing the colour of something and can be useful when you’re trying to Photoshop your face onto someone else. I have used it on work like me as Amy Winehouse and me as a sumo as well as me shaking hands with Obama.

Introduction to the camera and tripod:

During the camera and tripod session I learned how to set up a tripod properly and connect a camera to it. I learned how to balance the tripod and set it to the right level. When connecting the camera to the tripod I know that you need to push the button on the left hand side to let it slide in. I also know how to turn a camera on and change the settings to get the right light. For example change the light setting to either natural of fake light. I also learnt how to record. In recording I tried to use minimal headspace to get the lighting as natural as possible.


Introduction to studio:

In the studio I was interviewed by Charlie. I had to sit really close to him so that it looked right through the camera and I could barley see as the lights were shining from awkward positions to bring out my facial features. The camera was closer than I expected as well but aging that was to make the best effect. When I was interviewed I was asked questions like ‘what is my favourite film’ and ‘what sort of music am I into’.
Introduction to Blog:

I have never used a blog before Hurtwood, but now I have been introduced to them I find there a really good way to present yourself digitally. I know how to customize my profile. For example posting pictures of myself and posting documents that I have written. Blogging is also a great way for other people to see your work as you are able to post movies pictures and documents. Blogs are useful as you can put work on but also take it off in case you make a mistake.

Movie Analysis

Casino Royale Analysis: BenNorris

In the opening scene of the movie ‘Casino Royale’ a young boy is running through a tropical location. The viewer can tell it’s in a tropical location due to the surrounding buildings and the heavy rain. The Camera technique used is a mid long shot of the boy running using the panning movement. The young boy is wearing an army outfit which suggests that he is being used as a recruit for the army. This tells us that the scene is set in a third world country. The young boy is running through a series of huts and the camera is following him. The scene then cuts to a extra long shot of the boy running past more people dressed in army outfits. This now tells the viewer that it is in a army camp in a third world country which is in a tropical location. The shot then pans round to a mid close up of another man dressed in army attire, with a white man dressed in a suite in the background. There is only the sound of heavy rain, background talk and a pin ball machine to this point. The young boy then runs into the hut that the two men are in and gives him two drinks. This suggests to the viewer that the man playing the pin ball machine is of a high authority. The man playing the pinball machine then proceeds toward a sofa. The scene those jump cuts to the man dressed in army attire sitting down on the sofa. The camera is now filming an over the shoulder shot. The two men then engage in a conversation using mid shots.
After the two men exchange a few words the scene them jump cuts to a car driving towards the hut that the two men are in. A ground shot is taken of the hut form a distance with the two cars then driving past. To the left of the cars are more young boys in army outfits carrying weapons of war. The scene then cuts to a mid close up of two more white men getting out of the cars. The scene then cuts to a shot of large brief cases (full of money) being opened. The camera pans the brief cases and then swing to a shot of the white man who got out the car. The white man who got out the car then proceeds towards two black men sitting down comfortably at their table. They engage in a conversation. The white man who got out the car then says Mr White referring to the white man we see earlier. The camera then cuts to a close up of Mr White and then cuts back to the two men talking again. The camera uses a mid shot over the shoulder technique while the two men talk. After the men have finished talking mid shots of different men who are in the room are shown and some quite music is playing in the background which builds up the suspense. The scene them jump cuts to the inside of the car and shows two soldiers putting in the large brief cases. The scene then cuts to a close up of the white man who got out the car, talking on the phone. The scene then cuts to a luxury office with another white man on the other end of the phone. The camera uses the tracking technique as it slowly proceeds towards the man on the phone who goes from looking out his window to sitting down at his desk. A close up is then shown of the man sitting at his desk. The scene then cuts back to the white man in Uganda. The scene then cuts again to a long shot of the cars leaving the army camp. The shot then tracks backwards over Mr Whites shoulder and then the scene jump cuts to a Madagascar.

There are big crowds of people gathered around a mongoose fighting a cobra. Camera movement techniques such as panning and tracking are used to quickly cut on and off. This gives a busy and chaotic effect. The sound at the moment is the crowds shouting and cheering for their animal to win. The scene then cuts to a white man with an English accent talking through a head piece. The camera then pan’s to a shot of the man who he is talking to. This is the main character. The scene then cuts to a mid shot of a man who gets a text. The camera technique then shows an over the shoulder view of the phone so the viewer can read the message. Then man who receives the message then leaves in a state of emergency. The shot then cuts to a wide shot of the white man in the crowd who places his hand on his ear, the man talks and then the scene cuts to the main character again.

Introduction to Stills Camera

Intro to Still Camera: our class went out and took photos of each other we then put them on photoshop and used different editing techniques. We used the rule of thirds and tried to create minimal headspace, we also took into account what cackround easily contrasted skin (so its easier to edit in photoshop)

This is a picture of me as amy winehouse.. It frightens me. It is a mid shot of the torso with minimal headspace. I chose this photo as it shows me as a rockstar on stage going mental.

I've always wandered what i would look like as a sumo...this is a full body shot of a sumo stretching.

One day i would actually like to shake hands with Obama... this is a mid shot of me shaking hands with obama... this photo makes me feel powerfull...

Introduction

Hey,
I'm Benedict, and im doing media studies for AS. The reason i chose media was because i would be able to express my creativity. My favorite film at the mo is 'It's All Gone Pete Tong' which is about a dj that goes deaf but finds a way of djing through the vibrations of the speakers. I dj myself so i got alot of inspiration through the film. My favorite music is electronic, jazz, folk, fusion and experimental. I love to come up with ideas and create so media studies fitted into that gap. I'm also really interested in the music in films and the different types of techniques they use. One of my favorite film music moments is in 'Snatch' when the gypsies caravan is burnt down and Massive Attack 'Angel' is playing in the backround. The effect is hudge.

Nice one x