Sunday, 27 November 2016

Task 9: Filming: Production Schedule (Updated)


Production Schedule
Date, time and location of filming.
30th of November 2016
12:25 - 14:05 pm
Office/ empty classroom in Landau Forte Academy Tamworth Sixth Form
Actors
    Sean Benson
    Costume= Business suit.

    Reece Humphreys
    Costume= Business suit.
    _______________
      Filming plan
      • shot reverse shot
      • match on action
      • 180 degree rule
      • eye-line match
      • over the shoulder shot
      • close up shot of case file/ picture

      Equipment
      • Digital camera
      • Video camera
      • Traditional tripod
      • Gorrilapod

      Props
      • Office stationary
      • Chairs
      • Table or desk
      • Case file
      • Image of female character (played by Lauren Cannon)
      • Picture to go on the wall of the office.

      Risk Assessment
      Risk: Tripping.
      Probability: Medium.
      Prevention: Wear sensible footwear when filming and clear the filming area from furniture and objects that aren't required for filming purposes.
      Risk: Being cut on sharp edges.
      Probability: Low.
      Prevention: Inspect equipment for sharp edges before handling and ensure that none of the props are damaged so that they pose a danger to the actors handling them.
      Risk: Electric shock.
      Probability: Low.
      Prevention: Keep electrical equipment dry and do not handle directly if they come into contact with water, unless they have a secure watertight casing.
      Risk: The disturbance of filming by bystanders and members of the public
      Probability: High
      Prevention: Ensure that filming occurs when the building is relatively empty e.g. when few students are on a break in the corridors surrounding the site of filming. 

      Research and Bibliography for Task 5: Script / Screenplay

      Research into Screenplay and Script Structure:


      Taken from: https://www.writersstore.com/system/imagemanager/sample-screenplay-page.gif


      "At the beginning of a script, you’ve got about ten minutes to accomplish three very fundamental things for the reader: (1) illustrate in detail who your protagonist is - he or she should be interesting, flawed, and if not likeable, at least empathetic, (2) establish the world of the story and the character’s status quo, and (3) set up the dramatic situation - that is, make it clear what the story going to be about."

      -Taken from: http://thescriptlab.com/screenwriting/structure/the-outline/72-endings-and-beginnings

      Bibliography:

      Task 5: Script / Screenplay First Draft

      [FADE IN]:


      An artificially lit office is shown. Ordinary office stationary is seen, neatly organised alongside generic office furniture. The space lacks personality, save for one picture on the wall next to the office's computer. Chief of police BRIAN SMITH is sat behind the office's desk. As a man in the late prime of his career, Smith is in his late 40s, and seems to have been aged by the importance of his position. As a man of great importance, he has an air of cold, impersonal professionalism. Smith is shown to be organising paperwork and typing on the office's computer before picking up the office phone in swift, efficient movements.

      [THE CAMERA FOCUSES ON SMITH IN A MEDIUM SHOT, SHOWING THE DESK FROM ABOVE THE WAIST AND A LIMITED VIEW OF THE WIDER OFFICE]

      SMITH: *speaking into the office phone* Show them in.

      [CAMERA FOCUSES ON THE VIEW OF THE OFFICE DOOR FROM BEHIND SMITH'S DESK.]

      Two police investigators enter the office. Both are dressed in business suits and are cleanly shaven. They are noticeably younger than SMITH, giving the impression that they are fresh from training and lack the experience of their higher ranking colleagues. Police investigator JOHN MILLER and STANLEY FISHER are both in their late twenties -early thirties, but appear younger due to lack of practical experience in the field. Both seem uncomfortable in the office, despite attempting to mimic the professional attitude employed by SMITH. SMITH continues typing before looking up and standing to address MILLER and FISHER.

      [A CLOSE UP SHOT ON SMITH IS USED DURING THE DEBRIEFING. SHOT-REVERSE-SHOTS ARE USED THROUGHOUT THE CONVERSATION. ENSURE THERE IS AN EYE-LINE MATCH BETWEEN THE CHARACTERS.]

      SMITH: Boys, three months ago, a body was found under the South bridge. No evidence was found at the scene of the event and it was concluded that the individual was drowned. Previous investigations concluded that the cause of death was suicide. That is, until last night. At 4 am yesterday, an office worker came across another body in the woods by St. David's church when out walking his dog. For a case like this, I would ordinarily put one of the department's more experienced sergeants in charge, however, I have the department's finest investigators currently working on the kidnapping case of Mary Thomas. I want you two to lead the investigations into this case whilst we wait for investigator Milton to arrive from Scotland Yard.

      MILLER and FISHER look at each other briefly, clearly irritated that SMITH won't entrust them to investigate the case without the help of Scotland Yard's investigator. Nevertheless FISHER steps towards SMITH's desk.

      FISHER: Do you have any other leads to go off on?

      SMITH retrieves a plain brown file from a stack of paperwork on the desk, which he offers to MILLER who has also moved closer to SMITH's desk.

      [MATCH ON ACTION WHEN THE FILE IS BEING TRANSFERRED FORM SMITH TO MILLER]

      SMITH: This is the case file. As the dog walker who discovered the body had firm alibis, there is currently only one potential lead.

      As SMITH is talking, MILLER opens the file and begins to leaf through the paperwork, stopping at a picture/ mug shot of a young woman. This is an image of the same woman shown during the opening title sequence in the previous scene.

      [A CLOSE UP SHOT OF THE FILE GIVES THE AUDIENCE A CLEAR VIEW OF THE PICTURE OF THE YOUNG WOMAN.]

      MILLER: Are you serious? The only suspect we have is a teenage girl?

      FISHER looks over MILLER'S shoulder in order to see the image.

      [AN OVER THE SHOULDER SHOT MAY BE USED]

      FISHER: I would have thought that you of all people would have learnt not to judge a book by it's cover.

      SMITH: She's in holding room three waiting for questioning. I am expecting a report on the progress of your investigations at 8 am tomorrow. You are dismissed.

      SMITH looks down and resumes typing as he dismisses FISHER and MILLER. The police investigators exit his office, with case file in hand and an apprehensive look upon their faces.

      [THE CAMERA FOCUSES ON THE OFFICE DOOR IN A MEDIUM/ LONG SHOT AS THE POLICE INVESTIGATORS EXIT]

      [FADE OUT]:

      Friday, 25 November 2016

      Task 3: Target Audience (Updated)

      According to Young and Rubicam's classifications of audiences, the target audience for my film "Sub-Rosa" would fit into the demographic of "Explorers". Explorers are defined as seekers of adventure, individualism and discovery. According to the uses and gratifications theory, audiences actively seek out media products for personal or social gratification. For many people, the attraction of horror and thriller films is the adrenaline and suspense experienced from the mysteries and unusual events presented. Therefore, an audience desiring a sense of adventure, danger and discovery would actively choose to watch my film and other films belonging to the thriller and horror genres to satisfy this need. 

      I believe that the main audience for my media product would belong to the Mosaic UK classification of "J41- Disconnected Youth" or "K47- Streetwise Singles".Both of these classifications consist of young adults struggling to find employment after moving out from the family home. This demographic would be the most reliant on using media products for escapism, and would often choose to watch a film belonging to the horror or thriller genre as this creates a sense of excitement and risk that young adults aiming to gain reliable employment and independence can't easily experience in real life. However, as shown by my earlier analysis of BFI data on genre and classification, the target audience for horror films is much broader than one might expect. Therefore, the main demographic of the audience for my film "Sub-Rosa" could also include the Mosaic UK classifications "F25- Dependable Me" and "G27- Thriving Independence". The classification "F25" consists of "mature owners" working in intermediate occupations. Although this demographic consists of an older audience than what you would ordinarily associate with the genres of horror and thriller, they would have a greater understanding of psychological elements and complex plot developments than a teenaged audience. Both of these classifications would also be less reliant on these genres for escapism, but would have greater expendable income than the classifications of "J41" and "K47", meaning that they would be more likely to spend money on seeing thriller and horror films in the cinema.

      According to the social classification system, I believe that the main demographic for my film "Sub-Rosa" would be in the groups "C1","C2" and "D". This is an area classed as lower middle class and upper working class. This range seems like a logical target audience for my film, as they would have enough expendable income to watch movies in the cinema, but would have a certain need for escapism or excitement in a life of regular employment for income, which they may seek from genres such as horror and thriller. 

      Bibliography:




      Thursday, 24 November 2016

      Task 8: Casting (Updated)

      For the original footage, I asked Lauren Cannon to act in my film because she has previous acting experience and I have worked with her many times before, which eliminated any awkwardness when I had to direct her and enabled me to be more efficient with my filming. 

      Her costume consisted of a plain, smart white shirt. The colour of the shirt connotes innocence which is a main theme in my film. With the shirt, she had light grey trousers and black shoes. I decided that monochrome colours would be best for the costume of my antagonist because it doesn't reveal much about the character's personality, which given her an element of mystery. This interests the audience, making them want to learn more about her character


      The footage I filmed featuring her last year will form the initial title sequence of my film. I won't need extra footage using her for the new scene I am creating. I will only need a mugshot/ picture of her to feature on the case/ suspect file in the scene I am adding to my production.


      For the police investigators I need to feature in the new footage, I have asked Andrew Coultard and Reece Humphreys to feature in my production. Although they lack acting experience, they are enthusiastic to participate, and I can rely on them to attend the filming sessions I am organising. 


      I intend to ask one of my media teachers Mr Judge to feature in the production, potentially delivering the case file to the investigators, or as one of the investigators himself. This will ensure that my production features a wider representation of ages, genders and ethnicities than my previous opening sequence, which only features Lauren's character of a teenage, white Caucasian female. However, as Mr Judge only works part time, I do not expect that he will be readily available for filming, and so will not base any plans around his inclusion in my production.


      The costumes for the police detectives will consist of simple business suits or casual business wear. This will give the characters an air of professionalism and authority, emphasising the important role they will play in investigating the murder cases.  

      Task 4: The Pitch: (Updated) Film Synopsis

      The film follows a female young adult who is seen to obsessively create botanical scrapbooks and wander around settings that are later linked to a sequence of murders. The female character is a main suspect for these murders, and two police detectives investigate these cases throughout the course of the film. It is revealed that despite the female's unstable nature and borderline insanity, the murder cases are closely linked to secretive occurrences within a religious group/ cult.

      During the title sequence, footage of the female character will be shown as she creates a scrapbook and walks around areas that are later crucial to the occurrences within the film. This will be accompanied by music and references with religious connotations, implying the involvement of a greater organisation in the murder case.

      Then, footage of police investigators in an office discussing and briefing the murder investigations will be shown, forming the opening scene of the film. The female character shown in the title sequence at the very start will be discussed as a suspect or potential witness for the murders.

      Progress Update and Plans for a Second Attempt at a Film's Opening Sequence

      As I was unhappy with the result of my finished opening sequence, I have decided to create a second edit and update the research and planning accordingly to accommodate these changes.

      I will be condensing the current footage into a shorter time span of around two minutes, removing the low quality shots that use basic camera angles and don't have immediate relevance to a plot. This will become the title sequence which will be followed by a new scene which will be scripted, storyboarded and added after the old footage to form the start of the film "Sub-Rosa".

      I have created an updated film synopsis which will fit into the "Thriller/ Horror" genre, meaning that I can reuse my previous research, planning and footage and simply update and adapt this to fit my second attempt at an opening sequence of a film.

      I will attempt to write weekly blog posts explaining the changes I have made. I will start by adding detail to my research into target audiences for Thriller and Horror film genres using audience theories, the classifications made by Young and Rubicam and details on demographics from Mosaic and YouGov. Then I will script and create storyboards for the second (new) scene of my film's opening sequence. This will be accompanied by an updated film synopsis which has a more secure plot line than my previous attempt. Once updated production schedules have been created and the new scene has been filmed and incorporated to the old footage, I will update my evaluation.