Filming the narration

In today's lesson, we intended to film our narration. The narration will be recorded in a quiet area with the lens cap on as it is only the voice that we want, not the picture.

Feedback on rough cut

Editing:

Positives
Black and white was effective, causes tension (which is what we wanted)

Areas of Improvement
Couldn't follow it, needs more editing for pace


Camerawork:

Positives
The tripod running shot was effective, interesting shots in general

Areas of improvement
certain shots were bit too long

Sound:

Positives
Typical of a thriller, builds atmosphere

Negatives
didn't fit properly (we were already aware of this and are rectifying the situation)

Mise-En-Scene:

Positives
Blood looked good, location was a good choice, effective use of shadows

Areas of improvement
Costumes weren't spectacular, blood on face where did it come from

Narrative:

Positive
Ideas and conventions are suitable

Areas of improvement
End of film was random, flashbacks aren't clear

THE ROUGH CUT

Here is our rough cut for our thriller project. We have included several effects like fades and day-for-night. We have also put our unfinished soundtrack on the video, this will be completed when editing is finished.

FILMING DAY 2

Last Thursday, we filmed the majority of our indoor shots. These consisted of the killing shot, introduction to the victim and the scenes after the killing. However, we didn't manage to film our narration or lead up to killing. Since this is only a rough cut, it wasn't essential and we can simply shoot this along with any footage that we felt may not have worked in our rough cut.

Props for next shooting day

Knife - Cameron
Spray bottle - Cameron
Blood - David W
Gavel - David C
Kettle - College
Mug - College
Sink - on location
Chalk - David W
Bin bags/plastic sheet - Cameron
Newspaper - David C

All to meet at film studies room (G23) at end of day for filming

the fake blood

Using the website that we discovered earlier, I made some fake blood. Below is the ingredients and how I made it:

Cheap 'N' Easy Blood


This is good for spidering and works like a dream:

Plain Flour
Water
Red Food Coloring
1 tsp. of Coffee

Boil the water on the stove, then sieve in the flour, making sure you get ALL of the lumps out. The quantity of ingredients aren't important, it just depends on how much you want. Once you have the flour mixed nicely into the water it should look nice and thick. Next, add the red food coloring.

You will notice that it's a ghastly, bright red colour but don't worry this is why we add the coffee. It is important that when you add the coffee to make sure the mixture is hot, otherwise it wont dissolve, but up until adding the coffee can be done in a ordinary mixing jug or pan.

Character narration

we have decided to narrate shot 8, this will have the character calmly talking over the visual of him frantically running. we have intertextualised the American Beauty opening.

here is the original speech;

lESTER (V.O.)

My name is Lester Burnham. This is my neighborhood. This is my street. This... is my life. I'm forty-two years old. In less than a year, I'll be dead.

INT. BURNHAM HOUSE - MASTER BEDROOM - CONTINUOUS

We're looking down at a king-sized BED from OVERHEAD:

LESTER BURNHAM lies sleeping amidst expensive bed linens, face down, wearing PAJAMAS. An irritating ALARM CLOCK RINGS. Lester gropes blindly to shut it off.

LESTER (V.O.)

Of course, I don't know that yet. He rolls over, looks up at us and sighs. He doesn't seem too thrilled at the prospect of a new day.

LESTER (V.O.) (cont'd)

And in a way, I'm dead already.

And here is our edited version for our film;

My name is James Burnham. Behind me is a prison where I have spent the last two weeks. Infront of me is the unknown. I am 25 years old, and less than 6 months ago I led a 9 to 5 life: simple, boring, straight forward. Of course, i didnt know then that i would be in this situation.

We have made the monologue show the characters personality, this way we could mold him into a respectable character. An example of this would the "i have" rather than "i've", this makes it seem more formal and less conversational. The colon make his life seem more formulaic and listed.

Wandlebury

This is some of the planning and research that we have done on wandlebury ring. ^^^

This is the letter of conformation that we can film at wandlebury. vvv

Dear Cameron

I write to confirm that we would be happy for your group to film at Wandlebury Country Park on Monday 11 February, from 1 pm to around 3 pm as part of your student film project. Please call our Head Ranger Jon Gibbs when you arrive on site. His mobile is: 07833 598155.

Our permission to film form is attached. Please complete this and post it back to me. Good luck hope all goes well.

Yours sincerely

Janet Cornish
The Secretary
Cambridge Preservation Society
Wandlebury Ring
Gog Magog Hills
Babraham
Cambridge CB22 3AE

shedule for monday 11th.

Call time: 1.00pm monday 11th Feb

1.00 - 1.20: Location scouting + set up.

1.20 - 1.30: Set up tripod contraption on to Dave.

2.00: Begin montage shots of running through forrest.

3.00: Finish shoot.

Music

In the last few lessons we have been composing and changing our music to suit our thriller project. At the moment we are testing different sounds on garageband and seeing what could fit with our footage which is yet to be filmed. We are using and trying out different classical instuments and different beats. We would like our music to be fast paced at points and suitable music for the flashbacks. We hope to acheive this by using a dramatic change in style, I.E fast paced/ frantic while convict is running and more dramatic music when it cuts to a flashback.

Here is what we have produced:

test footage

We went to film some complicated shots to see whether they would work. these shots was of the convict running with the tripod attached to him and the blood splatter scene. The tripod running shot would work well and isn't as complicated as we once thought it would be. It was very distressing for the actor though as it was painful so we need to find a more comfortable solution. We put filters on the stabbing shot so as we could get a feel for what it would look like. The end result was very pleasing.

Here is our test footage:



EDIT: In order to attach the camera to dave c, we used several belts to secure the tripod to his body. We pointed the camera towards his face and ensured that the belt wouldn't show. We were originally going to use gaffer tape as well, but after the trial we decided that we wouldn't need it as the belts would secure the tripod in place.

Shot list

this is our shot list with the exact details of what will hapen in the shot.

1. shot of the forest floor, foot enters frame and snaps twigs on the floor.

2. previous shot fades to black, then appears title 1.

3. fades into shot of a fence, the convict then hops over it.

4. previous shot fades into black where title 2 appears.

5. shot of forest. large depth of field, focus on distant trees, body then closely moves past camera.

6. previous shot fades into title 3.

7. longer shot of forest, full length shot of convict running, camera either pans on him, or tracks on him, our decision will be based on the surface and how smooth we can film.

8. camera attached to convict, shot of his face whilst he runs. camera will remain static so that his face will stay central but the background will move.

9. previous shot fades into white, all the flash back shots are very white. victim is making tea, full length shot of him doing this at worktop.

10. shot of dark room, victim enters, light comes from door only, victim closes door. dark. walks past camera turns light on that is behind the camera, see murderer behind hiding behind the door.

11. fade back from white into the shot of the convict running through forrest again.

12. fades back to white flash backs. murderer is above camera stabbing victim, blood is splattering onto murderers face and body.

13. fades back into the convict on the run through the forrest.

14. fades into flash back. shot of sink, hands washing of blood.

15. cuts to murderers blood covered face.

16. gavel hits the table, then slow moo-ed up, with dust flying up into air, title then appears under the slow moving gavel.

End.

Gavel prop

We have decided to purchase this gavel:


Because this gavel is made of plastic, we will have to edit in the sound of a knock to make it seem more authentic.

Prison clothes research, costume

Such shows as Prison Break have used prison costumes like this.



We are thinking along the lines of. Black trousers, black boots/shoes and orange shirt which was previously blogged.