Its Christmas!

Me and the blog are taking a two week break so for time being it will be closed until the end of the festive period.
Ta for now.

Re-shoot Reflections

Our Re-shoot went well on Monday Night as we got all we needed to get done in a relatively short period of time without having to compromise or cut corners. After our actors were ready we began the painstaking process of setting the detectives desk up exactly the same as on the previous shoots to avoid continuity problems. After we completed the inside shots we ventured outside and began to set up the lighting equipment which we are now accustomed to. We shot what we needed and managed to finally get a good shadow on the wall for our climax shot. One problem that we encountered was that the floodlights were on in the park next to the alley and hadn't been on the previous weekends. This means that the lighting is slightly different on the shots we captured from yesterday. We believe, however, that this can easily be fixed by fiddling around with the Lighting effects tool on Adobe Photoshop Elements.

Re-Shoot Reflections

Our Reshoot went very well and we managed to obtain all of the shots that we needed to perfect. We always took a few new ones so that we had more options while in the edit suite. One problem that we noticed was the change in light outside as the floodlights were on on the playing field. This should be able to be fixed when editing though.

Efficiency is Key

I believe that we worked faily efficiently over the weekend and this is shown by the fact that we managed to get takes of all the shots in our sequence. We had a few giggles along the way but the main thing is that we reached our target. Next time as a word of warning, I think that It would be wise to wear multiple pairs of socks as it is only a matter of time until one of us is ridden with frostbite.

1st Shoot Weekend Reflections

Although that this should be our second shoot weekend it has turned out to be our first due to previous problems. This, however, drove us to try extra hard to get all of the footage we need to edit next week. We went on late into the night and did well to keep the camera steady in the bitter cold. It was, however, a very successful shoot and has got us back on track.

The Rose

The symbolism of the rose is that it is our villain's calling card. It will provide us with a nice opportunity to use a graphic match with the evidence board.

Costume and Character Research

Here is an example of what we would like our protagonist to look like:



This is Commisioner Gordon from Batman. He wears lighter colours (not black) whic shows he is not on the dark side and, therefore a villain. We wish our character to wear braces as Gordon does, because this is a typical dectective image. He looks kind but ready to work as he is wearing office place attire. He also wears glasses like our character. In conclusion we would like our protagonist to look a lot like the picture to the left of a famous fictional policeman/dectective.

Pleased!

I am pleased that our project is now back on track after our location setbacks. The new idea is simpler, but still has the same level of tension and impact. We have included lots of different techniques which should help us gain marks. We should also have no problems with location as it is at Nick's house. Fingers crossed our problems are behind us and we shall be able to push forward and create a masterpiece of filming.

New Idea Reflections

Although I was very fond of our previous idea, 'The Streets Run Red', due to location difficulties we have had to draw up a totally new idea. 'The Case' is a lot simpler than its predecessor, but this could work in our favour by being easier to produce. There should be no obvious problems with the location as it is Nick's house so everything looks in place. Overall I am very pleased with this new idea considering we thought of it in one evening.

My Vision

I would ideally like our opening sequence to emulate the one from 'Seven' in respect to the music and titlees. Not so much focusing on the images and montage sequence.

Chase Scenes

I believe that if we include a brief chase scene in our sequence that it should not be so much of a running around frantically chase, but a more controlled brisk walk. This will add suspense and also be able to film. A similar sequence to what I believe we should aim can be found in more espionage films such as James Bond and The Bourne Trilogy. An example is the first 3mins 10 secs of this clip from Casino Royale (2006).

BLK feedback

Simon, can you link your prelim sequence to your evaluation, please?

Also please keep up with your Stage 1 posting - you need to show how the project is developing from your own perspective. What you have so far is fine, but try to avoid long-ish gaps between posts.

Please see the main blog posts for advice on how to proceed with your individual blog if you're not sure what you should be doing.

Film Soundtrack Ideas Inspiration

I felt that the type of music displayed in these clips would suit the atmospheric and dark feel to our film.

Preliminary Exercise Evaluation

1. My group consisted of me, Nick, Aarti and Tanya. Me and Nick were the actors so, therefore, Aarti and Tanya took the roles of Directors. Nick and I did, however, shoot one or two shots each when we were not needed to act in the shot. These include Nick entering the room and my reaction shot. When it came to editing we did roughly equal amounts of time each with me and Nick doing slightly more as we did not do much shooting. During the planning stage we all contributed to the storyboards and me and Nick wrote the script and shooting script.

2. To start our planning we chose our location which happened to be the room we were in. This made it easy to picture our shots and what the final sequence would look like. We then wrote our script which consisted of six lines. We next made a quick note of the order of the shots which would be seen in the clip. This then enabled us to create an accurate storyboard of 16 shots all drawn to the right cutting points. We next decided to make a quick sketch of the location we were shooting at. On this diagram we put symbols on each camera position in the room so that we can see how many shots we would need to take. From this picture we could also find the easiest order to shoot them in and we put this into our shooting script. This told us that we would need to film the whole conversation four times so we did them in a row so we did not have to set up our props or actors several times. This planning process made the shooting a lot easier and more efficient.

3. We used a mini-dv camera with a mini boom mic connected to the top of it. We also used a tripod which made it easier to take our pan at the start. To make sure the conversation was clear on the shots we connected a pair of headphones onto the camera which either Aarti or Tanya listened to the shot with. We did not need any artificial lighting as the room was bright enough and we were not trying to create any specific effects. During the editing process we used the programme Adobe Premier Pro to allow us to do our non-linear editing. To make it easier we used multiple editing lines and the source monitor to see what we were editing easily. We added a fade effect at the end using the video effects tool on the toolbar.

4. When planning we had to take into account whether the clothes being worn by us in the storyboard are going to be the same on the day. When shooting we had anticipate camera noise and background sound that was unwanted. We also had to make sure no-one entered the room or walked across the shot during filming. To avoid this the red filming light was turned on outside the room. Luckily as we were filming inside the weather was not a factor. When cutting our shots down to size during editing, as a precaution, we made sure we added a second or so to each end so that we did not cut to much off and not be able to get it back.

5. I felt that the match on actions in our sequence were very successful and were almost perfect. These occur when Nick's hand pushes the door handle, when the bag is on the table and when I look at the book over Nick's shoulder. These are probably the most technically good parts of the sequence. I am pleased that the speech is clear as it is the vocal point of the sequence. I think that almost all of the shots are cut at the right distances and don't look odd. I also believe that there are no obvious continuity errors. In hindsight I would not change much, but I would make the pan in the first shot slightly smoother and maybe have a slightly more abrupt ending.

6. From this task I have learnt that it is vitally important and makes the shooting and editing process much easier if you plan well and put time into it. It is also useful to make a clear shooting script so you can start shooting straight away and not waste valuable time. Through the editing session I also relearned all of the basic editing techniques that I had briefly forgotten. This task has ultimately set me up perfectly fo the main project ahead it which I can use these basic skills, but add a bit more creativity and experiment a bit more.

Famous Horror Quotes

Here are a few well-known one-liners from horror films :

• 'Heeeeeere's Johnny' - The Shining

• 'It's Alive, It's Alive' - Frankenstein

• ' I Ate His Liver With Some Fava Beans and a Nice Chianti' - Silence of the Lambs

• ' They're Here' - Poltergeist

• 'Everyone Goes a Little Mad Sometimes' - Psycho

• 'You're Gonna Need a Bigger Boat' - Jaws

• 'I Want To Play a Game' - Saw

• 'To die...To be Really Dead, That Must Be Glorious' - Dracula

• 'Be afraid...Be Very Afraid' - The Fly

• 'All work and No Play Makes Jack a Dull Boy' - The Shining

• 'I See Dead People' - The Sixth Sense

• 'Hi I'm Chucky Wanna Play' - Chucky

• 'The Power of Christ Compels You' - The Exorcist

• 'When There's No Room In Hell, the Dead Will Walk The Earth' - Dawn of the Dead

• 'You Can't Kill The Boogeyman' - Halloween

• 'A Boy's Best Friend is His Mother' - Psycho

Propp into Practice

I've decided to put Vladimir Propp's theory to the test. Seeing as it is halloween I might as well use the film 'Halloween' (1978)

Characters:
Hero : Dr. Sam Loomis (Donald Pleasance)
Villain : Michael Myers (Nick Castle)
Princess : Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis)

Some may say that Propp's theory fails here as there are not many characters in this film of any importance. This minimalism is what makes the experience seem more personal and makes the audience feel for Laurie as all the attention is on her.

Preparation:

The story starts a few years before the main events and shows us Micheal killing his older sister. He is then taken to Smith's Grove Sanitarium where is held and looked after by Dr Sam Loomis. We are introduced to these characters early on so instantly get an impression of them.

Complication:

We are now in present day and we see the Doctor in a car discussing how Michael is grown up now and is pure evil. The complication now occurs as Michael escapes the hospital and steals the car in order to head back to his home town of Haddonfield. We see that he ditched the car near the town and stole a workers clothes.We now have some idea of what he look like.

Transference:

We are now introduced to Laurie who fits the typical image of a horror victim. She is young, female and her parents are out of town. We find out that it is the 31st of October and that she is babysitting her brother tonight and is meeting some friends. She starts to feel like someone is watching her and only the audience sees the haunting image of Micheal lurking. Her fears are confirmed when she later looks out her window and shes him standing with the iconic mask inbetween her washing line. The action then moves into the night .....

Struggle: As Laurie's friends are in the house she goes to check on her brother in her house across the road. While she is there we see her friends get into struggles and get murdered by Michael. Laurie returns to her friends house unknowing that her friends are dead. She goes into the master bedroom and dicovers the horrific body and tombstones of Michaels family. Michael appears and a fight ensues between him and Laurie.

Return: Laurie manages to run away from her persuer and Dr. Loomis returns after looking all day for Michael. He shoots him several times and he falls of the balcony. The hero believes he has completed his task.

Recognition:

There is no recognition is this film as when they look out of the window where Michael's body lay it has vanished. The hero has therefore not completed his objective and the villain is not exposed. This may not suit Propp's theory, but certainly suited the director as he could easily make sequel after sequel.

All in all I would say that to a certain extent Propp's theory can be applied to the narrative of 'Halloween' apart from the ending as the film is left open ended as a cliffhanger which Propp did not take into account when he engineered his theory.

Famous Horror Actors

Vincent Price

Vincent Price was born in May 1911 and died aged 82 in October 1993. Some of his most famous films included, 'House of Wax' (1953), 'The Fly' (1958), 'The Adominable Dr Phibes' (1971) and 'The Theatre of Blood' (1973). These are all classic horror films and Price plays the protagonist in each. He played the villain most of the time and approached the role in a tongue in cheek fashion. This accompanied with his distinctive voice and tall stature made him quite a creepy and intimidating figure to the audience. Here he is in all his glory in this tribute video of all his best bits.

Boris Karloff

Boris Karloff was born in 1887 and was brought up in Enfield. His real name was William Henry Pratt but changed his name when he emigrated to Canada in 1909. His most well-known films include 'Frankenstein' (1931), 'The Mummy' (1932) and 'The Body Snatcher' (1945). He quickly gained the reputation of playing the monster in films and managed to become the scariest man in cinema with theaid of some make-up. Here he is in arguably his most iconic and famous role.

Christopher Lee

Christopher Lee was born in May 1922. He began his acting career in the well knwon 'Hammer Horror' films in which he made the role of Dracula his own. He later went on to star in more modern horror films such as 'The Wicker Man' (1973), 'Corridoors of Blood' (1958) and 'I, Monster' (1971). Because of this earl career of horror films he has almost been typecast as a villain. This proven in the villainous roles he has played in the recent films 'Lord of the Rings' and 'Star Wars'. He is in the same type of mould as Vincent Price with his deep, rough voice and his forboding height. Here he is as Dracula in the 1958 film.

Horrific Mood Board

Lots of iconic horror images bundled together

Casting Task

Plot Four ( Untitled, hmm maybe ' End of the Line' )

Man - Sean Bean

Sean Bean fits the criteria for this role perfectly as he is in his 40s (49) and has played similar roles before. He is no stranger to the role of the villain as he played James Bonds' enemy in 'Goldeneye' (1995, Directed by Martin Campbell ). Maybe more specific to the character in the plot is the one he played in 'The Hitcher' (2007, Directed by Dave Meyers). In this film he is a hitchhiker who is picked up by two women unknowing that he is a serial killer. This is very similar to the disturbed woman killer he would play in this new film. His rugged looks and dark eyes could potentially be scary and unnerving to the audience.

Woman - Jessica Alba

Jessica Alba is also the perfect age for this role at 27 years old. Like Sean Bean she is attractive to the opposite sex which means people will want to watch it more. She is used to dark films as she has played characters in ' Sin City' (2005, Directed by Frank Miller and Robert Rodriguez) and ' The Eye' (2008, Directed by David Moreau and Xavier Palud). The experience from the latter film will help in this new film as she plays the victim in both. Both films are also horror/thrillers.

Continuity Analysis : The Shining

The Shining ( 1980, Directed by Stanley Kubrick)

I am going to analyse this scene from 0.00 to 1.20.

1. Long slow tracking shot. Corridor acts well as frame within a frame and follows the rule of thirds. VLS.

2. The next shot matches the action in the previous one and then follows the boy staying at the same distance away at all times until he stops. Mid OTS.

3. A sequence of shot-reverse-shots follows which go between the girls (OTS LS) and Danny (MCU). The length of this sequence and eerie speech from the twins adds to the tension and suspense.

4. A new sequence of Shot-Reverse-Shots follows between the dead blood covered bodies to the girls. The fact that there is no more OTS shots may suggest that the images we are seeing of the bodies are in the boys head and not actually there. Each time it cuts back to the girls it zooms in a length and ends up as a MS. This adds to the unnatural feel of the scene and the film.

5. The reaction shot of the boy is of terror and is reflective of what the audience is meant to feel and when the closes his eyes the girls dissappear which makes us think that the images were definitely in his mind. MCU

BLK feedback

Simon! Where is that link - please add it immediately.

BLK feedback

Excellent analysis and reflections on your horror shot - super work Simon!

A really powerful choice of clip for analysis too and your technical notes are of a very high quality, most impressive.

I had to change your text colour as I couldn't read anything - your background is stunning but it is making your blog quite difficult to navigate around and obviously it is difficult to get a text colour that is readable. You don't have to keep it like this but please choose something as clear as possible.

Can you add my foundation blog to your list of links, thanks.

THR Feedback

Simon, your work is fine as it stands but you have not done it as asked - there are more than 5 videos - you need to have posted notes for EACH video snippet. Please go back and do this, thanks, Mrs T

I have chosen to analyse the first two minutes (0.00 - 2.00) of 'Saving Private Ryan' as it is an intense scene which brings the audience right into the film.

1. The first few Close Ups establish the characters to us and show us that they are preparing for something and are nervous about it. This is shown by the way they are praying and clinging onto religious artefacts. At this moment in time we feel like observers and not really connected to the characters. The camera is static, however the boat is rocking in the sea so therefore the characters are. The fact that nothing is still means that the scene is never peaceful and makes you feel on edge like the soldiers.

2. Next comes a couple of big/extreme close ups which show the wheel on the ramp open. This signifies the end of the static shots and frantic action ensues.

3. As the ramp is lowered the soldiers are revealed to us and they are immediately hit with several shots which come from behind the camera. This means the enemy is behind the audience and makes them feel slightly nervous. This is a MS taken from a low angle, this length is used so we can see the men's bodies and therefore see them fall. This camera is moving as if it is ducking out of the way of bullets.

4. We then move to the back of the boat and get to see the enemy for the first time which takes away some of the mystery. This MLS is subjective and makes the audience feel part of the action now instead of onlookers. We see the people at the front of the landing craft being picked off and see the bullets make their way to the back where we are. This makes the viewer nervous.

5. Next we are taken to the other side of the battle and are shown an Over the Shoulder Shot of a German gun emplacement which is firing on the boat we were just in. The Germans are shown as silhouettes and we do not see their faces. This may be because we are not supposed be on their side so we are not allowed to get too personal. The sideways track shows the length of the beach and the extent of the fighting. It acts as a belated, but useful establishing shot. The high angle shows the dominance that the Germans have over the beach.

6. In the next part of the sequence we are thrown into the sea in an attempt to avoid the onslaught. A crane may have been used in order to go vertically down here into the water. From our point of view now right in the midst of the action. The water acts as a break in the fact and pulse raising as the noise is muffled and the colour is a deep calming blue. This moment of peace is short lived, however, as we see bullets move through the water like mini torpedoes and the way the blood spills into the water. This part is a mixture of shots ranging between mid and long lengths. The disorientated and tilted angles make us feel like we are not in control and just floating and observing, but at the same time we feel very much as if we are there. The camera occasionally pans down and follows other soldiers as they fall into the sea.

7. Whilst still under the water we see a man fighting for his life. He seems to be begging the viewer for help and we want to help him but then we realise we are helpless. This really does make the viewer feel part of the story and is done very well. This is a MS at a dutch angle.

8. We next are taken in and out of the water in a series a subjective shots that could only have been produced with the assistance of a crane. While bobbing up and down the camera seems to slowly track to two men infront of us. This is a two shot at a mid distance.

9. As we continue to move out of the water the camera pans around so that we can see all the men around us. The camera is never still in this sequence and we presume it is done using a handheld camera as it is not smooth enough to involve a steadicam.

10. For the first time in a while we are taking out of our point of view position and are now looking at two men who we presume are main characters trying to get onto dry land. This is a MLS and the bodies and pieces of metal surrounding them act nicely as a frame within a frame. These objects that obscure our vision mean that we are not shown everything which adds to the mystery which is vital in a good thriller film.

I believe that this sequence of shots complement eachother well as we get to see both sides of the action and everything that is going on, but at the same time the narrative is kept alive with the point of view shots. These shots in particular make us feel like we are amongst the harrowing images and by the end of this opening sequence we feel exhausted and get only a small feeling of what is was really like to be there. It is important in the hriller genre that the viewer feels on edge as it is much more scarier than if the events were happening to someone else rather than us.

Key Notes On Distribution Video Clips

Using the video clips from this website www.launchingfilms.tv we can see how the whole process of making a film is conducted.

1. Aquisition and Release of a Film

• Find your target audience.
• Design an Ad campaign.
• Divide budget between production and marketing by predicting how much revenue the film will gain at the box office.
• Decide whether to produce the marketing campaign yourself or hire a third party.

2. Positioning and Audiences

• Take into mind many aspects, age range, sex, lifestyles, activities and media consumption.
• Choose carefully when to release your film, take into account the films released at a similar time ans school holidays etc.
• Look at other films of the same genre to see who watched it and were they saw it advertised. Older people may have seen it in magazines whereas younger people on the internet.
• Conduct test screenings in order to see if your target audience enjoyed the film and to help predict how successful the film may be.
• If a film has a paticular actor in it then people may be more likely to pay to watch it.

3. Marketing

• Word of Mouth can make or break a release so putting over a positive image is vital to the success of a film.
• Film runs rarely last 6-8 weeks nowadays.
• Try to target as much of your audience as possible but cost-effectively, don't go over the top.
• There are vast amounts of different formats that you can use for advertisement including, posters, trailers, premieres, festivals and preview screenings.

4. Liscensing

• Which sorts of cinemas and screens are most appropriate?
• Potential blockbusters may be booked into every available multiplex simultaneously, while for smaller releases, particular screens are likely to be identified one by one.
• The first week of release often brings in the most money from the box office so it is important to get your launch as effective as possible.
• The amount of oney a distributor gets from a release varies all the time, however it is normally between 30 and 40%.
• Alternatively, the distributor may simply retain a distribution fee, with all net proceeds being paid to the producers.

5. Piracy

• Films are vunerable to piracy during the early and pre release stages.
• Piracy is a very profitable business that can generate millions of pounds but can also hand you a lengthy prison sentence.
• With the introduction of the internet and quicker download speeds film piracy is on the up and is getting harder to stop and trace the criminals behind it.

Ms B S7 Questions Homework

1. This is a MCU taken from a low angle. The aspects of this image that signify it is horror to us are as follows. The fact that the girl is seperated from the camera by the mesh suggests entrapment. The unnatural glow of the light and the lack of it adds to the eerie feeling of the image. The striking white of her eyes suggest purity and innocence which signifies that she is the victim in this situation. There is a tilted shadow behind the girl that could be her captor and suggests that she is trying to get out of the enclosed space to run away from the person or creature behind her. The fact that she is quite low down in the shot may be because she is on her knees and therefore we can infer from this that she is vunerable.

2. To create the lighting effects in the image we turned the lights off in the area we were in and and shone a light on the actor's face. This was not dark enough to create the desired effect. This is shown in the image on the right. To make the image darker we held a curtain to black out some excess light and changed the filter on our light to creater a dimmer spotlight effect. We then decided once we got the light right that the red sht did not really fit the profile of a horror victim so we asked the actor to wear her black cardigan back to front so that it created a more generic horror look to the shot.

3. I am pleased with how our shot turned out as i believe that the audience would be able to identify as a still from a horror/thriller film. I think that the lighting worked out well as it is light enough to be able to see what is going on but is still dark enough to leave that element of mystery to the narrative. I feel that the shadows that surround the girl on the ceiling and the rear wall act well as a aframe within a frame. This adds another dimension to the shot and therefore makes it more aesthetically pleasing.

4. With the benefit of hindsight if i were to recreate this shot i would have made the girl look more like a victim by giving her a more appropriate costume and applying some make-up. I would also have not left as much empty space for the viewer to look into as it distracts from the main image which is the victim. I may have also shone a slightly brighter light onto her face so that she stands out more. Finally I would have positioned the camera slightly better so that the girls facial features were not obscured by the bits of wire mesh such as her nose and right eye in the image at the top.

THR Feedback

Well done on the blog although the music can be quite intrusive after a while! Part one was better than part two because you focused more on the effects - remember to always put the technical codes to say what you see (denote) and to elaborate on what the effects of those choices are on the text and the audience's interpretation of the text (connotations). A good start nevertheless! Well done.

Ms T S19 Homework Part 2

This is a Long Shot that uses Low Key lighting. The man o the floor has his hands off the ground which suggests he is in pain and cowering. The gun is pointed at the mans head, we can infer from this that he is shooting to kill this time. By coming in closer the camera has revealed that there is a little girl sitting against a post, but by zooming in we can no longer see he third man and are therefore unaware of his actions.

This is a Close Up that once again uses Low Key lighting. For the first time the girl is revealed to us and we can see that she is upset about something. We, however, do not yet know what she is crying about as the shot is completly focused on her. As the audience we presume that the man on the floor has been shot again, but we can not be sure of this without the aid of audio or knowing why she is there and who she is friends with. On the post behind her there is a bit of rope which could mean that she has been tied up.

This is a Long shot ( arguably a Very Long Shot) that uses key lighting. The man in the foreground looks in pain and the source of it may have come from the gun in the man's hand at the rear of the shot. The audience now realises that the girl was crying about him being hurt presumably rather than the man who looks motionless on the ground. The blurred background helps us focus on the action as it minimalises distractions.

As a sequence these shots work very well together as the camera position and angle is constantly being changed. This means that we see all of the action takig place but all is not revealed all at once but instead in installments. This adds to the suspense which is vital in a thriller film.

Ms T S19 Homework Part 1

This is a Medium Close Up that uses low key lighting . The expression on the man's face suggests that he is fearful of something. We can also see interpret from the direction that he is pointing the gun in that he is a vunerable position with his enemy ominously above him. The high angle also helps us come to this conclusion as we can see it from the other persons point of view.

This is a long high angle shot that uses low key lighting. This helps the blood to stand out more. The blood is next to the hand that was holding the gun in the previous still. By moving further away it allows us to observe this and the other character is revealed. The victim on the floor has his head tilted back which suggests pain and that he has been shot again.

The camera has moved out further again to a Very Long Shot that uses low key

lighting again. By doing this another character is revealed. We do not yet know who's side the man is on yet as he is just observing. He looks quite threatening however as he is in a black coat that is usually associated with villains. We can see what appears to be a trailing leg of someone who could be alive or dead. By not showing any more of the character the mystery is kept alive.

BLK feedback

great start simon!

TEST

AHA! It works!

Me with the ultimate movie horse.