Ideas for main task

1st idea 
My first idea was for a zombie horror film. I thought of starting off the opening by panning round a couple of empty deserted places that look like they have been abandoned. I will get some other shots maybe some ariel shots over abandoned roads over turned bins and rubbish littered across the streets. I will get sound clips of car alarms, gun shots and screaming towards the end to create tension. At the end of the opening sequence I would have a close-up shot of the side of a wall and then hand zombie hand clutching onto the side of the wall and the music would all build up to this point. Then the title would flash onto the screen and would start to drip down the screen like its made of blood. For the sound I would have non-diegetic sound through it all with just random sirens going off and maybe some background music running through the whole piece.

2nd idea 
My second idea was for a superhero movie opening. This would consist of close-ups of someone getting changed into there school uniform and the shots wouldn't show there face just other body parts and this would make the viewer think who this character is. At the end of the opening there would be one shot of there face reveling who they are. Throughout the whole opening there would be titles appearing on the screen maybe be wiped on or dissolving onto the screen. There would also be non-diegetic voiceover throughout the whole opening talking about just being an ordinary student and wanting to be more and at the end of the opening when the camera shows the characters face the non-diegetic voiceover would turn in to diegetic voiceover and you would see them talking to the camera at the end. Then as the door shuts the title slams onto the screen just as the door slams.  

The final idea 
For my main task I have decided to follow my first idea and make a zombie horror movie this will include lots of different camera angles of empty streets and deserted places. Then I will raise the tension with non-diegetic and then i'll flash a zombie at the end to release the tension. I took inspiration from the opening clip of Dawn of the Dead and also 28 Days Later which are both very good at building tension and keep the audience at the edge of there seat.

http://www.artofthetitle.com/2008/06/30/dawn-of-the-dead/

Prelim Task

For the prelim task we needed to create a short scene. This scene must include a couple of things first a basic script to be said by actors in the scene. We also had to include a match on action shot, shot reverse shot and 180 degree rule shot in our film.

Planning 
We started out by deciding on an idea on what our short film would be about. We sat in a group and started to come up with ideas of subjects we could create a scene about. First we thought about making an awkward scene because then the script would be easier to write. Then when we had all agreed on this  we had to think about a scenario to write an awkward script about. First Jodie thought about the idea of someone being on the phone to some else having a conversation about a party but then we dismissed this idea because it would had been to complicated to film. Then Vicky said about two people meeting and wearing the same outfit as each-other and then having a conversation about one of them having to go change. I then said a rough idea about two people going to a restaurant and someone being there that wasn't invited and we decided to develop this idea started to write a script for it. I said I would write out the script on the computer and we all just put our ideas as we went through. This didn't take us long because it was only a short script and it just flowed. Whilst I was typing this on the computer Jodie was writing down all the information about filming such as the location, the actors and also all props we needed on the day of filming we did this because coming up to the day of filming we could then get all our props and actors organized so nothing wrong on the day. When Jodie had done this she got started on drawing the storyboard out this was fairly simple because we all helped out with this task and we all knew what camera angles went where and also in what order. We also planned to add a depth of field shot which would focus on one thing and then focus on another person in the background. I thought the storyboard looked good but I think could have added a bit mor information on to it because it looked a bit plain when we finished it. After we had done this we had to find an actor to help us out. Once we had an actor we where ready to start filming.

Filming 

On the day of filming we went and got our actor straight away because he remembered he had to help out and then we just got the camera and went straight into the media studio where we would be shooting our film. This was all really easy because we had it all written down on our summery sheet and we also had everything we needed next to this we could pick it all up and go we weren't delayed by trying the to find our work. Once we where in the media studio we could then get prepared to start shooting our prelim task. First we had to arrange the furniture because we needed two sets of tables with chairs one behind the other and in the studio there was only one table but enough chairs. Brandon the art technician helped me carry up a table from downstairs and put it in the room. Then we had to arrange them this took us about 10 minutes because we had to think where the best camera angles would be and where the tables and actors would look best. If we had made a floor plan previously then we could have done this quicker and without much fuss. Once we had the setting out done then we could move into the lighting, the rooms main lighting where okay but there was also a lighting rig which would possibly give us better lighting for our film but it had to be set up perfectly otherwise it would ruin the shot. After about 20 minutes of trying to position the light rig we decided to us the main lights in the room because we couldn't get them in the right position but when I have learnt how to properly position then I will definitely us them again. While we where sorting out lighting and preparing we had given our actor Liam Smith a copy of the script and let him reed through it and see how much he remember. He couldn't remember the whole of it, so Jodie quickly came up with the idea of having the script stuck to the back of a menu because the scene is set in a restaurant and this would make sense for the actors to be holding menus. So I quickly printed out another script while Vicky went and got some card to make a menu out of. Jodie then quickly wrote out menu on the front of them and then we stuck the scripts to the inside of them. This was a good idea because it means that if the actors forgot there lines mid-scene then we wouldn't have to stop the whole scene and start again they could just refer back to the script. Once we had filmed all the planned scripted bits we then all thought that it seemed too short and that it was only one conversation. Then we thought we might as well film some more improvised stuff to fill in at the beginning of our prelim. I gave Liam and Jodie a subject to talk about and we went through it once without the camera on and they did very well and it flowed. So then we shot it strange after and this went well and we did all the lines in one take each.

Editing 
When had done all the shooting we then went straight into editing out piece. First we captured all the footage off the camera and once we had done this we could then start to cut and arrange the clips. The editing for this taks wasn't to hard because there weren't that many clips to cut and put into place. So when we got the editing stage we first captured the clips off the camera and gave them names so that we could identify them when they where in the clip bank. I then dragged them into the timeline and arranged  them in order, from here I can see where they needed to be cut and also where they didn't. We didn't use any FX because we wanted the shots to stand out on there own. From here we all took turns cutting clips  up and putting them into there right places. Once we where doing putting all the clips into there right places we then watched it through a couple of times to check if it ran smoothly and from here we could go and correct any mistakes.
             

Film Opening Remake

For this task our team (Vicky Rose and Jodie Nason) where set the challenge of remaking a film opening of our choice. First we all started looking through film title openings and in this we where looking for a film opening that didn't include to much special effects because if it did then we would takes ages editing special effects into the film. We where also looking for a film opening that didn't include hundreds of people because then we would struggle to find all these people to star in our film. Our first idea was the opening from the film Juno because this didn't involve to many people or to many special effects but we all discussed this and decided to do something more adventurous. Personally I wanted to do something that would involve more cuts and less effects. We looked at some different film openings after such Saturday Night Fever and also She's the Man we all debated remaking these in our group but then we all decided on an option that I had suggested which was the opening of Reservoir Dogs which was fist shown in 1992 and was directed by Quentin Tarantino. We all decided to choose this opening because it didn't include that many people so it wasn't unmanageable and also that it didn't include to many effects so that it wouldn't take us ages to edit. So after we had picked we could then go on and start our work.

Analyzing 
We started by noting down everything we needed to make the film opening such as props and people and set. Throughout this process we where all watching the film opening as many times as we could so that it would get into minds and notice every detail that we needed to include. Then after we had a summarized list of what we needed for our film. Then we started to write down timings so that we could plan everything that we needed to do for the film. We recorded the timings by getting the video up on YouTube and then whenever something changed in the shot or a title came up then we would pause it or drag it back if we needed to then we would write down the exact timing and also what happened in the film. Then we did this for anything that changed in our film. When we had finished this we then had a list of everything that goes on in the opening and this would help us when we where editing the actual film.
After we had a list of timings we then wrote down the titles so that we knew what order they went in and what they said so that it would be easier when we where editing. We also had all the actors names so we could then start finding actors to star in our remake. Then we looked through the whole opening sequence again and noted down all the camera angles that were featured and also the effects that connected the shots. We did this so when we are shooting with the cameras then we knew what angles we needed to shot from and also how long each shot needed to be.

This is all the timings for the film and also the summery for everything we needed. 

Next we wrote down how the actors need to move away and also how they need to move move in close up shots. First we wrote down the timings for the first restaurant scene and at what time every actor got up from there chair this took along time because it was a matter of seconds and we had to look really closely at the clip to find this information out. Then when we had accomplished this task we drew a diagram of the round table and then what formation they would all be sitting in. This will come in handy when we are shooting because then it will be easier to show the actors where they need to sit and also look more like the original.

On this page we wrote down all the camera angles and also the positioning of the actors in the first scene.  

Next we looked through the close ups carefully and wrote down every action of the actors. This would make our remake look more like the original because we could copy there exact movements. We also wrote down the timings for each close up and also when there title came on the screen. This would also make our film look like the original because if we got all the timings right then we could run our copy next to the original and they would look and run the same. After we had done this we noticed there was a short monologue/ voiceover at the beginning of the piece and as a group we discussed what we should do either remake the voiceover or just take it from the original. We discussed how if we did remake the voiceover then it would take us longer than if we just took it from the original. Since we where ahead in our project we all decided that we would remake the voiceover. So first of all we listened to the voiceover and wrote in down on the notebook. 

On this page we wrote down the actions and timings of the close-ups and we also wrote down what the voiceover said. 

  Next we thought of people who would appear in our film. We needed people who looked vaguely like the actual actors so we thought of and wrote down some names of people we knew. When we wrote down all the people we could think of. Then after we had this we went out around the school and asked these people if they would take part in our piece. Most of the people we asked said they would take part but some of them couldn't because they where busy or where in lessons. On the morning of the shoot we then reminded these people of the shoot but we ran into a problem. Some of the people where ill and couldn't attend and some people dropped out so we had to get some people quickly. Luckily we managed to get the right amount of people but this meant that I had to take part in our film. If I had to this again then I would make sure actors know what the date and the time of the shoot was so that they couldn't drop out. 

This was the lists of different people who where going to be in our remake. At the bottom is the finale list of people.  

Whilst the other members of the team where writing. I took on the task of creating and drawing a storyboard. For this all I did was a summery of he camera angle who was in the shot and what it would look like if someone drew it. I could have improved this by spending more time on it and drawing it in more detail and by adding in every piece of information. 

This is the storyboard. 

Filming 

As soon as we had all our actors grouped together in one place. We then went and got the camera, notebook and also a laptop. The reason why we got the laptop is so we could show the original clip to the actors so they know what they had to do and also so we could view the clip as-well so if we where not sure of something then we could go back to the original clip. I thought this was a very good idea because it meant we didn't have to go back to a computer every time and also it better explained the scene to the actors. After we had explained to the actors what positions they would need to be in and also when they would need to move using both the notebook and the laptop. I then found tried to find the perfect camera angle. I needed to find one that looked similar to the original shoot and also that was right. I had to stand in a couple of different places before I got the right one. Since the film is over dubbed my a song anyway this means we could talk while filming this made it easier because then we could give directions while we where filming. The most challenging part of filming the remake was getting all the camera angles right but once I had done this we where able to film it all quite easily and quickly.



Editing 
The editing part of remaking this film was the hardest part because it took the most concentration but this is the bit because that I enjoyed the most because you have to make everything right even the smallest part. First of all what we did was transfer the film from the tape onto the computer. We did this by connecting a wire from the camera to the computer. After we had done this I then opened up Adobe PremierPro and created a new folder called reservoir dogs remake and then opened it. We then went on the capture menu and a box came up with the film from the camera on it and from this we could take parts of the movie that we wanted this feature is very useful because it means we can only take the bits we actually need instead of having to take everything and then taking it apart. We didn't have to cut it down perfectly because once we had put it onto timeline then we could cut it down perfectly. This task didn't take us too long because it was easy to us and plus we didn't have many shots that we didn't need. Once we had done capturing all of our clips we closed that window and checked that they had all imported into our clip bank on the side of the screen. Once we had checked that we had all the clips we then transfered imported the original clip into the clip bank and then transferred it into the timeline of the movie and made it smaller in the corner of the screen. We did this because it makes it alot easier when editing the our piece because if we copy exactly then the timings will be exactly right. We started by naming each clip in our bank because then we knew which to take or us. We took the first clip from the bank and put it on our timeline then watched it with the original in the corner. Then we had to unlink the audio with the visual footage, we did this by right clicking the selected clip and then choosing unlink in the menu and after we could then select the audio and delete it separately. I then noticed that it didn't quite match up so Jodie cut it using the razor tool and made it fit. We then did this with all the clips. I was given the job of putting the clips in the right place and cutting them so that they fitted with the original. I  found this very interesting because you had to get the correct timings and then it all fit together like a puzzle. This took me quite alot of time because I had to get everything perfect.

Screenshot of a work in progress

The next thing to do was to start adding effects to the clips. In the original clip during both the walking scene and also all the close-ups where in slow motion. To add a slow motion effect to clips you have to slow the timings down and you do this by right clicking the selected clip and then selecting the timing option then a box comes up and you either drag the timing right to make it longer and slow it down or drag it left make it shorter and faster. I also did this part of the editing and by making the clip longer you are extending the size but after every time I changed the timing I had to cut the clip down so that it fitted with the rest of the film and also the with the timings of the original. Once I had done this we needed to start adding in the titles into our films. Vicky said she would do this part of the editing process but I helped her out. To create a title you select a title from the side menu and select create title and then a box comes up with a screenshot of the movie then you select what font size, font and alot of other things. We found the exact font that was used in the film and used that one so it was more identical to the original.  

Screen of our film in editing just adding the titles. 

After we had put the titles everywhere they need to be. We could then start on the audio side of the film. In the original there a voiceover at the beginning of the clip and then when the voiceover stops then music starts. In the notebook that we had done some work in before we decided to listen to the film clip very carefully over and over until had it all down. Then we needed to find out what the piece of music was called. Fortunately I already knew what it was called and told the rest of the team. Then we had to make a decision whether we would remake the voiceover or just us the one from the original. We where doing well and where ahead of all the other groups and wanted to redo everything on the remake so we decided as a group to redo the voiceover. This means that we needed a couple more things, the first thing that we needed was an person to redo it and the other thing we needed was a microphone to record it on. First me and Jodie went out to search for a voice actor that could play the narrator in our remake. We went out searching for Mr Lower who can take in many different accents. We found him and asked him if he was free to do it and he accepted. Then we went to Brandon who has microphones and also has the software. While me and Vicky where putting all the titles in the film. Jodie helped record the voiceover with Mr Lower using a radio microphone and then from there they transfered that onto software called Synergy Radio Broadcasting and from there exported it strange onto a memory stick then strange onto the computer on which we where doing the editing on.

Analysis of film opening

The film I have chosen to analysis is the opening of the film Dawn of the Dead. My fist impression of the film was that it was going to be quite scary because it starts off with just a black screen with red writing on it. This could represent blood and these both are dark colours which could tell the viewers that the film is going to be dark and scary. Then it goes strange into the shots and these are all very fast paced and only last about half a second each which created tension because they are shots of riots and violence. They also only last half a second each which then leaves an image in the viewers mind like subliminal messaging. Through the film opening they keep on flashing back to the same clip of this one zombie and this builds the tension because it is setting the scene for the movie which is about zombies and because these are so frequently pooping up for about a quarter of a second each time this keeps reminding the viewer that they are watching a zombie movie. Also the effect of having fast paced shots is that it also makes the viewers jumpy making them more scared and raising the tension. All the shots are filmed at a hand held angle which makes them seem more like they where shot for the news and also making it more realistic, so its more believable. Then after a couple of seconds you hear some non-diegetic sound from an interview talking about the zombie invasion. In this sound clip it keeps on getting interrupted by the sound of the zombie screaming. This brings tension to the clip because the screams get louder further on through the clip. Until the the non-diegetic of the interview becomes diegetic and mets up with the clip. This brings tension because they put emphasis on the last line of the interview which is a very tense line. Then strange after this some more non-diegetic comes on in the form of music and the fast paced news reports and these us hand held camera angle to make them more realistic. The song that is playing in the background is a Johnny Cash song and its about death and with the war torn footage playing on the screen all the viewer can think about is death, now they know what to expect from the film. Through the into titles appear on the screen and then drain away like blood this editing raises tension because the viewer is getting the image of blood put into there mind even if they don't want it there.

The into for Dawn of the Dead: http://www.artofthetitle.com/2008/06/30/dawn-of-the-dead/

Cityscape film opening

For this task I was set the task of creating a film opening on the program Adobe Premiere Pro. I learnt lots of new skills when editing this piece. Some of the new skills I have learnt are, how to us the cutting tool which allows you to separate clips so that you can shorten them or replace them. I also learnt how to use the unlike tool which allows you to separate the audio from the video. This is useful if you want to add music into your video. I also learnt how how to animate scene changes by creating scene changes. This works well if you want your scene changes to be smooth. I also learnt how to add in titles into my movie and this very useful because you want to give your movie a name and display it on the screen.

Trainspotting opening sequence

For this task we had to create a mood board from the opening sequence of the film Trainspotting.

This is the opening film sequence that we had to work from:

Six Picture Sequence

We where set a task of taking six photos and then we had to annotate them and write about there story, angles and compositions.