Last Session Before Easter

During this session we decided to clear up the transition between shots and try to make the opening flow a little better. Firstly we re-arranged the montage clips, changed the length of some of them and added music over this section. I also experimented with effects on the montage clips, changing the contrast, exposure and colours. We didn't want the shots to look too horror movie or sci-fi so we kept the colours true to life, only exaggerated slightly more. We are pleased with the montage now and it definately flows much better now.

We also decided the the opening shots at the door location should be in black and white, rather than an evening effect, as in our research we decided that the whole group would like to experiment with mixing black and white with colour. We also think that as this scene is different from the rest of the opening, and could be seen as a flashback, the black and white is definately appropriate.

After Easter, we would like some teacher feedback. We also need to record audio footage to put over the door scene.

Final Cut

In todays session the group experimented with the programme Final Cut! We wanted to create different title fonts to the apple iMovie selected fonts. This was very successful. After looking at several informative websites and getting a feel for the programme we worked out how to make a black screen, choose one of the Final Cut fonts, and export the clip back to iMovie. We were pleased with the title fonts. We also needed a font for the film title, as we could not film a typewriter typing it due to a broken typewriter! We decided that the font needed to still look like a typewriter, due to this element in the montage, and we found a font that was suitable. The fonts still weren't as good as the fonts we found in research but as we cannot put these fonts onto our opening, we will have to settle with this. We also found a transition for the fonts to come onto the screen one by one. We instantly thought that this could look like a typewriter if we matched a clicking sound with the letters appearing. After searching on freesound.com we found an appropriate sound and dragged the sound under the clip in the correct place. We were very pleased with this when we watched it back!

Title Fonts

After a quick chat with the media teachers, we have found out that the mac that we have been using actually has the programme Final Cut installed. We are very interested in using this programme to enhance our editting and there is also a possibility that we can find better fonts on this programme to import onto our opening. We are very pleased.

Editting Session Three

Today we had a double lesson to cut the latest footage. We selected each clip and decided on the appropriate time for each shot. We want the montage to be fast paced and lots of images flashing up so the shots are very short. We put the montage shots into the order of the storyboard adding the extra shots we filmed on location. We watched the montage and all decided bits of it didn't flow at all, but it was the end of the lesson and we decided to start with this next session.

We also attempted to add titles to our opening today. We want to add four short black screens towards the beginning, before the montage. One for "produced and directed by" and then one for each of our names. We would also like the put the title of the film on a black screen before Shot No.23. We worked out how to do this, but when selecting fonts from the apple mac, we realised that out of the limited selection of fonts available, there was nothing that suited our film. We are really disappointed that we cannot use the fonts we have found during research and that we may have to use a simple font that non of us like. This is a problem that we need to address.

During storyboarding we decided that we would like to have a non diegetic breathing sound during Shot No.23 to add atmosphere. During this session we looked on freesound and found two breathing sounds. We put them both in turn over this shot on made a group decision on one. We still don't think this one is perfect because it doesn't sound particularly masculine but as we cannot find anything else we may have to address this at a later date, to avoid time being wasted.

Filming Session Three

Today we managed to film the last few shots of our opening, slightly behind schedule due to illness and not being able to book a camera out, the short delay hasn't effected anything.

Shots we filmed today:
Shot No.7 - the back of the villains head
Shot No.11 - the frantic rummaging of photographs
Shot No.12 - the villains hands tapping on a table
Shot No.13 - blade cutting a picture
Shot No.19 - slamming a police badge down on the table

For these shots we realised we didnt need the exact location of the basement, and that we could do it in a darkened room at school. We thought we would experiment filming there and if it was unconvincing we could rerecord at the correct location at a later date. Shooting went well. We darkened the classroom and used a cool lamp shining on the table from the side, acting as a table lamp.
Shot No.7 was difficult as we didnt want to include the rest of the room in the shot. We achieved this by shining the light on the desk in front of the villain, creating a black silhouette of the figure, with darkness around. We shot this a few times and will select one during editting.
Shot No. 11 we did this shot a few times from different angles and used different actions. One shot which was a particular favourite in the group was a shot where Lewis, our actor, rummaged through the photos picking out just one and looking at it closely. When we were filming this shot we also filming a few more shots that we thought we could put into the montage, such as the ripping of pictures and the ripped up peices of photograph being dropped and landing on the table. This extra material will make the montage longer and more varied.
Shot No.12 we shot this a few times also, one of the shots was an extreme close up, so close that it is difficult to tell what is tapping on the table. We were inspired by the extreme close-ups in the montage of the film Se7en and we wanted to create the uneasy feeling before working out what the object actually is.
Shot No. 13 was at first difficult because we couldn't remove the blade from a pencil sharpener as it was too tight! We asked several people. Instead I went to design and borrowed a pen knife, which we decided would work just as well. We took this shot from several angles also, including close-ups and zooming in and out.
Shot No. 19 we decided that this shot needed the sound of the metal badge hitting the table, in our other shots the ambient noise would be muted in editting. Therefore we had to ask for silence in the room. We took this shot once and after watching it we were very pleased with it, so didn't shoot again.

We are now confident that all filming is finished and we can begin to add sound and titles to our opening, after editting todays footage.

Our Production Logo

As a group we decided on Impact Productions as we decided the name didn't really matter but it had to be something memorable. We decided upon a black and white image as we didnt want the image to suggest a horror approach as our film doesn't really reflect this. We wanted the image to not suggest anything, other than a classy approach. Lewis designed this using Corel PhotoPaint and we are very pleased with it.

Ideas for production company names

A few ideas for names we have had for our production company:

- Chiller Productions
-Through the magnifying glass Productions
-Anon. Cast Production Company
-Descicate Film Production
-Le Thriller Noir Theatre Company
-Penultimate Choice Productions
-Triversity Films
-The media 3 Entertainment
-Ridonely Productions
-Impact Productions

We will use the Corel Photopaint and Draw programmes to create a professional looking title with an appropriate font. We are interested in using the faded typwriter font I have found previously on urbanfonts.com. Ideas for images among the group are roses, old cinema lights or old cameras.

Production Company Logos

In every film opening, there is always a screen at the beginning with the production company logo across. We would like to production company logo to put at the beginning of our film. Before creating this I will analyse a few existing logos.

Very very simple. Usually the "i" is a light which actually moves around during the shot and ends up inbetween the "p" and "x". In the logo shown there is a wall e where the "r" should be, this isn't usually there. I like the simplicity of the text and the light as a letter. This logo really fits in with the animation theme of the company, however we would like our logo to be more thriller based.

The font on here is very square and bold, it does not really suggest any genre of film, and the font is quite outdated. The little boy sitting on the moon is the logo and this suggests fairytales and a childish theme. We obviously do not want to take this approach in our logo. The background is animated and colourful, unlike normal titles, which are a black screen with logo. I quite like the picture in the background as goes against many other production logos, however our picture would be very different.


This production logo is very typical, with a black screen. It is very simple and then the square white font shows up well on the bacground. The simple circle logo is quite boring but memorable because it is so simple. We would either go down the simple black screen route with one image and the font, or a simple font on a picture background.

Editing Session Two

During a single lesson today, the group imported last nights filming onto the computer.
We decided to shorten the montage shots to the appropriate lengths, deleting the unwanted shots. We could not put them into correct shot order yet as we have not yet finished recording the montage. I was really pleased with the outcome of the varied shots so far. We decided to use the sound of the typewriter during black screens.

Lewis had decided to book out a camera and shoot the canal location shots, no.s 14, 15, 16 and 17. We imported these to the computer and watched them, everyone was very pleased with these shots as they were what the group as a whole wanted. We played around with shots and created cuts mid shot to give the movement a CCTV camera effect, like a delay. This didnt take long and the group were pleased with the outcome. We removed all sound from these shots, apart from the splash shot at the end.

When we put all of these shots in the correct order (obviously some shots are still missing however) we decided the beginning few shots lacked continuity to the dark montage shots as we had filmed in daylight rather than the evening. We contemplated refilming these shots, but due to deadlines we experimented with an evening effect on the mac. We were actually pleasantly surprised with this effect and it does look realistic, so we decided to keep it.

Filming Part Two

Today, Jenna and I filmed some of the montage shots at the basement style location.
The shots which we filmed were:
Shot No.10 - close-up of fingers tapping on a typewriter
Shot No. 18 - water running into sink
Shot No.21 - typewriter medium shot
Shot No. 23 - pictures on the wall

We also decided to film other shots at the location to put into the montage. These were a saw hanging on the wall, dark sky and trees, footsteps in the darkness and a match being lit.
These were purely experimental and may or may not be used, we will decide during editing. In the match shot, we lit the match in a doorway to outside, so little damage could be done to possessions, and made sure the camera was zoomed in rather than close to the match to avoid damage to the camera or cameraperson. The match was lit at arms length.

When we arrived at our location, we realised that the overhead light was no longer working, so we experimented with torches and candlelight to create low lighting. We were especially pleased with the shot of the tap running in candlelight as the flame flickered and created an uneasy light, with shadows. We took shot no.23 multiple times to experiment with zooming into the pictures and the speed of moving the camera across the pictures. Shot no.s 10 and 21 were difficult as the typewriter did not work, so we decided to use these as short montage shots, rather than a means of showing the film title. We will experiment with this in editing.

Editing Session One

A double lesson today gave us time to edit the shots filmed yesterday.

We chose to use two lurking shots, one from the behind the trees which was filmed without a tripod so is jaunty. We wanted this style as it is a point of view shot. We also chose to use a shot from behind a wall, which peeks around a corner at the same door. We decided to film this shot on location as it made a change from the shots through the trees. It also looks as though the person watching the door is more desperate, and may have watched on several occasions.

The tracking shots of the actors were shot quickly, as we had already experimented with these shots during planning. We shot each shot twice.

During editing we realised the shots were quite long, so we had to shorten them slightly, however we wanted these shots to be the longest shots of the opening, to create contrast between this section and the montage. We removed all sound from the clips as there was muffled conversation in the background. We would like to add an ambient style non-diegetic sound over this section, perhaps a wind sound.

Filming Part One

The plan for filming today:

Shot No.2 - lurking behind trees, no tripod with zoom on nearby door.

Shot No.3 - Closer shot of same door, still lurking and no tripod

Shot No.4 - Door opening, low angle shot from right next to door, as experimented previously

Shot No.5 - Tracking shot of footsteps to allow dialogue, which will be recorded during editing.

Our plan was to record in the evening, as the storyline of two detectives leaving work would have required evening light. However, actors pulled out of after school filming at the last minute, so as we had booked the camera out we decided to record in the a free period in the afternoon, deciding we could add possible effects the shots to give an evening light, or re-record at a later date if this filming was not right.

As the actors didn't have correct clothes on, we had to get creative. We asked an actor to take part purely based on his shoes, as we thought he looked mature! And another already agreed actor had a trench style coat which was fine. If the recording would have gone to plan in the evening, the actors would have had correct costumes. In hindsight we perhaps shouldn't have rushed into filming as the costumes, location and light were not perfect, however we are on a strict shooting schedule so took the chance.

All shooting went well and we mostly stuck the storyboard. The filming was finished quickly today.

Film Titles

In order to know what relevant titles to use in our opening i have researched the titles in another thriller "casino royale"
-Production Company logo
-Written by
-starring
-Associate Producer
-Production Executive
-Camera Operator
-Script Supervisor
-Assistant Producer
-Sound
-make-up
-hairdresser
-Wardrobe
-assistant director
-casting
-stunt co-ordinator
-special effects
-title designer
-costume designer
-editor
-director of photography
-production designer
-music
-executive producer
-screenplay
-producer
-director

These are in order. Our opening wont need all of these but it is important we have enough and use the correct titles.

Green Screen

Because of the lack of first location, we wanted to experiment with the green screen to make up a location of our own. Unfortunately the green screen did not work completely how we expected. We don't think that the effect works well at all. However, we did quite like the idea of adding an image of handwritten words or blood splatters over shots in the montage. We will experiment further.

Experimenting with shots

Shot No.5 of our movie opening is a close up of the two colleagues leaving work whilst talking. We wanted to experiment with different angles and sides to see which worked best, to cut down the actual recording time. We also wanted to see if this shot worked well. I think the third clip works the best, the low angle shot from behind the colleagues. We will definately use this idea for shot no.5 as some of the shots from side on were not as interesting.

Typography

I really like this one because it is a typewriter style but also looks really scratchy, which is two looks we want to achieve in our titles. It is very simple and also very legible.


I like this but I think it looks very generic typewriter style and has most likely been used for titles in other films. Also, i think the letters are too rounded, which give a less scary feeling.


I like this becuase the letters are at different heights and they look quite childish. The ink splatters also add a frantic feel.


I think this lettering is good because it is very scratchy. It does not fit in with the typewriter theme but i don't think that this matters too much. Also, it is very legible.


This font isn't scratchy, or in a typewriter style, but i think it is quite appropriate and i do quite like it. The only problem i see is that the lines are very thin which may effect legibilty.


I like the way this looks as though it may have been written in paint or even blood, however I don't think that fits with the style of our film, so i'm not sure about this one. I also don't like the italics, but i do like the handwritten style.


I really like the handwritten style of this but i think it is definately too fancy and completely moving away from the typewriter theme so I don't think it is necessarily right for our titles.


I quite like this becuase of it's illegibility and its very handwritten style, but i'm not sure whether that would put a veiwer off, if it was difficult to read the titles.

I will have to consult the group.

Props

Props that we have:
- an old sink
- a typewriter
- photographs for the wall
- a suit bag
- a trench coat

Props that we need
- a police badge (currently waiting for it to be dispatched from ebay)
- broken picture frame
- a blade

Shooting Schedule

As a group we have decided to shoot on the days:
Monday 8th March
Wednesday 10th March
Monday 15th March
as we have decided it should take this long to film. All of our filming will be done in the evening as this is when the opening of Anonimity is set. This should go to plan unless, our actors cannot make these days, the weather is bad, or we cannot book a video camera.

We have two out of three locations.
The montage location:

A disused outhouse in my house so there is always access, nothing can be damaged and pictures can be stuck on the wall.

The canal location is sorted. I have not seen it but a member in the group has a relative who's garden backs onto a canal. He may shoot this himself.

The location for the colleagues leaving the police station is still unknown as we do not want an area full of pedestrians. We are considering using our school in the evening for this scene.

Any lessons at school or sessions after school will be used for editting, as all our filming is to be done in the evening.

Storyboard

Shot No.1 - Black Screen
We wish to open on a black screen as many films analysed in research use this and we liked this technique. The production company, which we may design ourselves, will be on this screen. This will fade out. Non-diegetic music - the sound of wind as the next shot is outside in the evening. This shot will fade out.

Shot No.2


Point of Veiw shot. We want to give a lurky, suspicious feeling, because the main character is always under the noses of the police. The lighting will be quite dark as it is evening, but we don't mind this. Not all will be visible due to shadows, we quite like this as it gives an uneasy feeling. The picture is obviously taken in the day though. There will be no dialogue in this, however the non-diegetic sound of wind will carry on in this shot. Due to last about five seconds.

Shot No.3


Point of veiw shot. Probably from the same place as before, only zoomed in on something, possibly a window or door, as if through the eyes of a stalker. Slightly louder non-diegetic sound now.

Shot No.4


This shot will mainly show just a door, it will not be a point of veiw shot any longer. The wind sound will be much quieter now, possibly only diegetic sound present now. This shot will be very short, just a few seconds, to establish the building in focus, which is actually a police station, the part where detectives work. Towards the end of the shot, two characters (colleagues of the main character) exit the building mid conversation, which is quiet and not necessarily supposed to be heard that well. This photograph is taken straight on, however it would be nice to experiment with a low angle shot.

Shot No.5


A low angle close up of the walking feet of the colleagues exiting the building. This shot is mainly so that dialogue can be heard. This is the only dialogue in the opening, as audience research revealed little dialogue creates more tension. This shot will be longer than shot 4 and will pan in the direction of the footsteps. Possibly about 5 seconds.
Dialogue, something along the lines of:
Colleague 1: i just don't know what to think anymore.
Colleague 2: never had a case like it.
Colleague 1: he's just always one step ahead.

Shot No.6 - Black Screen
Titles of directors. Lasting about three seconds. The group has ideas for typography, preferably typewriter style. To fade in and out quickly.

Shot No.7


Over the shoulder shot. We hope to use a dark, basement-like room for the setting. We want the lighting to show the figure and the figure only, as the walls of the room will be revealed later in the opening, also to create a feeling of unease. This shot will very short, and the sound of loud breathing will possibly be played over this shot, and the quiet again for the next shot, another black screen. The man will be wearing a jacket and possibly a hat.

Shot No.8 - Black screen
We want actors names on this screen, but i think it would be more effective if this screen had no titles, as this would be unexpected. I think other titles should be revealed in the montage. This will be around 3 seconds long, with no sound. The silence will be unnerving compared to the heavy breathing previously.

BEGINNING OF THE MONTAGE
The montage will be set in our decided location, a disused barn/stable room, which will be shot to look like an underground basement, unknown to anyone else. The room will be very dark with just one light shining on the object in the shot. We have not decided whether or not to have this section in black and white, or maybe just the canal shots. We will experiment with this when editting.

Shot No.9


In the film, the floor will be old dusty cobbles and the picture will be in a more old fashioned frame. The glass covering the picture will be smashed to look like a fight had occured or a moment of anger from the main character. This shot will last one to two seconds. At the beginning of this shot, non-diegetic music will start. The audience researched shows that orchestral music is more popular in thrillers, however the group will have to agree to this and we will find the appropriate music. Also, at the beginning of this shot, a short broken glass noise will sound.

Shot No.10


We want to use a close up of an object making a loud sound in this shot, an unexpected noise. The extreme close-up will make the veiwer uneasy and maybe not realise what is in the shot straight away. We thought about using a typewriter, who's buttons are being frantically pressed. We also thought about a close-up of a match being struck in the dark, however there are safety issues with this. This shot will be one second long, possibly less.

Shot No.11


A medium close-up of the main character rummaging through newspapers and photos on the floor. Some of the photos are drawn on or torn, to show desperation or plotting. Again, this shot will last only a second and the noise of the rummaging will sound alongside the non-diegetic music.

Shot No.12


A close-up of the main characters hand tapping on the table. The table will not be blue, it will be wooden. We hope to show franticness, by having typing on the typewriter, to rumaging on the floor, to back to sitting at the desk. The main character has clearly run out of ideas in this shot, or is plotting. The light will be very dark, with one light shining about the hand, as if it is coming from a table lamp. This shot will last two to three seconds.

Shot No.13


A close-up of a blade cutting through a picture, to show hatred. This shot will be very short, one to two seconds long. Really, we would like to have a blade, possibly out of a pencil sharpener, as it would look weirder, and a few short scrathes will be as long as this shot will be. We were inspired by the film Se7en for this shot, however we will not be cutting flesh! Again, the same desk lighting as before.

NON DIEGETIC MUSIC STOPS

Shot No.14


A long shot of a canal, not a brook which i used for this picture, as i had no access to the actual location. The lighting will be ambient, and the location will be shot in the evening. We want ambient sound also, like the sound of wind of distant traffic. This shot will last two to three seconds. This shot is to establish the new location.

Shot No.15


A medium long shot of the land next to the canal, from the other side of the canal, possibly through trees as a point of view shot, depending on the location which i haven't seen yet. A man will enter this shot, wearing a long coat and hat. He will be dragging what looks like a body bag. We would like this shot to look cut quickly through as if on cctv camera tape. This shot will last three to four seconds long.

Shot No.16


A slightly closer shot of the man dragging the body. Same info as before, only the shot will be shorter, one to two seconds long. Only ambient sound in these shots.

Shot No.17


This is a close-up of the canal water, zoomed in. During this shot, a rock will be thrown into the canal, but not in veiw of the shot. This is so we don't cause any unneccessary confusion or distress to the public, who may think the body bag is real or see it in the canal in the future. Also, we like the idea of the ripples that will shoot across our shot. The rock thrown in the canal will cause the splashing sound. This shot will be three to four seconds long.

MONTAGE COMMENCES.

Shot No. 18


A medium close-up overhead shot of a sink with running water. We want to add food colouring to the sink to look as though someone has washed blood off their hands. This shot will last one second long and will be in the montage location of the basement style room. The music starts again in this shot and we want the sound of the running water to be loud, to make the veiwers jump.

Shot No.19


The main character takes off his police badge and slams it on the table. Badge is not used in the photo as it has been bought on ebay and hasn't arrived yet. This shot will last one second only, and will track the movement of the arm taking off the badge, which may reveal the main characters face or some of it for the first time. This will be a medium close-up and the light will come from one side of the person onto the body.

Shot No.20


A close up of the main character sliding the photograph out of the broken frame. This will be a shot from the side. This will last one second or less. All the shots now are very short to create tension. The light will come from the direction of the camera and the camera will be static. The sound of the paper and glass moving will play alongside the non-diegetic music.

Shot No. 21


This is a medium close-up from in front of the typewriter. This shot may have to be from a higher angle as hands are going to be typing on the typewriter and the person typing may get in the way of the camera. The person will slowly type out "Anomity" followed by a fullstop which will be right at the end of this shot, almost cut off. There will be a sound bridge of ambient sound to the next shot. The sound of the typewriter key pressing "." will be where the non-diegetic music ends. This shot will last as long as the word takes to type, probably three or four seconds long. The light will come from above the typewriter, to show the letters typed.

Shot No.22 - Black screen

This shot will be silent apart from maybe an echo of the typewriter key from the previous shot. Two to three seconds, the sound of a torch being switched on will sound. This shot will last around four seconds. There will be no titles.

Shot No.23


This shot be very dark at the beginning. We will achieve this by turning off all lights. The torch will flick on and the these photographs on the wall will be illuminated. The torch will move slowly across the pictures and will fade out at the end. The shot will last around four seconds. The only lighting in this shot will come from the torch shining in the direction of the camera in front of the pictures. In the film there will be more pictures and i will print them off on gloss paper to make them look more realistic. I would also like newspaper cuttings and headlines among these images and for some of the images to be circled or scribbled out. The only sound in this clip will be heavy breathing, which we may record, or download from freesound.com.

Movie Title Research

This week, our group has transformed from a quartet to a trio, due to one member leaving college. We move on. However, in making a list of names we drew to a halt. Although all three of us have similar ideas in mind, and we all came up with similar kinds of names, agreeing that each others are appropriate, in the narrowing down of ideas process we reached a disagreement. I personally thought it was good for the group to experience this. So, in order to agree on the name of the film, we decided to ask the people, the audience.

So, Anonimity or Anon. ?





a clear favourite.