Friday, 27 February 2015

Editing experimentation


Split screen experiment

For our opening we wanted to try something different but weren't too sure how to do it on the Mac editing program, final cut pro. Because of this we decided to experiment with a set of short shots we had recorded beforehand and had a fiddle with all the different ways in which we could do this. This is what we managed to do.


I believe the experiment was successful and we created an adequate split screening effect. We had a few difficulties such as in one of the shots we didn't want it to look like we were coming from the same direction. With some help we discovered that we could flip on of the shots so it looked like we were coming from the opposite directions.

Written by Keira
Filming by Keira and Callum
Editing and experimentation done by Keira and Callum

Group goals for Febuary 27th

Unfortunatly we are 2 people short today but we have set ourselves individual tasks in order to maximise the usefulness of our time with the others away.

 Keira's aims for this lesson are to:
  1. Write the blog post on the split screen experiment- COMPLETE
  2. Go through the script looking for where we could use Foley's and make notes.-COMPLETE
  3. From these notes go onto GarageBand and look if they have appropriate sound representations of what we need or if we have to record them ourselves.-COMPLETE
Stephens aims for this lesson are to:
  1. Brainstormed and researched title ideas appropriate for our opening so that we can go over them as a group and pick one when everyone has returned.

Wednesday, 11 February 2015

Film Location, Risk Assessment, and Location Permission

I have gone to the film location to take some pictures of the place, and while I was there I decided to make a risk assessment video.

Due to the large file size, I've cut it into two parts.







Here are the pictures of the area.







I have also spoken with my boss, who has given permission on camera to use the back of the shop.

Tuesday, 10 February 2015

Research Thriller Openings - Jacob Haynes

Silence of the Lambs


Silence of the Lambs starts with a long shot of a wooded area, this enables the audience to perceive the setting and what kind of atmosphere this film has and is about before the narration kicks in.





A tilt is used to reveal a woman, in which is the protagonist of this film, climbing up an uphill slope using a rope until she reaches a safe distance away from the camera at a medium close up

From the first minute, a tracking shot is following the protagonist which allows the audience to see her body language and facial expressions
 The final scene from the extract really builds suspense and creates and enigma to the audience. The pathetic fallacy in this scene with the fog really shows the mystery of who this woman is.

Thriller Opening Script



Thriller Script
Stephen – The Head

Callum – Detective

Simeon – Client

Keira - Assassin


Fade in to a close-up of a document of the assassin being pushed across a table.
Sound bridge to cut of The Head.

The Head: “No background, no records, no information at all. She’s a ghost killer.”

Cut to the Detective, standing on the other side of the table

Detective: “What do we have on her?”

Cut to the Head.

The Head: “Nothing so far, but I’ve recently had contact from a client who has some info, I want you to meet him and find out what he’s got.”

Cut to the Detective.

Detective: “When and where?”

Cut to another document on the table.

The Head: “Here, in this car park, meet him in two hours.”

Close-up of the Detective.

Detective: “I’ll be there.”

Fade to black.
Fade in to Detective getting into his car.
As door closes, cut to the car park, ELS of the Land Rover coming into the car park and stopping.
Cut back to Detective’s car starting up.

Sound bridge over the following shots, detective and The Head talk via radio.

The Head: “Now, you should find the client in a small alley next to the car park, in a small warehouse. He should be the only person there. Black guy, rich suit, you can’t miss him.”

Detective: “What intel does he have? Why is this a private meet-up?”

The Head: “He wants to remain anonymous, he fear’s he’ll get found out and killed.”

Detective: “So why’s he wanting to meet up now?”

The Head: “We’ve offered him protection, in return for some documents.
                    He’ll have a briefcase on him.
                    Just meet the guy, get the case, get your ass back to the station.”

Detective: “Got it.”

The Head: “Oh, and keep quiet about this, we’ve had to bribe this guy to talk,
                     so we’re keeping it off records.”

Detective: “Trust you to make a dodgy deal…”

Cut to Land Rover’s back door being opened and a bag being removed.
Cut to the Detective’s car pulling out of the driveway.
Cut to the assassin heading up the fire escape and onto railing.
Cut to the Detective’s car going down the road.
Dual screen of the assassin removing rifle and setting it up, as the Detective is in the car, driving.
Cut to the client walking into the alleyway.
Cut to the assassin moving the gun slightly and looking down the scope.
Cut to a POV, down the scope of the client, zoom on the briefcase before moving to the chest as he goes to look at his watch.
Match on action cut on the client looking at his watch.
Cut to the Detective in the car, almost at the location.
Cut back to the POV of the assassin.
Cut to the trigger being pulled.
Cut back to the POV as the client is then shot.
Cut to the client falling back into the screen, causing a fade to black.

Fade in to an ELS of the Detecive’s car coming into the driveway, the assassin’s Land Rover is gone, ironically, the Detective’s car pulls into the same spot.
Cut to a smaller ELS of the Detective closing the door, and walking away from the car, towards the camera.
Cut to the Detective coming into the alley and finding the body, the briefcase is gone.
Cut to a close-up of the Detective looking around.
Sound bridge to the client’s phone ringing.
Detective picks it up, it’s the assassin.

Assassin: “Very nice of you to come and clean up my mess detective, I really appreciate it.”

Detective: “Cut the jokes, we’re onto you. Your days a very limited.”

Assassin: “Do you honestly think you can intimidate me?”

Detective: “We will catch you, bitch.”

Assassin: “How are you going to catch me on one leg?”

Cut to a long shot of the Detective, a gunshot is heard as the Detective is hit in the leg, he cries in pain and falls to the ground.

Hand cam - POV of the Detective, looking up to see the Assassin on the higher rooftop looking down at him.
{This will be done via masking and greenscreen}

Assassin: “I’ll be sure to send you some flowers in hospital… Ta Ta!”

Phone hangs up as the Assassin runs away.
Cut to the Detective pulling out his phone and calls The Head.

The Head: “Did you get the case?”

Detective: “Negative. She got there first.”

The Head: “Bollocks… Right, get back to the station, we’ll move onto plan B.”

Detective: “I’m going to need a pickup…

Fade to Black.

The Head: “Why? What happened?”

Detective: “Let’s just say the bitch has an itchy trigger finger…”

Lighting




 Experiment 1

 
During a practical lesson, we had the opportunity to have a look at all the lighting equipment available to us, including, but not limited to:
  •  lighting kits
  • Lighting gels                  

    • reflectors and diffusers 










     We then experimented with this equipment and tried to recreate the below shot.



    After many tries and positions, these were the results.