Editing and Final Cut express

We uploaded all of our footage on to Final Cut express quickly and easily due to our previous learning session.

We had it in the box above the editing/cutting line but when d r a g g i n g and d
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it between scenes we found it extremely difficult as they were overlapping and we couldnt get them cut in the right place.
We have decided to delete all our previous items off the line and start a fresh, d r a g g i n g cutting and editing each scene seperately and compiling them in the correct order.
This also makes it easier to create and add the credits in where we want them without having to worry about them overlapping film scenes in the wrong place.

Filming cont.

We have finished filming all of our remaining scenes now. We had a bit of problem filming the scene of "Freddie" running down the corridor and hearing a scream as teachers and teaching assistants kept walking in our back gorund area. But we finally managed to shoot a scene completely without  i n  ter fe r  e nc  e and the camera movement was good and smooth.


We also filmed our scene of "Freddie" driving in to the car park and getting out her car.  We found this relatively easy to do and this was probably the quickest scene to shoot. We only had to shoot it twice to get all things running smoothly. Whereas in some of our other scenes we had to film the scene many
                                     many
                                     many times. 
Either the acting was rubbish or there was background disturbance or the acting was good and the filming was jumpy. We normally had to film a scene 5 or 6 times before getting it perfect. But this is essential to do as the opening needs to run in smooth transitions.

Uploading

All of the shot sequences we had filmed needed to be uploaded on to the Mac.
We uploaded all of our scenes on to the Mac which was a first for us so it was a bit of a slow transition but a good learning curve, making us alot more confident and able for when we upload the rest of our scenes.

The next thing we did was d r a g and d
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                                                             p them in to order on the cutting line. We put them all in the right order but realised that the other scenes we were going to be uploading needed to be put in between them. But as part of learning how to use final cut express we said that we could move them and change them in different ways to fit all of our scenes and make them flow.

So we managed to film our scenes without too much hastle and upload them on to final cut express.

Prop list

1.) A car
2.) A poster
3.) Car keys
4.) The door and the tap

Themes, Events, Narrative structure and Characters in Thrillers

Themes
-murder
-death
-action
-crime
-identity

Events
-running through forest
-strange noises
-shadows
-extraordinary events
-echoes

Narrative Structure
-atmosphere
-suspense
-false paths
-complex
-enigmas

Characters
-detectives
-proagonist with flow
-antagonist.

At the moment I feel our thriller consists of some of these things. For example, action, running, scary music and suspense. When the opening of the film is complete, it should contain many more of these features.

Filming

We are currently at a good stage in our filming. We started off by filming one of the opening scenes, using willing volunteers to walk down a corridor and through a door, looking shifty. We have also managed to film the main character Frankie (Gemma) running up the steps as though she is late. We also managed to film the opening car scene, using a full-licensed driver but only filming the wheels driving in to a bay. We then paused the camera and filmed the main character getting out of the car and locking it. This suggests she is planning on being here for a while. We also made her look at her watch, to suggest her being late. This helps to build suspense. We used a dark green mini as our car choice as we thought it suited a teenage girl and the colour suggested mystery and difference.

Filming

Today we did part of our filming sequence.
We filmed the different "volunteers" walking in through the door. We used a close up method on their feet Z O O M I N G out to their full body. We decided to do this so it adds to the kind of mystery. By doing this in every shot adds the feeling of everything being the same and with the "volunteers" all looking slightly shifty and very aware of their surroundings.
We also Z O O M E D in on the poster to the side of the door after the final "volunteer" walked through the door to add to the suspence and urgency of knowing what they were doing but not know what is going on behind the door.
We used boys and girls of the same age so it keeps the experiment looking normal and doesnt give the audience the idea of being a single sex experiment.

We started rolling the camera slightly before they started acting and finnished it slightly after they had finnished acting. This gives us the option on how much we want and need to cut and gives us leverage to make mistakes.
By doing this it means we are confident that we have got everything we need to film and there is no chance of us missing out parts or cutting off the camera too early before the scene has finnished. Sometimes it is just a matter of seconds that can add to the atmosphere set in a film. For example if the end of the scene is p...aused for just slightly longer this can add to a certain suspense the film is trying to give.

Prezzi of the storyline sequence.

Storyline Sequence on Prezi


This is a Prezi of our storyline sequence...

Lighting - Christmas work

We thought that using a dark lighting, would help to create a mysterious sense in our piece. We were thinking of using this kind of lighting or lighting with a blue tint, such as the lighting they use in the Twilight films. The first picture is from a film called 'Never Let Me Go'. Parts of it's story-line are similar to ours, so we think this would also make it a good lighting to use. The second is from Twilight, the first movie, and as we have a car scene we think it is also appropriate.

Some Camera Shots We Will Need

This is just a rough piece of paper with some of the camera shots we will need.  I did this just to make it a bit clearer in my own head of what will be involved and what we will need to remember.

Storyline Sequence (Written)

Again i wrote up a story-line sequence on paper so i could have it on me when shooting the scenes,. It made it a lot clearer in my head and i wasn't worrying about what had to go where and when. It made it a lot easier meaning i could concentrate on filming.

Musical Score

This is a photo, of our current music choice. it isn't two minutes long yet, so we are going add some more in.

New Storyline Sequence

Media Pictures for Filming 3

BLOCK- INSIDE
This is the block that the experiment is going
to be set in. We took a shot of this so we can see and we
are aware of where our film is set.

BLOCK- OUTSIDE
This is a shot of the oustide of the block where
the experiment is going to be set. The window that can be
seen is the window infront of where the experiment
is happening.

WINDOW
The exeriment will be happening behind this  window. We decided to use this window as it is mottled and the things going on inside will not be visible to the audience, therefore adding to the mystery. But with the shot of freddie peering in and giving us a reaction shot the audience will start to become aware. 

Media Pictures for Filming 2

PATH
This is a shot of the path we will be using
when we are looking at Freddie running.
we thought it was good because it has depth which
will add the the effect of the abandonded theme.

CORRIDOR
This is a shot of the corridor we will be
using for the scene where Freddie will be running down
it when she is late for the volunteering psychological experiment.

Media Pictures for Filming 1

DOOR
This is the door we are going to use
for our actors to be walking in through
for the experiment.

STAIRS NO.1
We took photos of two sets of stairs. one a short
set with only four steps and one with alot more
We dont know what one we will use yet as it depends on the
time of the slide.

STAIRS NO.2
If we only need a short slide then we will
use stairs number one but if we need the shot
to be longer then we will obviously use this set of stairs,
stairs no.2.

Poster

I created a poster that we will put up in some of our scenes that "Freddie" will see and the camera will focus in on. This shows the general idea of the film to make the audience aware and keep them interested.

I needed to make sure i  put prompt start on it as the whole idea is for "Freddie" to be late and hear the experiment happening.

Location - Christmas Work

Though we have changed our story idea, we are still going to stick with the same setting. Where it was originally a deserted school, we are now going to have a deserted University. We thought this was a good idea, as nowadays most pyschological experiments,that are lab experiments are actually set in Universities, such as Yale anyway. We will be filming at Newport Free Grammar school, Inside and outside. For the oustide part we will be filming Freddie Brown near the NFGS sign, so that we know that that is the main setting. We will also be filming outside E5 (on the playground) when Freddie is outside and hears the screams.
We will film the whole of the experiment inside, in E5.

Main things that have changed

The main differences in our Piece

• Filming in the classroom before Freddie enters
• Hearing typing as he comes in – crescendo music, ENTER
• Broken ethnicity code – experiment without permission – sciency. Brain testing.
• Showing distressed Particpants
• Teacher with a headset, being told what to do
• Teacher is reluctant to do what he is being told to do, and having the teacher run out of the room, also in despair.

Actors

Mr Swash: Will mannings
Freddie Brown (girl): Saffron
Small class of children: Will Gregory, Joe Mcnally,Rosie Grabowski, Padraig?, Sean Smith, Lauren Sanderson
Headset voice: miss mapp

Costumes - Christmas work

There are several characters involved in our storyline. The first Character is Freddie Brown. He is the first character to be seen, and is dressed in the same way as the other students. He is in casual everyday wear, A.K.A. Jeans and a T-shirt.
The Second Character is Mr Swash. He is under the government’s control to get volunteers to participate in an investigation. He is at first unaware of the dangers of this experiment and so are the Participants. We thought to make the Participants and the viewers less aware and suspecting of Mr Swash, he should be wearing a white Lab coat. Whilst he is not an actual professor, it also helps to set the scene, and make the idea of our storyline clearer. We think he should also be wearing a headset, so that the government people are able to communicate with him.
The Third set of characters are the Participants. They are just normal everyday people who have seen the advertisement, and noticed that there is a pay rate for taking part. They are all the sort of everyday people, who don’t have lot of money. We thought that having them as students would suit the role perfectly. There will not be a school uniform, but instead casual everyday clothes, such as Jeans or Shorts or skirts with some sort of T-shirt/ Jumper. I think it would be better if the clothes did not necessarily match, and looked like just a random selection. That way when they are in the trance, it shows how it affects ALL of the different people, and how they are all affected simultaneously, in different and the same ways. When these characters are in the trance,, they will be wearing extremely pale face makeup, and dark eye makeup, to show that the trance is not a good thing, and to show that the characters are in distress.

Lighting - Christmas work

Because we want to have a sense of mysteriousness about our thriller, we have decided that we want to have a grey/dark tint to the lighting of our film (on the camera). Having such dull colour gives the opposite effect of really bright colours, and changes the tone of the piece. We want our piece to be slightly depressing, as we will need the audience to empathise with the suffering characters in the film. There is no happy highlight in our piece, so the whole thing needs to be shot with the dull lighting.

Props - Christmas Posts

Updated list:
Tables & Chairs – These help to set the idea of a classroom/experimenting area environment. While the characters are at these desks, they are in grave danger. They are also symbolic of the Participants and the viewers’ ignorance and innocence.
Keyboard & Computer – The Computer is controlling Mr Swash.
Pens and Paper – The Participants think they are doing some written sort of test
Big advertisement Posters – This is the First thing that we will see in the Film. It immediately sets the idea for the Thriller, and shows how the characters will be drawn into the forthcoming dangerous situation
Headset – Mr Swash receives prompts from the government regularly from this from the government people, but the participants can not hear what is said.

Our Film Certificate

We have decided to rate our Film as a 12A, after reading the BBFC site’s rules. Though our film contains no Drug-usage, Discrimination, Sexual activity. Dangerous imitable behaviour, Bad language, Nudity or extreme violence, there are hints to our film which younger viewers may find disturbing. Our Thriller is aiming to play with the viewers mind, and leave them slightly disturbed. That is why we think it is only suitable to have an accompanying adult with a younger viewer. The theme of our thriller is also a mature theme, which a twelve year old may just be able to grasp better than viewers aged 11 and below.

There will be some scenes in the film which may be looked at as violent, but it supposed to be looked at as a terrible thing, and does not encourage any imitable behaviour, which could mislead the viewer into thinking self Harm is correct. There will also be scenes which may distress the viewer. Rating this film a 12A means parents make the decision as to whether the film is suitable.

New Story Line - Changed ideas!

The new storyline is:
The opening shot will be of a poster, which is advertising people to volunteer to take part in a psychological experiment. It will say the name, time and venue that the volunteer will be needed for, on it. The filming will then go to Freddie who has seen the poster, and is getting ready to head up to the investigation place. This is still in E5, at Newport, and we are keeping the idea that it is still a deserted school. It is like an old university that scientists just use for experiments and investigations. We think this will make the whole idea rather creepy for the viewer. The focus then turns to a man named Mr Swash, who has been ordered to carry out this investigation by the government. Though he has been threatened, he doesn’t know the dangers of this experiment. Volunteers enter the room, and Mr Swash tells them all to take seats. When they have quietened down, he begins to type on his keyboard. He is typing what he is being told to type by the government people. Gradually all of the participants start to fall under some kind of trance. Mr Swash notices something is wrong but is urged by the people from the government to carry on. He begins to type more loudly and more furiously than before, and suddenly some vivid effects start to take place. One student clutches her head and starts to scream. She is really distressed. Others start twitching and acting weirdly, as if something had possessed them – this is the trance.
The focus then returns back to Freddie who is walking up to the classroom, he is running late. (We might also get a glimpse of the Newport Free Grammar School sign.) Freddie is a bit lost, and as the school is deserted there is no one there than can guide him the right way. He ends up outside the window of the classroom next to E5 when hears the exceptionally loud, distressed screaming, and runs in the direction of it to help.
The focus goes back to the classroom Where Mr Swash is struggling to keep going with the experiment. The camera keeps flashing to all of the faces of the participants, and to Mr Swash’s Face. Their faces are pale, and they have dark, disturbed eyes. Just as Freddie enters the room, Mr Swash drops his headset and runs out of the room, with his arm over his face. He knocks into Freddie, murmuring and crying and then just runs away.
Freddie looks into the classrooms just as all of the participants fall out of the trance. They all simultaneously hit their heads on the desks then jerk upright.

Risk Assessment

Risk Assessment on Prezi

I created my risk assessment on Prezi as i like the way it lays out the information. We had to do a risk assessment for filming as it is a very important aspect of creating a film. This is because there are some things that can go wrong or can affect areas of filming. It is vital that we take these factors in to consideration.

5 Opening Film Credits

Four Lions
WILD BUNCH, Film 4, Film 4 presents, FOUR LIONS, in association with Wild Bunch and Optimun Releasing, A Warp Film production, A Chris Morris film.

The Godfather
Arian World Entertainment, Paramount a viacom Company, Mario Puzo's THE GODFATHER

The Davinci Code
Columbia, IMAGINE entertainment, Ron Howard , THE DAVINCI CODE

Inception
Legendary Pictures, SYNCOPY,
Catch Me If You Can
DREAMWORKS SKG, Dreamworks Pictures presents, Kemp Company and Splendid Pictures production, A Parkes/McDonald production,. A Steven Spielburg Film, Leonardi DiCaprio, Tom Hanks, CATCH ME IF YOU CAN, Christopher Walken, Martin Sheen, Nathalie Baye, Amy Adams, James Brolin, Brian Howe, Frank John Hughes, Steve Eastin, Chris Ellis, John Finn, Casting by Debra Zane,CSA   , Co-Producer Devorah Moos-Hankin, Based upon the book by Frank w. Abagnale, With Stan Redding, Music by John Williams, Costume designer Mary Zophres, Film editor Michael Kahn,ACE,  Production designer Jeannie Oppewall, Director of Photography Janusz Kaminski,ASC,  Co-executive Producer Daniel Lupi, Exaecutive Producer Barry Kemp Laurie MacDonald, Executive producer Michel Stone Tony Romano, Produced by Steven Spielburg Walter F. Parkes, Screenplay by Jeff Nathanson, Directed by Steven Spielburg, INSPIRED BY A TRUE STORY, To Tell The Truth.

The opening credits of Catch Me If You Can where very long, However they were made visually aaesthetic for the audience. This was acumplished through the use of animation that interacted with the credits, macing it more intresting to watch for example when the name of the actor, playing the main character came up an arrow pointed to the representation of the character in the animation.