Main Task - Opening to a New Fiction Film

Preparation and filming for Main Task:

Final Idea - 

For my main idea, I have deciding to stick to the idea of creating a film opening to a 'Thriller' non-fiction film. In this case, I know I have to make sure that I create an effective film opening and grab the viewers attention, as well as making the film opening persuade the viewer to keep on watching it. I also have to consider that this particular film opening has to last a total of 2 minutes.

My intentions of this story line is to be a thriller based genre where a male character has been hired out to assassinate someone, but the viewer doesn’t know who.

The majority of the film opening will be showing the assassin making his way through the streets with a variety of shots, angles and movements.

Eventually we see a point of view shot of someone creeping up behind him and hitting him round the head with a gun, at this point, the screen would go blank (as if it’s the own males characters point of view; since he has been knocked out.

I also wanted to add a twist, by suddenly reversing/rewinding the previous shots made, to repeat the same point of view shot of the person behind him about to hit him around the head again, but instead he turns around (as if he knows its going to happen) and hits the character around the head with his own gun. The same blackout technique is repeated and the character that is collapsed on the ground is a female. He then whispers/says ‘This ain’t no game.’ And the title of the film will be revealed, ‘Assassin’.

Shot List -

· 'Close up' (Of a puddle; perhaps if its raining to create more of an atmosphere - then suddenly being trodden through by the mysterious character, and a close up of the object/gun in his hand)

· 'Tilt' revealing the character walking from behind (from the feet to the back of the head)

· Various 'Point of view shots' or 'Over shoulder shots' to show what the character is viewing/looking at. (Such as: whilst walking, viewing the moon and seeing the trees pass by it - due to the movement of the character) a 'Dolly' movement can be used for this. Or using the 'point of view shot' and 'Passing Shot' to show another mysterious character, looking through the trees/twigs.

· 'High Angle' shot to make the character look vulnerable and as if someone or something is looking down on him. This shot will also be used to show the characters feet in movement, walking through the leaves on the ground.

· Blurred effect/out of focus to show the characters ‘point of view’ on the floor waking up.

· 'Depth of field' to focus on the 'gun' and hand resting on the ground.

· 'Flash Back' effect / 'Reverse' of the scenes just shown to go back and show the other mysterious character going to do exactly what was just shown, but instead, the first intended assassin turns around and suddenly hits the other around the head with his gun.

Story Board –
Here are the story boards I had made myself for planning towards the final result of my opening film sequence. Each of the orange post-it notes represent the key frames and representations of what I have pictured in my mind for this particular idea.

Planning schedule/dates -

Monday 15/11

Thursday 18/11

Monday 22/11

Thursday 25/11

Monday 29/11

Thursday 02/12

Monday 06/12

Thursday 09/12

Monday 13/12  < Deadline for Maintask

I will be following these dates to ensure that I know when my deadline is for this project and to make sure I plan sensibly and have everything done/ready before then, such as, the editing being done to a quality standard, all the shots are included and other factors that need to be applied to this project.

Asset list:

For my filming project I will need to consider and think about the kinds of equipment/assets that are required for the making of this project.
This includes equipment such as:

- Record / Filming Equipment (camera) with sound device included.

- Tripod (to hold up the camera and keep a still shot whilst filming)
- Camera charger - if the film camera needs to be charged, since it has lost battery.

- Trolley device to pull along camera if needed, for a smooth movement along the ground (specifically for the walking shots)

- One male and one female actor

- Props (fake guns) and costumes (suit and hoody for male actor and smart black dress for female actor.

Production Schedule –

Filming on Friday 26th November 2010, in the evening time. (Since it gets dark really early, i will plan to film around the hours of 5 and 6 pm.

I plan to film in the location of my village (New Ash Green) in the evening / night time

Areas for filming must be in well lit areas (street lights) - due to the fact that it will be dark and will be difficult to show the character / actor when filming.

Just before filming log:
I think I have thoroughly planned out and set up this evening for filming (26th November 2010)
I have ensured a few days earlier that my actors new exactly what they had to wear: my male actor wearing a black suit, white shirt and black tie and the female wearing a plain black dress and overcoat.
Before filming, I have made sure that I accomodated my actors in a comfortable setting. I had invited them to my home before hand and made sure that they were up and ready for filming, such as providing them with food or drink. Once they were comfortable and ready for filming, we went out before it had just reached full darkness.

After Filming log:
When we had set out to film, it had gotten dark very quickly - since I have filmed in a winter month, where darkness falls very quickly! It was extremely cold and we were out for more than two hours, gathering as much footage as possible. I found that towards the end of my filming, I found that I was rushing due to the fact that myself and the actors were feeling very tiered and cold, so we eventually returned home.
Once we had gotten inside in the warm, I made sure I provided them with plenty of food and drink. Once we were warmed up, we all decided to review the footage and have a laugh!

Script -

Alot of this film opening isn't based around speaking parts, however, there is a part towards the end which involves both characters saying one simple line each.

Female Actor - "Too slow."

Male Actor - "This ain't no game."

Preliminary Task - Result/Film Sequence

Evaluation:
Overall, I think that this project went really well. I was able to include the main shots, which include 'Match-on-Action' shot, '180-degree rule' and 'Shot Reverse Shot'. I did have some issues/interferences such as people passing through/interupting the filming and having issues with the camera, for example, battery running out of power, but I was able to overcome those issues throughout the day of filming. I was able to go along with the filming and include various other shots, which I didn't think about/include before hand and found that the script had to be altered a little bit so that it could be imporved/applied to the storyline and the actors.

This particular shot involves a 'fade in' opening, which reveals both actors coming up the stairs as they are talking. (High angle shot)

This shot continues from the first, as the camera 'tilts' up as both actors walk up the stairs, shot from a 'medium shot'.

This is also a continuing shot from the first two, which is the 'following shot' of both of the actors as they walk towards the door and following their conversation.

This is where the actors reach / open the door and where the first part of the 'match-on-action' is made.

This shot continues on from the other side of the door which is known as the 'Match-On-Action' which represents the full action of the actors walking through, so that the viewer can see it as if its filmed in the same time.

I filmed this particular part as a 'long shot' to show the characters walking out from one door towards the other, and to show their surroundings/the corridor which they are walking through.

This shot continues from the previous (a long shot) but showing the character going to open the door. This is where the starting point of the next 'match-on-action' shot would be made.

This particular shot is a close up shot of the character going to open the door, which is where the the characters will be shown entering the room.

This shot continues the flow of the characters walking through one side of the door to the other (match on action). This shot is known as a 'medium close-up' which shows the actors from the chest to the head. I wanted to use this shot in order to show the characters expressions and to show a small amount of their movement as they walk in through the door.

Both of the shots above show the placement of the prop onto the table and both of the actors sitting down. This shot is known as an establishing shot to show the positions of the elements relative to eachother and to identify the setting.

I filmed this paticular shot as 'medium close up', showing the character from the chest to the head. This is where the shot of the '180 degree rule' will be used, to show the two characters in the same scene, having the same left/right relationship to each other.

I also filmed this paticular shot as 'medium close up', showing the character from the chest to the head. (completing/showing the '180-degree rule')

(Switching shot to the opposite character talking) '180-degree rule'

(Switching shot to the opposite character talking) '180-degree rule'

(Switching shot to the opposite character talking) '180-degree rule'

(Switching shot to the opposite character talking) '180-degree rule'

(Switching shot to the opposite character talking) '180-degree rule'

This shot is known as an establishing shot, showing the character exiting the room and showing the setting around them.

I created this shot by making it as an over shoulder shot / point of view shot to show what the character is looking at (the prop/dress placed on the table).

For this shot, I have used a 'depth of field' effect/shot to blur the background where the character is, but putting the focus on the foreground (of where the prop/dress is placed).

This shot is the same shot used for when the characters walking through the corridor towards the door. (Except the diffderent character is walking with the one previously seen). 'Long Shot'

Like the previous/similar shot to this shot I have used a 'medium close-up', which shows the actors from the chest to the head. I wanted to use this shot in order to show the characters expressions and Mreactions and to show a small amount of their movement as they walk in through the door.

This shot is known as a 'Medium Shot' which shows the character from the waist to the head, which is sued so that the viewer can recognise the individual and seeing what they are doing (in this case, showing the character wearing the prop/dress and dancing around the room)

I used a 'close up' shot for this particular part, to show the characters facial expressions and seeing how they are thinking and feeling (in this case, feeling pretty imbaressed and trying to explain theirself.)

This shot I decided to used is also a 'close up' shot, to show the other characters expressions and seeing what they are thinking / how they are feeling.

 This is where the use of the 'fade out' effect is used, to show the ending of the scene.

Process of Editing:

Preliminary Task - Filming and Editing

This task is based as a preliminary exercise to prepare for the coursework, which I will be doing soon.
This task had to involve filming and editing including an actor opening a door, crossing a room and sitting down in a chair; opposite / talking to another character. These actors/characters would then exchange a couple of lines of dialogue.
Within the preliminary film, I had to include and demonstrate 'Match On Action', 'Shot/Reverse Shot' and the '180-degree rule'.

Match on Action/Matched - A cut that connects two different views of the same action at the same moment in the movement. By carefully matching the movement across the two shots, the  filmmakers can make it seem that the motion continues, uninterrupted. For a real match on action, the action should begin in the first shot and end in the second shot. This technique would be used for when we are shooting a scene; involving a character/actor opening a door.
Shot/Reverse Shot - This technique is used for where a character is shown looking at another character (often off-screen), and the other character is shown looking back at the first character. Since the characters are shown facing in opposite directions, the viewer assumes that they are looking at each other.This would be used within the scene where the characters/actors would be talking to one another or showing what they are doing.
180-Degree Rule - This camera technique is where two characters/other elements in the same scene have the same left/right relationship to each other. If you imagine a camera passing over the 'imaginary axis', connecting the two subjects, it is called crossing the line. This technique would be used when we are filming the part when out characters/actors are talking.

For this preliminary task, I had to make sure I created a Storyboard, Shot-List and production schedule.


Script -To plan towards our preliminary task, we had to produce a script to follow throughout our filming so that the actors in the film can follow/learn and learn the script themselves. It will also make our filming alot easier for myself because the script would have been written out already and it can be self explanatory for the actors on what they will need to do.
(On the right is an image/link which shows our first rough draft of our script)
(Below Shows the 'Final Draft' of the script, which had been typed up and discussed/agreed on by the other members of my filming group, as well as the actors. This script would be used for the actors speaking parts, and if needed, we can change the script depending on what happens throughout filming.)

Story Board - For this task, I had to produce a 'Story Board', which enabled me to have a visual representation and plan of the scenes that were being planned to be shot.

I did this by creating a draft and rough drawings of how the scenes can look, as well as taking note of what angles and shots can be possibly used.

Production Schedule -

Another part of planning I had to carry out was the 'production schedule' which is a project plan of how much time will be spent over a given timescale, for every phase of filmmaking.

This would enable the filming process to run in an organised manner and to be done in a predicted time scale.

Equipment List:
- Filming Camera (inc.sound equipment device)
- Charger for camera (if needed / low on battery)
- Tripod
- Chairs
- Table
- Actors (2 female and 1 male)
- Prop / 'costume dress'

These equipment and props will be needed for when we begin filming on Monday the 8th November.

I/we are intending the filming for this task to be done within one lesson of Media, which is roughly 3 hours.


First Section of Filming - Taken from the schools 'Art Block' stairway, from a high angle shot, showing the two actors (male and female) walking up the stairs towards the door they will be going through.  The shot will follow them coming up the stairs using a 'tilit' to a 'following shot', up to when they reach the door.
(5-10 minutes / Spent on this section)

Second Section of Filming - Taken from the corridor of the schools 'Art Block', from a close up of the actors coming through from the otherside of the door / 'Match on Action', and then switching to a 'long shot' - showing them crossing the corridor, up to the room. A close up will then be used to show the actors hand on the door handle of the door.
(10-15 minutes / Spent on this Section)

Third Section of Filming - Filmed from the inside of the 'Art Blocks' photography room. Another 'Match on Action' shot used when going through the door again, switching to a 'Close up' of the prop/dress being placed onto the table.
(5 minutes / Spent on this Section)

Fourth Section of Filming - Filming once the actors have sat down, inside of the photography room, for the '180 degree' rule, whilst the scripts lines are being read out (conversation between the two).
(10-15 minutes / Spent on this Section)

Fifth Section of Filming - Still within the photography room, showing the female actor about to leave/exit the room, towards the door ('Long Shot'). Switching to the other actor from a 'point of view shot', looking at the dress - to a 'close up' of the dress itself with the actor, blurred, within the background.
(10 minutes / Spent on this Section)

Sixth Section of Filming - Filmed in the schools 'Art Block' once again, showing the two female actors walking through the corridor towards the door (filmed as a 'long shot'); switching to a 'close up' of the hands on the door handle, to a 'match on action' shot and 'Medium Close-up' to show the two female actors reactions.
(10 minutes / Spent on this Section)


Seventh Section of Filming - Filmed within the photography room, showing the male actor with the dress on (Medium Long Shot), to a 'close up' of him speaking. Switching to the same 'Medium Close-Up' of the two female actors, still within the door frame, responding to what he had said.
(10 minutes / Spent on this Section)

Total of Approximately: 60 minutes (minimum) - 75 minutes (maximum).

I am aware of the fact that these timings are not going to be the exact times that it will take to film this scenes/sections of filming, and I have considered factors that may interrupt filming, such as other students/people in the way of the shot or in the place of filming.

Shot List -
I have created a shot list in order for myself to have a better, general, idea on what shots will need to be included within this film sequence.

Preliminary Task - Ideas for 'The titles and opening of a new fiction film'

'The titles and opening of a new fiction film, to last a maximum of two minutes.All video and audio material must be original, produced by the candidate(s), with the exception of music or audio effects from a copyright-free source.'

For this particular task, I must create a 'fiction film' opening which lasts a maximum of two minutes, including titles.
In order to begin this task, I am going to do some planning and set out some ideas to go towards this task. This will help me to prepare for creating an opening for a fiction film.
From the first practice I had done for the remake of the opening scene to 'Durham County' has given me an insight on the types of things I need to consider for my own creation for an opening scene.


My first idea for a film opening is an based on a 'thriller' / 'horror' style genre, which involves an actor going out for an 'assination' task in the night.
The story line for this idea is for the character/assasin at night and working their way through the quiet streets, perhaps whilst its raining and not many people are around. The scene would consist of 'eerie' music or music relevant to the mood of the genre. I have also considered natural sounds (such as walking on dry leaves, cars driving past, dogs barking...etc) and short clippings of the titles that will have to be included, splitting the scenes of the filming opening to create more suspence. The result of this film opening would be that the actor who walks the dog would be attacked, but the attacker wouldn't be revealed. I want this scene to be based on the urban streets and the violence which occurs on the streets in todays modern world, such as gangs and violence between those who are known to be enemies. For this particular idea I have already considered the setting and the lightings that can be used in this particular scene, such as the setting being a housed area with lots of dark, small pathways and the street lights shining down upon the actor, as well as the glaring lights of the cars driving past, causing a 'high-suspence' aymosphere. I would use the lightings as an advantage to show only small features of the actor so that his appearance isn't fully revealed and creates alot of suspence and curiosity for the viewer.
I have also considered factors such as the 'sound effects' within the film opening, such as non-digetic sounds, incidental music or voiceover may be included for the music or the natural noises produced withing the opening. This music to the film opening would have to be dramatic and 'creepy' so that it can make the scene alot more scary and 'nail biting', and create a thrilling atmosphere.
I would also use sounds such as the footsteps of the actor and the dog walking, snapping of twigs and the sounds surrounding the actor (cars passing by, dogs barking, the rain falling...etc) to make the scene seem more believable and as if the viewer is actually there and make them want to find out what happens within the film.
I would use various shots for this particular opening, but I would use shots which would resemble what the actor would be seeing (Point of view shots) and various other shots such as over the sholder shots,  wide shots (to show the environment around the actor), close ups, extreme close ups...etc tomake the opening look more exciting and dramatic.

My second idea involves is also based on a 'thriller' style genre, which involves a montage of different clips based around suspicious people and objects to put across amysterious/questionning feel to the viewer. The montage would involve various odd/random shots based on the 'thriller' genre/scene, to give the viewer a rough idea on what the film would be based on. My inspiration for this style of film opening came from the last piece I had worked on (remake for a opening film sequence) 'Durham County'. The reason why I have decided to do it in this style is because when I watched this film opening, the style of it really stood out to me, even though the film sequence didn't have a flowing style to it, it still built suspence and anticipation for me as a viewer. I want this opening to also bring suspence to the viewer so they feel that they want to know what happens in the movie and to perhaps give them a slight hint/insight to how the film may be and what may be included.
For this film opening, I will include music in the background that will suit the style of the 'thriller' genre. I wont be using natural made sounds (such as from the actor, objects being...etc).
I will also have to remember the considerations of including the 'titles' and how I can fit them into each piece of film, such as overlaying on top of the film clip, or being sectioned of as a blank piece and breaking up the filmed pieces.
Durham County -

My third idea is based on an opening on an 'urban' genre film, showing the start of a day for a young female. The opening would consist of her waking up and starting the day, such as herself getting out of bed, having a bath, blowdrying her hair, brushing her teeth, getting dressed, walking out of the door...etc. A slight source of inspiration came from the opening sequence to a thriller called 'Dexter'. The reason for this particular film opening style is because I wanted to use various shots which would show individual gradually and show her attitude to life, since this particular film opening is about urban life and how the young female lives. I also thought that it would be a perfect introduction for a film opening, since it entices the viewer to continuing to watch the film and find out what happens next. I want the opening to grab the viewers attention and look fairly dramatic. I would include the use of both 'backing music' and 'natural sounds', from the actions the girl is doing, to make the scene more eye catching and interesting, such as the sound of the girl spitting her toothpaste out of her mouth, running the tap...etc
Dexter -