Evaluation Question 7

I did this question as a newspaper interview, but to make it easier to read I have also pasted the text below.

[EVALUATION QUESTION 7 TEXT]

One of the areas of focus in the preliminary task was continuity—while editing my preliminary task there were a number of shots that I was unable to use because of continuity errors—therefore, when filming the final product, I was very careful in terms of continuity. We were very conscious of the weather conditions, but as it was overcast and cloudy on both days of filming, thankfully this was not an issue. Continuity was not a problem in filming the final product as the two narratives were independent of each other, therefore each actor didn’t need to take off costumes and makeup and have to recreate it the next day. We were very careful with continuity in the sections that we planned to edit closely, for example the section when Joseph’s character is walking up the stairs. He made sure to start on his left foot each time, and count his steps carefully to make it easier for us when editing.

Another thing I focused on in the preliminary task was a variety of shot types to make the clip more interesting to watch. I made sure to carry this idea through to the final product when storyboarding, changing angle frequently and even using shot types to connote certain things about characters (for example the shot of Joseph’s character walking up the stairs from a low angle to connote his power. Another unique shot type that I included was the one from below the glass at the beginning of the sequence—it adds variety to our final piece. I think my creativity with shot types has greatly improved since planning the preliminary task, as there were only a few variations in the clip compared to the great variety in the final product.

The mise-en-scene was something that I didn’t pay much attention to in the preliminary task, but made sure to include in the process of making the final product, for example making the set look messy and creating the knife jar that is in the kitchen. However, there was a problem with some personal items left in one of the shots, but we used to Ken Burns feature to zoom and crop the shot slightly so that it was no longer visible, meaning we didn’t have to refilm.

The transitions generally stayed the same from my preliminary task to the final product. We used cuts, as we thought these looked the most professional and the cleanest. They are also the most prominent in the psychological thriller genre—within this genre, not many other transitions are used as they detract from the tension.

I used the skills that I learnt while making and editing the preliminary task in my final product, for example the match on action shot of the toast popping up, and throughout we didn’t break the 180-degree rule, even though I had trouble understanding this in the preliminary task (and came very close to breaking it). However, as there was minimal dialogue, I found it difficult to include more than one example of a shot-reverse-shot which was shown in the final two shots, where the characters meet.

I think the quality of our final piece is due to the preliminary task, as it gave us an opportunity to practice and hone our skills before using them on the final task, which made the process both quicker and more professional-looking.  

Evaluation Question 6

Evaluation Question 5

Evaluation Question 4

Evaluation Question 3

Evaluation Question 2

Evaluation Question 1

Editing Session 8

In this editing session, we changed the sound again as per our teacher's feedback, and now believe that it sounds a lot better. We experimented with various sounds at the beginning to cover the silence, and downloaded and included a small Marilyn Monroe radio interview at the beginning. We set the volume very low, but it didn't fit as there was no explanation as to where the sound was coming from, and because it was a conversation it took too much away from the action happening onscreen. In the end, we agreed that we should leave the silence because we found it the most unsettling and more effective than trying to cover it up.

Focus Group: Target Audience Feedback

We showed a group of peers our final product and asked a few questions to see if there was any way that we could improve.

Editing Session 7

Editing Session 7:
In this session, we were fine-tuning when we realised that someone's coat and bag could be seen in the background of one of the shots. Because this looked unprofessional, we considered many options: trimming the clip before the bag came into view, deleting it completely, using the Ken Burns feature, and as a last resolrt refilming it completely. In the end, we tried to trim it but it looked worse; the clip was too short and the change between shots therefore too abrupt, so we used the Ken Burns feature to zoom in and prevent it from ever coming into view, effectively solving this problem.

Editing Session 6

In this editing session, Phoebe, Leah and I did some final editing to make sure everything is polished and ready to be marked. We added the remaining titles, including one over the black screen at the beginning which ended up really completing our film. We also did some further work on sound, exchanging the 'flag' sound effect for a better one called 'clothes', which is more effective because it sounds closer top the actual sound that sheets would make.

Editing Session 5

Ella and I stayed back after school to work on our projects and decided to focus on adding titles into our opening sequence. Because we wanted the titles to sweep across the screen, it became very time-consuming.  We had to blade the text over each individual frame and then add new letters very gradually to get the effect that we wanted. In the end, we only managed to complete two in the hour, I feel that it will be easier now that we know how to do it properly.

Editing Session 3 and 4

Editing Session 3 and 4:

In these editing sessions, Phoebe and I worked on adding sound effects to our opening sequence as we had to mute the audio on many of the clips due to speech and background noise. After doing some research on Foley sounds, I began to add sounds such as a 'flag' sound effect to act as the sound of sheets moving when she is in bed, as well as playing with the volume and effects to suggest distance/closeness and make the sounds sound as natural as possible. To add atmosphere, I even added a very quiet sound effect of one of the horses snorting when the camera pans to look out of the window and focuses on Parsley to make it seem as though we didn't have to mute the audio. We even added a 'quiet room' noise over the whole clip to eliminate the very heavy silence left on the clips after we muted them. Even though many sounds weren't noticeable, I paid very close attention when rebuilding the entire soundscape to make it seem as real as possible with the sound effects available on Final Cut Pro.

Editing Session 2

In this session I worked with the rest of my group to put some fine editing into the opening sequence, such as the match-on-action with the toast in the first half and the change in perspectives as he climbs the stairs in the second. We also began to add diegetic and non-diegetic sound. As there was some unwanted background noise and speech in a few of the clips, I had to mute them, however, I found that when muted the silence was too heavy and jarring-- to solve this problem, I suggested we find some quite background noise from the internet to add into our clips. It was audio from an empty, quiet room (close to white noise) but it made the clips sound more natural. After this, we began to layer sound effects on top, for example the playground sounds to indicate the first character's dream-like state. I suggested adding an echo effect to these sounds to ensure that it doesn't seem as if the opening sequence is simply set near a playground but is instead not actually reality, but after discussing with my group we eventually decided to fade the sound effects out for the sections that her narrative cuts into his so that they are only prominent in her section until she wakes up. I also had some trouble with the music, as it was difficult to time it right for the most effective moment possible, however it was eventually placed so that the main character's eyes open just as Marilyn sings 'daddy'. After this point, I gradually faded the music out as the second main character left the room.

Editing Session 1

Editing: Session 1
In this editing session, I trimmed down all of the raw footage in my section (Joe in the kitchen) and put everything together into a chronological sequence. We planned to each edit our own sections individually to begin, and then re-edit them into the final sequence as a group.

I encountered a problem with the timing of my section-- it was almost over a minute and it should have been 30 seconds-- so I started to trim every separate shot and used the blade tool to split clips that were unnecessary. I found it quite difficult because I still had to ensure that the narrative was clear without going over the time limit, but I was successful in the end. I also had to remove the audio from each clip because of the talking in the background which left an uncomfortable silence, meaning that I will have to add some ambient background noise back into it later.

Filming

Filming Day 1 (04/02/17):
During the first day of filming, I was acting in the opening sequence. I handled my own costume however, and created the bruised wrist effect with various eyeshadows. I made sure to follow the directions of Phoebe and Leah.

Filming Day 2 (05/02/17:
On this day, I filmed the first half of Joseph's sequence, up until the point that he exits the kitchen with Ella doing the second half. When we arrived on set, I created the mise en scene to look messy and disorganised, putting plates in the sink and most importantly creating a jar of various sharp knives for Joe to select from. Because there wasn't a drawer like we had planned that was suitable for that particular overhead shot, I improvised, instead choosing to have him pick a knife from this jar. I ended up preferring this shot anyway, as I think it is more effective than the original idea as the image of all of the knives sticking out of the jar is much more striking than seeing them in a drawer, although perhaps less subtle. In terms of direction for the actors, I suggested that Joe look as angry as possible, and act quite tense and stiff in his movements to convey our character's emotions without dialogue. With the scene where he looks out of the window, I filmed this from a close up, mid shot and long shot to give myself more freedom when editing this, although I ended up using the close up because it was the most effective. To prevent continuity issues, I placed markers on the floor to ensure that when we refilmed scenes (such as Joe crossing the kitchen) there were no continuity errors. In terms of costume, I directed Joe to wear red on the day, deviating from our original plans because of the connotations of the colour red.  I was very good with my time management as everything ran fairly smoothly and we ended up finishing ahead of schedule. I used mainly natural lighting for filming my sequence as the kitchen featured a large window with no blinds, so it was impossible to try any other kind of lighting. However, because the lighting came from the left side, it allowed for the shadows that I originally intended to include.

Location Research

We originally planned to keep Carmen in the environment below, however we decided to break convention and keep her in a fairly normal and spacious looking bedroom to make it even more shocking to the viewer when it is revealed that she is held captive. 

We planned to film at Ryecroft farm because of the wide range of locations available and the fact that it looks old.In the right lighting, we think it can be quite unsettling. We needed somewhere that appears mysterious and suspicious, so we think that Ryecroft farm will be ideal, especially with the (hopefully) grey and gloomy winter weather to help set the tone. 

Storyboard (Stalker Section)

Here is the storyboarding that we did. I did the first two and Ella did the second two, although we sat together to make sure our ideas were consistent. We split up the opening sequence into halves, with Phoebe and Leah working on the victim's part because of who works best together. I made sure to be very detailed in my note taking four the four pages to ensure we know exactly what to do on the day and help it to go  as smoothly as possible.

Font Practice

We experimented with some of the fonts in Final Cut Pro to see which would be the most fitting for our chosen genre and narrative. After some discussion, we have decided upon the font at 0:22.

Talent Releases

Updated Story Idea

Here is the updated idea for our narrative, which has developed from the original idea over the course of our research.

Focus Group

This is our focus group, filmed on 20/12/16. We have taken their ideas into account when planning our film.

Music Choices:

Sound plays a very important part in any film, so our choice of song for the small section in which the stalker turns the radio on has to set the tone of the film, even though it is only a few seconds. The songs which we have in mind as possible choices are:







Using audience feedback, we discovered that among both boys and girls the first clip was the most popular choice. Furthermore, we think that the title of this song is particularly appropriate for our film.

Preliminary Task

Here is my attempt at the preliminary task set.
At 0:03 I have demonstrated a match on action shot.
At 0:09 I have demonstrated a reverse shot.
From 0:04 to 0:10 I have demonstrated the 180º rule.

Font Research

From my research, I found three possible fonts that match the style of the title sequences that I analysed. Below are several other fonts that have a creepier feel.

Credits Research

The opening sequence for Memento begins very simply with the title. Later on in the sequence it gains complexity, with the words being integrated into the objects moving across the screen. 

The title sequence for Inception has a simple colour scheme and font, however the moving lines in the background create confusion for the audience, linking to the plot of the film. Similar to the title sequence for Black Swan, it is very minimalist. 

The credits for shutter island appear in a blood-red, capital font. The way in which the letters flicker creates a sense of unease, and the colour connotes blood and violence. It is placed over the image with enough prominence that it is noticeable however it does not detract from the rest of the setting. 

White words contrast with black background, connoting the struggle between light and dark within the film. The text moves with fluidity and has a peacefulness to it, conforming to our expectations of a film about ballet. The words fade in and out; it is simple but effective in that it sets the tone of the film.


From this research I have concluded that our title sequence should be simple, with clean fonts and basic transitions that don't detract from the action on-screen. For variety, we could perhaps align our titles with actions on-screen, similar to memento and black swan. 

Location Recce

***NOTE FOR MISS SPENCE*** Things in bold will be replaced with pictures as soon as I can get them onto the computer. 

Last weekend, our group went together to Phoebe's family farm as it was a possible place to film. We took several photos of the farm and possible locations for our short film as we think that if done correctly props, lighting and sound can be used alongside the setting to create a very subtly unsettling scene. Here are some of the pictures we took.
1. Woodland area. Because we are filming in winter, it will get dark quickly, however the grey weather may work in our favour when creating a film of this genre. The light fog on this day made this hill seem particularly eerie.
2. The upper floor of a barn. The old, worn down appearance of the storage barn is another possible filming location-- although we will keep in mind ways in which to ensure that it doesn't appear to be too close to the horror genre. Again, this can be avoided with the right lighting and props.
3. A grey, empty room with a sign on the door that says no entry. This is another possible location for filming.
4. An old bedroom with bars across the window looking out over the courtyard. We thought we could use the window as symbolism for entrapment and also for a creative shot of the stalker walking across the courtyard below.

Genre Discussion

At the end of our research into the thriller genre we decided to focus entirely on the sub-genre of psychological thriller after a group discussion.

Shutter Island Opening Sequence Analysis

The opening sequence begins with a shot of a dimly lit corridor. The low-key lighting creates suspense, and the red font has connotations of blood and violence, coupled with the tense music to create an uneasy atmosphere. The film grain that has been added subtly over the top creates a feeling of realism. There is a cut to a rapid spinning shot of a spiral staircase which creates confusion and perhaps a feeling of a downward spiral. The editing is fast-paced and focuses on several shots of dark rooms which creates a sense of mystery and enigma, intriguing the audience. The next shot is then an extreme close-up of a hand, creating tension because of the uncomfortable closeness as well as the strange behaviour, making the audience feel as if something isn't right. This is followed by a loud crescendo which then fades away to almost nothing, leaving the next shot in an uncomfortable silence and adding to the sense of mystery and dread at what lies beyond the gates. The image is filtered to make it seem less colourful and the camera is a P.O.V. shot as if the audience themselves is entering. This shot then fades into the next, an anonymous person in front of a fire, The flickering, shadowy lighting coupled with the fact that they are turned away from the camera suggests secrecy and again creates enigma. The editing is much slower paced than the first half, with another fade into an extreme close-up of a boot pressing down on a gun. This creates the feeling of danger and threat, and unsettles the audience because of the strange behaviour and anonymity. This then fades into a shot of falling slow at night. The symbolism of the white on the black could suggest a binary opposition narrative, with a struggle or perhaps inner conflict between good and evil. There is then a crossfade into what appears to be a cell, but with the snow still blowing over the top. This may suggest isolation. The music picks up again, becoming more dramatic as the screen flickers. The spell of blackness is then interrupted by the striking of a match, again creating tension by introducing the idea of secrecy and the fear of the unknown. There is then a scenic wide-shot of an island, although the image has been desaturated to make it seem unappealing. The island again fits with a feeling of isolation. Finally, the title appears in dark red, capital font, with connotations of blood and violence. The way in which it rapidly approaches the audience is unpredictable, and sets the tone for the remainder of the film.