Final step by step outline

 Today in class myself and my group finalised our final outline of our opening title sequence. We changed around shots that were used in the test shoot to make the audience understand the sequence in which it is watched. 

We finalised a plan to use for our final shoot and added more shots in and is watched in this order:

1. The bike in the left corner of the screen, with the title of the film i the other corner with the sound of the bike turning slow and gets more slow and slow.

2. Police tape being put on the crime scene

3. Frensics cones being put down on crime scene 

4. Forensic close up of putting plastic gloves on

5. Follow the tape being put around the scene

6. Another shot of frensic unzipping the evidence bag

7. Police having conversation before arresting 

8. Low shot of police walking away

9 women walking out of house police around her

10. Close up and low shot of her walking out of house

11. Another close up of tape

12. Forensics putting bell in evidence bag

13. Blood on floor hands a shaking 

14. Close up of parts of a bike

15.  Police handcuffing women

16. Women in ore crying her eyes out

17. Police taking her away 

18. Police taking her away

19. Police taking her away getting closer to car

20. Shot of car with lights

21. Opening car door

22. Putting head down getting into car

23. Bike lights smashed on floor

24. Forensics putting evidence in bag

25. Ecu of childs helmet

26. Ecu rucksack of childs bag with stuff coming out and blood everywhere 

27. Bike again

28. Women being driven off wheels

29. Blood dripping off bike (ling and slow)

9

Review test shoot

 Review test shoot:

When filming our test shoot we had little time and myself and our group all agree we rushed a bit to get everything we planned into this shoot. Overall i think our test shoot went well however our camera placement when shooting clips was not as perfect as we wished. The low angle extreme close ups were not positioned as we hoped them to be. We would have liked them to be perfectly placed in the correct position so we feel as though we have achieved a perfect shot. Aswell as this we would have liked to film close ups aswell as extreme close ups, however we feel as though our extreme close ups were filmed well and look intense which was our main aim towards the audience. 

Our test shoot did was not as long duration as we wished and hoped it would be. Although we came together as a group and explored our shoot and decided that we could use longer clips along side extra clips that we added in that we could ether did not have props for, enough time or added in recently to make our test shot more interesting. We also believe adding in longer but slower clips would add an intense and scary feel towards our opening title sequence which is what our intentions are. 

During our test shoot we asked our teacher mike and our classmates if they found our test shoot was intense and they all came back with the answer “yes”. I feel as though the sound affects of the police sirens and the walk-in talkies made the shoot more intense and engaging to the audience as it added a lot more of a relastic tone to the shoot. However due to our lack of props and identification into making sure the audience know that its a young child i feel as though we could have made our shoot more intense and frightening however this is what we intend to do for our final shoot. 

During our test shoot we found out some problems that occured. We did a voiceover repeating the words “it wasn’t me” whilst the lady was getting arrested. I believe with the right editing we can achieve this through different voice tone and at a lower volume of the clips. 

We also feel as though we did not achieve the goal of the mother being the main character by not giving her enough screen time of her in hysterics crying over the loss of her child, feel as though this needs to be more clips of her in ore to show the audience and question themsef into what has happend. This was the main goal that we were trying to reach as the product. Furthermore our group decided that we need to prove to the audience that the bike is a kids and that there is a kid involved because this will cause more heartbreak and sorrow towards the audience. However this was due to lack of probs and on the day we will have the correct props to show the intentions that a kid has died.

This is what our group decided was a good and easy hint to the audience that this is a kids bike, and that a kid had died due to the features, in compartment to a normal bike there’s not hints that is a childs, due to the fact were not showing the childs face or body we thought it was a key to make it as obvious as we could without giving it away too much.

When creating the test shoot my group was very proud of the sound affects that were overlayed during our sequence, as we feel as though without this the title sequence would not be as effective. Furthermore as the scene opens, it opens with a bicycle spinning as it gets slower and slower i feel as though this is very effective and eye opening for the audience as they get an insight into what the title sequence is going to be about.

Test Shoot

 

This is our test shoot, which we tried to create as close to detail in which we would like our final shoot to look like. We tried best to convey the detail and camera angles that we want to use, however did not use all the props and shots we wanted to use.

Planning our test shoot

 In my group we thought it would be a good idea to do a test shoot before our final idea. Our opening title sequence is a easy set to create and just filming close ups of the set and few extra clips on the side. However putting together and making sure the clips look professional and relastic was the headrest part. Our group wanted our test shot to try and look convincing and as relastic as possible for the best possible outcome. During this test shoot we understood where the good and bad factors and elements where we can improve or do differently.

Before our shoot, our group made a list for shots we would like to use during our sequence to help us be prepared and make sure we include everything we planned to do, although some shots were taken on the day that we did not plan and worked perfectly.

For props it was key to make sure we included a substitute so we could understand some what of what the final thing will intended to look like. For example we used ketchup as a sub situate for blood. Along side paper cut outs that we used that will obviously be real in the final shoot. Moreover our test shoot was just an idea into what the shots wil look like rather than professional and well produced in the limited time we had. 

For our location we worked outside of hurtwood in the main building as our crime scene is based in front of a large house. It was convenient and not a bad idea. For our scene we needed two police officers and a mum. We just used us three as the actors for now as in our final shoot we will need much older actors. 

The shoot went very well, although it wasn’t clean or professional looking we managed to contain all bits of work that we want to include in our opening title sequence and more. We all feel as though we just need to tidy it up a bit on the day of the shoot.

The angles and close ups went extremely well in this shoot, better then we imagined as we were filming on an i phone so we were sceptcul and worried the quality or zoom in would change or turn the title opening sequence bad, but we were very pleased with angles and content that we created.

I think overall, we struggled with the tape and working out how to film props looking effective and engaging to the audience. However due to all the resarch that our group has done i feel as though we can overcome this.

Developing ideas 3- story boarding

 Story boarding in class:

A storyboard is a graphic organiser that plans a narrative.

You usually story board before and after filming.

Story boarding is a easy way to show your vision and a communication tool for the director to crew (camera etc, dop)

-It also allows for far easier groups

- allows you time to plan before hand and not on set

- allows you to experiment 

-visually see / plan the edit

The story board is very helpful for after filming for the editor to understand what and where everything goes.

Included on the storyboard is : movement of camera (panning,moving). Lighting or dialogue, important props and costumes, sound, timing, transition,location, shot number, action, timing

Things to remember: camera composition and framing (rule of third) (foreground) (symmetry) editing.

Independent Resarch 2

 For this resarch post i worked on and thought it was a good idea to resarch camera angles, especially close up shots. I thought researching this would give further details and information onto the best possible outcome for our opening title sequence.

Firstly resarching what is close up shots?

Using the Website used

I found out that close up shots are used mostly in films and television to create an emotion in the scene. Which is what my groups goal is trying to reach to the audience.

Framing the actors face and the actors reaction being shown on as main frame on screen brings emotions as long as personal and touching towards the audience.

From my research we found out that there are four type of close up shots:

- medium close up shot - capturing subject waist up

- close up shot - frames, head and neck

- extreme close up shot - showing close up of the persons face specific things e.g eyes

-insert shot - close up that focuses on a specific object

There are many reasons that the director conveys a closeup in the scene for example to convey emotion which draws in the audience and portrays the audiences innermost feelings and make the audience feel as though they a part of a action.

Futhermore to interact a characters subtleties to show a small emotion from detail like an eye roll or eyebrow raise to effectively tell the story. Which is really effective and ingaging for the audience to interact with.

In addition hinting to the audience in a close up to what they need to see to uncover the rest of the film details. This draws the audiences attentions and the main characters and communicate the importance of behaviour and reactions and drives the narrative.

Technical considerations for using close up shots:

Understanding and deciding the camera movement on how to get to the close up smoothly, through building up tension and signally into what’s going to happen.

Deciding on how to make a successful scene is using different camera shots and angles to tell the story, identifying how often to use them will show the audience how the story is going to be told. Too many close up’s can cause a distraction or disconnecting the audience from the scene.

I decided to work with this and try my own close up shots:

I decided to create this, by capturing one of my friends eating fruit through a close up shot. Introducing the audience to an emotion caught shot, this gives the audience an idea of a character and what he is doing whilst not showing all of his body. As the face will give a descriptive and emotion caught shot.

Developing ideas 3

In todays lesson we took on board are feedback from mike and came to conclusion that we liked the idea around the mystery and murder concept of film. In the past few days our group has got together and developement a new outline for our title opening sequence. 

We decided to go with a opening title sequence because we believe our idea fits an opening title sequence clearer then a opening scene due to the detail we would like to establish and use of close ups.

Futhermore we came to a conclusion that we would like our idea to follow the outline of a young boy being murdered whilst on a bike and a unknown women has been left for the blame of the murder and is getting in handcuffs whilst frensics investigate the scene. 

Throughout our opening scene our shoots would contain close ups of:(almost a montage)

Location - in a rich family house, leaves the audience in suspense as changing thr stereotype 

Actors - middle age women, police officer, frensic 

- bicycle wheel spinning and slowing down using extreme close up so the audience don’t understand that it is a child’s bike

- shot of broken glass 

- frensics number plates and tape aswell as white outline

- extreme close up of handcuffs getting put on

- facial expressions of police in shock

- lady crying in her arms facial expression

- broken helmet with blood

- dirty young child’s shoe

- tape being put up around incident 

- police lights flashing 

- flashing light on camera that follows into another scene

- putting on white gloves

- picking up the bell of the bike and putting it into a investigation bag

The title sequence that is going to be placed on screen during our opening scene consists of peoples names that are going to be mentioned written in blood, creating a creative and different title sequence.

The rest of the film would follow the lady trying to clear her name and claim her innocence for her child’s death whilst mourning her dead child.

Mood Board

 Mood Board:

Today i made a A3 mood board that represents the key parts and themes that i would like to encounter in my opening title sequence. I drew pictures from Pinterest,online and from films that i think inspire the way i want to encounter my opening title sequence. 

Here is my mood board:

Here i thought it was a good idea for the font and title sequence using fake blood to write out names of production and people that need a mention in the title opening sequence. For example  cutting from the scene to a shot of names with blood and a knife written over, however may lead to complications when trying to achieve this every time and may be hard and complicated on the day. But overall i think this would overall look really effective and creative and different to other title sequences. 

Through my mood board i created a mood board which wraps up my concept idea of  our opening title sequence. Through photos the genre is explained through murder photos, forensics and blood. 

Quite clearly here is the theme and genre quite obviously of murder and thriller through the many pictures in collage of blood and frensics to prove how dark and horrible the theme of our opening title sequence is going to be.

The location of our scene is based upon a rich house on a street and police car is pulled up with flashing lights and the bike is on a side of a road fallen over and broken along with a broken helmet and shoe.

Another screenshot that i zoomed into was on my board of a mum that i would like to use in my scene. A mum who looks like an ordinary basic mum and would convince the audience that she is the mum of the child that died. Not stereotyping as it is original that it was the mum who killed the child.

Through my mood board the chacterstics are explained through the use of photographs that explain the concept behind our idea. The murder scene and blood and fresincs aswell as a bike plays a large part in our opening title sequence and compliments our idea.

Independent resarch

 

In preparation for our shoot we worked on behind the scenes and practiced on creating and make as realistic shoot as we can make as possible . Due to researching findings i will try my best to recreate a similar aspect to go towards the final opening title sequence.

After watching this video i found out some interesting facts about the way in which frensics discovers the incident and investigates.

- On the scene is a medical examiner is a leading member of the medical investigation they help organise and secure evidence. It’s there job to find out if a crime was committed for example a murder.

The medical examiner also carries equitment to help them solve and investigate thr scene. This includes Swabs, plastics bags and camera. Futhermore this is important for my group when filming the opening title sequence as this will be the process in which are recordings will be used. 

The first note for the medical examiner is to work out if the death happend at the scene. Every death scene is a potential crime scene until proven otherwise.

The first rule of every crime scene is to not disturb or contaminate the crime scene. The investigator must wear specialist and protective equitment when picking up evidence to avoid disturbing the scene too much, from not sitting down or leaning on anything.

After making sure the scene is safe and secure the medical team will begin their thrur examination of the scene and to attempt to find evidence from the question they ask themselves below:

And look for murder weapons or other evidence around the scene.

The major tasks that a medical examinator does is:

- take notes

- videoing

- photography 

- sketching

The medical examiner will try their best to note down the most important details :

Like when the death occured and Futhermore. They note down and draw lay outs of the room, weather, trash cans and Futhermore so the investigators get the best possible information they can into solving the case.

 

Once once the scene of the death has been noted down and taken pictures of will the investigation of the body commence.

This resarch will give a better idea of what we need to involve in our final opening title sequence, as we will have a better idea into what pieces of this resarch we need to involve. For example putting evidence into bags and taking photos will be useful and perfect for our opening scene.

Developing ideas 2

 Today in media we got into groups and worked on developing ideas through our PowerPoints, mike went through each of our groups in class and talking about our ideas further. Talking to us about how we have to change and tweak some ideas that we have created for this PowerPoint:

Here is our development PowerPoint for our idea that we have created. Further developing from this PowerPoint mike has talked to us about further ideas, from changing flashabacks to just a scene that is developed over this. Like her dead boyfriend in the not a bath and she has been convicted for this murder and the police arrest her. Not a final idea at all but just developing off our PowerPoint. Tomorrow we have decided to meet up and work on the rest of development and preparation for our idea.

Camera developing 2

 Today, in our lesson with mike, he talked to us about what is going to happen in the next couple of weeks and instructed us on what to include, we then got into our groups (myself,Freya,tiggy) and talked about the in detail and depth of our final conclusion. 

Mike then came and sat with us and talked about the logistics and if it is posible to create our outcome. We talked and it was quite difficult and complicated for our outcome to work so we adjusted it and have to change a few things that we walk about it later in our free periods.

Developing ideas day 1

 Today we got into our groups for our opening sequence. I got put into a group with Freya, Tiggy and myself. 

We set up a WhatsApp group chat so we can interact with each other when we aren’t having a meeting and in lessons. We read out possible ideas that we could work together as a group to produce. We read through one my one possible ideas that we might want to maintain and produce further on.

We looked at our timetables and figured out the best possible senerio for getting together and talking about our project. Myself and tiggy share a room together in which it would be easy to talk and plan out ideas aswell as Freya who is a day student who i have free periods with and we can talk then. 

We all talked together about wanting to try our hardest at this project and a positive mindset so we went away and talked on WhatsApp about what our final idea should be about.

Camera workshop 2

 Today in our workshop we worked as a group t'o understand the camera angles and how to work behind the camera for the skills we need for our final opening scene. 

We started off by learning the 180* rule for camera composition. It is one of the most important details that is needed for the rules of filming. It is used when the space between two actors is filmed during a frame. Keeping to one side of the 180* degree line makes sure the actors keep the same side to the relationship between the actors. Scenes are made to look like this to look easily followed and clean. Down below is a picture i drew that simplifies my explanation.

W 

Furthermore today we also learnt about the rules of third it divides a photograph into 9 squares to divide into the perfect angle and size for the film. The rule of three is useful for the balance and movement of the camera composition.

After we got taught about the rule of third, we weren’t back to the camera and he taught us in how we should set up film from lighting to zooms and height. When starting to film, getting the height correct can change the whole view on ur film. Making sure your camera is level with the object or person you are filming is the key point that is needed in creating the perfect shot. You shot wide first to overrule the rest of the shots, so when doing closer and more detailed shots its easier and more understandable to create the rest of the shots. After the wide shot is made following on, you create close up shots of the object you picked up, back and forward and leaving space in between so the shots are clean.

After this we learnt about the important rule of continuity. Continuity is when all props are detailed are consistent from shot to shot. For example if there is a scene where she is applying makeup. During a getting ready scene with lipstick to create the scene you need to put on lipstick and then apply it again for another angle scene, so there is a clean and continuity shot.

We then moved onto something called “marks” this is when something is placed on the floor or “marked” where the last person or object was placed. For example this is used when something needs to change or stop between one scene so the actors can carry on as if nothing has happend in the scene. It is a very effective technique because it allows change without the audience knowing. As well as this it is also used for a person to stay in the same place so the angles and positions for close up or wide shoots look as realistic and normal as possible without it looking fake or not real.

After this we learnt the purpose of the words that are used when the camera is rolling, about to roll and a shot is finished. For example before the camera is rolling and filming everyone who is in charge replies to the assistant director “stand by” by saying “standing by”. When everything is set up and ready and the actors are in place the director says “role camera” to begin the scene and the words “camera rolling” once the camera has started filming and scene starts followed by action when the dialogue begins and “cut” when the shot has been taken. The words “action” get shouted to the crew to announce that everything is in place and the shot has started, the cameras start filming before getting shouted “action” so the shot can be edited well and perfectly in time. After saying cut the cameras keep rolling until it is evident that the scene is finished and can leave the scene for the editors to deal with.

Once the shot has finished, it is a bad idea watching footage back due to if the actor sees something they don’t like that they have filmed. For example their standing position. They would feel as though they need to change the way the look and will act differently for the next shoot.

Overall I found this camera workshop really useful as I learnt lots of new skills and techniques that will help me in the future.

Getting into groups

 Today, Friday 14th of january we got into our groups for our opening title sequence. 

My group is a group of 3: Tiggy, Freya, Grace

We exchanged numbers on WhatsApp and created a chat to bring our ideas and plans together so we can all stay in contact with each other. 

Talked about what free periods we have together, me and Freya share all our frees together, however tiggys do not. Although Tiggy is in my house and my roommate back at house, so we can all easily contact and get together to talk about ideas.

Camera workshop 1:

Camera workshop 1:

As a class we all came together to take part in a workshop guided by one of the teachers that are working on the workshop with us. This workshop has gained us a early skill to use when we come to doing our opening title sequence.

In our first practical camera workshop we were discovering the set up of the camera techniques and followed step by step guide in a group of four of how to set up a camera. We got given some equipment including a camera (black magic 4k mini ursa) a head tripod and a lens. 

He taught us how to safety, easy and the quickest way to set up a tripod, through opening up the bottom to make it taller aswell as unclipping the party’s which then allowed us to pull it up to be extended this is to make sureyou get the perfect height for moving and capturing the shot.

After the tripod was set up, we got taught how to use the tripod, through the tightening of the tripiod so the camera is secure. Aswell as buttons on the side to attach the camera safely and easily. Futhermore, we applied the panning tilt arm to the side of the tripod which allowed us to move the camera steadily. This benefits the shots as it is smoother and more realistic rather then doing it with our hands as this would make the camera wobble and make the shot look unprofessional. 

On the tripod there was something called the “bubble” which is where the centre of the bubble should be at all times when filming to ensure the camera is level. We learnt to bubble the spirit level to ensure it was centre so that the camera would be level, to do this you need to twist the knob underneath the head of the tripod. This allows it to move, where you can aim for it to be the centre so that the camera is level.

In addition, we took the camera out and got it set up serculey on the tripod. We did this by holding one button down on the left side, to help the camera slide smoothley and then after it slid on smoothley, we turned another part on the right side, which helped it secure it on tightly.

The bottom part of the camera (the shoe) helped the camera slide onto and safely stuck onto the tripod.

We were instructed to put the battery pack on so that we could start the camera up. We did this by placing the battery pack on the back of the camera, half way down and then pushing it down until it clicked so we were all ensured that it was secure and safe.

R

We flipped open the left side where the screen is positioned until the camera came on. In our small group we praciced positioning and the viewfinder of the camera.

On the camera lense there are two wheels, the one at the front is for zooming in and out. We got taught zooming into a far away object and then slowely zoom out to get the perfect angle and sizeing. The back wheel is used for focusing, you have to turn the dial into it was crystal clear imagine. This gave our group excitement and some practice with the camera before starting or opening scene.

Lastly we were introduced to the exposure wheel (blue ring) changes the light coming in. Controlling the contrast and brightness. Aswell as the silver ring closely nearby too remove the lens from the rest of the cameras and that was the last of our camera workshop.

Feedback for my concepts ideas

 Today i got feedback on the opening title sequence 3 around the idea of a bathtub and flashback memories i announced my idea to the class and presented in which i would have liked my opening scene to be as-well as reading out my previous blog post. 

The feedback I received was that there was too much detail in the first scene to create at my groups experience in editing and creating a title sequence and less complicated and detailed the better. 

Another piece of feedback that I received is that when talking about flashbacks someone commented on the fact that the flashbacks of the couple having good times to make sure that its not too cringey but more realistic. Aswell as that a comment was made that the flashbacks should be bright and the bad scenes should be more dark and tonal pattern.

They also commented on the fact that it would be really complicated and problematic to do a bath scene due to law and teachers, but said the bathroom setting candles and running a bath is a good idea but alternatively maybe she once got drowned in the bathtub and can’t get into the bath due to her past experiences.

Aswell as that they mentioned that it should be obvious between the cutting between flashbacks and bath scene. So it’s understandable that it is a flashback  and not just cutting to a scene after the bath. 

Furthermore, i would like to develop my concept into a similar idea but less complicated, it consists of a bath tub scene and getting ready for a bath however she struggles to get into a bath due to flashbacks of what has previously happened in her  past life about being strangled and nearly drowned.