Filming (30th/01/2012) - New Scenes

Filming (30th/01/2012) - New Scenes

Today, myself and James went to re-shoot one of our exciting shots as the original was slightly shaky. We also managed to film a few new scenes to make our "Opening to a New Thriller Film" longer. 


These scenes included:

• An extreme close up of eyes.
• An extreme close up of breathing - with water vapor.
• A tilted pan shot of a figure putting on gloves.
• A van driving into, and out of our thriller location. 
• A scene where the victim is 'dragged' along the floor.
  

Below are the new scenes which myself and James filmed:

You can view the whole list of videos we filmed on the 30th/01/2012 on YouTube using the link below:
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL96D835AF46D75B68

1: Extreme close up of eyes

(Austen filmed)

Practice:

Final Version:

2: Extreme close up of breathing - with water vapor

(Austen filmed)

Version 1

The following two shots below might contain a slight movement. This is not an error. I did this on purpose. The reason why I did this was because as the scene is a close up of someone's mouth breathing, the movement with the camera represents the movement of the mouth as it breathes in, and outwards with them. This creates a sense of realism.

Version 2:

3: tilted pan shot of a figure putting on gloves

(Austen Filmed)

One take

Filming Evidence:

4: van driving into, and out of our thriller location

(Austen filmed)

(Number plate/s are NOT visible)

5: victim is 'dragged' along the floor
(James filmed)

We've chosen to include this shot as it'll build up suspense and create a cliff hanger at the end of our opening. We hope to cut to this shot after the 'dramatic' appearance of the titles - Thus creating a frightening cliff hanger to hook the viewer.

Oh the horror, the horror I tell you! The sacrifices I have to make for the 

'magical' wonders of film making!

Mum should be pleased!

It's worth it through!

Filming (30th/01/2012) - Practice makes perfect

Filming (30th/01/2012)

Comparing Visually - Old Shots With Re-Shoots

Today, myself and James went to re-shoot one of our exciting shots as the original was slightly shaky. We also managed to film a few new scenes to make our "Opening to a New Thriller Film" longer. 

These scenes included:

• An extreme close up of breathing - with water vapor.
• An extreme close up of eyes.
• A tilted pan shot of a figure putting on gloves.
• A van driving into, and out of our thriller location. 
• A scene where the victim is 'dragged' along the floor.  

Another post about these shots/scenes will be uploaded sometime soon. This is because this post is about comparing how my skills in filming have improved with a scene where our character called James (who is following the victim), has to walk along a pathway.

Here is the playlist link on YouTube for quick and easy access: 
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL96D835AF46D75B68&feature=view_all

My ability to film has greatly improved. These where very tricky shots to pull off. This is because I almost had to lay down on the ground completely. However, in the end, the final shot which I filmed turned out to be the best so far out of the lot.

To prove how difficult it was, please divert your attention to the following image on your right.

Original Scene:

All Re-shoots Of The Above Scene:


(Please note: Do not stop the video.
It'll automatically show the next video after the first has finished and so on)

         

Final Try - Best Shot

This was the best re-shoot scene I filmed. I manged to manually focus it on time and also the camera isn't as shaky as in the previous shots - practice makes perfect. Myself and James wanted the scene to have a slight tilt of a tree stump in focus, then I'd focus onto the pair of feet/legs that enter the scene. This would draw the audience's attention onto the pair of feet to show their significance within the thriller opening. I managed to pulled this off with very careful timing and a lot of practice.

Well, isn''t this a coincidence? - Intertextuality

"Animal Kingdom" Meets "Funny Games":
Intertextuality in the Film's Trailers
(Independent research)

Earlier on My blog, I created a post about the film "Animal Kingdom (2010)" as part of our visit to Cinema City and also G321 Thriller Research which I commented about the use of generic characteristics, locations, memorable scenes, certain characters which stood out for me and lastly my favorite camera angles/shots. This post can be viewed HERE. 

Now, I wish to add to this post by exploring the intertexulity of how the trailer has been edited as a whole as well for good practise for identifying intextuality within a film or trailer.  

The trailer for Animal Kingdom starts off with titles which present the main advertisement of the film's appeal - Winner of Sundance. Also, another major advertisement which sells the film is by using a non-diegetic dialogue from the highly popular Guy Peace (who actually plays a minor role in the film). This then ensures any fans of Guy Peace will possibly go and watch the film because he is in it.

The slow editing at the beginning of the trailer for Animal Kingdom reminds me of a trailer for a film called "Funny Games" (2007). Both trailers seem to use slow editing which leads up to a dramatic climax at the end. 

On top of this, both trailers use a fast editing paste when displaying key words between clips to give the trailer more depth and tension. The font used in both trailers is very bold which will catch the audience's eye. A very important colour is seen within the trailer for "Funny Games" and that is the colour red.

Red is used in film advertising to give a certain area of the poster or trailer significance. For example, the posters for "Tinker, Trailer, Soldier Spy" (2011) use the colour red to indicate certain 'code' words such as "Spy" and "Tinker" to look out for. These words relate to the film itself. Red isn't just used in "Tinker, Trailer, Soldier Spy", it is also used in many other films, along with the colours black and white to give a strong impact on the audience/viewer of the poster: 

Also, if you haven't noticed already, both trailers use a well recognized soundtrack which adds to the film's appeal towards the audience. The soundtrack used in "Animal Kingdom" is called "I'm All Out Of Love" by "Air Supply". The trailer uses the highly memorable chorus:

"I'm all out of love, I'm so lost without you.
I know you were right believing for so long.
I'm all out of love, what am I without you?
I can't be too late, to say that I was so wrong."

The trailer for "Funny Games" uses a similar technique. However, this is by the soundtrack alone. The soundtrack of course is "In the Hall of the Mountain King" by "Edvard Grieg". It is a piece of music which is highly likely to appear in comedy films. For example, the same soundtrack is present in "Jack and Jill" (2011) trailer due to its paste and comical sound. However, "Funny Games" is not a comedy. 

The soundtrack also represents how the trailer is edited and speeds up at the same time. This is used to create growing tension and suspense until the end. Just like how "Animal Kingdom" uses dramatic sounds when titles appear.

"In the Hall of the Mountain King" by "Edvard Grieg":

Rough Edit - Opening to a New Thriller Film

Rough Edit - "Opening to a New Thriller Film"

After myself and James filmed the majority of our "Opening to a New Thriller Film", James had a go at editing a rough draft.


We still have 2 or 3 more scenes to film so that the opening has a longer viewing time, as it is quite short at the moment at only around 1:25 minutes long. Also we need to take more care when trying to do tracking/pan shots as these contained very shaky camera movements.  On the bright side, at least we have a few more ideas which we can film and hopefully expand the viewing time to around a target of 1:40 minutes.


We've created both a colored and black and white version. Myself and James have both agreed that the black and white version creates a stronger mood within the mise-en-scene and adds depth to our shots. We have chosen to use black and white from now on.

The black and white creates a dark mysterious atmosphere and setting then it did in colour. Because of this, we can relate our opening as a very strong intertextual reference to "The Third Man" because of the use of good chiaroscuro lighting and the use of a vanishing point along a pathway with trees either side.

This is only a brief rough edit to see what our film actually looks like. We've done this so that Myself and James can see what needs improvement and to visualize how we'd like our final outcome to look.


We hope to finalize our edit sometime in the near future, with the addition of a sound effect that consists an "answering machine sound/voice" for when the victim trys to call home or a friend yet gets no response, or even having someone call the 'victim'. We hope this will add more tension and suspense to the opening.

We may also cut and edit clips to be either included or not, plus any re-shoots which we need to do and with the additions of any new scenes. These will be included in a second edit which will be uploaded sometime in the future.


Notice:

• Final edit will have a higher picture quality.
  
  
• Our finalized edit will also include a soundtrack.

Colour version:

Black and White Version:

An Inspirational Idea

Dolly Zoom?

While filming, myself and James attempted to recreate the dramatic camera technique - The Dolly Zoom.

I came up with an inspiring idea while filming which could/would replace a close up of the "murderer's" face. Instead, we'll have a Dolly Zoom onto the "victim's" face to show his response because he looked at the "murderer" who is about to hit and make the victim unconscious.

Because of this change, it'll create an enigma similar to the Shark used in "Jaws (1975)" - to use the imagination of the audience to create their own interpretation of how the "murderer's" face looks like, instead of showing it which we where originally going to do. By using the audience's imagination, the whole opening and scene becomes far more threatening and personal to the viewer as they could possibly imagine a figure from one of their nightmares.

The Dolly Zoom attempts to undermine normal visual perception. It is achieved when the camera moves towards an object, while zooming out at the same rate and time, and also vise-versa.

This technique was firstly seen in "Alfred Hitchcock's" psychological thriller film "Vertigo". However, the first appearance of a Dolly Zoom onto a character's face to portray emotion such as shock was purely unique to "Jaws".

We've chosen to try and include this shot as it's very effective to show a character's facial expressions and emotions, whereas other shots are not dramatically effective.

The most recognized example of this wonderful shot is from "Jaws (1975)". It's used to show the lifeguard's (actor: Roy Scheider's) emotion and fright when he sees the shark attack. The shot adds dramatic tension for the audience and scene. 

Many thanks to group member James Kent who filmed the following shots. I tried myself, but overall, he had the best results.

Patrice Shot:

Actual Shot:

Importance of an 'Excellent' Soundtrack + Soundtrack Ideas

The Importance of an 'Excellent' Soundtrack 
Within a Film

Soundtracks in films is one way in-which the director can communicate with the audience to tell them exactly how to think and feel while viewing a particular scene or scenes.

A classic example of how important the soundtrack within a film which can create a frightening atmosphere, tension, suspense, horror, and most important of all, the heart-pounding thrilling feeling has to be from.......

Jaws (1975).

From the use of shark infested waters that create wide open spaces of no escape which challenge thriller conventions, the appearance of the Dolly Zoom, and of course, the most recognized convention of all, the use of an enigma - the shark itself by using the imagination of the audience.

Jaws was directed by one of the most famous film makers of our time, Steven Spielberg. 

He employed the Oscar winning composer, John Williams (Johnny Williams) whose produced and created some of the most iconic soundtracks of film history. Famous tracks include the themes for: "Harry Potter", "Star Wars" and "E.T". His first ever soundtrack was for "Lost in Space" (1960's). 

The soundtrack used in the opening scene of Jaws sets an atmosphere of ever closing danger. The tension is so unbearable that you're literally gasping for air, while frantically gripping onto your seat - that's if, you're still in it of course! 


This is the type of effect myself and James wish to achieve for our "Opening to a New Thriller Film". 

Here is the full theme tune/soundtrack of "Jaws (1975)":

Here is part of the opening scene which visually shows the impact of using a dramatic soundtrack that creates suspense and tension:

Soundtrack Ideas

1) "House of Evil.mp3" - From "http://www.audionautix.com/".

All music in this online collection created by Jason Shaw. Released under Creative Commons license 3.0
You are free to use the music (even for commercial purposes) as long as you credit
“ audionautix.com” where possible.
Music must be part of some other created works. No further permission is required.

This soundtrack starts off with a great feel - The feeling which would be expressed in music as if you're all alone and vulnerable. This shall establish the atmosphere and setting.

Even if this soundtrack is only 00:55 seconds long, and is most likely too short for our production. It is a good available option encase myself and James would like to use it. We could always edit it so that the middle section is longer. 


2) "Spooky-abience-with-heartbeat.mp3" by "Blacklizard77" from "http://www.freesound.org/".

Freesound is a collaborative database of Creative Commons Licensed sounds. Browse, download and share sounds.

This soundtrack is again, rather short. However, the drum beats at 0:08 for example will be great for the dramatic entrance of the "stalker's" feet. The heart-beats throughout the soundtrack, even if they are quiet, add suspense and tension for the audience - much like the two musical notes used in the soundtrack for "Jaws (1975)".

Filming Evidence (pictures) (23rd/01/2012)

Filming Evidence

(pictures) (23rd/01/2012)

Filming:

Date: 

23/01/2012

Location: 

Outside of "The Hewett School" - Ipswich Road.

Actors: 

Myself (Austen Nuttall) and group member James Kent.
Help:
Abi Skinner (Hewett), Sam Barker (Hewett).

Time: 

During Media Studies lesson (period 1 and 2) (9am - 11am).
Weather:

Clear early in the morning, low sunrise, rainy afternoon.

A very special thanks to "Abi Skinner" and "Sam Barker". 

Sam helped us film the scene with an over the shoulder shot where James is "following" me towards the container - we couldn't of done it without him.  We carefully instructed Sam how to use the camera and how to position it to get the effect we needed as if it was our own. 

Also, Abi, for taking the following images to be used as evidence of our group's filming. 

   

    

Props

Props

Mobile Phone:

As our "Opening to a New Thriller Film" is set during a modern day Britain. We've decided to include a mobile phone as it will also establish the historical setting.

Our victim will use a mobile phone in our "Opening to a New Thriller Film". We'd like the phone to be simple and not "too high-tech", this is because our character and the phone can be represented as being linked to one another - they're both modern and simple to 'work' with.

This technique is also used in "Once Upon A Time In America" in-which a table lamp and a character called "Eve" are seen as being one object within the scene. When "Eve" enters the room, she turns on a lamp -  the lamp represents her presence. Later on, "Eve" tragically dies and the murderers turn off the lamp on their way out of the room. This identifies "Eves" death has been acknowledged.

The phone will also represent our character's tragic "death" scene - keeping in mind, the audience will only think this  because our film suggests this happens to our character. But instead, he's only knocked out. We've came up with an alternate ending after the titles which the phone is seen laying on the ground ringing or even a scene where the phone is dropped on the ground in slow-mo. This could establish that our victim has been taken away, or even "left for dead". 

Costume Ideas

Costume Ideas

Opening To A New Thriller Film


Please click the "View Full screen" button if possible. 
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Character 2: - ideas coming. Bare with!

Name: James

Gender: Male

Age: 19

Occupation: Unemployed

Opening to a New Thriller Film - Practice (Filming)

Opening to a New Thriller Film - Practice (Filming)


Shot 1:

Low angle tilt of vanishing point. Victim walks towards vanishing point after entering the scene. Then suddenly, another pair of feet enter the scene. This will occur when the victim is walking down the pathway.

Shot 2:

Tracking shot of victim. Victim walks down pathway with trees either side. Tracking shot is similar to the opening scene of "Jackie Brown (1997)", or even the opening to "Kill Bill Vol.1" when Bill's feet enter the scene.

Myself and James have filmed both: "The Victim's" feet and "The Follower/Stalker's" feet. We then have the option available to use quick editing much like in Quentin Tarantino's "Kill Bill Vol 1" - "Eye Scene" so we need 2 different clips. This would suggest and imply that the "Follower/Stalker" is getting closer and closer, it'll also build up tension and suspense which is vital for a thriller film's success.

Victim:

Follower/Stalker:

Kill Bill "Eye Scene"

Shot 5:

Close up of victim taking a phone out of their pocket.

Shot 5/6:

Close up of Victim dialing numbers to call someone.

Shot 5/6/7:

Close up of Victim dialing numbers to call someone.

Shooting Schedule

Shooting Schedule

Practice shots: 

Date: 

16/01/2012

Location: 

Outside of "The Hewett School" - Ipswich Road. 

Actors: 

Myself (Austen Nuttall) and group member James Kent.

Camera: 
Cannon 600D

Time: 

During Media Studies lesson (period 5 and 6) (2pm - 4pm).
Weather:
Clear and sunny.

Filming:

Date: 

23/01/2012

Location: 

Outside of "The Hewett School" - Ipswich Road.

Actors: 

Myself (Austen Nuttall) and group member James Kent.
Camera: 
Cannon 600D
Help:
Abi Skinner (Hewett), Sam Barker (Hewett).

Time: 

During Media Studies lesson (period 1 and 2) (9am - 11am).
Weather:

Clear early in the morning, low sunrise, rainy afternoon.