Thursday 18 November 2010
Change to our opening scene
Our original plan had been to shoot a party scene with our main character Grace Hopkins watching people dance and dealing drugs for the gang she is being blackmailed by. Our aim was to try and make the opening of our thriller as authentic as possible and after experimenting with shots with friends recreating a party as best as we could, we discovered after watching the shots back that we weren't able to recreate the 'vibe' of a party well enough to give our opening the right effect and feel. As the party scene is the opening to our piece it needs to be as good as possible as its the first thing the viewers will see. Due to wanting the best opening possible we have now slightly altered our idea. Instead of opening with shots of a party scene we are now going to cross cut between party lights (lasers, strobe lights etc) and title sequences with party music playing over the top to give the audience a feel of a big party taking place without actually showing it and then cut to Chloe (our actress) going into the toilet (with a faint bass in the background to show she is at this party) and then carry on with our opening as originally planned. This change to our openings also means we can now include extreme close ups (of the lights) which are shots we hadn't yet planned to include so this means our opening will now include a bigger variety of shots so we are both pleased with the change to our opening
Wednesday 17 November 2010
Our Shoot
Our first shoot took place on the Saturday 13th November. We filmed by the London Eye at South-bank and filmed shots 14, 15, 16 and 17. I felt that the shoot did go well as we got the shots we had intended to film, however, did come across some difficulties. Beforehand we were worried about the lighting as we wanted to film at night but when we got there we found the streetlights were all on as well as all the buildings being lit up so it provided enough light to be able to see our characters in shot.
The problems we faced were as we were filming on a Saturday night and in a very popular tourist destination there were lots of people around and walking past the camera, due to this we have now had to change the time of our film from being set in the early hours of the morning to, instead, just late at night. Although this was a problem we had previously anticipated, one we had not was the sound. Where we positioned the camera was a couple of feet away from a busker playing a guitar so when we watched our shots back you can hear the guitar playing so now were going to need to either reshoot the shots or edit out the sound and replace it with something else. We had a tripod and a microphone with us so had no problem with capturing sound or keeping the camera still, although we should have practiced setting everything up beforehand as when we got onto the shoot it took us a while to get everything right which meant the longer it took the darker it got and the more light we lost, whereas if we had practiced we would have been able to get straight to the location and pretty much begin filming.
On the next shoot we do to improve from the previous one I think we should explore the location more rather then choosing the first spot we see so we can find the quietest and best lit place to achieve the best shots possible. To improve our shoot even further we should take even more shots of each scene as although we had 2 or 3 versions of everything, watching back, there were small errors in each one so if we had shot even more then we could pick the perfect one out of a bigger variety.
The shots we filmed were quite simple ones of Bebe (our actress) walking towards the river and standing waiting for someone, which meant we filmed these pretty quickly so perhaps could have aimed a bit higher by trying different angles on each shot and making each one look more interesting. These are all things I have learnt from and will definetely help me on the next shoot making it as good as it can possibly be.
The problems we faced were as we were filming on a Saturday night and in a very popular tourist destination there were lots of people around and walking past the camera, due to this we have now had to change the time of our film from being set in the early hours of the morning to, instead, just late at night. Although this was a problem we had previously anticipated, one we had not was the sound. Where we positioned the camera was a couple of feet away from a busker playing a guitar so when we watched our shots back you can hear the guitar playing so now were going to need to either reshoot the shots or edit out the sound and replace it with something else. We had a tripod and a microphone with us so had no problem with capturing sound or keeping the camera still, although we should have practiced setting everything up beforehand as when we got onto the shoot it took us a while to get everything right which meant the longer it took the darker it got and the more light we lost, whereas if we had practiced we would have been able to get straight to the location and pretty much begin filming.
On the next shoot we do to improve from the previous one I think we should explore the location more rather then choosing the first spot we see so we can find the quietest and best lit place to achieve the best shots possible. To improve our shoot even further we should take even more shots of each scene as although we had 2 or 3 versions of everything, watching back, there were small errors in each one so if we had shot even more then we could pick the perfect one out of a bigger variety.
The shots we filmed were quite simple ones of Bebe (our actress) walking towards the river and standing waiting for someone, which meant we filmed these pretty quickly so perhaps could have aimed a bit higher by trying different angles on each shot and making each one look more interesting. These are all things I have learnt from and will definetely help me on the next shoot making it as good as it can possibly be.
Tuesday 2 November 2010
Thriller opening sequence
OUR INITIAL PLAN (MAY CHANGE DURING THE COURSE)
Shot 1:(LS) We will open the scene with an enigma shot of people dancing at a party, you will hear the music and especially the bass to get a feeling of being at a party and an up tempo effect.
Shot 2:(Establishing shot) The camera will then go down to head level so that you can only see a few people dancing, you can still hear the music and bass.
Shot 3:(OTSS) The camera then goes behind a girls head and slowly pans downwards to show her pull her hands out of her pocket (shot 4) you then see drugs in her hands and get given the hint she is about to either take them or deal them. the camera then follows her towards a man who buys drugs off her. This scene makes you feel as though the girl is a rebel against society (Later find out she has been forced into it)
Shot 5:(MS) The music then goes silent and you are taken outside the party to a boy that is sitting at home looking as though he is waiting for someone.
Shot 6:(CU) The camera then zooms in onto a coffee table with a phone and photo frame on it, the photo is of the boy, his father, and a girl (the girl is the same girl you have just seen but you do not know that yet) you then see the boys hand grab the phone and take it away. However the camera stays on the picture frame so that the audience can see that it is him in the photo.
Shot 7:(OTSS/ECU) You then see the boy type on his phone "where are you? x". This brings question as to who he is sending it to. It also shows that he is worried about someone, but who?
Shot 8:(ECU) You then see the boy send the text to an unknown person named Grace Hopkins. The close up ensures you can see the text.
Shot 9:(MOHS) The camera is then taken to a public toilet which you can tell is from the party you have just seen before as you can still hear the same music and bass. The same girl as before (You can tell by the clothes) walks through the toilet door and into a toilet room. This shows the girl is now alone.
Shot 10:(OH/CU) The camera is then placed to take a shot of the girl inside the toilet room laying out the rest of the drugs she has left. You can still hear the bass of the music. She is getting ready to take the drugs. This makes the audience feel more positive of their assumption about her earlier, that she is a depressed young teenager.
Shot 11:(OHS) Just as she is about to take the drugs she then receives 2 texts from 2 different people. One says "where are you? x" from a boy named Ben Hopkins (The boy at home is her brother) and the other text says "im waiting outside" from an unkown number. This gives you new mixed messages about her, whos waiting for her? why is she doing all of this when she has a brother that cares for her at home? You then see her delete the one from her brother and then close down her phone.
Shot 12:(CU) You then see the girl take the drugs, still with the sound of music and bass in the background. This shows that although she has received 2 different texts, they do not stop her from doing what she has for some reason set out to do.
Shot 13:(OTSS) You then see her pack up her stuff and head out the door of the toilet room, as she opens the door you hear the loud sound of music to show she is back at the party/club.
Shot 14:(POV) You are then given a point of view shot of her walking back through the herd of people in the party. This shot shows that she is leaving the club in a hurry.
Shot 15:(MS) The camera then shows a Fire Exit door which soon bangs open to reveal the girl jogging through. This shot shows that she is not needed within the club anymore.
Shot 16:(MS) You are then shown a motorbike parked by the road and you can see the girl walking over to him. You no longer hear the music sound, but the normal sound of night life London. You can also hear the motorbikes engine. This shot shows that the girl has some kind of connection with this mysterious man.
Shot 17:(CU) The girl is then told that she must get on his bike and is given a helmet. Although the girl does now know this man she seems to trust him, brings more question.
Shot 18:(POV) You are then shown a very strange shot of the girl being given a ride on the motorbike, only the shot will be speeded up so that you get a `high` feeling to it. This shot shows that the drugs have started to kick in
Shot 19:(LS) There is no more sound of anything, just very faint sounds of London nightlife. You can see the motorbike then park up next to a road (Near the London Eye) The man then points towards the River Thames and says "Over there" suggesting the girl walks towards it. This brings question, why must she go over there? what awaits?
Shot 20:(ELS) You are then shown the girl walking towards the fence/balcony of the River Thames, you can also see the London Eye. As she is walking she keeps stumbling as the drugs are still taking effect on her. This shot (because of the extreme long shot) makes her look vulnerable.
Shot 21:(CU) You are then shown the girls face, looking side to side as if scared, but really it is just the drugs. This shot just shows the audience even more that the drugs really are taking a large effect on her, as if it were her first time.
Shot 22:(LS) Still hearing London night life, the camera is now placed on the balcony's side tracing Grace as she moves towards it. This shows she is almost at her destination.
Shot 23:(MS) You are then shown the girl standing over the fence looking across the river. Shows that she is now waiting for whatever is going to happen.
Shot 24:(CU) You then see a mans hand rest on the girls shoulder and you can hear him say (come with me) This is the last shot and brings loads of different questions such as, who was the man, why is she doing this, who was the motorcyclist, is she doing this at her own will etc
Shot 1:(LS) We will open the scene with an enigma shot of people dancing at a party, you will hear the music and especially the bass to get a feeling of being at a party and an up tempo effect.
Shot 2:(Establishing shot) The camera will then go down to head level so that you can only see a few people dancing, you can still hear the music and bass.
Shot 3:(OTSS) The camera then goes behind a girls head and slowly pans downwards to show her pull her hands out of her pocket (shot 4) you then see drugs in her hands and get given the hint she is about to either take them or deal them. the camera then follows her towards a man who buys drugs off her. This scene makes you feel as though the girl is a rebel against society (Later find out she has been forced into it)
Shot 5:(MS) The music then goes silent and you are taken outside the party to a boy that is sitting at home looking as though he is waiting for someone.
Shot 6:(CU) The camera then zooms in onto a coffee table with a phone and photo frame on it, the photo is of the boy, his father, and a girl (the girl is the same girl you have just seen but you do not know that yet) you then see the boys hand grab the phone and take it away. However the camera stays on the picture frame so that the audience can see that it is him in the photo.
Shot 7:(OTSS/ECU) You then see the boy type on his phone "where are you? x". This brings question as to who he is sending it to. It also shows that he is worried about someone, but who?
Shot 8:(ECU) You then see the boy send the text to an unknown person named Grace Hopkins. The close up ensures you can see the text.
Shot 9:(MOHS) The camera is then taken to a public toilet which you can tell is from the party you have just seen before as you can still hear the same music and bass. The same girl as before (You can tell by the clothes) walks through the toilet door and into a toilet room. This shows the girl is now alone.
Shot 10:(OH/CU) The camera is then placed to take a shot of the girl inside the toilet room laying out the rest of the drugs she has left. You can still hear the bass of the music. She is getting ready to take the drugs. This makes the audience feel more positive of their assumption about her earlier, that she is a depressed young teenager.
Shot 11:(OHS) Just as she is about to take the drugs she then receives 2 texts from 2 different people. One says "where are you? x" from a boy named Ben Hopkins (The boy at home is her brother) and the other text says "im waiting outside" from an unkown number. This gives you new mixed messages about her, whos waiting for her? why is she doing all of this when she has a brother that cares for her at home? You then see her delete the one from her brother and then close down her phone.
Shot 12:(CU) You then see the girl take the drugs, still with the sound of music and bass in the background. This shows that although she has received 2 different texts, they do not stop her from doing what she has for some reason set out to do.
Shot 13:(OTSS) You then see her pack up her stuff and head out the door of the toilet room, as she opens the door you hear the loud sound of music to show she is back at the party/club.
Shot 14:(POV) You are then given a point of view shot of her walking back through the herd of people in the party. This shot shows that she is leaving the club in a hurry.
Shot 15:(MS) The camera then shows a Fire Exit door which soon bangs open to reveal the girl jogging through. This shot shows that she is not needed within the club anymore.
Shot 16:(MS) You are then shown a motorbike parked by the road and you can see the girl walking over to him. You no longer hear the music sound, but the normal sound of night life London. You can also hear the motorbikes engine. This shot shows that the girl has some kind of connection with this mysterious man.
Shot 17:(CU) The girl is then told that she must get on his bike and is given a helmet. Although the girl does now know this man she seems to trust him, brings more question.
Shot 18:(POV) You are then shown a very strange shot of the girl being given a ride on the motorbike, only the shot will be speeded up so that you get a `high` feeling to it. This shot shows that the drugs have started to kick in
Shot 19:(LS) There is no more sound of anything, just very faint sounds of London nightlife. You can see the motorbike then park up next to a road (Near the London Eye) The man then points towards the River Thames and says "Over there" suggesting the girl walks towards it. This brings question, why must she go over there? what awaits?
Shot 20:(ELS) You are then shown the girl walking towards the fence/balcony of the River Thames, you can also see the London Eye. As she is walking she keeps stumbling as the drugs are still taking effect on her. This shot (because of the extreme long shot) makes her look vulnerable.
Shot 21:(CU) You are then shown the girls face, looking side to side as if scared, but really it is just the drugs. This shot just shows the audience even more that the drugs really are taking a large effect on her, as if it were her first time.
Shot 22:(LS) Still hearing London night life, the camera is now placed on the balcony's side tracing Grace as she moves towards it. This shows she is almost at her destination.
Shot 23:(MS) You are then shown the girl standing over the fence looking across the river. Shows that she is now waiting for whatever is going to happen.
Shot 24:(CU) You then see a mans hand rest on the girls shoulder and you can hear him say (come with me) This is the last shot and brings loads of different questions such as, who was the man, why is she doing this, who was the motorcyclist, is she doing this at her own will etc
Shooting Schedule for thriller opening
an initial plan of our shooting schedule.
28th October
Shots: 1,2,3,14,15 (test shots)
Time: 10pm
Location: Club Colosseum in Vauxhall
we will film and test the lighting in Club Colosseum to see if the lighting works and the images will be good enough to use or if we will need to think of another location
12th November
Shots: 20,21,22,23,24
Location: Southbank. London Eye
Time: 6:30pm
We will do a few practice tests here as well to check the lighting and camera angels we wish to use, if this is successful we will aim to try and finish filming the majority of these shots
13th November
Shots: 13
Time: 10pm
Location: Various areas around central London
i will be putting a hand-held camera on the front of my dads motorbike and filming around central London at night in the hope that during editing we will be able to speed this up.
19th November
Shots: 5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13
Time: 6:30pm
Location: London Eye, Waterloo and My House
We will film any of the shots we didn't manage to film on the 12th November and aim to achieve these shots also, also including shots we will film in my house
20th November
Shots: 16,17,19 (and any shots missing)
Locations: London Eye, Waterloo
Time: 7:00pm
We will aim to film or re-do any shots we havn't done yet
28th October
Shots: 1,2,3,14,15 (test shots)
Time: 10pm
Location: Club Colosseum in Vauxhall
we will film and test the lighting in Club Colosseum to see if the lighting works and the images will be good enough to use or if we will need to think of another location
12th November
Shots: 20,21,22,23,24
Location: Southbank. London Eye
Time: 6:30pm
We will do a few practice tests here as well to check the lighting and camera angels we wish to use, if this is successful we will aim to try and finish filming the majority of these shots
13th November
Shots: 13
Time: 10pm
Location: Various areas around central London
i will be putting a hand-held camera on the front of my dads motorbike and filming around central London at night in the hope that during editing we will be able to speed this up.
19th November
Shots: 5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13
Time: 6:30pm
Location: London Eye, Waterloo and My House
We will film any of the shots we didn't manage to film on the 12th November and aim to achieve these shots also, also including shots we will film in my house
20th November
Shots: 16,17,19 (and any shots missing)
Locations: London Eye, Waterloo
Time: 7:00pm
We will aim to film or re-do any shots we havn't done yet
Synopsis of my thriller opening
Synopsis
Grace Hopkins is 19. She has killed her father due to enduring abuse from a young age (however we do not learn this in the opening of the film) in a state of panic she turns to her ex boyfriend and his friends (who are all members of a gang) to help cover up the death and making it look like a mugging as to hide it from her older brother who is unaware of both the abuse and the real reason of his fathers death. Grace was led to believe the gang helped her as a favor, however, they then begin to blackmail her into helping them make money by dealing drugs. A big rival gang (whose member was put in jail and framed for the murder or Grace's farther) find out and then, they too, begin trying to blackmail Grace in helping them get revenge on Grace's ex boyfriends gang. Grace is now caught between two gangs, being blackmailed by both and has nobody to turn too...
our opening will fit the conventions of a thriller as it creates enigmas throughout (our opening begins with a girl at a party alone, the audience will question why she is there alone and when she is seen to be fiddling with a bag of drugs more questions will arise as to why she has these and what she intends to do with them. Later on she also meets a boy who picks her up and drops her somewhere, creating enigmas in where she is going, who she is with and what there relationship is etc.)
Most of our filming takes place at night in the dark, which has connotations of mystery and the unknown as it creates a sinister and scary atmosphere which are also conventions in a Thriller.
Our target audience is a young audience, roughly 15-25 year olds. We achieve and hold the audiences attention through our shots and location choices in the opening. We begin with a scene in a club or at a party (undecided) which is something our target audience would stereotypically go to. We use drugs in our opening which is also something our target audience would find interesting to watch (mocking regular themes in programmes such as Skins, Inbetweeners, Misfits etc. which are also aimed at the same target audience) We use locations in our openings which our audience will recognise also (London Eye, Waterloo) which means the audience will be able to relate and feel closer to the film.
Grace Hopkins is 19. She has killed her father due to enduring abuse from a young age (however we do not learn this in the opening of the film) in a state of panic she turns to her ex boyfriend and his friends (who are all members of a gang) to help cover up the death and making it look like a mugging as to hide it from her older brother who is unaware of both the abuse and the real reason of his fathers death. Grace was led to believe the gang helped her as a favor, however, they then begin to blackmail her into helping them make money by dealing drugs. A big rival gang (whose member was put in jail and framed for the murder or Grace's farther) find out and then, they too, begin trying to blackmail Grace in helping them get revenge on Grace's ex boyfriends gang. Grace is now caught between two gangs, being blackmailed by both and has nobody to turn too...
our opening will fit the conventions of a thriller as it creates enigmas throughout (our opening begins with a girl at a party alone, the audience will question why she is there alone and when she is seen to be fiddling with a bag of drugs more questions will arise as to why she has these and what she intends to do with them. Later on she also meets a boy who picks her up and drops her somewhere, creating enigmas in where she is going, who she is with and what there relationship is etc.)
Most of our filming takes place at night in the dark, which has connotations of mystery and the unknown as it creates a sinister and scary atmosphere which are also conventions in a Thriller.
Our target audience is a young audience, roughly 15-25 year olds. We achieve and hold the audiences attention through our shots and location choices in the opening. We begin with a scene in a club or at a party (undecided) which is something our target audience would stereotypically go to. We use drugs in our opening which is also something our target audience would find interesting to watch (mocking regular themes in programmes such as Skins, Inbetweeners, Misfits etc. which are also aimed at the same target audience) We use locations in our openings which our audience will recognise also (London Eye, Waterloo) which means the audience will be able to relate and feel closer to the film.
Wednesday 6 October 2010
Fox Searchlight
Fox Searchlight, established in 1994, is led by Presidents stephen Gilula and Nancy Utley
On their oficial website this is what they have to say about their company:
we are a a filmmaker-oriented company that focuses on distinctive films helmed by world-class auteurs and exciting newcomers. By blending specialty films with trademark art-house fare, Fox Searchlight’s leadership has solidified its position in the independent film marketplace.
They've produced films like 28 Days Later (thriller/horror), Bend it like Beckham (romantic comedy), The Hills Have Eyes (horror), Slumdog Millionare (thriller/romantic) and last kind of Scotland (thriller) and 500 Days of Summer (romantic/comedy) The Full Monty (Comedy) Happy Feet (animation) Going back to 1995 they've produced 159 films. Fox Searchlight specialize in independent and British films, along with horrors and non-english language films. They've worked with directors such as: Scott Cooper (Crazy Heart), Drew Barrymore (Whip It), Wes Anderson (Fantastic Mr Fox) and George Tillman Jr. (Notorious)
The most amount of money Fox Searchlight have made from the box office has been Juno in 2007 in which they made $143,495,265 and Slumdog Millionare came second in 2008 with $141,319,928.
Fox Searchlights Juno, Slumdog Millionaire, The Full Monty, Sideways and Little Miss Sunshine all recieved academy awards.
Fox Seachlights revenue in 2007 was $6.50 million.
On their oficial website this is what they have to say about their company:
we are a a filmmaker-oriented company that focuses on distinctive films helmed by world-class auteurs and exciting newcomers. By blending specialty films with trademark art-house fare, Fox Searchlight’s leadership has solidified its position in the independent film marketplace.
They've produced films like 28 Days Later (thriller/horror), Bend it like Beckham (romantic comedy), The Hills Have Eyes (horror), Slumdog Millionare (thriller/romantic) and last kind of Scotland (thriller) and 500 Days of Summer (romantic/comedy) The Full Monty (Comedy) Happy Feet (animation) Going back to 1995 they've produced 159 films. Fox Searchlight specialize in independent and British films, along with horrors and non-english language films. They've worked with directors such as: Scott Cooper (Crazy Heart), Drew Barrymore (Whip It), Wes Anderson (Fantastic Mr Fox) and George Tillman Jr. (Notorious)
The most amount of money Fox Searchlight have made from the box office has been Juno in 2007 in which they made $143,495,265 and Slumdog Millionare came second in 2008 with $141,319,928.
Fox Searchlights Juno, Slumdog Millionaire, The Full Monty, Sideways and Little Miss Sunshine all recieved academy awards.
Fox Seachlights revenue in 2007 was $6.50 million.
Thriller Directors
Alfred Hitchcock
Alfred Hitchcock (born 13th august 1899 - died 29th april 19080) has directed: Rear Window, Psycho, Vertigo, Shadow of a Doubt, Rebecca, Notorious, North by Northwest, Strangers on a Train, The Wrong Man, Frenzy, Dial M for Murder, Foreign Correspondent, The Birds,
Alfred Hitchcock's films are all in the horror/thriller genre, his films all include twist endings and films regularly conclude violence and murder and mainly are centered around crime, many of his films do also include very strong sexual undertones. In 1956 he became an American citizen, as he moved to Hollywood.
Alfred Hitchcock came first in a poll of film critics in the Daily Telegraph in 2007. He started off working at Gainsborough Pictures, designing titles for silent movies; his transformation then from that to film director took 5 years.
Alfred Hitchcock (born 13th august 1899 - died 29th april 19080) has directed: Rear Window, Psycho, Vertigo, Shadow of a Doubt, Rebecca, Notorious, North by Northwest, Strangers on a Train, The Wrong Man, Frenzy, Dial M for Murder, Foreign Correspondent, The Birds,
Alfred Hitchcock's films are all in the horror/thriller genre, his films all include twist endings and films regularly conclude violence and murder and mainly are centered around crime, many of his films do also include very strong sexual undertones. In 1956 he became an American citizen, as he moved to Hollywood.
Alfred Hitchcock came first in a poll of film critics in the Daily Telegraph in 2007. He started off working at Gainsborough Pictures, designing titles for silent movies; his transformation then from that to film director took 5 years.
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