Filming Day Two: Tuesday 18th February

We decided to keep momentum going and film two days in a row. Upon arrival at Ryan's house at around 1300 we got straight into filming as the table and lighting was already set up from the previous day of filming. We started the day by filming the scene in which the killer carves the image of a child out of photo consisting of a mother and son. Using a 1930s razor Ray found in storage we filmed the close up scene which went very well. We then focused on filming the different scenes in which text credits are revealed by being written by the killer. The first credit was simply a close up of the killer writing on a piece of paper which he then crumbles up.

The next text credit shot is of the killer burning a sheet of paper on the candle. This scene was probably the most difficult to film and took three goes to do. The first time we attempted to burn the sheet of paper on the fire we actually put the candle out by pressing the paper to hard on it. The next go the paper took way to long to set a light and the writing was eligible in the shot. The third shot went very well with the paper burning quickly and credit on the paper being easy to read, we also got a close up shot of the flames the paper created which we plan on using for a transition in our film. The next three shots we took were all fairly away and quick. They included the killer dipping his pen in ink and writing Dear Diary in two different shots, one closer up than the other. We decided against two shots that were to hard to do properly. These included a close up of ink dripping of a pen which is swiftly turned round and the ink is caught. We tried this process fifteen times and were unable to get the right shot. The other scene we decided to get rid of was a panning shot of the entire room, however due to continuity and a television we were unable to remove from the background we decided against this scene. The final scene we filmed was one in which we left a pen on a diary page and let ink run down the page where text will later by added. This completed the filming of our thriller opening which was definitely a lot easier on the second day. Upon completion we looked at all the footage in case of continuity problems but we could find no severe ones. 

Filming Day One: Monday 17th February

Over half term on Monday 17th February we did our first day of filming for our As Media Studies Thriller Opening. In the previous two terms we had filmed an a remake of the 'Reservoir Dogs' opening as well as a preliminary task where we were instructed to incorporate many shots we were unfamiliar with. Therefore this was not our first attempt at filming, but it was out first unsupervised and most important project. I arrived at Ryan's house at around 1300 and we began to set up for the work ahead. We had previously set up the lights therefore the arrangement out set was the first task.

Within our thriller opening the whole scene is set around a table where a psychopath manipulates a diary. We decided to scatter old newspaper around the table in order to make the murderer look more demented and also so that we could spill ink around the table without ruining it. We then set up all the different props around the table and took pictures of them in order to make sure we kept continuity for later filming. We scattered many pictures of children around the table as well taired up pieces of paper the killer had written on and discarded. Our actor Ray Still had to wash his hands in dirt as his only preparation for the filming.

With the set and our actor finally ready we started to film our movie. The first two scenes we filmed were relatively easy and were done pretty quickly. As they consisted of simply lighting a match, and then lighting a candle from two seperatr angles. We then moved on to the filming of our top down scenes within our opening. This particular shot occurs many different times throughout the intro of our opening therefore we decided to film a few of the top downs not in chronological order to help continuity. These scenes took considerably longer to film as the actor at times had problems with the speed in which the actions had to take place. However we got the shots and were able to keep very good continuity. We then moved on to the scene in which we punctured through the killers diary. Again this scene proved problematic due to the thickness of the diary paper. Therefore we had to remake a whole in order to make the movement more smooth and less force. Using the macro lense we moved on to filming some close ups of the diary being opening and a side on shot of the killer flicking through the book and stopping at

a random page. This was another scene that proved to be problematic to film. We used rack zoom within this scene and we were unable to use a tripod due as the diary was on the table and it was a close up. Therefore whilst trying to use the rack zoom the camera shook a lot which meant we had to refilm the scene a lot to make sure the end product was still and not shaky. We filmed a few more stills of pictures of the child that he cuts up and then we finished for the day, a bit more than halfway through filming. 

Props

Here are some of the props we used whilst filming. The Mise en Scene of our opening was vital as it is meant to be set in between 1930s. Therefore it was important to get props that did not look modern so that they would not look out of place. Here are a few photos of props we used for our opening.

The diary is the focal point of our opening therefore it was the most important item on the agenda as it had to look realistic within the time period. We bought three of these diaries so that we could edit them and practise with them. We preferred them to the other diaries we looked at as we thought it has interesting pages and an interesting lock to manipulate when we filmed.

Here is the matchbox we used for filming. Our opening starts with a man lighting a candlebox using a matchbox, therefore in order to establish the 1930s tone we needed to use a matchbox that looked suitable for the time period. The Ship matchbox was the best option of out the three matchboxes we had as it looked older than the Swans matchbox and was a better size than the Cook's Matchbox.

This is the candle we used in our opening . We liked this candle because of the arch created an interesting light and it added to the 'deranged' tone of the opening. The candle is used throughout the opening and is moved around the show the antagonists schitzophrenic mind state. 

Unfortunately we were unable to get any papers from the 1930s in time for filming. We ordered one but the seller refused to mention that it was just the front page of the newspaper. Therefore we had to use a newspaper from the late 80s instead. Initially we had just planned on having the newspaper on the table as an extra prop. Instead whilst filming we decided to have it spread over the table so that we could be more creative with the ink and to make the scene more messy and interesting.

Another prop we used within our opening was the use of children's photo. Our opening is about a psychotic pedophile who is framing the suicide of a child to cover up his murder. We thought that having pictures of children scattered over the table would give the audience a clearer indication of the murderers motivation without giving to much of the plot away. We took many different pictures of Ryan and myself and scattered them around the table. This particular picture was covered in red ink whilst filming in order to suggest this child is a target of the killer

Recce Shots

As we are only using one room for the location of our Thriller Opening we had a limited area in which we could take Recce Shots. Here are some shots of the diary we will be using as the focal point of our opening. Whilst taking photos of the diary we also came up with the idea of sweeping the diary and possibly having credits where it formally was. We also took some photos of the possible lighting we will be using for the filming of our opening. We will be using almost no natural light in our opening therefore it was vital to practise lighting so that when we started filming we would know exactly what to do, especially as lighting is vital for creating the eerie tone present within our opening.

Recce Shots of Diary

Shots of Possible Lighting

Production Company Logo

This was the final production company logo we came up with which will introduce our Thriller Opening. However we may eventually change the music so that it is more fitting with the tone of our Thriller Opening.

Animatic for Thriller Opening

In order to gain a better understanding of what our final product would look like we created an animatic. An animatic is when you take photos of the various different storyboard panels you have created and then order and film then so you you have a video of what your thriller with look like only in drawings without movement and proper transitions. This process was especially helpful for the filming of our thriller as it gave us an indication of what order we should film the shots with and helped us with the continuity of our task. It also helped us with the actor we were working with as it showed him what do to and how long he should take whilst doing different actions.

Storyboard

Storyboard for Thriller Opening by spencerjohnston

Preliminary Task

In preparation for the filming of our Thriller Openings we were instructed to create a short movie that consists of a character entering a room and then conversing with another character whom is sitting opposite this character. We did this in order to grasp a better understanding of the type of shots often used in TV Dramas such as the eyeline match, match on action, shot reverse shot and the 180 degree rule. The 180 degree rule is a shot you need to be precise with as it is not effective unless it stays on one side of the characters whilst filming so that the characters both have designated positions that do not change, otherwise the rule is broken and the scene could become unclear. 

In order to prepare for the filming of our preliminary task we had to create a script and storyboard so that we did not have to improvise whilst we were being filmed. The storyboard took a while as we had to try and find a way of incorporating every single shot technique into the film. The script did not take long as it was a very short film and some of the dialogue was improvised whilst we filmed as we thought it made the film flow more.

We filmed our preliminary task in one of the ICT rooms opposite where we have our Media Studies lessons. This was good place to film as the light was fine and did not change whilst we filmed. The room was also completely empty therefore we did not have to worry about people coming in and out interrupting us. 

The filming and editing of our preliminary task was also relatively simple and did not take up a lot of time. We used Canon SLR as well as a tripod in order to keep the camera from shaking whilst we were filming. However for the shot were the male character enters the room we could not find an appropriate angle where the tripod could be used, therefore the camera shakes a bit whilst we are filming. The editing of the film was also very simple as we did not need to change the audio or speed of any of the footage. Therefore it was simply a matter of ordering the different footage and cutting some of it down.

This task was beneficial for me as it gave me a clearer idea of what we needed to work on preparation wise for our Thriller Opening. It showed us how important it is to storyboard what your going to film as it makes the filming process significantly more efficient and faster. It also made me more comfortable with the different equipment we would have to use when we filmed.

Preliminary Task: Cookie Thief Suzie

Setting, Inspiration and Props Moodboards

Setting Moodboard

 

Inspiration for Our Opening

Moodboard for Opening

Production Sheet

Production Company Name Final

Finding Music for Thriller Opening

In order to prepare for the opening of our thriller we looked at different audios that we thought would enhance the tone of our opening. We had to take into consideration that we could only use royalty free music. Initially we thought about using music similiar to that within the opening of Seven that would help create a dark tone. The song 'Closer' is used in the opening of Seven is by Industrial Rock band Nine Inch Nails and helps create a sinister tone within the opening credits which is present throughout the rest of the movie. The 'raised strings' audio within this song also makes the scene more uncomfortable for the audience especially when 'puncturing' is used within the scene.

I visited  http://www.musicmediatracks.com/ a royalty free music website that consists of a number of different tracks from various different genres. I looked through the genres 'dark' and 'rock' in order to find different tracks similar to 'Closer.' There were some tracks that were of interest but none that particularly stood out.

After this I looked through other various genres where I found the 'Classical Orchestra' section. This reminded me of how classical music is used in some thrillers very effectively such as 'Clockwork Orange' and 'Insidious.' Therefore I had a look through the tracks in order to see if they may be fitting for setting the dark tone within are opening. Whilst looking through these tracks I found a few different ones that were generally very effective in creating an uncomfortable tone and could be possibilities for our opening. I also decided to play some of the tracks on top of each other which created an enseble of noise that was exceedingly creepy and uncomfortable.