After showing people our final product we received some very positive criticism however also felt rewarded by people for our work.Some of the following comments were made;
- Our target audience was 15-24, this was recognised by our audience, they felt it was meant for a youthful audience as the actors were young and they felt the editing was fast pace. They also felt that it was intended for a middle class socio-economic grouping due to the mise-en-scene of the house and the actors regional accent. However it was expressed that it could gain audience of an older age as in the early twenties due to the narrative.
- As the cast were women that were shown, it was commented that the beginning could be signified as being a chick flick and if we were to do it again this is something we would need to work on. The fact that it had no men in as well meant that it was questioned that women had no male gaze theory.
- The lighting of the outside shots were effective and worked well with the narrative
- The narrative enigma at the end pf the film was said to be a 'good unexpected twist'
- The jerky camera style while following the 'final girl' made it more believable
- When the camera was following the girl it was effective and built tension how there was no sound yet you could still hear the footsteps.
- However comments were made that the wind was picked up by the microphone which gave unwanted ambient sound.
- Watching the girl walk out of the house signified that someone was watching her and set up the narrative well
Thursday, 26 February 2009
Rough cuts
We decided not too use this clip as we started the recording too early on so therefore the audience had to watch more of the film on television than intended.We could of cut it shorter however we noticed the lighting didn't match in the following scene so we decided to re-shoot.
This cut we decided was amaturely filmed, we could hear footsteps on the camera which we could of blanked out but we wanted to put a synchronous sound over. The camera was also jilting too much and the picture quality wasn't that good on he night vision mode however it is meant to be a dream therefore the blurriness did work for us.
This is going to be our first scene for the film, we decided that the zoom into the front room was too sudden for the music that we are going to play non-dijectically over the scene.However we liked the idea of the canted angle and will use that in the real film
the group
We chose a number of three as in our preliminary task there was five of us and we found difficulties in getting the work done as everyone had a different opinion and we had to make time to make sure everyone had a go with the camera.Although there are four of us, one is a German exchange and therefore wont be with us for the full process of the filming.We are all friends therefore we are comfortable to be able to discuss ideas and are all in easy touch of each other if extra filming is needed.
Cinematography and editing
1-For the view of the house we put the camera onto a Dutch angle with a slow zoom in into the window of the house to which the next scene was going to be located in. The Dutch angle signified the genre of the film and set up the unsettling atmosphere.
2- For the next couple of shots we used two shots as we needed to fit both of the actress's into the frame. We also used a shot reaction shot and over the shoulder shot to give a variety of different angles into the film and to give the audience a wider sense of the location of the scenes.
3-We used a long shot when the girl leaves the house too signify that at that point in the film she is a vulnerable character. We rejected the idea of a close up as she walked out the house so the audience could see her mise-en-scene and get a sense of what the character was dressed like.
4-However in a later shot the girl walks out of the house and the camera is at a Dutch angle, we chose this to represent that someone could be watching her.
5-For the next shot the girl is again walking away from the camera to illustrate she could be vulnerable, this is also done in a long shot so the audience can see the outside location which helps set the scene as its a dark lonely road.
6-For the next shots the camera follows her still coming from behind, it gradually gets into a close up from a long shot as you can see a black hand reaching for her shoulder. We chose a close up for this so the audience could concentrate and be easily able to see the hand. The camera then goes to a mid-shot of the girl from front on- this shows her reaction to the hand, we chose this so the audience can see her expression on her face.
7- For the last scenes of the girl in bed we start off with a mid-shot which slowly zooms in as the girl wakes up, this again is to show the actress's expression and to slightly shock them as she jilts up suddenly.
We did add a clip of the hand reaching the girl from a slightly high angle, this made the actress look in danger, it also suggested it was a taller person than her behind her which could signify it was a male.
2- For the next couple of shots we used two shots as we needed to fit both of the actress's into the frame. We also used a shot reaction shot and over the shoulder shot to give a variety of different angles into the film and to give the audience a wider sense of the location of the scenes.
3-We used a long shot when the girl leaves the house too signify that at that point in the film she is a vulnerable character. We rejected the idea of a close up as she walked out the house so the audience could see her mise-en-scene and get a sense of what the character was dressed like.
4-However in a later shot the girl walks out of the house and the camera is at a Dutch angle, we chose this to represent that someone could be watching her.
5-For the next shot the girl is again walking away from the camera to illustrate she could be vulnerable, this is also done in a long shot so the audience can see the outside location which helps set the scene as its a dark lonely road.
6-For the next shots the camera follows her still coming from behind, it gradually gets into a close up from a long shot as you can see a black hand reaching for her shoulder. We chose a close up for this so the audience could concentrate and be easily able to see the hand. The camera then goes to a mid-shot of the girl from front on- this shows her reaction to the hand, we chose this so the audience can see her expression on her face.
7- For the last scenes of the girl in bed we start off with a mid-shot which slowly zooms in as the girl wakes up, this again is to show the actress's expression and to slightly shock them as she jilts up suddenly.
We did add a clip of the hand reaching the girl from a slightly high angle, this made the actress look in danger, it also suggested it was a taller person than her behind her which could signify it was a male.
Software
We used Imovie o6 as the main software although Imoive o8 was available its a step down from Imoive o6.The software we used had great advantages in my opinion, it was easy to drag the clips into the editing bar and it was useful to be able to see all the clips in the same window.It has a wide selection of ways to edit and many options within the sub-headings: themes,clips,media, editing and chapters. Imovie has in particular helped our group as we are including music from garage band which was easily accessible from imovie player 06.To upload videos,presentations and documents onto my blog i also used scribd which is a publishing software that gives a URL code which can be entered into the blog which allows it to be displayed on blogger.
However with all the many choices of the software this also proves to be quite complicated at times as there are many different ways to do the same thing. For example i found when cutting clips its hard to copy and paste to keep the rough cuts aswel; although i was helped with simple plans like this by the videos on the apple website and the prelim tasks as well.
However with all the many choices of the software this also proves to be quite complicated at times as there are many different ways to do the same thing. For example i found when cutting clips its hard to copy and paste to keep the rough cuts aswel; although i was helped with simple plans like this by the videos on the apple website and the prelim tasks as well.
Locations, Mise en scene,costume props
For the first scenes the two girls are in a living room, we have chosen the living room as its an easy room to adjust lighting in, its easily available and doesn't let too much light in through the window which is good for setting the genre of the film. It also links the first and second scenes together by an outside zoom in of the living room.
For the walk home we have two locations in mind, both are woody, dark quiet paths which we can easily get too and have street lamps near by so that the lighting wont be too dark. Both places are also very quiet as that's essential to the atmosphere of the film. We ended up choosing the above location as it was close to the house so we were able to achieve good continuity in shots.
The final scene of her waking up is going to be filmed in the same house as the one where were filming the living room, this has made it easier for us with time and the equipment. As the scene will be a mid shot the audience wont be able to see a full view of the room although you will be able to see pink walls and girly bed covers to signify the personality of the main character.
We have an intertextual reference to scream using props, as there is a shot where a blonde haired girl is framed with a stack of knives, when the 'mother' figure enters offering cake she also has a knife on her cutting board.
Casting
For the casting we are representing lower middle class social groups due to the actress's within the film however our audience will go into working class as they can relate to the mise en scene of the film, accents and storyline as well. Through the narrative of the film we attracted the audience by featuring 'nice on the eye' girls. We achieved this look by making them a countertype and a stereotype as they both have brown hair. The stereotype ( a brown haired girl in slasher/horror movies is usually clever, least sexually available dressed and stays alive until the end of the film) so therefore we have clothed her in jeans and a Conservative top with little makeup, this character is going to to play the 'final girl' within the film and we have intertextual references to Sian Breckin within the film donkey punch.
The second girl is a countertype of brown haired girls stereotypically as she is dressed in fun flirty bright clothing and also appears to be scared hen the two girls are watching the film. If the movie were to carry on the first girl would dream about the second girl dying which would come true. For the third casting you only see a hand, this we wanted to be a male hand for the size however they are wearing a black glove and as there is only one person on screen at the time one of the other group members will play this short part. For the last casting part in the film we used a 40-year-old blonde haired woman who we asked to wear an apron so that she could follow the stereotypical stay at home housewife mum. Both the mum and the second girl appeal to the male audience using the 'male gaze theory', the 'final girl' appeals to the female audience as she manages to stay alive and could be seen as an inspiration to women.
Initial group idea
All four of us decided we wanted to do a horror,we decided that it was going to be rated a 15 ad that our target audience would be 15-to late 20's. We decided to call it 'Dare to dream'.
To keep it aimed at a youth audience we are going to use people in their late teens to act for us.Were going to start off with a shot of two brown haired,pretty girls watching a scary movie which will denote the genre of the film. The girls who's house it is, her mum comes in offering cake with a knife which we thought would signify also a horror film. The first girl then realises that shes got to get home and the mum offers her a lift to which she declines as she only lives 2 minute's away.
She tries to use a phone, her battery dies to which she gets herself worked up about. Walking in the dark alone she hears bushes rustling and turns around but no-ones there.The audience sees a hand coming towards her and as she turns round the screen goes to a black fade and a heartbeat which started playing as she turned round gets faster and faster. Its then to a shot of her jolting up in bed as it was a dream, the whole scenes before are filmed with a slight blurred vision on so therefore it makes audiences aware it could be a dream.
If the film was to carry it on the plot would show that the girls dreams come true and her family and friends lives are in jeopardy.
My initial ideas of film opening
My initial idea:
Genre:Horror/slasher
Audience:15-18
BBFC Rating:15
Starts off with a pitch-black room, a blue tint light flashes and a disturbing silhouette figure is shown filmed from a low angle, which makes the character look more powerful. Then straight away a girl with blonde stereotypical features (cleavage is on show, short skirt and loads of obvious makeup) is in a long shot which enables the audience to see her mise-en-scene, she is denoted being popular by having loads of Friends around her and illustrated in the dialogue, using depth of field a blurd black clothed figure is in the background, unable to tell the gender of the figure. The camera then becomes shaky as if someone is watching this blonde haired girl as she is in the centre of the frame with close ups zooming in and out. There is then a mid shot of the girl saying 'ill see you tonight' which is echoed using sound effects to add tension and effect. It then straight goes into a long shot of the house party that their going to which is on a slow zoom filmed on a Dutch angle with gradual shake of the camera. The screen then suddenly goes to a black fade out and a loud drum noise is heard. This is where the 2-minute opening ends on a narrative enigma. The film goes on to explore the consequences of high school bullying and to show the strengths of stalking someone.
The main scene of the blonde girl using depth of field to show a dark figure is going to be located in school grounds, this is done so the audience are aware of the age of cast, it sets the scene and also relates to the target audience.
The blonde haired girl would be in a girly costume such as pink clothes, manicured nails etc. Ive chosen this look as through my research of Slasher films the first blonde haired girl in the film tends to get killed first, this has intertextual references to scream as this happens in there. As the first 2 minutes will only include two characters i would cast two girls (as the black figure turns out to be a girl) that can be easily available to film and confident in the roles they will have to play.
Common codes and conventions of film openings
From the opening of a film, audiences of any genre want to see the narrative enigma. There should be something in the film opening, which makes the audience want to carry on watching. However it varies from film to film on how this is done; Scream (1996) left 12 minutes of the beginning of the film before the narrative was assured.
Different genres use different codes and conventions for their film. In horror films its common for their to be blue tint lighting used; it is also common for the first girl to be seen on screen to be blonde who is more than likely going to die first. Generally speaking horror films try to target a middle class audience. In contrast to this social realism films tend to target a larger number of the working class audiences. In the opening of a social realism film we expect to see working class accents and locations, which is shown in Trainspotting (Danny Boyle), in that particular film the narrative enigma is used by people injecting heroine while a baby is in the room to keep the audience watching. It also begins very fast paced with fast music and a voice over of a working class accent while the main characters are quickly running. This all adds to the pace of the film and is an effective quick start to the film.
Romcoms have a different style to their opening scenes. Usually it is started off with a voice over of one of the main characters, this is done on Bridget Jones and Love actually.Romcoms openings tend to signify a feel good movie; in Love Actually this is done by clips of people meeting at Heathrow airport who they seem to not have seen for a while. There is also non-dijetic music straight away, which is slow and romantic signifying the genre of the film. Romcoms also usually produce a soundtrack from the film of the music this was also done for the two films Ive mentioned. Their target audience tends to be middle and upper lower class, there appears to be less obvious narrative enigma in this genre, as the opening of the films tends to set up the narrative for the rest of the film.
Different genres use different codes and conventions for their film. In horror films its common for their to be blue tint lighting used; it is also common for the first girl to be seen on screen to be blonde who is more than likely going to die first. Generally speaking horror films try to target a middle class audience. In contrast to this social realism films tend to target a larger number of the working class audiences. In the opening of a social realism film we expect to see working class accents and locations, which is shown in Trainspotting (Danny Boyle), in that particular film the narrative enigma is used by people injecting heroine while a baby is in the room to keep the audience watching. It also begins very fast paced with fast music and a voice over of a working class accent while the main characters are quickly running. This all adds to the pace of the film and is an effective quick start to the film.
Romcoms have a different style to their opening scenes. Usually it is started off with a voice over of one of the main characters, this is done on Bridget Jones and Love actually.Romcoms openings tend to signify a feel good movie; in Love Actually this is done by clips of people meeting at Heathrow airport who they seem to not have seen for a while. There is also non-dijetic music straight away, which is slow and romantic signifying the genre of the film. Romcoms also usually produce a soundtrack from the film of the music this was also done for the two films Ive mentioned. Their target audience tends to be middle and upper lower class, there appears to be less obvious narrative enigma in this genre, as the opening of the films tends to set up the narrative for the rest of the film.
Coursework Task
The brief set for our AS coursework production is as follows:
Preliminary exercise:Continuity task involving filming and editing a character opening a door, crossing a room and sitting down in a chair opposite another character,with whom she/he then exchanges a couple of lines of dialogue. This task should demonstrate match on action,shot/reverse shot and the 180 degree rule.
Main Task: The titles and opening of a new fiction film, to last a maximum of two minutes.
All video and audio material must be original, produced by the candidates, with the exception of music or audio effects from a copyright-free source.
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