Meetings

Second Meeting:
Our second group meeting didn’t have Selina; therefore we didn’t have her idea to compare. However, Ben and I went into more detail with the other idea and researched certain aspects of the opening sequence. We decided on parts we could add to the sequence to make it even more effective and planned some shots that we could test on our test shoot. We mainly concentrated on the shots that could be used in detail, and used the storyboard as a basic outline. We also thought about dialogue and sound effects. For the next meeting, we plan to make the choice of idea final and start going into more detail with that idea, for example different shots. This will then prepare us for shots that we could test on the approaching test shoot.

Group Meetings

First Meeting:
During our first group meeting for this project, Ben, Selina and I were concentrating on ideas that could be used for the opening sequence and whether it would fit our chosen genre of thriller/horror.
We had a few ideas that would work and managed to cut them down to my idea and Selina’s idea. However, we could not make a decision on which idea to go ahead with. We therefore decided to go off and consider our ideas in more detail and roughly storyboard them to make it more visual. We did this to make the process of choosing an idea easier.

Group Discussion – Initial Ideas

During our first lesson as a group today, we brainstormed some possible ideas and storylines that we could use for our film opening. As we were all interested in the thriller/horror genre and thought this could be the most effective as an opening, we developed ideas based around this. It has very specific generic signifiers so we thought we could produce something effective and recognisable for this genre.

As a group, we started by identifying and listing significant conventions generally seen in thriller and horror movies. This included:
-Typical themes – revenge, obsession, murder, stalking, being watched, fear
-Characters – male villain, woman victim
-Locations – ordinary home, abandoned buildings, alleyways, dark isolated places
-Key iconography – weapons (knives), blood, shadows, candles
-Lighting – dark, low key, unnatural light
-Camera movement - canted angles, zooms and jump cuts to create sense of disorientation, fear, paranoia
-Editing – alternating the pace of cuts to create and build tension
-Sound – screams, heartbeat, breathing, creaks, weather, creepy music

By the end of our discussion, we had produced a few ideas. The two that we most liked and thought would be the most practical are:
''Rose Killer'' idea - day in the life of the notorious killer, except we don't know it is him until the end
''Obsession'' idea - based on an obsessive man who killed his girlfriend out of his love-fueled fixation on her

We will develop these ideas further in a group meeting later.

Preliminary Task - Evaluation

1. Who did you work with and how did you manage the task between you?
My group consisted of me, Aarti, Nick and Simon. We split the tasks between us and mainly stuck to those specific roles. Planning and shooting jobs were shared quite equally. During shooting, Nick and Simon were the main actors, and Aarti and I split roles in the production process. We tried to split the roles of Director, Production Assistant, Camera Person and Sound Technician equally between us. During shots where one actor was not needed, they usually contributed to the shooting aspect by becoming a camera person. During editing, we also shared the jobs equally, with each of us spending the same amount of time on it each. We’d spend about 10 minutes editing and then rotate, so the next person could try.

2. How did you plan your sequence? What processes did you use?
During planning, we all made contributions to the ideas for the short clip and techniques to use when shooting and editing. We decided on a location and then we all created the shot list between us and placed them in the order they would appear in. We did this with the help of a basic diagram of the location. We then shared the storyboarding of the shots, each drawing a specific amount of shots (4 each as the total was 16). Nick and Simon then created the script for dialogue. We then had a walkthrough of the action and dialogue to make sure it worked and looked right. The planning process meant it was a lot clearer and we were very prepared when it came to filming it.

3. What technology did you use to complete the task, and how did you use it?
During shooting we used a digital, mini-dv camera, tripod and a microphone with headphones. The camera was attached to the tripod in order to manipulate it into different positions, angles and distances. A microphone and headphones were attached to the camera and the mic was pointed in the direction of the action. This gave us clearer sound and helped mainly with dialogue in the scene. During editing, we used the programme Adobe Premier Pro to do non-linear editing. It was fairly simple to use as we just used cuts and had prepared the order of the shots beforehand. The shots were based on a timeline that we could zoom into and cut up the clips. We added a title to the start and also added a fade effect at the end to make it less abrupt.

4. What factors did you have to take into account when planning, shooting and editing?
When planning, shooting and editing our sequence, there were many factors that we had to consider. Firstly we had to think about the brief and plan something around this basic outline. We also had to think about our limits on time and therefore we needed action that would be able to be shot in the allocated time, and we also needed simple editing. With the location, we had to consider its suitability and whether it would fit with our sequence. With this, we had to take into consideration any background noise and how we would control it, this also includes keeping the area we needed clear so that no one walked into our shot whilst we were filming, that weren’t actors. We also had to consider whether lighting would be a problem; however it wasn’t as we chose to film in the media block which was brightly lit anyway, and this also meant weather wasn’t an issue. During planning, we had to produce a shot list and therefore consider angles, distances, camera movement and continuity techniques such as the 180 degree rule. During editing, we cut up the shots with about 1 second free either side, to make sure we didn’t cut off too much. This technique was also used in shooting, where after ‘Action’ and ‘Cut’ we would leave a couple of seconds.

5. How successful was your sequence? Please identify what worked well, and with hindsight, what would you improve/do differently?
The main aim for this task was to present good continuity, and I think we did this quite well with our clip. I thought our match on actions in the sequence were very successful and flowed well. This happens when Nick is entering the room, from pushing the door handle, we see his hand, entering the room, placing the bag on the table, opening the book, Simon looking over his shoulder, and then showing Simon’s POV of the book. The acting by the two actors comes accross as quite natural, which we wanted to show. There is also no issues with lighting. There is a bit of camera sound, however this is extremely difficult to avoid. Also I thought the dialogue was clear enough anyway, so the extra sound didn’t really affect the sequence much. In hindsight, I would make the initial pan slightly smoother, however I don’t believe there were any obvious continuity errors that we could have changed.

6. What have you learnt from completing this task? Looking ahead, how will this learning be significant when completing the rest of your foundation coursework, do you think?
From completing this task, I have learnt that continuity is an extremely vital part of any piece of film. We tried to keep the sequence simple as we had to follow the brief, whilst still expressing the use of good continuity techniques, however it has shown that planning and preparation for this before shooting is very important. I noticed that if you plan all shots; the types of shots, the order to shoot them and where they will be edited together, it results in clearer and smooth shooting and editing. When I come to do the rest of my coursework I think this learning will be significant, as it has shown me what sort of planning I should do, techniques I can use during shooting and has reminded me of editing techniques.

Horror Film Posters

These ‘Saw’ posters definitely represent a horror movie. The main focus of them is the body parts displayed; part of an arm and part of a leg and foot. Both posters anchor the title and therefore give an idea to the audience as to what the film is about. The title of the film is pretty self explanatory; however the body parts anchor the meaning further. The arm and leg are also very repulsive and disgusting, showing people the genre. At the top of each poster, there are also parts of an image of a saw, again representing the title. The use of blood which is associated with death also shows what may take place in the film. Despite the fact that the main colour used in the background didn’t really follow the conventions of other horror posters I looked at which mainly used black to make it a dark background, it is still effective in representing a horror movie.
Every puzzle has its pieces...

This poster for the horror movie ‘The Hills Have Eyes’ represents the film well. The main image shows one of the main characters with their mouth covered up by an odd looking hand. This immediately alerts the audience that the characters will be in danger and there will be enemies to fight. She has blood on her face which emphasises the fear further as this colour is related to death and danger. The woman’s expression also shows extreme fright, and this can especially be seen clearly in her eyes. The background helps set the scene and this is related to the title as it is hills. This shows the audience where the film will be based and an area like this seems quite isolated. Overall, I think the poster represents the film well and the feelings/themes that will be conveyed, especially fear by the characters and audience.

The lucky ones die first...

This horror poster of ‘The Ring 2’ is different to the previous ones as it doesn’t really reveal much to the audience. It features a young girl sitting on a seat and looking down towards the floor. Her face is concealed by long black hair, leaving the audience unaware of what she looks like, possibly ready to shock them in the film. She seems quite isolated in a deserted room, leaving the audience feeling quite sorry for her as she is highlighted in this dark, empty room, but seems trapped. This use of lighting creates mystery and the use of black was a common convention that I saw associated with horror films. This sinister and mysterious atmosphere created by the poster all creates enigma as the audience are unaware as to what will happen. The use of the ring above the girls hard relates to the actual title, and the font relates to a child’s handwriting. The overall feeling of the poster created is quite mysterious, setting up a feeling within the audience that will make them want to watch the film.

Fear comes full circle...

Film Scriptwriting

Things to think about when Scriptwriting:

1. Every scene should have a purpose and move the story forward
You should be looking to achieve something with every scene. Every scene should also move the story forward in terms of both the plot and character and each scene should connect and develop to the last scene.
2. Don’t tell when you can show
Movies are a visual medium, so be as visual as possible. There are times when it is more appropriate to tell. If you’re reaching the climax of an action packed scene then telling the reader makes events seem more sudden and gives them an instant impact.
3. Walk and talk
Wherever you have dialogue the characters should also be thrust into action. The audience's attention should be kept throughout the short time available to tell the story.
4. A scene should have a beginning, middle and end
A good scene should stand alone as dramatic while tying into the previous scene and leading to the next. Have a character with a goal, setback and some sort of conclusion while leaving a loose end for the next scene to take up.
5. Avoid unnecessary scenes
Don’t have any unnecessary dialogue or action scenes. The best way to achieve this is to start each scene as close to the end as possible.
6. Pace your scenes
“Never blow the world up in the beginning of the scene or you’ll have nowhere to go.”
While it’s perfectly acceptable and even advisable to start a scene with a big event to grip the reader/viewer you want to save the biggest and best until last. The closer to the story climax the quicker the pace should be. Keep throwing obstacle after obstacle at your main character.
7. Finish the scene dramatically
When you reach the end of the scene you should always aim to leave the main character with some sort of decision. Make the viewer want to know what is going to happen next. Use a cliff-hanger, a reversal or a revelation to raise their interest level. This adds twists and makes a story captivating.
8. Transition smoothly between scenes
The best way of creating a smooth transition between scenes is to finish on a certain image and then start the new scene with a similar image. A good transition allows the story to flow smoothly and can add a certain level of cohesion.
9. Define an emotion or mood
In a screenplay every main character should have some sort of ultimate goal. Each scene should work towards that character achieving their goal. Sometimes the attempt will fail or not work as planned, leaving the character frustrated and angry. Other times they will succeed and be driven on to push towards their goal even harder.
10. Have a motivated conflict
Conflict drives a story forward, no matter how big or small.


A good script has the following:
· A main character who is driven towards achieving a goal
· An opposition to your main character who will hold your main character back from achieving their goal
· A fight (literal or metaphorical) between your main character and their opposition
· An ending which answers the questions "Can the main character achieve his goal?"
Scripts should present such a story, along with a well thought out main character who the audience can relate to.


The opening of a film is extremely important and should setup the rest of the script, capture the mood of the story and hook the reader right away.
Here are several types of opening that you can use to start your film, which can also be combined:
The Blatant Opening - Within a few moments you know exactly who the hero is and what the movie will be about. For example The James Bond series use this type of opening. The blatant opening works particular well for action films, a fast, intense opening will hook the reader and keep them flicking through the script.
A Regular Day - In this opening you will put over the pace of life in a regular day for your main character. Then an event will happen which breaks the normality of your character’s life, one which they will need to rectify for their life to return to the way it was.
True Beginning - The script starts right along with the start of the story for the main character.
Dramatic Irony - This is the only beginning that won’t contain your main character. Instead you give the audience some information that your main character won’t know and will soon affect his/her life greatly. Dramatic irony allows the audience to be in a superior position and sets up both tension and anticipation.
Foreshadowing - This opening takes place before your main story begins and anticipates what is going to happen later in the story. Like the dramatic irony opening the audience is placed in a position to predict what is going to happen. This is often used for doomsday and horror movies.
Narrator - The narrator can be the hero, a secondary character or just a stand alone narrator. The narrator tells the story of the events which happened to the main character at an important time in their life.
Flash forward - The flash forward has two stories running side by side simultaneously. The A story is the main story; the B story is of the narrator looking back. The B story has a narrator who tells the main story, which has already happened. At certain points in the story there’s a flash forward to the narrator who continues with his tail.
Montage - This is a useful type of opening if you have a lot of information to get across before the main story begins. Also known as a shotgun, a collection of short clips that accelerate through the information until the story properly begins. Then the speed of the story can slow down to a regular pace. In a matter of minutes you can explain years of your main characters life.

More info on Scriptwriting: http://www.filmscriptwriting.com/

Film Budgeting

Budgeting is an important aspect of film production.

During script development, filmmakers produce a rough budget to convince film producers and film studios to give them a greenlight for production. During pre-production, a more detailed film budget is produced.

A budget is typically divided into four sections:
Above-the-line (creative talent)
Below-the-line (direct production costs)
Post-production (editing, visual effects, etc)
Other (insurance, completion bond, etc).

Elements of the Budget:
Story rights: The right to produce a film based on a play, novel, or new story. Can be paid on average £15000-£100000.
Screenplay: An A-list screenwriter can be paid roughly £25000-£50000 to write the first three drafts of a script.
Dialog writer: Can be paid £25000-£50000.
Director: The minimum they can usually be paid is £250000 for one movie up to 1st release, for a minimum of ten weeks' work. Traditionally, a director's salary is about 7 percent of the final budget.
Cast: An A-list actor can ask for hundreds of thousands of pounds, but this usually moves into the millions if they are very successful. The rest of the cast, often come out much worse with many being paid the Screen Actors Guild minimum. Sometimes an actor will accept a minimal fee in exchange for a lucrative share of the profits.
Production costs: The cost of shooting the film including sets, wardrobe, location filming, hotels and transportation. The most prestigious productions will often employ the most successful, and therefore most expensive crew.
Visual effects: If required can cost hundreds of thousands of pounds.
Music: The top film composers can ask for a six-figure salary, so if the music is original in the film it can be very expensive, with all the expanses, rights etc.

The budget can also be used as an advertising tool. For blockbuster movies, high budgets are advertised to imply that the film will be worth watching. People would trust in watching the film more if they knew it was very expensive.

Going over budget:
In the US film production system, producers are not allowed to exceed the budget. Exceptions have of course been made, one of the most notable examples being Titanic.
In other countries, producers who exceed their budget tend to eat the cost by receiving less of their producer's fees. While the US system is profitable and can afford to go over budget, other countries' film industries tend to be financed through government subsidies.


For our project of filming an opening sequence, we do not have a large budget to contribute to producing it. Therefore we have to rely on other methods to keep our sequence looking as professional as possible.We will not be spending any money on people involved in making it, as we will be the main crew, and we will choose some people to help as the cast. Choice of locations are also limited, therefore we have to use places where we do not have to pay, but are still suitable for our shots. Special effects does not really need to be taken into consideration as we will not really be using them as our budget will not reach this. A small amount of money may be spent on costume, make-up, backgrounds and props but this will be kept to a minimum and in most cases it will be borrowed.