Preliminary Shoot

Shoot Day

The day of my thriller shoot began with my group finding out that it was no longer possible to go to our decided location (one of our actors’ apartments near the Barbican) due to the distance and traffic. We were all really annoyed that it changed right at the last minute and the teachers had left it so late in telling us. For a bit I felt like we wouldn't be able to change around our plot to fit a new shooting location, at Cornhill House, but with a short meeting with our group, we figured out a sensible alternative which sounded equally as effective. It was a shame that we couldn't use some of the brilliant views from our original location, but we had to get on with it. The new storyboards turned out to be almost the same as the original ones which was quite surprising, as the change in location was so great. We decided to change the storyboard from the hacker in her, to a hotel room. In the long run, I feel it was a better idea, the plot flows better. We prepared our original idea very well, including a shot list, costume list, cast list, props list and a full storyboard. Due to the new arrangements, these altered, but we still stuck to a thriller genre as planned. Our storyboard relates to the target audience because it includes an important current affair (Wikileaks) which could affect anyone.


We set up on location, only using a couple of props (gun and laptop) as our new shoot idea focused on the corridors and rooms. Filming in a hotel-like location, may have attracted the target audience as fight scenes in action-thrillers such as Inception, Casino Royale etc seem to occur in these locations. The contrast of the quite corridor encourages an adrenalin rush when teamed with an unexpected fight. We chose to film a lot of quick cuts, to represent the speed of the chase. We also included a lot of tracking shots and close ups on Lillie typing on the laptop to emphasize the fact that it is very important. All our shots worked well on the day, signifying the pressure and intensity of the chase between the characters. The fight scene worked really well when we actuary shot it. We were a bit apprehensive when writing it in the storyboard that it would look really fake and tacky, but it turned out realistic and griping. It took more time to plan than anything else we shot but it was defiantly worth it! Even if our actors were completely shattered after! Point of view shots were vital to make the sequence look more life-like.


We chose to have our hacker (Lillie) dressed in a black top, black jeans, and black boots which is what stereotypical hackers seemed to be dressed in, when watching similar films for our research. The government agent (Will) was dressed in a black suit, black tie and a white and blue stripy shirt. We thought this would be appropriate for him to be dressed like this because it shows his authority in the sequence compared to the hacker, we also see a lot of agents dressed in suits in other action-thrillers (Men In Black, War Of The Worlds, etc). The use of guns and modern-day technology (the laptop) are seen on most action-thrillers so we thought it would only be appropriate to include it in ours to make it seem more authentic.

Props List

1. Computers.
2. Old computer (to smash).
3. Desk.
4. Chair.
5. Filing cabinets.
6. Mobile phone.
7. Papers with information on them.
8. USB.
9. Clock.
10. Fake door.
11. Curtains.
12. Ash tray.
13. Small bed.
14. Cigarette packets.
15. Lighter.
16. Laptop.
17. Rucksack.
18. Clothes.
19. Dirty plates.
20. Alcohol bottles.
21. Guns.
22. Post-it notes.
23. Bin.
24. Pens.
25. Food wrappers.
26. Radio.

Costume List

Hacker

• Grey hoodie (food stained).
• Dark jeans.
• Fashion trainers.
• White t-shirt.
• Posh watch.
• Black beanie.

Armed Unit (5-6 people)

• Guns.
• Black combat trousers.
• Black t-shirt.
• Combat boots.
• Walkie-talkies.
• Black beanie.
• Black balaclavas.

Cast List

Vano Chaladze

Role: Riot squad member 1.

Age: 16.

Height: 5’10.

 

Simon Wood

Role: Riot squad member 2.

Age: 39.

Height: 5’11.

Adam Grant

Role: Riot squad member 3.

Age: 34.

Height: 5’7.

Oleg Rashupkin

Role: Hacker.

Age: 17.

Height: 5’10.

William Edgley

Role: Riot squad member 4.

Age: 17.

Height: 5’10.

(And 2 others).

Role: Riot squad members 5 and 6.

Introduction To Video Camera Shots And Techniques

Shot Sizes

Big Close-up (BCU) is a head or a part of the head. It's used to show emotion and detail. This shot is reserved for passion or conflict. Mid Shot (MS) is shot to the waist. This shot provides information on the body language and clothes of the character. Wide Shot (WS) is also known as the master or establishing shot. It establishes location often used at the beginning of a scene and again at the end. It helps make clear the physical geography of the space and sets up at atmosphere. Point Of View (POV) provides perspective from a particular character's point of view. The directer manipulates whoever eyes the audience experiences the story from. Close-Up (CU) reveals the head and shoulders. It also reveals the characters personality. It's intimate and powerful, useful for dramatic scenes or revealing moments of truth/crisis. Close-up shots work to increase audience identification with a character. Medium-Long Shot (MLS) includes the knees. This provides more physical information than the mid shot, but less close-up detail. Over The Shoulder (O/S) helps create a dynamic shot between the character and what they are seeing. It can also be used to suggest someone is being followed or indeed watched by an unseen presence. High Angle means that the camera points down from above the eyeline, looking down on someone. It also can indicate low status or vulnerability. Medium Close Up (MCU) shows the head and shoulders to the top pocket. This is a useful all-round shot. Long Shot (LS) reveals the full figure. It contextualises the character in their location. It is also often used to distance the audience from events or suggest loneliness, isolation etc. Two Shot, Three Shot (2/S, 3/S) Etc is shot by framing two or more characters in the same frame. From this, a sense of how they can relate to each other is created. The opposite of this is to keep characters in separate frames which suggests a lack of common group or interaction. Low Angle means that the camera points up from below the eyeline. It can indicate high status (someone powerful or intimidating).

Editing And Film Language

Editing is the framework upon which the whole film language is built. It comprises of 3 key factors:

1. Shot choice.
2. Order of shots.
3. Pace.

Within this, editing controls time (fast or slow). It also controls what we see and when we see it. It enables the audience to make sense of events so the plot fit's together correctly and the events take place at the right time. It also controls what information is shown/represented and directs us (the audience) in how we are meant to think/feel. Editing involves the section of the right diegetic and non-diegetic sounds to create meaning.

• Diegetic sound exists within the world of film to enhance realism and maintain the audience involvement.
• Non-diegetic sound exists outside the world of film. E.g film soundtracks to create mood and tone.

180 Degree Rule helps to maintain continuity and ensures a action within a sequence. 30 Degree Rule is also known as a jump cut. If you have a cut and move the camera more than 30 degree's it creates an awkward movement. Continuerty Editing is the most common form of editing, it uses 180 degree rule, establishing and shot-reverse-shot. Eyeline Match means that 2 shots are linked by action. The shots can be matched by dialogue and cutting mid sentence. Shot-reverse-shot is when the camera cuts from one subject to another. Montage is a series of short shots edited into the film to speed up the story. Kuleshov Effect combines montage and the effect film editing has on a viewer. The way the images are cut together producing a feeling. Cross-Cutting involves crossing back and forth between different locations. This helps convey two or more things happening within the film. Split Screen is a way of seeing information. It is often split into segments.

What Is A Thriller?

A thriller is a genre in which the plot generates extreme emotional reactions from the audience. The type of reaction is dependant on the interaction between the pyschological response to the adrenaline liberated to the sensory imagery. The pyschological response may be either fear or excitement or indeed a combination of the two depending on the pyschological makeup of the individual and their interaction with the environment.

Doctor Who Editing Task

http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/trailermaker/view/7iasq9

Photography Composition And Image Manipulation

Composition:

Photography brings a visual language that is universal in understanding. We must then understand its vocabulary which consists of shapes, textures, patterns, lines, colours, shade of light to dark and sharp to blurry images. Just as we must learn to arrange words in a coherent order in order to make sense when we write or speak, so too must we put visual elements together in an organized manner if our photographs are to convey their meaning clearly and vividly.

Composition means arrangement: the orderly putting together of parts to make a unified whole; composition through a personal, intuitive act. However, there are basic principles that govern the way visual elements behave and interact when you combine them inside the four borders of a photograph. Once we have sharpened our vision and grasped these basic ideas of principles, then we will have the potential for making our photographs more exciting and effective than ever before.


In Photoshop we have learnt how to manipulate images to create different posters. From a selection of movie and game posters I chose four to experiment with the Photoshop tool. I chose the four posters (30 Days of Night, Crank HV, Bad Boys and Dawn of The Dead) based on potential adaptations that work well and create an eye-catching effect. I soon was able to cut, copy and paste individual sections from each poster, change the density, colour and create reflections. From learning these skills I will be able to use these new skills later on in the term. I also learnt about the difference between a connotation and a denotation. A connotation is the objects in an image, and denotation is what the objects may signify/symbolise.

About Myself

Hey, my name is Charlie and I'm at Hurtwood House studying media. I also study textiles, psychology and business too. I love watching films, TV and music videos.  I also have a very large interest in fashion and hope to combine that with media later on. My favourite film is The Notebook because it has such a good storyline. I also like reading magazines and occasionally The Daily Mail. Media interests me because it is so powerful. It can change someones opinion just by publishing a picture or an article. I'm really looking forward to making the horror film in AS and the music video in A2. Even though I sometimes struggle with using computers I hope I will be able to pick up the important techniques.