Rushes from 30/11/2012

Casting Issues

The main problem in a large filming project such as this is an organised and dependable cast.

I have a full cast of students, with one teacher, all playing roles in the film/film trailer similar to their real life roles.

However, sometimes you can't depend on everyone, due to unforeseen circumstances.

Last Friday, I organised a filming schedule with my media teacher, John, to film the scenes he is involved in.

However, due to certain issues, I could not film with him on that day. This has meant that I am behind schedule and I have missed my Monday deadline for the thirty second trailer.

Cast (so far)

Josh/The Murderer
played by Joshua Wright (myself)


Amy/Victim #1
played by Amy Black


Paige/Victim #2
played by Paige Windley



Callum/Victim #3
played by Callum Ahmed


Mr Hamlin/Victim #4
played by John Hamlin

Shot list (More pictures soon)

Scene A. INT IN. DARK ROOM – CAMERA POV
Scene B. INT IN. CLASSROOM #1 – AFTERNOON – CAMERA POV
Scene C. INT IN. DARK ROOM – CAMERA POV
Scene D. INT. OFFICE #2 – MORNING – CAMERA PO
Scene E. INT IN. DARK ROOM – CAMERA POV
Scene F. INT. OFFICE #2 – MORNING – CAMERA POV
Scene G. INT IN. BEDROOM – NIGHT – CAMERA POV
Scene H. INT IN. – STREET – AFTERNOON – CAMERA PO
Scene I. INT IN. CLASSROOM #2 – MORNING – CAMERA POV
Scene J. INT IN. REFECTORY – AFTERNOON – CAMERA POV
Scene K. INT IN. CORRIDOR – AFTERNOON – CAMERA POV

Location 1. Dark Room
(Scenes A, C, E, H1,)
This location will be where the murders take place, so I need a well-lit but empty room. Scene H1 does not currently exist in the script, but may need to be added to the film later, for narrative reasons. I have used Wyke's Green Screen Room, as it is a freely available. I can have control of any set or props that are used in this room, and in post-production, I can place a 'sepia' tone on the shot to turn the green into a more realistic orange/brown colour, or any other colour which looks ideal in the edit.

Location 2. Classroom #1/#2
(Scene B, I)
These may be two different Film/Media classrooms, or the same classroom, depending on the availability of rooms, and my personal choice.

Location 3. Office
(Scene D)
This scene will be filmed, due to the availability of the room and the current look of the room, in the current Media/Film office.

Location 4. Street
(Scene H)
This scene only has one character in, and is a generic street. I may use the outside of college as a substitute.

Location 5. Bedroom
(Scene G)
Only one scene will be scene in the Bedroom location, with only one character. As it is my character in the scene, and my character’s bedroom, I have decided to use my bedroom.

Location 6. Refectory
(Scene J)
This scene is the scene with the majority of main cast and extras in a single scene. Due to the availability and access, I will use my origingal idea and film in the college Refectory.

Location 7. Stairs/Corridor
(Scene K)
A continuing shot from Scene J, this will be shot on the staircase/corridor between the Refectory location of in Scene J and the Classroom(s)/Office locations of Scenes 2 and 3.

Codes and Conventions of my Chosen Genres

Psychological Horror

The psychological horror genre is a mix of the genres of horror and psychological thriller. Psychological horrors, like all horrors, concentrate on the antagonist(s) harming the protagonist(s), with a particular focus on the characters’ fears and emotions, and how the antagonist creates and/or manipulates these to create the horror element. A major aspect of psychological horror is that the identity of the antagonist can be kept a secret

As with horror, psychological horror will add canted/Dutch angles, to give a sense of disorientation for the audience, reflecting the characters’ emotions. Mirrors can be used to show the ‘two-faced/dark side’ aspects of characters (particularly if the audience are not fully aware of which character the antagonist is).

Mise-en-scene is very important in psychological horrors. Colour can be used to reflect the characters and their emotions, as well as giving very contrasting views. For example, two colours that are associated with psychological horrors are red and black. In a horror, black can mean death or mystery (if a character is in a dark location, there can be an element of mystery to their identity), and red can mean blood; however, in another genre, e.g. romance, red can mean passion and love. So although colour can be used, it has to be supported by other stylistics.

Fast editing will be used, in order to reflect heightened emotions of the characters.

Found Footage

Found footage is a genre of film in which all, or the majority, of the film is presented in either a ‘home video’ style, or a ‘lost footage’ documentary, left behind by the deceased protagonists (the latter more popular in horror/found footage hybrids, such as the popular films The Blair Witch Project [1999, Directed by Daniel Myrick & Eduardo Sánchez, US] and Paranormal Activity [2007; Directed by Oren Pele, US]. In found footage films, the filming is done by the actors themselves, and the camera is viewed as a prop in the film. This means the audience can have a direct link to the characters.

Cinematography is an incredibly important aspect of the found footage genre. There is usually only one camera throughout the entire film, which is used to document events. For example, in “Paranormal Activity”, the camera(s) are used to capture footage of the poltergeists, in “The Blair Witch Project” the single camera is used to document the students attempting to find the truth about the titular Blair Witch phenomena. Found footage films will often use close-ups to show the emotion of the characters.

Due to the minimal use of camera angles, one scene will be entirely shot in one take. Editing techniques (such as shot reverse shot, match on action) are completely ignored, and scene cuts are shown as a literal ‘cut’ of the camera.

No film soundtrack or score are usually used in found footage films, as all aspects of found footage are portrayed as being a part of the diegesis. This means that any emotion that the audience can draw from music (the ‘stabbing’ music in the psychological horror film Psycho) has to come from the cinematography and the performance of the actors. However, some aspects of sound can be predominant in both psychological horrors and found footage, such as the heartbeats of the characters, to reflect the emotion of the scene

Trailers of films that have inspired me

Chronicle

Dir. Josh Trank

2012

US

This film has inspired me as it stars, and is targeted at, teenagers. Although its genres are superhero/found footage, and does not incorporate any psychological thriller elements, I believe I can draw inspiration from the particular emotions of the characters for my film.

The Blair Witch Project Trailer

Dirs. Daniel Myrick & Eduardo Sánchez

1999

US

This film is one of the most well known psychological thriller/found footage films in existence. Like my college film, it was made on a low budget.

This film also inspired the name of my film, "The Project", and has also added some plot elements, such as the story of film students investigating strange phenomena (in TBWP, it is the eponymous Blair Witch, in my film, it is an unnamed murderer).

Paranormal Activity Trailer

Dir. Oren Peli

2007

US

Like TBWP, Paranormal Activity is an incredibly well known psychological thriller/found footage film. It has spawned multiple sequels, with the original costing only $15,000 (approximately £9,377) barely nothing compared to the multi-million dollar blockbusters of contemporary cinema. With similar 'paranormal phenomena' themes to Blair Witch, I can take the horror elements and place them into my film.

Todorov

Script

The following text appears on-screen, slowly fading in:

IN 2012, A POLICE MURDER INVESTIGATION LED TO THE DISOVERY OF THE FOLLOWING FOOTAGE.

NONE OF THE FOOTAGE HAS NOT BEEN ALTERED OR ENHANCED

The text flickers away, akin to an old videotape pause.

INT IN. DARK ROOM – CAMERA POV

A dark room. Empty, except from a boring wooden chair. SCREAMING is heard from off-camera, but the camera remains static. One, then two, then three bodies fall in front of the camera, BLOODY and GRUESOME.

The camera rattles slightly, as someone turns it off.

INT IN. CLASSROOM #1 – AFTERNOON – CAMERA POV

Josh, a young student, is sat down in a classroom, recording a group of studentss discussing work.

JOSH (O.S.) (CONT’D)

You guys got any ideas?

One student, a young boy with short blond hair, turns to the camera.

STUDENT #1

Oh, I’ve got a few ideas. There’s some kid, romance, some money, bit of problems, all that sort of stuff. What about you?

JOSH (O.S.)

No ideas. None.

The STUDENT #1 walks towards the camera and Josh hands it to him.

STUDENT #1 (O.S.)

Surely you have some ideas, Mister Josh? In that massive big brain of yours- You’ve got a lot of footage on here, you know. The memory card is almost full.

JOSH

Weird, I haven’t recorded anything, apart from this bit and a few seconds in the office

STUDENT #1 (O.S.)

I bet it’s some stupid idiots from last year. Wanna have a look?

JOSH

Sure.

Josh stands up, and walks behind the camera.

INT IN. DARK ROOM – CAMERA POV

A YOUNG GIRL, sixteen or seventeen, sits on a wooden chair, hands and feet BOUND and KNOTTED TIGHTLY, and a HANDKERCHIEF in her mouth, gagging her. She is TRAPPED.

A mysterious HOODED FIGURE approaches from the darkness, and stands in front of the girl, blocking the camera view. The hooded figure pulls out a SHARP KNIFE. The blade glints in the dim, orange light.

The figure grunts, and slashes the girl, who SCREAMS and WRIGGLES in pain, as blood squirts out of her. After three or four slashes, the girl has stopped screaming and wriggling, and sits still and motionless in the chair. Dead.

INT IN. CLASSROOM #1 – AFTERNOON – CAMERA POV

The camera, tilted at a slight angle, points towards a group of empty chairs and table.

STUDENT #1 (O.S.)

(Choking and laughing in disbelief)

Oh!

JOSH (O.S.)

Ha-ha, you nicked the camera last night. You’re pulling my leg!

STUDENT #1 (O.S.)

No, honestly. That’s a proper bloody murder. Look at the time it was recorded.

JOSH (O.S.)

Two months ago. We only got the cameras Monday.

STUDENT #1 (O.S.)

JOSH (OS.)

I don’t know. I’m asking…

INT. OFFICE #2 – MORNING – CAMERA POV

Josh walks towards a TEACHER, who is sat down, typing up administration stuff on a computer.

JOSH (O.S.) (CONT’D)

Sir?

The teacher turns around, smiles, and looks up at the camera

TEACHER

Yes?

JOSH (O.S.)

(Anxious)

Sir, seriously. Just look at this.

The teacher stands up, and walks behind the camera.

INT IN. DARK ROOM – CAMERA POV

Another victim, this time a young man, similar age to the girl, and also bound and gagged. This time, the hooded figure takes out a SMALLER KNIFE, and discreetly stabs the man in the chest. The man squawks in pain, and dies.

INT. OFFICE #2 – MORNING – CAMERA POV

The teacher walks back into the camera shot, smiling.

TEACHER

Very good, Josh. Looks very realistic. Have you recorded the rest of your footage?

JOSH (O.S.)

Sir! It’s not faked! That’s real! Somebody last year, recorded it!

TEACHER

Stop telling tales, Josh. Get on with your work.

JOSH (O.S.)

Nobody bloody believes me. I’ll find proof!

Josh turns around, bringing the camera to face the door as he walks out.

TEACHER

I’ll find you in a meeting with the vice principle, if you don’t behave.

Josh sighs, and turns off the camera.

INT IN. BEDROOM – NIGHT – CAMERA POV

Josh lies in his bed, looking towards the camera.

JOSH

Well, had a look through all of the footage…

(Pause, Josh inhales deeply)

…Twenty murders in the past two months. That’s ten a month. Average of thirty days a month, that’s five a fortnight. One every three days. I only got a B in GCSE Maths, so I’m not exactly a genius. But that’s enough murders in as little time for there to be news about it.

INT IN. – STREET – AFTERNOON – CAMERA POV

The camera points directly to Josh.

JOSH (CONT’D)

Found it! Some idiot’s nicked you! Where the hell have you been? Been looking for you all weekend!

INT IN. CORRIDOR – MORNING – CAMERA POV

Josh walks quickly down the corridor, shaking the camera wildly.

JOSH (O.S.) (CONT’D)

Seriously. That bloody teacher has to believe me now.

Josh approaches the door, opens it, and scans the classroom with the camera. Apart from the teacher and A FEW STUDENT #1S, the room is EMPTY.

JOSH (O.S.) (CONT’D)

Where the hell is everyone, sir?

TEACHER #2

A bug. The ‘flu. It’s going around.

JOSH (O.S.)

Whatever.

TEACHER

Oi. Less of your lip.

JOSH (O.S.)

Okay. But don’t blame me when everyone in college ends up dead.

Josh storms out of the classroom, slamming the door.

INT IN. REFECTORY – AFTERNOON – CAMERA POV

Josh sits, fed up, with a group of STUDENT #1s.

STUDENT #2

Heard you ran out of the classroom.

JOSH growls, annoying.

JOSH

There’s a killer! Out there…

(points to the window)

…Somewhere! And nobody bloody believes me! And the people who do seem to be too damn selfish to help me.

STUDENT #3

Well, we are only college kids. We can’t do much.

JOSH

Oh yeah? I’ll show you…

JOSH grabs the camera, and runs out of the refectory. The camera tracks across the foyer, and up a flight of stairs.

INT IN. CORRIDOR – AFTERNOON – CAMERA POV

Josh storms through the corridor. The lights FLICKER on and off. He turns to the classroom door. The lights are OFF inside. He tries the handle, the door is LOCKED. SCREAMING comes from inside. The teacher lands against the window, his eyes of shock and pain. He paws at the window fruitlessly as he slides down, leaving STREAKS OF BLOOD.

Josh turns the camera to face him.

JOSH (CONT’D)

He’s here!

Josh DROPS the camera, and runs off. After more screaming, the lights stop flickering, and the door opens. The hooded figure walks out of the classroom, sees the camera and picks it up.

The figure removes its hood.

KILLER
And so concludes the best A2 coursework video on the planet...

The killer smiles.

THE END

Storyboard Layout

Copy of A2 FILM STORYBOARD on Prezi

Storyboard Details

This is a list of items I need to include in my storyboard:

• Shot #
• Location
• Duration
• Camera Angle
• Camera Distance
• Transition
• Props
• Costume
• Action
• /Diegetic Sound
• Non-Diegetic Sound
• SFX/VFX

To save space and organise the storyboard, I shall group these items into the following categories:

• Shot #/Duration - Header "box"
• Camera Angle/Camera Distance - "Cinematography" box
• Transition/VFX - "Editing" box
• Diegetic Sound/Non-diegetic Sound/SFX - "Sound" box"
• Location/Props/Costume - "Mise-en-scene" box

Dialogue will be placed in "Sound", and any action (accompanied with the line spoken during the action) will be placed in a "Performance" box.

For recognition purposes, I shall also write my name and the title of the project (my film's name) in the "Header" box.

Aims and Context

For my FM3 Creative Project, I am going to produce a short film.

My genres are psychological horror and found footage, and I hope to use the codes and conventions of these genres successfully in the stylistics of my short film.

This film will be aimed at people between 15 and 19 years old (it will hold a "15" certificate), mixed gender and working/middle class. This is because I believe that this audience is the audience most reflected by the characters in the short film.

My aims will be to use themes of mystery and horror to provoke audience responses. Explore the codes and conventions of the psychological thriller and found footage genres. how the development of my knowledge of cinematography and editing, which will be derived from my study of FM1

In order to assist with this project, I have been studying films of similar genres, such as:

• Chronicle (Dir. Josh Trank, 2012, US)
• The Blair Witch Project (Dirs. Daniel Myrick & Eduardo Sánchez, 1999, US)
• Paranormal Activity (Dir. Oren Peli, 2007, US)

I intend to direct the piece, along with being the editor, main camera operator, writer, protagonist and antagonist.

Finished Product (Reconstruction of a Film Text: Maltese Falcon Opening Sequence)

Deconstruction/Reconstruction of a Film Text

For this project I will be working in a group of four and deconstruction and Reconstruction of a film text. The film text I will be analysing is the opening sequence from the 1941 film 'The Maltese Falcon' directed by John Huston.
The group of which I am in contains; Ben Green, Callum Ahmed, Matt Nolan  and myself.
The group will take on specific roles:

Ben - Cinematographer, Co-Director, Actor, Storyboard artist, Co-Lighting Director, Editor
Matt - Cinematography, Co-Director, Co-Lighting Director, Editor
Callum - Actor, Costume designer, Editor
Me - Actor, Editor

Characters and actors:

• Sam Spade - Callum
• Effie - Ben
• Miles Archer - Ben
• Mrs Wonderly/ Brigud o' Shaughnessy - Me

Here is a link to the clip the group will be Deconstructing and reconstructing: http://vle.wyke.ac.uk/moodle/mod/resource/view.php?id=12643

Synopsis of my short film

Short Film: "The Project"

Synopsis:

Josh, a young college student works on his A2 coursework, but cannot decide on what sort of film to create. He discusses with other students about their work, but still remains clueless. Then he discovers evidence of gruesome, mysterious murder on the memory card on his camera: the teachers dismiss the video, and pressure him to finish his coursework. Frustrated, he enlists the help of his friends, who then discover more taped murders, and Josh discovers that the latest recordings are recent, and the murderer has turned to students in his very college. Determined more than ever to find the killer, and to reveal the truth about the "nasty 'flu bug going around", Josh hunts down the killer... who seems to think that murdering students will give Josh the perfect idea for his coursework.

Genre

For my short film, I have decided to pick the genres of "psychological thriller" and "found footage". I have picked these two genres as found footage is one of my favourite genres, and I have watched many films of this genre:

The Blair Witch Project (1999; Dirs.  Daniel Myrick & Eduardo Sánchez, US)

Paranormal Activity (2007; Dir. Oren Peli,  US)

Cloverfield (2008; Dir. Matt Reeves, US)

Quarantine (2008; Dir. John Erick, US)

Apollo 18 (2011; Dir.  Gonzalo López-Gallego, US)

Chronicle (2012; Dir. Josh Trank, US)

I also believe that it is an ideal film to do on a low-budget (Paranormal Activity had a budget of $15,000 (around £9,300), as the drama of the film comes directly from the characters' emotions, through the use of performance and shaky cameras (cinematography)

FM3 Creative Project

The creative project is worth 60 marks and the small scale research unit is worth 40 marks.

Aims and context - required for assessment

Creative product - 45 marks

Evaluation - 15 marks

Develop an extended sequence from an imagined feature

OR

Develop a complete short film between 3 and 5 minutes.