commentary

Here I am talking about several aspects of the making of this film for example to obstacles I faced during the process of this film.  I also understood what the crowd favorite moments of the film were which was extremely useful. It gave me time to address the problems I faced during the production of this film. Additionally it helped me to understand the strengths within the production. I could also explain reasons behind some of my decisions such as the location and meaning which allowed my peers to get an in depth understanding of my film. I believe strength is also the use of technology I used and therefore I could express this here.

I then received feedback from my peers about the production of the film, I found this extremely helpful as I now know what I need to improve on and will have a good starting point for next year. Many people found that they didn't understand the meaning behind the opening and that it seemed slightly fragmented. I understand that I need to make that very clear next year and perhaps make the overall production simpler. Overall The feedback I received was very complimentary which was a huge boost of confidence. 

Evaluation 8

There have been many aspects of this journey to make the opening of the film that I have regretted and would change if repeating the process. I am certain to carry on this course as of next year and therefore I need to establish the highlights of the process and what went well. I believe that the software that I used and the technology such as the camera worked very well and therefore I will not change them. This will be very helpful as I will be confident and used to the equipment making it not be such a stressful scenario.

I think that next year when the production is being made I will have more fun going out and experimenting with more time, locations and characters. The weather when filming was extremely cold which meant we wanted to get the filming over and done with as soon as possible also affecting the quality of work.  I think that if I enjoyed the experience a lot more the quality would have been better. Whilst filming I seemed to get bored incredibly easily which meant I gave up a lot easier and not aiming for excellence. I think this was also due to the choices of locations. Quite a few times I had to suddenly re-organize my plans for filming due to the weather and lighting, if I checked the weather before maybe this would have helped. one of the days when I went out filming I realized that I'd been filming for over an hour and it was around 6:00am which therefore mean that the sun was starting to go down. Therefore the first shots were lighter than the later ones. this meant that i had to go out another day to receive the same lighting. 

Overall, there is a recurring factor which keeps coming up which is the lack of preparation and organisation I had, this is for definite my main aim for next year. Also the more preparation allows more time to write the evaluation and revise for the final exam. This therefore allows my time next year to be less stressful and more enjoyable which will make the course less of a task. 

Evaluation 7

Looking back at my Preliminary task, I have learnt a lot about the production of films and how to make a successful opening. Doing the Preliminary Task gave me the opportunity to experiment with the technology, which I opted not to use, and the editing skills which I knew I would have to encounter at a greater detail for the opening two minutes. Another aspect where the Preliminary Task was useful, was knowing how to and when to use different shot types, this meant that for the final production I could evaluate whether a certain shot type would be appropriate for a certain place, or, if I could find a more effective shot type which would appear more sophisticated.

The Preliminary Task gave me an opportunity to experiment with different shot types. I have used some similar shot types for example the close up shot of a girl’s face which shows the emotion and feelings. in the Preliminary task i had it so that there was something going on in the background over her shoulder however i discovered that this distracted the audience and drew the attention away from the prominent character. i believe that it also looked bad because it added no dramatic effect. Therefore in my final film i made her face closer to the camera in order for it to fill the whole frame.

Additionally I used the same editing software and therefore could use similar techniques such as the fades and tools to make it slick and smooth. After editing the Preliminary Task together i noticed that the angle of the camera at this point was not accurate, which meant that it made the continuity disorientated and it did not fit together. I learnt from this that it would be difficult to produce a successful cut between the two shots because the angle of the camera needs to remain at the same level. It is also difficult to make the cut to the next shot accurate, because a different shot type will be used, which may not like effective in our film.

Evaluation 6

To create a very professional and effective film it need to have a good quality camera with a good editing software. The camcorder was very good quality to allow the film to look clear, and also enhance to level of sophistication. The audience would prefer to watch a film that looks as close to real life as possible and therefore it would help to create a look that is just like the eye sight.
Due to the high definition of the camera and the settings on the camera, the shots appeared clear. However I shot some of the opening shots on an iPhone when I spotted good establishing shots on the way to school. This therefore meant that it had a less clear image and it was slightly more pixallated. Another problem we occurred with the compatibility of the camera to the editing software was the difference in color, despite remaining in the same location. This was disappointing because despite how precisely i made the cut, the color was still disorientated which made it look like we changed something, affecting the theme of continuity.

I decided to use an extremely good editing software- Adobe Premiere Pro. I was going to use Premiere Elements however it believe that Pro has a more sophisticated and advanced software and can allow me to have freedom to use. At the beginning of the course I was oblivious to this software and really struggled to come to terms with it and how it works. It took some time, but when i got the hang of I began to experiment with editing tools and techniques.

Another problem i had in the process of editing this opening was when i tried to make the conversation flow around the table. I discovered that it was very effective to separate the audio from the picture and make it so the shot didn't just start when the dialogue start. This meant to make the picture linger for longer in order to make it flow well and look less bitty. i also believed it made it look like a real film as the conversation didn't look awkward or staged. 

Evaluation 5

I have added annotations to the original film to talk about the conventional features of the genre. This allows the audience to see my thinking behind the shots and editing.  

Evaluation 4

This is the target audience for my film- I have chose to address the audience to a 14-18 age group. this is roughly the same as Taken which was the inspiration for this film. Any younger than this age range would mean that the appreciation of the film would be decreased, because they do not understand the plot, along with the real-life scenarios we are creating. An obvious factor for not having a target audience of any younger would be because of the disturbing atmosphere we portray. However, on average, any older than the age range we have given may not understand as to why the plot is the way it is and would lead to a very critical audience because they have grown up in a different era, surrounded with different genres of films, which have populated the film industry.

The teen-aged audience would be expected to have an interest in popular culture and listen to the modern day popular music such as song in the top ten music charts. This made me think that it may be quite effective to have some well known youth pop songs to allow the audience to connect with it. This could also mean that they film industry will earn  more money from record sales. This could mean that the company- Ripple Film- could be vertically integrated allowing money not being wasted on buying companies.

Evaluation 3

When thinking about suitable film institutions to represent my opening two minutes, along with my own institutions, I have chosen to research some institutions which maybe are not so well known. I believe that many people will just choose a world famous company because they are well known for representing popular films and although this would probably be the easier option, I have chosen to put a bit more thought into it to see if I can find anything a bit more relevant to my opening.

Another institution I researched was Phase 4 Films which produced a film called Eden which is based on a true story of a teenage girl who is abducted and sold for prostitution. I had never heard of this company before, but found it from looking at the film Eden which is the last film i watched  in the hope for inspiration. I think that this company would be a good choice for me as they produce low budget films which mean our film will be more realistic than if I choose a larger company and I know that they have produced films of a similar genre and theme to mine which would help enforce the realism of my film and make it seem a relevant choice.

Evaluation 2

The character played by Megan i decided to base around the daughter in award winning action film- Taken, in fact a lot of the content of my film was inspired by this film. there are many moments in the film where these two actors have similar qualities and characteristics. These photos have both girls on the phone with a concerned look on their faces. As The camera angle is an close up on the face, the emotion is very clear allowing the audience to feel connected and feel empathy for them. 

Another reason why I chose to use this similar shot is because the use of the suspicious phone call creates the element of confusion and suspicion on the audience.  Despite both the protagonists looking slightly different and wearing different clothing, they both exert the same message for young people. They are both in the same age category which are unaware of the dangers which may seem too obvious for them to notice. Both the protagonists are attractive and feeble suggesting a danger which is about to approach. There facial expiations show the fear and tense atmosphere which conforms to the stereotype of the female protagonist. They are perceived as being weak, vulnerable and naive and therefore their faces conform to this. They both have a white IPhone which represents the modern day technology used by teenage girls.

Evaluation 1

The opening of this film shows some establishing shots with the title coming in from the left and exiting to right. The light coming behind the building is very bright and uncomfortable which adds too the piercing threatening music. This is a conventional opening as it doesn't give anything away about the film but it starts the film with suspense and tension. I wanted to leave the identification of the characters until later on so that the audience are constantly wanting more to happen.

I have chosen several shots such as this one on the right that give the audience an idea of the setting/location. this allows them to connect with the characters and they get an understanding of their lifestyle. It is set in an ordinary road in England which is effective as it makes the scenario seem real and naturalistic. However films such as Taken contrasts this as its based on a time where they are in n a foreign country which makes the scenario seem dangerous and scary for the young girl. i still believe the location i chose has a daunting affect as the audience will connect with it.                                 

The two characters are very typical girls, the wear ordinary make-up, fashionable clothes and general teen-aged stereotypical appearance. I wanted them to be extremely normal and innocent so that the attack would be unexpected and surprising for the audience. in the scene with them walking they are chatting and laughing showing the naivety to the upcoming event. this conforms to the conventions of a kidnapping film- the shots are observed showing someone is watching the normal looking girls. The audience enjoy knowing more that the characters do. 

This observational shot is use din order to give the effect that the girls are being watched and something is going to happen too them. this shot from the window also makes them look extremely small and childish- this is because of the the high angle shot that show the power of the person watching. this then gives the characters empathy from the audience. This type of shot is often used and is extremely effective is 'Taken' style films. I also moved the camera around slightly to give the effect that the camera is the person watching them. 

                                                                          This shot introduces the characters to the opening and allows the audience to be part of there conversation as it is excluded and personal. This is a conventional shot as is establishes the setting and the characters and allows the audience to understand the mood, environment and also gives an anticlimax from the previous shot where the girl gets taken. i also included techno type music which creates a upbeat type atmosphere that sets up a very different environment from previous scenes.

I added This special effect to this shot as it creates an observational view of the scenario. I also attempted to create a CCTV effect which i found by looking up tutorials on YouTube. This effect is extremely common on films like this as i gives an element of seriousness and control over whats happening and makes the audience empathize with the characters die to their lack or privacy. I zoomed in which creates a bury image of the girls which in fact adds to this effect as it cancels out the personal effect and makes them look like objects or just victims.

This action shot is very fast and sudden creating an unexpected effect. The hand grabs her from the side of the face the drags it left while the camera stays static revealing the empty street behind her. The audience are not aware of the friends reaction however the following shot show a contradicting shot of her round the table with her family. this juxtaposition want to know the outcome of the incident. The genre of an action film as it has an action shot which therefore conforms to the stereotype on a conventional film.
This shows the teenagers bedroom, it symbolizes the kind of teenager that she is like. it also allows the young audience to connect with her as they can see aspects from the generation they live in. The technology and modern experiment in the room also shows that she is well off, which can show a vulnerable side to her as she is oblivious to the dangers of the outside world. this is a very conventional for the action thriller.

The final product

Enigma Code

Enigma codes pose questions to the audience which are then answered shortly after or later on in the film. For example, who is she? Where is she going? Why is she doing that? They're questions enabling the audience to get intrigued with the film and wanting to find out the answers to these questions, therefore watching more of it. Enigma codes entice the audience to watch the rest of the film as they're curious as to what will happen next; they also help to move on the narrative.

Action codes are significant events which move the narrative on in a particular direction. For example, a phone ringing or a knock at the door. Both actions are used to change the scene/narrative for specific reason but to also keep the narrative alive. They teach the audience new things, for example, something new about a character or possibly the plot itself. They give the audience needed information.

I have used both of these codes however the big enigma code used is when the girl gets taken. The audience are asking these questions- who's taken her? where is she going? is she dead? 

This leaves an element of teasing the audience and making them want to watch more and understand whats going to happen to her. 

Shot list analysis

On the first day of filming, we went down my road with my storyboard and started to plan out where I would set up the camera. I filmed a series of long shots of the girls walking for fillers if I needed more footage when editing.
I went high up onto a mound to get a high angle shot of the girls walking. While up on the mound I decided to go into the bushes and shoot some observational shots from inside the bush to. as its hand held it will look shaky and real life to add a spooky feel for the audience. I shot some panning and some static so I have a range to choose between.

I also shot one shot from the upstairs room in my house looking down at the girls, I had some of the paneling in the corner so the window was obvious.
I used a panning shot of them walking past the house. I also experimented with the zoom and angle. The next shot I did was some very low angle shots when the camera is placed on to the floor while the feet moved towards the camera. This showed the match on action of hem walking.
One of the most effective shots was when I walked backwards facing the camera to the girl’s feet as they walked up the road. I started by facing the camera to the feet and moved up the body. this shot was the first look the audience has of their face which introduces them therefore I kept this shot for a little longer in order for the audience to establish the characters and connect with them. I also made my actors have an uplifting conversation with laughter and chatting.

Editing reaserch

I watched a basic editing tutorial to get the basics on how I can make the film look smooth and comfortable to watch. This video helped me to understand the best way to edit the film.
It has also taught me about the different tools such as how to make the video slow motion which is extremely important in my film as I am doing a CCTV camera which may be slow motion to add an effect.

When editing my film i have to be careful about making the film look like real life and therefore when there are conversations going on they have to look natural and unrehearsed. From watching this video i have understood how to make the dialogue and images look smooth and clean.

CCTV effect

I wanted to give the effect that at all times, these girls are being watched or investigated leading up tot the attack. by zooming in and putting an effect on the shot it can give the effect of a CCTV camera. i put the effect so that there was a black and whit wash on it then i turned the contrast up which made it very effective. the shot them becomes less clear however as you can see in this real life CCTV, its blurry therefore conforming to the look of a real camera.
This also then helps to add the effect that there is a reason or plan behind what is happening which allows the audience to want to watch the rest of the film as they want to know why the girls were targeted.

Editing research

This video has taught me many techniques and shots to use when filming my film such as match on action. i have learnt the importance of match on action and how it helps to make the shot interesting and detailed.
I have also learnt to definitely not cross over the 180 degree rule in order to make sure the audience are looking at his life from one perspective and angle so it doesn't confuse or look messy.
This video changed my mind on one of the shots that I used and allowed me to make my film more professional looking.

Final Title idea

I filmed an establishing shot of a rock being thrown in to a puddle and causing a ripple affect which gave me the idea of ripple films. This is the first production title to appear on screen then stays for 3 seconds then the next title appears. i decided to use a moving image with while writing along the bottom. This is very similar to the Walt Disney production credits. The image for Walt Disney is the castle in Disneyland that links to the title of the company and therefore I decided to use the rippling water as it links to the name- Ripple Film's.I have chosen to only use this production title bu to t say that its Ripple film's in associations with the director Beth Rowe as it reflects who was in the making of the film. As it is simple and effective it illustrates the professional effect of the opening and perhaps has a well known distributor.

Storyboard

This is my Animatic storyboard of the opening to my film. I decided to draw them all out and then take pictures of them next to one another to show the chronological sequence of the film.

I have skipped a few scenes however have included the most effective shots and angles that represent the film.

The most effective moment in the sequence is when there is a high angle long shot from a window looking down at the two girls as it looks very observational and creepy conforming to the conventions of an action film.

Once the shot has appeared for 3 seconds i zoomed in closer to the shot and changed the effect of the image so it looks like a CCTV camera watching the girls.

In our storyboard we have displayed the hope to use close up shots of both our protagonist and antagonist, this is in aid of increasing the tension and to allow the audience to view the characters at different angles. This would help to unravel the plot, and allow the audience to become more engaged and involved in the opening scene because they would be able to form opinions on the characters. We are hoping that this will work successfully and the audience will be able to see that Hattie our protagonist is vulnerable, helping to build suspense and make our film more enjoyable.

opening shots

I have decided to have a sequence of moving, panning shots of close up outdoor items to set the theme, and it will give the film a built up to the key moment. it will also allow enough time for the credits to appear. I will find interesting shots such as water in a puddle and the sun behind the tree's. There will then have the actors, producers, directors etc, coming up as the establishing shots introduce the film.
One of the shots I decided to use was a shot of a swing swinging in the breeze outside a house. this gives a spooky, tense feel for the audience. Thisalso allows a vulnerable and innocent perception of the upcoming events however with a dark effect.
I used this image to the left as inspiration as it is, as if there is someone there however you can not see it to the naked eye. This short sequence allows the audience to establish the surroundings and the general mood of the opening which builds up the tension and allows a climax for the key moment later on. I played around with the effects on the images to make them look creepy and I also make them very slow. I added some very piercing and uncomfortable music to the background to add to the scary effect.  

music and sound effect reaserch

I have chosen to use this music when the girls are walking down the road as the lead up to the kidnap as it builds up immensely and has a crescendo to build up tempo. this non-dietetic sound also has moments where there is a drumming sound and, I have decided to change the cut every time the beat changes. this will create a very sleek and effective performance.

I've also decided to change the music when the scene changes to the family round the table as it changes the atmosphere and leaves the audience wondering whats just happened. My aim it to create an element of confusion for the audience so that they are more intrigued to carry on watching.

In addition to the tense music the short snappy clips will help build up the tension and therefore will help the kidnapping has impact and effect. after the scene stops and the girl has gone missing, the music will cut off leaving a black screen and no music.

I am also looking ot include sound effects ion the film to add an element of reality and suspense. There are many different kinds of sound effects used in films and TV shows. They are;

·         Hard sound effects: They are common sounds which are seen on the screen, like door slams, gunfire, and vehicles driving by.

·         Background sound effects: They are sounds which don’t completely coordinate with the picture, but denote setting to the audiences, like the sound of a fluorescent light being switched on and interiors of cars. The noise of crowd speaking in the backdrop is considered a background sound effect, but only on the condition that the language is unrecognizable.

·         Foley sound effects: They are sounds which completely coordinate on the screen, and demand the skill of a Foley artist to record appropriately. The movement concerning hand props, like forks and knives and the rustling of cloth are commonly seen examples of Foley units.

·         Design sound effects: They are sounds which don’t generally occur naturally, or are completely impossible to record in natural surroundings. These kinds of sounds are utilized to depict extravagant technology in any sci-fi film, or may be used in a musical manner to denote an emotionally heavy mood.

evidence from shoot

DAY 1. The walk
These pictures were taken while i was filming my actor's. This shows the different angles etc that I took the shot's from. The best shot was the top right hand corner picture where i was extremely low filming the actors feet. the shot looked really professional as its very still making the audience feel like they are there in that moment.
There is also a shot where i am in the bushes which gives an observational view of the actors giving the idea that they are being watched by someone.

filming timetable

The first day of filming is on the 27th of December: 

3:00am go to Reigate road

• Actress: Megan Alford
• Actress: Hattie Rowe
• Assistant: Patrick Rowe 

Second day 29th of December:

8:00am in my Kitchen

• Actress: Megan Alford
• Actress: Caroline Rowe
• Actress: Patrick Rowe

Title sequence idea

The title sequence on my film is going to have simple black writing in the right hand corner of the screen as the girls are walking up the road. I'm going to keep the subtle so that they blend in with the relaxed atmosphere. i am going to experiment with the different types of writing styles and how they will pop up on the screen. one idea was to have it like it was being typed as I'm thinking of having some of the shots as though they are CCTV and i think that will look really good!
i also have chosen to have my production to be called 'ROWENCO'- i chose this as it has my sir name in it. this will come up on the screen at the beginning on a black background. then it will have the film title- 'GONE'; i will also experiment with the writing of the title.