Update on filming

We began filming, on 24th March, around half five as we wanted to do a time lapse from daytime to sunset. We researched the time of sunset so that we wouldn’t waste loads of the camera’s battery filming much earlier in the day. We filmed with a Nikon DLSR camera so that we were able to find it much easier to film in night settings.

We did have a problem with filming the time lapse as the camera could only record a maximum of 20 minutes at a time therefore we had to make sure we were by the camera all the time in order to record a new video continuing on from the other one.

Once we filmed the time lapse which took around 40 minutes to do, we then continued with the rest of the film opening. We managed to record a variety of camera shots ranging from close ups, mid shots, long shots, extreme long shots and we also did these from a variety of angles such as low and high.

We didn’t, however,  end up finishing the whole two minutes as planned as the camera’s battery was low therefore we had to call it a day and plan another day to film. So far we have planned to film the following Monday coming up.

When it came to the editing process, we actually had more footage than we predicted which ended up being around a minute and 37 seconds long. This will now allow us to finish the last 20 seconds very quickly as well as allowing us to refine the footage we had already done on the first filming day. As we edited the film, there were a few transitions between different shots which didn’t flow smoothly therefore we are going to work on that next filming day as well.

Post by Sophie

Organisation of Actors, Locations, Costume and Props

Now that we have decided as a group that we need to make a massive improvement with the filming, we have now finished planning the storyboard and are ready to film.

Actors The only actor we needed to film the first minute was Niyi. He was required to show a variety of emotions such as frustration, anxiety and anger. I feel that during the film process, he successfully portrayed this and followed the storyboard and instructions very well.

Locations The location of where the scenes will be taking place is at a member of the group’s house. We felt that this was a good choice of setting as it is the road at the end of the house which means our filming will not disrupt any neighbours. It is also a good choice of setting as we can get an extreme long shot of the whole road from the end which helps to set a calm mood as nothing is happening at the moment during the scene. We took a variety of scenery shots within that particular location so that we can pick out the ones we like to use during editing our final cut.

Costume and Props For props we only needed a very sharp knife and some fake blood. We did however run out of fake blood therefore we resulted in using ketchup instead which turned out to look realistic in the end as it was filmed during the night so it didn’t look as clear as it would of done in broad daylight. For costumes, Niyi had to wear casual clothes as he is going to a party. It wouldn’t look realistic if he was still in his school clothes.

Organising a day to film

Filming by Sophie, Niyi and Amber

Storyboard and Narrative Structure

The first step to improving our two minute film opening that our group have decided to do is re-create the storyboard in order to prepare ourselves for filming again with the proper DSLR cameras.

Here is the Narrative structure/storyline for our whole film as well as the first 2 minutes of it:

We also began to make a storyboard for the first two minutes of our film opening. This is what the first/original one looked like:

We realised that our storyboard was still not detailed enough therefore we began to draw it out again making it more detailed.

Here is what the new storyboard of the first minute looks like:

Storyboards by Sophie and Amber

Narrative Structure by Sophie

Group Update

During the editing process of the footage our group had been shooting for a month ago, we weren’t too impressed with the outcome of it and saw that there were a variety of problems within the actual acting and storyboard plan as well as the editing in general.

What went wrong:

Camerawork

• Although we did have a storyboard plan with us, it wasn’t as clear as it should of been. For example, each drawing represented around 10 seconds of the 2 minute film opening which could most probably contain lots more of camera shots and movement within that time frame. This meant that when it came to actually filming, we were unsure of what camera shots to do as the storyboard was not detailed enough.
• We used some camera shots however we didn’t think about the effect of each one being used in the scene and instead just did it for the sake of having a variety of camera shots.

To improve

• We should make the storyboard more clear and detailed. For example, we should try and aim for around 60-100 different shots rather than one page filled with around 8 shots altogether for the whole 2 minute film opening.
• We need to think more deeply about the effect/purpose of each camera shot being used so that it is easier for us to evaluate as well as making it easy for the audience to realise the atmosphere of the film.

Sound

• We didn’t incorporate a lot of diegetic sound during the beginning of the 2 minute film opening as we had initially planned to use music throughout those scenes.
• During the second part of the scene, which represents another day, we used the diegetic sound of a group of friends speaking so that the audience are familiar with other characters in the film who are possibly going to be shown later on in the film outside of the first 2 minutes.

To improve

• We should perhaps think of a different song to use or perhaps opt for just diegetic sound in the first 2 minutes in order to allow the audience to connect more with the characters and understand their status

Mise-en-scene

• Mise-en-scene was not too bad in our film as we only need a couple of props such as fake blood and a knife and obviously the casual clothes worn by the two actors in the film.

Editing

• The first part of the 2 minute film opening was recorded portrait rather than landscape which meant that there was an obvious difference between the portrait filming and the actual landscape filming. For example, the portrait version has a lots of black screen around it whereas the landscape version feels up the whole screen.
• We recorded with our phones which, we all knew anyway, was not going to be the best quality however we thought it would pass as a rough cut. This turned out to be a huge fail as we were recording with our phones which meant that most of the footage is almost pitch black as we struggled to create lighting.
• We incorporated too many shots of the dead body at the start which took away the suspicion as it started to become tedious and uninteresting.
• The music edited in the film opening turned out to be very repetitive and tedious also and did not help to create an atmosphere in the end.
• The transitions between different shots looked very unnatural and did not really flow.

To improve

• We need to make sure that the cameras are always the right way round and always recorded landscape so that it fills up the entire screen and makes the editing process much more easier.
• We will use proper DSLR cameras which will make the footage look more clear as well as enabling us to explore with its other features such as adjusting it for night time/low light settings.
• We need to consider using less shots of the dead body.
• The music does not have to be incorporated into the scene. We could perhaps look into narrations where people speak during the 2 minute film opening.
• We need to experiment more with transitions in order to make the film flow more

Filming by Sophie, Niyi and Amber

Assessing Skyline Movie’s film opening- Camera Work, Mise-en-scene, Sound and Editing

In class we were required to assess other groups film openings and we were assigned to look at different parts such as camera work, mise-en-scene, sound and editing.

This is their group blog:

https://skylinemovies.wordpress.com/

and this is the link to the rough cut of their film opening:

Camera Work

Good:

• The extreme long shot of New York- helps the audience to establish the location of the scene as well as emphasising the text shown right at the very beginning stating how a boy has been kidnapped in New York. The effective use of the extreme long shot shows how big the city is and how it is virtually impossible to find the missing boy.

• Close up from a low angle portraying the girl walking in the train station. It portrays the reflection of the girl through the mirror. This can add a sense of mystery and foreshadow what may happen later on in the film.

• Panning camera movement from a high angle taken by standing on the escalators going down. I thought this was a very clever idea of a camera shot/movement and helps the audience to acknowledge that the location is in an airport and that the girl has to travel all the way to New York to find her brother.

Improvements

• Maybe more footage could be shown of the kidnapped boy so that the audience does not lose interest in the plot of of the film.

Mise-en-scene

Good:

• The idea of incorporating the image of the city of New York, with the help of the camera work to portray it from an extreme long shot. As stated before, it helps create a sense of mystery and shows the audience how big the city is hence showing it will be a mission to find the kidnapped boy.

• The shot of the airport. This sets the motive/plot of the story hinting that the women is going to find the missing boy in New York.

• The idea of using strangers in the film wearing ordinary clothes passing by helps to create a normal every day atmosphere despite the gloomy music contradicting this.

Sound

Good:

• I liked the idea of using the creepy/slow music throughout the entire film opening as it creates a gloomy atmosphere and instantly enables the audience to establish the genre of the film following along the lines of a physcological thriller.
• The sound of announcements being made as the girl is walking down the train station. This also helps add to the gloomy atmosphere as it has been incorporated on top of the eery music thus making it sound more like muffled voices.
• The lack of diegetic sound from the girl also helps to create a gloomy atmosphere. For example, she only says ‘I’m here’ and these words show how she is determined to find the boy.

Editing 

Good:

• At 0:30, a time lapse has been edited of the preview of the city of New York. This could emphasise how time is running out in order to find the boy.
• At 0:35, muffled sounds of the announcements being made at the train station helps to create a gloomy atmosphere.
• At 0:39 there is a preview of Heathrow Airport edited in a black and white perspective which can probably foreshadow  a negative ending to the film.
• The titles used at the beginning of the film opening to help set the mood of the film.
• The titles used to illustrate the locations of the different scenes-also helps the audience to be able to track the missing boy’s family’s movements as the girl sets out to find him.

Sophie Cramer

Analysing Skyline Productions Film opening…

https://youtu.be/QsHNbnJIBmc

By Amber Fancourt