Pre Production analysis

Our Main brief was fairly easy in terms of planning is myself, Lily and Liv came up with some ideas that would be used as we had filming techniques from Paranormal Activity like first person filming so that the audience would feel they are part of the film and are viewing it first hand. However this proved too difficult due to the issues raised with editing therefore we did it from a 3rd person perspective that would be watching the characters from an angle that they cannot see. This has worked with other AS media films as we can utilize far more camera angles like tracking shots to help move the story along.
For our main brief we did need help from our friends as we needed 5 actors, we asked Charlie and Lucy to help us film our main brief. We didn't at first have an actor for Rachel Matthews therefore we filmed our main brief into two sections - one at the house where they discover she is missing and the second where they go to the park and discover her body. 

We did have issues raised at the house filming scene due to the fact that the camera had no battery given to us and no charger therefore we used the Iphone for the time being and later we used the camera properly in the second filming scene. We did however have a tripod for both times we filmed which kept the shots smooth and steady - especially when we filmed tracking shots in the park. 

After editing our main brief Lily noticed that the cuts between the conversations and at the house were not smooth which meant we had to re-film later that week. This is because at one given scene that we re-shot Liv was sat down and jumps to standing up which would have made our main brief seem unrealistic.

Main Brief Recce

As a group including our new member Jake; we went to Clockhouse gardens to take photos of the setting and one of the filming areas for the main brief. The area displayed ideal spots that provide both good lighting and ideal shadows to add to the gloom of our piece. An example of this is one of our intended shots which was of from the middle of two trees as a POV (Point of view) tracking shot of both Lily and Liv walking along the path. 

Entrance to the Clockhouse

The location for her Body

Isolated Pathway in Park

Memorial Pathway 

Possible Location for body discovery

Abandoned shed where fake blood is used

POV Tracking shot location (myself between the tree)

Another spot where fake blood is used

Main pathway where Lily and Liv work

Ducks and Pond in tracking shot 

Props for main brief

Props

Our main brief didn't have many props but we did try to utilize as many props in the house so that it created are far more realistic feel to the setting. 

In the park we used tomato ketchup as it seemed far more graphic and visible in the gloomy conditions.

Also we used the IPhone to make it relate-able when using the Facebook post for the plot.

Characters for Main brief

Zoe White

Stereo Type blonde girl- Irresponsible, gullible and ditsy.
Overly excitable.
Can easily persuade people to do something.
Played by Olivia Watson

Costume: Red top which connotes danger- as well as this the blonde hair is a way of displaying her intelligence  or personality through stereo types of how blonde haired girls are portrayed in the horror genre.

Joe Triggs

Lack of motivation and lazy when asked to do something.

Quiet and keeps to himself.
Played by Tommy Heath

Costume: Grey hoodie, Black trouser used to reflect the plain and boring personality.

George Dennis

Mature and well educated.Aware of what is wrong and right.
Doesn't follow instructions unless he knows that it is the right thing to do.
Tries to persuade others to do stuff but is not successful.
Played by Charlie Smith

Costume: blue hoody, Black jeans again to correlate with Joe Triggs and his costume.

Lucy Roberts

Curious about many things and pays attention to detail.
Usually is calm but can panic in tough situations.
Played by Lily King

Costume: Black top and jeans to connote death and danger much alike Zoe White but doesn't use red as she isn't the main protagonist in the main brief.

Rachel Matthews

Lonely, didn't have many friends which means the audience and characters know little about what she was like.
Played by Lucy Bonfield

Costume: Ripped, bloody clothes with fake blood and make-up on face as she has been attacked and killed 

Pitch of Main Brief

We presented our ideas and plan for our main brief to the class so that we can make changes where necessary, we spoke about our

• Target Audience 
• Chosen Institution 
• Mise-en-scene 
• Plot 
• Age rating

This is me with my two group mates Liv and Lily giving our Pitch to the class and explaining our plot and ideas as displayed on the sheet that Lily is holding.

Below are two images of the sheet which displayed our Pitch and what we presented to the class.

We believe and the class agrees that the use of social media in our main brief is a technique to engage the audience as the film then becomes relate able by the audience as it represents modern day technology used in horror. Lily suggested that we use a Facebook post as a way to draw two of our characters to the scene where the body will be discovered.

Main brief Planning

The plan of a main brief is simple, it requires that of 4 people to act and there are only two locations where it shall be filmed.

The story line is that 4 friends find out that one of the girls from the group has gone missing is suspected killed in a nearby park. This leads on to 2 girls to go out looking for their friend which later leads to the reveal of the body of the missing friend as well as the antagonist who is watching nearby.

My role in the main brief is to act as one of the characters round the table of friends and film the two girls in the park. Also i will be helping with the editing and sourcing different sound effects we can use. 

Character Analysis and props

Character 1:

Name: Morgan Black 

Gender: Male 

Eye colour: blue/hazel

Hair colour: Strawberry blonde 

Personality traits: Lazy, independent, caring

He sees himself and Sam as very close friends like they have been for so many years.However he is oblivious to the fact Sam has feelings for him.

Character 2:

Name: Sam wood

Gender Female 

Eye colour: Green

Hair colour: Blonde 

Personality traits: Sassy, bossy, caring 

After growing up with Morgan, Sam has developed strong feelings towards Morgan which can be seen by the way she looks at him. 

Character 3: (hooded character) 

Name: Unknown

Gender: Unknown

Age: Unknown

Eye colour: Unknown

Hair colour: Unknown 

Personality traits: Unknown 

Props

Fake blood- typical iconography of horror genre. Audience can clearly see tat there will be murder/ death- foreshadowing.
Marshmallows- connotes sweetness etc. Takes mind away from the feeling of danger.
Tent- minimal set, gives the feeling of isolation, typical in horror films.
Fire (twigs, rocks, paper etc)- connotes danger, hell etc. Foreshadows the evil that is going to happen

Costume

Hooded cape/ Black Jumper- the idea of mystery, unable to see face.
Casual clothes/coats-Sam:White tshirt (covered partly by coat for weather reasons) connotes purity.
Blonde hair- typical in horror films as stupid, gullable, usually first to die.

Storyboard



Shot 1: A long shot is taken which displays the whole scene with the characters, props and background.

Shot 2: A close up (180 degree line) is used so that we can see one side of the conversation and the audience feel closer to the character.

Shot 3: A long shot is used again so that we can see the movement of the characters when the marshmallow is thrown.

Shot 4: Another close up is used so that we see the other half of the conversation.

Shot 5: A long shot is used so we can see the full length of the characters and we can see clearly their body language.

Shot 6: Close up used to see the reaction from the character and we can see the way the character turns which displays a match on action shot.

Shot 7: Match on action moves into long shot, makes it able to see the character walk away.

Shot 8: Long shot makes it able for the audience to see the setting and gives them the sense of space.

Shot 9: The camera will rotate from the face to behind the shoulder, allows the audience to see what the character is looking at.

Shot 10, 11, 12: Shot/reverse shot gives the audience the opportunity to see from the characters point of view and then see their reaction.

Shot 13: Allows audience to see the empty campfire to give them a sense of fear.

Shot 14: The close up allows audience to see the reaction from the character from being alone.

Shot 15: The tracking shot will allow the audience to feel like they are the character so that they share the experience.

Shot 16: Match on action when the character turns around allows us to see the fear of the character.



Welcome

Hello and welcome to my Blog, I have taken AS media and will be using the blog to post a variety of different things that I have worker on throughout the year, ranging from camera angles to clips of films I have created with my group.

Part of the work requires me to create a scene for the Horror film genre, which means I will have to create a storyboard as well a forming a scene which has incorporated the things I will have learnt throughout the year. 

This blog will highlight the key techniques and research I have used throughout the year and shall be posted on the blog.