The film- final cut

Here is the final cut for mine and richards media film.

Evaluation question 7

Question- Looking back on your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to the full product?:

Since the preliminary task I have learnt many things, for instance I have learnt better organisation and teamwork, I have learnt to trust my group more, i have learnt more about youtube, more about macs, and the software we used during the course (for instance, final cut express) and I have also learned that it is best to do a good amount of work before going on holiday with it to reduce the workload.

Evaluation-question 6

Question- What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?


Since the start of the project my knowledge of technologies has increased and I have learnt new things as well. for example I gained a better knowledge of final cut express's features (title animation and image layover). I also learned about uploading to youtube in a new way and through a mac. I also gained a better knowledge of the canon mini dv MD101 pal cameras, transferring tapes from the DV camera to the mac and a better understanding of storyboard quick 5 along with more of an understanding of soundtrack pro. equipment wise i understand the camera we used much more and I now know how to fully operate the tri-pod.

here are images of the software and equipment we used:

Here is the website blogger, which whilst I have heard of and seen, I have never used it so this was a new experience.
Here is the camera we used, although I am familiar with it, iI gained a better understanding of the camera during the project.

This is a fire-wire cable which is used to transfer movies from the dv tape, through the camera and onto the mac.

This is a dolly, which whilst we did not use it in making the film, we learnt about it and how to work it should we need to use it. 

This is the make of tri-pod that we used to film, when it came to filming I learnt how to fully work it.

This is the program "Soundtrack Pro" which we used to compose the soundtrack and sound effects for the film. When it came to making the film I did not know much and I still do not but I gained more of an understanding of the program.

This is the program "Livetype" which is what we used to make the ident, titles and the ending words. During the project I gained a much better understanding of the program than before.

This is the website www.youtube.com which is the medium we used to upload our films. I learned that I had to use a whole different way to upload videos to this website than normal.

This is "Final Cut Express" which is the software we used to edit the film. It is better the most media editing software as it is more professional.

This is the software "Adobe Photoshop CS4 Extended. i have had experience with photoshop before but not much with this version so I gained some understanding of it.

Evaluation question 5

Question- How did you attract/address your audience?

The product attracts the audience with the romantic relationship between the 2 main characters, the musical score would be interesting and attracting to people who are fans of the bands who made them, the fact its a psychological thriller is a major attraction and many people like that sub-genre of film as well as its romantic and crime drama elements.

Evaluation question 4

Question- Who would the audience be for your media product?

The audience for our media product would be 16-30 year olds, both men and women. we aimed our film at this age group because from personal experiences, we determined that this was the appropriate target audience. we came to this conclusion that alot of people our age like these kinds of movies and know of people who are older that us who would be interested in this kind of movie.

Evaluation question 3

Question- what kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why?

The media institution that would distribute our film is more than likely, working title films and its owner, universal pictures. This is because working title is the major british film maker and universal is one of the biggest film distributors in the world because not many psychological films are out in present day and it is a market that can generate a lot of revenue if done right which is why universal distributes their movies all over the world, to gain max revenue.

This is some information according to wikipedia:

Working Title Films is a British film production company, based in London, UK. The company was founded by Tim Bevan and Sarah Radclyffe in 1983. It produces feature films and several television productions. Eric Fellner and Bevan are now the co-owners of the company.

Working Title Films was co-founded by producers Tim Bevan and Sarah Radclyffe in 1983. In 1992, PolyGram became the company's corporate backer. Radclyffe left Working Title, and Eric Fellner, a fellow independent film producer, joined the company. The company produced a variety of films for PolyGram's London-based production company PolyGram Filmed Entertainment. An Anglo-Dutch film studio, PolyGram Films became a major Hollywood competitor. In 1999, PolyGram was sold to Seagram and merged with MCA Music Entertainment, to form Universal Music Group. PolyGram Films was merged and sold to Universal Studios in 1999.

Although contractually allowed to produce any film with a budget of up to $25 million, on a practical basis, Bevan and Fellner consult with studio executive at Working Title's parent company NBC Universal.[2] Working Title is located in Oxford Street, London, and is known for having a limited number of employees. The company also has other offices located in Los Angeles, and Ireland.

Evaluation question 2

Question- How does your media product represent particular social groups?

The media product represents the social group "teenage female"

This is because most thriller films use a helpless female as a plot device, e.g. to save her. she wears quite common cloths and is therefore more of a representation.



a bonus of this kind of clothing is that it dosent reveal much and girls today are wearing these kind of clothes more making the female a character that can represent them. part of the clothing is leggings which whilst it cats as a sheild from te cold. it shows her vulnerablility and therefore represents teenage women as weak which wilst being true in some cases. is not entirely true in others

Evaluation question 1

Question- In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?

The media product shares a convention with many films that use titles over the film as it plays. Our film does it and so does the 2005 film "pride and prejudice" which has titles over the film. Another convention it shares with real life products is that the thriller genre usually has a woman as the character in distress. Our film has a woman as the kidnappers victim and the film "the transporter" has a woman who has been taken hostage/kidnapped. Another convention that our film shares with thriller genre is the kidnapper is a man which is present in our film. However. when it comes to the titles style and font, we challenged the convention and used a style that is not normally used, if used at all in thriller films. For the title of the film, we challenged conventions and used a unique title and for the setting/location we followed the conventions as much as we could since we use a mix of houses and places which are used for storage, which are places which are the norm in thriller films. Also, how we opened the film challenges conventions of thriller films but not some phycological films like the 2002 movie "signs" which has a similar introduction to ours. the story challenges yet follows some conventions of thriller films as the plot if fairly unique but uses elements from films such as "phone booth" where commands are issued to a man through a telephone. The opening shares some with phycological thrillers as it shows the setting and uses music to set the mood and foreshadow what kind of film it is. The way characters are introduced also shares conventions with some films but also challenges them for example it challenges the way the main character is introduced in "signs" but also shares conventions with films that show the room or place the main character is in and then reveals who the main character is. For special effects we shared conventions with films as the sound effects are similar to that of which you would find in a normal thriller film.

here are two grids showing what i mean, the first is using examples from my group's film and the other is clips from mainstream films.

Audience feedback

For our audience feedback we showed the film to our entire media class and in a group effort these are the point they made about our film:

. it had good transitions
. the lighting n the bedroom needed to be adjusted
. the film had nice camera work
. some of the sound effects did not suit the film.
. one of the sound effects was wrong (made it sound like a character was wearing high heels, not regular shoes)


They also gave it an estimation of what level it would receive and they said mid level 3 to low level 4.

Rough cut of our film.

Here is the rough cut of our film:

Example of a film that challenges the common conventions

Phonebooth is the example of a thriller that challenges the common conventions. This is because it avoids the typical darkness and shadows of a normal thriller, making the scene a bright city area. The film's tension is built up by music and sound effects etc, rather than not knowing what will come from the dark, the viewers dont know what the antagonist will do. It is the unpredictability in this film that runs the tension throughout .the only true link to normal conventions is that you hear and see the story from the killers point of view which in turn makes you feel sorry for the male protagonist.

Prop list

Here is a list of props and their uses, i myself have access to some of these props and as such will be taking them along to use in the film if there isnt better equipment/props available.

The list itself was made by richard:
The props used in our film is simply set into 2 categories:


ON SCENE props and EQUIPMENT


On Scene props consist of:


The couple photograph:
Lewis and Rosa on a photograph, this is symbolic to show you that this is story features a relationship, which is more that likely what the story will tie in with.


The Jacket:
The Jacket that Lewis will bring into the room with him will symbolise that the character isn't ready for what is about to happen (the party). This also states his 'non-ready' state for the phone call.


Off Scene props consist of:


The lighting equipment:
One large light will be used to create the silhouette of the kidnapper.
Another smaller spotlight will light up Rosa in the darkness

Shooting schedule

Here is the shooting schedule i made:

Shooting schedule:

DATE: LOCATION: SCENE: WHOSE ON LOCATION: WHEN:

23 Feb Lighting Box 4 Sarah Wadsworth Jack Dickens 14:40pm

2nd Mar Thomas Walkers House 1,2,3,5 Matthew Hillifer 20:45pm



Spend no more than 2 weeks after filming editing. During one of these weeks the kidnapper actor will be needed for his role as the voice actor during the phone call.

This schedule is subject to change.

It is essential that at least 2 out of the 3 group members should present whenever editing is being done.

When filming, all 3 or if not 2 out of 3 group members should be present when filming unless this is not possible.

When filming rewind the dv tape to when the pre-lim task clips ends and use the rest of the tape to film, if necessary overwrite the practise films NOT the pre-lim task.

The treatment

This is the treatment Featuring the dialogue, actions, settings and camerawork.


Counterfeit Call - 12+
A mixture of the script and treatment / story.


The introduction

Boyfriend: Lewis Richardson Kidnapper: ???Girlfriend: Rosaline May

Playing “ Snow Motion.Caf”The time of day is dark, night-time. The camera pans past a tree, revealing the house. This then fades to an ‘up-the-stairs’ view, which slowly fades to a horizontal moving camera around the bedroom. This then fades to a close up of the desk, showing a picture frame faced down…During this scene, the titles show, two per clip.

The camera then changes to show the male actor entering through the doorway and sits down on the bed. As he sits down, the camera changes to a slight front angle, looking up closely at the actor. The actor looks in the mirror (behind the camera) and then looks down towards the camera. The camera angle then changes to an over the shoulder shot, looking down at the desk at the turned over photo frame. He slowly picks it up and turns it over to reveal a picture of himself with his girlfriend, her in his arms, both smiling. He stares at the photo whilst the music continues to play, the camera changes mid way to show him holding it from the side. He then stands the photograph up properly, stands up and picks his jacket up and slips it on, he turns to walk away, around the back of the bed. The camera changes to show the front of him walking towards the camera.

The mobile phone on the end of the bed is focused on by the camera extreme close up, Showing the boy walking off out of the room, about to turn the light switch off. Then the phone lights up and begins to ring.

Camera changes to behind the actor, showing him turning around to look at the phone. He stalls for a second, excited (expecting it to be his girlfriend). The camera changes back to the same place as before to show him picking up the mobile phone and he answers it and sits down;“Hello?”The scene then changes to the Kidnapper silhouetted against a blurred background (the background consists of the girlfriend, spotlighted in the corner of a room, but its blurred out).“Hello, who is this?” – Camera changes back to Lewis’s face close up “This is Lewis, who is this?” Stays on Lewis for next line “Sorry, I must have a wrong number, I was meaning to speak to Dean” Shows reaction of Lewis when his brother is mentioned “Oh, he’s not in at the moment, but you have the right number, do you want me to leave a message?” “No that’s okay, funny day isn’t it? Rosaline thinks so too, don’t you?”At this point, the music is cut out with a slam noise and the fear music starts: “Dark Sanctuary – Les Memoires Blesses.mp3” The colour correction or hue will be toned down, less saturated and a little darker…The camera will then change back to behind the kidnapper, but its Lewis’s voice on the phone speaker. “What? What do you mean Rosaline thinks so? Who are you? Where are…” “…Who I am isn’t important, neither is where I am. Rosaline is here with me, aren’t you sweetheart? ”The camera focus then changes to show Rosaline clearly in the background… She’s in a bit of a state, with some blood or bruises to show her injuries. She’s shaking a little and there are tear streaks. She lets out a weak and faint higher pitch moan of recognition…The camera changes to Lewis again, who has heard Rosaline in the background. He has a strong panic-stricken look on his face. The Kidnappers voice now speaks clearly down the phone speaker. “Now listen carefully, I want you to meet my associate down near the riverside dock. He’ll hand you a package. You do not open the package until you return home, I will phone you again in one hour. I suggest you make haste. ”Then phone will the cut off and leave the ‘hang-up’ sound effect playing from the speaker.The camera will change to further back in the room, he will then get up and drop the phone on the bed, looks over at the picture of them both. He then turns and the camera change’s to the back of him to show him walking out of the bedroom as the camera fades to black.

Animatic

Here is the animatic to our film

Location research

Here is the location research, these images are from outside my house (one from behind a conifer bush and the other right in front of my house) and shots of my parents bedroom. Also there are pictures from the school's light box which we used for the place where the kidnapper and his victim are.
















The school's lightbox is a good set for the kidnapper scene because it is cramped, dark and presumably cold. this is the sort of place a kidnapper would hold his victim and so knowing that, we decided to use it as a set.

We decided to use my house as a set since it was more modern that Richard's and it was available. Also realistically speaking it is the sort of house the main character would inhabit.

Storyboard

Here is the storyboard I started and richard finished, due to aaron suffering an injury at the time, he was unable to join me or rich when it came to finishing it (the 1st picture is at the bottom of the post):



Lewis leaving the room after talking to the kidnapper.


establishing shot of the kidnapper, Rosaline and the location.


shot of lewis talking on phone.


shot of Lewis reacting to phone ringing.


shot of Lewis's phone ringing.


Lewis leaving the room.


different angle of Lewis correcting the photo frame.


shot establishing Lewis's love interest as he corrects the picture frame.


shot of lewis entering room.


establishing shot of the main character's bedroom.


establishing shot of Lewis's house.

Script

this is the script which richard made as i made the script for the preliminary task:


Actions



Setting the scene – intro:

Music playing : Snow Motion.Caf


Introduction to room and Lewis:




LEWIS: “Hello?”


Introduction to Kidnapper and Rosaline:


KIDNAPPER: “Hello, who is this?”

LEWIS: “This is Lewis, who is this?”

KIDNAPPER: “Sorry, I must have the wrong number, I was meaning to speak to Dean.”

LEWIS: “Oh, he’s not in at the moment, but you have the right number, do you want me to leave a message?”


Lewis’s discovery of Rosaline:

KIDNAPPER: “No that’s okay, funny day isn’t it? #inhales deeply/sighs# Rosaline thinks so too, don’t you?”



LEWIS: “What? What do you mean Rosaline thinks so? Who are you? Where are…”


KIDNAPPER: “Who I am isn’t important, neither is where I am. Rosaline is here with me, aren’t you sweet-heart?”

ROSALINE : *muffles in pain/whimpers*


KIDNAPPER: “Now listen carefully, I want you to meet my associate down near the riverside dock. He’ll hand you a package. You do not open the package until you return home. I will phone you again in one hour. I suggest you make haste”.





Dialogue/ Sound

Camera preview of outside house, then stairway.


Camera shows room, Shows the photo prop and mobile phone prop. Lewis walks into the room, pickups up and straightens the photo, walks out and phone rings. Lewis then walks to the phone and picks it up.





Scene appears, showing kidnapper silhouetted and Rosaline blurred out in the background.

Camera changes back to Lewis.



Lewis’s expression to brother being mentioned.








Lewis’s face shocked
Slam sound, camera colours go colder and duller Music changes to Les Memoires Blesses.

Camera back to Kidnapper




Camera focus changes to Rosaline


Camera changes to Lewis, panic-stricken



Phone hang up sound
Lewis drops the phone, peers at the couple picture then walks out the room

*FADE TO BLACK*

Our film's certificate and target audience

Our film for this project is a 12. this is because even thogh the nature of the story and the genre of it would normally be a 15, there is not much swearing or other bad language, sexual contact, violence and blood/gore.

our target audience is 16-30 year olds. this is because the kind of film we are making dosent normally appeal to 12 year olds but more 16 onwards. a similar principle is the reason for the age range stopping at 30. this is because people over 30 might not be interested in it and the kind of film we are making dosent normally appeal to people over 30.

Certificate research

For years, fims in the uk have been given an age rating/certificate so that people know what to expect in the films and so that parents/carers know if the film wil be suitable for children.

the current age ratings and there meanings are:
.U- this stands for universal whch means the film is suitabe for anybody to view it.
.PG- this stands for parental guidance which means ts still suitable for everybody but can have pars of the movie which is unsuitable for little children to be watching.
.12A- this means that peple who are 12 and over can watch it but anyone under 12 must be accompanied by an adult.
.12- this means that the film is suitable for people who are 12 years old or older and nobody else.
.15- this means that the fim is suitable for people only over 15
.18- this means the film is suitable for people over 18 only
.RESTRICETD 18- this means its for adlts oly and is a rating that is not common amnng cinema ratings.

What i want to happen in the film

for this projects film, i want the following to happen:
. lots of twists
. a good amount of suspence
. scenes that scare people
. events and plot twists that make people really think about it
. scenes that will make the viewer want to re-watch it
. scenes/events/plot twists etc that really stick in the viewers mind
. shocking scenes and jaw dropping realisation moments

Examples of thrillers

Some examples of thrillers are movies like casino royale, the bourne identity, xxx, 2fast 2 furious and underworld, however our film is a phycological thriller so some examples of that genre are mindhunters, trauma, the jacket, like minds and the prestige.

Split edits

i was asked to find out about split edits:

a split edit is when the audio starts before the video

Thriller genre research

Our genre for the coursework is "thriller" and as such research into this genre is needed.

Here are some examples of thriller movies:

The Beach (released in 2000)


unbreakable (released in 2000)


signs (released in 2002)



The aim of the thriller genre is to give the audience an exhilarating experience that makes them want more. Thrillers and the name suggests thrill people be it with fights vehicle crashes, chases on foot or via a form of transport, shoot outs etc, thrillers always make people want more.

Some of the conventions of the thriller genre (as listed by wikipedia and of my own thought) include:
. An opposing force of some kind which does anything to stop the main character(s).
. Some thriilers are set in 1 or more exotic settings.
. A main character who is part of a public service e.g. police or similar occupations for instance a spy.
. Overlapping with a mystery story.

Some common things i've noticed in thrillers are that they are set in a vareity of locations, they have at least 1 sports car in it, there is more than likely a race or stunt of some sort, guns get involved at least once, there is always a love interest of some sort and main characters can be ex servicemen or criminals who have made a deal with the goverment.

sub genres of thriller films as listed by wikipedia are:
. Action thriller
. Conspiracy thriller
. Crime thriller
. Disaster thriller
. Drama thriller
. Erotic thriller
. Legal thriller
. Medical thriller
. Political thriller
. Psychological thriller
. Spy thriller
. Techno thriller
. Religious thriller

here is the preliminary task: