Final Evaluation

In my project i have three actors. One actor is the clown and the other two actors are the main characters within the film. The two main characters (mother and son relationship) was going for a walk like any other day, a normal bonding time. At a certain point the two have to stop because the mother shoe lace is undone and needs to be tied up. Only the two people didn’t know they had fallen into a trap. As she finishes tying her shoelaces up the clown comes from around its hiding place and start heading towards the actors. The actors could of ran through the little gap to the left and right of the actors but they was scared and didn’t know what to do. The clown wasn’t ready to have someone at his area so soon. So walks round trying to decide what to do with them. They try and plan to get away. When they do they both get stopped by the clown. Now the clown realises that it needs to act fast before they do another getaway. The clown starts hitting them with the bat. The son first so the mother can watch before he moves over to her and does the same before walking off.

The things that I have improved on is coming up with many different creative ideas for all the different genres there is. This is whether its going down a genre like horror and then further down to sub genres like torture or haunted house. With filming the film by myself it allowed me to know what things on the camera that can help keep the camera in focus, zoom in and out but also how I can access certain settings with the camera especially how to get the clips up from using buttons on the camera. When editing I found out how to get audio but more importantly that it has to be a specific search or the things you are looking for may not come up. The knowledge I have got along the way is what companies in the media industry have to do to make sure everyone on set is safe, knows what they are doing with scripts/dialogues, making sure that even after the films are complete that they cant back out but also that they have to think if they are breaking any copyright laws but even asking for permission to use someone’s music.

When coming up with ideas I needed to make sure that if some parts have inspired me within any short film sequences that they aren’t similar to other companies/peoples films as these may get copyrighted if it is deemed the same. Other knowledge I’ve got is the type of age boundaries companies have to stay in to create a film for their targeted audience. These boundaries are based on discrimination, drugs, imitable behaviour, language, nudity, sex, threat and violence. This can affect the age audience that the film can be for.

For my film I said the age range could be PG so to see if people understood what the film is about I did a survey to see if the film could be easily understood. Using the survey I will be able to tell if I have picked the right age audience but also I can also find out what people liked about the film but also things I need to improve on.

In the screenshot above you can see that I have had eight responses for the survey about my film. I started of by asking if they understood what was going on in the film when watching. Can also see that I gave an option for people who may of said no to explain why. All eight people agreed that they understood the aim of the film which was my main target.

In the screenshot above you can see the next question asked was about the text I used at the start of the film and the audio for the whole film was suitable. Can also see that I gave an option for people who may of said no to explain why. Again, all eight people who took the survey agreed that the audio and text that I used within my film was suitable.

In this screenshot about I had asked for any positives the people taking the survey thought about the film. I had quite a few positives based on the filming (camera work) and editing which is a good thing to recognise. Other responses I got is that the positives was the costume of the clown was good, the story of which the film went and other comments like it was funny gives off some good things that I had done when creating the film.

In the screenshot about I asked for any negatives that people thought was quite obvious within the film. I agree with the fact that I could of added more film affects when editing, need to practise how to use more things within the programme used to edit. With the comments of audio being quieter than it should be. Next time ill make sure that everything can be heard if there is any speaking within my film.

 

Final The Meeting Film

Filming and Editing

Filming

While I was filming for The Meeting I realised after I had filmed that the lighting in all the shots was perfect for what I wanted. There was no blur which affected any of the shots I had took. With it being quite stormy on the day of filming it gave the added gloom with how dark the sky was with the clouds. The thing I was worried about when filming was the fact the wind may overflow what the characters are meant to say and that in the film you cant here the people talking like I had planned.

With the pictures below you can see that the lighting made it perfect for filming. One thing that was a problem while filming is the fact that it had rained most of the day which had made it difficult for the actors to move around as it was quite slippery on the mud so all actors tried to do what they could with the conditions. If I was to film the project again I would make sure I could go on a dry down so I or the actors aren’t held back by slippery mud.

 

When filming next time I would make sure I checked each clip over after I’ve recorded so it is exactly how I wanted the shot/scene is and if there’s any mistakes where one video doesn’t add up to the other or if the actors don’t follow what I have told them to do so I had to make do with any shots that had to been took after. By the time I had checked if the shots was correct was when I had packed all the stuff away and went home. Also I need to make sure that next time when I am filming that the tripods camera movement part is tight so it doesn’t fall over the side with the camera on when filming a scene. With this when I want to film again with these actors or any other actors I would make sure that people understand what they need to do instead of having to explain it all before filming as this took longer when I could of have a chance of doing multiple clips instead of rushing because of how early it was going dark.

At some points I also moved the camera to fast before I should of. Given the time and the right reactions I would of got every shock, scream and reaction even when the clown was moving forwards towards the two main characters. Another problem I have realised is that in the background there is a bag and a coat floating around, if I realised this was in shot at the time I would of moved this to another area instead of concentrating on what is going on in front of me while filming and moving around to fit everything and everyone in the camera angle I had chosen for all the different scenes.

Editing

Having used Final Cut Pro X as practise for the Cup of Tea edit it made it easier to do certain shortcuts as to if it was my first time editing. Started off by adding a library of the clips I had taken from the day of filming and started to see which ones was perfect for the video I wanted to create. I realised at some points I didn’t have to make ranges as some of the clips duration was short and fit in with the idea I had in mind while editing. In some screenshots you can see this in the library part in the top left part of the programme.

In this screenshot above it shows that I am going to start a complete new project using Final Cut Pro X.

In the above picture you can see that I am trying to trim down the chosen clip to a point in which would fit with the other ones that has been added but also to a point where the actor in question was done doing what was told of them.

From the screenshot above you can see that I was testing out different wind noises from the choices the programme had given me when I had type “wind” into the sound part of the programme. The reason for me adding this is because during the whole of the film there was talking but a backing of wind as well when they was speaking. The reason why I had changed this to just wind is because this was the only clip I got of the two main actors facing each other before the main character went to tie their shoelace but this part wasn’t taken seriously, even with telling the actors to do this.

In this screenshot above I am showing that I want to add text to the start with the words “The Meeting” because I had to crop down the picture as there was dogs in the shot so I thought I would make room for writing before getting to the actual film.

One thing that I forgot to add when editing is credits at the end. So the next time when I am filming I am going to make sure I credit the people that are involved in the film so when people watch the film they will know who took part and who did what if the audience hadn’t realised.

Location Release Form

Location Release Form

The reason for having a release form is so that it proves that you have had a conformation that you can film in the area chosen. With this the owner knowing when you are filming and the day with the permission being guaranteed to film. More into the Location Release Form is the terms in which the owner of the property agrees with and that any video recorded can be used by them and no obligation to use any video from them. Can also agree to modify any surroundings in a way that would benefit the film and that after using or moving anything it will be placed back exactly how it was planned. With this agreeing to take care of any thing that is handled and if something is broken when filming, making them aware that there is no insurance from anyone who breaks it. The form also sticks to the rules of both the laws of England and Wales even when wanting to film and that when they have read the form they can accept it or decline it in anyway based on the rules stated.

Legal and Ethical Constraints

With any work that is completed the one legal constraints that I have to think about affecting my work is copyright. In the film i plan to film i haven’t took another ideas, i have used it as inspiration to improve what i want to film based on the research i had conducted earlier in the project. I plan on using the voices that have been recorded and any background noise that may be picked up for added affect. The things i might need to get sound for is wind because when i plan do film there is a storm (wet and windy weather) and if someones talking about things that shouldn’t be a part then i can add wind to make it go with other clips. I am not going to add any music into the film as there is no need. For any added extra wind noises when i don’t want talking i will use Final Cut Pro. For this i don’t need to ask for permission as this is part of the programme.

Another part of my work i need to consider when filming is ethical constraints. The BBFC is part of the ethical constraints on my footage. I think my film would be PG because there isn’t much violence, there is some amount of suspense and when there is some violence its closer to the end. I also feel like this should be PG because within my film there will be no discriminating language which a child may not be able to watch if this was going to be in my film. There is no drugs or any imitable behaviour that are involved as this isn’t part of the planning my ideas. The language I plan to use in the film is easy and understanding one that kids of all ages would get without any swearing that a child might be able to pick up from watching small films. Sticking with my ideas there will be no nudity or any sexual activity with this nothing being implied with sexual activity. The threat and any violence that is included within my fil is when the clown walks out and traps them in an area where they cant, before they try to get away it is a simple stroll with no harm done. Then the violence starts when the two main characters try to get away which the clown doesn’t like before hitting them with the bat in its hand.

 

Call Sheet and Contributor Release Form (actors)

Call Sheet

Call Sheet

As part of making a film I have to plan out who and what is going to be included when and where. The actors knowing what time the filming is, how long they will be filmed and where they are going to be getting filmed. The time is which the director expects from them. Other things explained are what props, make up and affects are planned to be used within the film.

Contributor Release Form (Actors)

As part of filming anyone i need to get them to sign forms to agree to filming. This is important because i don’t want to film and they end up saying they don’t want to be in the film before uploading the film to YouTube.

In the above screenshot you can see that one of the actors in my film has signed a sheet that has given me permission to film them and that once its finished and put on youtube they cant go back on this and say they don’t want to be in the film. This is the same for the other actors which is shown below.

Treatment, Location Recce and Risk assessment

Title: The Meeting

Target Audience: The target audience can be bother female and male, over 15 and must be interested in horror genres. Film can be for all social demographic e.g. lower class, medium class and higher class. The reason for this is because it will be cheap.

Summary of research: I went onto YouTube to find horror film trailers that might add to my original ideas. Based on the research I have conducted the most important information that I got is the ways in which the camera crew and director took each shot e.g. behind shot when getting attacked by the horror monster and a front shot when two people are talking. Another important thing from the research I conducted is the way in which music is added for suspense in the editing part which keeps you gripped but also animations of a flashing light bulb at the end of the trailer or end of scenes give more suspense.

I intend to use an area that is covered by trees in a park that is and would be used by anyone in public. The reason for this is because no one would walk into a house in a clown costume like its normal.  I intend on using a similar idea to end of the film when editing the piece. With the use of the clown and the bat is to make it seem scary to fit the genre.

My Product: In the film i am going to be going down a horror genre for my filming. Im going to start by showing the two main characters who are going for a walk in the first scene, completely oblivious as its like any other day. I am then going to cut to another scene of the clown waiting in the hiding space, smacking the bat on his hand and also swinging it around, waiting impatiently. Then it cuts back to the two main characters who just want to go back home like another person would after the trial. They carry on walking to the area the clown is where they don’t realise there is anyone or anything around them. They continue a conversation like they was doing while on the trial, taking a break because they had been walking for sometimes and was easier to stop half way through to catch their breathe than to continue than get home and be extremely tired. The two main characters wasn’t expecting the next thing, the clown comes round the corner with the bat in his hand. Both characters are shell shocked and stand where they are not knowing what to do or say.

The main characters start to panic and start to talk to try and get out of the situation they are in. They start to say things that they hope will help them get away of the situation they have now found themselves into in a quick sudden of time. The clown just laughs at them while thinking what he should do to these people. Should he go down of using the bat or should he just let them go? Is there any need? Apart from the joy of scaring or hurting somebody. Only while he was laughing and they was scared on the floor, they was planning their escape while the clown walks around them. As soon as the clown isn’t looking the mother gets up and starts running but the son doesn’t get up as fast and the clown realises the attempt. Catches up to the mother and forces her back to where her son is and thinks a little more before deciding time is up because he cant risk another run away and he cant believe that the “you didn’t see us and we didn’t see you” cause the clown cant risk the place he built up to be exposed.

The best way to carry out the act of violence which had gone to far out of his plan was to use the weapon like one of his earlier thoughts, he just wanted to play with the people first though not expecting a getaway attempt. So he does, he starts to hit the son first while the mother watches, mentally torturing the mother. When he was sure the son was dead he moves over to the mother but only beats her till she closes her eyes but is still alive in some part and walks off taking the bat with so no traces can be left to him even if she survives.

Props/resources/equipment requirement/locations/cast: The props I’m going to use within my film is a bat. This is the main prop within my film as explained above as what I plan to use it for. Resources that I should be using is a mask and clothing that may make the clown look scary. The equipment I require when filming is a tripod and a video recorder. The location I am going to be filming at is Worden Park because that has the most wooded areas in Leyland. Cast includes is the person who films and directs (me), clown (Scott) and the two main characters (Arron and Kim).

Outlined project schedule: I think the making of this film will approximately take 2 weeks to complete. This is because of the planning and mainly creating ideas but then also filming. Filming could take up to an hour. Mainly because if someone doesn’t understand the scene then they can explain before continuing. Another reason why is make up too an hour is also because of the time it takes to get all characters ready and in their costumes. After production it may take at least a day to edit the video down into the way I like before it is fully completed.

Budget: The budget for this video/film is around £100.

 

Location Recce

Recce

As part of filming I have to do a Location Recce based on the place I’m going to be filming at. This helps with areas that may not be known by the actors e.g. where to get food, parking, how easy the access is and the availability of the park when we are going to film. This is also good for the people that own the Park because they know why and when I want to film but also any risks I have gathered from doing the risk assessment and how I am willing to make sure everyone is safe. Other things is to show that I have permission as long as I don’t film people on the park if they don’t want (background). Other things that this tells people is the electricity supply whether this is needed or not and also the sun being at a point because this may cause a blur on the screen.

Risk assessment

Location Risk Assessment Form

As part of filming I need to do a risk assessment based on the problems that could happen when shooting the film but also getting to the place that could also pose the risk. The reason why the media industry do risk assessments is so then they have a way in which they can resolve it, the whole company and productions stick to what is written out. Its the most simple things that can be a risk more than thought e.g. filming in a wooded area there is going to be chances of branches and twigs falling if windy or naturally. It helps the actors know as well what kind of risk that they are in when filming, knowing the risks can help them to be careful but more confident that they have been recognised.

Screenplay, Shot List and Storyboard

 

Screenplay

The meeting

This is my script for the project “The Meeting”.

In this you will see the way in which I want the film to go with what type of characters, where its going to be filmed and also any props or costumes that should be used. This will help me when I’m filming because the characters will know what they are doing and saying but also gives an insight as to how the filming should go e.g. where I’m going to film with the camera.

With doing this it helped me know how to write up a script in the best possible way. It also showed me that the use of fonts, words e.g. characters and where I should write about a scene before or after. It also helps to visualise an idea or see if anything should be tweaked from an original idea.

Shot List

Shot List for The Meeting

This is the shot list for “The Meeting”.

In this you will see the way in which I hope to have each shot to go in many aspects. I expect the characters to go with when filming, the sounds that I may want to use when editing the film but also gives me an insight as to how long I hope each shot will be taken. Also tells what camera angle I want each shot which allows the characters to know why and what degree I’m shooting at with each shot so they know where to not to get in the way and so on.

With doing this it helped me to know how to write up a shot list in detail that will help any cast/crew what they need to and say in simple terms but also the shots I planned to do of each character. The sound parts gives an idea what types of things that might be picked up by the camera.

Storyboard

Below you can see a screenshot of a work in process storyboard. To create the storyboard I am using storyboardthat.com. The reason for this is because of the wide range of things the website has but also because if I did this by hand it would take longer. You can see that I have started by showing the clown hiding behind 2 sets of tress close to each other in the first box. In the second box it shows a path with a person walking down the path but also showing the options in which I can change any person.

Below you can see that after doing some more searching I found things that look real and would happen in a real life e.g. people going for a walk in the woods. The reason as to why I changed it from the screenshot above is because the colours are almost plastic but I don’t want that because I want people to see it in a real life way. The two people that are walking through the woods are Mother and son with a casual stroll in the park with no idea there a clown down the path.

In this screenshot you can see the third one across that the two actors are close to clown but they stop for a break while still talking about what they should do next. If they should carry on or stay in the same place. In the forth one you can see the clown appear from the lurks of the tree. I added the scream mask as added affect of someone being scared and in a troubled situation.

In the last two you can see the two actors pleading with the clown to let them go cause if they promise they wouldn’t blab so surely he should let them go, right?

In this one below you can see the clown thinks it highly funny with the begging and doesn’t care what they are saying cause he knows the area even if they do run. Also with the two planning to get away whilst the clown still laughs and says theres no chance they can run away. In the third box across the mother starts to run but at this point the son has only just got up.

The screenshot below shows the clown isn’t going to show no mercy to the two walkers. They are there now and he wont let them go for the world. With this the clown lets them know that they wont be going back to wherever they wanted to go.

Research for The Meeting

 

I found this trailer on YouTube and it kind of correlates with my idea of waiting for people to enter or peak at the hiding place. Seeing this trailer inspired my idea of having a random altercation with somebody or a group of people. Transitions of what looks like a light being turned on and off to add an affect of suspense towards the audience. Camera work is trying to give a view from each corners. Example of this is when the paper boat goes down the drain hole and it shows the view of the child trying to look for it, seeing if he can reach it then the scene where the camera gets changed to behind the child but also on the clown and the paper boat. Props like newspapers with pictures of the clown but also the detail behind the clown. When the clown strikes the most its night time which the natural colours are darker but also because it is raining its that little but more darker. The light colours in the trailer are when they’re having a ride around on bikes and also when they are trying to find out more information about the clown.

 

 

I found this trailer video on YouTube and it kind of correlates with an idea I have come up with. The idea that I came up with on the horror film where I want to film in a forest type of park but with too many trees with no sign of an escape being easily made. Seeing this trailer gave me an idea that I could use a transition or ending where the light/sun is flickering to give the added affect at the end especially when editing my piece. The transitions being used in the video is any person who finds a clue and then goes to another room to try the next riddle. In other parts in some transitions it shows the time remaining to gather all clues before they can leave. These transitions are quite clever as it relates to the theme. The low camera shot and some high camera shots give an intake to the actors moods but also what movement may of the been the wrong one. Props used in the trailer is everything that would be in a household apart from the worms. At the start its really light but as soon as the actors go inside the house then it seems like it has gone really dark, seems to create suspense for the watcher.

 

 

I found this horror film trailer on YouTube. The parts where people are talking to each other in front or from the side of one person which is an idea I want to do in my own film. While watching the trailer you can see that during the day friends want to help the person from when its light but when its dark that is when the horror character’s act the most (night). The inspiration I’ve took from this is trailer is how I want the camera angle to be when two people are talking. Whether that would be at a full 90 degree angle or if I want to do it from behind the characters. Props that are used in this is a mirror which is used to try and speak to the dead mother or something that is haunting the girl. The transitions made in this film are from things like blood to a create to complete black to another scene. The use of different camera shots is also something I plan to do in different areas.

Idea for The Meeting

Below is the ideas i have come up with. I colour coordinated them so you can tell which writing is to what genre and to make it easier to read. I decided to try and do two for each but couldn’t come up with two for horror. Each idea had something similar that kind of extends from each other. With this is in mind I’ve chosen the horror genre and idea because this one would work well but my ideas could change a little bit with more research but wont be a high amount of change.

Below is the ideas i have come up with. I colour coordinated them so you can tell which writing is to what genre and to make it easier to read. I decided to try and do two for each but couldn’t come up with two for horror. Each idea had something similar that kind of extends from each other. With this is in mind I’ve chosen the horror genre and idea because this one would work well but my ideas could change a little bit with more research but wont be a high amount of change.