Editing Process: 28.02.13

Me and Chris have been working in our free periods today, and we have captured the audio file that we would like in the title/credit frames. Also, we have found an eerie background soundtrack for the beginning shots of the two characters running. This continues over the title frames, which we then reduced the volume of the audio in turn for the dramatic sound effect. The soundtrack we used for the beginning shots is called 'Designer synth'.   

New Section: 28.02.13

Today, we have had the opportunity to record the last section the opening - the 'police interview', which follows on from the forest scene.  We asked the leader of PE, John Hinch, to act as the police investigator in the police interview section of the opening film. Aidan - as mentioned previously, is playing the role of the suspect 

Editing Process: 26.02.13

We have had a very productive editing session today during our lesson. I figured out how to split the audio (right clicking the shot that has been inserted in the project, and selecting 'Split Audio') from the footage we recorded, and we decided that we would have eerie music over some of the shots. Chris, my working partner, has found a short, but suspenseful soundtrack to go over the title shots that we have added in between the first opening shots. We implemented this by recording the track from Chris' laptop and sending it to the school email, which we then inserted into the audio editor on iMovie.
Sample audio tracks that are on the Mac have been sampled in our track also. We feel these samples that create eerie tension are useful in adpating the horor/thriller genre we aim to create in this film opneing.

Editing Process: 25.02.13

We feel that we are at the stage where we have edited all of the footage we captured over half term - the forest chase scene. We have added in many transitions so the scene runs smoothly. All we need to do now is film the interview scene...
We have booked a room in the academy where we can record our next scene. We will be recording the interview scene with Mr Hinch, Mr Hinch being the police officer. Aidan, our working partner, will be playing the role of the 'suspect' in the interview scene.
Another feature to our editing is to add a scream or a 'yell' in the chase scene - we have figured out that we can record the scream on the Macs, which we are editing on. This direct, non-diegetic sound can then be added into the scene.  

Photographs of the Forest Scene: Filming Day(s)

While filming last week, me and Chris decided to take photographs of the shots/scene that we were currently filming at the time. These photos comprise of the camcorder and tripod at its position when it was recording the shot. We took the photograph after the shot was recorded and we were happy with the shot. 

Although this is not used in the film opening, I thought it would be relevant to use an establishing shot where the first scene took place.






 

Shot 1: Photo 1 

These two photographs show the first shot of the film. The tripod is placed just before the bush/tall grass and is tilted downwards, while being stationary. This shot captures only the feet of the two characters that are introduced at the start; that are being chased. 







Shot 2: Photo 2 
 

 
This is the same shot in terms of camera placement (low-angle of running feet), however the camera is placed on the opposite side of the scene; which is parallel to the first shot.










 

Shot 3: Photo 3 and 4

This shot presents a long-shot, exposing more of the character in the next few shots. We see the two characters running again, but from a different angle. 

Shot 4: Photo 5 and 6

This shot now presents the viewer with a mid-shot of the two characters still running around the corner as seen in shot 3. The camera stays stationary while the characters run, and create a long shot as they run further distance. One of the two characters fall over (I), while the other continues to run. 

Shot 5: Photo 7 

When the character falls over, Chris filmed a low, handy-cam shot of the antagonist chasing then attacking the character that has fallen over. We plan to add a filter (on the shot) of some description to represent the antagonist not being human. We feel adding this would benefit the audience of understanding that what is chasing the characters could actually be supernatural. They would be right in thinking this, as the synopsis states the story of the creature that attacked the two teenagers in the woods (see 'Synopsis of Opening Film' for an extended synopsis). 

Shot 6: Photo 8 and 9

This shot shows the other character (Chris) continuing to run from a different angle after his friend falls over. Again, camera remains stationary. 

Shot 7: Photo 10 

This mid-shot shows Chris running down the middle of the woods. The camera zooms in gradually whilst he runs. 

Shot 8: Photo 11 and 12

I feel in this shot I have captured a good contrast of focus from the tree and Chris running into the forest. We discovered when placing the camera next an object closer than the object further away, the further object is blurred slightly. The camera stays stationary, being a long-shot.

Shot 9: 13 and 14

We used the same technique from shot 8 and placed the camera in front of a tree, just capturing the edge. This shot is further away from Chris this time and is stationary while he walks left of the camera and goes off set to the subsequent shot. 

 
Shot 10: Photo 15 is unavailable. However, the shot is a handy-cam of the antagonist following Chris into the woods. 

Shot 11/12: Photo 16

Here, I am recording a shot from a tree to represent a high-angle long shot of Chris walking through the woods. This pans left to right, whilst following the movement of Chris. 
Shot 12 is also captured from this position, however this time from a different angle in the tree. 










Shot 13: Photo 17 and 18

Shot 13 (both photos) consist of a long-shot where I am standing at the far end of the woods, and Chris runs into the shot and turns to look at me, of which he then freezes in shock of what he sees - his friend that was possibly killed by the antagonist.  


Shot 14: Photo 19

A hand-held (or 'handy-cam') shot is executed from the character that the escaping character saw. This shot also has a filter because the character that stands stationary in the woods has been attacked by the antagonist (back at the start when he falls over) and has adapted the features of the antagonist. 
I, playing the role of the attacked character, turn 180 degrees round and look at Chris. Chris runs while the character stays looking at Chris. 








Shot 15: Photo 20

We used a slightly raised slope to film a high-angle shot, capturing a side-angle shot of Chris running through the woods. 









Shot 16: Photo 21 and 22

 The last shot of this sequence (seen in photo 22)

Editing Process: 22.02.13

Today, we are adding in title transitions between the first few shots - with the credits. We have added fade in/fade outs between them also. We think this editing feature makes the transitions between the title shots smoother. The title shots are black with white writing in the background. From my film research, one of

Editing Process: 21.02.13

We are now back from half term, and finished filming our first section of the filming.
We are in the editing process, editing our footage we took last week. Today, we have 1 minute and 29 seconds of edited film in total; which is three quarters of our minimum length - two minutes.
The shots with the 'antagonist' view-point has been filtered with an 'un-human' view if you like - as if the antagnoist isn't human, and some kind of creature.

First Draft of Shot List - Filming Day Two

Following from the previous post, there is not difference to the other shots that we successfully captured yesterday (day one of two). We aim to capture shot number 11, listed in the shot list below. 

Shot 1                   Low angle shot of 2 characters running.
                            Camera captures only the knees downwards.

Shot 2                   Low angles again of running, but captures the opposite side to shot 1.

Shot 3                   Long, low angle shot of 2 people running round the corner.

Shot 4                   Long shot of 2 characters running straight.
                            One character falls over, whilst the other continues to run.

Shot 5                   Ground level shot (camera being almost dragged along the floor).
                            Pans into character that has fallen over
                            Blackout. 

Shot 6                   Low angle of body on the floor and other character running in the distance.

Shot 7                   Long shot, fixed position, character runs past the camera and continues straight.

Shot 8                   Starts off with mid shot of character running into the forest.
                            Camera zooms in while character runs past.

Shot 9                   Long shot of Chris running into the forest, which is shot in between the branch.

Shot 10                 Extreme long shot of Chris walking into the woods.

Shot 11                Handy-cam from the antagonist, looking at Chris walking through the woods.

Shot 12                 High angle shot from a tree, looking down on Chris walking through the woods.

Shot 13                 Chris walks with a pace into the mid shot, boy that fell over is also in the shot.

Shot 14                 Handy-cam of the boy turning 180 degrees which focuses on Chris, he runs away.

Shot 15                 Stationary mid to long shot captures Chris running away from the Forest.

Shot 16                 Antagonist point-of-view close up of Chris turning round, looks at antagonist.

Film Day Progress: 12.02.13

Today is film day two of two, and on this day we have all three working partners, compared to yesterday where Aidan was not present. 
I and Chris showed Aidan the footage we captured from yesterday and we brainstormed ideas, which we creatively thought about any other shots that was needed in the film for the editing process. The second day of filming was not really needed due to capturing the shots we feel are needed, incidentally not entirely productive. However...
... 12pm - we travelled to the location of the scene and decided to add in a handy-cam shot of the antagonist looking and following the character being chased. 

The only difference to the subsequent shot list is one shot that we aim to film today: 

Shot 18      Handy-cam from the antagonist, looking at Chris walking through the woods.

First Draft of Shot List - Filming Day One

This is our plan for the filming today - day one of two. We made this list in preparation of planning the new sequence due to the lack of our working partner, Aidan.  

Shot 1                   Low angle shot of 2 characters running.
                            Camera captures only the knees downwards.

Shot 2                   Low angles again of running, but captures the opposite side to shot 1.

Shot 3                   Long, low angle shot of 2 people running round the corner.

Shot 4                   Long shot of 2 characters running straight.
                            One character falls over, whilst the other continues to run.

Shot 5                   Ground level shot (camera being almost dragged along the floor).
                            Pans into character that has fallen over
                            Blackout. 

Shot 6                   Low angle of body on the floor and other character running in the distance.

Shot 7                   Long shot, fixed position, character runs past the camera and continues straight.

Shot 8                   Starts off with mid shot of character running into the forest.
                            Camera zooms in while character runs past.

Shot 9                   Long shot of Chris running into the forest, which is shot in between the branch.

Shot 10                 Extreme long shot of Chris walking into the woods.

Shot 11                 High angle shot from a tree, looking down on Chris walking through the woods.

Shot 12                 Chris walks with a pace into the mid shot, boy that fell over is also in the shot.

Shot 13                 Handy-cam of the boy turning 180 degrees which focuses on Chris, he runs away.

Shot 14                 Stationary mid to long shot captures Chris running away from the Forest.

Shot 15                 Antagonist point-of-view close up of Chris turning round, looks at antagonist.

Film Day Progress: 11.02.13

Today is film day one of two. It is just me and my working partner Chris, due to the lack of our other working partner Aidan. We planned to have all three of us here today, however we now have to plan a new opening sequence with just the two of us filming and acting at the same time! At 1pm, we have decided that we will have to re-plan our opening sequence to realistically film (and act) with just two people. At this moment in time, we will devising a new shot list - with timings, a synopsis and storyboards for the film.

2:05pm - we are now going to film our shots that we have just been planning for the last hour 

5:00pm - we have now finished filming and have returned to look over the footage we have captured. We feel this has been a very productive session, despite having one man less than we previously anticipated. 

Lesson Progress: 01.02.13 (shot timings)

In this lesson, I am drafting how long each shot should take. The timings, I feel, will aid us when shooting the film, and more importantly the editing process. By adding 'timing' structures to our shots, we can also get an idea for what other shots or cuts are needed for the forthcoming shots. In brackets (next to the shot number) are the draft timings - in seconds - which we have assigned to the shots. I feel being time specific with the shots will be beneficial to our group so I have added times to the shots shown below:

SECOND DRAFT:  In my second draft, I have added five more shots then the first. We are now at a point where we feel this will be our fundamental shots of the film. 

Shot 1 (8) Hand-held camera shots: ‘handy cam’
Camera man running
Falls over
Camera tilts, filming the wall (lit wall)

Shot 2 (3) Shadow of victim and murderer on the lit wall
Murderer mimes some form of physical abuse (stabbing, violent punching)

Shot 3 (12) Cuts to interrogation scene
Filming Aidan being questioned: Close-up
Some dialogue is exchanged: diegetic – “where were you Friday?” (idea one)

Shot 4 (4) -fade in- Establishing shot of the building
Caption “Friday”: corner of frame

Shot 5 (3) Low-angle of murderer dragging body down the corridor

Shot 6 (4) Low-angle in corner of the stall looking at the body being dragged

Shot 7 (5) Cuts to Shot three
Aidan exchanges dialogue of his account of what he did Friday

*Commentary of Aidan giving his ‘false’ account: “I was at home watching TV” (something along those lines)*

Shot 8 (3) Long shot from opposite end of the corridor from where the murderer came in.

Shot 9 (2)         Close-up of (mise en scene) axe in another stall
Murderer’s hand picks up the axe

Shot 10 (3)       Cut to shot eight (8)

Shot 11 (3)       Cuts to shot six (6)
Murderer ‘axing’ victim

Shot 12 (6)       Cuts to shot 7 – “and that’s all I did” (the definitive lines will be in the script)
Long pause – interviewer grants leave for the suspect

Shot 13 (5)       Extreme long-shot of the suspect walking out, free to go