Time Management

Within this post I am going to keep a record of our filming sessions. I will keep going back into it and adding all our filming sessions as we do them. This will help us with our time management to understand and layout the development of our filming. By visualising how long it takes us to organise one filming session to another, we can watch for any longer distances etc to see if there is anything we can improve on to be more efficient with our time to ensure we meet the deadline. Also I will record any props or equipment used.

First filming session
Date: 18/12/11 
What we filmed: Pulse Ident and all Kidnap scenes
Crew/Cast: Myself, Abigail and Miranda
Props: Candles, Paint, Clapperboard, Rope, Chair, Gag(cloth), Make-up (bruised face), Saw and mask (obscure setting-mise en scene)
Equipment: Tripod, Batteries, Charger, Laptop (for sound), Torch (extra lighting), Video Camera, Digital Camera

Second filming session
Date: 09/01/12
What we filmed: Bedroom scene, Train scenes, Stalker following girl scenes
Cast/Crew: Myself, Abigail, Miranda, Kieran
Props: Hairbrush, Bag, Laptop
Equipment: Money for train, Tripod, Batteries, Charger, Video Camera, Digital Camera, Clapperboard, Umbrella

Third filming session
Date: 20/01/12
What we filmed: Establishing shot of the houses and shot of the train leaving (from the bridge)
Cast/Crew: Myself and Abigail
Props: None
Equipment: Video Camera, Tripod

Fourth filming session
Date: 03/02/12
What we filmed: Chase scene
Cast/Crew: Myself, Abigail and Miranda
Props: Same costume for continuity
Equipment: Video Camera, Tripod, Torch (extra lighting), Digital Camera

After filling in all our filming sessions, and looking back on it I feel both myself and Abigail kept to good time with our filming. We enabled enough time for use to edit aswell as re-film if there were any problems. Also by recording our props and equipment it is easier to plan ahead for what we might have needed for the next one by looking at what we used in the one before.

Planning For Filming

Before starting any filming for our final Short film, myself and Abigail had to plan all area's and aspects before hand to ensure; we knew what we were doing and could work together efficiently to fulfil our planned targets, to ensure we save time and decrease any risks of error or problems during filming time and finally, to check that what we are going to do is reflecting our plans within the storyboarding. We were both aware that to make our film successful it would take time and preparation.

Storyboard

This means to start we had to analyse our storyboard and check all shots we wanted to do were possible. Obviously we knew when we were filming in the settings we would become more creative and experiment more within shots and angles therefore not every single shot in our film would've been planned, or ones that were planned may not have been as effective when attempting them. As we have decided on no dialog in our short film, we have had to go into a lot more detail when planning the other sounds; both diegetic and non-diegetic. Knowing we plan to emphasise all diegetic sounds dramatically, and include non-diegetic where necessary.

Cast

Next came thinking about who we wanted to cast as our actor and actress for the two roles. We knew we didn't want to establish the characters too much, in the typical way done in our film, to add to the mysterious atmosphere we want to create. However it is still essential the actors fit into their role, and really express themselves through it to the audience. As again with no dialog, the actors need to be skilled in speaking to the viewer through emotion and expression.

The main character (female), was  the victim in our plot. Therefore the actress had to have qualities such as vulnerability yet still reflecting a normal teenage girl.

The stalker character (male), had to have qualities such as being mysterious, with also a eree/spooky ora.

We had many options in our minds for the characters (including Sarah Mauremootoo, who features in our practise shots, however when filming this realised she didn't suit the role as how we would want, and Lucy Hunt a close friend who does drama at our school). We both strongly agreed on Miranda Burns and Kieran Forbes, as both suited perfectly to our characters and had experience performing in school shows and drama club shows. As both are close friends of Abigail and I, we were able to ask them about it in person, explain a little about what we had in mind and both were immediately enthusiastic with the idea. Both Kieran and Miranda are also good friends so the chemistry within their work we knew would be achieved and would be happy to work together.

Wardrobe

 After establishing our cast, we had to consider wardrobe. The story is supposed to be set in real life, following a normal teenage girl, therefore the wardrobe for this didn't need too much thought. A simple blouse, shorts and cardigan didn't over power the role, yet still showed a slight fashionable side to the teenage character. However we knew for continuity we had to use the same wardrobe for every filming session. Including the second narrative side of the Victim being held. However to give a more effective edgy look on what is supposed to be a girl that has had some sort of struggle and is now being held against her will we had to look more into how we could portray this through her clothes and appearance.

After planning to do this we experimented with this and concluded on ripping her tights on both her legs and feet (for the close up shot of her feet). (Production photos of our plan developing and doing it in our film below)

We also planned to use paint and make-up to create a bruise and cut on her face, subtle enough to not look fake or gory but enough to show she has been in some sort of struggle adding to the mystery of the plot myself and Abigail wanted to create. (Images again of this plan being used in our production shown below)

Other simple thing such as making her hair more messy and smudging her make-up, helped contribute to the effect of the victim being held against their will.

As we wanted the Stalker character to be mysterious and spooky we therefore wanted to use the technique of the 'unknown' by doing so. This means we didn't want to fully reveal the person at all, to engage the viewer and make them want to keep watching to essentially find out who this person is. We also considered their wardrobe options, and decided on dark colours, for a spooky effect and a normal coat which doesn't give away any signs of fashion or correlation to the age of the person. This also meant the hood could be used to create even more mystery and spooky-ness.

Setting 

 The setting of our film was another essential aspect we had to carefully plan and agree on to ensure it fulfilled what we had both envisioned and planned. Also to suit and compliment each shot and our overall plot. The first setting shown in our film is the bedroom of the character and their house. For this we actually decided to use the actress', Miranda, house. This was because we felt her bedroom was ideal for portraying the typical teenage girl bedroom, her house was three story enabling us to achieve our planned stairs shot (shown in our storyboard) and it was at a prime location of being right next to a train station, another planned location shown in our storyboard. 

Our third location would be for the 'chase' scenes. For this we wanted to use an open area, making it easy to film in and to look secluded to a viewer making the girl seem more vulnerable. For this we decided on a local park, this was to fulfil the eree atmosphere we were trying to create, with also the dramatic situation contrasting to the calm quiet area.

The final setting we had to decide upon was the kidnap scene. For this we wanted an obscure and weird setting that built the spooky atmosphere of the scene. Yet still looking realistic of to what a person being held against their will would be like. We had many idea's for this scene such as a storage garage, our school caretakers cupboard and a dark empty room. However we decided on Abigail's garage. This was because we felt it was perfect for what we were trying to do, having an eree and weird atmosphere. Also being easily assessable if any re-filming is necessary. The realistic setting adds to the obscurity for the viewer. Below are images of our final setting decision.

Props

Abigail and I realise that props enhance the drama and help the actors do their jobs. More specifically, they can be invaluable components in the overall story ymbolising the plot itself. We want to plan ahead what props we need to have for when we are filming, to ensure we have everything we need before we get there so we have it for shooting. There are many props we will need to fulfil our shots, such as props we need to help us create something else, for example candles to help give an effective lighting for the 'Pulse' ident. Also a laptop, to play the music off in the bedroom scene yet also contributing to the stereo-typical setting of a teenager.

Then going on for Props that will help contribute to setting the scene within a shot. For example a saw, goggles and mask to add to the obscurity of the situation and to create the weird setting surroundings in the garage scenes. Also rope, and cloth (gag) to create realistic components of a kidnap. Using a Clapperboard, and labelling each scene number every time, will make it easier for us to see what order we filmed in when we come to editing essentially saving time. Below is an image of the props we plan to use within our film.

Time Scale

 The time scale of our film had to show continuity and be an accurate show of time to make it look realistic. A minor detail within the planning, however if not done correct could ruin the whole continuity of the film. Even though our narratives cut between each other we still had to ensure it all flowed. This means that as we plan to film the bedroom shots at day time, with her leaving to go to the station around mid-evening. This meant that we couldn't film at day time again at any point in our film as it is over the time scale of just one day, so had to be later than this. Therefore the character will get off the train with the surrounding beings slightly darker, to show the night becoming later each time. And finally filming the 'chase' scene at the latest time, as it has followed the girl through the whole day and has now reached night time point. Also due to night time being more spooky and making the victim more vulnerable.

Equipment

Getting all the cast, myself and Abigail together at one time to film meant we had to be as efficient as possible, ensuring we didn't waste any filming time with problems that could occur. Therefore we had to ensure we brought all the correct equipment with us every time for any situation. This included a Tripod; to do effective pan shots, and do ensure the camera wouldn't shake. A spare memory card incase we used up our current one. A charger incase the camera runs out of battery. Our storyboard, to revert back to and check we are doing each shot and so we know what we are doing next. A torch, to create extra lighting when needed. A digital camera to record our production for our blog. Money to pay for train tickets for cast and crew.

Organising Filming Sessions

Now we have planned and organised all aspects of our film before starting to record any footage, we are now ready to organise when we can start filming. This became down purely to when our Cast were free, and when fits into the time of when it would be in the film (time scale plan). Also when we would be assessable to all the equipment we need.

Initial Practice Shots

Before we started any filming for our short film, we decided to take some initial practice shots. This was to develop our initial skills with the use of the camera, and what shots we wanted to use within our film, ensuring we discovered any problems before hand within the effectiveness of the shots or how we would achieve them, due to actual filming time being precious so trying to avoid any human errors at that point.

As I had little experience with using a Video Camera before, this was a great insight for me personally on how it works, how to use it to its best, and also any other equipment or environment/setting needs, for example lighting, and the use of the tripod.

In this practice shot we experimented with using our hands to hold the camera and take shots, it worked OK with little shaking, however to avoid any slight moves within our final film, using the tripod in all the necessary shots will ensure we don't have this as a problem. Also using a close up shot of the character, shows evidence here of the best shot for showing emotions, in this case going from seriousness to a sudden laugh, being captured through a straight, eye-level angle, close-up. This proves to be effective and will definitely be used within our final film, in essential portrayals of emotion.

In this shot, we used the tripod, and took the initiative to give an even higher high angle shot by putting the tripod on a bench. This was to replicate the 'CCTV' shot we want to create within our film. As all CCTV camera's are commonly used at high angles from above we decided to add too the versimilitude within the film by doing this too. On the planned shot we want to also add effects such as black and white to distinguish this shot from the others, and again adding to the realism of an actual CCTV camera. The character would be sat on a train so again trying to as much as we can make it similar to familiarise ourselves with how to do it when we come to film.

Here we have attempted to make a 'Point of view shot', this was to create a point of view from the 'stalker, which creates a eree atmosphere, and growing tention of which in this case is a character being followed or stalked by another. To add to the realism of this, and give clear evidence of it being a point of view shot from this character, we decided to film slightly behind a bush. The leaves in the shot are an effective way of revealing the position of the character, and for emphasis on it being a point of view shot.

This was our second attempt at the point of view shot. We purposely moved the camera to create a realistic view through someones eyes watching the character. Again using the bushes adds to the iconography of it being a 'stalker' of some sort, hiding and watching from afar. Both myself and Abigail think this shot has the potential to be a really good one within our short film, adding masses of tension and ere atmospheres, through the suspense of who this persons view is. More practises on film day and taking a few cuts of this will ensure we have the best suited shot.

This was one of the shorter shots we took for our practise. This was because we wanted the shot to focus on not just walking etc but the look back and paranoid expressions of the character. We plan to include a few of these shots within our shot film, again creating suspension into the characters unknown, and there worried looks. For this the actress we plan to use for a short film will be guided to ensure we get the best possible skills are used t o create a believable fear within the person.

This is one of my personal favourite shots. After having the idea of attempting to use the mirror to create an illusion to the audience for an effective shot, we as a group developed this and then evidently practised how we could do it in our short  film. The idea was to fool the audience into creating what they thought was just a close up, to then reveal it being a reflection. We also include a pan into revealing this.

This shot was a practise of either a point of view from the character or their own video recorder, which was yet to be decided. It is showing the character run away from what would be the 'stalker'. We purposely wanted the camera to move dramatically on purpose with the person running, to show the frantic urgency within the scene, and to flow with the character, showing flashes of their feet and where they are running from.

As we want to film the character getting ready within our film, in there natural safe enviroment, which would be refering back to 'Todorov's Theory' as the equilibrium, to build up to the distruption. So for this we though a having a shot of the character coming down the stairs at a low angle would be a nice composition within a frame. Showing natural states of just following the person, to the build of of the other scenes. In this shot we accidentally cut out the characters head, showing flaws within this of which we know for next time to check the angles properly when properly filming.

Charity Film Task

Both myself and Abigail were asked to be apart of a Charity Christmas concert at our school. We were approached by a teacher to help them create a short introductory video for their band. This meant both myself and Abigail could gain even more experience before we went on to film our Short film, with things such as working the camera, and equipment etc.
We also got to use the editing package for the first time. This was a major benefit for us as anything we needed to learn, and any mistakes we were going to make on the system would be done with this. Meaning we could learn how to use it properly and to the best standard. We also got to experiment with effects such as slow and fast motion, transitions and inserting music into film.
It also allowed us to develop our skills as a group. As we are already close friends, we got to learn more about each other by being put in this situation, for example how we both deal with any problems that occur and what skills we are best at. For example, organising when to film and the types of camera shots soon became Abigails' strong points. Where as using the editing package and working the camera became mine, of which when working together created a perfect match of skills. We are both very creative and work efficiently together to get our work complete.
Below is the film we created.