AS G3: A Change Of Heart

The group convened today and reviewed the footage from the shoot with almost exclusively positive feedback. The lighting was perfect in most shots, the acting was emotional and intense where we were worried it could have been cheesy, and we all rejoiced that our hard work had paid off. However, there was one significant problem that stuck out to us. Our piece did not come across as a psychological horror film.

Go on...

We looked at the footage multiple times as Georgia began the rough editing process and we realised that it was my fault (Isaac) as the director; I should have been more focused on the horrific situation this character has been placed in (he can't remember a single thing). However the situation IS undoubtedly tense and the protagonist IS undoubtedly scared. We consulted with the teachers about the "genre confusion" we were experiencing and realised that we had created a fusion/hybrid opening as opposed to the psychological horror we had been aiming for.

What does this mean?

This doesn't mean that we have failed in our task by any means, it simply means that we have to reconsider the definition of our opening and our genre. We realised that the closest genre to our opening was thriller, but the intense mental situation the character experiences is uniquely psychological, and certain elements of Film Noir were present too.

A side note

The group researched titles recently and found "Identity" is in fact already a feature film and thus cannot be used as our title. This means that we had to reconsider the title and we came up with a range of names when brainstorming as a group. Most centred around the theme of the character's name, such as "I am a Name" (which we decided was too cryptic and misleading), "My Name" (which we are considering) and more.

Feedback 2 - Mrs Fernandez

Georgia, Isaac and Alex,

Well done, the blog is shaping up to provide evidence of level 4 planning and research.  The technical analysis task from all three of you was of a Level 4 standard.  You have worked very effectively as a group, developing a clear creative vision early on and being very focused on achieving this. Your pitch could have been more detailed in the technical aspects and shot ideas and a more creative use of ICT employed to present your ideas (it didn't reflect the level of research on your blog or fine detail of concept in verbal discussions prior to pitch), however Alex's reflection on the pitch was detailed and filled in some of the gaps, so it was evident that you had done planning in those aspects.

However, as you have shot early ( which is commendable), you have raced ahead and there are some vital aspects of planning that you must post and provide evidence on for the exam board:
1. audience research, results and reflection on how this informed your creative process
2. storyboards and animatic, including titles
3. location recce with images / risk assessment sheets
4. call sheets

Also, you have been given some crucial feedback from myself and Mr Fiveash on the design of the numbers - this needs to be reflected on the blog (with stills) and your response to this documented.  A level 4 blog would contain details of problems overcome, strengths/weaknesses of shoots.  You may decide as a group that you are happy with the design, but reflecting on key points made (angle on hand, right hand, design of letters) and justifying your decisions will be crucial if you don't end up reshooting. I've also read Isaac's post on the potential change of direction in terms of genre to a hybrid of thriller/horror - this is acceptable, but such a change will need research from the three of you so you can demonstrate you are clear about the forms and conventions of this sub-genre to back up your concept amendment.

I will amend this post once I've reviewed your rough cut - many aspects of your work are A grade; you have impressed us as a production team, I'm sure that the outcome will end up at that level, but you must be prepared to take on board feedback and respond to it.

AS G3: Schedule for January 2014

• Sunday 19th of January: shooting the opening. Majority of shots are done.
• We need to complete two things for the final shots:
1. Create an eerie video displaying the threatening message
2. Film the threatening message and add it to the editing board
1. All the above should not take longer than a week.
• 2 weeks max for editing of opening:
• Georgia edits, which we aim to have done before Winter half term.
• Isaac finishes animatic, which we aim to have done by Friday the 24th
• Alexander (with a wee bit of help) shall look for non-diegetic sound and touches up on the posts that require cleaning up.
• The whole group brainstorm for a more suitable title - which will be added in at the end of the editing.

 

Update

• Reshoot on Sunday the 2nd of February
• focus on finishing the eerie video displaying threat. Done

AS G3: Original Script

Whilst the dialogue is in Danish, Isaac wrote the script (as seen below) in English. Our actor, Alexander, translated it on the shoot. Additionally, changes have been since then to the actions and dialogue shown and heard in the opening. 

IDENTITY [WORKING TITLE]

Written by

Isaac H

A COSY BEDROOM INT. DAY.

A teenage male lies asleep in a bed in a plain white bedroom.

Silence coats the house.

The time hits 09:00, the radio starts playing music.

The sleeping person, ALEX, is woken by the loud music.

 He takes a few seconds to slowly wake up and think clearly. 

He sits up slowly, looking around clearly confused.

ALEX

What the hell! Where am I? 

He grabs his head as if he has a headache.

ALEX

(In pain) Ahh! Christ!

He notices his hand is bandaged.

He unwraps the bandage slowly, revealing a "5" carved into his skin.

ALEX

(Shocked)

What the hell is that! What is going on!

He looks around the room panicking now. He swings his leg out of bed and stands up, dizzy. 

Suddenly his head starts hurting again and he falls to his knees clutching his head.

ALEX

Aaah! What the-

He cuts off as he experiences a series of jerky, blurry

flashbacks.

Alex is seen running down a street away from the camera, CUT, 

he looks down at his body, CUT, we see his terrified face, end of flashbacks.

Alex is lying on the floor, the radio shows half an hour has passed.

ALEX

Why can't I remember anything! What are these visions?!

He slowly gets on to his knees and stands up, 

however he only rises halfway as he sees a "4" scratched into the door handle.

ALEX

Wait a minute ... "5" ... "4" ... where's the "3"? And where will it lead me?

Reaching out he opens it, revealing a hallway. He looks around then glances at his hand. He decides to search for the "3" on all the door handles.

ALEX

Find the "3" ... Find the "3"... 

He finally sees the "3" on the living room door handle.

ALEX

(Gleeful) Bingo!

He opens the door to the living room.

The living room is warm and homely and has lots of pictures 

scattered about the room some with him in  but with the other people torn out. 

The sofa has a large "2" arranged out of paper sticky notes.

Alex notices the two and starts walking over.

ALEX

The "2"! Where's the "1"?

He reaches the "2" and looks around for the "1" but he cannot find it. He sees the TV remote on the table and realises that the "1" is the only number not scratched out. He turns on the

TV by pressing the "1".

The TV shows a clip of ALEX messing around with a friend who is never shown. There is no sound, he seems happy. Instructions appear on the screen.

TV

If you ever want to regain your memory. 

If you want to gain revenge on those who took your mind. 

If you ever want your life back...do exactly as I say.

The TV flickers out.

Cut to black.

Title: Identity

AS G3: My Name - Call Sheet, Risk Assessment and Location Recce

 

 

 

 

Location Recce

Bedroom

 Hall

Kitchen

 Living Room



AS G3: Pitch Feedback

We received a large amount of feedback from the class and teachers about our piece, mostly positive but some negative points, including the following:

• Overwhelming excitement for our opening as it is the Media department's first foreign language film. Of course this presents certain challenges such as a script in both English and Danish, the use of subtitles which is time-consuming etc.
• Some worries about subtitles - how long they should be left on screen because different people read at different paces, which typeface to use as it needs to be easy to read but not generic and dull etc.
• Some worries were expressed about the lack of technical details, however this was largely caused by the other groups overrunning and leaving us less time so that section was very swiftly moved over. This has since been revisited in the AS G3: Pitch post and the lack of detail has been rectified.

AS G3: Pitch

Sub-genre:

• Our chosen sub genre is "psychological" horror.

Treatment: Identity [Working Title]

• Plot:
• "Identity" is the tale of a young man (16-23 years old) who wakes up in his home without any memories of the last few years of his life. He looks around to attempt to establish his identity and notices a number 5 carved into his hand, wound into a bandage. He decides to follow the lead, following the numbers as they count down from 5 to 1 as he is led to the plain living room, where he finds himself holding a TV remote with only the "1" left unscratched. Pressing it, he sees himself through a webcam on the TV and instructions appear, telling him that "If you ever want to gain your lost memories, if you ever want to see your family again, if you ever want to get your life back...do as I say."

• Character(s):
• Male lead, instead of the original female lead. The name has not been decided yet - to keep with the idea of identity, our character might not even have a name to begin with. This coincides with the title and the main plot of the film. Below is the chosen actor to play the lead.

Alex Derry, our group member and actor

• An antagonist, who we will not see but only hear. This will happen through the video recording.

•  Costume
• Will most certainly be modern day clothing. In order to connote the idea that the protagonist has been abducted and has had his memory wiped, but has also put up a struggle, the clothing will have to be slightly rugged - which can be achieved through a bit of wear and tear and lack of washing.

Key group findings:

Form:

• Shot: The Ring: Telephone Long-Shot: This long-shot allows action to be going on in the background but still keeps it out of focus. Switching between focus is also possible (as this clip shows) and is effective as this also allows the clip to be longer. This specific clip forces all the audiences attentions towards the phone; shows the significance of it. The storyline is also made clearer.
• Shot: The Ring: TV Reflection: This shot relates to our storyline as there is a TV involved. Having the TV reflection looks very effective as the audience is given proof that the happening is mysterious and not caused by a character; the audience can also see the reaction of the girl; the audience understand further that this is an alien situation and puts them in the 'character's shoes'. However, there is the issue of creating the shot as the right angle, distance and presence of the mirror need to be though through.
• Shot: The Ring: Clock Close-Up: This particular clip has a fast zoom in which increases the pace of the scene and causes the scene to intensify. Also, the phone is ringing; the audience makes a clear connection (with the close-up) between the phone and the clock (time); the storyline is made clearer for the audience. Just like the phone, the clock also is shown to be significant. 
• Shot: 28 Days Later: Waking Up Close-Up: Breathing also is layered with the silence; the fragility of the scene and tension of the scene is made clear. Also, as it is this character who appears in the scene first for one of the establishing shots, so close-up and for quite a long clip, the audience figure out that this person may be the protagonist or the main character. The light on his face also highlights the warmth and innocence of waking up (which every one can relate to); this is in contrast to the situation. 
• The Woman In Black: Amplified Noise: having certain noises forced upon the audience causes them to focus on the visual more. The Woman In Black noises specifically make the audience feel uneasy as the actions are alien to the dominant behaviour expected of young girls; the idea of them crushing toys is odd and is further enhanced and made creepy by the sound effect amplification. We could use sound effects such as the TV turning on and off .e.t.c.

Conventions:

• Silence is used in almost every single horror movie ever made. The clear reason being that is a very effective technique for building tension as a sense of foreboding occurs. Silence also emphaises the fragility of the situation.
• Black Mirror is a TV show which has separate storylines for the different episodes. One episode in particular inspired us, the episode which includes symbols. This idea is creepy, plays with the mind and is mysterious; it links in well with the psychological sub-genre of horror. Instead, we have decided to use numbers which has the same enigmatic feel.
• Clip: The Ring: Establishing House Shot: At the beginning there is a typical shot and location of a house for this film. There is a slow zoom as the house is made to be the centre of the following action. Dialogue is also heard; a relatable sense of comfort and warmth is shown, however, the vulnerability of the house being on it's own creates foreboding; there is also a contrast in the location and situation. The shot is also in the evening, which is very conventional of a horror film, and the sense of being watched is conveyed through each of these techniques (zoom, centre shot, location, night, dialogue).

Technical Ideas:

Mise-en-scene:

• Location: An urban setting is ideal for the situation
• Props: The furniture in the room, remote control and TV
• Symbols: Numbers. Symbols are normally associated with antagonists and remain relevant to psychological horror
• Lighting: We are filming during the day; lighting will be bright and white instead of yellow room bulb light
• Costume

• Sound: 
• In order for our film to stand out, we discussed the use of a foreign language in our dialogue, to stand out from the other films. In this case, we have considered using Danish, as the actor is fluent in the language.
• In terms of non-diegetic sound, we have yet to decide whether or not we will go entirely for diegetic sound, completely omitting the idea of the use of music, or include a score to set the scene. Upon further consideration we have decided to use a soundtrack (in parts at least) as we notice a hiss coming from the microphone when filming silence, which a soundtrack would cover up.
• Editing:
• As it is an opening sequence, the ideal cutting rate of the scene will be slow enough for the audience to absorb the atmosphere and setting of the film (and for it not to look like a trailer), but keeping it fast enough for the story to develop.
• Subtitles
• Effective and professional looking font (typography) (1942 reports)
The title should be at the beginning to avoid it looking like a trailer
• Camera:
• An establishing shot will help establish the setting and the genre.
• Close-up of protagonist's face for intensity and establishment of lead.
• Close-ups of objects linked to the storyline to make it the situation clear to the audience
• High-angle shots to make protagonist to seem small and vulnerable
• Use of panning achieved by a dolly

Locations:

• Isaac's Dad's flat
• This will give the feeling of false security, as the character will be in an environment that the audience can relate to - the bed, for example, connotes safety, sleep and calm.

Ideological discourse/representation:

• We have decided to go for a male protagonist instead of a female protagonist, as to break the common convention of female leads in horror films. However, instead of going for a stereotypically "strong" male lead, our lead will be what some might consider an everyday person, who will experience some level of character development . Given time constraints, we're going to have to establish this through the non-verbal language and dialogue. 
• Most importantly, we want our audience to be able to connect with the protagonist. As mentioned above, we want our lead to be an everyday person thrown into a horrific scenario. Ideally, we'd like our audience to take upon a dominant reading of our character.
• As our character is supposed to be an everyday person in a terrifying situation, we would ideally want our ideological representation to be emergent, challenging the dominant ideology - in this case, the protagonist is not a hero-figure, but a frightened man. Someone who the audience can relate to.

VFX:

• The number 5, carved into the hand of the protagonist.
• Video of an unknown antagonist, played after the protagonist presses the "1" button on the TV-remote

Key findings from audience response:

• The majority of the voters were interested in having a female protagonist. This tells us who the audience expects as a protagonist in a psychological horror. 

Key issues in achieving proposed treatment:

• The idea of using a foreign language may throw the audience off, or otherwise confuse them. It may be distracting for the audience to keep up with what is going on in a scene, if they have to read the subtitles as well. However, if we keep the dialogue short and precise, we can keep the audience focused on the scene and 
• The opening title will have to be integrated into the opening shot, so we can utilise as much of the two minutes we have for the opening as possible. If we do not do so, we risk running out of time or limiting the time we have of establishing the story.

To ensure that our opening sequence does not look like a trailer:

We have considered the following:

• Putting the titles in the first shot/before the first shot. This minimises the risk of the sequence looking like a trailer or TV spot.
• Ensuring that each of the shots are far from too short or otherwise choppy.
• Establishing the opening narrative, keeping the story open for the audience to want more and for the story to continue on the basis of the established character and setting.