Film Progress Update

On our film, we've focused a lot on sound and music which we have to rely on a lot because there's not much dialogue. As the music is supposed to be diegetic, we've managed to make it look like the main character is turning it up and down on a stereo. This looks effective and we were worried that we were going to have to keep it at the same volume throughout the whole video but luckily we managed to figure it out.

We also managed to edit the clips so it flows naturally. For example, when the main character's grandmother walks up the stairs, the camera originally looked very stiff, but we managed to edit it with a clip from a different angle, so not only does the camera not look stiff anymore, but it actually looks like it flows a lot more easily. The editing made it look like she was walking up the same step at the same time.



The title at the end of the video say 'Truth' and it was made in After Effects. We made it look very simplistic by having a very plain type writer font and each letter appearing after each other. The sound in the back ground was also a typewriter noise to give it that very old and intense feel. This is also helped with the black and white filter over the footage for the Noir-like theme we're going for.

Feedback - Miss Spencer

First Cut feedback

There is a clear narrative to this opening, good use of a variety of camera shots and angles, as well as a great use of a dolly shot. This is clearly a film opening, but needs some more work to polish and finish it. Here are my suggestions. I would also like you to ask some contemporaries/parents for feedback and embed the first cut into this post.

Suggested changes/improvements:

Add Institutional Logo

Add titles

I would like to see a c/u of the main protagonist at the beginning so that the audience can start identifying/ understanding her a little.

Tighten the shot on the letter - it is a little too slow.

Possibly shorten the walk up the stairs.
Tighten the letter exchange - make it a more natural pace.

Add SFX to create an atmosphere (ensure you create your own or use royalty free sound effects)

Tighten the end of the dolly shot

Are you going to add any music?

Do a colour correction to add the neo noir feel.

Truth - First Cut

Feedback:

Person 1: Oliver, 16

• After some cuts, it was a bit shaky.
• Upstairs camera movement was a bit shaky
• Use of props (incense) was good.
• Dolly shot was good,
• Close ups were good.

Person 2: Becky, 17

• Variety of shots
• Continuity - good story
• Shaky camera at times.
• Don't know where the story will lead

Person 3: Mitch, 16

• Shaky shots
• Good close ups
• Variety of good angle shots

Person 4: Ash, 17

• Variety of shots
• Different ages of actors
• Good dolly movement, thought it was slow motion.

Script

The Script

EXT.A WALL/STREET- DAY 

A MYSTERIOUS MAN dressed in a black coat and with a gloved hand, holds a white letter as he walks past the wall. 


INT.OFFICE-DAY

ROSEANNE(18)sits at her desk, looking at her laptop and typing. She sits upright with her hair swept to one side to show her face.


EXT.STEPS-DAY

The MYSTERIOUS MAN walks around the corner and GRADUALLY walks up the steps. 


EXT/INT.FRONT DOOR/LETTER BOX-DAY

The MYSTERIOUS MAN QUICKLY walks up to the door and posts the letter through the letterbox. The letter falls to the ground below the letterbox. 

                          ROSEANNE (V.O)  
                  It was 6 years ago today that my parents died... 
                                  (Sadly) 
                   I was only 12 at the time. 
                   

INT.HALL-DAY

FOOTSTEPS are heard as ROSEANNE'S GRANDMOTHER (75), a KIND, FORMAL woman who looks after her granddaughter in her Manor, picks up the letter. 

She looks at the letter then turns SLOWLY to head upstairs to give the letter to ROSEANNE. 


HARD CUT TO

INT.OFFICE DESK/CLOCK-2:10 PM 


JAZZ MUSIC is heard and the sound of typing from Roseanne's laptop 


INT.STAIRS-DAY

ROSEANNE'S GRANDMOTHER SLOWLY walks up the STEEP stairs with the letter in her hand, she holds the handrail for balance. 


INT.OFFICE-DAY

ROSEANNE sits at her desk as INCENSE SMOKE swirls around her face. A LOUD KNOCK is heard against her office door. 

                         

                          ROSEANNE 

                          (loudly) 

                              Come in!

The GRANDMOTHER walks towards ROSEANNE and stops at the edge of her desk. ROSEANNE turns down the stereo she had playing to focus on what her GRANDMOTHER has to say. 

                        GRANDMOTHER 

                      (handing the letter to Roseanne)

                This was just posted through the door. 

                        

                         ROSEANNE 

                      (to Grandmother) 

                              Thank you

                  

ROSEANNE takes the letter from her GRANDMOTHER, looks QUICKLY at it then places it besides her on the desk. 

                        GRANDMOTHER

                        (formally)

                I'll be downstairs if you need me

As the GRANDMOTHER turns to leave, she picks up the PHOTO FRAME on the desk and steps to the side. A SAD look is on her face as she looks at the photograph. Then she TURNS and places the PHOTO FRAME QUICKLY as ROSEANNE watches. The GRANDMOTHER then TURNS QUICKLY without even looking at ROSEANNE before she HURRIEDLY walks off.

INT.OFFICE/DESK-DAY 

The PHOTO FRAME contains a photograph of a YOUNGER ROSEANNE with her PARENTS. 

                          ROSEANNE (V.O)

                                (solemnly) 

 Today is a very difficult day for my grandmother. Due to there being no conclusive  cause of death, no real evidence ; the investigation of my parents death was as fleeting as a footstep in a snow storm.

ROSEANNE looks at the letter she had originally ignored when her GRANDMOTHER had first given it to her. Her hair falls over half of her face and HIDES her right eye. The look on her face suggests she is wondering who could have sent her a letter. 

                            ROSEANNE (V.O) 

                            (desperately) 

                We need to know what happened to them. 

The PHOTO FRAME is shown again but this time much CLOSER so details such as how everyone is SMILING shows the HAPPY atmosphere in the photograph.  

ROSEANNE faces the stereo and reaches with her hand to turn it back up again. The ORIGINAL JAZZ music has now changed to a more TENSE track. She OPENS the letter CALMLY but STRUGGLES a little as the letter is not easily taken out of the envelope, which suggests that the letter was pushed deep into the envelope by the sender. She SMILES quickly at the thought of not being able to take out the letter but hastily goes back to having a STRAIGHT FACE. She folds open the letter and begins to read. An INCREASING HEARTBEAT sound is heard throughout as she reads.  

                             ROSEANNE (V.O) 

                                    (eagerly) 

                    And I'm determined to find closure. 

Her EYES are shown as she reads the letter.

The letter starts with her name (ROSEANNE) in LARGE.  

Her EYES are again shown but with more SPEED as she continues reading the letter. 

The letter then contains the word: PARENTS,in LARGE.

Her EYES do NOT BLINK as she continues to read. 

The letter then contains the word: MURDERED,in LARGE.

Her EYES are again shown as she shown as they move across with a FAST PACE. 

The FINAL words in the letter that is focused on is the words: CORRUPT BUSINESS MAN. 

INT.OFFICE-DAY 

ROSEANNE stares at the letter for less then a second then places it back down onto the desk,she  RISES from her chair and turns to grab her coat, which was on the back of her chair, she STEPS away from the desk and she GRACEFULLY puts on her coat and walks away. 

                       ROSEANNE (V.O) 

                             (forcefully) 

                  By any means necessary.

She STRIDES towards the DOOR,PUSHES it open and walks out and begins to go down the STAIRS. 

                      ROSEANNE (V.O) 

                      (conclusively)

              Who ever you are... I will find you.

INT.OFFICE/DESK-DAY 

The PHOTO FRAME is again shown but the photograph is shown much CLOSER so that it is clear that the YOUNGER ROSEANNE and her PARENTS are much happier and that obviously the death of them CHANGED ROSEANNE to what she is now. 

Risk Assessment

Production Schedule

Production Schedule – (Film Title)

Date	Task	Complete Y/N
W/C: 3/11/14	Creating/sourcing sound and music
W/C: 10/11/14	Editing and creating graphics and titles
W/C: 17/11/14	Editing and creating graphics and titles
W/C: 24/11/14	Editing
W/C: 01/12/14	Uploading all elements from foundation portfolio onto your blog
W/C: 08/12/14	Blogging all stages of the filming/editing process
W/C: 15/12/14	Film to be handed in to be marked over the Christmas Break.

Tasks that must be completed:

·        Filming

·        Creating/sourcing sound/music

·        Editing

·        Creating graphics/titles

·        Uploading all elements from Foundation Portfolio onto your blog

·        Blogging all stages of the filming/editing process

Filming Schedule

Production Schedule

Filming Date: 22nd October 2014
Meeting Time: 9:45

Address for cast and crew to meet at:
Ammington Rd, Tamworth, Staffordshire B77 3LH

List of crew and cast contacts:
David Cuff: 07*********
Katie Limm: 07*********
Sam Hollis: 07*********
Maisie Goodman: 07*********
Lillian Limm: 07*********

Props:
Laptop
Vase
Letter
Photograph
Clock
Desk Decorations (paperclips, books, pens, etc)
Envelope
Radio/Stereo
Candle/Incense Stick

Equipment:
Camera
Dolly
Tripod
Laptop

The Pitch

Storyboard

Storyboard:

Jazz music playing in the background though out the whole scene.  

0.     (Production company logo thing

Duration- 11 seconds)

1. Rose sat at desk

Fade in from black

First shot- Establishing

Camera movement- none

Sound- Jazz in background

No dialogue

Duration-2-3 seconds

2.  Feet walking

Quick cut from shot 1

Camera close up of feet walking

Movement- tracking

Sounds- footsteps and jazz

N.D

Duration- 4 seconds

3.Cut back to Roseanne

Quick cut from shot 2

 Shot-Close up

Movement- Tilt

Sounds- Jazz

N.D

Duration- 4 seconds

4. Cuts back to a gloved hand posting an envelope through the letter box

Shot- Close up of the hand.

Movement- None

Sounds- Jazz and letter box shutting

N.D

Duration- 2/3 seconds

5. Letter falling in a hallway

Shot- Medium

Movement- none

Effects- Slow motion

Sounds- Jazz

Duration-5 seconds

(Dialogue starts- It was 6 years ago today that my parents died… I was only 12)

6. Grandperson’s hand picking up letter

Shot- Close up

Movement- None

Sounds- Faint jazz, door opening and jazz is louder, footsteps.

Duration- 5 seconds ( just letter with all the background sounds) 3 seconds- hand in shot      

  27seconds

7. Grandparent looking at letter

Shot- Over the shoulder

Movement- none

Sounds- Jazz

Duration- 2 seconds

8. Starting to walk up stairs

Shot- High angle establishing shot

Movement- none

Sounds- jazz

Duration-3 seconds

9. Walking upstairs with letter

Shot- Close up of letter

Movement- Tracking

Sounds- Jazz getting slowly louder and footsteps

Duration- 3 seconds

10. Rose at desk when a knock at the door happens

Shot- Long shot

Movement- none

Sounds- jazz turned down, knock at door

Dialogue- “ Come in”

Duration- 7 seconds

11.  Grandparent walking through door towards Rose

Shot- Long shot

Movement- Pan as grandparent walks towards rose

Sounds- quiet jazz

N.D

Duration- 4 seconds

12, 13, 15 . Conversation between Rose and Grandparent

Shot- Shot reverse shot ( gp, rose, gp)

Movement- none

Sounds- Jazz in background

Dialogue: GP: This was just posted through the door

 Rose: Thanks

GP: I’ll be downstairs if you need me…

Duration: 12- 5, 13- 3 15- 5 seconds

(14.) Handing the letter

Shot- Match on action (close up) 

Movement- none

Sounds- jazz

Dialogue- none

Duration- 6 seconds  

1 min 5 seconds

16.  GP picks up photograph and looks at it

Shot- Low angle medium shot

Movement- none

Sounds – jazz

N.D

Duration- 4 seconds

17. GP puts photograph back onto desk and walks away.

Shot- Medium shot

Movement- none

Sounds- jazz and footsteps walking away and door shutting

N.D

Duration- 2 seconds

18.  Camera focuses on photograph

Shot- close up

Movement-none

Sounds- jazz

Dialogue- Today is very difficult for my grandparent (grandmother). Due to there being no official cause of death and no real evidence, the investigation on my parents death was shut down.

Duration-10 seconds

19. Roseanne

Shot-close up

Movement-

Sounds- jazz

Dialogue- We just want to know what happened to them

Duration-4 seconds

1 minute 25 second

20.  Music gets turned up and the opening of the letter

Shot- Over the shoulder

Movement- none

Sounds-jazz getting louder

Dialogue- and I’m determined to find closure.

Duration- 7 seconds

21. Clock

Shot-Close up

Movement-none

Sounds-jazz

N.D

Duration-2 seconds

22.Focus on eyes

Shot- Extreme close up

Movement- None

Sounds-Jazz

N.D

Duration- 2 seconds

23.Focus on words in letter

Shot-Extreme close up

Movement- none

Sounds-Jazz

N.D

Duration- 2 seconds per word ( Overall 8 seconds)

(Words: Parents, murdered, corrupt business man, E.I) 

1 minute 44 seconds

24.  Rose puts letter down and stands up

Shot- Long

Movement-

Sounds-jazz

Dialogue-Sigh

Duration-4 seconds

25. Walks across the room, grabs coat and put it on

Shot-Long

Movement-pan

Sounds-jazz

N.D

Duration-8 seconds

26. Blows out candle

Shot-Close up

Movement-none

Sounds-jazz

N.D

Duration-4 seconds

27. Walks across room to door

Shot-Long

Movement-Pan

Sounds-jazz

N.D

Duration- 4 seconds

28. Opens door and walks out

Shot-Long

Movement-none

Sounds- Jazz

Dialogue- Who ever you are…I will find you.

Duration-7 seconds

2 minutes 11 seconds

(29. TITLE- TRUTH)

Duration- 5 seconds

Total: 2minutes 27 seconds

Filming Day and Recce

Recce
In our film, we wanted to do it in an old looking but someone higher class building so it would suit the old fashioned, noir feeling:

This is where the mysterious character puts the secret letter. The front door gives the impression that this building is an old house that belongs to rich people. It would also look good in black and white which is what we aimed for because it's so big.

We wanted to focus on the redness of the location so we could emphasize the need for violence and revenge. Although our film is in black and white, we will make distinct colours visible so it will have an effect on the audience.

This is where we would set the main desk for Rosann as it's near a window and it gives a mysterious effect especially when the curtains are closed. The room also allowed us space to be able to move the tripod on the dolly around in order for us to have the full on effect of the shots we wanted and the dramaticness.

This is the main building we record in. It's actually a club house however we were able to make it look like a huge manor house by changing things inside and positioning the camera in certain places, so it didn't look too obvious like a club house.
It also looked perfect from the outside to be able to record and people wouldn't think twice about it being anything other than a normal manor.




Filming Day:
We met at Bolehall manor along with our actor Maisie Goodman and Katie's grandmother - Lillian. We started off by recording one of the earlier scenes, but not the first one.

Casting and Role Allocation

Cast:

Roseanne: Maisie Goodman

Roseanne's Grandmother: Lillian Limm
Man: Sam Hollis

Role Allocation:

Director: Katie Limm
The director is the person that tells all the actors and the camera people what to do and where to go. They basically make the film into their vision and what they want it to look like. They would also help with the editing and tell them where they want everything. A director we're taking a lot of inspiration from is Christopher Nolan. His themes in films are very dark and that is what we want to aim for with this. Also, seeing as one of his most famous films is 'Batman Begins' and the main character's parents die and it is a story about vengeance just like our film - vengeance is what drives our plot and main character 'Roseanne'.

Camera Person and Producer: Sam Hollis

The camera person is the person who records all the footage of the actors and makes the certain camera angles that the director wants it to look like.The way the camera looks, we want it to be similar to old noir films. We also had a few medium shots so the audience would be able to get a good look at the main character and will be able to tell who she is. There was also quite a large use of low angle shots to make dramatic moments and make some character look very empowered.

The producer makes everything happen for the film and provides things like the cameras and other props. They do what the title says: produces for the film. We brought certain things like an incense candle to give it a smokey effect, so when we edit the video into black and white, it would look more effective and mysterious.

Editor: David Cuff 

The editor is the person who takes the footage and reorganizes it so it can look like a proper film. They also add sounds and special effects, putting it into one file. Some of the music we want to put into it is mainly jazz music so it can give it that old, defective, gritty feel. It what drives the two minute clip and most of it is mainly music and not dialogue. 

Opening Titles and Demogrphics

Dexter:
This is the introduction to the TV show 'Dexter'. The font is all red and in capitals which really emphasizes the horror and violence of the show. The color red on the word is also made to look like it is smudged on a piece of paper as it soaks onto it, like it was actual blood. This is done to get across the murderous theme and make it look dark. The lighting in the top is also very dark to make it look like it's under a lamp which links with the main character as he is a shady character. I'd imagine that this introduction would take the interest in young middle class people who are interested in film as well as middle class people that just enjoy good TV.


Sin City:
Sin City's intro is made to look like a comic book but also makes it look very dark. As the film is an incredibly violent one, the colour of the title credits is red which is used to link to the blood and the violence. It is also a noir film which means it's in black and white and they are in shade or the dark a lot which is why the drawing is made to look mysterious, also giving his character a very threatening look, complimented by the gun.

Captain America: The Winter Soldier:

The 'Captain America: The Winter Soldier' title credits create a cartoon silhouette to make it look more like a spy film and also to link it back to it's comic book origins. The film itself is a superhero-spy film so this fits perfectly. The music also used is a very epic film which is used in every superhero film to make the hero seem more heroic. It also links with the other Marvel superhero films (especially the Avengers) as they all seem to have a very dramatic song in the background.

Doctor Who:

For the Doctor Who theme introduction, half way through it moves through a Sci-Fi space look alike, and a portrait of the main character's eyes appear which is something the old Doctor Who introductions used to do. This looks good as it really fits with the theme of the show along with the famous soundtrack that plays in the background. The glowing also works it links with the theme of time travel.