We decided to try and film some test footage to recreate what our final shots would look like and give us a better idea of what could ideally be pulled off.
The embedded video shows all of the compiled test footage that we took yesterday afternoon. We used ourselves as the models to film. We all knew exactly what we wanted for the shots and so this more accurately allowed us to emulate what we wanted from the final product. We will be able to show our actors the following footage to give them a better idea of what will be expected of them at the time.
We tried several of the most difficult shots, for example an over the shoulder shot with the male protagonist and the second man; the holding hands shot; the 'candid' shot of the female protagonist. All of these are taken at either odd angles or are shot types that are foreign to us, and therefore we felt like we would need the most practise through these.
The following video shows the different shots that we tried on the day. Some have been edited and colour corrected.
Monday, 26 February 2018
Wednesday, 21 February 2018
A2 Short Film - Final Set Choices
After much deliberation, the production team and I have decided on the final set locations for our next project.
To recap, to film we need three different locations:
1. Dull bedroom scene.
2. Well lit and idyllic park.
3. Train stop.
For the dull bedroom scene, we have decided to use a room in one of our production team's homes.
For the park, we have decided on Lady Dixon park due to its proximity and aesthetic as described in the set discussion post.
For the train stop, we have decided on Finaghy Train stop due to its proximity to the bedroom location.
Tuesday, 20 February 2018
A2 Short Film - Final Shot List
Below is the polished and final shot list.
REALITY
- Black credit shot with title
- Close-up of clock
- Medium shot of bed-side table
- Medium close-up of protagonist, taken aerially, seeming in thought.
- Close-up of calendar
- Medium close up of the protagonist, taken aerially, seeming in thought.
- Close-up of clock
- Track shot of photographs across the wall
DREAM SEQUENCE
- Wide shot of characters at school, they are having fun, and being casual.
- Wide shot of park
- Medium shot of male and female protagonists, seeming close.
REALITY
- Medium close-up, side on, change in focus from the photographs on the wall to the protagonist
- Extreme close-up of eye, half lidded.
DREAM SEQUENCE
- Another Extreme close up of eye, with a changed set to the park scene
- Extreme close up of nose and hair, whimsical in tone of the female protagonist.
REALITY
- Wide shot in bed
- Close-up shot of hands on the bed
DREAM SEQUENCE
- Close-up of two holding hands
- Long shot of the two sitting beside one another
REALITY
- Close-up of watch
- Wide shot at train station
- Profile medium shot
- Extreme close-up of eye
- Medium shot of back
- Wide shot of female protagonist getting off the train
- Medium to wide shot to see a man coming behind
- Over the shoulder shot showing the same as above, the second man pushes past the male protagonist.
- Long shot of the second man and female protagonist hugging, happily.
- Close-up of the couple
- Long shot as the couple walk off
- Close-up of protagonist
- Cut to black
Tuesday, 6 February 2018
A2 Short Film - Set Discussion
Now that our storyboards have been completed, the team and I now have to start planning the logistics of the film, and one of the important facets of this is the setting.
From the storyboards, it has been decided that we need three individual sets:
1. One bedroom
2. An outdoor park
3. An outdoor train stop.
The film we plan to shoot has a recurring theme of fantasy versus reality. In it, the stalker protagonist imagines all of the fantastical scenes with his 'girl' in a well lit environment, this represents the falsities, the daytime. On the other hand, events that take place in the real world, for example the original reminiscing about her, and him going to meet her at the train stop and be ignored are reality that happen to the protagonist. These scenes take place in the night time.
The daytime is fantasy.
Whilst reality is nighttime.
From the storyboards, it has been decided that we need three individual sets:
1. One bedroom
2. An outdoor park
3. An outdoor train stop.
The film we plan to shoot has a recurring theme of fantasy versus reality. In it, the stalker protagonist imagines all of the fantastical scenes with his 'girl' in a well lit environment, this represents the falsities, the daytime. On the other hand, events that take place in the real world, for example the original reminiscing about her, and him going to meet her at the train stop and be ignored are reality that happen to the protagonist. These scenes take place in the night time.
The daytime is fantasy.
Whilst reality is nighttime.
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The dangers of using a poorly lit room, although atmospheric, may mean that we will not be able to see the depth of expression in the actor. Therefore we will have to be very careful as to where we place the artificial light.
We will most likely use one of our previous sets from our other projects, a bedroom in one of our production team's homes. Although I do not have any photographs of the exact set, here are some set ideas that clearly communicate the dark and dull atmosphere we are aiming for.
The dangers of using a poorly lit room, although atmospheric, may mean that we will not be able to see the depth of expression in the actor. Therefore we will have to be very careful as to where we place the artificial light.
We will most likely use one of our previous sets from our other projects, a bedroom in one of our production team's homes. Although I do not have any photographs of the exact set, here are some set ideas that clearly communicate the dark and dull atmosphere we are aiming for.
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It would be particularly handy if we were able to use a train station close by to where any of the production team live. That would mean we would have a venue to rest between filming and to store extra equipment if we need to. Using this criteria we have came up with two possible sets.
One possible train station we could use is the Finaghy Train Station in Belfast. This location is handy as it is close to one of our bedroom possibilities.The trees would create a lot of shadow, which we would have to be wary of especially at night, but the set would be generally well lit due to the street lamps.
Photograph credited to Stephen Barnes/Alamy Live News
One other option is the Dunmurry train station. In contrast to the Finaghy station, there are not many street lamps for illumination. And, the looming buildings would create more of a shadow than the Finaghy station, which has one open end.
Below is a photograph of the station:
One other option is the Dunmurry train station. In contrast to the Finaghy station, there are not many street lamps for illumination. And, the looming buildings would create more of a shadow than the Finaghy station, which has one open end.
Below is a photograph of the station:
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For the outdoor garden scene, it will be shot in the daylight, and therefore we will need to pick a set that looks well in the sunlight.
We have been mulling over possible sets that are easily accessible and can be filmed in. Therefore it will have to be public domain so not to breach any privacy laws.
One possible set is a local park, close to several of the team's homes, named 'Sir Thomas and Lady Dixon Park' - Commonly shortened to 'Lady Dixon'. The set is convenient in terms of distance, and it is evidently lovely to look at as seen by the photographs below. It would be a perfect setting for the idyllic fabricated sequences that the stalker fantasises about. An upside to this set that Wallace Park does not have is the sheer size, Lady Dixon is a massive area and it will be very easy for us to find a secluded but beautiful spot to shoot.
Images of the park are shown below:
Another possible setting for the park scenes is a park in Lisburn district, named Wallace Park. Although considerably less flowers are in this park, it has a large bandstand, and many trees surrounding it to give a natural feel. A downside to this park is that it is usually very busy, and closed in, so finding a quiet place to shoot may be hard.
Images of the park are shown below.
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The team will think of each on each of these possibilities.
Friday, 2 February 2018
A2 Short Film - Genre Analysis #2 Intrusion
The second film I have decided to analyse is a short film found on critiquing website Short of the Week.
https://www.shortoftheweek.com/2014/10/27/intrusion/
Intrusion documents a boy recording a home invasion, and his reactions and emotional turmoil that ensue. Only later do we realise that the man filming, is actually the man invading.
I have decided to analyse how:
1. Cinematography is used to amplify the emotional intensity.
The film is shot from what seems to be a handheld camera, this is a trope found very commonly in a lot of 'home-video' styled horror movies, and this type of shot gives a very personal feel to it, it is as if we are seeing the encounter and events unfold from the perspective of the protagonist. This, accompanied with the torch attached to whatever the person is using to film with and the low lighting of the setting make for a very eerie and tense atmosphere. We are constantly on edge as the camera pans up and down with the protagonist's eyes.
2. Sound is used.
All of the sound is natural and diegetic, making the reactions and general atmosphere of the film seem a lot more raw and believable, as there is no filtered in or false background music to help in setting the mood.
3. Ambiguity is used.
There was a lot of ambiguity in the film, which opened with a fearful young man panting for breath and explaining that he thought there was someone in the house. We automatically assume that it is his home and the film will be him as he struggles to protect himself. But, as the film goes on and we see a figure standing in the bathroom we as the audience fear for the cameraman, but, we are left in shock as the ambiguous plot comes to a close. We were never told whether or not this boy actually lived in the home, and it therefore comes as a shock to the audience when he wields a knife and is screamed at by the actual residents to leave, before attacking them. The ambiguity kept me on my seat and was very thrilling.
https://www.shortoftheweek.com/2014/10/27/intrusion/
Intrusion documents a boy recording a home invasion, and his reactions and emotional turmoil that ensue. Only later do we realise that the man filming, is actually the man invading.
I have decided to analyse how:
1. Cinematography is used to amplify the emotional intensity.
The film is shot from what seems to be a handheld camera, this is a trope found very commonly in a lot of 'home-video' styled horror movies, and this type of shot gives a very personal feel to it, it is as if we are seeing the encounter and events unfold from the perspective of the protagonist. This, accompanied with the torch attached to whatever the person is using to film with and the low lighting of the setting make for a very eerie and tense atmosphere. We are constantly on edge as the camera pans up and down with the protagonist's eyes.
2. Sound is used.
All of the sound is natural and diegetic, making the reactions and general atmosphere of the film seem a lot more raw and believable, as there is no filtered in or false background music to help in setting the mood.
3. Ambiguity is used.
There was a lot of ambiguity in the film, which opened with a fearful young man panting for breath and explaining that he thought there was someone in the house. We automatically assume that it is his home and the film will be him as he struggles to protect himself. But, as the film goes on and we see a figure standing in the bathroom we as the audience fear for the cameraman, but, we are left in shock as the ambiguous plot comes to a close. We were never told whether or not this boy actually lived in the home, and it therefore comes as a shock to the audience when he wields a knife and is screamed at by the actual residents to leave, before attacking them. The ambiguity kept me on my seat and was very thrilling.
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