Filming

These are a few pictures taken whilst filming: 

gif creator

PLANNING: Locations

During the process in which we planned and explored different ideas for our film opening, we researched and visited potential locations. 

Our first potential location was the hotel Jury's Inn. We chose this as a potential location due to the reason that it suited the formality and atmosphere to the first initial idea for our film. For example it consisted of the main character walking through the doors of to where there is a lobby, receptionist, a lift and a room. The large building also suited the formality of our opening:

Outside of the Jury's Inn hotel

However we decided that it would be unrealistic of them to let us film under their grounds, Meanwhile we also had to change the idea of our opening, along with an appropriate location. 

Our second potential and more successful location was Kings Place in Kings cross. we chose this location, as it was also suited to the formality of our film and the second and final idea of our opening, in that we required a location with a lift, lobby and bathroom in which our two characters would be seen. We also found out that students from previous years have filmed there making it more realistic for us to get permission. Her are some photograph's that we took of the location: 

A picture of King's place's lift in which we will film a segment of our opening. 

An entrance, that we may use to show one of the characters entering a building. 

The lobby area that we will use to show the characters, meeting and exchanging items.  

PLANNING: Screenshots of our storyboard

To show the different shots that will feature in our opening, we produced a storyboard, giving a clear indication of an outline of the order of our sequence:

Strengths and Weaknesses

Weakness:  Whilst filming we had an issue with our focusing and it was really visible whilst putting the film together. Therefore we could not include all the shots we intended to but it all worked out as then our film would have been too long and also we could not have used the cross cutting technique we intended to use. Another weakness would be our schedule as we did not plan everything to last minute, but we decided in time for our filming. Also we had difficulty coming up with our idea therefore it took some time finalising the idea, as we wanted our film to be different than the usual thriller openings.

Strength: We were able to overcome the issues of the focusing problems. Our film idea is different to others, therefore we believe  our idea was unique. The location at which we filmed was a huge strength as it played a huge part  in our film. 

My thoughts throughout this process:

My Role and What I learnt

Throughout the filming process, I played the role of a director. I informed the 'actors' what to do and I also filmed the thriller opening, although we all took part in that. When we finished filming I ordered the clips so the story flows and makes sense. We then started editing and I gave my input in the effects and the title sequence. Whilst doing that I did some group blogging. We took screenshots of everything and blogged about all of our changes, which was quite a lot. 

I found the experience really fun and I learned a lot. I learned how to use the JVC camera, many different filming techniques, how to put titles on the sequence, how to add different effects for the  clips and how to add different sound tracks together for the final film.  

FILMING: My Role

During the filming process, I did various roles to help with the shoot. My main role was to play the character of the con man who gives the victim a fake passport in return for money. However, I also filmed a couple of shots of the other character in the film. Here are some pictures below:

FILMING: My Role

This is an Xtranormal presentation of my character in our opening:

PRACTICE: Evaluation of the Prelim

One factor that was particularly successful when making our prelim film, was the actual story line and the filming of it. We were able to have the correct settings without much difficulty, as well as the process of filming it. 
One factor that was not so successful when making our prelim film, was the sound of the film; there were some sounds of passers and we did not have enough time to get the sound right. First we planned on including a song as the sound however it took too long as we had difficulty transferring it and putting it into final cut pro with the video. We settled with adding our own bits of sound, however we could not do much of the background sounds as we needed the dialogue. 

For our final opening, we will need to make sure the sound is edited properly and that we only have the sounds we need. Also we would need to make sure the filming is done without difficulty, using a variety of shots.   

PRACTICE: Editing of the Prelim

When editing the footage of  our preliminary film, we used Final cut pro. Today it is widely used by professional and amateur film-makers and can be used to make complex effects and produce professional quality films. 

A screen-shot of Final Cut pro, showing the different sections of the editing interface. 

During the lesson that we edited our prelim film, we found the program quite easy to use, particularly because of the fact that we have used it in the past, such as when we re-edited the opening of 'Arlington Road'.

A screen-shot of sound being added to footage, using Soundtrack pro. 

We also used Soundtrack pro, to edit our film when adding effective sounds and music. This was also easy to use, however we had faced a technical fault with the sound of the prelim, when we first blogged it, but resolved this issue with a teacher's assistance.  

PLANNING: Changes we made 'DECEPTION'

Due to our group not being able to access an office, to film a part of our opening, we had to sit down as a group and put some other ideas together. 

We made the decision to keep the name of the film 'Deception', but changed the plot and based it on the idea of fake identity. The location of King's place, will also remain the same.  

The new idea:

The opening would first start with close-up shots of the female character, putting on make up in front of a mirror in a toilet. This will then go on to show the character looking at the picture of a young child- raising suspicion and giving information about her character.  Here we will then use cross-cut editing to show the male character, entering the location. After the cross-cutting the two characters will then meet up, in which the male character passes her a passport in exchange for an envelope full of cash. After the male character starts to walk away, the female character looks at the passport discovering she's been deceived and the deceiver gone. The opening will then close with a close-up shot of the passport dropping, with a slow motion edit leaving the male seem very mysterious.

The film would be about the male character deceiving many other characters, such as the female from the opening. He is on the run from the government but isn't aware it. He goes for his final victim but soon realises it's a set up and therefore prepares to go on the run as he has been identified. 

PLANNING: Feedback from our pitch 'DECEPTION'

During our pitch we presented our idea for our thriller opening.

Our teachers thought that our idea was good and that we would be able to do it well if we managed to get the locations and the props that we are planning to get. We were advised to prepare a variety of good props, as our opening does not contain a lot of action, so it will needs to be highly stylized. Also we needed to make sure we had the correct settings and were full prepared to every last detail.

We will try to follow the advice and directions that we received from our Media teachers and try to make the thriller opening interesting.

PLANNING: THE PITCH 'DECEPTION'

In the planning stages of our project, we had to prepare a pitch for our Media teachers, through which we presented our idea for our film and how we are planning to film our opening to make it as effective as possibile. We also gave information about our location, props and costumes and also the risks we might encounter during filming.

We used Prezi to make our pitch and also showed a digital storyboard which we made with Quark Xpress.

PLANNING: Screenshots of our storyboard 'DECEPTION' (old idea)

PRACTICE: Preliminary Project

This is our preliminary project, a thriller opening of a film inspired by 'Taking of Pelham 123' and other thriller films. We followed the conventions of a thriller opening and the structure we used was stand alone titles.
Our project is called 'Witness', which is a interrogation scene of the supposed criminal. The man soon loses it during the heat of the interrogation and admits to know of the crime but not actually being responsible for the crime.
We edited the opening on Soundtrack pro and Final Cut pro.