Filming

Due to not being able to get our group of actors together this week, we have not been able to start filming this week like we wanted to. Therefore, filming will begin in the half term over two days and if any alterations need to be done we will still have a couple of days in the half term to re-do any shots if needed.

Location shots

Below are a few images of the lacation that we will be shooting the trailer in. We tried to use mis-en-scene in order to create a thrilling and somewhat spooky area that will go well with the plot and genre of our film. The pictures were taken at around 12 in the afternoon on a quite foggy day, the foggy atmosphere works well in the pictures particularly on the trainstation platform. When filming we will have to make sure that we have kept the weather into consideration.

Down the Lane

Trainstation stairs

Trainstation Platform

Trainstation Tunnel

Production logo text

 

  

We are beginning to experiment with different ways of producing our production logo. We started off by researching fonts with a glitter effect and found the font above, we would like something similar to this as it does not distract the audience from the rest of the content in the trailer.

Using LiveType, we experimented with different fonts and effects in order to find the most suitable one for our trailer. The most suitable we found was a default text with the coil effect in order for the text to 'glitter'. We also changed the colour of the text in order to appear golden and like gold in order to reflect the name of the production name and to contrast with the black background. 

Shot influences

After considering using a voice over we have now been influenced by the following videos;

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

In order to reflect the flashbacks that is featured in our trailer, we have been inspired by this particular scene, where the protagonist appears disillusioned and the flashbacks are contrasting with the rest of the scene by different lighting and muffled sounds. 

Kanye West - All Falls Down

In this video we were particularly interested in how most of the video is filmed in the perspective of the protagonist. We felt that the particular shots shown below could be relevant to our trailer when the two male characters shake hands as we don't want the audience to see the character's faces and for the deal to kill Layla will look mysterious. The last screen shot below adds mystery as only the outline of the character will be shown, however we don't know if we will be able to do this as we think that in the video there may be reflective/tinted windows used which couldn't be used in our trailer. 

Film Schedule

We now feel confident enough to begin planning days for filming, below is our proposed filming schedule:

As a group we will begin to work through filming each of the scenes untill everything is completed.

Sound ideas

We have begun discussing other ways in which we can incorporate sound into our trailer other than backing music. We looked at the new teaser trailer of the film 'Carrie.' The trailer includes a voiceover which is used to inform the audience about some aspects of the film. This is used in addition to the shots as the clips are affective but they don't reveal any aspects of the film.

Our film is similar as it contains some punchy lines of dialogue and some interesting, creative shots, however simply as a trailer it doesn't reveal enough about the films story line. The transcript only contains a few lines of dialogue which don't give away much of the film.

We believe that a voice over in addition to our music would be effective for our trailer as is would increase the audiences awareness of the films story line.

Transcript

[Scott walking, phone begins to ring]

Voiceover Scott: Love is never easy...

Grant: 9pm, sharp

Voiceover Scott: It's a dangerous thing...

[Scott drops phone, begins to run]

Voiceover Scott:

(During flash back of Scott and Claire on the park bench)

Layla: Scott this needs to stop, we're just friends

[leans in to kiss Layla, she pulls away]

Layla: No Scott, we're just friends!

[Scott runs up the steps of the train station]

Voiceover Scott: You don't realise what you have....

Scott: LAYLA!

Voiceover Scott: Until it's gone

Music Idea's

Due to the genre of our trailer and looking at past examples with the same genre we found that the Dubstep genre is commonly used as a soundtrack due to its build up of tension followed by a faster pace which can reflect what is shown on screen.

For example after the text "Run" the shots of Scott running down the lane and in the train station are cut shorter and are more physical and dynamic compared to the shots shown at the start of the trailer which are stationary. However, we do not want the music to be too overpowering so that the focus is moved from what is shown onscreen, so sound mixing is a possible option as some songs may be appropriate for the start of the trailer but as the trailer progresses does not fit with the pace or what is shown onscreen.

As a group we have looked at music websites such as 'Youtube' and 'Soundcloud' for some music ideas for our trailer, the following our some of the idea's:

Youtube:

• This song has perhaps too much of a heavy dubstep sound too it but snippets of the song may work well.

• Again, snippets of this song will work well but again it has the same problem of being too heavy.

 

• I am able to get in contact with this artist to download the song, the song has a build of suspense and pace similar to how our trailer is but the drop is I feel does not fit with our trailer.

They are all of a similar genre either being 'dubstep' or 'drum and bass' this helps add to the fast pace of the trailer.

Music Choices

After composing our photographic storyboard, we began to explore possible music choices for our trailer.

As we cannot use copyright material, we used these as inspiration for final music choices:

Time - Chase and Status

Innocence - Nero

We chose these due to the build up of pace and the genre of the music (for action/drama films dubstep is usually used to suggest the fast pace and tension of what is chosen on screen). As we don't want to use the whole song in the trailer we feel that this type of music will be most suitable near the end of the trailer to provide a quick pace.

 

For the start of the trailer we need music that isn't as quick in pace as the examples above but is subtly similar so that both tracks compliment eachother. 

Casting Shots - Layla, Scott and Grant

Here are our casting shots of the characters Layla (being played by Claire Stapley),Scott (played by Tommy Mercer) and Grant (played by Ben Thomas). We found that from the character development that these actors were the best ones to use portraying similar visual aspects as our characters.

 Also we feel our actor Tommy (playing Scott) has softer features compared to Claire (playing Layla) who has stronger, striking features which makes the two characters contrast in a way in which they do not look compatible. Similar to our actress playing Layla, Ben (playing Grant) has a very defined jaw making him seem more masculine and again his dark features contrast with Tommy's light eyes and light hair (playing Scott).

Animated storyboard

Here is out  animated storyboard that we created, we decided to do this so we could give a flavour of how we would like the pace of the film to be, the length of clips help present this and so does the music. 

To do...

I decided to create a quick list of things that we needed to do within the next week untill our next lesson. Once all of these thing have been completed we will be able to begin the filming schedule and the begin filming our trailer.

Storyboard

The above slide shows our initial ideas for our storyboard, after drawing it I realised that I had made a few mistakes. For example, shot 4-5 changes the angle of the camera causing Scott to be at a different side each time. The clip begins with a fade in from black to an establishing shot of the area. Scott is in shot, walking down a lane in an urban area. Each of the shots increase in pace and speed each time, therefore building up the adrenaline. We hope to match the music choice to this build up, allowing both to work together.

Character Development - Scott Reynolds

Our idea of Scott Reynolds was that he would be sweet, protective and caring but his schizophrenia lets the audience witness a different side of Scott. Although his intentions are dark we don't want to portray him too negatively as we want the audience to still like him when he has his realisation.

Therefore, when casting Scott we want someone who has perhaps, what can be described as a 'pretty boy' look about them having the blonde hair and blue eyes. This also creates perhaps an innocent look about him which makes it more so surprising when he does take his evil turn, although he could perhaps have a slight rugged look about him (stubble?) in order to portray he has a slight dark side and has a sexiness and masculinity about him.

We wanted a contrast in Scott's looks and Grants looks again because we wanted the audience to easily be able to tell them apart in the trailer and to also present the stereotype of a 'dark bad boy' (Grant) and a 'sweet good guy' (Scott). We have the idea of Scott perhaps wearing lighter colours compared to Grant, again to support the contrast in characters similar to the film spiderman 3 in how the two spiderman's are portrayed visually.

Inspired by Alex Pettyfer, attractive, blue eyes and blonde hair

Character Development - Grant Smith

For this character we wanted him to look creepy and eerie in order to reflect Scott's suspicions towards him and for the audience to take the side of Scott as opposed to siding with Grant. This also makes the plot twist of Scott actually giving the order to kill Layla more surprising and effective on the audience.

In terms of casting Grant, we wanted someone with dark eyes and dark hair in order to contrast with Scott's piercing blue eyes and blonde hair. This was so that the audience don't confuse the two of them in the trailer as we wanted some shots which don't reveal the whole face of the character, only features.This can also reflect a sense of mysteriousness as all of his features are dark and alluring which makes him more attractive and establishes a "bad boy" image for the audience. Due to the similarities in hair and eye colour we also found that Grant and Layla will look compatible as a couple on screen which is also important as it makes the scenes/storyline look more authentic.

In the trailer we planned to put Grant in dark clothing such as a dark shirt and trousers as well as possibly gloves in order to reflect his job to kill Layla (and would therefore want to hide any evidence of it occurring such as fingerprints being left behind)

Inspired by Josh Henderson, dark hair and dark eyes

Character Development - Layla Jones

Layla Jones:

For this character we wanted her to be beautiful and have an innocent and naive persona, as then it would make sense how she is lured into the trap. Her innocence being taken advantage of by Scott could also make the audience feel sympathy for Layla's character and almost be fearful for her as she is unaware of the trouble that lies ahead creating dramatic irony. Again, we wanted her to be relatable and likeable for the audience so they can relate to her and make the situation that more tragic.

We wanted to cast a dark hair and dark eyed girl for her character to perhaps present piercing features of her face and adds mystery to her character which adds to Scott's confusion of why she wont love him back, we also wanted her to contrast with Scott (having light hair and light eyes) so Scott's appearance would make him seem more like the angelic character to make the audience feel sympathy for Scott at the beginning, being rejected by Layla.

We also felt she should be quite seductive so the audience can see the temptation to Scott and presents sexual tension. In the trailer she would be wearing different outfits to show time passing but she would wear prevocative colours such as black and red which could contrast with her innocent persona.

Inspired by Kristen Stewart, dark hair, dark eyes and pale complexion.

Story board plan

We are currently going through the process of creating our storyboard.
Before drawing up and posting the completed storyboard onto the blog we decided to discuss what we would like each shot to contain and write onto the blog, therefore gicing an idea of exactly what we would like our trailer to contain.

Producation Company Logos Research

We need to begin coming up with ideas for our production company logo. Before we decide on our production comany logo we need to research exsisting production logos/idents, this will aid us with our ideas and help on deciding what kind of logo we will want to use.

There are two different types of logos that a possible ideas, these are:

• A logo without a specific genre.
  Larger, more well known production companies tend to use logos which have a broader appeal to audiences that dont reflect a specific genre. Using these types of logos tend to restrict the posibilities of the film (e.g a comedy film cannot use a scary, sinister production logo in the trailer of its film.)
• Themed logos
  Prodction companies which tend to specialize in particular films tend to have a more themed ident which relates to the specific genre of films that they make. These types of companies are usually independed and don't have a global appeal.

Examples of Themed Logos: 

Above is the production logo for Gary Sanchez Productions, a production company operated by Will Ferrell and Adam McKay. The production company is specialized to making comedy films which related to the casual use of props within the clip (gun and tea).

The above ident shows the new Hammer Films logo. Hammer Films is a film production company based in the United Kingdom. Founded in 1934, the company is best known for a series of Gothic "Hammer Horror" films made from the mid-1950s until the 1970s. The images based in the text of people screaming and in distress relate to the horror theme. 

  

The final logo is from DC comics, although the ident seems like a quite broad logo at first it shows images which are based on the comic genre of films in which the company is specialised in.

Target Audience

1. Which of the four quadrant(s) would your film appeal to?

Our film will contain some extreme scenes which may not be suitable for younger audiences. After researching other films similar to ours we noticed that the age certificates were at least 12+. We feel that our target age group would be 15-25, although we feel that an older audience may still be very attracted to watch the film as it does not have a 'niche' audience. This concludes that the film will be targeted at at least two of the four quadrants.

2. Who is the target audience for the films you looked at when looking at influences?

Ratings for 'Taken' show that Females and Males under 18 have the highest rating, which is in our bracket of our target age group as people of that age group may have more time to go to cinema and have perhaps more of a disposable income, despite this the other ratings are very close showing how the film has a wide appeal.


3. Are there any other audience groups that your film may appeal to?

Due to the film having more than one genre, and perhaps being a film that perhaps a big hollywood company would invest in than an independent film company would, It could be argued that it will have a wider appeal due to advertisement and popularity.


4. What other 'niche' factors could be considered about how you might appeal to an audience?

Below is an exit poll from the UK Film Council for the film We Need To Talk About Kevin:

The film follows a similar story line to our own. 

33% of the audience agreed that they went to see the film because 'the story line appealed to them' this shows that the story is a very important factor. Our story line is very unique and different  to other films currently in cinemas. This therefore increases the range of audiences that may be interested in seeing our film. The poll is also relevant as our actors are not well known and on the poll 'I like the cast generally' was only 9% which means that the audience will not be put off by the film starring unknown actors. 

5. What different 'tribes' of youth may be especially interested in your film?

This website highlights a variety of different 'sub-cultures' within teenagers today. We used it to explore  possible sub-cultures that will be interested in watching our film and found the following groups to be most relevant. 

Sports Junkies: Our trailer will consist of a quick pace and build up of adrenalin for the characters in the trailer and the audience themselves. This is why we thought Sports Junkies would be interested in watching our film after viewing the trailer. Sport Junkies are also linked to Boy Racers and Townies which are a more broader group this link may allow the film to appeal to these groups as well. 

Geeks: Due to the storyline of the plot being complexed it may appeal to audiences such as 'geeks' who enjoy attempting to guess the ending of the film. This is linked to 'gamers' which is similar to sports junkies due to the fast pace of the action featured in the trailer it may appear similar to games that they play such as Grand Theft Auto.


6. Would your film be limited to a UK audience or might it have a global appeal?

Kidulthood is a British film following the lives of troubled 15 year olds around London. Due to the fact that it is British it contains many hints at the English lifestyle which global audiences would find hard to relate to.

Due to the success of Taken and how it is similar to our film in terms of the storyline we feel that our trailer has a global appeal (as it has no direct hints at British society/lifestyles)

7. What limitations are there on your productions?

Well known actors can be used in order to attract an audience to a film, as we don't have well known actors we may struggle in terms of attracting a large audience. In order to overcome this we can screen our film at film festivals in order to attract publicity for the film and for an audience. We are also heavily relying on the similar storyline to Taken and its success.