Saturday 11 December 2021

FILM OPENING: CHAIN REACTION


 Finlay Williamson 1986

My group consisted of Ruby 1996 and I.

We were set to follow a brief which consisted of making the titles and opening of a new fiction film (to last a maximum of two minutes). Following this structure we created a thriller/ drama film opening entitled Chain Reaction. 

I took responsibility for the directing the majority of scenes in our film opening. 

I took responsibility for the set design visible in the candle scene and the 'equations' shots. I planned were the placement of the candles would be on the desk and made sure I had enough to create sufficient lighting for the scene. I sourced LED light strips and because I am A-Level DT student, I used the DT Workshop to source materials to help wrap the strips around and therefore provide an even red light. I also created the sheet of equations in which the LED light strips illuminate. 

I took responsibility for the editing the entirety of our film opening, using Premiere Pro. Through the editing process I faced numerous challenges, such as syncing up the speech and implementing fitting music that would help build the tension. I also broadened my experience with the software by experimenting with colour correction and effects through adjustment layers. 

I designed and made the Production Company logo MIRROR STUDIOS. I designed the logo using Adobe Illustrator, in which I created two versions, one with the name and then another with just the angle square coloured green. This allowed me to bring the two version into Premier Pro, to then cut out the green square, layer it over a backdrop of rain hitting a window, then fade to the version with the name. I then added the sound of rain. 

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Monday 6 December 2021

FEEDBACK

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Sunday 5 December 2021

CINEMATIC STORYTELLING

Cinematic Storytelling by Finlay Williamson
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Wednesday 24 November 2021

CONSTRUCTION: FILMING THE LIGHT SCENE

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CONSTRUCTION: FILMING THE OFFICE SCENE

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CONSTRUCTION: FILMING THE MEETING SCENE

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Saturday 13 November 2021

CONSTRUCTION: FILMING THE TUNNEL SCENE

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PLANNING: CALL SHEET

 

Call Sheet 1 for 'Chain Reaction' - Tunnel scene

 

Length: 2 minutes

Shoot date: 18th November 2021

Location: Tunnel at Claremont Fan Court School

 


 

Times (everyone): 2:45pm - 4:00pm

 

CAST

Ciaran.S

********@gmail.com

079*****774

CREW/CAST

Finlay.W

********@gmail.com

078*****653

CREW

Ruby.L

********@gmail.com

072*****748

 

 

Camera Equipment:

- Cannon EOS camera

- Camera battery

- Memory card

- Lens protector cover 

 

Props:

- No props needed

 

Wardrobe: Cieran 

Suit, shirt, black shoes

 

Wardrobe: Finlay

Suit, shirt, brown shoes

 

 

 Call Sheet 2 for 'Chain Reaction' - Discussion between scientist and friend

Length: 2 minutes

Shoot date: 23rd November 2021

Locations: Claremont Fan Court School's drawing room



Times (everyone): 3:00pm - 4:00pm

 

CAST

Ben.HF

********@gmail.com

075*****971

CREW/CAST

Finlay.W

********@gmail.com

078*****653

CREW

Ruby.L

********@gmail.com

072*****748

 

 

Camera Equipment:

- Cannon EOS camera

- Camera battery

- Memory card

- Lens protector cover 

 

Props:

- Calculations paper

 

Wardrobe: Ben

Suit, shirt, black shoes, tailored coat

 

Wardrobe: Finlay

Suit, shirt, brown shoes

 

 

 

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Friday 12 November 2021

PLANNING: SOCIAL GROUPS AND ISSUES

I used a social media site called Pinterest to help create identify our film opening's social groups, themes, issues and locations. I then was able to have a clear visual interpretation of these different categories which helped when it came to the construction of our film opening. 

Themes: The series of pictures that I collected from Pinterest for the 'themes' mood board are meant to represent how the world has been plunged into darkness due to the lack of energy. There was a need to imply a slight apocalyptic feel. 

Social Groups: There are two contrasting social groups in our film opening: a young, struggling scientist and a well-off, wealthy individual. Therefore, I tried to fill the mood board with these contrasting social groups. 

Issues: the main issues our film opening highlights is the effect of global warming and the rush for scientists to discover knew ways to provide clean energy. 

Location: helping to represent the contrasting social groups, there are two main locations in our film opening. A well furnished, wealthy appearing room/hallway in which the rich individual takes residence. Whilst the scientist can be seen in a dark office space, the lack of light or expensive furnishing illustrates his lack of wealth compared to the other character. 


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Thursday 11 November 2021

PLANNING: LOCATION

These are the different locations we decided to use for the our film opening, as we felt they portrayed the correct themes for our story. The desk was used for the scene in which the main character is trying desperately to solve the energy crisis. We felt this setting was ideal, as the untidy array of desktop items implied the characters messy nature, whilst also helping to add a contrast to the wealthy setting that follows afterwards. This following scene takes place next to a grand staircase and landing, and sees the main and new character in conversation. This setting helped to portray the sense of wealth the new character had, helping to make the main character feel smaller in this new environment. Lastly, the brief ambush scene takes place in a darkened tunnel, which helped to imply an enclosed feeling as well as having the ideal moody lighting.
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Wednesday 10 November 2021

PLANNING: RISK ASSESMENT

 I created a risk assessment as seen below: 

 

HAZARD TO HEALTH AND SAFETY

RISK POSED AND TO WHOM

LEVEL OF RISK (H/M/L)

MEASURES TO REDUCE RISK

RISK LEVEL ACHIEVED (H/M/L)

FURTHER ACTIONS

Weather

Rain – possible making floor slippery and causing wet clothing.

Everyone.

L

Bring weatherproof clothing to quickly put on in case of weather change.

 

The rain could make the stone pathways slippery, if so, make sure actors are careful and notified of this possibility.

L

 

Candles – contact with fire

Actor could burn themselves while handling candles.

Actor in scene handling candles.

 

 

M

Make sure paper is not directly underneath match.

 

Make sure actors are aware of dangers.

 

When finished filming turn the lights on and asses, as it might be easy to place a hot match on a piece of paper without realising

L

Extinguisher or water can be placed near the premises in case of emergency, only if dangers increase.

First aid issues

Trips/falls – hit head against stone walls.

Everyone in environment could trip/fall.

 

Actors in struggle scene could hit head against stone wall

M

 

L

 

 

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PLANNING: SHOT LIST

I made a shot list below:

Scene

Vision

Sound

Actor/Actors

Props

Notes

Entry of the first character walking through a tunnel before being ambushed.

1) EXT – EVENING: various CLOSE-UP shots with SHALLOW DEPTH OF FIELD. A man walks past the frame for each. Some are at a DUTCH ANGLE. Last shot of the scene is a WIDE ANGLE, with a SHALLOW DEPTH OF FIELD, see the man walk off into the tunnel, then get ambushed, there is a struggle then the sound of a gunshot.

à GUNSHOT

 

ADULT (SCIENTIST)

N/A

3 or 4 walking shots before the finale. OPENING CREDITS can be DISPLAYED at this moment, maybe SLANTED or in different POSITIONS. Actors FACE should NOT be shown to camera, must be hidden so all shots are from waist down. They should not be too out of focus.  

Scientist working out the equations.

2) INT – NIGHT: CLOSE UP of candle being lit. CUT to various shots of newspapers, lit by candlelight. CUT to a WIDE ANGLE, behind the scientist sitting at a DESK. Jumps up in joy and leaves the frame.

à N/A

ADULT (SCIENTIST)

è PAPER

è PEN

è CANDLES

è NEWSPAPERS

è DESK

è CHAIR

è MAYBE BIN

è OTHER WORKINGS

Due to low light filming, may need to use FAKE CANDELS, due to their increased lighting. The actor will TURN around to the CAMERA after doing some WORK.

Discussion between the scientist and a friend.

3) INT – DAY: WIDE ANGLE, in a POSH SETTING, two characters (scientist and wealthy friend) talking to each other. SHALLOW DEPTH OF FIELD means they are out of focus. Wealthy friend usher scientist out, towards camera. Wealthy friend stops, leans down to pick up a piece of paper. PAN UPWARDS – TRACKING. CUT to EXTREME CLOSE UP of wealthy friend’s pocket, placing paper into.

à DISCUSSION BETWEEN TWO CHARACTERS

 

TWO ADULTS (SCIENTIST & WEALTHY FRIEND)

è SHEET OF EQUATIONS

WHITE NOISE may need to be REDUCED in editing due to LOCATION. Make sure ACTORS faces are NOT SEEN. They should only be in frame when the camera is out of FOCUS.

 

Overhead of the equations with a red light spilling from the side.

4) INT – NIGHT: background is black, equation in centre of frame. BIRD’S EYE view and a slow zoom towards the paper. RED LIGHT coming from left of frame. CUT between SCENE 4 and END of SCENE 3.

N/A

N/A

è THE SHEET OF EQUATIONS

è RED LIGHT (not seen)

è BLACK CLOTH BACKGROUND

è MAYBE FAKE MONEY

RED LIGHT will only come from ONE SIDE, but if it’s not light enough then two lights from opposite sides can be used.

 


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PLANNING: PROPS LIST

 


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Monday 8 November 2021

PLANNING: COMP LIST

Kezia Williams, of Entertainment One UK, on the FutureLearn Film Distribution by the Film Distributors Association, spoke about how film distributors build a 'comp list' of comparable films that their target audience would enjoy. 


I learnt from this and put together my own comp list, consisting of three films that I would regard to follow similar themes and that my target audience might also enjoy:


Comp list by Finlay W




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Friday 5 November 2021

PLANNING: STORYBOARD

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Tuesday 2 November 2021

PLANNING: MY TARGET AUDIENCE & HOW I ENGAGED THEM

Over half term I started to follow a film course created by Future Learn, which was called Distribution: Connecting Films With Audiences. This course taught me that all products are targeted at specific audiences.

In order to reach out to my target audience, I needed to know and realise who they are, what their media needs are and how I would reach out to them. This would help influence my planning. 

I saw how Bauer Media, NME and Sky helped to define audiences. This helped me come up with my target audience. I then came up with my audience profile below:


My target audience is likely to be older than 15 but younger then 30, having most members being around the 20 year mark. They are also likely to be male due to the choice of male characters and would probably have a strong feeling towards stopping climate change and green energy. I think they would also be into new progressive technology. 

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FILM OPENING: CHAIN REACTION

 Finlay Williamson 1986 My group consisted of Ruby 1996 and I. We were set to follow a brief which consisted of making the titles and open...