Film Log for 04/12/13 Film Day

This is the first day of filming that we have been able to use the footage that we shot. This was the first filming day with the new actors playing the main lead roles.

What we did

• We intended to film every scene that involved the park so that we were in the same place. We managed to get the first scene fully shot with everything we thought we needed.
• We took into consideration the shots that we missed out last time we tried to film this scene, as even though it was with different actors the shots that we decided needed to be added will still apply.

What Went Well

• I (Emily) thought that the filming went incredibly well, and i feel we would have gotten all scenes done if it weren't for the main lead male having to leave earlier than expected.
• I have recently edited this section of the film and besides a few small parts that need re-filming i think that the scene runs smoothly and i am very happy with the outcome of our first successful filming session.

Concerns

As I mentioned before, there are a few shots that need to be re-done. There are a few shots at the beginning of the scene that need to be re-shot because the camera was set to manual focus and wasn't checked before we started to film, so that first few shots were out of focus. These scenes were

1. The shot where Carrie and Jared walk onto scene.
2. The shot where Carrie sits and Jared grabs her hands. 
3. The shot where Jared reaches down and kisses Carrie on the forehead, then pulls her up from the bench and sits her on his knee.

There were also a couple of shots that were missed out or done slightly wrong that need changing, and these were

1. A close up shot of Jared kissing Carrie on the forehead, to emphasise the action.
2. A close up shpt of Carrie snatching the bottle of vodka out of Jared's hand.

Film Changes

We had trouble with the sound of our original filming as one of our actors was quite quiet so we decided to get new actors to play the main characters.
We decided to ask a black British male to play the main role of Jared in our film as we thought it would add another dimension to the area of representation as we could make it look like we were following a typical stereotype of a black male smoking, drinking alcohol and taking drugs then at the end we would break it by showing that actually he was a nice guy and Carrie was just hallucinating, we're breaking the typical racial stereotype, like in the film attack the block.
We're making it clear at the end that the stereotype is broken by having a picture on the newspaper of Jared in smart neat clothing and having Carrie's mum  say that Jared was never on drugs and look confused and horrified at Carrie's mention of it.

Diary for filming park scene

DIARY FOR FILMING PARK SCENE

In this scene, we positioned the camera to produce a medium long shot. In this scene, Carrie and Jared are laid down having conversation and Jared offers Carrie a cigarette.  The yellow obstacle restricted our view so we had to move the camera to the opposite angle. Because it was set up on a play ground we had to take into consideration that other people might have wanted to use the apparatus. Luckily enough the play ground was practically empty. The set of the equipment was easy because we have all done it before however, Amanda and Rebecca debated on whether or not the camera angle was straight. 

Advantages:

• We were able to film in a quiet environment, so there were no distractions.
• We were able to finish the scene in one day 

Editing techniques

Editing techniques:

match on action

- Graphic match

-Eye line match

-slow motion/stretch

fast forward

transition wipe/fade

montage

shot reverse shot

180 degree rule 

Film Schedule for the Next 2 Weeks

Wednesday 27^th November 2013 – 

Finish park scenes, needs Connor. (IMPROVEMENTS TO SCENE 3, FULL SCENE 4 AND 6)

Sunday 1^st December 2013 – 

Bedroom and Oliver scenes – need Joe. (SCENE 1, 5 AND 8)

Tuesday 3^rd December 2013 – 

Look at available footage, maybe start editing some too?

Wednesday 4^th December 2013 – 

Street/Shop Scene – FIND A SHOP – needs Connor. (SCENE 2)

Thursday 5th December 2013 - 

Look at available footage, maybe start editing some too?

Sunday 8^th December 2013 – 

Street Scene (walking to Oliver’s) and bus stop scene need driver and Connor. (SCENE 5 AND 7)

Film Log for 20/11/2013 Film Day

Park scene:

Improvements:

• We couldn't concentrate when filming and it was also blocking a lot of the sound transition on to the camera therefore as we played the scene back we couldn't hear the speech as clearly as we wanted, As a result, we changed the park and actors to make the speech louder with a quiet background also.
• The wind and the leaves blowing was also a slight setback, as when we listened to the video back we could hear the wind on the camera and the sounds of the leaves blowing about
• The surface gradient was also a minor problem as we couldn't get the camera angle to sit in an appropriate and necessary position that we needed it in for to get the angle we needed
• Finally, we had a few problems with members of the public walking past during filming looking at the camera making it obvious that we are filming

What went well?

• The location was ideal for what we wanted to use for out filming, however their was too much exterior noise in the background from cars, leaves, wind and as it was a busy park their were a lot of passing byers.
• 
  

When editing the short bit that we did film, We realised there were a few shots that may need to be done again, and that is due to background noise and shot untidiness... 

- Close up of my expression when looking at vodka bottle.
- Close up of Connor taking bottle from pocket.
- Few more options when i spit water out.
- Also wider shot to move to next scene.

Research into film posters

Conventions of the Drama Genre

Film Log for 16/11/2012 Film Day

On the first day of filming there was a little bit of struggling as the whole group were not available to help out with filming.
I (Emily) managed to get through Scene 1 without help and also attempted 2 other scenes so that the day wouldn't be wasted.

What Went Well

• The first scene that i managed to shoot all the way through (even though there were only few shots in this scene) and after looked back at the shots I made, there were no mistakes made and all footage from the scene was useable.

What didn't go so well...

• Because there was only me from our group ready to film on this filming session, it was a struggle as i also had to be in shot as the female lead. 
• The other scene that i attempted to do i thought went well until we looked at the footage. The majority was good but at a certain point between filming the day got dark very quickly, which ruins the last few shots of filming, which means the whole scene wasn't useable.

History of psychological drama/thriler

HISTORY:

A psychological thriller is a sub title of a thriller and can be differentiated by the heavy focus on the unstable emotions of the characters throughout a film. They can still incorporate the common elements of mystery and drama but emotional status is the main focus within a drama like psychological.

The mental state of a character is more important than the physical active performance of them, this is because the majority of the time the character is battling with their own mind. The story is normally told through first person narrative of the person throughout the events in the film taking place, in essence talking to themselves like the stereotypical psychotic person.

There are a set of themes within the psychological thriller genre such as:

• Black comedy
• Identity
• Death
• Mind 
• Perception
• Reality and existence

These themes give off the shape of the characters throughout a psychological thriller, and also depending on the theme, the personality of the characters and how it differs from usual.

1950'S HISTORY:

In the 1950s, a film was created named 'Rear window' that was a psychological thriller, in this film was a man named Jeff Jeffries in which witnessed his neighbour murdering his wife, as he was disabled and was looking out of his bedroom window, and saw the murder occur, this sent him psychologically mental and was a successful psychological thriller created.

1960'S: 

In the 1960s, a well known film named 'Psycho' was created. The story is based on a man who visits a motel where the manager is disturbed. This film included some very gory scenes, such as the shower scene where the girl was stabbed several times and killed in the shower.

1970'S:

'Night flight' was a psychological thriller film made within the 1970s, which is another example of psychological thriller history throughout the many years the genre has been known. Where a man steals important documents, which don't turn out to be real in the end of the film, this shows the psychological problem of the main character.

1980's:

'Dead ringers' was created in 1988, about two twins who are which both doctors except one is more disturbed mentally than the other










1990s:
Stir of echos was a psychologically created film,a person was hypnotised by their sister in law and begins seeing haunted images of a girls ghost and the mystery unfolds









2000's:
There are a variety of different psychological thrillers/dramas that have been created throughout the many different years in the 2000's, one of which is called The Mist. 

Genre conventions: Symbols/Signs/Iconography:

These are some posters/ film covers of films with the genre of psychological thriller. Each film contains dark colours, which will foreshadow the gloomy storyline to each film. All four of these posters contain colours like: Black, Grey, Blue, Brown, Orange etc. The iconography used for film covers and posters is vital, due to the advertisement of the story by having eye-catching images and fonts on the front, it will be familiarised or intrigue the viewer to watch. For example, Harry potter films use the same font on all films, posters, books etc in which when the viewer sees them will be familiar to them, as if they like harry potter they will be further interested in the item.

 All of the films above all suggest mystery, as each of the pictures used on these films have characters looking in different directions, which the look of confusion on their face. Frozen and In their sleep look like horror films, due to their images, and the colours used within the context. The greys and black colours used suggest death and danger which to myself as a viewer suggests there will be a mystery within the film.

Genre conventions: Music

Music:

The music that is most commonly used within psychological thrillers is usually very eery and tension building in which are used to make the moment tense and create a shock. The kind of Music and sounds used are noises and sounds like:

• Tension building: 

Tension building music is usually used in films such as Harry Potter, as this film is a jumpy film, they are most often used in films that are usually horror or thriller films to intrigue the audience and make them want to watch more of the film, but at the same time, it is keeping the audience involved in the film, as they know what to expect as the music becomes more frantic, which makes them want to watch it even more 

• Creepy sound effects:

Creepy sound effects are mainly used in films by the genre of horror, this is because this is where they are most effective. This could include sound effects such as: Bang, Pop, or slow eary music that also on the same stamp builds tension as well as creating an atmosphere

• Bangs, cracks, whistles:

Bangs, cracks and whistles are mainly used when they want to make the target audience jump or shock them. These sound effects are most effective in jumpy films which could be crime films, horror and psychological dramas.

• Silence:

Silence usually plays the most important part in films, as I believe it is the most effective, As silence listening to the background diagetic sound, like the wind, birds etc. 

• Whispers:

Genre conventions: Characters

Characters:

The typical characters involved in a psychological thriller are such as:

• Criminals 
• Stalkers
• Assassins
• Down on their luck- LosersInnocent victims
• Prisoners
• Characters with a dark past
• Psychotic individuals
• People involved in twisted relationships
• Drifters and fugitives
• Fassination of death 

Genre conventions: Themes

Themes: 

• Reality, in which is all about the quality of being real. within the film, characters often try to determine whats true and then what isn't within this narrative.

• Perception, Perception is a character’s own interpretation of the world around him through his senses. Often characters misperceive the world around them, or their perceptions are altered by outside factors with the narrative.

• The mind is the human consciousness; where the personality, thought, reason, memory, intelligence and emotion are found. The mind is often used as a location for narrative conflict, where characters battle their own minds to reach a new level of understanding or perception.

• Existence is the object for which something exists; an aim or a goal humans strive towards to understand their reason for existence. Characters often try to discover what their purpose is in their lives and the narrative’s conflict often is a way for the characters to discover this purpose. 

• The identity theme is the definition of one’s self. Characters often are confused about or doubt who they are, and try to discover their true identity. And finally, death is obviously the cessation of life. 

Analysis of Title Sequence

Fight Club (1999)

I decided to analysis the title sequence of the film Fight Club because I took a lot of inspiration for the story line we have used for our film from fight club, and the major elements have been thought of through inspiration from this film. So, i thought that if our films would be similar, then maybe i could take some more inspiration from the title sequence.