We got our cast to sign consent forms to confirm there happy with there names and faces being used in our film opening. The picture shows the one for our main actor. Post By Samuel Skinner
Saturday, 28 March 2015
Consent Forms
We got our cast to sign consent forms to confirm there happy with there names and faces being used in our film opening. The picture shows the one for our main actor. Post By Samuel Skinner
Friday, 27 March 2015
Initial Shot List
|
Shot
|
Shot Description
|
Int/Ext
|
Equipment
|
Duration (secs)
|
|
3
|
CU - Magician's face.
|
Ext
|
Camera and Tripod.
|
4
|
|
4
|
XCU - Magician rippling through a deck of cards.
|
Ext
|
Camera, Tripod and Deck of Cards.
|
2
|
|
5
|
Main: MS - Low Angle - Workbench
with desk lamp and book cover; dark until light flickers on.
|
Int
|
Camera, Tripod, Workbench, Desk Lamp, Book Cover, Tools, Chair.
|
4
|
|
5
|
TL: XCU - Magician rippling
through a deck of cards.
|
Ext
|
Camera, Tripod and Deck of Cards.
|
4
|
|
6
|
Main: MS – High Angle – Antagonist approaches workbench and pulls out
chair
|
Int
|
Camera, Tripod, Workbench, Desk Lamp, Book Cover, Tools, Chair.
|
4
|
|
6
|
TL: MS – Slow Mo – Magician cascades cards into the air
|
Ext
|
Camera, Tripod and Deck of Cards.
|
4
|
|
8
|
Main: OTS – Magician pulls handkerchiefs out of sleeve
|
Ext
|
Camera, Tripod, Handker-chiefs.
|
4
|
|
8
|
TL: Aerial V. – Antagonist sat at desk making book
|
Int
|
Camera, Tripod, Workbench, Desk Lamp, Book Cover, Tools, Chair.
|
4
|
|
9
|
Main: CU – Antagonist covering fingers in ink
|
Int
|
Camera, Tripod, Ink.
|
3
|
|
9
|
TL: CU – Magician shaking handkerchiefs out into a towel
|
Ext
|
Camera, Tripod, Handker-chiefs, Towel.
|
3
|
|
9
|
TL: CU – Magician shaking towel as it sets alight
|
Ext
|
Camera, Tripod, Handker-chiefs, Towel, Lighter.
|
2
|
|
10
|
Main: 2S – Magician doing coin trick for a child
|
Ext
|
Camera, Tripod, Coin.
|
7
|
|
10
|
TL: CU – Antagonist printing fingers into book
|
Int
|
Camera, Tripod, Ink, Book.
|
7
|
|
11
|
Main: XCU – Scalpel/knife cutting through paper
|
Int
|
Camera, Tripod, Knife/Scalpel, Paper, Book.
|
5
|
|
11
|
TL: XCU – Magician pulls coin from behind child’s ear
|
Ext
|
Camera, Tripod, Coin.
|
5
|
|
12
|
CU – Antagonist holds up book and title comes into focus
|
Int
|
Camera and Tripod
|
10
|
|
13
|
FPS – Camera pulled out of Magician’s pocket and placed on desk
|
Int
|
Camera and Tripod
|
5
|
|
13
|
CU – Slow Mo – Balls fall around camera
|
Int
|
Camera and Tripod
|
4
|
|
13
|
XCU – Cup covers camera lens
|
Int
|
Camera and Tripod
|
6
|
This is the shot list we plan to follow for our Film Opening. This will allow us to ensure when we are filming that we obtain all of the shots we need, as well as multiple takes of each.
By Olivia Calver
Thursday, 26 March 2015
Final Location Decision
The two locations we decided to film in are Samuel's old dining room while it's under construction and St Andrew's park. We chose to film the workshop scene in the dining room as although it limits the times in which we can film, it can be cleared out to give us the perfect space to set the scene up but already has the aesthetic look we want to include in the scene. We then chose St Andrews Park for the outside scenes as it is most convenient and is a safe place to set up the equipment, with the other locations being too busy and cramped to film properly or too difficult to use as we have a limited window with our actor and if the weather is not fine it would not be possible to film.
Post By Samuel Skinner
Final Casting Decision
We decided to cast Ramone Morgan as our protagonist/ antagonist as he has of a more suitable for the character, he has much more experience than either of the other two candidates and his showmanship throughout his magic trick mirrored what we were anticipating for our character. Due to this, we will be limited on filming time as he is only available on weekends and therefore we will need to be extremely organised when it comes to filming the piece. Despite this, we believe that this was the best judgement and therefore, the role of Max Azier will be played by Ramone Morgan.
By Samuel Skinner and Olivia Calver
 |
| Ramone Morgan |
By Samuel Skinner and Olivia Calver
Location Scouting
We need two locations for our opening a workshop were the book will be created and then out on the streets possibly in town or in a park in order to show our protagonist as a street performer.
the second scene is set in a workshop.
The first location we looked at is a friends workshop which would be good as there's a lot of space and looks messy and therefore would look like a place where something is made. However, there is a lot of natural light coming through the big windows which would give away our darkened figure; we would have to sort this or it will limit what time in the day we film.
The second location we've looked at is Sam's old dining room that is under construction as there is a lot of space to set up a set and space to film. We've chosen to look at here as there's less limitations to what we can set up as the space is about to be redone anyway. The only problem is that the time slot to use this spot will be limited to a few weekends so we will have a tight schedule to film.
For the outside shots we have looked to film at St Andrews park at the end of the car park so there are people in the backdrop of the park but also has the road and path to show that our character is outside entertaining and not just in a garden somewhere.
The next location we looked at is Hylands Park as there is lots of open space we can use and there should be people in the background as it is a public area again creating an image of a street performer.
The final location we scouted is a spot on patching hall lane; a perfect place for filming the scene we want however we would end up having to film in the road which is very impractical and not particularly safe to do so.
By Samuel Skinner
the second scene is set in a workshop.
The first location we looked at is a friends workshop which would be good as there's a lot of space and looks messy and therefore would look like a place where something is made. However, there is a lot of natural light coming through the big windows which would give away our darkened figure; we would have to sort this or it will limit what time in the day we film.
The second location we've looked at is Sam's old dining room that is under construction as there is a lot of space to set up a set and space to film. We've chosen to look at here as there's less limitations to what we can set up as the space is about to be redone anyway. The only problem is that the time slot to use this spot will be limited to a few weekends so we will have a tight schedule to film.
The next location we looked at is Hylands Park as there is lots of open space we can use and there should be people in the background as it is a public area again creating an image of a street performer.
The final location we scouted is a spot on patching hall lane; a perfect place for filming the scene we want however we would end up having to film in the road which is very impractical and not particularly safe to do so.
By Samuel Skinner
Monday, 23 March 2015
Final Costume Design
We have decided that the protagonist costume will be a white shirt with a red tie and a long coat with dark jeans. and the antagonist will wear a dark shirt that helps him to stay shadowy at the start.
post by Samuel skinner
post by Samuel skinner
Wednesday, 18 March 2015
Organising Sound
The sound used for our film opening is going to be one of the most important aspects as it will be the easiest method to use to convey genre. We aim for the soundtrack to create a mysterious and creepy atmosphere as this will help to raise intrigue within the audience. A good example of this being done before is in the Se7en opening:
The sound used in this opening is eerie and creates a sense of unease within the viewer and this is something that we aim to replicate with our own opening. In order to do this effectively, we have decided to compose our own soundtrack using Cubase 7 as it will give us full creative control on the sound aspect of the clip. This also means we can cause certain sounds to accompany specific images/ frames within the clip to cause a more enthralling and professional opening. The following video shows some examples of sound files I have created on Cubase 7 and hope to include in our soundtrack.
By Olivia Calver
The sound used in this opening is eerie and creates a sense of unease within the viewer and this is something that we aim to replicate with our own opening. In order to do this effectively, we have decided to compose our own soundtrack using Cubase 7 as it will give us full creative control on the sound aspect of the clip. This also means we can cause certain sounds to accompany specific images/ frames within the clip to cause a more enthralling and professional opening. The following video shows some examples of sound files I have created on Cubase 7 and hope to include in our soundtrack.
By Olivia Calver
Monday, 16 March 2015
How We Will Organise Props and Costume
Props
In terms of props, we plan on going out and buying the necessary props the week before the shoot and collecting all of the props required in the week leading up to the shoot. We will keep these props together on location so that they will all be there ready for when we shoot. This will ensure that on filming day we will not have to worry about where the props are or whether we have the necessary props as they will have all been obtained beforehand.
Costume
In terms of costume, we plan on retrieving the costume two weeks before film. This gives us the opportunity to ensure that the costume fits our actor and leaves us enough time to return items and change them if this is not the case. We will then keep the costume with the props to ensure that when it comes to filming everything is in the same place and is easily accessible.
By Olivia Calver and Samuel Skinner
In terms of props, we plan on going out and buying the necessary props the week before the shoot and collecting all of the props required in the week leading up to the shoot. We will keep these props together on location so that they will all be there ready for when we shoot. This will ensure that on filming day we will not have to worry about where the props are or whether we have the necessary props as they will have all been obtained beforehand.
Costume
In terms of costume, we plan on retrieving the costume two weeks before film. This gives us the opportunity to ensure that the costume fits our actor and leaves us enough time to return items and change them if this is not the case. We will then keep the costume with the props to ensure that when it comes to filming everything is in the same place and is easily accessible.
By Olivia Calver and Samuel Skinner
Sunday, 15 March 2015
Full Film Synopsis
The film begins with our protagonist Max Azier on the streets performing magic tricks as an entertainer and, after a few bad days, he decides he needs to learn some new tricks to improve the quality of his act. He heads down to a book shop and, after discovering a hidden section in the shop, discovers a book that teaches him to perform amazing illusions. Azier uses these new tricks to come to fame and has a big show on stage at night time making him rich and famous. After a while of success he tries to perform a new trick. However, it goes wrong and he accidentally summons a demon to posses her body. This is when we discover that Azier has been granted supernatural powers by the book and he runs away to hide. Meanwhile, the demon begins killing people jumping from host to host bringing death wherever it goes. Eventually Azier confronts it and becomes partly possessed. This is when we learn of a dark version of himself that made the book as part of the demons plan to become free and enter the world. After expelling the demon from his body he has one more confrontation with it, seemly destroying it and the book taking away the powers he has been granted. The film then skips forward a few days to a news story that Max Azier has disappeared and his show; cancelled. We then skip to the theater he had been performing at to see the owners putting up a cancelled banner before panning over to Azier across the road who smiles, turns around and disappeares down the street behind him merging into the crowd before the film ends.
Post By Samuel Skinner
Post By Samuel Skinner
Saturday, 14 March 2015
Props
In our piece there are some extremely important props that are key to our narrative. For this reason, we knew the best idea would be to source the most suitable props possible. The props we need are;
Workbench/ Desk Area
The workbench/ desk area is important as it is the most prominent aspect of the set for the villain half of the opening. Due to this, we needed to make sure that we selected a workspace which reflected the dark tone of the film.
This workbench looks too much like something you would find in a carpentry workshop, rather than a villain's den. In addition, Due to this, we decided to look for something more like a desk.
This desk area looks too professional for it's purpose as a villain's den and therefore we decided to start looking at something that seemed more practical.
We then took inspiration from Hannibal and his use of everyday objects to conceal his actions. We decided we will use an average table with an extendable function as this would allow us to use the higher part of the table to conceal the constructed book beneath it, on the lower part of the table.
Desk Lamp
The lamp we use will have an impact on the aesthetic of the set as it will help portray a sense of how wealthy the character is as well as affecting the lighting of the villain's aspects of the clip.
We first looked at this desk lamp as it is extremely basic which was the style we were aiming for. It also produces slightly orange light which was perfect for creating an ambiguous atmosphere. The only issue we found with this style was the colour of the lamp. We want something that will stand out a bit more in frame and contrast with the low key lighting. For this reason, we are going to be using a red desk lamp in this style.
We then looked at a more complex design to see whether this would be more effective as it would give us more control in positioning of the light. However, we decided that this would make the villain look too professional and logical.
Tools
The tools we require for the villain's den are simple, workman's tools which appear to be extremely worn and old. This will help to make the table appear more like a workbench and will help to showcase the villain as unorganised and unstable.
Magic Sets
The magic set is the fundamental prop for our film opening. Without it, it will not be possible to present our protagonist as a magician. Due to this, we need to find a magic set which does not appear childlike and comes across to the audience as realistic material for a simple street magician.
The first magic set we looked at was within our budget however it looked childish and made from cheap materials. This created a problem as it would be unrealistic and the audience would be deprived from a sense of verisimilitude.
The second magic set we looked at appeared extremely professional and would therefore suit the aesthetic of the film. However, this magic set was a lot more expensive and was way out of our budget.
Due to this, we aim to get a magic set which appears more like the second magic set yet is still within our budget.
Book Cover
The book cover we use is important as it must appear completely normal and must not look spectacular in any way. This is because it is supposed to look hand made and cannot therefore look eccentric or special.
We first looked at this purple book cover as the design on the front was enticing and therefore would fit with the narrative of Azier finding it in a charity shop. However, it looks too eccentric and regal for it's use therefore we decided to look at something a bit more subtle.
We next looked at this dark red book cover as the design on the front was a lot simpler than that of the purple book and the red could have been to signify the danger of the book. However, it still appears too obvious in comparison to most books and would be the obvious book of choice amongst others, defeating the point of the book being concealed for so long.
Finally, we looked at this much more worn book cover. It was this cover that most fitted our ideals, however the brown colouring of the cover made it appear slightly too generic and therefore we have decided to look for a book very similar to this, with a worn aesthetic. However, we would like the cover to have a touch more colour than this one.
By Olivia Calver
-Workbench/ Desk Area
-Desk Lamp
-Tools
-A Magic Set including: Deck of Cards, Handkerchiefs, Cup and Balls
-Hard Book Cover
-Glue
-String
-Ruler
Some of these props, such as the glue, string and ruler, were much easier to choose upon due to us knowing the effect we wanted to create and their aesthetic not having too big an impact on the overall aesthetic of the clip.-String
-Ruler
Workbench/ Desk Area
The workbench/ desk area is important as it is the most prominent aspect of the set for the villain half of the opening. Due to this, we needed to make sure that we selected a workspace which reflected the dark tone of the film.
This workbench looks too much like something you would find in a carpentry workshop, rather than a villain's den. In addition, Due to this, we decided to look for something more like a desk.
This desk area looks too professional for it's purpose as a villain's den and therefore we decided to start looking at something that seemed more practical.
Desk Lamp
The lamp we use will have an impact on the aesthetic of the set as it will help portray a sense of how wealthy the character is as well as affecting the lighting of the villain's aspects of the clip.
We then looked at a more complex design to see whether this would be more effective as it would give us more control in positioning of the light. However, we decided that this would make the villain look too professional and logical.
Tools
Magic Sets
The magic set is the fundamental prop for our film opening. Without it, it will not be possible to present our protagonist as a magician. Due to this, we need to find a magic set which does not appear childlike and comes across to the audience as realistic material for a simple street magician.
The second magic set we looked at appeared extremely professional and would therefore suit the aesthetic of the film. However, this magic set was a lot more expensive and was way out of our budget.
Due to this, we aim to get a magic set which appears more like the second magic set yet is still within our budget.
Book Cover
The book cover we use is important as it must appear completely normal and must not look spectacular in any way. This is because it is supposed to look hand made and cannot therefore look eccentric or special.
We first looked at this purple book cover as the design on the front was enticing and therefore would fit with the narrative of Azier finding it in a charity shop. However, it looks too eccentric and regal for it's use therefore we decided to look at something a bit more subtle.
We next looked at this dark red book cover as the design on the front was a lot simpler than that of the purple book and the red could have been to signify the danger of the book. However, it still appears too obvious in comparison to most books and would be the obvious book of choice amongst others, defeating the point of the book being concealed for so long.
Finally, we looked at this much more worn book cover. It was this cover that most fitted our ideals, however the brown colouring of the cover made it appear slightly too generic and therefore we have decided to look for a book very similar to this, with a worn aesthetic. However, we would like the cover to have a touch more colour than this one.
By Olivia Calver
Friday, 13 March 2015
Costumes
As our protagonist is going to be a street magician we have decided that a long coat will help to present his mysterious nature and accompanying this with a white shirt will create a sense of professionalism. The shirt being untucked will indicate that this professionalism is a façade and will highlight his underlying inability. He will also be wearing jeans to give him a more casual appearance.
It is essential for our last shot that the long coat has big pockets as we will be seeing the inside of his pocket as the camera is removed from it, acting as a ball within one of the magician's tricks.
The three examples above are examples of what we are aiming for as the overall look of our protagonist.Option 1 looks smart with a touch of rustic charm due to the leather, however it does not have the pockets required for the shot and it looks slightly too unprofessional for our aims.
Option 2 is a lot more formal than Option 1, however the waist coat makes the overall look of the costume too formal for a street magician. It diverts from the rebellious look we want the protagonist to have.
Option 3 looks more urban than the previous options, with the shirt untucked and the collar up. However, this is again slightly too informal for our desires. By adding a tie and flattening the collar we could create the perfect look for our protagonist.
Our final costume will be a combination of Options 1 and 3, incorporating the tie and shirt from Option 1 and the unkempt appearance and jacket from Option 3 to create a slightly professional yet still quite casual look.
The antagonist will be wearing a smart shirt in a dark colour with jeans which will indicate the darker side of the narrative and the protagonist. The shirt is going to be dark blue which will contrast with the white shirt that the protagonist will be wearing. However, it should ideally have white dots to help indicate that the antagonist is the same person as the protagonist.
It is essential for our last shot that the long coat has big pockets as we will be seeing the inside of his pocket as the camera is removed from it, acting as a ball within one of the magician's tricks.
 |
| Option 3 |
 |
| Option 1 |
 |
| Option 2 |
The three examples above are examples of what we are aiming for as the overall look of our protagonist.Option 1 looks smart with a touch of rustic charm due to the leather, however it does not have the pockets required for the shot and it looks slightly too unprofessional for our aims.
Option 2 is a lot more formal than Option 1, however the waist coat makes the overall look of the costume too formal for a street magician. It diverts from the rebellious look we want the protagonist to have.
Option 3 looks more urban than the previous options, with the shirt untucked and the collar up. However, this is again slightly too informal for our desires. By adding a tie and flattening the collar we could create the perfect look for our protagonist.
Our final costume will be a combination of Options 1 and 3, incorporating the tie and shirt from Option 1 and the unkempt appearance and jacket from Option 3 to create a slightly professional yet still quite casual look.
The antagonist will be wearing a smart shirt in a dark colour with jeans which will indicate the darker side of the narrative and the protagonist. The shirt is going to be dark blue which will contrast with the white shirt that the protagonist will be wearing. However, it should ideally have white dots to help indicate that the antagonist is the same person as the protagonist.
By Samuel Skinner and Olivia Calver
Tuesday, 10 March 2015
Audition Script and Times
Audition Script/Questions
Introduce yourself and the role you are auditioning for.
Why would you be good for the role?
Please perform a magic trick.
Sunday, 8 March 2015
Casting/Audition Intentions
We plan on auditioning 3 people for the role of the protagonist/ antagonist as this will be the only character seen within the opening. These 3 people will each perform a magic trick in order for us to determine their suitability for their role. In addition to this, we aim to ask them why they believe they would be good in the role so as to help us decide on who has the most confidence in themselves and their acting abilities.
By Olivia Calver
By Olivia Calver
Actors Auditions
We auditioned 3 actors to play the role of our protagonist/antagonist. Below are the audition tapes for each actor.
Nick Frost
Ramone Morgan
Kieren Moule
We will use this to help us decide who we would like to cast as our protagonist/antagonist.
By Samuel Skinner and Olivia Calver
Nick Frost
Ramone Morgan
Kieren Moule
We will use this to help us decide who we would like to cast as our protagonist/antagonist.
By Samuel Skinner and Olivia Calver
Friday, 6 March 2015
Wednesday, 4 March 2015
Hypothetical Celebrity Casting
We decided to hypothetically cast a celebrity as our protagonist/ antagonist to help us finalise the look and style we wish for our actor to have. Doing this has forced us to consider every aspect of the protagonist's look carefully so that when it comes to casting our actor, we have the most suitable fit subsidising our hypothetical actor.
We came up with two potential actors to play our antagonist when thinking of potential celebrities. This was because we could not decide on the ethnicity of our protagonist. A British/ American actor could make our protagonist more relatable, however an African actor could allow us to show more diversity. This caused us to cast two hypothetical actors, one for each ethnicity, which would we then decide upon at auditions.
The white actor that we would hypothetically cast is Tom Hiddleston. This is because he has a smart and yet slightly mystical quality to his features, with his sparkling eyes and chizzled jaw line. These qualities would give our protagonist a distinct mystery about his character, making the transition into the protagonist seem almost unnoticeable which is what is intended.
The black actor that we would hypothetically cast is Donald "Don" Cheadle. This is because he appears mature in personality yet not in physicality which would make the transition between protagonist and antagonist more simple. Further to this, he also has an air of mystery about him, as well as a sense of intimidation. This would be perfect for when he transitions into the antagonist.
By Olivia Calver
We came up with two potential actors to play our antagonist when thinking of potential celebrities. This was because we could not decide on the ethnicity of our protagonist. A British/ American actor could make our protagonist more relatable, however an African actor could allow us to show more diversity. This caused us to cast two hypothetical actors, one for each ethnicity, which would we then decide upon at auditions.
The white actor that we would hypothetically cast is Tom Hiddleston. This is because he has a smart and yet slightly mystical quality to his features, with his sparkling eyes and chizzled jaw line. These qualities would give our protagonist a distinct mystery about his character, making the transition into the protagonist seem almost unnoticeable which is what is intended.
The black actor that we would hypothetically cast is Donald "Don" Cheadle. This is because he appears mature in personality yet not in physicality which would make the transition between protagonist and antagonist more simple. Further to this, he also has an air of mystery about him, as well as a sense of intimidation. This would be perfect for when he transitions into the antagonist.By Olivia Calver
Monday, 2 March 2015
Mise-en-scene Consideration
In terms of mise for our film opening, we plan on achieving a more solemn and mysterious atmosphere by using dark, highly contrasted lighting. This will cause a sense of unease within the viewer which will help them to identify the genre as a thriller. By doing is, it will allow us to use a simpler narrative for the opening as the genre will already have been made apparent through this lighting and the sound.
We aim for the antagonist's location to be a well-used workshop as this would help to portray him as methodical and smart. This would allow the viewer to infer things about the antagonist which helps with character development within the film. However, we don't want to the antagonist to appear too different from the protagonist as he is simply a darker version of the same person and therefore the scenes with Azier as the magician are all going to be taking place outside as it helps to mirror this planned and methodical character.
We also aim on attempting to hide the protagonist/antagonist's identity so that we can cause a bigger impact later in the film when they are revealed to be the same person.
By Olivia Calver and Samuel Skinner
.jpg)
We aim for the antagonist's location to be a well-used workshop as this would help to portray him as methodical and smart. This would allow the viewer to infer things about the antagonist which helps with character development within the film. However, we don't want to the antagonist to appear too different from the protagonist as he is simply a darker version of the same person and therefore the scenes with Azier as the magician are all going to be taking place outside as it helps to mirror this planned and methodical character.
We also aim on attempting to hide the protagonist/antagonist's identity so that we can cause a bigger impact later in the film when they are revealed to be the same person.
By Olivia Calver and Samuel Skinner
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)