Tuesday, 25 February 2014
Thursday, 6 February 2014
Title Designs
For our movie opening I decided to create titles using Adobe After Effects at home. I created two possible title ideas using two different fonts. One was much more simple than the other and after discussion with the other members of my group I decided to use the simpler one in our final piece. Below are the two title designs I created:
The above title sequence is the one we chose to use in our final piece. We believe it suited the sub-genre of our piece more appropriately and felt as though using a more simple, and bare title sequence looked of a more professional quality.
The above video is the other title sequence I created. After discussion with my group, teachers, and other members of the class. We decided not to use this one as it appeared to be more appropriate for a horror television programme that is more light-hearted than our final piece. Therefore, we did not believe it suited the correct codes and conventions for our sub-genre and horror opening.
Tuesday, 4 February 2014
Call Sheet and Risk Assessment
This are our call sheet and risk assessment for our shoot at Will's house.
Monday, 3 February 2014
Credited Roles
We chose Vertigo Films as our production label due the fact that they are an independent British film company. They suit our film due to producing films on a very low budget. They have a limited amount of resources and usually will use real locations. Because of this we felt that they would be the type of studio that would fund a film like ours. Moreover, we have only a few actors playing within our piece along with only a few workers behind the camera. Thus Vertigo Films suit us due to their use of a skeleton crew.
Oren Peli was chosen due to his directional role within the first Paranormal Activity film and Area 51. Within these films we witness that handi-cam shots are quite prominent throughout. Thus due to shooting in a similar style, we believe that Oren Peli would be the type of director who could take on that very role within our production. Even though in the past he has predominantly been a producer, he is very suited to take on the role as the director in our film. He isn't very highly credited or well recognized as a top director within the film world, thus feel he would accept the role as director for a low budget, independent movie such as ours.
Allan Niblo was chosen as our producer for multiple reasons. Firstly he was the co-founder of Vertigo Films so would already be involved with the production team. He has experience of both directing and producing in the past but feel he would be best suited to the role of producer due to only directing once before. This is in contrast to the 8 films he has produced. Moreover, he has also took the role of the executive producer in four films previously. Due to his great involvement and experience within Vertigo Films, producing successful films such as Monsters, we feel as a group that he fits the role of producer greatly.
The executive producer we have chosen to use in our production is Jason Blum. Even though he is a very successful as a producer in his own right, having major success with Insidious, Paranormal Activity and Sinister, we gave him the role of executive producer due to his limited experience with Vertigo Films. He has become a very respected producer in recent years due to Blumhouse Productions which specialises in producing horror films. Moreover, he worked as an executive
Bear McCreary will be the composer for our soundtrack. He is reasonably well established and composed popular soundtracks such as The Walking Dead. As a group we were drawn to the opening of this series and really wanted to emulate something along the same lines, hence the use of a montage within our opening sequence. Thus we felt that someone like Bear McCreary who has already been involved with an opening we would like to emulate, would be best suited to take on the role as composer for our film.
Oren Peli was chosen due to his directional role within the first Paranormal Activity film and Area 51. Within these films we witness that handi-cam shots are quite prominent throughout. Thus due to shooting in a similar style, we believe that Oren Peli would be the type of director who could take on that very role within our production. Even though in the past he has predominantly been a producer, he is very suited to take on the role as the director in our film. He isn't very highly credited or well recognized as a top director within the film world, thus feel he would accept the role as director for a low budget, independent movie such as ours.
Allan Niblo was chosen as our producer for multiple reasons. Firstly he was the co-founder of Vertigo Films so would already be involved with the production team. He has experience of both directing and producing in the past but feel he would be best suited to the role of producer due to only directing once before. This is in contrast to the 8 films he has produced. Moreover, he has also took the role of the executive producer in four films previously. Due to his great involvement and experience within Vertigo Films, producing successful films such as Monsters, we feel as a group that he fits the role of producer greatly.
The executive producer we have chosen to use in our production is Jason Blum. Even though he is a very successful as a producer in his own right, having major success with Insidious, Paranormal Activity and Sinister, we gave him the role of executive producer due to his limited experience with Vertigo Films. He has become a very respected producer in recent years due to Blumhouse Productions which specialises in producing horror films. Moreover, he worked as an executive
producer for Warner Bros. thus we believe he has the credentials to be a very successful executive producer for our film.
Bear McCreary will be the composer for our soundtrack. He is reasonably well established and composed popular soundtracks such as The Walking Dead. As a group we were drawn to the opening of this series and really wanted to emulate something along the same lines, hence the use of a montage within our opening sequence. Thus we felt that someone like Bear McCreary who has already been involved with an opening we would like to emulate, would be best suited to take on the role as composer for our film.
Friday, 31 January 2014
Risk Assesment and Equipment Proof
When completing our shoot for our piece we soon discovered one of our risks would have to be overcome. This problem was the rain. We were aware that water damage could occur to the camera if the necessary precautions were not taken. To ensure this risk was demolished we covered the camera with a plastic bag whilst keeping the lens un-covered, and having someone hold an umbrella over the cameraman whilst he was filming to give double protection. Below is an image showing how we assessed the risk, and overcome it.
To take full advantage of equipment so we could gain a range of A grade shots, our group rented out the track and dolly to create a smooth effect of the camera moving along a certain focal point. Below is an image showing us using the track and dolly with a torch to create light on the focal point during the dark lighting.
To take full advantage of equipment so we could gain a range of A grade shots, our group rented out the track and dolly to create a smooth effect of the camera moving along a certain focal point. Below is an image showing us using the track and dolly with a torch to create light on the focal point during the dark lighting.
Shooting Feedback
We filmed on Wednesday night at my house. We used a DSLR camera that was loaned to us from another student within the class. We then used a tripod, and a track and dolly within the production of our film. When we got to my house we aimed to modify the house as much as possible within reason in order to create the desired set. We did this through props such as dust sheets and photo frames, along with the darkening of the rooms. Once the location was appropriate to film we started to shoot.
By this point the actors were in costume and ready to film. Before the actors were needed, the shots used in the montage were filmed. For these we used the tripod in all of them along with a tracking shot of the front door. We then invited the actors (Alex Rogers, Fin Carroll and Ciara Mulcahy) to join us and we filmed the rest of the sequence. The actors all performed to a very high standard and we were very happy with their performance.
By using a DSLR, the lighting issues we originally faced were easily overcome. We hope that the shots will all come out nicely and that we have achieved some A grade shots. Moreover through careful editing, we hope to achieve a tense atmosphere, presenting a decrepit, desolate house. We aim to position the audience with the house and the hauntings within it. Instead of the focus being on a selection of characters, or one in particular, we want the house to be the main focus of the story. Thus our montage shots will show the isolated house in order to position the audience with the house.
By this point the actors were in costume and ready to film. Before the actors were needed, the shots used in the montage were filmed. For these we used the tripod in all of them along with a tracking shot of the front door. We then invited the actors (Alex Rogers, Fin Carroll and Ciara Mulcahy) to join us and we filmed the rest of the sequence. The actors all performed to a very high standard and we were very happy with their performance.
By using a DSLR, the lighting issues we originally faced were easily overcome. We hope that the shots will all come out nicely and that we have achieved some A grade shots. Moreover through careful editing, we hope to achieve a tense atmosphere, presenting a decrepit, desolate house. We aim to position the audience with the house and the hauntings within it. Instead of the focus being on a selection of characters, or one in particular, we want the house to be the main focus of the story. Thus our montage shots will show the isolated house in order to position the audience with the house.
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