Choosing the correct soundtrack

Using Final Cut Pro X

5th day of filming - 02/11/12

Today was the last day of filming and Incubus was our main focus. As we had to re-schedule due to Conor's commitments, today was vital that we finished filming as we had no more days planned.

Incubus Hill scene
We met Conor just behind Richmond Station on the hill. This was a location that we both decided would work well as it is windy, open, and it looks very sinister. Before advancing, we did consider the Risk Assessment as we knew from last time that there were cows on the top of the hill. First, we ripped Conor's T-shirt and put blood all over him so that he matched the profile of Incubus. We then added the latex to his face so that we could rip holes in his skin. This added a really gory effect that would be difficult to match if done digitally. I then took charge of the camera and Conor went to the top of the hill with his friend and Campbell. As we wanted to create a group of zombies, we all had to take it in turns standing in a line as this would then enable me to stitch the videos together. The concept sounds complicated but all we really had to do was film Conor standing in the same place, with one group of people on his right, and then another shot with a group of people on his left. Although difficult, I believe that I can make this scene work due to knowledge and past experience with Final Cut Pro. I also have many tutorials at hand, so if I get stuck, I can look at these.

Incubus close-up shot
Before we started filming the drag scene, we wanted a shot of Conor's face so that we could insert it somewhere into the montage within the trailer. To do this, we put the camera on a tri-pod and set it up just above Conor while he was lying down on the ground. The reason Conor did this on the ground was because the background was simple and effective, and when Conor opened his eyes, they opened at a strange angle due to gravity - this is something that worked well. After a few takes, we obtained the best footage we could possibly get, so we took the camera off the tri-pod and prepared to film the drag scene.

The Drag Scene
Campbell and I got into our military costumes so that we could film the scene where Campbell gets dragged across the floor by Incubus. As reflected in the plan, this was going to be a difficult scene to film due to its complexity and the fact that everything had to be perfect. We had to make sure that Campbell knew exactly what he was filming because he had a lot of shots to film one after another. For example he had to film Conor's friend Danny walking across the field acting like a zombie. Then he had to point the camera at me who was telling him to wait and not make any sudden movements. Straight after that, Campbell had to point the camera up so that Incubus was in view and looked like he was dragging Campbell. We told Conor that he had to make a sinister sound while dragging Campbell as we wanted it to look as dramatic as possible. The sound he produced was not what we wanted whatsoever, so I will be adding in a sound using Final Cut Pro. Eventually, we completed the footage, and we are now onto the editing stages of our project.

4th day of filming - 01/11/12

Today, Campbell and I filmed the Bouncing Betty scene, the re-film of the shed/window scene, and the zombie run scene. It was important that we filmed the window scene today as we had already had one attempt and we were running out of time. Likewise we probably weren’t going to have another opportunity to film the Bouncing Betty scene and light was a crucial factor. Campbell and I agreed that anything we didn't film today would be discarded and something would have to fill its place.

Bouncing Betty scene
We met up fairly early in the morning so that there was good light in order to see the bouncing Betty. If it was too dark, it would have been difficult to see the Bouncing Betty rise up above the zombie. In order to construct this scene, we used an old CD rack and wrapped it up in black tape - this was the mine. Campbell then brought along some string so that we could pull the mine up when Campbell stepped on it. This worked by hanging the string over a tree branch with the other end attached to the Bouncing Betty. When Campbell stepped on it, I pulled the string and the Bouncing Betty would be suspended. Around 10 minutes into filming, I had an idea that we could pan around Campbell so that it looked dramatic and unique. I got inspiration from films where everything freezes and the camera pans around the action in high definition. It worked well as we reviewed the footage and agreed that when sped-up, it would look effective. In terms of the explosion of the Bouncing Betty, this is something that I will construct in Final Cut Pro X as this would be far easier than doing it real-time.

Window scene
Campbell and I then walked to Easby Abbey so that we could film the zombie run scene. In our plan, we would both be wearing SAS outfits with weapons and grenades. This is why I brought along a massive bag with all the gear as we wanted to look as realistic as possible. Campbell's brother acted as the zombie here, and we made sure that the camera was level and still by using the tri-pod. We decided not to use any makeup on Campbell's brother because only his back would be showing, and he would be on screen for a long enough amount of time. This scene took a few attempts as throwing the canister was difficult to get right. We also had the problem of shadows as the camera was visible in almost every angle. However after multiple attempts, we finished and were very happy with what we had filmed. Campbell's brother then went home, and we moved onto the window scene.


Window scene
This time round, Campbell brought latex spray and blood so that we could rip holes in his skin. We bought this from Party Poopers in Richmond, along with the fake blood and teeth. We had to find the right spot in Easby Abbey as we didn’t want people walking through our set - this happened occasionally and we had to stop filming for a while. We also made sure that the window that we were using had a good depth as this would allow for one of the soldiers to reach through it and trigger the zombies face. First, we filmed ourselves looking at the iPad for a map that we were going to use to eliminate the opposition. We then both huddled up to the wall, however we then stopped filming and Campbell went behind the window. This was a clever idea as it made it look like Campbell was still standing next to me. I then gave Campbell the thumbs up to stick his head round. This only took around 2 attempts as we knew what we were doing due to having the script and the action plan. After about an hour, we finished filming for the day and prepared for the next few scenes.

  

3rd day of filming - 31/10/12

Today we filmed the shed scene, and the slow-mo weapon swap. Although we had only planned to film two scenes, we knew that they would take a long time to get right, which is why we wanted to keep the majority of the day free.

Slow Motion weapon swap

In the afternoon, I met Campbell so that we could film the weapon swap. Unfortunately, he had the dentist, which meant that I was waiting around for about an hour. By the time Campbell arrived, it was raining so we had to be careful with the camera equipment. We managed to find the perfect place for filming - and old sand hill just behind Richmond School. Although good, it was a difficult task as it required us to use the tripod on an uneven surface. We did however manage to resolve this by tinkering with the spirit meter adjuster. This particular scene took around 30 minutes as it took a few attempts and multiple practices. Campbell started off on the top of the hill, and I ran up to join him. After a few seconds of firing, Campbell turned to me and I turned to him. This was our sign to throw the weapons to each other. I told Campbell that he had to put a bit of a spin on his weapon so that it would work really well in slow motion. He did this and it turned out successful. We then reviewed the footage and agreed that we had what we wanted.

Shed scene

After the weapon swap, we went to Campbell's house to film the shed scene shot. We used his house as he has a garage with a window and a table - exactly what we planned in our outline for the task. As it was dark, the image quality was compromised, and we were tired so acting wasn't at its best. Other issues we had were that the light in the corner was in view when filming, and Campbell had other items in his garage with brand names on them. Likewise we didn't have enough time to add makeup to the figure - this is why we had to use Campbell's brother as a quick shot zombie. He was happy to play the part so we took full advantage. After a few hours, we decided that the shed scene wasn't as good as it could be which is why we are going to re-film either tomorrow or the next day.

  

2nd day of filming - 30/10/12

Today, Campbell and I walked to the hill just behind the station in Richmond - the reason for this is because it is one of our locations for filming the zombie attack scene and the crashing jet scene. We made sure that the area was safe before advancing; however we did take into account our risk assessment as there were cows roaming the fields. Likewise we had never been to this exact location before so we had to be aware of our surroundings.

Zombie Attack scene
For the zombie attack scene, we used fake blood, paintball guns, and military like clothing. As the senior camera man, Campbell decided to film this scene in a first person point of view so that it looked more realistic and slightly more dramatic. It took a while to get costumes on and the props right as we wanted the scene to look really professional and well done. As Campbell walked towards me, I crawled back in a shocked reaction. We then paused the filming as I thought that it would be a good idea for every strike, I would bleed more. Campbell gave me the fake blood so that I could rub it onto my face. We then continued filming as Campbell left the strike. We then paused and did the same thing another two times. Once we had finished this, we were happy with the footage.

Jet Crash scene
We decided to use the side of the hill for the jet crash scene as the terrain was perfect and the scenery was striking. Although a short task, we had to make sure it was right as a bad shot could ruin the trailer. I used my iPad for this task as it has the application that allows us to make a jet appear and crash from the sky. Campbell started from the top of the hill and I filmed him running towards the camera. I then had to time the jet crash so that it would land and crash on the ground just as Campbell was leaving the shot. Campbell then had a great idea and said it would look effective if there was a two second shot of him holding the camera below his face. I agreed and we implemented this into the footage. After a few attempts, we were happy with the footage and we believe that nothing needs to be re-filmed. Campbell and I will meet tomorrow for the next session of filming.

First day of filming - 28/10/12

Today, I filmed the scene of the news report in a location that was relevant. As I am currently in London, I took the opportunity to use a hotel with a plain background for the set. This turned out to be very helpful as the lighting matches a studios lighting, and the mise-en-scene looks very realistic.

News Report scene
I am here with my auntie who was the news reporter at the time. She performed with great success and I believe she looks like a convention news reporter. I have filmed a couple of versions just in case there are any problems; however feedback from my colleague (Campbell) implies that the footage should work well. We started off my making the table that she would sit at. Due to her creativity, we used the back of a pull out bed and put it on her lap so that it looked like she was sitting behind a desk. I then gave her the script so that she knew what to say when we started filming. I also filmed my Uncle as he had the perfect voice for the report - he would have been perfect however he laughed too much :). I have reviewed the footage, and I am very happy with the way it has turned out.

Campbell and I will continue filming on the 30th of October 2012. I believe we have planned to rekey the areas in which we will begin the main body of our filming.

Risk Assessment

RISK ASSESSMENT AND RISK MANAGEMENT  EDUCATIONAL VISITS AND OFFSITE ACTIVITIES

Dates: 28/10/12, 30/10/12, 31/10/12, 01/11/12, 02/11/12

Leader:  AFH     Other staff: N/A    Group size: 2

Deciding on a name for our media horror movie

Today, Campbell and I decided that it was time to think of a name for our media horror film - as we have now started to create the trailer, we felt that it was only time to start making some brainstorms. In order to think of a name, we both looked on Google for words linked to horror and then tried to adjust them to fit a film title. Below are some of the initial ideas that we came up with:

• Incubus - we liked this idea as it is the name of the main zombie in our film. It is almost like the new James Bond film, which is called Skyfall - the place where Bond grew up. Likewise, the name Incubus in very sinister and does remind me of a horror film.
• The Cure - this was an idea that Campbell thought up. The reason he thinks that it would make a good film name is because it immediately states the "body" of the film, and suggests that there is a big problem. This is not only effective, but it should also create interest for the promotional package very quickly.
• Apocalypse - again, this is one of Campbell's ideas and it represents the situation and how bad it is (a binary opposite from Campbell's last idea). Although a good name, we both agreed that it was too generic and it is likely that there are other horror films with that name.
• Two Soldiers - now this was one of my ideas and I got inspiration from the console game: Army Of Two. In some ways, this name does not sound very horror like and instead may represent more of an action movie. However, it does highlight that there are only two people left who can use brute force to solve the problem and find the cure.
• Lockdown - finally, one of our peers called Shaun came up with the idea of Lockdown. Immediately, Campbell and I thought that this was a great name however we were certain that we had heard of a film with the same name. This did however allow us to come up with the name SHUTDOWN. 

We had a look on Google for a horror film named Shutdown and could't find any - this is why we have decided to use this name. Its connotations are very strong and it really tells the audience a lot about what the film might include. I have asked Campbell to create a font for the title Shutdown so that we can put it into all three of our media pieces for the promotional package. While he is doing this, I will start to work on the editing of the trailer and review the footage that we have.

BBC Report in the right location

After careful thought, I have decided to film the BBC report scene in a hotel room as I am going away for a few days over the October holiday. This would be an effective location as it is likely that there will be a conference room of some sort with something like a desk and a large window. Additonally, the lighting should be stable as outside light would not have to be a consideration. I plan on filming 3 different people for the report, so that I have a good variety of people to pick for the trailer.

I will be picking up the camera equipment today after college so that I can take it with me on holiday over the October half term.

Party Poopers - Props and Make-up

Campbell and I are going to the fancy dress shop 'Party Poopers' tomorrow to buy some of the props and make-up that we will need when we film our trailer. The make-up will be used primarily on the zombies, however we will make sure that we have some left just in case the soldiers need it. In terms of make-up, we will need: blood, foundation, face paints, cotton wool etc. We will also buy red contact lenses for Incubus to wear as we believe this will create a very eary effect that the audience probably won't expect.

Campbell and I have also watched a number of different zombie make-up tutorials and we are confident that we can make the zombies look as realistic as possible. Some of the items that we may need include jam, cotton-wool, and washable pens for the flesh wounds.

Script for Horror film trailer

Plan for the October holiday

Saturday/Sunday 27-28^th:

·         Filming the news report in a specific location

TUESDAY 30^th October:

·         Rekey of areas for filming

·         Possibly film vacant areas early/next morning

·         Film the shed/map scene

Wednesday 31^st October:

·         Filming other aspects that can be achievable

·         Filming action movie fx scene

·         Easby abbey film location

·         Slow motion weapon change shot

Thursday 01 November:

·         Filming all scenes featuring Incubus

·         End scene with dragging

Friday 02 November: BUFFER ZONE.

·         Bouncing Betty scene in “pitch” location

Mood Board for horror trailer

Storyboard for Horror Trailer

Below is the storyboard for our horror trailer:

Analysis of Best and Worst magazine

Questions and answers about film trailer

1.      Why would someone want to go and watch your film?

Our film is going to have a unique twist on conventional apocalyptic-type films; likewise it is going to be thrilling, exciting, and shocking, which will therefore draw in the audience. Although with a twist, our film will still contain the conventional features of a stereotypical horror film – this will ensure that it still remains in the genre of horror and it doesn’t go off track into an action genre. I also believe that promotional packages will make the most of our film as these will create “hype” and the need to want to go and see it. Included will be things like a trailer, a poster, and a magazine front cover.

2.      Who are the target audience and how will you attract them?

Our target audience is gore loving thrill seekers, who crave disturbing images and sleepless nights. Horror is a very specific type of genre in which only people who want to be scared will go and see the film. This is why we need to try an open the film up to as many people as possible. This is why we will be including techniques that allow the audience to escape from their daily lives, socialise about what they have seen, and also relate to the main characters due to personalities and feelings.

3.      What is the USP of your film and why?

The Unique Selling Point of our film is the limited use of special effects, compared to make-up, which will be used heavily throughout our trailer. Many horror films in our genre usually rely on special effects in order to make the film scary. Campbell and I believe that we can do better than such films, just by using effective and realistic make-up. Additionally, this factor will increase the verisimilitude of our trailer and make the effect just that bit better.  

4.      How will you have evidence of a variety of shot types, camera movement, editing and transitions?

We will have such evidence by emphasising each transition, edit and shot type. This may be done by repeatedly using the technique, or it will be done by using the techniques at crucial parts of the trailer. This way it will be clear to the audience that we have used a large range of different features. Campbell and I may also create an individual video or podcast about the different shot types, camera movement, editing, and transitions used so that the audience can refer to these when watching the trailer.

5.      How does the music you have created/will create match the genre?

It will match the genre because it will sound both innocent, and sinister. At the moment, Campbell and I are thinking of using the soundtrack Mad World by Tears for Fears. We will re-create this and change certain aspects so that the music matches an apocalyptic-type feel. We believe that a slow soundtrack that doesn’t synchronise with the visuals is effective, because it allows the audience to focus on the music and visuals individually. Thus increasing their chances of remembering what was used when. Sometimes soundtrack that matches movement is effective; however this is not the mood we want to create.  

6.      Will you challenge conventions at all with your trailer?

As mentioned before, not particularly as we still want to deliver that mood of a conventional horror film. Although this is the case, I do think we will include a twist which may end up challenging some of the conventions of such a trailer in the horror genre. 

7.      How will the trailer fulfil audience expectations/follow the conventions of a trailer?

The trailer will fulfil audience expectations by delivering an atmosphere like no other horror trailer. Realism is key for our trailer, which is why we want to include the audience as much as possible. If these means including the conventional “jump face” within the trailer, then this is what we will include. Accompanied by this will be effective soundtrack, visuals, and narratives that all occur simultaneously. In some ways, the trailer will move away from the audience’s expectations as the trailer must include that shock and surprise factor. We want to scare the audience in the least expectant parts of the trailer to keep them on the edge of their seats.

8.      Does it follow Todorovs narrative?

Our trailer follows Todorovs narrative precisely, as the main aspects (disequilibrium, attempt to resolve issue etc.) will be used. However we will not be including equilibrium in our trailer as we do not believe that this is necessary. Instead we will be introducing the problem straight away, as this is the most important part of the film. The characters will also be able to be introduced far more effectively, compared to if the audience see them living their daily lives. In some ways, the equilibrium will be flipped so that it is shown at the end of the film opposed to the beginning.

9.      Do you have any of Propp’s character profiles in the trailer?

Our trailer does include some of Propp’s character profiles, as we believe that this is an important aspect. Included in the trailer is: the villain(s), the prize, and the hero(s). These character profiles are the obvious ones as we want the story to be as clear as possible. This does not mean that it is going to be uninteresting, but instead easy to follow and clear characters.

Analysis of previous candidate's trailer

• Epileptic cut – cuts that flash into a new transition

      There are only two uses of this technique in the trailer and they only occur in order to introduce motion graphics. I don't think that this cut has been used to its full potential, and I believe that Campbell and I will use this cut in a number of ways. Possibly to introduce new environments, new characters, and/or make transitions from slow to fast.

·         Story that isn’t the story (characters)
      It is difficult to understand who the characters are and which ones are bad and good. Likewise I cannot identify the roles of each character easily as the amount of screen time is almost equal.

·         Story that is the story (narrative)
      Like the characters, I also find it difficult to understand what the actual plot is. However I can tell that someone is being stalked due to the muse-en-scene = mobile phone, CCTV, and running away from someone/something. This is effectively demonstrated with close-up shots, tracking shots, and the occasional transition.  

·         Soundtrack
      The soundtrack is very effective in this trailer as it starts of at a slow pace and speeds up as the trailer progresses. This is something Campbell and I want to do as it enables extra factors to be introduced, such as additional action, new characters, and a quick montage of short clips. One thing I don't like about this soundtrack however is the way it stops at the end so abruptly. This makes it look obvious that the soundtrack has been synchronised. 

·         Voice-overs
      There are no voice-overs in this trailer. I think that a voice-over should have been used to explain the narrative better and effectively introduce the characters. Although this is the case, Campbell and I will not be using a voice-over due to the context of our trailer, and the features we want to include. 

·         Motion graphics (text: in cinemas etc)
      At the very beginning of the trailer, a logo is briefly shown to show who created the trailer. Towards the end of the trailer, we are shown the title of the film, along with the release date and additional small print. I think that it is vital that Campbell and I use motion graphics in our trailer, as we need to inform the reader about the narrative, the producers, and the release date. 

·         Quick cuts
      In terms of quick cuts, there are almost none in this trailer. The majority of transitions used are either jump cuts or fade in/out. I believe that quick cuts would have added a greater sense of drama to the trailer as horror trailers are not supposed to be slow and smooth. Again, the quick cut will be a technique that Campbell and I will use in our trailer.

Inspirational symbol for Promotional Package

This is an emblem taken from the Call Of Duty game: Modern Warfare 2:

 

The reason I have decided to use this emblem, is because I believe that it clearly represents what our trailer is going to be about. At first look, this icon looks very militaristic and veteran - exactly what we want our trailer to be like. However when looking at the connotations of this emblem, the knife with the skull implies that there is something far more important happening than the usual military operation. In some ways, the skull looks a little like a zombie that has been captured and hung as a trophy. This is all positive, however the Ace of Spades behind the main content suggests that type of situations this particular Task Force get into are not always straight forward. They may have to gamble on decisions and make chances, which could in fact be life threatening. This is what I want the soldiers in the trailer to experience.

Promotional Package for I Am Legend

In our last lesson, we were told to analyse a promotional package, which is apparent to our film genre and storyline. I decided to use I Am Legend because I think that its storyline is very similar to ours, and it follows the same apocalyptic type theme. Below is a link to an analysis of the package.

 

Class discussion on 4 different posters

In todays lesson, we got into groups of three and discussed how different movie posters are effective and why. Likewise we discussed which ones were the least effective and why. We did this by organising the posters into rank order starting from the most effective to the least effective. Below are the posters we analysed and their descriptions:

Final Destination 4 
Our group ranked this at number one as we thought that it was the most eye-catching. This is due to the simplicity of the poster but also the subtle hints towards the film such as "Rest In Pieces", which is a pun to the graphology. The use of photo-editing is also very effective because the colour theme, the glass, and the face all merge into one; just like the events in the film.






The Cabin in the Woods
Our group ranked this at number two because we thought that the imagery on the poster is very unique and interesting. At first look, it is unclear what this poster is trying to portray, but our group identified that the cabin represents the characters and the storyline - very confusing and possibly corrupt. Likewise the background colour is very bright, whereas the cabin is dark. This shows that there are possible secrets that lie within the cabin.

Paranormal Activity
Our group ranked this poster third because of the dark colours and the unique style. Although professional, this poster is not very interesting as the image in the very centre is just a bedroom with not many sinister attributes. There is also a little too much text at the top which makes it look less like a poster and more like a leaflet.

The House at the End of the Street

Finally, we ranked this poster in 4th position. This is because the main character doesn't even look like she should be part of the film, due to her neutral facial expression and lack of horror. The house behind her also has light above it which is surprising as it is usually the house that is dark, and the surrounding environment that is light. We didn't think that this poster was eye-catching at all and it doesn't make the audience want to see the film.

Successful Opening

Trailer analysis - Woman in Black

·         Sound

Soundtrack used throughout the trailer to create a horror atmospheric feel

       Non-Diagetic sounds used when scene  

·         Shot sizes

Lots of establishing shots used to set the scene

Shot reverse shot used when people are speaking

Close-up of the main characters face so we can identify quickly

·         Camera movement

Very still camera movements with not many tracking shots

·         Ident/titles

Momentum Pictures Ident at the beginning to show who produced the film

Titles are also used to explain the story

·         Transitions

Lots of fade shots are used to change scene and location

Soft transitions with ‘bass sounds’ for a bit of suspense

Trailer analysis - Silent House

·         Sound

Non-Diagetic sound of a camera at the beginning creates the sense of a stalker  

Voice over fits in with the idents and sound of the camera

·         Shot sizes

Lots of mid shots used to show character interaction

·         Camera movement

Very still camera movements with not many tracking shots

Lack of actual footage creates an interest for the film

·         Ident/titles

Green certificate at the very beginning stays on for five seconds

Date is displayed to set the scene and show irony

Idents fit in with the theme of the film

·         Transitions

Flash from the camera is used to change the scene

Fairly quick transitions to show the storyline

Transitions match the voice over

Trailer analysis - Cabin in the Woods

·         Sound

Soundtrack used to create equilibrium and show everything is normal

Dialogue used at very beginning to show interaction and relationship between characters

·         Shot sizes

Lots of mid shots used to show character interaction

Overhead shot to show there they are travelling to

·         Camera movement

Lots of pan shots top show environment

Lots of tracking shots to follow the characters

·         Ident/titles

Green certificate at the very beginning stays on for five seconds

Titles that fit in with the theme of the film

There is also a sound effect when the ident changes

·         Transitions

Fade to black transitions are used to show a passing of time