Saturday 28 February 2015
Wednesday 25 February 2015
Evaluation Questions 4 and 5
4) Who Would be the Audience For Your Media Product?
Follow Jessica's board Mood Board Target Audience on Pinterest.
5) How did you attract/ address the audience?
Follow Jessica's board Mood Board Target Audience on Pinterest.
5) How did you attract/ address the audience?
Tuesday 24 February 2015
Sunday 1 February 2015
Initial Reactions to our Film
We invited some of our friends and peers to come and watch our film, as they the age and class of our target audience. We invited primarily males, because our research showed that they were more likely to watch horror films.
We filmed their initial reactions to the film to see which parts they responded to the best. We then interviewed them in smaller groups for more in depth answers.
Filming Day 5
Shooting Schedule
Filming Day 5 from jessfareymedia
Organising Actors to Schedule
Behind the Scenes
We all met at the cupboard, the cast already in costume, and began setting up. There was not much the cast had to do and they knew their lines very well by this point, so we did not need to waste too much time practicing.
We used the same lighting as previously, and the cast agreed with us that it did make a big difference. We did spend a lot of time working on positioning which was where we had fallen previously. Whoever was not being filmed sat where the other actors would be, so we could ensure that the actors were looking in the right place as they delivered their lines. We also spent a long time playing with the lights and seeing what shadows we could create as we noticed how effective it was when we filmed with Julia.
We also experimented with camera angles we had not considered before. We filmed some shots as normal but others using hand held shots, mimicking found footage films such as The Blair Witch Project. In the end we decided not to use these as it was harder to focus and wouldn't work with some of the other shots we had filmed previously, e.g. Lewis would not be holding a camera.
We are really pleased with what we achieved, again noting the how the choice to change location and lighting paid off, as shown in some of the images below.
This behind the scenes video briefly shows us filming some of these shots in the storage cupboard. Some of these we will use in the final piece whereas others we were not so pleased with.
This was our final day of filming. We are now ready to begin the editing process.
Filming Day 4
Shooting Schedule
Filming Day 5 from jessfareymedia
We set up the camera and began filming. We experienced far less difficulties than last time as we were more familiar with the camera and the weather and natural lighting was in our favour. The only issue were the gas masks, which were not very strong after weather damage when we had previously been filming, as shown in the video below. We tried fixing them and eventually found that the actors would have to tuck them under their arms to work.
We also had to change some of the shots from our storyboard. The close-up of Georgia's feet, for example, was unrealistic. The camera was shaky in our hands as the tripod would not go as low as we needed, and we did not want to place the camera on the ground as it was quite muddy.
We managed to get the mid-shots we needed, however not using the dolly. We could not move it through the thick grass at a pace that would match the actors despite our best efforts. In the end we opted to run with the camera using a hand held shot. After watching this back we were very pleased; although the camera shook it actually added to the chaos of the sequence and worked really well.
We managed to film all the material we needed (with a few extra experimental shots) within an hour, which was much quicker than we had planned. We were really pleased with this and, watching the videos back, were satisfied with the quality and glad we made the decision to re-film.
Organisation of Actors
Behind the Scenes
Our actors both arrived on time and quickly got into costume. We arrived at location quicker than planned, at around 14:00 which gave us more time to look around the nature reserve for areas to film in. It had to be fairly open, with no distinctive features that would make it look too different from the scenes we had previously filmed and ruin the continuity. This included modern features like electricity pylons and cables and the nearby road.
We found this strip of land on the edge of the field. It was fairly flat for running along and very empty so we could use wide shots without having to worry about what may get in the shot that we didn't want.
We set up the camera and began filming. We experienced far less difficulties than last time as we were more familiar with the camera and the weather and natural lighting was in our favour. The only issue were the gas masks, which were not very strong after weather damage when we had previously been filming, as shown in the video below. We tried fixing them and eventually found that the actors would have to tuck them under their arms to work.
We also had to change some of the shots from our storyboard. The close-up of Georgia's feet, for example, was unrealistic. The camera was shaky in our hands as the tripod would not go as low as we needed, and we did not want to place the camera on the ground as it was quite muddy.
We managed to get the mid-shots we needed, however not using the dolly. We could not move it through the thick grass at a pace that would match the actors despite our best efforts. In the end we opted to run with the camera using a hand held shot. After watching this back we were very pleased; although the camera shook it actually added to the chaos of the sequence and worked really well.
We managed to film all the material we needed (with a few extra experimental shots) within an hour, which was much quicker than we had planned. We were really pleased with this and, watching the videos back, were satisfied with the quality and glad we made the decision to re-film.
Filming Day 3
Shooting Schedule
Filming Day 4 from jessfareymedia
Filming in the storage cupboard instead of the bunker was much easier. We had access to electricity and it was easier to ask our actor to film because we did not need to organise transport; we could just work in free periods during school time.
Organising Actors to Schedule
Behind the Scenes
We arrived at the storage cupboard on time with the correct equipment. We were able to secure lighting of a more professional standard before we went, and found the difference this made to the overall mise-en scène was huge.
Filming in the storage cupboard instead of the bunker was much easier. We had access to electricity and it was easier to ask our actor to film because we did not need to organise transport; we could just work in free periods during school time.
The issue we had faced the previous week was with the actors looking in different directions as they delivered the lines, making the piece non-continuous and disorientating for the viewer. We positioned our actress and then mapped out where the other actors would be, practicing shots from different angles and working out how we would avoid making any of the same mistakes.
Because we were only filming two shots, it took us just fifteen minutes from setting up to finishing. We were really pleased when we watched our footage back; the difference that the lighting made was amazing, and we will definitely take that into account when we re-film the second half of our bunker scenes. It gave the film a much more professional look and although the bright lighting was not typical of the horror genre, the dark and dramatic shadows it cast actually looked very sinister which we liked. We will certainly be using these shots in the final piece.
Here is a comparison of a behind the scenes photo in the bunker, showing the quality of lighting we had to work with, and a still from the footage we recorded more recently with the better lighting.
Because we were only filming two shots, it took us just fifteen minutes from setting up to finishing. We were really pleased when we watched our footage back; the difference that the lighting made was amazing, and we will definitely take that into account when we re-film the second half of our bunker scenes. It gave the film a much more professional look and although the bright lighting was not typical of the horror genre, the dark and dramatic shadows it cast actually looked very sinister which we liked. We will certainly be using these shots in the final piece.
Here is a comparison of a behind the scenes photo in the bunker, showing the quality of lighting we had to work with, and a still from the footage we recorded more recently with the better lighting.
Filming Day 2
Shooting Schedule
Organising Actors to Schedule
Behind the Scenes
The cast all arrived at the correct, time meaning we arrived at the bunker before 10:30 ready to film. We were pleased with their choice in costume as we had asked them to come in their own clothes, hoping this would realistically reflect contemporary teenage fashion.
Having been there the previous week, we were able to set up much more quickly as we knew what to expect. Luckily, none of the actors were too fazed by the bunker and assisted us in clearing away an area to film in and set up props. Thanks to them, we were filming by 11:00. We had supplied a lot more lighting after the problems we faced beforehand, including torches, lights from our phones and LED lights. We filmed the sequence shot by shot, spending a lot of time thinking about lighting for each one.
Upon watching this back, handling the scene in smaller sections made it harder for us to create continuity as we had to reorganise each shot from memory. There was also the issue of the 180° rule; our actors were positioned in a triangle and as we moved from closeups of each actor, we found they often looked in the wrong direction or the angle did not work well.
The lighting we had supplied, while bright, was not very stable. It often shook, particularly in the shots where we had people holding lights from a higher angle. Because we were in a dark space, the shadows were dramatic, and made the movements even more obvious. The lighting also created shadows of people and equipment which were behind the scenes.
We did have some successful shots; the finals shots, revealing the body, appeared effective. The lighting was rested on a stable object here and the intense lighting highlighted the contrast between the dark make-up and blood with the pale skin.
After filming some of these scenes, we filmed the remaining scenes with Georgia and Robin using Arbury Banks outside. Unfortunately the weather forecast had not prepared us for rain a second week running and we were rushed as it grew heavier.
We managed to film some slightly more successful shots at the start, for example the establishing shot of the two running out of the woods. But as the rain grew heavier, it began to ruin their costumes, which was clear in the mid-shots. It also made running difficult, and after running some practice shots we deemed it unsafe and made the decision to find another date to film. This was obviously not ideal but we knew it we would not be able to film anything of a good quality if we carried on.
Having been there the previous week, we were able to set up much more quickly as we knew what to expect. Luckily, none of the actors were too fazed by the bunker and assisted us in clearing away an area to film in and set up props. Thanks to them, we were filming by 11:00. We had supplied a lot more lighting after the problems we faced beforehand, including torches, lights from our phones and LED lights. We filmed the sequence shot by shot, spending a lot of time thinking about lighting for each one.
Upon watching this back, handling the scene in smaller sections made it harder for us to create continuity as we had to reorganise each shot from memory. There was also the issue of the 180° rule; our actors were positioned in a triangle and as we moved from closeups of each actor, we found they often looked in the wrong direction or the angle did not work well.
The lighting we had supplied, while bright, was not very stable. It often shook, particularly in the shots where we had people holding lights from a higher angle. Because we were in a dark space, the shadows were dramatic, and made the movements even more obvious. The lighting also created shadows of people and equipment which were behind the scenes.
We did have some successful shots; the finals shots, revealing the body, appeared effective. The lighting was rested on a stable object here and the intense lighting highlighted the contrast between the dark make-up and blood with the pale skin.
After filming some of these scenes, we filmed the remaining scenes with Georgia and Robin using Arbury Banks outside. Unfortunately the weather forecast had not prepared us for rain a second week running and we were rushed as it grew heavier.
We managed to film some slightly more successful shots at the start, for example the establishing shot of the two running out of the woods. But as the rain grew heavier, it began to ruin their costumes, which was clear in the mid-shots. It also made running difficult, and after running some practice shots we deemed it unsafe and made the decision to find another date to film. This was obviously not ideal but we knew it we would not be able to film anything of a good quality if we carried on.
Advanced Planning: Day 3
We feel that to return to the bunker a third time and have the same issues with lighting would be wasteful. We have already got the shots that we need of Georgia and Robin climbing into the bunker. If we could find a plain, old room to film in then we may be able to continue filming somewhere more accessible and with more resources.
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