Introduction
For our task, we were given the choice of 2 pathways; to create the front page and contents of a magazine for college students or to create a short film obeying to specific guidelines given to us. I chose the video pathway, where we were required to make the opening sequence of a film, which demonstrated shot/reverse shot and the 180-degree rule. Our original idea was to develop a horror film, so we conducted research on existing horror film clips, using YouTube as our primary source. We found many intriguing and appropriate film clips, such as the Saw series. We developed the idea of a scene where someone is walking around in a derelict building, in a very curious manner, then they get attacked maliciously by a mysterious murderer. However, we came to the conclusion that we did not want to create a horror as such, but more of a thriller. We decided this because we felt that it would be easier to film and would be more appropriate for our target audience. We kept the idea of a victim and murderer, but the research had influenced us to create a less violent and viscous film, but a film that had more of a sense of tension to keep the audience in suspense and mystery. With our final creative ideas proposed and research finished, we planned the footage that we were going to collect for our film and found a suitable soundtrack which would help add to the tense atmosphere/mood of the film.
We did this by creating a detailed storyboard and script so that we had a clear view of what our film should be like. The storyboard showed the camera angle and shot type, the location and position of the actor(s) in the specific shots, and the dialogue between characters. But before we could proceed with this, we had to scout for a suitable location for our filming to take place. We found a corridor within the college which had good lighting potential, and a good range of available positions to place our camera. Once we had found this location we completed our storyboards and the script. We had problems initially with the development of the script, due to the fact that we thought it did not have a long enough duration, but decided in the end that it was suitable for the tension that was needed in order for our film to have a dramatic effect on the audience.
The filming of our first scene went mostly to plan, apart from when we were required to intervene with the lighting for our film, due to health & safety rules and regulations. Despite this minor flaw, we managed to collect some good footage for our piece. We captured all of our footage for the first scene and edited it before we begun on our second scene. However, we had some minor problems with the fact that our first scene did not entirely match the plan of the storyboard, but decided that the changes that we had made were for the best. In terms of actors I acted as the victim and we got a peer to play the part of the murderer. There was no difficulty in terms of acting.
Whilst we were making our product, to ensure the process was efficient and completed well, we completed a set of production documents to record the procedures that we had taken in the making of our film. These included an edit log, call sheet, camera shot list, location release form, location scouting, personal release form, production budget proposal, talent release form, storyboard sheets and a risk assessment form.
Finished Product
Our finished product actually differed quite a vast amount from what our original ideas were, in terms of the narrative, dialogue and editing effects. We originally decided that we would make a horror film with a female victim in a derelict setting. We changed this to more of a thriller genre with a male victim [due to constraints of actors available] in just a very minimalistic, plain building. We changed to a thriller in order to make it more appropriate for our target audience and changed the location due to accessibility of our new location within the college campus. The editing effects at first were going to compose a Gothic theme to our horror, but because we changed the genre to a thriller we decided to use de-saturation and negative contrast to create a tense atmosphere to our piece.
After reviewing the finished product, we had successfully matched the design brief, obeying the 180 degree rule and including shot/reverse shot. The changes that we had made to our film [slightly different genre from original idea, change in main story from storyboard, different bible quote for script] After showing our film to peers, we gained feedback via a questionnaire. We asked the audience to watch our piece then immediately fill out the questionnaire after. In our questionnaire the average rating [roughly] was 7/10. It was pointed out that there was too much ‘just walking around’ at the start, and too little dialogue. We did however create tension in our piece, as people were not sure what was about to happen to the victim. Our audience thought that the effects and editing was good, however they felt that our piece did not have a clear narrative. The long intro also lead some people to be slightly bored until the action begun when the killer was introduced. The soundtrack also was criticized for not being very dramatic, but too plain. However, some actually suggested that the soundtrack contributed to the tension and the mystery of the film.
In conclusion of our finished product in terms of the effect that it has on the audience, it created the tension that we intended, however it could have been more interesting and perhaps shorter in order to deliver the action quicker and more effectively.
From creating this product, I have learned a wide range of useful skills that I can apply to future projects. We had training sessions with the camera and equipment, which obviously aided the making of this product and will help me in the future with other media products. I have also acquired editing skills, by using the software Final Cut Pro which means that I can now edit film clips.
Product with Regards to Audiences & Institutions
Considering the genre, narrative and editing techniques that are within our film, an institution such as Lionsgate or Twisted Pictures would possibly publish and distribute our film. These institutions have distributed films such as Saw, Dead Silence and Blood Trails, which are similar to the type of genre that our original ideas were influenced by.
Our product uses some forms and conventions of popular thrillers, most noticeably The Da Vinci Code. We used the same type of costume that Silas wears for the murderer, which adds a sense of mystery to him. Even more noticeably is the biblical quote that we used before the end of the film ["It is because of thou that you are in Christ Jesus, that is our righteousness, holiness and redemption, that you shall die."], which is very similar to the theme of The Da Vinci Code. However we actually developed the idea of using a biblical quote from the end scene of Pulp Fiction, which is a completely different genre to our piece, but did influence our creative ideas.
In contrast to other thrillers, our film uses a more horror orientated mise-en-scene than the ‘typical’ thriller. Most thrillers, such as Jaws which, although uses special effects, has a more naturalistic mise-en-scene, but still has the tense atmosphere that we re-created in our piece.
In conclusion, our film does use the themes & conventions of other films of a similar genre, and would most likely be distributed by the above institutions.
