Mock up - magazine cover

As part of our project we are required to support our main product with two ancillary tasks. These are a magazine cover and a movie poster. We have created magazine cover mock ups, in order to experiment with initial ideas. This process will enable us to understand what works and what doesn’t. It also will guide us so we don’t break to many magazine conventions.

Filming our Trailer

During filming we thought it would be ideal to document the process. Here are some images of the team filming on location, Bridgefoot car park in Stratford-upon-Avon. These photos show the scene in which our antagonist finds the woman on the ground. To enable us to make the most of the filming shoot, we decided to film a range of shots so we have more choice when editing to include in the final product. Meaning we can make sure that we have the best and most appropriate for the effect that we are trying to achieve.

Although we had trouble gaining permission to film, the actual process went reasonably well. Our time management was apt therefore the filming was kept to schedule and we managed to shoot all the shots that we had planned on our storyboards. Although it was really cold and we were one member down, it all went to plan and we all pulled together to get the shots completed.

Call sheet & confirmation to film

To enable the filming process to run smoothly, Hayley created a call sheet in which there is a plan for the day. The call sheet includes the contact numbers of all cast and crew members, directions to our location, weather forecast and a shooting schedule

Although we had difficulty gaining a permit to film in Coventry, permission was granted for us to shoot the trailer in Stratford-upon-Avon. I emailed the Civil Enforcement Supervisor at the Stratford-on-Avon District Council and he was able to provide us with authorization to film in the car park Bridgefoot located on the Bridgeway road. Filming begins Sunday 21st November.

Contingency Plan

To film in a public place, such as a car park, we have to obtain a permit allowing us to film on location. As we had planned to film in Coventry we contacted Mike O’Connor, who works for CV One. He was very helpful and provided us with various contacts to gain a permit. However due to particular content of the trailer, we were not successful in actually receiving one. Therefore our contingency plan is:

• We will shoot the trailer in Stratford-upon-Avon if permission is granted.
• If our actor is not available, we have a understudy to replace him.

Animatics

To help us with the creation of our trailer, we have created an animatic. This enables us to visualize our trailer in more detail and to give us a physical representation of the finished product. This also means that if there are any flaws in the trailer, such as continuity or camerawork, we can see these and correct them.

Focus Group

As part of our primary research, my group and I organised a focus group for discussion on thriller movies, and particular films in that genre. For example, Inception was popular in the discussion. To record this focus group we used Georgia’s Blackberry. The focus group is located on Georgia’s blog. To view this blog, visit:

http://georgiangusmediastudiesa2.blogspot.com/

Costume Ideas

As teaser trailers are always under a minute long, symbolism is important to convey messages to the audience in this short time. Therefore symbolism should be considered in all aspects of the trailer, this including the costumes of our characters. As we want to suggest that the female character in our trailer is bad (because she has been unfaithful) the colour of her dress is significant to this been addressed to the audience. Therefore my group and I have decided it would be best for the woman in the trailer to be wearing either a black or red dress. The black would reveal the idea of something dark and death. The red would suggest danger, passion and love. These subliminal messages would create an impression on the audience about the film and the character.

Personal Timetable

To maintain positive progress and to meet deadlines, I have devised a personal timetable which will remind me of deadlines and provides me with targets to achieve. Having a schedule means my work will be more organised and efficient.

Poster Ideas

In addition to our main task of the trailer, we also have to produce two supportive ancillary tasks. These being an advertisement poster and a magazine cover. We all have some initial ideas and this is an example of one of Hayley’s ideas for a poster.

After discussion and further analysis of how films are released, we decided to change the release date of our film to December 2011.

Font types

In order achieve the best design of text for our trailer, Hayley formed a tally on a range of fonts. This enables us to choose the best one to suit our genre and our target audience. Evidence proves that the most simple can sometimes be the most effective. Arial Black (with spaces) got the most votes. Meaning this was the most popular H U N T

Location

Here are some images from Google Maps.They are of four possible locations of a filming shoot. We have picked these as they are the most fitting for the type of car park that we want to capture in our trailer. We will visit all four and then from our findings, choose which is most reliable and suitable for our production.

Storyboard Ideas

This is an example of a storyboard that shows how the trailer will look visually. Members of my group have also produced storyboards. Creating these storyboards give us an idea of how the trailer will look, meaning we can gain a more detailed perspective of the teaser. Also by us being able to see the images within the shots means that we can make changes if we feel we need to (either being the actual shot or even the image in the shot.)

Shot List Schedule

For part of our planning Hayley created a shot list for our trailer. This is a necessity to have as we can refer to this schedule for detailed synopsis of each shot. Copies of the shot list will handed out to all members of cast and crew.

Health & Safety Assessment

Georgia designed a Health & Safety Assessment for the production process of our trailer. This includes what are the necessary precautions to take when we are filming.

Costume Design Ideas

Hayley created a mood board for costume designs that we want the actors to wear in the trailer. These are the mood boards with initial ideas:

Script

For our script, both Connor and I created ideas for what to include. We wrote each one and then will incorporate different factors of each to include in the final one. This is my script:

INSERT TITLE CARD: DISTRIBUTOR NAME

INT. CAR. NIGHT

RYAN (24) is driving fast and anxiously. He is alone.The car is black. The interior is clean and tidy. Ryan is tall and slim.

EXT. MULTI-STORY CAR PARK. NIGHT

He approaches a car park.The car park is dimly lit and there are no visible people around. There are some cars parked sporadically through the top level of the multi-story.

Ryan drives to a space and exits the car.

A woman is lying on the ground. Only her hand and her wedding ring are in focus.

Ryan is slowly walking towards her, reaching for a gun.

TITLE CARD: HUNT

Ryan stands over the woman with a gun in his hand.

TITLE CARD: THIS SUMMER

And this is Connor’s :

INT. MULTI STORY CAR PARK. NIGHT.

Non-diegetic music - .................

A man walks up to a lift door, -presses the button-. This is DAVE (21); he is wearing a smart black suit with a white shirt and a black tie. HE IS CARRYING A GUN. He enters the lift -presses the button- and waits. He exits the lift and goes through a door into an EMPTY CAR PARK. He turns left and walks. He approaches something that is on the floor. IT IS A DEAD WOMAN. She is wearing a WEDDING RING.

He stands and stares.
Fade To.
HUNT.

Fade To.

Coming Soon.



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Storyboard planning

For any storyboard, everything included is very important. As part of the process of creating a storyboard, thinking about camera shots, editing techniques and all the mise-en-scene elements are a necessity. Therefore I have produced a list of all the techniques that are in my storyboard and elements that we may use in the final trailer.

Camera

Close ups - to emphasise importance (eg. the womans wedding ring)

Establishing shots - to set the scene and location (eg. to show the urban setting and the car park)

Editing

Transitions - to add a more eerie atmosphere

Reaction cuts - to add more tension and fear

Jump cuts - to move the narrative along

Mise-en-scene

Setting - the car park

Costume - the woman's black dress, the man's black suit & the black car

Lighting - low key, some natural

Performance - the woman is scared and will show her uneasyness of being alone in the car park

Make-up - the womans should be simple but prominant, we do not see man's face

Props - the car

Sound - there will be music on a soundtrack overlayed

Colour - black is a symbolic colour throughout the trailer. It conveys the overtone of darkness and evil, which is relevant to our story and the thriller genre.

As this is only a mock up of a storyboard, not all elements of it will be included in the final one. To add to this we will incorporate parts from each of our storyboards, mixing all our ideas into one.