The process of preparing our preliminary task was easier that the preparation of the thriller prosecution. We started to prepare the basics of the prelim task about a week before the actual shoot, whereas with the thriller we had about 2 months to prepare so it was harder as we had lots of ideas and it was hard to choose which one to do.
We then had a storyboard that we were given, to plan out the layout of the thriller, which gave us an easier guide to plan our thriller.
In the preliminary task we were given a role play script that we had to give two actors of our choice, we choose Dan Ash and Laura Blyfield. We sat down and read through the script, whilst planning out what we wanted to do when we got into the studio, after we went into the studio and started filming basic shots and put them together in the studio to make a sequence.
In the thriller shoot we started to plan about 6 weeks before the actual shooting. Before all of this we each had to present a PowerPoint of our idea that we believed should be put forward for shooting. Each person had to then vote for which one they wanted to do and the 3 that won in the class were then made and grouped. Once the groups and tasks were chosen we had to get together as a team and discuss ideas that we wanted to put forward. Also to discuss how we could make the original idea better. Before the storyboard was drawn up we had to discuss our idea with our teachers, and get there feedback on the progress that we had done so far. We then started to produce the first part of the storyboard.
This was a hard process as none of us had done it before, therefore we had to really work hard in order for us to understand what was happening. Also because we had to do how long each shot would be and do a sketch of that shot. Our first draft was changed around alot and our final sheet was only produced 2-3 days before the actual shoot.
There was a whole file that had to be produced for the thriller, this included a shooting schedule, cast list, props list, sound list etc... This was an important process in our thriller production as it kept the group organised. This also helped us as it showed us what we had done so far and what we had to do. We had to make sure that we had transport to take us to leathill and that our actors were blue carded from there lessons for the day in order to start shooting. As well as this we had to look for props and possibly buy some if necessary, luckily the drama department had good props so we were able to borrow from the department.
We then sat down with some of the technicians to go over our set design and lighting that we needed. We found out that we needed about 3-4 flats, a door, table and chair & window. The flats had to be brick work, to emphasise a cellar like feel.
DEVELOPMENT OF FILM MAKING SKILLS -
When we shot our preliminary task, our skills for shooting were very weak. We had a introduction to the tri-pod and video camera only a couple of lessons before, so the actual shooting for some of us was quite challenging. We had to be constantly reminded of simple things like our shadow wasn't in the shot and the sound was turned on etc...
When we shot our actual thriller we were alot more advanced and experienced in the fact that we knew how to work the camera, the sound and the layout of the set and shoot day.
USE OF CAMERA -
After shooting the preliminary task we noticed that some things went wrong within the process, some shots may have been out of focus or have vague outlines. But all in all our shots were of a high standard. I'm comparison to our thriller production it was very different as the lighting wasn't as good and the script itself wasn't a very interesting thing to watch. Whereas with out Thriller it challenged us as a group which made us more engrossed in what we had to do. The lighting and sound and camera angles were alot more professional and they made the sequence look alot better and well kept that the preliminary task.
We also didn't have to use the blue screen at all during our thriller which made it alot easier for us to film and edit. We also shot in different locations so this was helpful for us to learn shooting in new places and using different camera techniques for outside and inside shots.
The camera angles were alot different to those used in our preliminary task as we used basic shots in the prelim and when it got to us shooting the thriller we used more advance and interesting shots to show what was happening in the sequence. There was a huge difference between the two as one was more professional and the other more basic. We also had alot more help and advice from the teachers during our thriller than we did in our preliminary task, this therefore enabled us to put more professionalism into our work and make the final piece look better.
USE OF SOUND -
In our preliminary task we had to use basic spoken script that was given to us by the teachers. We let the actors speak the dialogue how they wanted to, in order for them to feel comfortable in what was happening within filming. The only other noises used were footsteps, door opening & closing and light switch turning on and off. Because we didn't use dialogue in our thriller, we used different camera angles and sounds to make out point come across to the audience, this therefore put pressure on us having to make all the shots look good and understandable. In the thriller task we used alot of ambient and diegetic sounds such as screaming, footsteps, candles being blown out and wind etc .. These were recorded during the day and later on during the editing process we added some wind and other sounds to create a spookier mood to the sequence.
FINAL CUT PRO AND THE EDITING PROCESS -
When we started the editing process for our preliminary task we got introduced to some software called Final Cut Pro. This was helpful to us as the software enables you to cut shots, add music/sound and more.
When using FCP we had to log the shots that we had done and cut them down if needed so the words 'cut' and 'action' weren't heard within the shot. We then had to put the shots in order to what was shown on the sheet we were given at the start of the shooting process. Once that was done it was shown to the class and the process for the prelim finished.
We then had to look at FCP for the thriller, this took a little bit of time as we hadn't used the software for some time but luckily we all found it easy enough to grasp. We then had to go through a similar process but this time we had to make it a longer sequence and add more technical ability into the shots. We had to shorten shots where needed, add subtitles and a name for the film. Also sound and fade in and fade outs between each shot to make it flow better. This process took us roughly a month compared to a a lesson for the prelim. It was however a successful time spent and our overall product was something to be proud of.
What i have learnt from the whole process of the preliminary and the thriller is that editing s
Audience Feedback - Peira
Tom Barton – very suspenseful.Clare Dodkins – I liked the pace of editing as it un-nerved the audience and tightened the tension of the piece. Will Berril – very dramatic. Leaya Hatzakis – cast perfectly, great choice of location. Lara kufferath – I liked the way of creating tension with the use of silence. Dan Ash – nice contrast between Alabama and Berika, also according to status. I liked the mask and the mise-en-scene. The basement gave a nice contrast. Alabama reinforced the society we live in with children getting captured, and the canted angle shots of Berika gave a sense of peculiar.
Looking at audience feedback i can see that we have alot of positive approaches to or thriller and this shows us as a group that a range of different people liked our film, therefore appealing to a wider audience. We can see that we had to cast well and choose a good location to shoot in and our work payed off as we had a comment from Leaya about it. Audience feedback is what helps us as the group understand what makes a good product and why and also what we might have done well and wrong, it helps us for the future to reflect on what has been said and apply it to our next piece of work.
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