FILM & EVALUATION, DRAFTS, RADIO TRAILER

Main Task - Film, Poster, Radio Trailer & Evaluation

Main Task - Radio Trailer

Here is my final radio trailer, it seemed quite easy to create and I did not have to much trouble planning what was going to be in it. I before hand wrote down what narration I wanted as well as what quotes and sound effects I should use from the production. Which I learnt from my research.

In terms of a technical aspect, I used one of the tracks I produced for my film but never used, so I thought I could still get some credit for the music I mixed. 

Thriller 6.egg on Aviary.

I also had some trouble with the loudness of the narration. The clips used are over 4x the original volume. To give the trailer a nicer and more interesting feel I also added High-pass and echo to the narration to make it sound more mysterious and as if coming form a radio/phone. I also applied some echo on the quotes from the film. I used a few sound effects such as the gun shot and chips being moved and a gun being cocked to spice things up further.

Main Task - Final Evaluation - Bloody Aces

Main Task - Final Film

Main Task - Post Production - Poster Update

Main Task - Post Production - Late March Update

I have pretty much finished my film now, and finally created the voice over and got some pistol and magnum sound effects. The production is different to Marc's in many ways difference in shots use of music and audio. The endings have a twist in each which is what originally what I was going to do.


I have also done my Radio Trailer which I will upload soon. And I also successfully record my evaluation with Marc & Dan (Target Audience)

Main Task - Post Production - Radio Trailers Research

I will be looking at how Radio Trailers are laid out and set up to work to their full potential. By looking at some already existing movie adverts and radio trailers I will get a better idea of what to include in my own.






This first radio trailer isn't an actual specific movie trailer but it follow similar conventions to what I would imagine a movie trailer to be. It uses a very dramatic sounding narration to grab listeners attention and make them more intrigued to what the commercial is about.


It also quickly switches from audio extracted from the real trailer/film and the narration to keep it flowing smoothly. It also means if they have seen the trailer already they might also recognize the radio one as well, thus more likely to go see the movies. The extracted audio from the films the narrator is talking about is also exciting and dramatic.



This track is a series of demos form a voice-over producer. Though again not an actual trailer it helps me understand how to lay out a trailer and what should be in the narration. It seems important to list the production company and the actors who appear in it. Also to give a brief description of what the films is about to get people to look it up online.

Main Task - Post Production - Radio Trailer Update

I have briefly began work on my radio trailer my for the film by select a few quotes from it to use. I will need to script a voice over for it, which I will post here when done. I hope to at least get the voice over done by next week. I will also be doing some research into trailers over this weekend which should make it easy and give me a greater understanding of how to create a good trailer.

Main Task - Production - Update

I have now created myself some backing music tracks for the production. In the initial draft I just used some cheap track Marc gave me just for the sake of seeing what the film would look like with music in and what kind of feel I needed to go for. I used a free program called Myna (Aviary.com) Which uses free tracks from Quantum Tracks. 


I used thriller in the search for keywords, and found a very good amount of samples and loops to use. I used the album sets "Track 13" "Bright as Anything" & "Survival One)

Thriller 3 (Bright as Anything).egg on Aviary.

Thriller 2 (Survival One).egg on Aviary.

Thriller 1 (Track 13).egg on Aviary.


I really like the music I made and after editing it in, it fits very well with the tension of the poker game.

Main Task - Post Production - Target Audience Feedback

I have now shown my draft of the production to various people some of which suit my target audience (Other students and older friends I have above the age of 20) . Though it was just the opening I have uploaded to YouTube I have done a lot more since and will most likely upload a second draft soon. Though my film so far had only the Title of the movie in and average music from a sharing site; also missing the voice of the caller. It had a mixture of feedback. Comments given where like such.


"I really liked some of the shots you did, and the clever way it mirrors Marcs"


"It's a bit too dark in place and could do with brightening up."


"With some really nice music that builds up then this could look really nice."


"They way the top of Todd's head is cut off creates and bit more suspicion to the film."


In terms of other general feedback those that have seen it like the title and the colouring as well as the montage when Troy gets changed. Though they did agree that it was dark in places but this does create a nice mood. I will listen to this feedback and produce some of my own music for the film. Similarly to what I did in the Year 11 Horror project.

Main Task - Production - Character Theory

My main character is Troy Voltru (Todd Parsons) he is a shady character in the beginning of the film. Little is know about his past over than he knows Esta from his childhood. Troy has a strong character even though it may not seem it at times. He is sly and cunning, and this is reflected in the way he dresses. As he wears a casual shirt and tie and nothing to unique to a average person or business man. He seems very laid back during the game, and tries to play it cool. As we find out later the game has been fixed that he wins.


Troy could fit into a few of the character theorys out there, due to his flexible nature and role in the film. He is an unclear protagonist or antagonist. In terms of Propp's Character theory he is the "False Hero" as he is portrayed as being good at first when really he is pretending to be someone he is not. On a broader scale Troy is the protagonist of this specific film in relation to Goffman's character theory as he is the main character of my production.

Main Task - Post Production - First Draft

Here is the first draft of my production, which as it stands is only the opening however I have begun to edit the poker game onto the end of this scene. Me and Marc are undecided whether or not to film the second scene of the production or not, but it depends how much the movie makes sense, and how long it is.





I will get some feedback for this film when I can as I was ill when it was supposed to be shown in class.

Main Task - Post Production - Posters

In the last 2 days I started work on the poster or possibly posters for my thriller film. After looking through some of the shots Marc filmed of the poker game towards it's climax. I thought that some stills from this scene would look good as a poster. I took the following images and edited them on what programs I had on my laptop.

 I then made them Black & White and applied a black background behind them. I increased the contrast and dropped the brightness to make it more vibrant. I then rubbed out the original images with a low hardness eraser tool so it blended in to the black background and darken the poster. It also allowed me to erase some of the sixth form center in the image. I then added my Title logo which I made using an edited version of the font "Gothic Gothic" which I added blood splatters to to suit the name. I then added titles using other posters as reference as well as a new tag line. Which is a direct quote from the production. I then added some star rating to finish it off.


Design 1

Design 2

Main Task - Production - Scene 3 Filming

We have now filmed the poker game for our production. Filmed went alright, though I did have some difficulty. I got everyone to do a read through of my script which Marc recorded, however in took us so long it wasn't really worth uploading. As I started to film my opening to the Poker game and got further into the film. I decided to swap Jonny (Dealer) with Tom (Conan's replacement) as Tom played Felix character with to much aggressiveness which I thought would be perfect for the Dealers role instead. They swapped jackets on their own accord, which was a good decision


This was our editing and computer set up, where we would sort out any sound issues or whatever else we needed to look at. We could also access shot lists and production schedules. Marc also took footage of his camera periodically so we did not run out of room on the memory, as well not needing to look through as much footage after recording.


Initially it was hard to get our actors to work and cooperate as we had quite a lot in the same shoot to what I am used to dealing with. The was a lot of messing about to begin with but after we ate lunch things improved and I got what I wanted to film. Towards the end of the end of shooting Marc took over from filming and shot some angles he wanted for his film; while I directed.

It was rather difficult to get to many good angles other than close ups due to the dodgy location we had to resort to because building work was going on in the school hall (Our original location.) Overall we filmed what we needed and because the film is in Black & White I can hide any mistakes in acting or shot errors. As well as hide some of the room we were using and focus on the table. Some of the shots we did where really good. I filmed some nice shots of cards being dealt and other things.

Main Task - Production - Location Changes

We unfortunately had to change our original filming location for the poker game form the school hall to else where. This is a major set back in our production, as the film will lose a lot of darkness and possibilities for some really nice mid shots and birds eye view shots. However the filming for the poker has been relocated to the smaller sixth form center, which is not ideal but is the only place we could get at such short notice.

Main Task - Production - Character Update

Since Conan could unfortunately not come to our day of filming we invited our friend Tom along instead. Which probably worked out for the best as he lived nearby and could come down to film any day. Also his personality suited the character of Felix better. He already dressed like I wanted the character to look like. 

Main Task - Production - Scene 1 Filming

I have now filmed the first scene for the production, we filmed in my study which is the same set me and Marc used to film our film noir newsflash in. It is a fairly neutral room with a simple desk, chair and computer. So it is easy to adapt this location to suit the needs of the production. The only downside is it used to be my brothers bedroom, so one I can only film from one side or you will see the spider man wallpaper on the other side. But due to how small the room is I can only film from one side. Marc assisted me while filming.

Filming went well, I managed to get all the shots I wanted plus a few more that I thought off and some that Todd (Troy) suggested. I filmed on schedule and all the people who took part in the filming got home on time. And we had enough time to walk to our other location to film the opening to Marc's film. As we planned as both me and our main actors (Todd & Kieran) all live in the same area of peterborough.


I added a few props to the desk to make it appear more normal and give Troy some more character. While also including some more red items so I can really show off the colourising that I'm going to use.

Main Task - Pre-Production - Script Draft 1

Script

Main Task - Pre-Production - Production Schedule Part 1

Production Schedule

Main Task - Production - Sound & Visual Effects

Colouring
One of that main aspects of our film is that it is not just in black and white, but also red. So I will need to know how to colourise our film to remove all colour other than red. As well as make the red colours more intense and stand out

Blood Effects
I will also need blood effects such as splatters and soaking. I need to reproduce blood soaking into clothing and I will also know how to use fake blood convincingly. This will work really well with the colourisation of the film too.

Muzzle Flare (Gun Effects)
I also need to know how to do a good muzzle flare effect. This should be reasonably easy to do I imagine. It is important to give realism to the shooting scenes.









Gun Shots
The sound of gun shots will be used repeatedly in the film so it will be good to know the best placement of sound effects in reflection of the moving action and muzzle flare.

Main Task - Pre-Production - Shot List Scene 1

Shot 1: High Angle CU (Draw Opening)
Shot 2: Low Angle MS (Troy takes keys from draw)
Shot 3: High Angle CU (Troy shuts draw)
Shot 4: MS (Troy puts keys in his pocket)
Shot 5: MCU (Phone starts ringing)
Shot 6:     CU (Phone ringing)
Shot 7:     MS (Troy going to pick up the phone)
Shot 8: ECU (Phone ringing)
Shot 9: MS (Troy listening to the unknown caller)
Shot 10:    Low Angle (Troy putting his phone in his pocket)
Shot 11:    MS (Troy leaves the room taking off his shirt)
Shot 12:    CU (Troy's hand taking white shirt off the door handle)
Shot 13:    ECU (Troy buttons the top of his shirt)
Shot 14:    ECU (Troy buttons the bottom oh his shirt)
Shot 15:    ECU (Troy puts his tie on)
Shot 16:    ECU (Troy adjusts tie)
Shot 17:   MCU (Troy walks past door)
Shot 18:    Panning CU (Troy puts on his jacket)
Shot 19:    CU (Troy garabs his umbrella)

Main Task - Pre-Production - Characters

Troy (Todd Parsons)
Troy is my main character, he is quite casual and laid back, but really it is just a cover to hide who he really is. In the production he first appears as easy going and relaxed, but throughout the poker game he gets increasingly agitated and violent. Until the end where he final reveals that him and the dealer are working together and he turns on his work friends and walks away


He dresses in smart but casual clothes, he has a strong but relaxed personality he will sometimes go out of his way to get things done. He likes to play it cool. His only family is his elderly grandmother, who has dementia and isn't aware of Troy's actions. But raised him as a child.


Plot Changes: I decided to make a few changes to Troy's personlality to make the plot more exciting and interesting, and probably more conventional to thrillers. Instead of just winning to poker game and leaving I decided that just Esta killing himself wouldn't be a dramatic enough ending and that my character wouldn't have had such an impact like Marc's main character. So I had the idea to turn it into more of a tradigy shock ending. In which we find out Troy was in it for money and the game had been fixed so he would win. He kills Esta and then the dealer and leaves with all the money. 


Esta (Kieran Parrish)
Esta is a friend of Troys and they work for the same company, they were friends in secondary school. He is very confident and probably more intelligent than the other characters other than the dealer. His over confidence leads to his down fall as he loses the game after going all in. Originally he can not stand losing and decides to take his own life rather than let his family suffer.


Esta is rather wealthy and always dresses in a suit and tie. He takes his job very seriously, but still isn't sure why he decided to get involved with the dealers company. But it has something to do with him and Troy and school playing jokes and scamming people.


Plot Changes: Marc didn't really think Esta killing himself would be a too cliched ending so we decided that we would make him more enforcing. So instead of killing himself he shoots the dealer instead, but is then shot down by Troy in the twist of the film. The final thingy we see is his body lying on the floor with the dealers gun his hand and some blood stained cards.


Douglas (Chris Maundrell)
Douglas is another work friend off Esta and Troy, he is the most vunerable of the group and is reluctant to attend the game. He is quite paraniod and this leads to him to going out first hand of the game. He hasn't much knowledge of poker. When he loses he simply leaves the hall.


Plot Changes: Our media teacher idicated that our Dealer didn't appear powerfull enough in the original plot. He in indicated that he wouldn't simply let him leave. So instead he nows trys to leave, but the dealer responds in shooting him in the leg and telling him to sit back down.


Felix (Conan Chambers)
Felix is also quite laidback and is just a friend of Estas he just assisted them in the hiest invloving the dealer. He dresses reasonbly smartly and plays well till the third hand, where goes out. The dealer asks him to leave. He is then shot outside by what we can assume is the Dealers bodyguards. All you here is a gun shot.


Dealer (Jonny Collard)
The dealer is a clever manipualting character. He works for a rival company which sorts issues out in a more unorthadox way. His compan is associated with the black market and underground dealing movements. He is quite powerful and has threatens the other players and black mailing them to come to the game. He gives the players envelopes containing the punishments for there actions


He dressed smartly but does not wear a jacket, he also carries a suitace which is later revealed to conatin money. Nothing about his past is revealed.


Plot Changes: Our media teacher though are dealer was not threatening enough, considering whats in the envelopes is never revealed in the film. So we decided he would shoot Douglas and Felix. As well as be working in secret with Troy and promises him some money if he kills Esta. But then Troy also betrays him and says he'll take all the money. As the dealer has his back turned he is shot in the back of the head by Troy.

Main Task - Pitch Feedback

After showing my class my pitch for my production I took away a few things.

• Everyone liked the idea of mine and Marc's films being interlinked.
• They found the pitch easy to understand and follow.
• They understood how it related to other thriller movies and how it suited the genre and what convention I was using.
• Some found the plot rather complex for the time period of the production, or said it may be a lot to get in 5 minutes
• They agreed that the target audience and had chosen would be suitable.
• Everyone understood the inspiration I got for our production through the YouTube video.

Overall the pitch was a success people were impressed by the idea and the way I pitched the production, however I may need to remove some plot elements to make it easier to understand.

Main Task - Pre-Production - Plot Changes

Me and Marc decided to make some plot changes to our two films to make the more interesting and unique. It was decided that the original idea wasn't exciting enough for the genre. And I came up with the idea of nearly everyone dying and making it much more tragic so me and Marc re wrote are scripts using these ideas, I liked the results. Major changes are as follows.

-Dealer made more powerful
-Esta is shot by Troy and no longer himself
-Troy shoots the dealer
-Dealer shoots Douglas in the knee
-Felix is killed outside the game
-Esta's punishment is to kill Troy
-In my film the conversation between Esta & Troy before game is continued.

Main Task - Pitch

Main Task Preset at Ion

Main Task - Research - Poster Analysis

Since we will be making our own posters for our productions, it will be important to look into film posters of existing films, including thrillers. I thought I'd start by looking at some posters of films I enjoyed and then look at some which specifically relate to thriller films. Overall I hope this research will give me a better of idea of what I'll do for my poster, and how to create it. Also I can share some of these ideas with Marc.

The first poster I'll be looking at is the well known poster from "The Shining" one of my favorite films. The film is ultimately a psychological horror, but does contain elements of thrillers, and more specifically psychological thrillers. I'm looking at this poster to give me a better understanding of how genre is indicated through posters.


Obvious indicators here well be the props in the poster, such as the use of the axe breaking through the door, and the knife in the distressed woman's hand. Indicate danger used in horrors. However also the pictures used in the poster our all from the film itself, and the audience will notice this after seeing the film. The axe breaking through the door can reflect the films plot and themes, as jack goes from sanity to insanity, as if breaking into insanity and madness. The poster also uses the rule of thirds and is clearly split into 3 parts.


The second poster I'll look at is that of "The Poltergeist" which we looked at in class, from my suggestion. As it is a poster that I can seem to remember rather well. It is another horror, however there are various meaning behind the poster, and I need to understand what makes it a good poster. 


This version of the poster is blue in colour, but there is also a black and white version which is also commonly used. The blue here gives an eerie feel to the poster, it also links with supernatural forces in the film. The focus of the poster is the little girl in the middle with her hands on the static of the TV. There is something unsettling about this, and create a sense of mystery. What probably makes this a good poster is the difference between the sinister supernatural theme and the innocent looking young girl, this is reinforced by the teddy on the floor. It creates questions such as: Is she looking in the TV? What link is there between her and the TV? and various other things. Similarly to "The Shining" this image also appears in the film itself.


The third poster all be looking at is the poster form "Sin City" which is a film which links strongly to our own film. It is a crime thriller film. which if primarily in black and white, but does also include red. This same idea we plan to use in our own film to exaggerate blood and characters clothing. 


In the poster you can see some of the characters in the film in various action poses. Also the guns are featured in the poster linking to thriller and action. Also due to the colouring the poster is dark and moody, which is a usual theme in thriller films. Red is used for the title to reflect the films colouring and the graphic novel on what it's based on. The titles also have a comic book look again reflecting the graphic novel. Rain is also feature again making it appear darker.