Evaluation task of post production

When we tried to do our prelim basic task, we did not have enough experience of shooting, editing and cutting. In fact, our editing process in the prelim basic task was so simple. However, in our production of the main task, we literally put much more effort for the film during shooting and editing.
Lighting
Due to the fact that the prelim main task was shooting in the studio where only one bulb is on the top of the basic set to highlight the emotion on the face of the actor and the actress. The lighting system was simple and we did not need to adjust the lighting while editing. The lighting was simple but was very effective as we were not focused on the lighting. In our storyboarding, we did not highlight or shadow anything part so the lighting would be useless if we are not making any high lightings and shadows. In our main task, we still used the original lights in bathroom, but we turned off the light in the corridor when the actress is walking along to the front to create a mysterious and brings the curiosity of the audience. The lights in bathroom provided a natural and realistic scene which we just require a simple and basic lighting to create a comfortable situation.

Location
It consisted three basic brick walls for the prelim basic task. In the studio, we really could not have any improvements of the location as everything has already set up and since the limitation of time did not allow us to adjust anything of the location. We did no research on the prelim basic task, whereas we discussed numbers of choice of the location requirements. There was a perfect set in the main building, the boy’s changing room has a shower and the angle of the shower is perfectly suitable for shooting the actor in shower and the actress in bathroom. The only disadvantage of this bathroom is the sink did not work but we have solved this problem by using the sink next door.

Sound
There was all dialogue to replace the all the sound throughout the film of the prelim basic task. We did not concentrate or change on the sound after editing. As the conversation gives us the details of telling the story so that we do not need to interfere with any extra sound. In the main task, we have to think of some sound effects in order to attract the attention of the audience because there was no dialogue in the film to tell the audience what the story is about, apart from the sound of footsteps, water and the stabbing, we have to make some extra sounds to attract people’s attention and build up tension before the stabbing shot.

Account of first production group meeting

For our first group meeting, we all agreed to make a story of a female character kills a male character in terms of challenging the stereotypical of view. We were sure that we need a picture or a painting to create a mysterious and scary atmosphere and that was the famous painting of ‘munch’. In fact, we changed our story after the first talk because the scene of sex is banned for any films that we produce. Therefore we had to think of something else that does not involve any sex, but sexy scene. Then we had our second idea after watching the trailer American Psycho, which is Succubus. We still wanted the munch painting on the wall in the corridor in order to tell the audience that this is a horror and thriller film. However, we had some key images in our minds such as the shot of the dark corridor and the shot of the shower before the killer goes into bathroom.
For casting, we decided to have Josh Jackson as he suits the male character in our film. The only one we have been arguing about was the female character and we recognised that Chloe Robert who is in our group would be the one, she also had lots of time instead of asking someone who is not in our group and she might not be bothered of losing her own time.

Basic Camera Shots- Close up and Extreme Close Up

This picture shows a very detailed face of a woman, which is a close-up shot that shows the chacracter's emotions through zooming. Major characters are often given a close up shot on this face to show details of them.

Extreme close up shot could be seen as the most detailed shot to focus on the character's emotions, sometimes they could only take someone's eyes.

a Mid shot- basic camera shots

This is a picture of Leaya, which we took during the lesson. This is a typical mid shot, which only shows the waist upwards and we can see her face from a medium distance.

Introduction to basic camera shots- Extreme long shot and long shot

In the lesson on Friday, we leanrt the basic camera shots, which represents different meanings of the picture. The shots of camera is essential for filming because sometimes it is important to show the clear idea of what you are trying to tell the audience.
Firstly, we have extreme long shot. This is taken from as much as a quarter of a mile away, and is generally used as a scene-setting, establishing shot. It normally shows an exterior, eg the outside of a building, or a landscape, and is often used to show scenes of thrilling action eg in a war film or disaster movie.



Next, we have a long shot which could also be called wide shot. A long shot typically shows the entire object or the entire human body and it is always with the surroudings such as buildings and fields.

What Is A Horror Film???

What is a h o r r o r film?
- For the audience’s personal emotion is a fear of death, sickness and terror.
- A fear of the monster in the darkness, which creates a sick image of the monster to scare the audience.
- A fear of people’s body being ripped and mutilated, which creates the fear of death and violence.
- Our own personal boundaries being transgressed, which some strangers come into your house secretly and creates the fear of stranger as the stereotypical of stranger is always evil.
- Emergence of terror at any level being enjoyed from a safe and vicarious distance.

Ideological
- The hidden (implicit) or obvious (explicit) messages embedded within the narrative, some scary stuff is hidden within the horror film, but some scary messages are obvious such as a monster with a sharp knife stands in front of you.
- Themes of punishment, rejection and or Revulsion at subjects which deviate from correct thinking.
- From simplistic or basic messages (the virgin is a good girl and surviving at the expense of her rebellious and any slutty girls will be punished by death.)
- To the more nuanced or subtle fears of strangers or hitchhikers breaking our boundaries.
- Or the condemnation of any deviant religions. (Christians, Muslims)
- Our perception that the power of science can defeat the darkness at the expense of other beliefs in Religion and Superstition
- In our modern understanding of fear we rationalise the supernatural and defeat it with psychology rather than Latin chants.
- Modern media creates demons by crusading against sections of society and labelling them.
- Are there really so many more paedophiles today than in the past?
- How many escaped mental patients have actually stalked and killed innocents?

Industrial / financial
- Perhaps the most lucrative genre in the film industry horror draws in huge audiences justifying the continual reinvention, remaking and franchising of every successful horror product.
- We wonder at whether there should be an Indiana Jones 4 or a Lethal Weapon 5 but no question is raised over the legitimacy of producing Saw 6 or remaking A Nightmare on Elin Street after 9 previous incarnations.

My thriller film idea

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Introduction to video camera

In the lesson on Friday, we had an introduction to the basic video camera system. We were firstly told to set up the camera, install the battery, and the right method to put the camera on the tripod. In order to ensure the steady movement while we are filming, we also need a handle on the right side of the camera and we use that to move the camera more steadily.

Before we do any filmings, we need to check if we set the camera up correctly in case of any accident and the tripod is levelled in each shot.

We need to hold on the bubble at the top of the tripod, and the appropriate height of the tripod. Now we need to switch the camera on, starts to learn zoom, focus and how to start filming. We need to check the shot was framed correctly each time and the lighting equipment was not in shot. The appropriate angle for the shots is essential to think about because sometimes the different angle would make the meaning of the episode change. The character's representation would not be very clear so it is vital to think an appropriate angle for each shot. We also learnt 4 words for filming, it is essential to remember these 4 words, which are stand by, turnover, action and cut. Stand by is for the preparation for the shot, and the camera and the characters will be at their proper position to get ready. When we say turnover, the camera will be starting to film. When the shot is finished, we count down 5 seconds and say cut. Finally, we always have to remember the 180 degree rule for any shots, we cannot even break the rule ever for anytime.

Preliminary task evaluation

It is our first time to shoot in the studio when we did our preliminary task. The location is set up and looked very realistic. The limitation of time really stressed me and other people in my group because we have to finish everything which we have never done before in 1 hour. The role of me was doing some camera work and most of time I was calling phrases of stand-by, action and cut.

Lighting:

In the studio, the lighting system is limited because we did not have access to sunlight outside the studio. However, there was one bulb in the middle of the set, it was very bright and there was also a white light on the outside set through a window, which helps to show daytime. Using the lighting properly is very important because it creates an atmosphere whatever is scary or funny. The light in the middle helped to highlight the face of actors and perhaps their emotion, but the only weakness of this light is that there was a lack of shadow as it was too bright to see the reflection of actors.

Location:

The location is set up in the studio; it was very simple which looks like a house with a window and a door and a chair. Personally, the location is perfect for shooting as we have a chance to stand in front of them to shoot because the house is not entirely built up but only half part of it.

Filming:

Firstly, it is essential to set up the camera and make sure that the tripod is at the right height and no problems at all with the battery of camera. I bubbled the tripod into an appropriate level and we started filming. We checked the angles by using our storyboarding which we have drawn before shooting day, although we changed some of shots as we saw the location would be better for this type of angle. The 180 degrees rule was difficult to obey sometimes since we were working on a fixed set which only had only 3 sides of wall. One shot at last that we found difficult was that we need to shoot one shot of high angle on the ladder to make it look more like a crane shot. Overall, we finished before the time limit because we did it effectively, we had a chat with actors firstly to ensure what they need to say and act. Therefore it made much easier for us to shoot since everything is sorted out.