Opening Scene - Filming Completed

I would say that the filming went very well today and it was a lot more organised than the preliminary task. This is because we used the storyboard that we created and followed it accurately throughout the day so we were on track and we wouldn't miss out any shots or scenes. We also filmed some scenes a few times with different angles and shots so we could make the most of the day and save us from filming another day to get the right shots and also because some of the group thought different shots would work better. The filming was a lot more successful this time as we used an older cast which meant that we could move along more quickly and professionally as it was quite hard keeping the children interested as well as getting the scenes finished last time. Last time we were also not as well equipped with things such as the right props and a tripod to keep the camera stable. We can already see that the planning before hand and also creating the storyboard in more detail has made the opening scene a lot more successful than the previous task. We did change some of the props on the scene as we used an apple instead of berries as it looked a lot better alongside the rest of the mise en scene. Another thing that was different about the filming of this task is that everyone got to have ago at different things for example filming, acting and also setting up the scene with the props and mise en scene. This was good as we all got the learn new skills and to also improve at the other things we had already done before. Some things that were a problem throughout the filming was trying to get the right shots and how to position the subjects. For example we were aiming to create a shot through the binoculars of the killer to show there point of view. This probably took us the longest amount of time as we tried multiple way to see which would look best. In the end we decided that I would look a lot better editing the binoculars onto the film post editing using the superimpose/visual effects technique as we thought this would look better and make it more clear to the audience what the killer was doing.

After filming the first scene was moved along to the second location which was the characters house to shoot the film on film scene. this part of the filming went very well as the location used was one of the actors so it was a lot more personal and relatable for the character. This also meant that the mise en scene related to the characters as we created the character profiles around their personality. There was also lots of family around to film as well in the background to show that they are a close knit family. We also filmed on this day as the Christmas decorations was still up which gave a sense of time when the apocalypse had occurred as this would be there last memory together with the family.

Today during todays filming we also filmed more recent location shots as the ones previously used were old images. We also took the character profile shots once they were in their costumes and had their makeup on to show what they looked like close up and we also included some long shots of both the characters to show what the completed costumes looked like. 

Opening Scene - Filming Day

We are just about to go film our opening scene in a few hours time, before we leave we have made plans to meet in our first location at around 12 o'clock when the sun is still out but the lighting is still good. We have all got our props that we need including the fruit, binoculars and the fake gun. One of us was also in charge of bring all the equipment like the camera, tripod and spare batteries and memory cards. We have planned to meet today as it was the only day where all of us were free in the daytime so we was praying that the weather would be good and clear for us. I have just checked the weather forecast today on my phone and it says that it should be around 6 degrees which is I what we expected the temperature to be at this time of year so we were all dressed up warm as we knew it would feel colder being In the middle of a field. It also said that the there was a slight chance of rain between 10 o'clock and 12 o'clock and then it would be clear after 1 o'clock, although this it what was predicted it didn't actually start raining till 4 o'clock which is after we had finished filming in the first location which was very lucky. As well as filming our opening scene we also have a few other tasks on our agenda like taking the shots for the character profiles, taking some recent location shots and also completing our video diaries.

Planning For Opening Scene - Character Profiles

Planning For Opening Scene - Risk Assessments and Call Sheet

 

Planning For The Opening Scene - Costume, Location and Mise En Scene

 

FORSAKEN Script

FORSAKEN SCRIPT

There is not much dialogue in our opening scene this is because in many films such as I am legend and the book of Eli there is no speech during the first scene but uses lots of ambient sounds like birds, trees, wind which shows how deserted the destination is. We wanted to use this for our opening scene to show how abandoned and deserted the place is.

/Camera pans around and shows the two character, a male and a female walking up the train lines searching for food/


Ezra Voiceover; day 23...still cant find any food...or water...each day gets harder...but I know we will make it through this disaster.

/camera then shows a 3^rd unknown character is watching the first two characters through the bushes with their binoculars/

/The two young characters find food which distracts them for a second/

/A twig snaps with grabs their attention/

Isla; ‘did you hear that?’

/She exclaims to Ezra worriedly which Ezra grabs her/

/Both characters run away in panic away from the unknown character/

/3^rd unknown character shoots Ezra from the distance/

/Ezra drops to the ground as Isla try’s to help him/

/start of the film on film to show their life before the apocalypse/

/Isla takes Ezra’s belongings that may help he in the future but drops the item of significance, a key/

/the unknown character realises Isla has dropped the key and takes it, walking away in the same direction as Isla/

Planning for Opening Scene - Plot and Story Board

storyboard

During our recent lessons we have been brainstorming ideas for our post apocalyptic opening scene in our groups of threes. we have also created a storyboard showing what we plan to film scene by scene with all the camera shots and other information. our preliminary task is based on the post apocalyptic genre and includes three characters; a man, a woman and an unknown character. It will also be filmed in one location but we have a few different ideas for this. we then created an animated version of the storyboard on premiere pro that matched the timing and how long we thought and expected each scene to be during the short film. we then posted this one our media your tube channel and it is also posted below.



 

Planning For Opening Scene - Mood Board

 

Timeline of Title Sequences

During the last few lessons we have been looking into tile sequences of films to help us with the title sequences of our own opening scenes. I have chosen 4 films to analyse; Armageddon, Skyfall, Terminator and Fast and Furious 7.  There are many similarities and differences bewteen the films including the text, title, cast and storyline. these are the things that make each sequence different and unique. Some of the sequences were very basic for example terminator was very basic and had very basic graphics too. There was no storyline to it like in fast and furious and was made up of a blank background with green patterns and green text which flashed on the screen with the producer, actors and editors name. The text did give a hint into the Storyline of the film as to us it looked like a old fashion computer from the 80s which hinted that the film could be about technology. Other sequences like Armageddon also hinted about the storyline of the film by showing it through the font of the tile as it was fiery and red and also had a bit of storyline with the voiceover tha showed tha a meteor was on its path to hit earth which shows that the film will be surrounding the meteor. Fast and furious 7 doesn't hint at the storyline as it cuts straight to the first scene of the film after showing the directors and producers name. It goes straight into storyline and doesn't actually show any of the other actors or editors till after 1m 30s as i think they wanted the audience to focus on that bit of storyline. The title of this film also looks like its made out of steel and rolls onto the frame like a car which again hints that is what the film could be about. The order or the cast members, producers, editors etc, are in a specific order, mostly being the most important/most known to the least important ones. Fast and furious and the terminator follows this and also Armageddon even though that bruce willis is the only cast member shown as he was the only big name in the film at the time. Sky fall follows this but misses out the name of the director sam Mendes who is not shown in any on the opening titles.