What We Learned from the Practice Shots; Overall

Overall, we learned that we have to be careful on following the camera angles we specified in our storyboard. This means that we have to use a tripod to discourage the idea of unplanned movement and to not miss head shots or include shots which make our short film unrealistic, e.g. Hannah walking up the stairs instead of getting dragged.

Another point, is that we have to take in consideration the lighting, people interfering our shots and generally making sure that the continuity is not being negatively effected.

Practice Shots Combined

I combined some of our shots which we conducted during our practicing to see how we would need to edit our piece and its result.

What We Learned from the Practice Shots; Stair Scene

We learned, through using different strategies on how to pull Hannah up the stairs the her facing down is easiest. This way, she can help go up the stairs by using her feet or knees which we are able to do as we only need her legs in shot. This plan/idea can be used for our final production.

However, recording while we are going up the stairs by tracking was not easy as my head was out of shot for a while or Hannah's legs were in shot.

What We Learned from the Practice Shots; Running Scene

We learned that the best way for the running scene is for the camerawoman to crab. This means its less likely for the camera angle to be incorrect from what we planned from our storyboard previously. Another point is that the scene enforces the idea that we are both in a rural area (due to the trees) and both running to the same direction.

We also learned, to be careful with the camera to not try to cut out characters heads or important aspects of the short film, e.g. missing the stick when Hannah trips.

What We Learned from the Practice Shots; Car Scene

We learned that we should record Hannah from the right to not break the 180 degree rule and the possibility to reduce the fact that the volunteer (my figment of imagination) will be in the shots we do not want. However, it is more likely that the window will be in shot which we would have to be careful as we are enforcing the idea that there is a door beside Hannah.

Another point is that to do all the shots I have to turn around every now and then, this created concern about continuity but we decided that due to both sides looking similar, the audience will not notice. Also, with me driving I cannot remember each individual line so I would get the camerawoman to relay it to be during filming, which we would cut out during editing. (We also agreed that the dialogue response on 'people' does not work so we changed it to 'human art' on our storyboard.)

Lastly, it taught us to be careful with the lighting (due to there not being a sunroof) less lighting gets in the car so we would need a brighter day (more difficult however, this time of year). Also, we do not want the lighting to defect out background (scenery) which we noticed a few times on the back window with the shots with Hannah in the car.

Further Practice Shots and Discussions

These shots have been conducted so we the know whether the shots we have discussed and wrote about on our storyboard, actually will work. We were most concerned with the rear view mirror shot with the fact we cannot allow the camera to be seen. We also wondered what would it be like to record in our location to see whether it was realistically ideal, or would it be better to record in a different location.

Car Scene:

On top of this, we decided to conduct practice shots to see how long we should do each individual shot and then place it on our storyboard. This would give us a more correct idea for our final piece and help us in the future for having it organised, planned and easy to follow for us to record.

Running Scene

For this footage, we only used a mobile phone which will explain the bad quality. We will use a proper camera for our final footage.

Stair Scene:

During the time we were filming the practice shots we were also informing the volunteers about what we want them to do so they then know what to do in the final production. This way they can also add some input to the camera angles and the characters which will help us due to the fact that we are a small group - it is interesting what others think how we can improve.

Update of Short Film; Nine

Today me and my team, and two volunteers - one to control the camera and the other to play the part as Camellia - recorded some practice shots of 'Voices'. These include some shots in the car down a countryside road, the taxi driver and Hannah running and the taxi driver dragging Hannah up the stairs.

Originally we were going to do these shots three days earlier on the 26th October but due to there being a few of us needing to be available, events happen that mean not all of us can meet up together to do some shootings. We did eventually meet up in the end which everything went well and they agreed to arrange a date to do the final shoots.

Update of Short Film; Eight

Today me and my team started talking about some questions we will be asking our target audience about our short film. We found this difficult due to the fact that these questions are based on how we could improve our short film and that there are only two of us in the group to think of them.

Rejected Questions for Target Audience

What do you think the logline means?

We decided to not use the above question because it is not very explicit on what it wants the answerer to say. Also, any answer would unlikely help us on improving our short film.

What do you think the target audience is regarding age and class and why? (Higher/Middle/Working)

We decided not to use the above question due to the fact that thrillers have a large target audience and that they question, to some may be too personal.

What would you expect each of the characters personalities to be?
We decided to not use the question above due to the fact that it will not benefit our short film and any answers may appear in the answers for other questions.

Questions to Ask Target Audience

1) What sort of content do you like to see in a five minute thriller short film?
This will give us the implication whether we are including any thing that the audience likes to see in a thriller short films. If not we could then see if there is any possible way we could do it.

2) What is your general opinion on short films and would you normally choose to watch them? Why (not)?
This could give us a stable base line of our target audience research in terms of the popularity of short films. By them giving reasons we could then evaluate if there is any possible way we could attract them to ours.

3) Would you consider yourself to seek escape, security or discovery when choosing to watch a film?
This would give us the idea of what category the specific audience falls into demographic wise and gives us another base line for our target audience research.

4) From reading the synopsis of our short film, what is your reaction?
This could signify the readers interest of the synopsis and the general idea of what the film is going to be. It could give us answers whether; is it a typical thriller or does it subvert, does it sound too complicated and is there any kind of emotion that the film could create.

5) Would you choose to see this film from just reading the synopsis, explain why (not).
This could suggest whether or not the synopsis is enganging enough for the reader to watch the short film and possibly suggest an ideal improvement. Also, it can provide us a general point of view of this particular individuals taste in its genre. For instance they may not want to watch it because they prefer another specific genre.

6) Do you think the genre is obvious? Explain.
This will provide us the answer to see whether we are creating the thriller appropriately. It is important to create the correct element in the short film other wise it will not be successful. 


7) Overall, do you think the short film could be improved? How so? (Could it be improved narrative wise?)
This question will give us an insight on how we could possibly change the short film. We will consider the points and see if it is possible to change it to improve it.

Filming Schedule

From 29th October:

We know that sometime in November, a weekend, that the scenes in Ireland will be shot. We will know specifically, nearer the time. However, due to the possibility that there would not be a gig on the weekend in November that would be filmed in Ireland, a resident promised to film us a footage of a gig as back up. This is possible due to the fact that the shots with the girl watching the gig is in a point of view shot.

Likewise, with the other shots, such as the car scenes, would also be shot in November. We have agreed to do the house scene first, due to it being small it will take less time to do. We can do that in one of our free periods during the day as it is more likely to be quiet (children will be at school). For the car and running scene it is much larger so would have to be recorded during the weekend where we have the whole day to do it.

We have started filming practice shots and we will continue it during half term, we have decided to practice the car scene on the 29th October. With this we can then decide what we need to change for our final piece and whether all of our shots will work.

From 8th November:

We discussed further about when exactly we will record our scenes. It is likely that the Ireland scene will be conducted in late November and the others before hand. Me and my team agreed that we will still do the scene in the house first, where I 'drag' Hannah up the stairs and place her in the cupboard while Camellia watches. This wont take long so we can do it while the children are at school, which will reduce the likelihood of background noise, during one of our free periods. We agreed to do this Friday, the 11th November, but we have to ask the volunteers if they can do this.

Likewise, due to the team not being available on any weekends for personal reasons and to film the scenes in Ireland, that we will possibly do the 24th November as its a day we can both do due to nearly a full day to record. We have to ask the volunteers if they are available at the relevant times as well. We agreed that we need as much of a full day as possible due to the running and car scene going a while to do properly - out takes etc.

From 10th November:

Unfortunately, Camellia is unavailable for filming tomorrow, on the 11th November so we decided, due to Julia (camerawoman) being available, that we will do the car and running scenes. We decided to do them during our media lesson so we can be careful with the lighting - wont be to dark for example. Another time we will have to record the clips of Camellia in the car which we will have to take in account of continuity, for instance the lighting. Overall, we were originally going to do the house scene first but with it being short we thought we will do it all when Camellia is available.

From 18th November:

Today we discussed when we would next do some shots of what we have left for the running and car scene and to do all of the house scene. We thought of possibly doing a week today - the 22nd November. We can do the shots during the media lesson and lunch (and which we know that Camellia will be available due to no lessons). She agreed in less something else arises on which we she would have to use her time accordingly. We are still not sure exactly when the Ireland scene will be recorded, possibly the weekend commencing the 25th November.

From 22nd November:

Due to the weather being dark and damp we cannot conduct further filming like we originally planned, for instance the car and running scenes. This is because the shots will have poor lighting and possibly affect our continuity with the paths being wet. We cannot film the shots inside the house due to the fact that Camellia is unavailable. Alternatively, we agreed to film on Thursday 24th November as one volunteer is available but may not be possible weather depending. The day after however, is forecasted to have sun making it possible that we could do the filming then.

We cannot film anything in Ireland due to the band members being unavailable but we have backup shots which we can use.

From 24th November:

In the end we decided to do further practice shots when we saw that the weather was appropriate for our filming (and lighting was in good condition) - we were free for the day and decided to do it during lunch time (most light available). We filmed the shots of me in the taxi besides the shot be showing the weapon. Also, we redone the dialogue for Hannah in the car. We did not conduct any more due to the fact that we only had one volunteer available.

With Camellia being forecasted to not be available for a while we decided to choose another volunteer for our other character role. They said they would be able to be filmed on the 26th November.

From 26th November:

We conducted a few shots of me with the weapon, both in the taxi driver and running. We also conducted all the filming of our volunteers character and the shots in my house.

From 29th November:

When we looked back at our shots of what we did over the week we realised that some parts would need to be redone for the purpose of continuity not being effected and that some of the camera angles are not correct. We are unsure when we would do this.

Target Audience

The target audience for our short film 'Voices' has a wide range due to to horror/thriller movies being popular. However, to be exact we believe that it would mainly appeal to ages between 15-35. Despite this though, and with horrors/thrillers being broad in the terms of audience, there may be a few exceptions. For instance, people over 35, such as my parents, may prefer this type of genre rather than comedy, for example. It also depends on interests, for example,  some people may be interested in the psychological parts on which the taxi driver experiences with Camellia.

The reason we decided that specific age bracket, is with it being a psychological thriller, it may confuse people under 15 (may not be mature enough) and with the scenes which we will shoot, we believe that the short film should be rated 15. Another point, that is usually the specific age bracket you see in cinemas.

In psychographic terms, the people would mainly be mainstreamers due to such popularity of horrors and thrillers. They appeal to a wide range of audience rather than a specific or niche audience. Other psychographics could include explorers because they value individualism and are part of the demographic of students which is likely to be our main audience. Another would be strugglers due to the fact that they seek escape from their every day life and may want to see bad situations occur on screen to make their life seem better. It could also be a way to forget their troubles.

In demographic terms, it would mainly be people who fall into the category E, meaning it applies to students and/or people with low skill jobs. It would also apply to those who are considered to be in the middle class, as well as the working class, yet again due to the fact that thrillers and horrors appeal to a wide audience, meaning those who fall into the category D, C2 and C1. It would not appeal to upper classes, or those who fall into the category's A and B as they are typically associated with action movies (particularly as they include upper class characters in them).

Uses and gratifications would be to entertain.

Storyboard Draft

This is the first draft of our storyboard. Everything is complete besides all the times which we left out for decision after our practice shots. 

Update of Short Film; Seven

We have finally finished our storyboard which we will follow to create our short film. However, we have decided to leave the timings of the shots after we done various practice shots so we have a proper ideal time of what they should be.

However, we still need to write our script which will contain all the dialogue all the characters will say.

Characters

In order of appearance;


Hannah Clarkson (the girl)

Nicky Brennan (band member)

Darren Sweeney (band member)

Ian White (band member)

Ricky Byrne (band member)

(Extra's may include; Tony Brennan, Sandra Brennan, Gerry Byrne, Louise Coghlan, Gordo Sweeney, Gerry Sweeney, Justin Coghlan, Donna Simmonson, Conor Dempsey, Hugh O'Hagan, Karl Murphy, Laura Clifford, Tristan Carroll, Mary Whitely, Gillian Lynch)


Tizzy Parry-Ettridge (psychopathic taxi driver)

Originally: Camellia Nixon (figment of taxi drivers imagination)

Alternative: Jemini Shukla

What We Learned from the Practice Shots; Room Scene

We have learned that the dialogue is best not used in this scene and that we will use the information about the characters life in another - the car scene.

Another point is that we believed that the last shot, with the phone was too long for the first practice, mainly due to the dialogue. This was one reason we decided not to include it and when we conducted practice two and three, we agreed that putting non-diegetic music was the best approach for our short film at the beginning.

After some further discussion we also agreed that the second one had the better music relevant to our short film and will use it for our final piece which we can do due to the music belonging to an unsigned band that have given us permission to use their music.

Practice Shots; Room Scene

These shots have been conducted for us to estimate the appropriate times of each shot, which we will use for our short film. Due to the room which will be used to film for this scene unavailable (have to travel to Ireland) we have used this room in the meantime.

'Need you to leave'

'All falls down'

After us discussing about the first practice shot we have decided not to use dialogue. Instead, we decided to try two alternative songs from the unsigned band 'Seven Days' to see what one we prefer to use for our final piece.

Update on 25th November: we are no longer able to record in Ireland due to one of the band members not being available to be recorded. We decided to film in the room these shots were conducted in.

Locations

We were originally going to do the shots inside a house in Kildare, which includes the girl looking at her plane ticket and describing how she doesn't want to go home.

Alternatively, we will be filming the house scene in Hannah's house, located in Monkston.

Venue on which the gig will take place.

Dublin Airport, which will show the girl walking through the airport to go to England.

The car where most of the scenes will be shot in.

The road where the girl tries to run from and gets killed, located in Lakes Lane, Newport Pagnell due to it having a residential area and then countryside.

My house in Newport Pagnell which will show the shots of the girl getting dragged up the stairs and then placed into the cupboard.

Update of Short Film; Six

Me and my team have finally decided on the location (road) of the car scene and where the girl runs away from the car. This was difficult with the idea of using a countryside road, possibly with a part small residential area, that will not have many other vehicles driving through. This is because we may need to drive slow or stop regularly to reshoot scenes.

Update of Short Film; Five

Me and my team have discussed that taking a shot of the taxi driver looking into the rear view mirror may create potential problems by the camera being shown. We have agreed to attempt to use an angle to not show the camera which we will try to succeed doing on our practice shots.

After the dialogue introducing the characters and their backgrounds, and after the girl placing her earphones into her ears, we have decided to make the atmosphere more dark, psychological and such with the taxi driver and Camellia conversing about the future murder. This we hope, we create tension.

Another point, is that before the appearance of the title, we have a scene on where there is a gig. We cannot draw the location or say its name onto our storyboard, as we don't know yet where it will be held.

Update of Short Film; Four

With the absence of my team I had to think of the ideas on which will appear in the scenes by myself in the car (however, we had a brief overview before hand on some ideas we could include). I thought of the idea to make the taxi driver seem psychotic from close to the beginning of her appearance by her use of language and behaviour.

Another point, on which I thought about in more detail and which I discussed with my team mate previously, is the problem that the car has three doors unlike a normal taxi (meaning difficulty for the girl to get out) and that there are no taxi signs on the car. This means that we have to improvise the idea that she is getting out of the car and only show the bonnet of the car on the scene that is outside.

Update of Short Film; Three

Me and my team have finished the first part of the short film, before the appearance of the title. We have also thought of the times on which each shot will last and agreed on taking turns on writing the ideas down for each page of the storyboard.

Music

This is the music (song) on which we will be using in our short film; 'Voices' due to it describing our plot line.



We are also using (also songs by 'Seven Days'): 'Again' and 'All falls down'

Update of Short Film; Two

Me and my team looked on our previous blog to look at the mistakes we did in our previous storyboard (for a previous production) and thought on ways to avoid these mistakes and to create a better quality storyboard.

After that we eventually decided for the scene in the bedroom to fade to black and show the girl looking at her watch before entering the place on which the gig will be held. Due to us not knowing the location of the gig and the layout we have to do a basic sketch and description of our shots which we will edit once we know the details.

Update of Short Film; One

After a while me and my team have finally decided on how to start our short film. Before we were contemplating on how to make the audience really that the first scene is in Ireland, for instance showing the flag or scenery or just letting the audience figure it out with the accents.

Eventually we came up with the idea that the protagonist shows her plane ticket, in first person then the camera changes to show herself looking at the ticket. Through out this, which continues when she looks at her phone for the time, she talks about her having to go home the next day and that there is a gig that evening with 'Seven Days' on which she will be attending.

Permission

This is permission from one of the band members to use the music they have created to include in our short film.

Practice Plans

Me and my team mate have decided that to create our short film to the best capabilities we can, that we will practise some scenes/shots that are more adventurous to see whether we can make them affective and whether we need one or two cameras to film.

These include;
- the scene in the car, for instance will the lighting be okay, is it possible to drive down a certain road (with one camera) that will not affect the continuity negatively
- the scene on which the body is dragged up the stairs, can we make it affective by looking like they are being dragged up with the sound effects and the posture of the murderer
- testing the cupboard to see whether we can fit a few people in to create the logline to 'life'
- the running scene to see whether it will be affective in a certain lighting, scenery, running with the camera etc
- any other scenes on which to estimate the time we have to use for each specific shot