Filming Update - Jess

We have finished the last of our filming now and we are beginning with the editing. We have uploaded most of the raw footage successfully, however we lost a major part of our story when filming so tonight we all have to meet up again. This was due to the fact we were one of the last ones to book our equipment out and therefore got a bad camera; which was out of focus once zoomed in on an object of significance, and was running low on the battery which meant we could not look back on recent footage. We finished the filming on Monday at the back of some charity shop from what we have uploaded onto the mac the footage seems to be fine apart from the missing out part and a couple of zoom ins on the main characters face. This time we have booked promptly and we will be able to finish filming tonight as a whole group, which will allow us plenty of time for the editing.
Here are some shots we were especially proud of:

Location Shots - Jack

Here are the initial ideas for filming loactions. I feel some work well to match the idea we have of a backstreet concealed alley.

Above is the shot we chose to use in the end as it was enclosed and more secretive, which is needed in a thriller to make the audience ask questions. We thought this was the most suitable place as it was hidden away more than the other so it was more private and we think it will give the audience the sense of the unknown; which makes it more like a proper thriller and allows the audience to feel the realism of the story.

These shots were behind Prezzo's and therefore were unsuitable as there were unwanted background noises of the chefs in the kitchens and at night there was noises of people chatting and we felt as a group it would be unsuitable.

Location Shots-Will

 

The location shots of our poker scene, we are going to blacken out the light with some black card and put a hole through the middle, which will act as a filter of the light. Also we will cover up both door windows with black sheets to make the room completly black apart from the light.We choose this room as it has no major windows and therefore it creates a dark and confined space, acting as a location of a real poker game.

Location Shots-Will, Jess, Dave

This is a location shot from the back of iceland in Haywards Heath, for the scene when Tom gets chucked out of the card game.

Will, Jack, Jess and Dave-Animatic

This is our animatic draft, showing roughly how long the basic shots will be, the final opening will show more detail and feature more elements and skills and movement in the frames.

Synopsis-Will

In a thrilling new film about a character who loses all, but then gets it all back, but its a very hard struggle to get where he once was. When Tom's (main character) luck runs out at the poker, he looses all; family, money, job. This is the story about how he claws everything back in many traumatic sequences then climaxes in a thrilling finally.

Lighting Decisions - David

The following points are a list of ideas of different uses of lighting we could use for our filming and how it can create moods of tension that would match the context of a thriller. We are also planning to film during the night so use of lighting will hopefully create a larger effect on the mood of the film and increase the level of tension.

.Backlighting - we are hoping to use this type of lighting when the stranger is standing in the door way which would create a sillhouete figure which would conceal his identity and curiosity will be developed over this character and may also suggest that this character is menacing because of his dark figure being portrayed from the backlighting.
The backlighting should also create a shadow over the Main Character's body which would suggest that this stranger is menacing and has some form of power over the Main Character which would therefore create tension because the shadow of the stranger makes the stranger appear threatening.

.Sidelighting - we are also planning to use this type of lighting for on the Main Character's face when there is a close up on his facial features as he is lying on the floor. This would illuminate one half of the character's face and would create a mysterious effect and could also indicate that something dark or disturbing has occured to him.

.Toplighting - this lighting may be used for the scene in the gambling room which would illuminate the top half of the characters faces. This should be effective because the lighting would allow the audience to see the characters' eyes clearer so the audience's focus is more on the eyes of the players and this creates a mood of suspicion and mystery.This therefore shows that this type of lighting is appropriate for this scene as this is a game involved in gambling where a lot of judgement of others people facial expressions is required.

Health and Safety- Jess

 Public places:

When filming in public places we have to put up a sign up to inform them so there are no disruptions or unwanted footage.

Outside the Facility:

We will need to include a load of cardboard boxes outside of the casino place so that when the main character lands on the floor when being chucked out they will be safer and are less likely to get harmed. As Jack has some old carpet we may use some of this as sometimes there is carpet out side of some form of gambling facility.

We will need to check for any sharp objects which are situated on the floor where the main character is filming, this is to make sure they will not get injured. 

 Lights:

We will also need sand bags to hold the lights down when in use, we will need to make sure that we wear gloves when  handling the lights as they get really hot.There will be someone next to the lights at all times to ensure they are safe, they will also be in charge of the wires to ensure we don't get tangled or trip over.

The Script - David

Characters: Tom (Main Character)
                  Stranger
                  Other Gamblers            

Scene 1of 2
Setting - Back alley of some form of gambling facility


Tom: (thrown violently to the floor)

Stranger: (concealed from view) Give me the money by tomorrow morning or your dead!

Tom: (lays on floor very still. Appears to be unconscious)

(Tom lays on floor for a long period of time and various camera angles are used to focus on specific enigma codes which then flashbacks of previous events occur - events including Tom gambling with other players)

Flashback 1 
Setting - Inside of the gambling facility where a poker game is taking place


(Tom is playing poker around a table with other players and is holding a hand of cards. Tom places bet in the middle of the table..)

Tom: All in.

Scene 1 of 2
Setting - Back to the original setting of the back alley

Tom: (opens eyes while laying still on floor)

The End

-We have purposely included very little dialogue in the script as this arouses curiosity and suspicion towards the story and the characters because without gaining any information from the dialogue, we as an audience have to work out what's going on in the story which matches the context of a thriller.

-We have also included flashbacks in the story to manipulate the narrative structure which also matches the context of a thriller because this creates an effect of mystery and tension throughout the story.

Prop Research - Jess

Props:

Location props:

 Further more we will include a table with a table cloth on for the game of poker/ blackjacks to proceed on.

We will have a pack of cards and a dice which will be referred back to throughout the story.

 Costume:
Clothing of characters:

We have decided as a group that the main character should wear smart casual clothing like a white shirt with dark black trousers and a tie. This makes him look presentable and allows the audience to perceive he has a higher status, and has some form of wealth. We also want the main character to wear smart clothing as the casino has a dress code and if he is dressed smart then it creates the sense of realism.

Hair and Make up: 

We will be using fake blood or tomato ketchup on the main characters shirt and on his face to show the audience he has been beaten up and he is hurt.
We will also tare the casual outfit to create realism for the audience.

Eye shadow will be used to make the main characters face appear bruised and battered. This will enable the audience to see that he has been beaten up but it will make them ask questions as to Why he is there? and how he got there? What happened?