Research and Planning G324
After a stress free summer holidays, it's time to get back to work and start section G324 of our A2 Media Studies course.
We begin the research and planning phase of my coursework, I have been placed into a group with Joe Flynn, Anna Smith and Emily Emmerson. We will be working together to create, plan and film a short movie, expected to be close to 5 minutes long.
Introduction - 11/09/17
Today was the first lesson to begin our A2 Media Studies coursework so we were immediately placed into our groups. We were instructed on what we are expected to do for our blogs and had discussions within our groups on some film ideas. This was a nice introduction as we were able to begin working straight away and told to carry out independent research on short films and other students blogs.
Researching Short Films - 11/09/17
In my first lesson we conducted individual research on short films with a variation of narratives, genre's and overall quality. I done this to help enhance my understanding on how to display an intriguing narrative within a limited time-frame. It provides me with greater knowledge of the most important and impactful elements to include from mine-en-scene, cinematography, editing and sound.
Tick Tock
This was the first film that I found after searching for short films. After reviewing this film, I was immensely impressed by the editing and cinematography as it used impactful effects and shots that kept me captivated. I thought it was the unique editing of the film which interested me whilst watching the video. It used an action match for the entire film which meant that it was difficult to lose interest as it you wanted to see the conclusion of the sequence. It also used an interesting technique of playing the film backwards which can be difficult to follow but that also ensures that the audience must be of an intelligent demographic to understand.the narrative which fits into the target audience of this film. The summary of the narrative is that it follows the last 5 minutes of a persons life and evokes the question into the audience that "if you had 5 minutes left to live ,what would would you do?" which I found was a success, as implementing thoughts and opinions into the audience's mind enables them to feel engaged with the film.
Roadside
I chose to watch and assess this film as it belongs to the thriller genre, which is the same genre I would like to film for my own short movie. This film was incredibly well structured in regards to the cinematography as it was taken in one shot. This suggests that, despite the film only being 4-5 minutes long, there was immense amount of time and effort put into planning the logistics of the film. The soundtrack complimented the dialogue in the film exquisitely as it was able to evoke a sense of mystery. This meant that the audience would be more attentive to the narrative of the film as they are able to feel more invested due to the non-diegetic music. A criticism I found whilst watching the film was the lack of clarity in the narrative as there wasn't a particularly clear indication as to what transpired in the film.
2AM: The Smiling Man
I watched this film as it was described as having elements of both thriller and horror, which is a similar direction I aspire to go down with my film. The film uses cinematography, albeit basic at points, is extremely effective in creating tension and fear. An example could be the close up of the main protagonists face as he looks at the assumed antagonist in this film. This shot showed the fear and confusion in the main protagonists face creating an empathetic effect on the audience. There were several shots that did not reveal what has happening in the scene and this was done to build tension for the viewer as they didn't receive the comfort of having full closure as to what was taking place in each scene. The mise-en-scene was expertly chosen from the dark street location to the unique and abnormal clothing of the man chasing the main protagonist. The soundtrack was in coherence to the scenes in the movie making it more immersive for the audience watching.
Researching Media Blogs -11/09/17
I conducted some individual research on some blogs from students who have previously taken the same course I am taking now, as well as reflecting on my own blog from last year.
A2 Student Blog: 3/20
After seeing the low marks this blog received, I thought that I should assess all the weaknesses in order to avoid them in my own blog. There was a severe lack of detail in a lot of areas, primarily research and planning. I also noticed that in the ancillary task the basis of the film poster was good but it had missed marks that could have been easily attained, such as adding a date. I think I will be able to ensure that I include intricate details that this blog lacked.
After seeing the low marks this blog received, I thought that I should assess all the weaknesses in order to avoid them in my own blog. There was a severe lack of detail in a lot of areas, primarily research and planning. I also noticed that in the ancillary task the basis of the film poster was good but it had missed marks that could have been easily attained, such as adding a date. I think I will be able to ensure that I include intricate details that this blog lacked.
The key things I noted was that this blog showed a distinct lack of effort and did not have enough content to receive a better grade. For example, the shot list only featured two shots which shows a clear lack of dedication and commitment. I hope that I can use this as a reminder to consistently improve my blog and ensure I can
A2 Student Blog: 18/20
I found that this blog was really successful in so many different aspects. For example, the creativity used in finding out the target audience was really unique and effective. It was clear that this student had a clear understanding of the variation that is necessary to create a blog that is informative, detailed and interesting. I feel like I can take inspiration from this blog as it is similar to what I want my blog this year to eventually look like. I am going to input more visual representations of work I carry out through v-logs, skits etc.
These screenshots illustrate her work in lesson, detail in description as well as how she carries out primary research which is essential to creating a successful blog. It also set up in an accessible and sophisticated format whilst not appearing generic.
A1 Waseem Ahmed Blog: 12/20
After looking at my own blog from last year I realised there are a lot of sections in which I failed to complete in sufficient detail. This was due to a lack of organisation as I believe I could have achieved so much more in completing my blog to a high enough quality. I believe that had I added more creativity to various sections I may have obtained a greater grade and more marks.
If I had better time management last year then I could have definitely accomplished more than I did. Therefore, this year I'm going to avoid being like Simba.
Film Ideas - 13/09/17
Within today's lesson, we were working within our groups discussing various narrative ideas for our film. We created a mind map with 3 narrative ideas and debated which one of them would be the most interesting and plausible to film in consideration of our resources.
The idea that we liked the most was the narrative about the post apocalyptic world which follows a male main protagonist who eventually drives himself into madness in his unsuccessful attempts of finding someone. I thought that the genre of thriller with the sub genre of drama is something that I have had previous experience with from both GCSE and AS Level Media Studies making it the idealistic choice for our film genre this year.
Short Film vs Feature Films
I felt that as we are creating a short film, it is important to discuss the key differences between feature films and short films. This will allow me to understand what I must implement into my own narrative and what is considered unnecessary for a 5 minute film.
After researching the best ways to write a short film, I discovered a list of steps that are essential to the success of short films.
1. The shorter, the better
One of the most important factors to creating a successful short film is to not input too much dialogue or complexities. This will overload the audience with too much information to completely understand and enjoy the film.
2. Keep the practicalities of writing in mind
When writing a short film, it is pivotal to write the story with a clear simplistic enough structure for the audience. This will add clarity and not confuse the audience as well as peers. The screen writer must ensure that the director and cast are able to understand the narrative.
3. Engage the reader
If the audience were to read the treatment or script of your film, it is absolutely necessary that they are engaged. The worst case scenario is they end up bored out of their minds by the description that they don't even consider watching the film. A good movie needs a good engage the reader..
4. Make it visual
It is important to captivate the audience. In a short film this is more difficult as the options are far more limited. The best way of achieving this in a short film is to use cinematography and creating visuals that create a sense of awe within the viewer.
5. Creating single moments
After you watch a film and are asked to summarise your thoughts on it, you will most likely reflect on a singular or handful of moments in the film. These moments define the entire film and it is necessary to have these moments be inspiring, chilling or dramatic to leave a lasting impression on your audiences. It can vary from a theme to a a singular shot to even a line of dialogue.
6. Avoid cliches
After researching the best ways to write a short film, I discovered a list of steps that are essential to the success of short films.
1. The shorter, the better
One of the most important factors to creating a successful short film is to not input too much dialogue or complexities. This will overload the audience with too much information to completely understand and enjoy the film.
2. Keep the practicalities of writing in mind
When writing a short film, it is pivotal to write the story with a clear simplistic enough structure for the audience. This will add clarity and not confuse the audience as well as peers. The screen writer must ensure that the director and cast are able to understand the narrative.
3. Engage the reader
If the audience were to read the treatment or script of your film, it is absolutely necessary that they are engaged. The worst case scenario is they end up bored out of their minds by the description that they don't even consider watching the film. A good movie needs a good engage the reader..
4. Make it visual
It is important to captivate the audience. In a short film this is more difficult as the options are far more limited. The best way of achieving this in a short film is to use cinematography and creating visuals that create a sense of awe within the viewer.
After you watch a film and are asked to summarise your thoughts on it, you will most likely reflect on a singular or handful of moments in the film. These moments define the entire film and it is necessary to have these moments be inspiring, chilling or dramatic to leave a lasting impression on your audiences. It can vary from a theme to a a singular shot to even a line of dialogue.
6. Avoid cliches
Featuring cliches in your film can leave a devastating effect, especially for short films. This can be easily understood as short films need to stand out from one another. The originality is decisive in a film being a success or a failure. A typical rom-com won't cut it on the independent scene as the budget doesn't allow the cinematography or editing to be unique so it is essential to use innovative ways of bypassing cliches and create a short film that exerts originality.
The Final Idea - 18/09/17
After reviewing and discussing our apocalyptic narrative idea we all felt that it lacked originality and we wanted to move towards a more realistic direction for our narrative. Therefore, we all collaborated with one another to create a new and improved idea. The new narrative still belongs to the thriller genre as we all feel that this is the genre we feel we are most experienced with.
This new narrative follows a teenage boy who seeks revenge on a cab driver who raped and murdered his mother several years ago. This sets a darker and more serious tone to the film making it more realistic for the audience. The narrative will begin with the boy and show him calling a cab over at the side of an abandoned road in a forest sequel location. The cab driver will let the boy into his cab and begins trying to find out more about him. However, the cab driver begins to show suspicious tendencies and motivations throughout the journey as he drives the boy home. Flashbacks will appear of the cab driver taking a woman home from when he was younger. It'll show his retelling of the story that he was kindly offering her a lift home as she had no money left. Then once the boy reaches his home, the boy pulls a gun on the cab driver and then shows the true narrative of the cab driver forcing the woman into his cab then going into her home and murdering her. The flashback will also show the teenage boy as a child hiding in the room where his mother was killed. This will explain how the boy knows that the cab driver is a murderer. The boy will get the cab driver to confess and points the gun at him before the scene fades out.
Treatment - The first draft - 18/09/17
The year is 2017, a teenage boy walks along a countryside road, he appears disheartened and distraught. Quickly approaching the teenager, is a cab driver. The cab driver appears to slow down as he notices the teenager and offers him cab fare. The teenager glances at him and nods. He enters the cab.
In the cab, the driver asks where he would like to be taken. The boy responds very chillingly but precisely. He says in Chigwell and provides a post code to the cab driver. Feeling uncomfortable by the teenager's eerie silence the cab driver tries to converse. He talks about meeting a woman in one of his first cab journeys to Chigwell and describes her as beautiful but as soon as she tried to flirt with him, he declined as she had previously mentioned she had a partner and child, during the journey. He knew he did not want ruin a happy home.
As the journey progressed, the cab diver becomes more familiar to his surroundings. He starts beginning to sweat the closer he gets. He starts driving faster and asks the boy how much further he must drive. The boy responds "just a bit further" every time. The tension inside the driver grows immensely. He is unable to fully understand why he feels this way but he knows something terrible has happened.
The cab driver pulls up outside the house. The boy asks the cab driver to step outside the cab and get his bags from the boot. the cab driver obliges. The cab driver extends his hands to give the boy his bags but the boys arms remain firmly by his sides. The boy stares at him coldly and says "I know". Flashbacks begin to play as the aforementioned journey plays out. There's a difference in this retelling of the story. The cab driver was passive aggressive, insisting he must help the woman carry her bags into her home. Once, he enters the home he attacks the woman and then proceeds to rape her. In fear that she would call the police on him, he murders her and frames it as her suicide. Hiding in one of the rooms was a young boy who saw the murder unfold. Now, the same young boy stands in front of the cab driver, prepared to avenge his mother's death.
Character Profile Research - 20/09/17
To find out how to develop our protagonists I decided to carry out some research into characters that share similarities from films and TV shows. I will compare them our protagonists and how they differ and relate to one another. It'll also help influence the direction we aim to go with our characters.
Tony Stonem (Nicholas Hoult)
For our main protagonist, I chose to look at the character of Tony Stonem, played by Nicholas Hoult, from series 1 and 2 of Skins. I chose this character as I believe he shares many similarities with our main protagonist but also shows some contrast in characteristics. Tony Stonem is an intellectual teenager that appears as ordinary for someone of his age, this is what we are trying to convey in our own main protagonist. He dresses appropriately and doesn't dress obscenely as it helps build up the belief he is a standard teenager. However, there is some contrast as Tony's character can be considered as an antagonist at some points through his immoral actions which is something that we aren't trying to implement in our film. I do believe that there are more similarities than differences bet
Thomas Stephen (Dylan O'Brian)
An alternative character I researched was Thomas Stephen as he has similar characteristics to our main protagonist in a different way to Tony Stonem, Firstly, he is a teenager that is intelligent and brave just like our main protagonist. He shows he has a variety of skills such as creating solutions to problems that are placed in front of him. A difference between him and our main protagonist is that this character lives within a surreal cinematic universe therefore the way he acts can be considered unrealistic to that of a standard teenager. Overall, I feel that he represents our main protagonist in some ways but not completely.
Jeff Hope (Phil Davis)
The first character I researched was Jeff Hope, portrayed by Phil Davis, from season one episode one from Sherlock. This is because I envisage our main antagonist in our film to this antagonist in Sherlock. Firstly, the simplistic comparison is that they are both recognised as taxi drivers but have criminal tendencies that nobody is aware about. In our film, the antagonist is a serial killer and rapist which is similar to Jeff Hope as he also is regarded as a serial killer. However, in my opinion, I believe that their personalities intertwine with one another as they are the ultimate deceivers in pulling a facade to manipulate their victims into entering their taxi's to murder them. Jeff Hope also manages to express an uncomfortable aura to his character but to an extent where his crimes would still seem obscene to commit, for a protagonist with his personality.
Character Name Research - 20/09/17
Narrative References
For our narrative, I decided to look at short films and feature film narratives that share similarities to our film. I also compared specific scenes that may influence the way we shoot our own.
Law abiding citizen
In our film, one of the significant themes of the narrative is revenge. This film can relate to this theme because the main protagonist, Clyde Shelton, seeks revenge on those who associated with the murder of his daughter and wife. These are similar motivations to our main protagonist, Isaac Wright, as he seeks revenge on Frank Goodman for murdering his mother. This shows that a clear comparison can be made with both narratives. A difference between both narratives is that our film is catered to a short film audience whereas Law Abiding Citizen is a feature film therefore it is intended to display a journey over a longer period of time. However, the key themes are similar in both narratives.
Roadside
As we drafted ideas for our narrative, we all agreed that we should take inspiration from short films. This is what we did with Roadside as we felt that the cinematography and editing created an enticing narrative for the audience to immerse themselves into. The context of scene shares some similarities as they both feature vehicles picking up strangers. However, our film has more depth to the narrative as we have a clear background story that is established whereas the narrative of Roadside can be considered as lacking in clarity. The intensity is something both our films share and we want to build a climax in a similar tone to Roadside.
Spiderman Homecoming (Car Scene)
I chose to look at this scene from Spider-man Homecoming as, despite having several differences in genre and narrative, it does share a similar scenario to the primary scene in our film. This is because we want to evoke drama and a tone of intensity through the facial expressions, sound and dialogue among other factors. The roles of the main protagonists are ideal to compare to our film as in the back seat is the young teenage main protagonist who appears as a normal person considering his demographic. In addition, the main antagonist is driving the car and is trying to converse with the young nervous main protagonist who seems reluctant. The dialogue alone doesn't reveal the antagonists true sinister intentions. However, the non-diegetic music creates the connotation that there is a conflict between the protagonists. This is something that can influence the way our scene could be filmed.
Theorist Comments - 25/09/17
For my theorist comments I have decided to create a presentation, in which I will present theories related to genre, narrative and audience. I will also justify how they intertwine with my film and why I'll be following aspects from all of them to create a successful short film.
Group Responsibilities - 29/09/17
For our group responsibilities we have all agreed that we will all contribute to every aspect of creating the film. This varies from directing, filming, editing and finding soundtracks. This is because it is unfair to restrict any of us from contributing to the final film. We all want to demonstrate our capabilities and to do this we want to work together cohesively on everything in order to achieve this. We have assigned group responsibilities however just to ensure that we all have priorities on what we must accomplish. The table isn't a true reflection of what the roles will be but Emily designated roles out of necessity for our blogs. I intend on doing more than just writing a script and doing sound.
Prop List - 29/09/17
1) Taxi Sign & Taxi Pocket Holder
We agreed we need this to help legitimise the character profile of our antagonist 'Frank Goodman' as he is a taxi driver therefore if we add a taxi sign and pocket holder it will add a sense of realism for the audience to buy into.
2) Cigarettes, Alcohol Bottles and Plastic Bags
We are adding these props to our film to use as a device to show the audience that our film features common themes in daily life. This is so they understand our protagonists are normal people living in the same environment as you and I. It further buys into the realism of our narrative and the intensity that builds up. We will use a plastic bag to cover the contents of the alcohol bottle as we don't want to put a primary focus on adult themes, such as alcoholism.
3) Vaseline & Handcuffs
We are using these props in Frank Goodman's taxi in a compartment to subtly hint at his abnormal tendencies and create an impression that he is an unusual protagonist. This hopefully creates a discomforting feeling from the audience towards the antagonist. It provides the audience with justification to not trust or admire the antagonist without the plot of the narrative being revealed.
Equipment List
Nick Canon 700D
Tripod
A simple yet vital piece of equipment, the tripod will help us with several shots in our film. It will help add stability and steadiness to our scenes so we won't have to worry about any shaking making the cinematography process easier for us.
Neewar Shoulder mount
SanDisk Card (64GB)
We made a group video of our equipment in which Joe and I attempt to sell our equipment to Anna.
Edited by Anna
Location scouting - 3/10/17
My group and I discussed potential locations in lesson and we felt that we needed to scout these locations together outside of school and come to a conclusion. We spent over 2 hours travelling in various areas looking for where we could film the first act of our film. We were primarily looking for a quiet road surrounded by trees or a field, that is accessible for us to film at. We filmed a Vlog together showing roads that we could and couldn't use for our film.
After spending a few hours scouting for potential locations, we concluded that we will be filming on Millers Lane in Chigwell. We feel as if this road fits the profile of our idealistic location as, shown above, the road is somewhat secluded and is surrounded by trees and a field.
We also needed a house to use for the flashback scene of our film so Joe volunteered to use his house as the location because it is accessible and is appropriate for the profile we desired. In addition, during the scene we are filming a flashback so we are casting Joe's younger brother to play the character of 'Isaac Wright', as a child. This means it is convenient to film at Joe's house as his younger brother lives there so he won't have to travel in order to film.
We asked Joe to send us some pictures of his house to help us plan some of the shots we may choose to film in our movie.
We agreed that Joe's house is definitely appropriate for our film as we want to have an ordinary setting and home for our main protagonist to maintain realism and ensure that the narrative has authenticity. This is also because the antagonist taxi driver may appear suspicious if our teenage protagonist who dresses normally lives in a lavish mansion or in a ransacked abandoned house.
Treatment Factor - 12/10/17
Edited by Emily
My group and I have created a short video that shows what we feel makes a good treatment and what is and isn't necessary. I competed with 'Ben', played by the phenomenal Joe Flynn, to win Treatment Factor by impressing the judges (with horrendous accents) Anna and Emily. This video demonstrates that it is necessary to put a focus on the language and terminology in a treatment and that it should not be overlooked. This has helped prepare me for my final treatment.
Target Audience
Joe, Anna and I made a short film regarding target audience presented in the format of a quiz show. Joe would ask me a bunch of questions related to our film and I would provide answers based upon my prior research on target audience.
Edited by Anna
Age Certificate
Our film needs to be classified with an age certificate to establish our target audience so I carried out some research into different age certificate ranges and how they differentiate.
The 3 main age ratings that can be considered as potentially suitable for our film are 12, 15 and 18 rated. Therefore, I will break down all these age ratings and use examples to help indicate whether or not it is the most appropriate age certificate for our film.
Examples of popular films aged 12 rated from the past year include 'Star Wars: The Last Jedi', 'Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle' and 'Justice League'. These films illustrate the limitations of genres within the 12 Age Certificate. Firstly, all of these films share several similarities. The first of which being that they all attempt to implement comedy and a general light hearted tone to their films. A similarity with our film is that they have a sense of intensity through action which is what we aim to create but in a darker and more mature tone. They also show that their film are targeted to a family friendly audience. However, in our film we aim to attract an older demographic for our target audience therefore the age rating of 12 can be duly ruled out of the equation.
The next age rating is 15 which differentiates greatly from the age rating of 12 in terms of genre and narrative. Some of the most popular releases from 2017 are 'IT', 'Logan' and 'Get Out'. All these films explore dark themes and require a slightly more mature audience in comparison to the aforementioned 12 rated films. This definitely fits into the aspiration of our film as we aim to explore themes such as sexual assault, murder and corruption which are suitable for a film that is 15 rated. Our film will feature some profanity and a death scene however this is not graphic or too extreme. Thus making the age certificate of 15 the most appropriate for our film so far.
The final age certificate to explore is the 18 rating. The most well known examples of successful 18 rated films are 'The Shining', 'Trainspotting' and 'Sin City'. These films are very dark in terms of narrative. It is difficult to differentiate between the age rating of 15 and 18 as they both share similarities in the mature themes and dark tones. However, films that are 18 tend to feature more vulgar, explicit and gory scenes which we won't be able to show in our film. This rules out us rating our film 18.
After breaking down this list as well as various other sources, that explains summaries of each and every age certificate, I have concluded with that the age certificate that is most suitable for our film is age 15.
Film Title Research and Ideas
For our film title, we discussed lots of potential ideas and ways of creating a title that appeals to a mass audience. Joe and I discussed some ideas about how we wanted something short but interesting. I suggested that we could use a juxtaposition of two words as our title to hint at the themes of the narrative but also confuse them as we don't want to give any major plot points to the audience immediately. Our genre is thriller so we intend to provoke thoughts and theories from our audience. An example of a title which juxtaposes I suggested was 'Immoral Justice'. Joe suggested that we could use a metaphor for our title and using animalistic imagery. He suggested 'The Viper in the Trees'. We felt that this may be too long for a title and doesn't necessarily represent our narrative in the best manner. Afterwards, we thought we need to have a one word title in order for it to be concise and effective.
Final Film Title
The title we have all agreed on is 'Deceit' for our film. This is because we felt that this is a subtle theme of our film as our antagonist uses deceit to escape the consequences of his murders as well as our main protagonist avoids suspicion from the cab driver by using deceit. However, we do not reveal the entire plot, rather hint at it. It is also a short one word title, which was desired after conducting our film title research.
Final Treatment - 25/10/17
Group Responsibilities Video
This was a fun little video my group and I made, discussing potential roles for our film. It's another example of why we are considered as having the best chemistry with one another, compared to other groups. We're almost inseparable. I'm not really sure why I'm dressed as a builder to be honest but it was fun nevertheless. This provides some insight to our skill sets and capabilities.
I have carried out research into similar products and established my target audience. These products include various short film openings and products belonging to the thriller genre.
To find out how to develop our protagonists I decided to carry out some research into characters that share similarities from films and TV shows. I will compare them our protagonists and how they differ and relate to one another. It'll also help influence the direction we aim to go with our characters.
Tony Stonem (Nicholas Hoult)
For our main protagonist, I chose to look at the character of Tony Stonem, played by Nicholas Hoult, from series 1 and 2 of Skins. I chose this character as I believe he shares many similarities with our main protagonist but also shows some contrast in characteristics. Tony Stonem is an intellectual teenager that appears as ordinary for someone of his age, this is what we are trying to convey in our own main protagonist. He dresses appropriately and doesn't dress obscenely as it helps build up the belief he is a standard teenager. However, there is some contrast as Tony's character can be considered as an antagonist at some points through his immoral actions which is something that we aren't trying to implement in our film. I do believe that there are more similarities than differences bet
Thomas Stephen (Dylan O'Brian)
Jeff Hope (Phil Davis)
The first character I researched was Jeff Hope, portrayed by Phil Davis, from season one episode one from Sherlock. This is because I envisage our main antagonist in our film to this antagonist in Sherlock. Firstly, the simplistic comparison is that they are both recognised as taxi drivers but have criminal tendencies that nobody is aware about. In our film, the antagonist is a serial killer and rapist which is similar to Jeff Hope as he also is regarded as a serial killer. However, in my opinion, I believe that their personalities intertwine with one another as they are the ultimate deceivers in pulling a facade to manipulate their victims into entering their taxi's to murder them. Jeff Hope also manages to express an uncomfortable aura to his character but to an extent where his crimes would still seem obscene to commit, for a protagonist with his personality.
Character Name Research - 20/09/17
Isaac Wright
For our main protagonist, we have agreed on the name 'Isaac Wright' as we believe that this name shows that he is British which is the location of our film. It helps show the audience that Protagonist is young as 'Isaac' is not a traditional angelical name. It is also an uncommon name so hopefully it creates the impression that this protagonist is intellectual and has a unique aura.
Frank Goodman
Frank Goodman is the name we have chosen for our main antagonist. The name 'Frank' is a common name, which is applicable to most cab drivers, especially as he is going to possess cockney characteristics. The surname 'Goodman' is an English surname that can be considered old fashioned and implies that the cab driver is an older male protagonist compared to our main protagonist.
Susan Kingsman
Susan Kingman is going to be the deceased mother of Isaac Wright and is a significant plot device. She has a different surname to the main protagonist despite being related. This is because we don't want the audience to notice the same surname between the mother and the son as that would give away that the main protagonist wants to avenge his mothers death.
Casting
Isaac Wright - Joe Flynn
For our main protagonist, Isaac Wright, we have casted Joe Flynn. Joe has had previous acting experience in short films, adverts and theatre shows so we felt we should utilise his talent. Joe shares similarities with Isaac as they are both teenagers and have similar ethnic backgrounds in that they are both English. Joe appeared to be enthusiastic to act which only further justifies our decision to cast him as Isaac. Also, casting options were very limited so if Joe wouldn't act then I would have had to play Isaac and that would be disastrous for everybody involved in the film.
Frank Goodman - Mark Flynn
Susan Kingsman - Emily Emmerson
For the mother of Isaac, Susan Kingsman, we elected Emily Emmerson. Susan is an integral protagonist the narrative plot however she does not have any dialogue and will only feature in a couple of scenes. We agreed Emily should play Susan as Anna will most likely be filming the scenes of Susan therefore should wouldn't be able to also act as her. Emily is also a young adult which is similar to Susan's age.
Susan Kingman is going to be the deceased mother of Isaac Wright and is a significant plot device. She has a different surname to the main protagonist despite being related. This is because we don't want the audience to notice the same surname between the mother and the son as that would give away that the main protagonist wants to avenge his mothers death.
Casting
Isaac Wright - Joe Flynn
For our main protagonist, Isaac Wright, we have casted Joe Flynn. Joe has had previous acting experience in short films, adverts and theatre shows so we felt we should utilise his talent. Joe shares similarities with Isaac as they are both teenagers and have similar ethnic backgrounds in that they are both English. Joe appeared to be enthusiastic to act which only further justifies our decision to cast him as Isaac. Also, casting options were very limited so if Joe wouldn't act then I would have had to play Isaac and that would be disastrous for everybody involved in the film.
Frank Goodman - Mark Flynn
This casting choice was ideal for our group as Joe's dad, Mark, accepted the role of Frank Goodman. Initially, we asked one of our fellow students to play Frank in our film however we had to change that decision as we needed Frank to drive in several scenes. Joe then suggested his dad as he is the perfect age of Frank Goodman as he's in his 40s and can drive. Mark does not have much acting experience but hopefully this will not hinder our film. Joe can also provide his acting expertise to his dad if it comes down to it.
Susan Kingsman - Emily Emmerson
For the mother of Isaac, Susan Kingsman, we elected Emily Emmerson. Susan is an integral protagonist the narrative plot however she does not have any dialogue and will only feature in a couple of scenes. We agreed Emily should play Susan as Anna will most likely be filming the scenes of Susan therefore should wouldn't be able to also act as her. Emily is also a young adult which is similar to Susan's age.
For our narrative, I decided to look at short films and feature film narratives that share similarities to our film. I also compared specific scenes that may influence the way we shoot our own.
Law abiding citizen
In our film, one of the significant themes of the narrative is revenge. This film can relate to this theme because the main protagonist, Clyde Shelton, seeks revenge on those who associated with the murder of his daughter and wife. These are similar motivations to our main protagonist, Isaac Wright, as he seeks revenge on Frank Goodman for murdering his mother. This shows that a clear comparison can be made with both narratives. A difference between both narratives is that our film is catered to a short film audience whereas Law Abiding Citizen is a feature film therefore it is intended to display a journey over a longer period of time. However, the key themes are similar in both narratives.
Roadside
As we drafted ideas for our narrative, we all agreed that we should take inspiration from short films. This is what we did with Roadside as we felt that the cinematography and editing created an enticing narrative for the audience to immerse themselves into. The context of scene shares some similarities as they both feature vehicles picking up strangers. However, our film has more depth to the narrative as we have a clear background story that is established whereas the narrative of Roadside can be considered as lacking in clarity. The intensity is something both our films share and we want to build a climax in a similar tone to Roadside.
Spiderman Homecoming (Car Scene)
I chose to look at this scene from Spider-man Homecoming as, despite having several differences in genre and narrative, it does share a similar scenario to the primary scene in our film. This is because we want to evoke drama and a tone of intensity through the facial expressions, sound and dialogue among other factors. The roles of the main protagonists are ideal to compare to our film as in the back seat is the young teenage main protagonist who appears as a normal person considering his demographic. In addition, the main antagonist is driving the car and is trying to converse with the young nervous main protagonist who seems reluctant. The dialogue alone doesn't reveal the antagonists true sinister intentions. However, the non-diegetic music creates the connotation that there is a conflict between the protagonists. This is something that can influence the way our scene could be filmed.
Theorist Comments - 25/09/17
For my theorist comments I have decided to create a presentation, in which I will present theories related to genre, narrative and audience. I will also justify how they intertwine with my film and why I'll be following aspects from all of them to create a successful short film.
For our group responsibilities we have all agreed that we will all contribute to every aspect of creating the film. This varies from directing, filming, editing and finding soundtracks. This is because it is unfair to restrict any of us from contributing to the final film. We all want to demonstrate our capabilities and to do this we want to work together cohesively on everything in order to achieve this. We have assigned group responsibilities however just to ensure that we all have priorities on what we must accomplish. The table isn't a true reflection of what the roles will be but Emily designated roles out of necessity for our blogs. I intend on doing more than just writing a script and doing sound.
Prop List - 29/09/17
1) Taxi Sign & Taxi Pocket Holder
2) Cigarettes, Alcohol Bottles and Plastic Bags
We are adding these props to our film to use as a device to show the audience that our film features common themes in daily life. This is so they understand our protagonists are normal people living in the same environment as you and I. It further buys into the realism of our narrative and the intensity that builds up. We will use a plastic bag to cover the contents of the alcohol bottle as we don't want to put a primary focus on adult themes, such as alcoholism.
3) Vaseline & Handcuffs
We are using these props in Frank Goodman's taxi in a compartment to subtly hint at his abnormal tendencies and create an impression that he is an unusual protagonist. This hopefully creates a discomforting feeling from the audience towards the antagonist. It provides the audience with justification to not trust or admire the antagonist without the plot of the narrative being revealed.
Equipment List
Nick Canon 700D
We will be using the Nick Canon 700D camera for out film this year, as we did last year for ou film opening. We have all had experience with this camera and agree it is reliable and efficient. In addition, it comes with a RODE Microphone which enhances the sound quality of the scene and we will be able to hear our protagonists more coherently. In fact the only bad thing about this camera is that I had a dodgy haircut when the photo of it was taken. Those were some pretty dark days.
Tripod
Neewar Shoulder mount
Another important piece of equipment is the shoulder mount. It will be used in shots tracking protagonists. Especially in our opening where we follow the main protagonist down the road. It will also be used when we follow the young Isaac from his bed to the scene of his mother's death. Similarly to the tripod, it will add stability and make it easier for us to film.
The SD card will be using will have 64GB of storage. This allows to film as many takes as necessary without having to worry about using up storage as 64GB is plenty. It is ideal for us to store our footage in and justifies why we have chosen to use it.
We made a group video of our equipment in which Joe and I attempt to sell our equipment to Anna.
Location scouting - 3/10/17
My group and I discussed potential locations in lesson and we felt that we needed to scout these locations together outside of school and come to a conclusion. We spent over 2 hours travelling in various areas looking for where we could film the first act of our film. We were primarily looking for a quiet road surrounded by trees or a field, that is accessible for us to film at. We filmed a Vlog together showing roads that we could and couldn't use for our film.
After spending a few hours scouting for potential locations, we concluded that we will be filming on Millers Lane in Chigwell. We feel as if this road fits the profile of our idealistic location as, shown above, the road is somewhat secluded and is surrounded by trees and a field.
We also needed a house to use for the flashback scene of our film so Joe volunteered to use his house as the location because it is accessible and is appropriate for the profile we desired. In addition, during the scene we are filming a flashback so we are casting Joe's younger brother to play the character of 'Isaac Wright', as a child. This means it is convenient to film at Joe's house as his younger brother lives there so he won't have to travel in order to film.
We asked Joe to send us some pictures of his house to help us plan some of the shots we may choose to film in our movie.
We agreed that Joe's house is definitely appropriate for our film as we want to have an ordinary setting and home for our main protagonist to maintain realism and ensure that the narrative has authenticity. This is also because the antagonist taxi driver may appear suspicious if our teenage protagonist who dresses normally lives in a lavish mansion or in a ransacked abandoned house.
Treatment Factor - 12/10/17
My group and I have created a short video that shows what we feel makes a good treatment and what is and isn't necessary. I competed with 'Ben', played by the phenomenal Joe Flynn, to win Treatment Factor by impressing the judges (with horrendous accents) Anna and Emily. This video demonstrates that it is necessary to put a focus on the language and terminology in a treatment and that it should not be overlooked. This has helped prepare me for my final treatment.
Target Audience
Joe, Anna and I made a short film regarding target audience presented in the format of a quiz show. Joe would ask me a bunch of questions related to our film and I would provide answers based upon my prior research on target audience.
Age Certificate
Our film needs to be classified with an age certificate to establish our target audience so I carried out some research into different age certificate ranges and how they differentiate.
The 3 main age ratings that can be considered as potentially suitable for our film are 12, 15 and 18 rated. Therefore, I will break down all these age ratings and use examples to help indicate whether or not it is the most appropriate age certificate for our film.
Examples of popular films aged 12 rated from the past year include 'Star Wars: The Last Jedi', 'Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle' and 'Justice League'. These films illustrate the limitations of genres within the 12 Age Certificate. Firstly, all of these films share several similarities. The first of which being that they all attempt to implement comedy and a general light hearted tone to their films. A similarity with our film is that they have a sense of intensity through action which is what we aim to create but in a darker and more mature tone. They also show that their film are targeted to a family friendly audience. However, in our film we aim to attract an older demographic for our target audience therefore the age rating of 12 can be duly ruled out of the equation.
The next age rating is 15 which differentiates greatly from the age rating of 12 in terms of genre and narrative. Some of the most popular releases from 2017 are 'IT', 'Logan' and 'Get Out'. All these films explore dark themes and require a slightly more mature audience in comparison to the aforementioned 12 rated films. This definitely fits into the aspiration of our film as we aim to explore themes such as sexual assault, murder and corruption which are suitable for a film that is 15 rated. Our film will feature some profanity and a death scene however this is not graphic or too extreme. Thus making the age certificate of 15 the most appropriate for our film so far.
The final age certificate to explore is the 18 rating. The most well known examples of successful 18 rated films are 'The Shining', 'Trainspotting' and 'Sin City'. These films are very dark in terms of narrative. It is difficult to differentiate between the age rating of 15 and 18 as they both share similarities in the mature themes and dark tones. However, films that are 18 tend to feature more vulgar, explicit and gory scenes which we won't be able to show in our film. This rules out us rating our film 18.
After breaking down this list as well as various other sources, that explains summaries of each and every age certificate, I have concluded with that the age certificate that is most suitable for our film is age 15.
This is because our film features some mature and adult themes, including murder and rape. Therefore, it would not be appropriate for any children to view this film so the audiences of the age certificates of U, PG, 12A and 12 would not be permitted to view this film as they are too young and can experience trauma or negative influence from our film. In addition, the age certificate rating of 18 can be considered excessive as the scenes in our film never directly presents the explicit themes visually.
Film Title Research and Ideas
For our film title, we discussed lots of potential ideas and ways of creating a title that appeals to a mass audience. Joe and I discussed some ideas about how we wanted something short but interesting. I suggested that we could use a juxtaposition of two words as our title to hint at the themes of the narrative but also confuse them as we don't want to give any major plot points to the audience immediately. Our genre is thriller so we intend to provoke thoughts and theories from our audience. An example of a title which juxtaposes I suggested was 'Immoral Justice'. Joe suggested that we could use a metaphor for our title and using animalistic imagery. He suggested 'The Viper in the Trees'. We felt that this may be too long for a title and doesn't necessarily represent our narrative in the best manner. Afterwards, we thought we need to have a one word title in order for it to be concise and effective.
Final Film Title
The title we have all agreed on is 'Deceit' for our film. This is because we felt that this is a subtle theme of our film as our antagonist uses deceit to escape the consequences of his murders as well as our main protagonist avoids suspicion from the cab driver by using deceit. However, we do not reveal the entire plot, rather hint at it. It is also a short one word title, which was desired after conducting our film title research.
Final Treatment - 25/10/17
In the early hours of the morning, 6AM on MONDAY the 24th of DECEMBER 2018, ISAAC WRIGHT, a young lost teenager strolls along a road by a deserted winter forest. It is beyond cold and the boy holds himself tightly to prevent the warmth from escaping his body. Murmurs of Frank Sinatra’s eerie yet vibrant voice can be heard echoing through the woods from a cab, in the distance.
FRANK GOODMAN, the cab driver, spots the lost boy and slowly approaches him, with Frank Sinatra’s ‘One for my baby’ still playing on the radio. The cab driver curiously rolls down his window and questions the boy. The boy appears hesitant to talk initially but the driver decides to offer him a free lift, holding a cigarette in his mouth whilst he speaks. The boy takes one last look at the cold and decides to enter the cab.
As he begins instructing the cab driver of his destination, the boy is unable to avoid noticing the appalling quality of the cab. Bottles of alcohol are scattered in the backseats, packed up in carrier bags. The front passenger seat is levitated far back invading the back seat area. The car embarks on the journey to the boy’s home as the cab driver attempts to converse with the boy. The driver appears elevated in a strange sense, almost as if he has achieved an accomplishment recently. Perhaps it was the joyful Christmas spirit. The cab driver begins discussing women and some experiences he has had with them. The boy examines the cab driver intensely and listens attentively as he speaks.
They arrive at the destination. The cab driver says his goodbyes, however the boy does not leave, watching the cab driver like a hawk. The cab driver, unsettled, is confused by the boys stagnation. The boy points to the house, but says nothing. They stare at each other in silence. The boy informs the cab driver that he has been here before, three times, but on his last visit he decided never to return. As a matter of fact, this cab driver has a history of sexual assault and murder of innocent women but has never been caught by the police. The boy is aware of this as one of the drivers victims was the boy’s mother.
FLASHBACK to the boy at the age of nine, cautiously trembling down the stairs in terror at the sound of his mother screaming from the living room. Through the gaps of the stairs the boy can see his mother, SUSAN KINGSMAN, pinned onto the dining room table with drugs and pills scattered everywhere. Frank stands over the women hitting the back of her head repeatedly. The boy steps towards the slight of the door and begins to shed a tear. Frank notices and approaches the boy saying “She deserved it, mate”. Frank storms out the house and the boy runs to his mother, trying wake her from her overdosed drugged condition. The mother tragically dies in the arms of her child. The boy runs out of the house to see where Frank went but the driver is gone.
Another FLASHBACK occurs but the boy is now much older, it appears to be closer to the present day. Frank is driving down the road whilst cameras secretly follow him. The young boy is now on his phone, tracking Frank. He is with a team of assailants who are applying makeup on his face, he gets up and appears to be getting himself into character. The assailants hide. Isaac is now in the cab, another camera films where they go and there is another assailant positioned in the bush who presses a button as the car goes past, to lock the car doors. FLASHBACK to Frank’s deafening words “She deserved it mate” transitioning to the PRESENT DAY. Frank rushes to to leave the cab terrified in fear of this boy who seemed so innocent but now seems as if he wants to kill the driver but the doors are locked. In the distant, figures in black begin to surround the car and close in on the driver. But the boy sits back in the car and watches, smiling, affirming that his plan has been fulfilled and justice has been served.Group Responsibilities Video
This was a fun little video my group and I made, discussing potential roles for our film. It's another example of why we are considered as having the best chemistry with one another, compared to other groups. We're almost inseparable. I'm not really sure why I'm dressed as a builder to be honest but it was fun nevertheless. This provides some insight to our skill sets and capabilities.
Edited by Emily
Sound Research
There are many different elements to sound and I will attempt to break down this into different categories following my research of several different articles revolved around the importance of sound.
Firstly, I conducted research on the background music of films and enhanced my understanding of it's purpose, how it helps the audience and how it is comprised. As mentioned in the screenshot the overall goal of the sound of the film is to add or in some instances create emotion. This helps the audience as it helps indicate the response the audience should have. For example, ambience may be played in a horror genre film where the antagonist chases the main protagonist in order to elicit fear, shock and panic into the audience to understand how the main protagonist feels during the scene.
In our film, background music plays a big role in creating impactful scenes. An example of this could be when our antagonist, Frank, tries to escape the car but fails to do so as the protagonists have locked his car. We want to build tension up in this scene as it reaches the climax so the audience can feel immersed into the scene and don't lose interest. Therefore, we should use some dramatic background music to help add to this effect.
The next element that I researched was synchronous and asynchronous sounds which are used very differently but can both be impactful. Synchronous sound is when the audio seems coherent with the scene and matches what the audience feels. Whereas non-synchronous sound is used to contradict the scene such as orchestral music being played during a fight scene. These can both be used in our films at different points.
Synchronous sound can be used at several points in our film such as the aforementioned scene in the car where dramatic music is played to add to the tension within the scene. There is less opportunity to use asynchronous sound in our film but one possibility is playing a song that would be considered as joyous as Frank screams "NO" and the end credits appear as the joyous music would contradict Frank's feeling of regret, fear and acceptance that his life is over.
The final element of sound that I looked was dialogue. This would seem to be necessary to implement in every film but even a lack of a dialogue can create an effect on the audience. The dialogue between Frank and Isaac is pivotal in building up both characters profiles to the audience. We are planning to use dialogue overlap over flashback scenes. This will be done to explain the backstory to the audience and help create empathy for the main protagonist and create an enjoyable climax as the antagonist faces his demise.
Soundtrack Scouting
We spent our lesson today searching for several soundtracks that we could potentially use for our film. This was quite productive as we have already discovered a soundtrack that will definitely be used in our opening. Once we are closer to the filming stage, we will reflect on whether the other soundtracks we found and reviewed are appropriate as it is difficult to determine the audio without the visual footage.
Edited by Emily
Location updates
We have changed the location of our film as it will now be set in Joe's dads house and not his mums. This is because it will be more convenient to film at due to scheduling.
This is the outside of the house. We will show Frank Goodman leaving the home after murdering Susan Kingsman.
The bedroom of young Isaac as he hears his mother being attacked from downstairs and cautiously begins to leave the room.
As young Isaac walks down the stairs, the noise becomes clearer and he walks to the living room feeling terrified.
This is the living room in which Frank murders Susan's mother and interacts with Isaac for the first time.
We also have some shots of the car.
This will provide some insight to what shots we can plan for our film that are within the car.
Shot List
The cinematography of a film can dictate whether or not a film appeals to the audience. In our film, it is important that we utilise our experience with cinematography and implement successful shots into it.
Establishing Shot
The purpose of an establishing shot is to illustrate to the audience where the location of the film will be set which helps add to the context of the scene that follows. I chose this example from Inception which is used at the beginning of the film and immediately shows that the location is exotic, remote and intriguing.
We could use an establishing shot at a couple of different points in our film. The first being the road that Isaac is picked up from at the beginning of the film. This is to show the location is cold, isolated and far from any houses and cities. We could also use it to show Isaac's home as the house Isaac lives him possess significance in the narrative as he returns to the home, the antagonist Frank murders his mother.
Wide Shot
A wide shot is often used to show the protagonists actions within a scene. It has a greater focus on body language rather than facial expressions. It also highlights the mise-en-scene in a scene such as location, costume and props. In this scene from The Dark Knight, the Joker is walking away from a hospital he is about to demolish with explosives. The shot demonstrates the purpose of the scene by showing the hospital covered in smoke as well as the bizarre and psychotic appearance of The Joker.
In our film, we can use this shot for Isaac as he walks down the road to show where he is and how he dresses like a teenage boy. This will show the detail of our miss-en-scene and how the main protagonist embarks on his journey through the rest of the film.
Panning Shot
the panning shot often moves around a septic protagonist or object. It switches the focus of the scene onto other elements. In this example from The Avengers, the panning shot is used to show all the different Avengers and changes the focus between each main protagonist.
We could use this when Frank drives down the road to speak to Isaac. This can change the focus from Isaac to Frank and his cab pulling up. It will show the audience the main protagonists to remember and watch.
Tracking Shot
The tracking shot is used to follow the main protagonist of a certain scene and track his or her's movements. It can be done to create a sense of interaction with the protagonist as we move with the camera as he walks. In this scene, we are meant to feel as small, innocent and powerless as the child to install fear and horror.
We can use the tracking shot for Isaac because he will be our main protagonist and we can create empathy as he walks down the cold and long road with the audience. This evokes the audience's desire to support and follow the main protagonist's journey.
Point of View Shot
The point of view shot is pretty self explanatory. It is a shot from the point of view of a specific protagonist's viewpoint. It can provide insight into the thoughts of the protagonist and how they could be feeling. In this shot from The Walking Dead, Negan stands over the protagonist and the shot implies the protagonist is feeling inferior as they are lower and Negan holds a baseball bat wrapped in barbed wire.
In our film we could use a point of view shot once Isaac reveals that Frank has been exposed for his crimes and is going to be apprehended. This can demonstrate the shift in dominance and power between the antagonist to the main protagonist.
Long Shot
A long shot establishes a location and a protagonist near the location. This can vary from a house to a tower, among several others. This shot from Lord of The Rings, shows this exactly as Gandalf travels towards the structure in the back.
We could use a long shot in our film as Isaac walks in the opening. However, this could be from point of view of Frank as he drives towards Isaac from a distance.
Medium Shot
The medium shot is a general, all purpose shot. Medium shots are used for dialogue sequences, and they allow the viewer to pick up on character's movements and gestures. Body language is important to conveying emotion, and the medium shot remains close enough to capture that emotion.
Close Up
In a close up shot, a certain feature or part of the subject takes up most of the frame. Close up shots are often of a protagonist's face but can also be used to put emphasis and focus on an object. It is considered one of the most common shots used in cinematography for dramatic effect.
Script
After receiving feedback, we have finally completed our script. We have ensured that the scenes are in a coherent format and that we used appropriate dialogue for our protagonists when discussing their backgrounds. For example, we provided more cockney terms for Frank to use when speaking to Isaac.
As we film there may be some slight altercations to some of the lines as during the filming phase it is common for actors and actresses to sound unnatural when delivering certain pieces of the dialogue.
Storyboard
As a group we created a story that illustrates the basic understanding of what our shots will consist of and how they will convey the next phase of the narrative.
We felt that we should use a more conventional way of creating the storyboard by using visuals accompanied with a description of the shot. We thought the visuals should be an image rather than illustrations to help provide a clearer and more accurate insight into the shot. Also, to be honest none of us do A-level art so it'd probably just be disastrous to draw. We faced some issues as we had use a different location and Anna had to act as the role of Frank in the shots of, as Mark wasn't available. However, the generally idea of what we want the elements of shots to feature are made apparent.
Research and Planning completed
I have carried out research into similar products and established my target audience. These products include various short film openings and products belonging to the thriller genre.
I have demonstrated organisation skills by researching and finalising:
- The casting of actors and actresses
- Locations of filming
- Costumes of protagonists
- Props relevant to narrative
I have also consolidated the logistics of the film including:
- Shortlist
- Script
- Storyboard
On to the ancillary tasks!
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