Location Ideas

Below I have look at different places that I feel could be used as filming locations for our film.

Bridge - Dearne Valley Park, Barnsley

I really like this location and I feel that it would be really effective as our location for our final scene. The surrounding area, with trees foliage and ivy makes it look really isolated and a perfect place to get rid of an enchanted necklace. I believe it sets a really moody atmosphere and is also spacious enough to film on effectively so we could capture some excellent shots.

Footpath

1- Dodworth- Jermine Croft

2- Ripley grove, Redbrook

I feel that both these location would be suited for our film, they both set the right atmosphere and moods for our scene, they are also realistic and look as if they would be used as an everyday shortcut. They are both easy to get to by bus, and also are very spacious so would easily accommodate our camera and tri-pod.

Act 2 Scene 3 - Mirror Scene Storyboard

(Click to enlarge)


This is a simple storyboard that shows in stages the effect we would like to achieve in this scene; when the main character looks in the mirror we want her reflection to dissapear on screen. This is one of our suggested elements.

The Convention of a Thriller Film

In order to gain a deeper knowledge of how to successfully produce a thriller film, I have researched what a thriller film actually entitles. The conventions and codes of the genre thriller are the key features to producing a realistic film, and therefore in order for me to fully understand how a thriller film is created, I researched the main conventions of the genre.

Sound and Editing: Quick cuts and plenty of different camera angles as well as many changes. Jump cuts and elliptical editing is used quite frequently in thriller films to maintain the audience’s suspense, and to build tension. Music that further delivers the feeling of tension is also frequently used, with a major key tone, as a pose to minor, which are mainly used in horror films. As the majority of thriller films consist of an action scene, racy music is also used to add to the affect of the action on screen.

Lighting: The use of shadows, mirrors and stairs are also conventions of thriller movies that can possibly be implemented in. a particularly effective elements which we will include in our film, is the shot of an unidentified woman positioned in front of a cyclorama, with the light behind the screen, therefore her face will be shadowed by the light. Here is an example.

Narrative: Thriller films are normally shown from the perspective of two characters; the first being that of the protagonist, which involves the audience in events and creates empathy for the character, and the second, influencing the protagonist in their situations. As thriller films aim to hook the audience, and give them excitement, they often consist mainly of action.

The themes of thriller films are commonly based around societes current fears and worries. They may be isolation, entrapment, murder, pain or terrorism etc, although pain and murder are usually more associated with the horror genre.

Iconography: Shadows, street lamps, confined spaces, running water, bars on windows, Cities/ Town, foreboding trees, night-light.

Setting – The locations isn’t necessarely in a specific area in a thriller film, as they can take place in urban areas, isolated surbuban settings, and cities or quiet country villages.

Mise-en-scene – Mise-en-scene is essiential in showing the genre of a film. Thriller films ususally consist of dim lighting to hide parts of a character, suggesting that they are mysterious, large threatening weapons for props e.g. large knives, guns etc. Camera shots are normally point of view shots, frames within frames, or close ups. The camera movement are often tracking shots, and panning to show a wider range of landscape. Elliptical editing is also used to show the passage of time between shots, but is also used to enhance the audiences anticipation whilst watching the film. Colours are also used to signify different emotions such as red which connates blood or danger, and blue connoting a cool feeling, further reflecting mystery or death. These colours can be shown through props and costume, but also through framing.

The Invisibility Effect

Invisibility is a main theme in our film, and we need to make the effect look as professional and realistic as possible. During Act 2, Scene 3 the audience sees that the character is slowly disappearing, due to the necklace which is found. This is a vital scene in the film, as it is the moment of realisation for the character, but also for the audience, as they are able to fully comprehend the seriousness of the situation, which the character Ruby Fox is in. However, as a production company, we are faced with the challenge of creating the invisibility effect professionally. As part of my research, I found a software which would enable us to create this effect quite easily. The following video demonstrates how the invisibility effect can be used, in films such as ours.




Although this is not a professional video, it is suitable for the effect in which we wish to create, and from viewing this video, we have a greater understanding of how to master the production of invisibility on film.

Final Draft - Header

This is our final version of the header. On this one we added "Red Lizard Production presents", made the logo smaller and changed the font of the word shadow bigger and also changed the design of it.

To make this header I used photoshop, adding each part of the banner to a new layer to make it look more professional, I also used google images to get the pictures of the girl/shadow and the original picture of the lizard, I added the writing to the logo using photoshop. The writing was done completely on photoshop.

First Draft - Header

This was the first draft of our header. We changed this as the logo on this version was too big and we felt it didnt look professional. On this version I used the Paint application and added pictures that I found on google and I had made myself.

Short Film Analysis - About A Girl

About A Girl

Synopsis: As a girl relates stories about her ordinary teenage life, there is an uncomfortable sense of sadness underlying her easygoing tales.

Genre: Drama

Although this film is from a different genre to ours, I feel that it uses similar shots to those we plan to use in our film. ‘About a Girl’ is written and directed by Brian Percival, it is a 10 minute short film. The order of this narrative is linear however it does include many flashbacks to previous times in this girl’s life.

Screen Duration- 10.10

Although the film is a whole of 10.10 minutes I am going to be focusing on what I feel are the most important parts of the film as for most of the film it is similar as it flashes back to many of the same parts.

The film opens with a black screen, where the title appears, which looks like it is being written as a text message. This suggests that the film is about a youngerperson, and by the title “About a Girl” it becomes obvious that the title is about a young girl.

The opening shot is a long shot with low exposure helps establish the scene and introduce the main character but also adds a bit of mystery to the main character as you can’t see her face just her outline but can hear her singing and see her dancing. The low exposure could be added into our film as it adds suspense and mystery to the plot.

Throughout most of the film, a tracking shot is used; this follows the girl on her walk as she talks about her life and the different things that happen in it. The tracking shot is mostly a medium shot of the girl, showing her facial and body expressions to the different subjects she is talking about. Also as a medium close shot is used for the tracking shot you can see the different locations she passes, this further suggest that this girl is going somewhere. It would be good to use a tracking shot in our film as it could be effective for showing someone walking somewhere creating suspense.

Another effect used is Pulling Focus, although the girl is at the front on her phone, the audience’s attention is on what her mum and little brother is doing at the back, this lets the audience have an insight on to what this girls mum is like, and makethe audience to feel emotions for the girl.

Throughout the film whenever and new location is introduced, there is the use of a long shot, this establishes the scene showing the audience where they are, and letting them have an insight to this girls life.Throughout the film whenever and new location is introduced, there is the use of a long shot, this establishes the scene showing the audience where they are, and letting them have an insight to this girls life.

Also another way the long shot is used is to show in one scene the girl is alone, this could reflect on how the girl is feeling, lonely. It also gives a further insight to how the girl is treated by her parents; it also shows how she’s really feeling to what she says in her narrative.

Later in the film, there is a long shot where the main character walks into and out of shot. This again shows the audience the girl’s location at the time. It also gives further insight into this girl’s background and where she is living, this further makes the audience empathize with the character. Also for the first time it shows the audience that the girl is carrying a white plastic bag, this creates mystery for the audience as they would want to know what’s in it and where is this girl taking it.

Near the end of the film, there is use of a high angle, long shot,this gives the effect that the character is feeling inferior to something. Making the audience think about what they think it could be, leaving them guessing and wanting to know more. Straight after the high angle, as the girl throws the bag in it cuts to an underwater low angle this straight away shows that the girl feels in charge of her own life again

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When the carrier bag reveals what’s inside, it turns to slow motion of the baby falling out of the bag and floating away, this shocks the audience and makes sure they don’t miss it as it is a crucial part of the film. It also adds in extra emotion to the audience.

The last shot of the film is a high angle low shot, however it shows that this girl now feels happier with her life now she has got rid of her “secret”. The shot is also high exposure, suggesting she is happy with her life now.

I feel that in our film we should use the different shots that are used in this film as it makes the film more effective and helps the audience to digest more of what’s happening. I also feel that in our film we should use a flash back as I think it’s a more effective way of letting the audience know different things that has happened in the past.