iWatch Evaluation

Below is the Prezi we made for our evaluation:

Evaluation: Questions

1. In what ways does your film opening use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real film openings? 
2. How does your film opening represent particular social groups?
3. What kind of media institution might distribute your film opening and why? 
4. Who would be the audience for your film opening? 
5. How did you attract/address your audience? 
6. What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product? 
7. Looking back at your preliminary task (the continuity editing task), what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to full product?

Post-Production: Sound

In terms of sound and music in particular, we chose two different copyright free tracks that we had found on various websites. 

The first track, "Possession" was found on the website, www.purple-planet.com  It is used within the very beginning of the opening where we have the extra footage of "someone running away from something in the woods." It has almost a lullaby- like quality to it, which again connotes the fact that the victim was young and innocent, like a child. 

The second track was found on the website, www.incompetech.com and the track is called "Penumbra." It has a more electronic tone to it, which matches perfectly to the whole theme of a electronic, modern approach to horror films. 

Post-Production: Titles

We had to make sure that our opening actually looked like an opening and to do this we needed to add titles. Looking through Final Cut, we struggled to find the perfect font to get the electronic-type feel we wanted to portray the fact that the opening is based around a modern electronic device, iPhone. We ended up choosing the font "Courier New" as it is the closest font we could get that would reflect the effect we wanted to have. 

In order to add a new font, you need to scroll "Effects," then "Video Generators" and then "Text" and you will be able to type the title you want and edit it to how you wish. After adding the title into the rest of the footage, to reposition it, click the box in the canvas area and select "Image+ Wireframe" and then this allows you to reposition the title to however you desire. 

To get the correct duration of the title, you must right click on the clip and click on "Duration" and a box will appear allowing you to adjust the duration. 

To layer the titles on top of a present clip all that is needed to do is, drag your title over the selected clip. 

To create a sense of a horror film opening, we chose to add effects to our titles. To do this you need click on   the "Effects" tab, then "Video Filters." We chose to use the effect "Distort" to create the foreshadowing atmosphere of what is to come.

For the main title of "iWatch" we wanted to create an effect that appeared to the audience as though it was within a video frame that was being recorded. Preferably  we wanted to have a recording button flashing as the dot on top of the "i," however, we struggled to do so and we couldn't find a way to incorporate this into our opening. 

Post-Production: Editing Extra Footage

According to our storyboard we didn't include any extra footage. However, due to the fact that the footage we planned to film wasn't long enough by itself, so we decided to add some extra footage to not only prolong the footage, but to also create a more eerie effect. The clips we added were of the portrayal of someone running through the woods and someone crossing out the faces of the character's in the opening. We imported the clips like normal and edited them to where we wanted them and how long we wanted them to be. We then decided to create a black and white effect on the "running through the woods"clips, to create a more eerie effect. In order to do this we scrolled over "effects", then "video filters", then "image control" and chose "Desaturate."

The clips of the "crossing out faces" were also added and within them there were jigsaw pieces and a swaying light which were used for effect. We used the jigsaw pieces as part of muse-en-scene to represent that the victim was young and innocent, like a child and children tend to play with jigsaws. The swaying light was used for effect as part of miss-en-scene as well to get a shady feeling about the footage and hinting towards the fact that it is the murderer's hands that the audience is viewing. 

Post-Production: Altering Speed

Whilst editing our opening, we decided to alter the speed and slow chosen clips down to create an even more tension- building opening. We chose to juxtapose it with a clip at either a faster speed or a normal speed in order to build up the tension even more and create an eerie effect. 

To alter the speed of a clip, you need to click on the "Modify" tab at the top of the page and click on "Speed"



Then you will be able to alter your footage to the preferred speed. You can also reverse the clip so that it will play the selected clip backwards. 

Post-Production: Editing The Final Footage

After re-filming we have started to edit the final piece of footage for our opening.

Just like our rough edit, we imported the footage into iMovie, then into Final Cut Express. We then began placing the footage into the correct order and began the editing process. 

                    

Production: The Final Filming

During the easter holidays we managed to re-film our opening and is now in the process of post-production.

Production: Re-filming

We were planning to re-film our piece on Sunday, however due to heavy snow, the weather conditions were unsuitable to film. So we are planning to re-film at some point this weekend or in the next two weeks of our Easter holidays. 

Post-Production: Rough Edit

To get a first glimpse of how all of our clips looked edited together, we quickly came up with a first rough edit of our film opening. However, whilst doing this, we noticed flaws that meant we either had to cut clips out or re-film. This became another problem as we only had 2 minutes and 39 seconds of raw footage. Our film opening is supposed to be 2 minutes long and if we were to cut the clips out that we found problems in, we wouldn't have the required amount of footage needed. The pictures below show the probelms we found whilst editing our footage:

The first problem we found was that Holeigh's bag was visible in the background when the 3 friends discover the phone. This was a problem because the setting was supposed to be desolate and a bag wasn't one of the intended props and wouldn't make sense to the audience if it was left in the background.

Another problem was that in the shot where the friends pick up the phone, Holeigh's feet were left in the frame, adding an extra character into the openign, which would confuse the audience and look out of place.

 In numerous amounts of clips, without realising, we had left the tripod in the background. This was probably the worst problem because it is visible in so many clips and doesn't fit in with the desolate setting that was intended.

Another problem we discovered whilst editing, was that the camera was set on auto-exposure. Therefore the camera would change lighting from dark to light and doesn't look effective enough in certain aspects of the opening. 

Here is what our rough edit looks like in Final Cut:  

 

Post-Production: Importing footage

The first step which we took to import our footage was removing the SD card from the camera and inserting it onto my desktop.

 

We then imported the footage onto iMovie and once it has been fully imported, it will inform you of how much footage you have. We had an overall of 2 minutes 39 seconds. (We later realized that we had to re-film or add more bits into it, to make it longer.)

We now make sure that is saved onto our desktop, so that it is ready to be imported into Final Cut.

 

We then import it into Final Cut and it is now prepared to be edited for our first rough edit.

Production: Filming

Below are pictures we are using as evidence to show us filming:

Update: Filming

We were planning to film on the 10th February because we were all free and prepared, however we had to rearrange due to weather conditions. We were hoping for an overcast setting, however the snow would have made it impossible to film in and create the setting we were aiming for. So instead we arranged to film on the 16th, fully prepared and equipped.

Planning: Shot List

These are the camera shots that we plan to use in our opening:

ELS = Extreme long shot

LS = Long shot

MS = Mid shot

CU = Close up

ECU = Extreme close up

OSS = Over the shoulder shot

Shot 1: ELS - Establishing the secluded field as the location.
Shot 2: ELS - The 3 friends begin walking towards Josh's memorial.
Shot 3: LS - The 3 friends reach Josh's memorial.
Shot 4: LS - A friend places the picture frame down.
Shot 5: CU - The objects at Josh's memorial are shown in more detail.
Shot 6: CU - A match is lit.
Shot 7: LS - The candle is lit and placed down.
Shot 8: ECU - Eye.
Shot 9: ECU - Nose.
Shot 10: ECU - Mouth.
Shot 11: LS - Friends walk over to where Josh's voice is coming from.
Shot 12: CU - iPhone is picked up.
Shot 13: OSS - Video of Josh at a party is watched.
Shot 14: MS - Friends look startled when they hear a sudden noise.
Shot 15: LS - Friends rush back over to Josh's memorial.
Shot 16: CU - The damaged objects are shown in detail.
Shot 17: MS - Their facial expressions are shown to portray feelings.
Shot 18: ELS - The friends are being 'watched' through the trees.

Planning: Storyboard for opening

Below you will find the finished storyboards for our opening:

 

Planning: Mise-en-scene for our opening

As far as Mise-en-scene for our opening, we decided to have very minimal props and costume because we thought that his would be more effective for what we want in our opening. 

Props:
Candle and a lighter: We want to use these to show a mark of respect for our victim and will help the audience to get a better understanding of what is happening. 
Flowers: Again, to show respect and to help the audience get a better understanding. We aim to get red flowers to represent blood and death. 
Photo Frame: This will hold a picture of the victim, that will seem like his family have been there before to how their respects. 
Picture of victim: This will either be a school photo or we will create a picture that appears to be a school picture, to show that our victim was young. 
Group picture: This will be an ordinary picture of all of the friends sat on a sofa acting as though they are at a party or something. 
Crossed out group picture: This will be replaced when the friends go to pick up the phone and will be a sign from the killer that they are next. Their faces will be crossed out along with Deet's.
iPhone: We need an iPhone as that is one of the things that the friends pick up and watch the video.
Video: We need a video of the victim and his friends at a party, that will be playing when the friends pick up the phone. 

Costume: 
All of our costumes may be slightly changed due to weather conditions when filming
Ellie: For Ellie's costume, we wish to have in casual clothes, but have her be a bit more feminine than Lisa's character, therefore it will determine characteristics and personalities just through the costume because we don't have any dialogue in our opening. The costume will include: Top, jeans, dolly shoes and a coat, however we wish for her to wear a bit more makeup   than Lisa. Due to weather conditions, Ellie had to wear trainers.

Tom:  For Tom's costume, he will be really casual but with a slight edge, preferably dark clothes, characterising him as a more deep character. This costume will include: Jeans, black top, black coat, trainers and hat. 

Lisa: For Lisa's costume we wanted her to be more of a tomboy style, so her costume will include: Jeans, top, trainers and a hoodie. We also want her to wear less makeup than ellie to represent her being the more tomboy out of the two. 

Planning: Casting

This is the casting options for the actors in our opening:

Friend 1: Female
Ellie Spence- A Level Drama and Media Student 












Keely Raynor- GCSE Drama Student











We chose Ellie for this role because she has more of an understanding of the aspect of media and acting. She was also available for the time to which we organised filming.


Friend 2: Female

Lisa Eady- A Level Drama Student











Aimee Hull- A Level Drama and Media Student











We chose Lisa because once again, she was available for the time we wanted to film and also performed well in our preliminary task, therefore she is a reliable actress.

Friend 3: Male
Tom Bates- A Level Media Student and GCSE Drama Student




George Hopkins- A Level Drama and Media Student

We chose Tom because he has a better understanding of what we wanted as he is in our class and was available at the time we needed to film.

Josh(Victim): Male

Olly McMahon- A Level Media Student

Deet Bains- A Level Media Student

We chose Deet because, although playing a minor part, he was prepared to become the victim of our opening.

Planning: Action Plan

This post will help us as a group to plan out what we have to do before half term. 

We will be filming on Sunday 10th February. This is important to know when we are filming because then we can plan around that time. 

Before the 3rd February, we need to have our storyboard, casting and mise-en-scene done and uploaded to our blogs.

Before this time, we need to make sure that we book out the equipment required for filming. This will include a tripod. We will also be using our own cameras to film because then we don't have to rely on getting the camera back within a certain time. 

We then need to arrange props including, 2 photo frames, 2 pictures, one of the victim and the other if the victim and his friends. We also need, flowers, a candle, matches and an iPhone. Becca will be in charge of getting the flowers, I will be in charge of the candles and matches and Holeigh, the photo frames and we are all in charge of getting the photos.

We will then plan what costumes will be needed and how the actors will need to turn up in their costumes because there will be nowhere for them to get changed in our setting. 

Once we have decided who will be acting in our opening, we need to take headshots of them and upload them onto our blog to identify who is playing which character.

We will then need to go through with the actors the plan of how we are going to film it and what they will need to do.