Confirmed location

After showing the rest of our group the photos of the location, which a few of our group had visited, we all decided that it would be perfect for us to use for filming and we know just have to decide between the shed which is very run down in the forest or the shed which is at the bottom of the garden with garden materials in.

Visiting the potential location

We have decided that our favourite location idea is the shed at the bottom of my garden, we wanted to make sure that this location is safe to film in and also to check if it actually would be the best place to film in. Two of us from our group went to visit the location which is a 30 minute drive from our school, so its easily accessible.

After visiting the location we confirmed that it would be perfect for us to use for filming and would be very effective. The natural lighting in this area is also very good so this would mean that we wouldn't have to use extra lighting. In the location there are two sheds, one which is very run down and abandoned and one which is full of gardening materials which we would have to completely clean out.

Cast

We have had some initial ideas on who we would like to cast for the roles in our opening sequence.

Firstly for the gang we have in mind five people, ideally 4 boys and 1 girl. This breaks the stereotype of a gang having a girl in it, but it brings interest into the sequence.
So far we think Izzy Salt or Bella BK would fit the role of the girl in the gang as they are strong characters.

For the main role of the runner we have Sean Power in mind.  He would fit the character perfectly, however he is wanted by several other groups which means it could be unlikely to secure him.

The gang members will have to be intimidating characters, so we are looking for taller or larger built actors as this would fit the storyline better. We would also need a "road" accent, this is an accent which teenagers and adults in rough and deprived areas might posses often involved in gang activity.

We have a few people in mind for the gang but this is harder to find as its a rather specific character we need for these roles.

We will soon audition some of the people which we have thought could work well in our sequence, to make sure we have the best cast we can.

Costume

We will need to have 4 Nike tracksuits similar to those in the pictures and one outfit for the main girl. We plan on either looking on depop, ebay, asking around and either get the actor to get them and bring it in.

On filming day we should carry spare or backup clothes, just in case someone either forgets theirsor something was to go wrong with it. On depop or ebay some of the tracksuits are £20 or above, so between 4 of us getting 4 tracksuits would be £20 each, if we are unable to find anyone who can lend us clothes.

We’ve chosen to use Nike tracksuits as it makes them look like "roadmen" or give them the image of a gangster or a "dodgy" character.

Location idea 2

Another potential location which we thought of, is the Castle grounds which is in Guildford in Surrey.  This would be a good area for our sequence as it is very dark and gloomy and has many small hidden areas around the grounds which would look really good in our sequence.

It would be especially good for when our character is running trying to find a discreet area as the grounds are very large. Our main problem we may face if we go down this route, is having to obtain permission from the council to film there and also we would have to film when very few or no visitors or tourists were around visiting the castle. The castle is relatively close to our school around 25 minutes away so practically it would be easy to get there.

Practical Session 4: Editing

After filming our basic sequence, we headed up to the editing suit to have our first go at editing clips and making the clips into something. We first started by opening the editing software which is Adobe Premiere pro which has been used by many major film studios and has been used to edit films such as Deadpool and Avatar.

We started by just looking at the program and Matt showed us how there are many different settings and features which you can do, but he said that they often complicate things and you don't actually need to use them. We started by dragging the folder into the bottom left of the editing software, this is where all of the clips are which you have filmed.

To view these clips to see if they are they clip you want to watch, we were shown to double click on the certain folder and the footage of that particular folder would come up on the top left of the screen. I made the mistake a few times of only clicking once and it wouldn't show the footage but highlight the file and allow me to change the file name, after a few goes I started to get to grips with that and remembered always two clicks!

Once you have the clip on the top left section of the screen to crop the video to the desired length we were shown to press 'i' this would be the start of the clip and then to press 'o' when we wanted the clip to finish. After a few tries of playing around with the software this soon becomes just natural habit to do this but at first i was getting the letters the wrong way round and you can imagine what that did.

Once we were happy with the clip we were shown that we could add the clip to the storyline in two ways, firstly by dragging it just straight from the file or secondly from the top left of the screen. I made the mistake a few times of cropping the video from the top left section then dragging the file of the video into the storyline and it was the original video and it wasn't cropped.

Once the videos were on the storyline it was pretty easy to get to grips with. To get two clips together you just drag one clip next to the other and if you wanted to change the clip so they worked more smoothly together you can crop the videos on the storyboard and then join them again.

After we joined all are clips we wanted and got what we thought was the best order of clips we watched the video back a few times and were happy with it for a first time attempt.

Location

For the location of are film we have decided that we definitely will need a rough looking building or an old shed.

We have a few options at my house which is in Godalming, which is only 20 mins away from our school.

I have a barn which has a separate room inside which has a few old sofas and the room looks very rough and we could make the room look worse by messing it up and also by adding certain props. It has a very dark and cold feel to the room which would set a perfect scene for are sequence. Above that room we also have an attic which is very dark and full of old objects with a trapdoor which could also be good.

Another option is at the bottom of the garden, through our fence there is an old abandoned shed which is very dark and scary and is surrounded by forests. For each of these locations we would have to change certain aspects of the rooms and make it seem as someone had been living in the room for a few days.

Practical Session 3: Filming a basic sequenc

We were shown the basics of filming and the different shots we could accomplish in our title sequence. Matt told us some very important advice, which was to film on the same level on the object which you are focusing on. From filming an object at an angle, it could seem that the focus point that been complicated.

Matt also told us about the 180 degrees rule, which is very important as if not followed could ruin a shot. To make sure this doesn't happen we imagine a line which is between an object or the character and an object which shows that the camera cannot cross that line and only film from one side of the line. He also said to make sure nothing changes in-between shots to make sure there continuity.

We took this advice and made our first attempt at a very simple sequence with no dialogue. The aim of this sequence was to try and get comfortable with the camera and put everything which Matt had told us so far into action. We got a number of very simple shots of someone picking up an object and observing the object and then placing it down. We got a variety of different shots which captured him walking in and out of the picture. We took many different shots to almost experiment with the camera as for me I was very unsure on how they would look on the computer when we got to editing as I have had no experience with cameras and filming. We took a close up shot of the actor's face when he was reacting to this object that he had just picked up. We also took a mid shot and a shot from low down focusing on the feet of the actor as he was walking. We also got a shot of the actor holding the object and we zoomed into just the object.


I feel our filming went well and we listened to everything which Matt has told us and we remembered to use the 180 degree rule. It has made me much more confident in using a camera and just moving around camera equipment. Before this I was very nervous to film our opening title sequence, but after this session I feel much less nervous and I'm not scared to move around and take control of the camera

Narrative paragraph

The scene opens up with the main character Gregg at a shed/ abandoned house. Gregg arrives at the said location out of breath but quite smug, maybe even cocky? He takes out his phone, and sends a message to a close friend (a member of the gang) reassuring his safety along side his location, hoping this will stay between the two of them. A quick montage of him fiddling with an object causing confusion really fast shots and with eerie music in the back ground. 

We see a gang walk towards the shed door they are shouting, screaming and threatening. We hear them exchange a conversation (this happening from outside the shed, and Gregg is not in shot believed to be inside the shed. The main girl bursts through the door and picks up a recording device, and then says ‘what the fuck, find him!’. Shot of the gang bursting out the door in opposite directions, and the last shot shows Gregg running down the road turning back and smiling.

Change of Opening Sequence Idea

After we all talked and looked over Phoebe's idea in more detail and asked other peoples opinion outside of the group, we have come to the conclusion the Phoebe's idea about the man having lucid dreams is very good, but would be very hard to film and we could potentially give off a different impression to what we were trying to represent.

From this were have decided as a group to use my idea as we feel we could realistically film this and edit this. It will be a challenge, but we our prepared to put the time and effort into planning it so when it comes to filming we are completely ready.

Opening sequence decided Idea

We have decided to use Phoebe's idea which we all feel will work very well and is achievable.  We also are going to see what Matt thinks and present him two ideas, my idea and Phoebe's idea. After this we will choose one of the ideas and start to plan the idea and maybe change the idea if needed and start to think of the location of the sequence and the cast of the sequence.

Phoebe's idea is looking at a troubled teenager who is having lucid dreams and has a severe problem with drug abuse and because of this he is constantly in deep confusion.

My idea is looking at a troubled boy involved in the wrong crowd, he tries escaping this and is betrayed by his best friends giving up his location, a gang is hunting him down for the money which he has escaped with.

Practical Session 2: Introduction to Camera

Yesterday we went into the studio with Matt, we focused on how to set up the camera equipment that we will be using to film our opening sequence.

Firstly he showed us how to set up the tripod which holds the camera. Matt said its much easier to release the three locks on the bottom of the tripod and then pick the tripods head up which will change the height to your preference, then to get someone to lock the three tripod legs. Once this is done he showed us how to handle the camera and taught us to always say "yours" before giving the camera to someone and make sure they say "mine" before passing the camera to them.  This ensures it will never be dropped accidentally.

Once you have the camera you slowly slide the camera onto the tripod head making sure that you are pressing the metal clip on the tripod head so the camera can slide not the tripod. Then once the camera is in the middle of the tripod to tighten the handle on the side of the tripod to secure the camera. We then secured the stick to the camera which is used to move the camera up and down and side by side.  Matt showed us that you can change the resistance of the movement of the camera to either have it locked in position or to allow the camera to have full movement. We then secured the battery to the back of the camera by gently sliding it onto the back of the camera. Matt showed us that to unclip the battery to press the button on the side of the battery which releases it. Matt then showed us how to turn the camera on and how to focus the camera which he showed us to zoom into the object if its a person to zoom into there eyes and to use the lens to focus on the eye and then to zoom out to make sure its fully focused.

Finally matt showed us how to change the lighting on the camera to adapt to different lighting which is done by using the different options available on the camera to e.g. filming outside with the camera settings on inside makes the lighting look blue.

Practical Session 1: Creativity Workshop

On Wednesdsay we had a meeting with Matt and the main theme was to stick to being creative and for me the message that stuck with me from the talk was to use past experiences or ideas.

He explained that the only way we can picture something that we haven't seen or something which has never happened was to draw on personal experiences. He gave us an example of a man who had an accident and his long term memory and short term memory was very bad and he couldn't imagine what his future would look like, but for example we have never seen a ice sculpture of a dog doing a poo but as we have seen a ice sculpture or know what it looks like and how we have seen a dog in a park pooing, we can link the two together and imagine what it would look like!

Matt also said that we should stay original to yourself and to not watch too many similar videos or clips of an idea similar to your idea. Also that anyone can have an idea and that its not a good idea until you have gone through the process of filming and completed the idea, thats when it will be clear if it was a good idea.

First plot idea runaway

After talking with my class about my idea, I have adapted my idea to make the main theme that of being betrayed. I have changed my idea of the location to an abandoned small building and the boy is squatting in the small building with a sleeping bag and a small ration of food.

We have eliminated the ideas down to my first idea and Phoebe's idea. Now we need to think about which idea we could film and edit to our best ability and which idea is m most achievable.

My opening title group

I'm very happy with my group I have been placed in for the project.  I feel that the four of us will all equally contribute to coming up with ideas and working in general as a group. We all listen to each others ideas and respect each others opinions. We all have a few ideas which we have presented to each other and we feel we have all got at least one good idea which we could work with and now are trying to see which idea is most achievable and how we would work with each idea. We need to decide which ideas are actually achievable and able for us to make.

Opening title sequence idea 3

On a dark winter evening, a boy aged 17, goes to his local skatepark. He was very familiar with the park and had been going since a young boy, his mother had got so used to him going she stopped worrying about the risks of going by himself.

The boy would always assure her that there are always lots of people there so its very safe. The boy did his usual warm-up cruising around the ramps and then attempted a new trick, he kept trying and trying but wasn't giving it his all as he was scared. He decided to give it a try with full commitment, he dropped into the ramp approaching the other ramp, his wheels elevate into the air and the board starts to spin with the body of the boy, just when the boy was coming into the trick his wheels catch against the metal copping and causes him to go headfirst into the cement floor below the ramp.

He is instantly knocked out, no one was at the skatepark. no one to help. A few minutes after the accident the boy awakens in confusion and a spitting pain from his left arm and head. He was struggling to move, to get up. He felt his arm to clench it to try to relive some pain, but when he took his hand back it was covered in blood.

He started to panic assessing the injury further seeing a huge open wound, then feeling his head which was bleeding violently. In a distorted panic, he slowly reached into his pocket to desperately call for help only to find his phone in pieces from the impact of the fall. The bleeding wouldn't stop and the boy desperately screamed for help, first loudly but then getting quieter and quieter. He received no response and it was starting to get dark fast.

Opening sequence idea 2

The second idea I have for an opening sequence, is about a teenage boy who has been playing violent video games throughout his childhood.  Any time he could get, he would be playing video games. It was a growing concern of his parents and as time went on he spent more and more time on the video games.

He performed awfully in school and was heavily bullied. One afternoon after being beaten up by a group of boys in his school, he went back to his house and opened his parents safe. He then went on to take a key from the safe. He walked down the stairs to the basement, and opened a cupboard. He placed the key into a large metal box, twisting the key opening the box and opening up the large metal box and removed his fathers shotgun.

He proceeded to load the gun with bullets, walked up to his room and played one last game. He then switched the game off and walked out of the house with the shotgun. He placed the gun into a large duffle bag and slowly walked to the local youth centre, Knowing the bullies would be here, he opened the doors of the youth centre. Immediately being welcomed with shouting and harassment towards him. He didn't acknowledge this. He looked down to his bag and pulled the zip off the bag. Looking up to the bullies, he placed his hands into the bag pulling out the shotgun and gave the boys one last smile.

Opening title sequence idea 1

My first idea

A young 15 year old boy, grew up his whole life never knowing his father. Brought up by his mum in a small town. constantly getting in trouble his whole life through school. His mum is struggling and can't afford to support them. His friends start hanging around the wrong people much older than them who are involved in dealing drugs and start earning lots of money and he sees them wearing expensive clothing which he has never been able to afford.

Through jealousy and in an attempt to support him and his mum, he asks to be involved in selling drugs. After one month of working for the older boss he has seen a different life having expensive clothes and girls but starts to see the damage which it is leaving behind to his mum and to himself as it is very dangerous.

He tries to get out and is told the only way to get out is to die! He can't take the pressure and danger and runs away with a large sum of money from selling his bosses drugs and escapes to a run down mansion deep in the woods, a few miles from where he lives. One of his friends tips off his location to his exboss who sends a team of his armed workers to torture and then attempt to kill the boy.

My opening title sequence will focus on the end of the plot of the movie focusing on when the young boy is attempting to stay alive and hidden in this old mansion. One text message to his closest friend changes everything as he reveals his location to the friend, he is betrayed by the friend and his location is given to the drug dealer. A group of thugs show up outside the house all armed with deadly weapons and the boy spots them entering the house, in a panic he runs to the basement of the house and crawls into the secret room in the basement, but he forgets to close the latch of the trapdoor. After hours of waiting down there he is discovered. The boy is then beaten to near death by the thugs and left for dead.