Evaluation question 7: Looking back at your preliminary task what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to the full products

This is the podcast for our question 7 of the evaluation.

Post-Production: Analysis of Score

In our short film, 'Bloodline' we had to incorporate a score that would follow the codes and conventions of the thriller genre, e.g. a fast paced dramatic score once the film is about to or has reached a climax - this was one of the main ways in which we as the creators of the film get to engage the audience. In addition to this, we had to be able to source royalty free music so as to not commit fraudulence and therefore had to use the internet to find a score that concurred with our criteria. The website that we used to obtain the three pieces of music is http://www.freeplaymusic.com/ which had a range of styles and feels from which we could choose.

'GRAVE DANGER' 

The first part of the score that we used in the introduction was mysterious with a tense vibe which went well with the context of a mysterious murderer preparing his weapon in the dark. Our audience does not know much about who this character is but the score indicates that something dangerous is likely to happen - the score helps provide the audience with an insight on what happens on screen as they are watching as well as what might happen next. In this case it is outlining what will probably happen to the other character in the opening sequence shown through cross cutting.
This particular score makes use of an ominous background tone which is constantly on loop to emphasise the feeling of imminent danger and so that the audience are stuck in suspense because they do not know when the score will end and therefore when something significant is going to happen. We only made use of around the first half a minute of the score because we felt that we got the desired effect out of it that we wanted our audience to feel, plus one continuous score throughout the opening sequence would not work as effectively as a variety of pieces.

'DOMESTIC DISTURBANCE'

This part of the score we used subtly to build up tension and suspense in the fact that this mysterious murderer is now finished with preparing and is now on his way to kill. When looking up this piece the word 'domestic' caught my attention because it was relevant in that it created the feel of a threat within an urban environment which is where 'Bloodline' takes takes place. 

In it there is an ambient ticking noise connoting that time is running out for the victim and that the opening sequence is nearing its climax. 

'RUNNING AWAY'

This was used to show that the victim has nowhere to hide or escape his imminent death even though he is unaware of his killer. This creates dramatic irony and therefore suspense for the audience who know that the victim is going to die but he does not and everyone is left trying to anticipate how and more importantly when he is going to die. 

There are a number of different instruments used at the same time to create that sense of urgency and danger especially when at some points they peak which creates excitement for the audience who are now intrigued by what is happening and what is going to happen.

Post-Production Analysis of Titles

During our groups post-production process as one of the things that we needed for our films opening sequence. By using our research that we all researched individually we as a group all came up with ideas of what titles should be present. Most of titles that were implemented were taken from our final storyboard.

The screenshot above is an example of one of the production ident titles that was used during the creation of the opening sequence. The creation of the title was produced during the editing process, where during the title,we added a score to it which makes it more tense. The production title was chosen from the iMovie title where we decided to choose that particular one to make it seem normal which in itself helps to create a sort of enigmas.
For the finished title shown on the left, we chose a simple white over black title where we received the idea from the London to Brighton Opening sequence which had a similar affect, which helps create the upcoming scenes more suspenseful.





Our actual title of the film Bloodline we decided to use the colour red to symbolises several things that were present in the opening sequence. For example, the red colour symbolises the death and the blood that the person will face when he is going to get attacked. It also symbolises that fact of the growing danger that the victim (Michael) faces when the killer arrives. We also like for the production company used a simple colour instead replacing the white colour in the place of red linking again to the danger that the anti-protagonist posses with him. A key area of the titles that were produced was for the titles for the people who were starring in the opening sequence or had a part to play in the filming process. For this as stated before the colour code is the same however the area that we experimented it with was where to place it. At the start we  placed some of the titles on the top left and some of the titles on the bottom right. However, watching the clip  it didn't seem to work out right and the red colour didn't go with the background. To counter this, we instead placed it all on the bottom right to where it worked fine. All of the titles in the production were created with iMovie during the editing process.                                                                                                                                                

Practice Shots

Before actually filming, I had to get familiarised with the camera and practise my techniques as the main cinematographer of our group. This is in addition to the experience from the preliminary task where we first used cameras and started to get a feel of how to film a scene. These test shots comprised of two of the most complex methods that are planned for the actual filming - this will make it to easier to film on the actual day because I know that I will be able to see the mistakes I make and improve my filming skills. 

 

The video above shows two examples of a graphic match shot which is a transition between two shots where the contents in the frame are similar to one another and it shows a relation between them both; in this case, the shots consists of two television sets and two doors in different parts of my house. The latter is more practical because my group's storyboard consists of a scene where a graphic match takes place between two doors to show that time has passed for a character to leave one location and arrive at another. One thing I could have improved was to get my framing a little more accurate so that everything lines up correctly between the two objects that will be in frame. 

 

This video conveys a practical example of a match-on-action shot showing me walking through a door to get to somewhere. This contains a long shot of one side of the door where I am about to exit, a close up of my hand on the door handle and a long shot of me leaving from the other side of the door. For the audience, this simply shows that the person on screen has left through the means of a door rather than showing someone heading in the direction of the door and cutting to him exiting on the other side - this is a more easy going and natural way to show someone exiting a room (through editing). What can be improved here is to include more footage to make it last longer because in my opinion it felt like it was going very fast as if I was in a rush; however I don't want to slow the pace so much so that it takes a very long time for the person on screen to leave a room.

Character Casting Research

Antagonist/ Jared:

Actor: Thomas Camber

Going to wear: Jeans, converses and leather jacket with a hoodie. The fact that I am going to be wearing a hoodie portrays the typical stereotype of a run down hoodlum killing for money in a hope to get by in his awkward situation.

I am playing the antagonist because I am meant to be playing a typical murderer in this scene because I am tall and look older so I am more suited for this role along with the fact that I have facial hair which can be used to make me look older.

I am going to try to look as old as I possibly can by using a variety of facial expression's.

Victim/ Michael:

Actor: Adrian Garncarek

Going to wear: Suit, he needs to look very formal as he is meant to look like a person who is in power and has a good job. A possible issue for this scene could be the fact that he possibly doesn't look old enough to play a scene like this. This can be edited with a software to try to make him slightly older looking or use camera effects to our advantage.

Here Adrian is in a uniform which is something similar to what he will be wearing on the actual day of filming. Hair and makeup and props will be used to make him fit the part of our character by making him look slightly older and important.

2nd Shooting Schedule

Date: 13/03/2013

Time: 2pm - 5pm

Location: Thomas's house

Shots: 2, 6-16

Actors: Thomas Camber, Adrian Garncarek

Crew:Alex (Camera) Trevane (Props, Assistant Camera)

Costumes/ props: Knife, leather jacket with hood, converses, a suit, newspaper.

Equipment: Camera, Tripod, Storyboard

Potential issues: Timing due to a lot of shots, continuity issues, weather, intercom not working, parents not letting us film at other's houses.

Risk assessment: tripping over household items.

1st Shooting Schedule

Date: 09/3/13

Time: 12pm-2pm

Location: Charlie Herman's house

Shots: 1,3-5

Actors: Thomas

Crew: Alex, (Camera), Trevane (Camera Assistant/Props)

Costumes and props: Jeans, converses, leather jacket with a hood

Equipment: Camera, tripod, storyboard

Potential Issues: Continuity issues such as the weather, building works done near the house. Potential issues with the lighting being too dark.

Risk Assessment: Low- Knife and candle being used which adds to a small possible risk of being injured.