Initial Ideas Part 2

The running continues for several seconds, cutting between the two pursuers and the infected. Cut back to the amateur camera which is upside down looking at the other members of the group's faces. The vlogger is trying to get rid of the video problems. Video soon smooths out and the vlogger begins to talk to the audience and apologises for the behaviour of the infected but comments that this is probably the most exciting thing that will ever happen in his videos. The others laugh and they begin to move in the direction that the infected took of in. They spend some time searching for their friends. There is no sign of them. Vlogger comes up with the idea to ring their phone. Canted close up of the phone lying in the grass with the group blurred in the background. Cut to amateur cam as they are dialling the number. Cut back to shot of phone to see it lighting up as it starts to ring. The vlogger moves over and picks it up. Cut to amateur cam as he inspects the phone and rejects the call. There is silence for a couple of seconds until one of the group comments that the vloggers audience will love the drama in the latest video. It will be like a soap, someone comments. They all laugh. Someone comments that they should take the phone with them to friends house as that is likely were they went and the phone was probably dropped on the way. Some of the group are doubtful of this and they move off in silence.

They arrive at the friends house. Amateur cam as they ask the friend if they have seen the infected and his two pursuers. He hasn't. The camera remains pointed at the friend and we can hear the group muttering worriedly behind the camera. The friend begins to look more confused.

Outside the friends house, close up on a fist, preferably in the rain, growls heard. Cut back to inside the house then cut to amateur cam. The group is worried and discussing their three missing friends, there is a knock at the door, the owner and the vlogger get up quickly and go to the door. It is one of the two who chased the infected. He is tired, wet and dirty. Got separated from his friend and lost his phone spent the last hour looking for it. The new arrival asks where the infected and the other chaser are. The vlogger replies that he doesn't know

Initial Ideas

Two cameras, one amateur being used by one of the characters. Can cut intermittently between the character's pov and the audiences'.
5-6 characters, one with camera. One of the characters birthday, maybe the one with the camera, testing it out for their youtube vlog, which is established through conversation with a newer member of the group, also established that it has a reasonable following. The group are moving through a park taking a shortcut to get to a friend's house. One of the group, possibly Conchur or Ryan, begin to act strangely, little ticks like repeating a sentence or having memory problems or seeming distracted. Laboured breathing could be the first symptom. The infection soon begins to overtake the character who becomes easily irritable and lashes out at the other members of the group. The infected attacks the vlogger, possibly Patrick. We will then cut to the pov of the amateur camera, which will add to the confusion of the attack and the camera could be dropped in the confusion which will show the infected on top of the vlogger, punching him, though perhaps at an odd angle, only seeing their feet or something similar. One of their flailing legs could hit the camera knocking out video for a short time.
The other members of the group restrain the infected who's language now becomes guttural and disjointed. More animal like. The infected breaks free and sprints away into the trees. Cut back to the amateur camera. Video still not working. Sounds can be heard of the camera being lifted and heavy footsteps. Two of the characters give chase and the vlogger lifts his camera in time to catch the three running in the distance perhaps as only blurry shapes. The remaining characters wonder at the infected's behaviour, maybe include some static interference on the video for a moment. The vlogger complains about the infected's behaviour, rubbing his jaw possibly. Cut to the infected running, grass whipping by, handheld over the shoulder of the infected. Only sounds that can be heard should be the animal like grunts of the infected.

Ryan and Conchur

This clip of The Crazies shows something that we are considering using; the infection. We couldn't go overboard and have some major undead apocalypse due to our lack of budget. We wish we even had budgetary constraints. We think we could use a simple, maybe localised infection that just makes people go rabid.

REC Trailer

This clip shows the style of filming we want to use for some of the shots and we would like to incorporate night vision if possible.

Preliminary Evaluation

Cloverfield trailer

Starting from 0:54 we think there are a lot of good examples of discomfort in the camera work, editing, sound and mise en scene in the clip. There is a switch from high key lighting in the party to low key lighting on the balcony of the apartment. This indicates a change in mood from comfort and happiness to anxiety and worry.
The use of handheld camera adds a sense of realism to the clip. It also adds a sense of panic. We were also very fond of the method in which the camera cuts for several moments once the panic begins and projectiles begin to make contact with the building. When the scene suddenly cuts to black, the sound also cuts. This reinforces the realism of the scene as there seems to be problems with the camera that they are using.

FInal Answer

Evaluation - Preliminary Coursework

PLANNING

Overall we planned quite well. There was one line which we didn't have a particular line planned but we improvised and it flowed very well. It was hardly noticeable in the final piece. We made sure that everyone involved in the project knew how we wanted to present the characters. The journalist was to be presented as an authoritative figure and in a position of power throughout the clip. The serial killer was to gain some power at one point in the clip, but this power was to be restored to the journalist as soon as he raises his voice in outrage. This can be speculated as fake power as he has now lost all the strength that he had, or true power where he doesn't take any lip from the serial killer and therefore uses his authority to intimidate him. The serial killer is presented as an untouchable figure, as although he is in a submissive position, as he cannot lose his temper, he is truly the one in the position of power. He is unphased by anything that the journalist says, and also reveals crippling information which ultimately ruined the journalist.

Costumes were used to present each character in a desirable fashion and to reflect their positions in the scene. The formal clothing wore by the journalist reflects his desire for authority. The casual clothing worn by the serial killer represents how he is unaffected by any insults thrown at him by the journalist.

We encountered one problem with the location that we filmed the piece in. There was a back board in the background of many of the shots of the journalist, which was not there the next day when we resumed filming. To compensate, we re-filmed all the scenes of the journalist. This was a small sacrifice to maintain continuity in the scene.

FILMING

We were, for the majority of the piece, successful in our filming. There were no immediate problems when it came to each shot.

We used a variety of shots when it came to this piece, from over the shoulder shots to low angle. The low angle shots were to establish the journalist's dominance at the beginning of the shot, although as the conversation begins the Journalist realises that he is not in as much control as he had thought. This explains the over-the-shoulder shot. As he storms out, there is a low angle shot of him as he stands up. This re-establishes his dominance as he loses his temper. Overall the use of shots were significant and well filmed.

Camera techniques were also put to good use. The rule of thirds was used to bring more attention to each character. An action match was also used to maintain the flow of the narrative. The 180 degree rule was observed throughout the entire piece, too.

Our worst problem came when Ryan had his hair cut when we were just about to finish filming. This was very problematic as we could not restart filming as we were too far into production, so we had to make it the least noticeable it could have been. This was our worse continuity issue.

Lighting was used to great effect. The lighting in the corridor was low-key which indicated the journalists hesitance and apprehension when it came to speaking to the serial killer. However when he entered, the high key lighting indicated that he was confident in the situation and was willing to overcome his hesitance. Costumes were also well done, the journalist wore formal clothing while the serial killer was in more casual clothing. This also suggests a class difference between the two characters.

EDITING

Editing went rather well. The software was mostly unknown to us so there was some fiddling about so that we could find our bearings but once we knew what we doing it was much easier. The software was useful in that it was very user friendly and that we had some sound issues in the clips we wanted to use and we were able to take the better audio from other clips. For example we moved the sound of the door  to later than it would have been to add dramatic effect. This was one of our biggest problems of the editing. We also had some useless clips of the serial killer as the hands were in the wrong position. However we noticed this during filming and were able to simply retake a couple of shots. We were able to learn how to accurately and efficiently edit the video and audio. For example, at times there was sound over the dialogue that was interrupting the narrative. We were able to fix this with a quick audio editing tool within the software we were using which was iMovie11. We learned how to add video and audio effects, how to add credits and incorporate music into the production. Overall the piece was quite good. There were difficulties in the continuity that we edited out without much difficulty, our win obstacle was time. We found it quite hard to finish the production within the time period but we were able to complete it on schedule.

If we have learned one thing that we should do to ensure success in the next piece of coursework, it would be that we should improve the consistency in our setting, and also consistency in general.

Brainstorming for next piece of coursework

Plot is that of a group of friends on a day out, recording the experience. Person recording himself is a video blogger who uploads all of his videos to youtube. The footage is recovered from a murder scene by detectives.

First scene is of group walking to destination in a park. Other people will be seen in the shot, sense of realism. Banter between group, discussing some real world issue for sake of video blog episode.

Eventually brushes over noticing something odd about member of group. Doesn't make too much of a fuss

Notices his condition getting worse, they decide to take him home

Brainstorm

Ryan Cairns - Antagonist/ Secondary Cameraman - Serial Killer
Paddy Rooney - Protagonist - Journalist for Belfast Herald. Unconfirmed relation to victim
Conchur Hughes - Guard/Primary Cameraman

Possible prison setting
Paddy investigating similar spree of murders (possible accomplice?)