Improvements for thriller film

When filming the second time, as we were editing, we came across many problems and obstacles. However, we are going to film again to overcome them. Here are some problems we faced;














We wanted to use the torches to improve our lighting conditions, but when we were editing the torch signed on some characters, and didn't look professional. It looked like we were holding the torches, which we were, and didn't look how we wanted it to. We like the red lighting from the street lamps, because it looks more suspicious and red also connotes danger. We are going to improve it by filming it again and not holding the torch directing it on the characters.

















When we are zooming in on the hand, the camera looked very shaky from the wind, as we did not use the tripod for this scene. Another improvement is that we will either get the characters to be holding the torch or their mobile phones, and they will be shinning it on the hand and blood, so not just them that can see it, but the audience can see it too.
















This last scene was supposed to be extremely important because it was suppose to be slow and create tension. It was also going to highlight the drama of the whole situation. However it was done extremely fast and seemed rush. When filming this again, we will make the character say it more slower and for him to look directly to the camera, so it will be directly towards the audience. Which will create more suspense and tension.

We are also going to film again because some parts there is strong wind that covers the characters voices. However some parts it is effective because it sounds like strong thunder, which creates a thriller atmosphere.
We also didn't make the movie to last two minutes, when we edited it. so we are going to film again, making sure we have each camera shot in our story board, lasting as long as we say it will.

Second filming session -10th Ferbuary

10th February 2010

We filmed a second time because the shots that were taking weren't useful. The camera only focuses on one character and shots of practising the scene were shot then the actual scene itself. As well as that, on Sunday, the camera ran out of battery.
We then met up on Wednesday. We had trouble because of the weather conditions, which was strong winds and snow. However, we waited until the snow finished to start filming. We did each scene at a time. Practising the shots and lines before this. We also had to put blood on the floor, just as in our storyboard. We had difficulty trying to stick to all the shots on our storyboard.
Because of the cold weather, it was hard for everyone to keep focus. As our hands were stiff and cold, it was hard to keep the camera still. As a result of this, we are going to watch each scene thoroughly, and possibly film scenes again if needed too, because of the shaky camera. However, some shaky bits, would look effective for our thriller film. It would be as if the audience are connected to the film.
When we filmed it on Sunday, we had trouble seeing the characters. To avoid this happening again, we brought torches to focus on all four characters.
Because we had done it on Sunday, we had a better understanding of the shots and the scene, which made it quicker for us to get through.
Another problem we accounted with was people walking past. Most of them wanted to see what we were doing, so didn't go quick. This was a problem because we had to keep stopping filming.


For our thriller, we had to make blood. We made this by mixing water, red food colouring and flour at a warm temperature. We also brought a fake dead hand. We also needed alcohol, so because we didn't want to end up getting in trouble, we filled a beer with apple juice and glued the lid back on. We then told Michael, who played the homeless man, to bring a hat, as it was part of equipment we needed.

First filming session - 7th Febuary 2010

The filming did'nt go as well as planned.
All entrances of Broomfield Park were locked. We ended up having to relocate the whole scene.

There were a few problems with getting the camera ready, e.g. assembly the tripod correctly and making sure the picture was bright enough to film.

We covered the first part of the opening, with the 3 boys walking towards the camera, spotting the hand and the blood on the boxes as well as them recognizing the tramp and deciding to steal the bottle.

Improvements to make: For the next filming sessions we will need to improve our timing of recording, e.g. make sure everyone is ready before recording to ensure unecessary bits are not filmed, we will need to practice familiarizing ourselves more with the camera so that we master how to perform basic functions, we should also make sure the actors practise their lines as well as practising acting actively so that the filming process will run a lot more smoothly.

Evaluation of prelinimary task

We did this task for a coursework. Even though we had to do it, it enabled us to gain more skills with the camera. Me, Imani and Jodie did not use a camera before this opportunity, so it helped us get around the camera, learning how to film and how to use the tripod. As well as these basic skills, we got to try out camera angles we had been learning in lesson, such as close up, long shot and match on action. We found this task difficult as we had to make up a scene that we could include all three of us, and who would play each part. As well as this, we had to plan thoroughly the camera angles we would be using for each part. This was not easy, so we decided to have a couple of run throughs before filming. When we did finally do it, we watched it back and came to the conclusion that we should add more camera angles where we had the chance. So decided to do some scenes again.
We then uploaded it and took out the parts we didn't need and replaced it with the parts we did need.
In our class, we then evaluated each others task. Some of the comments we got were that the 'lighting was dim', 'dialogue was not clear' and the camera was 'shaky'. This criticism will help us when we do are thriller film to bare in mind.
Good comments we got back were 'good match on action' and 'good arc shot'. These comments will help us when we come to filming for our thriller movie.

Working title films

Working Title Films is a British film production company, based in London, UK. The company was founded by Tim Bevan and Sarah Radclyffe in 1983. It produces feature films and several television productions. Eric Fellner and Bevan are now the co-owners of the company.

Working Title Films was co-founded by producers Tim Bevan and Sarah Radclyffe in 1983. In 1992, PolyGram became the company's corporate backer. Radclyffe left Working Title, and Eric
Fellner, a fellow independent film producer, joined the company.The company produced a variety of films for PolyGram's London-based production company PolyGram Filmed
Entertainment. An Anglo-Dutch film studio, PolyGram Films became a major Hollywood competitor. In 1999, PolyGram was sold to Seagram and merged with MCA Music Entertainment, to form Universal Music Group. PolyGram Films was merged and sold to Universal Studios in 1999.
Although contractually allowed to produce any film with a budget of up to $25 million, on a practical basis, Bevan and Fellner consult with studio executive at Working Title's parent company NBC
Universal. Working Title is located in Oxford Street, London, and is known for having a limited amount of employees. The company also has other offices located in Los Angeles, and Ireland.

WT2 Productions
In 1999, Bevan and Fellner launched a subsidiary company named Working Title 2 Productions, commonly known as WT2. The company is an independent film production arm run by Natascha Wharton, and has produced films that include Billy Elliot, Shaun of the Dead and The Calcium Kid.
Working Title Films was co-founded by producers Tim Bevan and Sarah Radclyffe in 1983. In 1992, PolyGram became the company's corporate backer. Radclyffe left Working Title, and Eric Fellner, a fellow independent film producer, joined the company. The company produced a variety of films for PolyGram's London-based production company PolyGram Filmed Entertainment. An Anglo-Dutch film studio, PolyGram Films became a major Hollywood competitor. In 1999, PolyGram was sold to Seagram and merged with MCA Music Entertainment, to form Universal Music Group. PolyGram Films was merged and sold to Universal Studios in 1999.
Although contractually allowed to produce any film with a budget of up to $25 million, on a practical basis, Bevan and Fellner consult with studio executive at Working Title's parent company NBC Universal. Working Title is located in Oxford Street, London, and is known for having a limited amount of employees. The company also has other offices located in Los Angeles, and Ireland.

WT2 Productions
In 1999, Bevan and Fellner launched a subsidiary company named Working Title 2 Productions, commonly known as WT2. The company is an independent film production arm run by Natascha Wharton, and has produced films that include Billy Elliot, Shaun of the Dead and The Calcium Kid.

The Boat that rocked

The boat that rocked is a 2009 British American ensemble comedy film, released in the United Kingsom on 1 April 2009. After the film's commercial and critical failure in the UK, it was re-edited and retitled Pirate Radio for release in the United States and Canada on 13 November 2009. It was still unsuccessful in its new guise. Set in 1966, it tells a story about a fictitious pirate radio station broadcasting

Marketing

The best part of Richard Curtis' the boat that rocked was marketing. We were first introduced to this movie via some colourful and briliantly designed poseters in November, then there was the trailors. This helped promote the film and how they marketed it. The film was commercial uncusseful.

Exhibition

The posters were exhibited in Empire magazine

Distribution

The United Kingdom on the 1st April 2009 and the United States of America and Canada on the 13 November 2009.

Synergy

Bourbon biscuits was used and typhoo tea

Preliminary Task Feedback & Storyboard

GOOD POINTS:
Good match on action
Good arc shot

BAD POINTS:
Wobbly camera
Hard to hear what was being said
Lighting too dim
Dialogue was not clear

Location Report

Broomfield Park

Address:
Broomfield Lodge
Broomfield Avenue
London
N13 4JQ‎

Problems that we have mightis if we film during the week, there is likely to be traffic as we our filming late at night and it could be very busy. This could be a problem because there could be sound problems, such as from the cars. But the area we will be filming is situated a bit of distance from the road so we might not have a problem. And if there still is, we could situate are filming the other side of the park, which could be less quieter.

We have chosen this park because it has the best settings for our film. For example, as shown in picture one there is a path where the bench is, which really goes well for our setting. The playground is not a far distance from were we are mainly shooting as well. We are not shooting in the playground, because of child protection laws, but we are going to have a few snapshots to set the scene for our thriller movie. For example we were going to have a swing, swinging by itself, which would have really drawn attention that it is an thriller film.

The park is also very big, so it isn't likely it would be busy where we will be filming as there are many areas in this park.

Below are a few photos of the park and the area where we will be filming. It is also the exact bench we will be using.

Pymms Park

Address:
85 Silver Street
London
N18 1RP

Our plan to film at Broomfield park did not go well because as soon as we met up there, the park had already been closed. We then decided to go to the next closest park, which was Pymms park. This would have worked better because in pymms park we can film in the middle of the park, where there would be no sound problem coming from cars. The only problems we would have is people walking their dogs, but we can just wait until they were out of the camera before we continued. Another problem we would be facing would be strong wind and snow.

Questionnaire Analysis

Do you know the difference between thriller and horror movies ? 50% of our target age group said that they were able to recognise the difference between thriller and horror movies. However, 40%, which is a high percentage, are not able to recognise the difference. So to make our opening good, we'll make it clear that it's an thriller opening by using codes and convections, i.e. non-digetic, creepy music but nothing like violence or heads being thrown around the screen because that's more of a horror convection.

Do you enjoy ambiguity or giveaway plot lines ? 80% of our target audience claimed to preferring ambiguity plot lines. This makes it easier for us as it's a thriller opening and it will be more interesting when it keeps the audience at the edge of their seats.

Shooting script

Shooting Script

Broomfield Park 11:00pm

[Andreas, Imani, Aidan and Michael]

ANDREAS, AIDAN AND IMANI ARE WALKING THROUGH BROOMFIELD PARK

Imani:

Aidan have you got modern warfare 2 yet?

Aidan:

Yeah, I got it the day it came out

Andreas:

Yeah, it's the best game I've played for a while

Imani:

What rank are you

Andreas:

Hold up, what's going on with the blood everywhere, and what is that

ALL THREE BOYS THEN LOOK AT THE GROUND

Aidan:

[Laughs] Look at that homeless man, I can smell him from here

Andreas:

Junaed, I dare you to take his alcohol

Imani:

I don't think that's a good idea

Aidan:

Just do it, what's the problem

Andreas:

Quick!

IMANI SLOWLY WALKS OVER TO THE HOMELESS MAN. AFTER A SLIGHT PAUSE HE TAKES THE ALCOHOL. AIDAN TAKES THE ALCOHOL FROM

IMANI

Andreas:

[Laughs] Now get his hat as well

Aidan:

[Laughs]

Imani:

What, why?

Andreas:

Just do it!

IMANI WALKS OVER TO THE MEN, SLOWLY TAKES HIS HAT, BUT THE HOMELESS MAN WAKES UP. ANDREAS AND AIDAN THEN RUN OFF

IMANI STANDS SHOCKED FOR A FEW SECONDS, THEN RUNS OFF. HE THEN TRIPS OVER THE HAND. THE HOMELESS MAN THEN WALKS OVER TO IMANI

Michael [homeless man]:

You've had your fun, now I'm going to have mine

End of film opening