Looking back at the preliminary task, what do you think you have learnt from the progression from it to the full task?

From the preliminary task we learnt to plan out the shots we needed by using a shot list, and how we were going to do the shots. For example we used many different shots in the preliminary such as shot/reverse shots as well as many close ups. We took the knowledge we learnt about all the different shots from the preliminary and used it on the main task. However we developed our knowledge of camera angles in the main task when we used an establishing shot for the beginning of our main task, along with a few more different shots like long shots and two shots later on in the sequence. The skills we learnt in the preliminary were mainly skills in filming, such as learning about the rule of thirds and the 180 degree rule, which we made sure we used throughout our film. We learnt a lot more however, this was mainly in the editing aspect, where we learnt about the different effects we can put for the filters of the frames along with the different effects we could use in the transitions between shots. This was to create a better feel in the film, and add to the emotion of it. We needed a lot more skills in editing for our main task than in our preliminary as there was a lot more to it, for example we had a voiceover to fit over the film, along with music. There were also a lot more shots to deal with, and we had to make our main task look a lot more professional than the preliminary because that time it wasn't just practice.

We needed to make sure our skills and our technical aspects of the film suited the drama genre that we were going for. We did this with the nostalgic effect in the transitions and the black and white flashbacks. All our shots were meant to give an emotional reaction, so we try as hard as we can to make it seem as melancholy as possible. This was by using a minor key for the non-diegetic music in the background, with a high use of piano and violins. Also we did this by using an emotional-sounding non-diegetic voiceover and the cross-fades. We were also meant to give a slight sense of the main character turning slightly crazy by showing him glimpsing his dead girlfriend alive again in real life, immediately disappearing soon after, to catch that feeling we had to use our skills in filming and editing. For the scene on a road when the main character glimpses his girlfriend, we immediately give an ambiguous effect for the later part of the film by using the cars driving on the road in front of her to make it seem like she was run over. This could show that she might have died in a car accident maybe. This is for the later film to find out. We managed this effect by filming Jess on the road for a few minutes while a large amount of cars drove past in front of her. Soon after we filmed an empty space where Jess would be for a few minutes while more cars drove past. In the editing we picked two cars that looked similar from the side from either shot. We then merged the two shots together of these two cars moving in the same direction to give the impression that the main character is just imagining things.

A difference between the preliminary task and the main task was the fact that we had a storyboard to work from, we also had to be more innovative and use skills in creativity to create a good idea for the main task, once we decided on the drama genre we decided to research the conventions of drama on the internet, for example we looked at a few openings for dramas and realized from films like "The Shawshank Redemption" that voiceovers were good ideas for them. Also putting too much action in them was decided as a bad idea so we came to the decision of making it of a calm nature. Also flashbacks were decided as a good idea, especially with the idea we had of the main character reminiscing over a dead girlfriend.

Altogether there was a lot more to the main task than there was to the preliminary, there were more shots, for example matched cuts, establishing shots, long shots, a lot more close ups. There was also more to the editing, for example with the effects we used, along with the different filters we used in the flashbacks than with the shots in present tense. The sound is also another large difference as this time we used original music, created by us. Along with the voiceover too, which we never used in the preliminary task. The only sound we used in the preliminary task was the sound we used from a recording of members of our group playing the piano. It fortunately worked well, however not as well in our opinion as the music for our main task.

What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?

From this project, we've learnt large amounts about how to use certain softwares and media-orientated tools. For example whilst filming we had to use a camera and tripod. These were technologies usually associated with Media products, and we had to film our final sequence using these. We learnt to adjust the tripod to a certain height in order to gain the most appropriate shots we needed, we also learnt how to record our shots on the camera we were given, along with how to turn it on and off, and look at the shots we'd recorded. After using these frequently, we then began to use them to shoot more creative, and suiting footage for our film. For example we filmed from many angles in order to create different moods. One example of this is at the start of our film when we used a very high angle, almost-aerial view shot as it would be the best sort of angle for an establishing shot.

Once we'd finished filming there were many more new pieces of software we had to get used to and learn to adapt to. The first software we were introduced to was "Final Cut Pro". We only had a few weeks to learn to import all the shots we'd filmed onto this, and arrange them in an appropriate order to create the tone and mood we were looking for. We managed to use it well very quickly, and started to be more creative on it, for example by using effects on the transitions and the filters in our shots and frames. We used a cross-fade between every shot in our footage to give more of a nostalgic, dreamy effect. This is because the main character is feeling nostalgic feelings about his dead lover and he is dreaming and reminiscing about the older, happier times with her. We also used a black-and-white filter for the memories he had to determine the difference between past and present, helping it to be slightly easier for the audience to understand. We played with a few other effects in the filters too which gave some effects that seemed very good to use in the memories. For example there was a glow effect, along with a desaturate effect.

Another main part of our film was the sound, and we used two different softwares to create the perfect sound we needed. Sibelius was used for some of the non-diegetic sound, specifically the music. We used this to input the notes needed for the music, we then learnt how to transfer this file to a file suitable for use on Final Cut Pro. We also used logic, to both change the music and store the voiceover on, and also to change that. We had problems in the dynamics of the music so that was the problem we overcome by adjusting the volumes on logic. With the voiceover we were frequently adjusting it by spreading out the utterances to make the voiceover last longer. Also we used recording instruments to record our voiceover, such as microphones and handheld voice recorders. We learnt a lot from doing this, especially how to export the recordings into different formats for use in Final Cut Pro. Our voiceover was a problem as it was usually either too short or too long for the 2 minute sequence we had, therefore we recorded it many more times so we could perfect it.

In conclusion, in the whole project of the filming and editing, we learnt a lot from how to use the cameras, to how to use the technology involved with editing. We made high use of the different programs on the macs, such as logic, Final Cut Pro and Sibelius. We are also using the technology of the Mac itself to create posts on this blog.

Initial Ideas.

When we started looking into what kind of film opening we wanted we considered a variety of options and played around with a few ideas. One initial idea was to do a musical, but when thinking and researching we realised how hard that this type of genre would be to do, for example we would have needed to find enough volunteers to take part, as musicals usually have a high number of people and also we would have required a good choreographer for it to work for us, thus ruling this idea out. Another idea we had was to do a comedy, but again we thought this wouldn't demonstrate our skills well enough so we chose not to follow up on this idea.

In the end we all agreed on the genre of drama, this is because we could show what we could do when it comes to filming and editing. You can also tell that a film is initially a drama in the opening as they don't tend to have lots of special effects and editing. Doing a drama opening isn't as hard to do compared to other genres, e.g. comedies and musicals where the openings don’t actually show their genre till quite a bit into the film. Everyone being happy we went on to plan and film our opening.

Before we filmed we took some photos of the locations we were going to film in:

Chorlton park because it was big and there were lots of places to film the happy memories.



We decided to film our sad memories in the southern cemetery, this fit in perfectly with what we wanted to do. We also found a suitable cross where we could film the main part of our opening. The cross was perfect as it was plain and didn't have a name on it, we wanted this as it would keep the audience guessing as to what it was that had happened.

Shot List

Most of our shots contained only natural lighting and all sound was Diagetic, however in the café scene the lighting was artificial (low key). Our plan is to remove all sound and place in some non- diagetic music over the scenes.

1. Establishing shot of the Graveyard.

To set the scene to the audience so that they know where they are.

2. Long shot of Main Character walking to grave.

Introduces Character into scene; long shot showing main character is being overwhelmed by his enviroment.

3. Close up of Main Character walking to grave.

To show the audience the emotions he may be feeling.

4. Mid shot of Main Character arriving at grave.

Still able to see characters emotions but you can still see the location.

5. Point of view shot of grave.

To show the audience what the main character can see.

6. Shot of Main Character from behind grave.

Main Character places flowers at grave. Showing the key prop and also tells audience that main character is associated with whoever is buried in the grave.

7. Close up of Main Character.

Showing emotion oh ramorse. Telling audience he is sad about the passing of person in grave.

8. Memory 1 (Park).

Showing happy moment with Lily and main character to audience. Also showing them who it was in the grave (Lily). Memories will be showin in black and white, an indicator as these being moments from the past.

9. Memory 2 (Café).

Showing audience happy moment between main character and Lily.

10. Memory 3 (Bus).

Showing happy moment between main character and Lily.

11. Mid Shot of Main Character.

Returning to present, compareing his emotion from the past to the present.

12. Long Shot of Main Character leaving graveyard.

Showing how Main character is again overwhelmed by the current location

13. Long Shot of ‘Lily’ across the road. Showing Lily in the present.

14. Long shot of across the road without Lily for when Lily “disappears”.

This Editing will leave the audience confused and will want to continue watching to know what happens next.

15. Reaction shot of Main Character.

Showing the emotions the Main character is feeling.

16. Long shot of Main Character walking down the road.

End of opening scene, bring questions to audience as to where he is traveling to?

Locations of our filming

When we first planned out what was to happen in our film opening, we knew that we wanted shots in a park and also in a graveyard. We all chose to go to Chorlton to do our filming, this is because it was the closest to the college and we also had a member of the group who knew the area well. We did our filming in Chorlton Park and also in Chorlton Cemetery. We chose to film in the cemetery, as cemeteries are known to be a very depressing place. A number of famous films that are thrilling, scary or even dramas are filmed in areas like this and we thought this was perfect for our location. Opening a film in an area like a cemetery brings lots of questions to the viewer’s head, for example “Why is he in a cemetery? Is he visiting a grave or just passing through?” etc.

The goal of when we went into the cemetery was to find a unnamed wooden cross for a grave, fortunately we found one and began filming. The reason we wanted an unnamed grave is so that we could keep the secret a little while longer as to who’s grave this was.

Also helpful was that there was a flower store very close to the cemetery; here we purchased our key prop, the flower, lily, which ties in to the title of our film. The purpose of the key prop was not only to act as a connotation of the title of the film but also to make the audience ask questions as to why the main character is holding this particular flower and also who this character is who is dead and in this grave.

The filming for the cemetery took around 4 lessons to complete, three visits gained all the shot we wanted but we went on the fourth time after realizing some shots were sloppy and had to be re-done. We first started filming in the local park for our memory scenes for the film opening; this took around 2 lessons to film. After a few sessions filming we all went into the cemetery, here we looked for a suitable location for the shots that needed to be done in here.

As earlier stated we had some shot in Chorlton Park (shots of memories of Lily in the story). The reason we chose this park is because it is where we would imagine you may take a partner on a day out, also the park can connote happy moments in life and this is what we wanted to achieve.

STORYBOARD

Long, establishing shot to show surroundings and help set the scene. Low toned slow music to help portray sadness from the word go carried on throughout the opening sequence.



Close up shot of gravestone to help show what the genre of the film is. Music again carried on throughout.



Medium-Close up shot of Matt placing flowers down on gravestone, again helping to show the genre of the film.



Panning shot around the gravestone to then show Matt, he is looking sad the lighting is natural and the music again is low and dull.



Close up of Matt's face, sadness clearly shown, clothing dark all to show this isn't going to be a happy film.



Photograph of a memory Matt is holding shown, camera zooms into photo and into the photograph scene to create a sense of a flashback. Music changes as zooms in and scene changes to a happier time.



Mid-shot of Jess and Matt sat on park bench, sun shining, normal clothing, looking happy, helping show how they were and making the audience ask questions about what happened and why she isn't here anymore.



Mid-shot of Jess and Matt in Cafe Nero, again showing a memory, both looking like a normal happy family. Artificial lighting in this as indoors.



Mid-long shot, another memory, Jess and Matt walking hand in hand along the high street again looking happy making the audience be able to relate to the couple and how hard it must be for Matt who has obviously lost this girl from his life.



Last memory shot, mid-close shot of Jess and Matt sat on the bus, again looking happy and everything normal.



Mid-long shot of Matt walking out of the graveyard, looking completely destroyed and taken apart, totally different from previous scenes. Makes the audience have pity and feel for him even though they don't know what has happened yet. Music changes back to sad theme and we again begin to feel sorry for Matt.



Point of view shot from Matt's point of view of Jess across the road, car passes and Jess disappears.



Shot of Matt's face, he is obviously very affected by what we think is this girls death, seeing things etc, audience filled with pity.