Practising with Logic Pro

I began to experiment with Logic Pro at 10.00am, an application that allows you to create your own music. I wanted to have an original sound track that involved conventions of the thriller genre, suspense and tension. My first practise is below: 

 

This exercise was a personal test. It helped me familiarise myself with the programme and explore the variety of sounds available. I tested the music on other members of the group to see if I had correctly merged the sounds to create the particular effect. I enjoyed mixing the sounds because I could create numerous compositions that had numerous effects upon the listener.

The next image is of a possible sound which may be used for our companies introduction to the final 2 minute introduction:

Although having spent an hour listening and editing this, I am still unsure of the composition. It may sound too strong an impact, and the overlapping sounds may be overwhelming for the listener. 

This composition, even if dis-guarded for the final production, has proved to be an additional practise; which is always a plus!

Keep following :)

Filming Entry 3

Today we filmed more inside the house.

We carried on with Chloe going up the stairs and continued with various camera shots of her walking to her room. Once completed, we filmed Chloe in her room. At this point, our company realised that we needed to use the script as more of a guide than specifically follow it. This would aid the editing because we would have more camera shots to choose from; giving us a lengthier introduction.

Here are a list of short, improvised interactions for Chloe and the shots used with them:

• Texting her friend;

close up (CU), point of view (POV), Mid and an Over the shoulder (OTS) shot.

• Reading a magazine;

POV, Mid, CU, long shot (LS)

• Jumping/laying on the bed;

PAN, LS, track, aerial shots.

• Taking off her shoes;

CU, Mid, extreme close up (EXCU) .

• Looking through her wardrobe;

POV, CU, Mid, LS

• Gazing out the window;

POV, CU, Mid, high angle of outside (HA).

We spent more than an hour on this; getting the continuity right and filming the same shot at least 3 times for the editing process, roughly creating 10 minutes of filming.

 

Although it was hard work I enjoyed it because it meant we were thorough for this section

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Filming Entry 2

Our female actress was not available to film today or any other days, we therefore could not use her as the character. Searching for someone available proved difficult; thus making me our last resort, which will make it easier as I know the script off by heart.
We also discovered, through experimentation, that a small button had previously been pressed - creating the zoomed-in camera effect. Thankfully, pressing the button again restored the camera to it's original state; I was so glad to not have the same problem again!


Having, changed location to a friends house and beginning filming again, we promptly started with the inside scene of Chloe entering through the front door. Although the shots were clear and sufficient, I noticed that we needed to film this section at a later time; in the editing process the shots combined would display errors in continuity. The outside light shinned through the door window as Chloe walked in , this would contrast to the previous future edited shots of Chloe walking along a street at night. Thankfully I spotted this before we moved on!


We then did multiple camera shots, such as aerial shots, low/high angle still shots, close ups and different positioned long shots, all of the character Chloe walking up the stairs! It's better to be overly prepared than under prepared!

Whilst discussing which scenes to film next we noticed that it was looking dark outside the window, we wanted to use this opportunity before continuing inside.
Half way through outside filming it began to rain. Considering the editing, the rain would affect the continuity of the clothes; as the inside shots displayed Chloe's jacket and hair dry.

As we were faced with a decision, we weighed each choice thoroughly;

Using the rain:

• Filming the inside again
• Time consuming - darker outside shots
• Camera could get wet
• Crew more tired - lack of focus on filming

  
Postpone filming:

• Crew gets rest - more focus on filming tomorrow
• Another chance outside
• More done inside while waiting for darkness

Considering these options we decided to postpone the filming until the next day.



Keep following :)

Filming Entry 1

We began filming in my house at 6.30pm today. We choose this time because it meant we were able to film inside sections whilst waiting for it to get darker for the outside filming.
It was a challenging process throughout, as we were faced with multiple problems. Firstly, our camera was constantly zoomed in during filming; which made filming a tiresome job, both I and Patrycja changed the camera and tripod positioning frequently, to gain the intended camera angle/shot. This also affected our actors, it is tedious repeating the shot, let's say twice; having to remember lines and make sure that the set is ready...but six times, virtually spent on each shot, unbelievable!


Secondly, the time spent on filming agitated our company members and actors, as everyone was beginning to become hungry and tired; thus provoking a negative response to the task.


Eventually, as a company we decided to finish filming at 9pm; considering the situation and believing it was best to film again tomorrow.


I believe it would be best to change locations to another, more spacious house, as the camera requires further distances in it's current state...


Keep following :)

Auditions

This is our poster for auditions that we displayed in school:

Our production was searching for one female teenager, that would play the role of the victim, Chloe, and one male teenager that would play the role of the Killer.

The auditions took place on the 7th March at 2.15pm.
However, we needed to change our location, seen in the pictures, due to the space being used by other people.

Here are some of the people that wanted to audition:

At the end of the day, we had finally come to an agreement of who we would pick for the roles, as a company. The best male actor, we decided, was the young male in the picture seen above. He has good posture, excellent facial expressions, a good sense of character building and the ability to engage himself in a character for a long period of time. As a company, we needed these qualities to help the pace and flow of filming; we needed adequate actors that would be able to constantly deliver , considering the amount of takes we might need.

Despite the ease undergone with choosing the male actor, we found it hard to choose a female. We wanted a blonde girl so it would merge with our concept, who has the ability to look naive, have a good sense of facial expressions, to be able to put herself and stay in the character for long periods of time.

Unfortunately the female in the image above did not meet our desired criteria, especially as she has black hair, so we declined her application. Another applicant, however, with blonde hair and simular acting attributes to the male, was accepted.


I'm looking forward to working with them.


Keep following :)

Storyboard for final production

Once we had finished writing our script we then completed our storyboard; a step used to aid us visually with what our final outcome may look like.
In addition, when we have competed the audition process we will need to demonstrate to our chosen actors what we expect from them and what our final two minute clip will look like. The storyboard is a very useful tool for this, and saves valuable time that would be spent explaining the plan; giving us more time to film.

Here is a picture of our storyboard:

Keep following :)

Script for Final Production

BEGINNING CREDITS - LOGO
INT. MOON/DARK NIGHT/OUTSIDE/STREET

EST moon,
LS of CHLOE walking,
MS phone conversation:

CHLOE
Yeah…Yeah…Oh I’m almost home…Nahh no-one’s at home yet…

LS house [behind car lurking?],
CU [light on top window],
non-diegetic faint heart beat

MS/CU CHLOE:

CHLOE
Family problems init…

No non-diegetic heart beat fades
PAN CHLOE,
LA STILL [CHLOE walks past camera],
CU on her bag [key]

CHLOE
Anyway I gotta go babe putting my key in the door, lataa

CU on door lock, SIDE view of her

CHLOE 
Ahh, I can’t be bovered wiv this family! No one locks the frickin’ door!

MS door inside open,
non-diegetic music increases,
CU on CHLOE turning on downstairs light switch
CU on CHLOE taking shoes off [aggressively] 

CHLOE 

And they complain to me bout not puttin my shoes at the bottom of the stairs when they can’t be arsed to lock the frickin door! 

Walks upstairs – LAS – bottom of stairs
HAS at top of stairs
OSS looking at room – CHLOE’S reaction

CHLOE 
OH MY GOSH! And they even leave a bloody light on, in MY room!

PAN as CHLOE goes into room PAN goes past room and to a door
hand around door – non-diegetic music – sudden shock type[?mid shot – camera sees Chloe go by but does not follow and a hand holding a knife is at the door she passes?] [?rants about her family?]

Angled LS – CHLOE begins to unpack bag – gets out homework
OSS - dark figure behind her lifts knife – blurred figure – non-diegetic music
CHLOE turns,
music increases
CU ‘killers’ mask
CU CHLOE’S face
CU on knife

MS – CHLOE wakes up in sweat,
EXCL on eyes and face – panting

Non-Diegetic door creek open and music tense
POV on door – figure?
CU on her face
TRACK her slow hand towards bedside lamp
CU on switch of lamp
POV door
LS room – figure next to bed
CHLOE turns, screams knocks light down

Beginning Title ‘Not A1one’ to police siren music

END

I understand that we will need to try and follow this, as it is one of the main ingredients for our final production. Our production team and actors need to be well aware of the script as it can save valuable time.
I enjoyed being the scriptwritter because it helped me appreciate the amount of detail needed for the production team to understand the directions and how to present them.
Camera and editing instructions need to be separate from dialogue, as a means to not to confuse the team. I wrote the dialogue in a bold style with a distinct font, aiding the actors to differentiate between when spoken language and unspoken language; it wouldn't seem like a professional company if the actors were confused and spoke the camera and editing directions!

Keep following :)