Meeting 1 - 14/12/09
Everyone in the group attended.
Contacts were exchanged and study periods posted on the blog.
Everyone is to post their evaluation of the preliminary task on the blog.
Find out from parents about them being a form of transport, researching transport in your area and ask you parents about using the home for filming. Bring your information to the next meeting.
Investigate local area and take photos coming back to the group with this information next meeting.
Meeting 2 - 5/01/10
Everyone attended.
We discussed what needs uploading from each person
We have discussed and come to the conclusion of the questionnaire that we will ask people about Thrillers, which is posted following this.
The questions will be typed up and given out (10 people each at a minimum) and then next meeting we will come back and discuss what we have found from the questions.
Next time we will come back with story ideas and location setting for discussion as well as this being posted on the blog.
Meeting 3 - 15/01/10
Everyone attended this meeting.
Henry told us the most recent news about the sound situation, which is now posted on the blog.
We discussed the questionnaire results and posted these to the blog. - This is some of our audience research.
We all looked at the different ideas that we had come up with and managed to narrow it down to two.
We chose the one that we did because altough we liked both, with the locations we had access to and the actors we have access to we felt that this plot would work better.
Henry told us the most recent news about the sound situation, which is now posted on the blog.
We discussed the questionnaire results and posted these to the blog. - This is some of our audience research.
We all looked at the different ideas that we had come up with and managed to narrow it down to two.
We chose the one that we did because altough we liked both, with the locations we had access to and the actors we have access to we felt that this plot would work better.
Meeting 4 - 15/01/10
Jonny and Grace got together to start working on the plot and added in the camera angles they thought would suit for each shot.
Meeting 5 - 18/01/10
We had a meeting today, Grace and Henry attended, Jonny was unavailable as he was in a lesson. We still thought it necessary to try and get our storyline in order, as we aim to start filming in the upcoming weeks.We looked over our final plot line and we both made suggestions on how it could be improved, as the original idea was at a basic stage. We now have (pretty much) decided on our final plot line, having taking in to consideration the location, the characters and what is available to us in terms of props. Our next task is to try and write a more detailed summary of the opening and storyboard this idea thinking about what is seen and heard, the camera shots, transitions and lighting.
Meeting 6 - 20/01/10
All Attended. Henry received the (8) tracks for the thriller film, and they are now loaded on to Grace's memory stick ready to use when needed. The main point of this meeting was to continue planning/writing our storyboard. Camera shots, duration of shot, lighting and sound are all being considered during this process. The storyboard is to be fully completed by friday (22/01/10).
Meeting 7 - 21/01/10
All Attended.
We worked on our storyboard and are on our way to finishing. The only things left to discuss are lighting, sound and transistions. Some of this we decided we would work out from our practise filming we are doing this weekend.
We had a small discussion on some of the people that could be possible actors within our opening and Grace attempted to ring Jack Banks, but there was not answer and texted Monique Thapar because they both enjoy and are good at acting and we know that Monique goes to a theatre comapny outside of school.
We relistened to our sound tracks that Henry recieved but need more discussion on which ones to use for each different part of the sequence. We looked at which parts of the track could be edited in and out.
We also looked into what we still needed to cover and have said we will try and work on the following at Grace's house this weekend:
risk assessment
recruiting the actors/cast list - and what we want the characters to look like
Location List
We worked on our storyboard and are on our way to finishing. The only things left to discuss are lighting, sound and transistions. Some of this we decided we would work out from our practise filming we are doing this weekend.
We had a small discussion on some of the people that could be possible actors within our opening and Grace attempted to ring Jack Banks, but there was not answer and texted Monique Thapar because they both enjoy and are good at acting and we know that Monique goes to a theatre comapny outside of school.
We relistened to our sound tracks that Henry recieved but need more discussion on which ones to use for each different part of the sequence. We looked at which parts of the track could be edited in and out.
We also looked into what we still needed to cover and have said we will try and work on the following at Grace's house this weekend:
risk assessment
recruiting the actors/cast list - and what we want the characters to look like
Location List
Meeting 8 - 22/01/10
All Attended. We finished the storyboard in terms of transitions, lighting and diagetic sound. The only thing left to cover is non-diagetic sound and we have discussed which tracks we like best. We feel that it would be best to leave the sound until we have a better idea of the action and how the music will fit with it. We also posted the plot summary to the opening and Jonny collected the gels form the drama department for the lighting. Grace ordered the special effects wax from amazon. Grace and Henry experimented with garage band and worked out how to use it, editing a couple of tracks to use within the opening. We will look more into character and costumes as well as props and write the risk assessment later today at Grace's.
Meeting 9 - 22/01/10 to 23/01/10
These last few days we have been looking at the last things that we need to focus before filming.
We spent time Friday looking at the different lighting that was avaliable and taking video clips to see which angles worked best for the certain lights. We edited the clips but these are yet to be uploaded. The only one we have uploaded is the clip on gels.
Yesterday we scanned and uploaded our storyboard, but as well as this we also filmed a timed version of it and added over the top some of the tracks we will be using for our final piece. This is also yet to be uploaded.
We went out to our different locations and took photos of the final places we would be filming and posted these on the blog.
We also spent much time thinking about our characters and what their codes. We looked at the costume and continued to recruit actors. We are still yet to find the main girl for our sequence. Grace is to get in contact with Abi Carsberg to find out if she is avaliable to do it.
We looked further at the sound tracks and made a decision on which sound/music we would use where in the opening and put this onto our storyboard.
We spent time Friday looking at the different lighting that was avaliable and taking video clips to see which angles worked best for the certain lights. We edited the clips but these are yet to be uploaded. The only one we have uploaded is the clip on gels.
Yesterday we scanned and uploaded our storyboard, but as well as this we also filmed a timed version of it and added over the top some of the tracks we will be using for our final piece. This is also yet to be uploaded.
We went out to our different locations and took photos of the final places we would be filming and posted these on the blog.
We also spent much time thinking about our characters and what their codes. We looked at the costume and continued to recruit actors. We are still yet to find the main girl for our sequence. Grace is to get in contact with Abi Carsberg to find out if she is avaliable to do it.
We looked further at the sound tracks and made a decision on which sound/music we would use where in the opening and put this onto our storyboard.
Meeting 10 - 25/01/10
All Attended. We revised our post on risk assessment to include a more detailed response. We successfully uploaded our storyboard in video form, with background music (this may feature in our film). We briefly started to have a look at titling and in particular what text is used for the thriller genre. We have considered changing our production company name to suit the thriller genre better, as the previous one although clever could be seen as humourous. This is is not the effect we want our film to have on our audience. Next time we will look into titling and fonts in more detail. We may also think about the non-diagetic sounds we want to include in our film and where they could be placed.
Meeting 11 - 27/01/10
Today all attended.
We looked at all the fonts that we had on the CD and narrowed our favourites down to 13. We will choose the ones we will use once editing.
We played with final cut express to work out how to import these fonts and also played around with them once they were on there to see which ones looked best.
Grace edited and uploaded all of our practice filming.
We had a small passing discussion on the positioning of the text and feel that it would look good in one of the bottom corners so as not to be obstructive to the action. However, this will not be fully decided until we are at the editing stage.
We looked at all the fonts that we had on the CD and narrowed our favourites down to 13. We will choose the ones we will use once editing.
We played with final cut express to work out how to import these fonts and also played around with them once they were on there to see which ones looked best.
Grace edited and uploaded all of our practice filming.
We had a small passing discussion on the positioning of the text and feel that it would look good in one of the bottom corners so as not to be obstructive to the action. However, this will not be fully decided until we are at the editing stage.
Meeting 12 - 29/01/10
Everyone attended today.
We reviewed the uploads that Grace did of the videos last time.
We all then played around with final cut express working on our opening titles and looking again at the fonts we had short listed.
We changed our production name from Drunken Duck Productions to Nightmare Productions as we felt that Drunken Duck Productions was a bit comical for the Thriller Genre.
We continued to work on our opening sequence and have constructed this how we would like it to be but there are still some changes to be made later.
We reviewed the uploads that Grace did of the videos last time.
We all then played around with final cut express working on our opening titles and looking again at the fonts we had short listed.
We changed our production name from Drunken Duck Productions to Nightmare Productions as we felt that Drunken Duck Productions was a bit comical for the Thriller Genre.
We continued to work on our opening sequence and have constructed this how we would like it to be but there are still some changes to be made later.
Meeting 13 - 29/01/10 to 30/01/10
All attended at Grace's house.
Friday: Max Gibbens, Lewis Rendell, Rosie Hogg, Jack Banks and Abi Carsberg were able to get to Grace's and film the parts with multiple actors and the killing of the deceased victim. This was successful. We also looked over our opening sequence and came up with logos for our company.
Saturday morning: We uploaded the raw footage that we had taken on Friday evening. We began importing it into our opening sequence on final cut express, to see if it worked in the places we wanted it to go and that it was fully syncronised. One problem with our footage, was that when we used a generated light, the noise of the generator was picked up too well by the camera. This meant that it was the dominant feature in our footage instead of the noise made during the action. We have come up with a solution to this, which is to re-record the sound and then place this over the top of the old sound to cut out the generator. However, if this does not work our only other option is to re-record the whole of the footage.
Saturday afternoon/evening: Abi returned and we filmed the woods scene with her. Since our problem with the generator from Friday, we knew that we had to do something about the noise of the noise of it. We decided to record the footage with the generator on, so we had the light and then we re-recorded it without the light and when it comes to editing we will overlay the sound without the generator onto the footage.
Saturday evening: We finished filming our storyboard but until this has been fully viewed it is unknown to us whether the outcome is what we expect. We uploaded our latest footage to final cut express. We will start to view and edit this next time
Friday: Max Gibbens, Lewis Rendell, Rosie Hogg, Jack Banks and Abi Carsberg were able to get to Grace's and film the parts with multiple actors and the killing of the deceased victim. This was successful. We also looked over our opening sequence and came up with logos for our company.
Saturday morning: We uploaded the raw footage that we had taken on Friday evening. We began importing it into our opening sequence on final cut express, to see if it worked in the places we wanted it to go and that it was fully syncronised. One problem with our footage, was that when we used a generated light, the noise of the generator was picked up too well by the camera. This meant that it was the dominant feature in our footage instead of the noise made during the action. We have come up with a solution to this, which is to re-record the sound and then place this over the top of the old sound to cut out the generator. However, if this does not work our only other option is to re-record the whole of the footage.
Saturday afternoon/evening: Abi returned and we filmed the woods scene with her. Since our problem with the generator from Friday, we knew that we had to do something about the noise of the noise of it. We decided to record the footage with the generator on, so we had the light and then we re-recorded it without the light and when it comes to editing we will overlay the sound without the generator onto the footage.
Saturday evening: We finished filming our storyboard but until this has been fully viewed it is unknown to us whether the outcome is what we expect. We uploaded our latest footage to final cut express. We will start to view and edit this next time
Meeting 14 - 03/02/10
All Attended.
Today we focused on continuing to edit particular pieces of our filming from last weekend. We also looked through the filmed shots that we had uploaded from last time but not viewed as a whole, to see if the camera shots, lighting and sound were at a good standard. We were happy with most of the shots we took it is mainly the sound and lighting that is causing problems. We also considered a titles for our film, Henry has already come up with a few whilst Grace and Jonny said they will do the same in coming lessons.
As discussed this week, we plan to re-film the very start of our sequence as we are now aware that by using the generator to gain extra light in certain shots, we lose alot of the natural and ambient sounds within the film. We thought about overlaying non diagetic sounds but are very aware of overusing this technique, we want the music tracks to add to the suspense and tension of the film not ditract from it. Over the couple of weeks we will continue to edit filming trying out different effects in Final Cut Express as we go.
Today we focused on continuing to edit particular pieces of our filming from last weekend. We also looked through the filmed shots that we had uploaded from last time but not viewed as a whole, to see if the camera shots, lighting and sound were at a good standard. We were happy with most of the shots we took it is mainly the sound and lighting that is causing problems. We also considered a titles for our film, Henry has already come up with a few whilst Grace and Jonny said they will do the same in coming lessons.
As discussed this week, we plan to re-film the very start of our sequence as we are now aware that by using the generator to gain extra light in certain shots, we lose alot of the natural and ambient sounds within the film. We thought about overlaying non diagetic sounds but are very aware of overusing this technique, we want the music tracks to add to the suspense and tension of the film not ditract from it. Over the couple of weeks we will continue to edit filming trying out different effects in Final Cut Express as we go.
Meeting 15 - 4/02/10
Today all attended.
Jonny unfortunately had to leave early but this didn't effect our work as we just continued to look at editing our film.
We started working on another frame of our storyboard and managed to synchronise the sound with the action that was on screen as we had to take sound from one area and used it elsewhere.
Grace also played around with final cut express and looked further into making the sequence a little brighter to make the action clearer.
Jonny unfortunately had to leave early but this didn't effect our work as we just continued to look at editing our film.
We started working on another frame of our storyboard and managed to synchronise the sound with the action that was on screen as we had to take sound from one area and used it elsewhere.
Grace also played around with final cut express and looked further into making the sequence a little brighter to make the action clearer.
Meeting 16 - 05/02/10
All Attended.
We continued to edit clips filmed, focusing on getting the sound to syncronise with the piece of film. The pieces of film we looked at was the 'Opening Credits' leading into 'Through the woods' scene with our main character.
Grace showed Henry and Jonny the video effects she had found from the previous lesson. Now they both understand what is available in 'effects' and how they can be altered.
On Friday afternoon/evening Grace and Jonny, along with our main and supporting characters, will reshoot the opening sequence because of the unfortunate sound problems encountered last weekend. Henry is unable to attend but will keep up to date with the progress made this weekend via the blog.
We continued to edit clips filmed, focusing on getting the sound to syncronise with the piece of film. The pieces of film we looked at was the 'Opening Credits' leading into 'Through the woods' scene with our main character.
Grace showed Henry and Jonny the video effects she had found from the previous lesson. Now they both understand what is available in 'effects' and how they can be altered.
On Friday afternoon/evening Grace and Jonny, along with our main and supporting characters, will reshoot the opening sequence because of the unfortunate sound problems encountered last weekend. Henry is unable to attend but will keep up to date with the progress made this weekend via the blog.
Re-filming - 05/02/10
Unfortunatly Henry could not attend the re-film but as he had been there before he knew what was going on.
However we were uable to use the forklift this week as there was something wrong with it but this was fixed by using a tractor instead to gain the height.
Overall the filming went well and we didnt have to use the generator this time. Grace also thinks that the acting was better as we had an extra peron to the nuber before which added to the action.
We hope that this was a success and next time we are all together we will upload the footage and begin to edit it.
However we were uable to use the forklift this week as there was something wrong with it but this was fixed by using a tractor instead to gain the height.
Overall the filming went well and we didnt have to use the generator this time. Grace also thinks that the acting was better as we had an extra peron to the nuber before which added to the action.
We hope that this was a success and next time we are all together we will upload the footage and begin to edit it.
Meeting 17 (Lesson Update) - 08/02/10
Unfortunately both Jonny and Grace were unavailable because of 'drama production' commitments.
So the only thing I (Henry) felt I could do (that we hadn't already covered) was to practise more editing techniques in final cut express, as my skills in editing needed to be improved.
I will take a look at the footage shot from re-filming when we meet again on Wednesday, and again begin to edit through the appropriate shot. We may also finalise a title for our film.
So the only thing I (Henry) felt I could do (that we hadn't already covered) was to practise more editing techniques in final cut express, as my skills in editing needed to be improved.
I will take a look at the footage shot from re-filming when we meet again on Wednesday, and again begin to edit through the appropriate shot. We may also finalise a title for our film.
Meeting 18 - 10/02/10
Today all were in the lesson.
We uploaded the re-filmed footage and reviewed it. We all felt that it was much better than last time.
We started to put this in place of our previous filming.
The uploading took most of the lesson because we had a problem with capturing it onto the computer and we have yet to still capture some. We tried lots of different cameras as we thought it may be a problem with the camera but this made no difference, so Grace is going to try the tape in her video camera at home to see if it is a problem with the tape.
We uploaded the re-filmed footage and reviewed it. We all felt that it was much better than last time.
We started to put this in place of our previous filming.
The uploading took most of the lesson because we had a problem with capturing it onto the computer and we have yet to still capture some. We tried lots of different cameras as we thought it may be a problem with the camera but this made no difference, so Grace is going to try the tape in her video camera at home to see if it is a problem with the tape.
Meeting 19 - 24/02/10
All Attended.
Today we continued to edit sections of our uploaded footage. We made the opening shots shorter as we all felt it dragged on too much, believing that this would fail to capture our audience's attention. We also found how to vary the levels of sound in the film through Final Cut Express. This will be useful as we do not want our audience to become immune to parts of our film(immunisation model) because they have been exposed to the same material for so long that it has no effect on them. We added a close up of the main character early on in the sequence so that the audience can establish who she is, put more focus upon her and carefully start detach her from the group around the camp fire.
We will continue to edit through this week with a view to getting at least one scene of the film fully edited by Friday (26/02/10)
Today we continued to edit sections of our uploaded footage. We made the opening shots shorter as we all felt it dragged on too much, believing that this would fail to capture our audience's attention. We also found how to vary the levels of sound in the film through Final Cut Express. This will be useful as we do not want our audience to become immune to parts of our film(immunisation model) because they have been exposed to the same material for so long that it has no effect on them. We added a close up of the main character early on in the sequence so that the audience can establish who she is, put more focus upon her and carefully start detach her from the group around the camp fire.
We will continue to edit through this week with a view to getting at least one scene of the film fully edited by Friday (26/02/10)
Meeting 20 - 25/02/10
All Attended.Today was simply a continuation of yesterday's work, editing through the 'Woods' sequence. This time we focused more on the non diagetic music, trying to use the music more appropriately and build it up towards the end to create tension and an air of mystery ready for the upcoming sequence. It was also discussed that we should intertwine shots of her walking through the woods with quick shots of a 'presence' in the midst of darkness to speed up the action, as it is fairly slow to start.
Meeting 21 - 10/03/10
All Attended.Today we finished the filming and have exported it ready to burn to a disk
