Thursday 28 March 2013

Script

Introduction

This blogpost will show evidence of our script for our media product. One script will be the main diegetic script (the words to be said in the actual scenes) and a non-diegetic script (the script for our voice over script).

Main diegetic script

Bathroom scene

 (Sitting in the toilet, looking at the scar on her arm. Young brother walks in and questions her. She hides her scar and storms out of the room)

*voiceover from the webcam
Boy: (sees girl in the toilet) looks at her

(girl looks at boy, and body language becomes protective. She looks down and storms out)

*voiceover from the webcam

(girl walks into the living room, stands at the doorway and sees her father, drunk, lying on the sofa, passed out)

Father:  (mumbling and ranting in a drunken tone)

*voiceover from the webcam

(tears swell up in her eyes and runs to her bedroom)

(she lies on her bed crying and cue flashbacks)

Flashback scene

Camera fades to the flashback (black and white)

Bedroom scene

*Voiceover from the webcam

(Gets up off the bed and goes to the webcam and finishes off the story as to what happen to her)

Camera cuts to blank screen

(Ending of webcam scene where she is finally telling the audience what actually had happened to her. Finishing the story with her death and her brother standing at the doorway.)

Non-diegetic script

>>> INPUT FIRST PART<<<<

* Walks upstairs *

This broke down house… these people. Imagine life with a mum and dad. A small family. No problems, no worries, just us sitting on the beach watching the sunset go down while mama gets out the sandwiches from the asda bag. But that isn’t what my life is about. Having no mother, drugged up father and him…

There was always that empty space in my heart. I’ve always wanted someone to hold me. To tell me they love me. Someone to just talk to all night without saying a word. I know it sounds stupid but I’ve never felt love. I want to be heartbroken. I want to cry over a guy who had my heart… but they hear my stories and don’t talk but the whispers are loud. They look at but don’t stare. I see the look in their eyes. It sickens me. 

*sitting in bed, staring out the window*
Broken floor, tight space…. No room, no air it feels as if I’m suffocating. There’s no light at the end of the tunnel.. no escape..
All these children outside, its just so beautiful how childhood can be, and its not fair how I was snatched off mine so easily. I want to feel the wind rush through my hair as I ride on my bike, or the comforting feeling of having a group of friends that I can confide in.
But people just stare. Only glare, which sends chills down my spine.
I feel nothing but depression, I can’t eat, the taste buds in my mouth are dead, The house smells like a rotting corpse lingers constantly in my nose. My eyes feel so heavy and sore from the constant flow of tears rolling down my cheeks and the sleepless nights has drained the life out of me.
My ears are surrounded by the groans and moan of my good-for-nothing, drugged up father, who cares more about his next fix, rather than caring about his own daughter. I feel disgusted to ever brand him as a “dad”.  My skin crawls as I can feel his dirty grubby little fingers running all over me, I can never feel the same again…
I am a soul-less body, which is constantly tormented by that night. The night which will haunt me forever.
*Flashback scenes*
(no sound from the girl, sounds from the flashback)
*webcam scene*
after all you heard, you think you can picture my life right? But you have no fucking idea how my life is!! I know your feeling sympathy but don’t there’s no point, the scars are so skin deep that no amount of time or talking can heal it.
I wish I was numb, no aching, no crying. The depression is so strong that the suicidal feelings are hard to override, but that may be my only escape. Its not like anyone will realize I’m gone… (Girl sits staring into air for a minute)
Is blood thicker than water…

Wednesday 20 March 2013

Vlogs

Introduction

These videos have been made to proof and show our progression in making our five minute single camera production.


Saturday 16 March 2013

Mise en scene elements for 5 min SCP

Introduction

In this blog post, we're going to discuss and write down our notes on the mise en scene elements which are going to be included in our five minute single camera production

mise en scene elements

Props:
  • Mirror
  • Bed
  • Alcohol bottle
  • Rope
  • Ordinary props e.g. cups, files, folders, tables, chairs, etc
The advantages of the props that are going to be used are that it will help to create a realist scenario around the characters to help create a average realistic setting. Also the props that are needed are going to help us portray or story better, so the audience understands what is happening.
 
Setting/locations: (Final locations have not been confirmed) 
  • House (Living room, bathroom, bedroom)

The advantage of our settings/locations is that it is a easy attainable location to film, and we can find a appropriate place with permission quickly.
The disadvantages on some of our settings/locations is that it may be hard to change the look and interior decor of the house to get the effect that we wish. But we will solve that problem by asking permission and altering a few things that dont result in permanent change.
Style/narrative structures:
  • Horror/psychological thriller - our plot fits around the themes and techniques of that genre.
  • Non-linear, multi-strand realist narrative - our film wil inlcude flashbacks which means that it will not be in chronological time order. It is multi-strand because it is focused on more than one character, and it is a realist narrative because it is based in a real-life context.
 
The advantages on the style of our plot is that we are taking a different approach towards portraying our plot to the audience by not making the story in chronological order. This makes the plot of the story more shocking to the viewers.
The disadvantages on the styles that we are going to use is that it may confuse the audience as the story does not flow with time.
Costumes/make-up:
  • Basic, rough and slightly shabby clothing - to show the family are from a poor and under-priviliaged area/background
  •  Special effect make-up - for scars and bruising effect
The advantages on the the make-up and costumes of the characters are that it will help portray the characters and the surroundings of the plot well as it all links to the poor background that the family come from.
The disadvantages on the costumes and make-up is that it we must research specialist make-up shops/products to help achieve the required effect for the scars and bruising.

Characters: (actors/actresses not selected yet):
  • Female (main protagonist) - aged around 16-19 years old
  • Male (Protagonist's little brother) - aged around 9-12 years old
  • Male (Protagonist's father) - aged 30-40 years old

The advantages on our choice of characters is that it is a broad spectrum range of characters as we have no certain features that we wish to include. We want to make our characters as normal as possible to ensure that the audience are more focus on the plot, rather than the surroundings.

The disadvantages on our choice of characters is that we may struggle to get a young male and old male character who would be willing to be included in our production as it is harder to get actors that are available at these times.

Saturday 9 March 2013

Shooting schedule and equipment list


Introduction

This blog post will include the information of a shooting schedule and the equipment list for our 5 minute single camera production.

Equipment list & Location

We have decided to shoot our 5 minute single camera product in a desolate house, which we have got permission to use. Our deadline for the project is Thursday 28th March 2013, so we need to get filming done asap (hopefully by next week - 14/03/2013) to make sure that we fit in enough time for post-production elements and editing.

The equipment and props that we need are;

HD Canon camera and charger
SD memory card and reader
Tripod
Apple mac
Microphones/boompoles
Regular home items, e.g. chair, table, etc

We have decided that we do not want to use any artificial lighting, e.g. key, filler or back lighting as we want our film to have a dark and eerie natural feel. So we are going to be relying on the natural lighting around us to film.

Shooting schedule


Date
Task
What needs to be done
14/02/2013
Pre - production
Do research on existing short films and analyse to gather ideas

Carried out tasks like;
-analysis of existing films
21/02/2013
Pre - production
Brainstorm ideas for 5 minute production. Add structure to our idea.

Carried out tasks like;
-Story board
-mind maps
-considering target audience
-word/mood board
28/02/2013
Pre - production
Carry out various pre-production tasks.

Carry out tasks like;
-treatment/proposal
-music/sounds
-looking and asking for permission for location space and models
-collecting and gathering props
07/03/2013
Pre - production
Carry out various pre-production tasks. Got permission for location and models.

Carry out tasks like;
-considering locations
-finding actors/actresses
-risk assessments
-working out the budget
14/03/2013
Production
Filming

Carry out tasks like;
-Setting up
-getting the actors ready and revised of the scene
-directing and recording scenes
-being aware of health and safety risks
21/03/2013
Production
Filming

Carry out tasks like;
-Setting up
-getting the actors ready and revised of the scene
-directing and recording scenes
-being aware of health and safety risks
28/03/2013
Production
Filming

Carry out tasks like;
-Setting up
-getting the actors ready and revised of the scene
-directing and recording scenes
-being aware of health and safety risks
04/04/2013
Holidays
11/04/2013
Holidays
18/04/2013
Post -production
Must finish off final editing and evaluations. Deadline
Carry out tasks like;
-editing clips
-evaluation
25/04/2013
Post-production
Must finish off final editing and evaluations. Deadline
Carry out tasks like;
-editing clips
-evaluation





The shooting schedule does not include any out of hours filming or work. Tasks will also be carried out throughout the week to ensure we keep on top of our schedule.

Thursday 7 March 2013

Narrative structure

Introduction

This blogpost will include the information on the narrative structure for our 5 minute single camera production.

Outline

Our 5 minute single camera production will be based around the horror/psychological thriller genre as our plot fits around the themes and techniques of that genre.

Our film will be in a non-linear (non-sequential) order because the plot will not go in time-chronological order. Our film will include use of flashbacks of the turning point/problem which occurs in the film.

Our equilibrium will be in a distorted order to ensure that we don't reveal the plot to the audience till the end. This will create a sense of shock to the viewer, which is the reaction we wish to get.

Audience

Our target audience are very important to our production, as we would want the right target audience in order to get more views on YouTube and to ensure that our production piece is successful.

Our main target audience are aimed at the age of 18+. The reason to why we chose the was because legally you would have to be 18+ to watch these specific types of movies.



The plot

Throughout the film, there will be edits of a webcam recording on a laptop, which is by the girl telling her story

Start: The scene starts off with the girl in the toilet. Her younger brother walks in and sees scars on her hand and questions her. In defense, she hides her scars and storms out of the toilet.

Middle: She walks into the living room where she sees her father completely drunk and passed out on the sofa. she gets frustrated and upset, so she walks up the stairs into her bedroom.
She lies on her bed and she hallucinates/has flashbacks of the incident.

End: The girl commits suicide by hanging herself and the younger brother stands at the doorway watching her.

Budget proposal for 5 minute


Introduction:

In this blog post, I am going to research and present the findings of any production research needed towards my 5 minute document and treatment presentation. My media product will be a low budget product, so costs will be reasonably low.

BTEC guidelines:

Production research: content; resources, eg personnel, talent, finance, suppliers, facilities, locations, logistics support; costs; viability; placement, eg publication, broadcast, webcast, podcast, audience.

Resources:

Personnel:

(1) The personnel needed for the production of my short media product will be a producer, director, researcher, script writer, equipment operator (camera, lights, sound), editor, actor/actresses, set/location designer.

All of these members must be asked for permission and I must take into account of costs to the personnel.

Talent

Talent needed for each member of personnel must be based on the experience and qualifications achieved.

E.g. director must have previous experience, actors/actresses must have acting/performing experience, editor must have qualifications on editing software/hardware.

Finance

(refer to costs)

Suppliers/equipment

(2) Suppliers are needed to get the appropriate equipment and resources needed. The equipment needed to help in making my product are;
  • camera
  • tri-pod
  • microphone/audio recorder
  • boompole
  • dolly/tracker
  • lighting
  • editing software/hardware (Photoshop, computer basics (monitor, keyboard, hard drive, mouse) camera accesories, headphones/speakers)
All of these equipment will need to put into costs/budgeted.

Facilities

The facilities that are available to allow me to plan and create my media product are at home, the work place (schools), public facilities (library, internet cafes, etc).

I must take into account if any costs are needed when using these facilities, e.g. usage fees, electrics, printing costs, etc).

Locations

For my media product, I have researched and selected a few locations for my media product according to the audience feedback I recieved. I may not use all of these locations, i have just researched and listed them for the purpose of the treatment. Once I start planning the pre-production and create the media product, I will edit the final choices of locations.

We have chosen to set my locations at a desolate house, which will be provided by one of the production team members.

Logistical support

I will need logistic support to help me move my equipment and personnel from each location. So I need hire/rent a van and minibus to help with moving the resources. This will also need to be taken into account within the costs.

Costs:

All of these costs are estimated according to research through primary and secondary research. This is not the finalized amount and it will be used to help budget my finances. (3)

Personnel:
producer (£50)
director (£50)
researcher (£45)
script writer (£45)
equipment operator (camera, lights, sound) (£20)
editor (£50)
per actor/actresses (£35)
set/location designer (£20)

TOTAL: £315

Suppliers/equipment: (4)
camera (£300)
tri-pod (£20)
microphone/audio recorder (£25)
boompole (£35)
dolly/tracker (£70)
lighting (£15)
editing software/hardware (Photoshop, computer basics (monitor, keyboard, hard drive, mouse) camera accesories, headphones/speakers) (£500)

TOTAL: £965

(Some of the equipment prices have been estimated from Amazon.co.uk)

Facilities:
Home (£20)
Work environment (schools) Free
Library (£5)

TOTAL: £25

Locations:
desolate house (£0)


Logistical support: (5)
Compact Van rental - 1 week (£250)
15 seater minibus rental - 1 week (£ 550)

TOTAL: £800


FINAL TOTAL: £2105
FINAL BUDGET: £2200

Placement:

My finalised media product will  be webcasted, which means I will place the video on YouTube.com and it will be available to download and share on other websites, e.g. Blogger, Facebook, etc.

Bibliography: