Evaluation of the location visits

The first visit to the Greenwich tunnel, we decides to concentrate on the tunnel itself.
We were able to consider the different possible mise en scene opportunities and discuss how we would use the odd lighting to our advantage.
We were also able to decide where abouts in the tunnel we wanted to film and how much background noise there was in that particular area. This meant that we could figure out how to block out the unnecessary noise that could affect how professional our shots are.
I think that, overall, the tunnel is the perfect location for some of our film opening as it is intimidating and quite dark.

On the second visit, we were able to film some test shots outside the tunnel and near the grassy areas.
We found it incredibly difficult to find areas that had enough lighting to show the actors. Though, we found some light spots and also how to play with the lighting that we did have around us.
I think that the most productive part of the second visit was the skyline shots. The camera did not show the lights properly on video mode so I suggested that we just take a few photos of the skyline and see how they looked one after the other. This worked better than we thought and decided that this would be a good thing to use in our film opening

Firestarter

Source of Inspiration: Firestarter Music Video

• During our location selection process as we began to consider the use of a tunnel, we decided for sources of inspiration to look outside of only the horror genre and began looking at projects outside of film.

• The concept of a music video introduced the possibility of using sound overlay to mimic diegetic sound whilst removing all other extraneous background sound. 

• We have chosen to adapt this and use it within our scenes outside of the tunnel, with our victim listening to music, allowing us to dismiss any interrupting background sounds and to place the audience in a empathic position over the victim, understanding how oblivious they are to danger around them. 

• Another advantage the video made apparent to us was lighting within a tunnel, the prominent circles of light within the tunnel causing different parts of the tunnel to be far more brightly lit than others. 

• For our scene, the darker sections can be used to show the antagonist as they approach the victim in stop motion, as the victim disappears from light into dark, their lack of hope becoming apparent.

Evaluation of Practical Progress So Far

Our Visit to Location

• When we took our first visit as a group to visit our location and started test shooting to ensure when it came to post-production, we would not be faced with having to refilm sections due to lighting and other issues that may occur.
• We established in which order and when we would film certain shots, scheduling them in sections and in order of importance.
• Also, we blocked out where and how the camera/actors would move, altering our original decisions due to what was more easily achievable and effective within our choice of location.
• One of our changes made was to attach our camera onto the top of a bicycle to enable smooth, steady movement when the camera follows the actor's path.
• We were also able to establish where we would chose to film our opening shots to establish the region and background to our plot.
• In terms of costume, our visits also confirmed to us that the antagonist being dressed in white and red would be far more affective in terms of visibility due to the lighting available to us (allowing us to choose a final costume).
• By the finish of our first visit, we'd made effecient progress in determining exactly how we would film and also it enabled us to discover what we would need to negotiate and compromise in future, therefore allowing us to plan our next visit.

Budget

Filming Budget

Taking all of the filming into consideration, we decided that there was a variety of different things in which we needed to buy in order to make our film opening high quality and look realistic, in which was our end goal. As we are not a media company, or had no sponsors, our budget was completely off our own backs and own pockets. As there are 4 of us, it was easy for us to be able to all put our money together and divide the cost, in which meant we were able to buy high quality props for our piece.

The variety of things that are included within the budget for each character are;

Clown (Antagonist):

• Clown Costume: We had trouble with the clown costume as our main problem was whether to buy the costume ourselves or to hire one from a costume shop. The main issue was the timescale in which we would be using it, and also the condition as we wanted our clown to be covered in 'blood' which we would be unable to do to a costume from a fancy dress shop, as when it would be returned it would be deemed unusable, and we would have to pay extra prices to get it dry cleaned. In the end the cost of hiring a costume for a week was £15 to £20, meaning if we wanted to hire in the holidays it would be costing us £30 to £40 . Therefore we decided on buying a costume in which we all agreed on or £20 which meant £5 between us all. We also wanted to buy large shoes for the clown as we felt this would add to the costume, but as we wanted this shoes to be distressed we decided upon buying a cheap pair of shoes from a charity store, in which we could completely alter to our standards to fit in with the character. For this our budget was at maximum £5, in which was highly reasonable and acceptable.

• Balloons: as we have decided to use a assortment of colour within our film opening through the use of balloons, this also had to be incorporated into our budget as we needed to buy in bulk, to enable if any of the balloons popped during the process, and just how many we would need. Also as we have chosen to use helium and string this will be at a extra cost, in which has been incorporated and will all in all cost £20.00 with a helium tank, in which we could find cheaper at later dates if need be. This would mean a £5 cost per person in the group.

•  Contact lenses: We were unsure on buying contact lenses, as we felt that the clown make up would be enough, but we still wanted to have a look to see if there was reason to be included. The lowest price of contacts ranged from £10 - £15 which would add to our budget in which was not necessary. Although the contacts that we looked at would have been good to compliment the face paint and the costume as they were blood red, we felt that the purchase would just have been too much and would have made the costume look over the top.

• Make up: The face paint is all of the make up in which we need, which is being provided by Lily, as she already owned some, but we also brought extra which was £6. We chose faint paint as we felt that it would be better than a mask and look more realistic. This was include within our budget as we included all of the face paint and the brushes. It was a necessary purchase to further our costume choice, to make the clown look real, and scarier to the audience . The main colours in which we purchased complimented our horror theme; red, black, white. In which all connote darkness, death, danger and blankness, in which is the effect we wanted to create.

Protagonist

• Costume: the costume for the antagonist is as of yet non existent, as it is their own personal preference into which they want to wear. They have a basic checklist on which is a blank unbranded t shirt as we are unable to add branding into the clip, and a pair of jeans. This make our protagonist blend into the surroundings and make him not any different to any of those who are usually in horror movies. It also raises questions as to why he is the target, and why the clown has chosen him.

• Wounds: the wounds in which we are going to be using on the protagonist will be made via wax and fake blood. In which comes to the cost of £6 all in all. This is a essential piece of makeup in which is needed to make our wounds look realistic and fit in with the genre.

Running total so far:
With contacts and Helium tank
£62 divided by 4 - £15.50 per person.

Without contacts and helium tank
£32 divided by 4 - £8 per person.

Opening shot of London - Testing

Stop Motion

We had difficulty with the camera focusing when its quite far away from the centre of London due to the zoom not being able to go that far and therefore we had to try another method of creating the opening shot of the sky line of London. Therefore we came up with the idea of having multiple shots being taken on a camera and then sped up in order to make it look like it was filmed rather than individual shots. They looked really interesting and had a great affect with the lights trailing as the camera panned across the skyline in front of us. However on photo setting the camera took images lighter than if it was being filmed and therefore looks more like sunset than dark. That is the only issue in which we found with it and most likely with a little bit of changing done to the video it could be edited in order to make it look darker or a setting changed manually on the camera. We all really liked this idea and will experiment it more by putting it into iMovie and speeding it up in order to see whether or not it is as good as we first thought it may have been.

Video

We also filmed it after we found what setting it was in order to change the lightness of the camera in order to reveal more of the lights coming from the skyline. We liked the idea of panning the shot across so that we got the Shard in it as well which has now become another iconic land mark from its height and building material. The panning did work and you get more detail from the filming however it is extremely dark in the picture which is something I will have to investigate on the camera in order to see whether or not I change that or not. Also another issue is the distance away from the skyline as the camera cannot zoom in far enough to gain relevant detail which would define the city more however for the zoom it has the quality is at its best. Therefore we may need to investigate more before deciding whether or not filming is entirely the best option overall.

Balloons

Balloons 

A quite stereotypical idea is the clown holding the balloon at a circus or as a symbol for the clown, this therefore gave us the idea of using the balloon as a breadcrumb for our protagonist and also create tension for the audience as the balloons begin to multiply as they walk on further through the location which we are filming at.

We have decided to use a mixture of different coloured balloons in order to show the confusion within the clowns character and therefore it isn't settled within a connotation and instead spreads over the a vast majority of them instead. We thought that the idea of YELLOW and GREEN possibly being the stand out colours along with RED would connote the idea of a prominent child like figure, with an element of consumption and danger all combined within the characters. There would be less of the other colours however they would be there in order to show that vast colour contrast within the cluster of balloons which the clown is holding. 

The balloons will be Helium to enable them to float within the tunnel and also when Lily is holding them outside. This then poses the problem that if it is windy then the balloons will not stay still and this is a problem which would have to be addressed when on location and also planning in advance what day would be most suitable for us to film with the balloons depending on the weather. When inside the tunnel, the problem is making sure that they float and don't pop on the ceiling and also don't cause any problems for passers by. 

We will attach ribbons to the balloons in order to make them more fairground like and therefore the ribbons could be black as although they may not stand out as much outside, once inside they will stand out more against the camera and also connote the idea that the clown is a threat primarily but coming from the threat are many other aspects about the character that the audience may not at first understand. 

The main idea with the balloons though is to be a tension building bread crumb for the audience to notice before the protagonist notices it.

Examples of our balloons below:

Evaluation of the test filming.

Evaluation of the filming

In the winter holidays we decided that it would be a good idea to start our filming for our trailer. We decided to start off with a test shot, to enable us to check the location, the quality of the camera, the business of the location and also the lighting of our location.


Location -Tunnel & College

As we have chosen Greenwich footpath tunnel and also the grounds of the Royal Navy collage as part of our location, we chose a early start to enable us to capture the emptiness of the tunnel, and the surrounding locations, in which we completed.
This was the first time I had seen the tunnel, and I feel the location is perfect, as it gives off a ominous mood, and by even being a spectator and walking down the tunnel, the grime on the walls and the darkness puts you on edge and uneasy about the walk down the tunnel. I think that for these reasons when we are shooting the film opening the location will be completely perfect, as it fits in completely with our storyline. By having the naval college in the background, and showing that the walkway is used by a variety of people also gives our story a backing, to show that the protagonist has a reason for walking down this tunnel and choosing to walk this route at this particular moment in time.
As the walk into the tunnel is quite open, but still fenced, this could show that the protagonist is already trapped, and their fate has already been sealed even before they choose to step into the tunnel, the destiny in which is before them has already been chosen and cannot be altered. It also links to the theme of danger and uncertainty, as we already fear for the protagonist. As the walk is quite open, but walking on the paved path, this could reinforced the idea that the date has already been sealed and cannot be altered.

Establishing shot & Surroundings.
Within the tunnel it is quite hard for a location to be established, in which is why we have chosen to include a sequence of establishing London landmarks to set the location up in the minds of the audience, as with just having a walking path and a tunnel, the location could be anywhere and would be unknown to the audience. In this location we are right next to the river Thames, and are also looking onto particular London buildings in which any audience member would establish with London, such as the London eye, the shard etc. I feel that this will work effectively within our film opening, as it gives it more background and the audience a little bit of knowledge into the storyline and the surroundings of the area , in which is subverting expectations as it looks like the usual London surroundings, nothing bad is going to happen.

Quality of Camera.
As we are using a style of CCTV footage as our footage within the tunnel, we wanted to test the camera to see how effective it was in creating this footage, in which I think looks extremely effective, as we used a broom and a clip to enable the camera to stay up high without shaking, it looks incredibly like CCTV, and with the changing into the settings into monochrome, I feel that it creates the desired look that we were going for incredibly well. Also as we are using a photography camera instead of a flip camera, we are able to use HD Filming, of which i think will be effective in showing the CCTV footage in a high quality, and will make the glitches stand out more, which is the effect that we want in order to make our film opening scarier to the desired target audience, as they do not expect there to be blips and glitches, in which we are going to be creating ourselves.


Business of Location. 
As we arrived at the tunnel at 8, there seemed to be very little people around, even though it was a week day, in which proved useful for us, as it means that the tunnel will be deserted and empty at the time in which we want to film, which will give a more isolated and alone effect to the protagonist, and give the antagonist a stronger purpose, as if there was a multiple amount of people, then it would take the motive off of the antagonist, as there would be many people, which would show that the people are taking a interest, and are also they are witness's to the murder, which would be a complete other storyline, and also we would not be able to predict how each person would react, and would have to ask permission from each person taking part for our scene to be published online.

Lighting of the tunnel. 
The lighting within the tunnel was perfect for our location, as it was not too dark, so we would be able to see what was going on, but it was all artificial light, there was no natural light, in which make the tunnel feel disinclined from the natural world up above, creating a scarier atmosphere, in which we were achieving to make, As you can see on both of our youtube video's.