https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AMFEZecTpZo
Keep Out
We named our final project Keep Out, as the phrase is significant in the film (on the DVD and carved into tree). Through Keep Out, we aimed to take the experience we gained from our preliminary task 'White Men Can't Whistle', in which we mocked and satirised American drama and continuity, and get serious. The preliminary turned out to be a project to be proud of on the comedy aspect, and our group was happy with the results, however in this project we decided to make a horror film, a very difficult genre to find success in.
Prior to Keep Out, we were working on a different film for our final project which I have documented on this blog. We had filmed and drawn out a plan, but after close review of what we had filmed, we decided to do a U-turn and start again from scratch. What led to this decision was primarily 2 things; firstly, we realised our initial effort just wasn't scary and didn't conform to any of the features that make up a good horror film and secondly, I found inspiration through other videos as to how to make our film creepy/scary, which I have acknowledged in a previous post.
Tuesday, 5 May 2015
Wednesday, 18 March 2015
Enquiry for Copyrighted Material Acception
I have received a reply from the band 'The Rose Affair' concerning the use of their song Fifth Avenue. This was their reply. I'm excited to incorporate the song into our project and I hope it blends well with the atmosphere where we're including the song. I was thinking of using the song at the beginning as it helps create a false sense of security with the catchy guitar and laid back tone of the song, as well as making it diegetic, with the protagonist listening to the song through headphones.
Tuesday, 17 March 2015
Update
Update for 17th March:
We will be filming the new scenes on Friday. I believe what we have so far (the found footage) is very well made and I hope the proceeding and succeeding bits of footage can be just as well made as the found footage is. I was thinking of getting in touch with some artists over including music in our film, nothing big, just a track the protagonist is listening to at the beginning. Things like this is what can take you from one grade to another, and since it's not much of an effort, I might as well. It may be futile, but it'd be cool to get an e-mail backI will make a list of tracks I was thinking of including;
Fifth Avenue by The Rose Affair
Painkiller by Red House Glory
The two songs mentioned are very niche and, to my knowledge, are not represented by copyright distributors such as BMI, therefore, I will get in touch with both bands over e-mail and find out whether I would be able to use their songs for free.
We will be filming the new scenes on Friday. I believe what we have so far (the found footage) is very well made and I hope the proceeding and succeeding bits of footage can be just as well made as the found footage is. I was thinking of getting in touch with some artists over including music in our film, nothing big, just a track the protagonist is listening to at the beginning. Things like this is what can take you from one grade to another, and since it's not much of an effort, I might as well. It may be futile, but it'd be cool to get an e-mail backI will make a list of tracks I was thinking of including;
Fifth Avenue by The Rose Affair
Painkiller by Red House Glory
The two songs mentioned are very niche and, to my knowledge, are not represented by copyright distributors such as BMI, therefore, I will get in touch with both bands over e-mail and find out whether I would be able to use their songs for free.
Tuesday, 10 March 2015
Update
Update for 10th March:
We finished a draft version of our project on 6th March, however our media teacher told us we couldn't have the majority of the film as one shot, which I had considered initially. We then had to think of a way of incorporating the found footage with more shots, but as well as trying not to rip 'The Ring' off too much. We've all decided the protagonist, instead of making a vlog, will be sent an e-mail from a friend as spam mail, "If you watch this video you will die" sort of thing. Initially he ignores it, but ends up receiving many more until he decides to watch it, after watching, I think it'll be interesting to have a shot of the same e-mail being forwarded with blood on the screen, implying he's been killed and everyone who passes it on has been killed. It is either this idea or the protagonist finding a DVD on the streets and watching it home, afterwards showing him dead some way or another.
We have decided to do this due to our strong interest in having a modern technological aspect to the project, whether that be through a vlog or spam mail. I have made a storyboard for the initial version and will be posting soon. I feel as though we really need to nail down on one complete idea, otherwise our blogs will become very confusing. I believe this idea has still got the same foundations as the last one, therefore, I'm not going to make a new storyboard for it.
We finished a draft version of our project on 6th March, however our media teacher told us we couldn't have the majority of the film as one shot, which I had considered initially. We then had to think of a way of incorporating the found footage with more shots, but as well as trying not to rip 'The Ring' off too much. We've all decided the protagonist, instead of making a vlog, will be sent an e-mail from a friend as spam mail, "If you watch this video you will die" sort of thing. Initially he ignores it, but ends up receiving many more until he decides to watch it, after watching, I think it'll be interesting to have a shot of the same e-mail being forwarded with blood on the screen, implying he's been killed and everyone who passes it on has been killed. It is either this idea or the protagonist finding a DVD on the streets and watching it home, afterwards showing him dead some way or another.
We have decided to do this due to our strong interest in having a modern technological aspect to the project, whether that be through a vlog or spam mail. I have made a storyboard for the initial version and will be posting soon. I feel as though we really need to nail down on one complete idea, otherwise our blogs will become very confusing. I believe this idea has still got the same foundations as the last one, therefore, I'm not going to make a new storyboard for it.
Friday, 27 February 2015
Setting, Costume, Sound, Lighting and other relatively important things... v2.0
Setting
The setting of the new project will be between 2 places. The vlog featuring the protagonist will be filmed in one of the group members' house, or alternatively somewhere in the school that looks "homey". We have already done test shots of the first scene in 2 areas of the school and I believe we'd be better doing it at someone's house, as we have more control over lighting, surroundings and props. The found footage will generally be filmed in Birkenhead Park, which was chosen due to it's easy access and vast open space. Over this weekend I will be hoping to take a camera out with me and take a few shots, worth a couple of seconds each, of interesting things to include in the found footage to dice it up and make it creepy.
Birkenhead Park (copyright of www.webbaviation.co.uk)
Costume
The decision of costume is undecided as of yet, however it is dependant on whether we film the vlog in school or not. A benefit of filming it in someone's house is that we can dress in any way we would like, while in school we'd need to stay in uniform. For the found footage Lewis, the victim, will bring a costume of his choice to school with him on Wednesday to get changed into so we can film in the Park after school. Seeing as I am the protagonist, I think I should choose clothes which I don't mind getting absolutely soaked in fake blood and scarring clay.
Sound
A big bonus with making our project in the style of a blog is the fact the sound can be as bad as it can be and we could use the fact it's supposed to be an amateur styled vlog as an excuse, however we will still try and make the sound quality as good as we can. For the found footage, We will be looking to incorporate distorted, creepy sounds as I have mentioned in previous posts. I don't think we will be using any sound from the original park filming at all, due to it's non-linear nature.
Lighting
In the test shots, we encountered a problem with the lighting. We took a test shot in the English storeroom as it was the most roomy place we could find available in the school (after multiple visits to the staffroom, English teachers and classrooms to get a key for it). As it was a test shot it was mainly insignificant, but we found the blatent natural lighting in the room from the massive window at the end ruined the atmosphere a bit. When we take final shots, we will try and make the room we film in void of natural light, but lit mildly with artificial light. I think my sister's room would be the best for this, as her light has a slider by the switch which lets you control how bright it is. I'll ask her if she doesn't mind fake blood all over her carpet.
The setting of the new project will be between 2 places. The vlog featuring the protagonist will be filmed in one of the group members' house, or alternatively somewhere in the school that looks "homey". We have already done test shots of the first scene in 2 areas of the school and I believe we'd be better doing it at someone's house, as we have more control over lighting, surroundings and props. The found footage will generally be filmed in Birkenhead Park, which was chosen due to it's easy access and vast open space. Over this weekend I will be hoping to take a camera out with me and take a few shots, worth a couple of seconds each, of interesting things to include in the found footage to dice it up and make it creepy.
Birkenhead Park (copyright of www.webbaviation.co.uk)
Costume
The decision of costume is undecided as of yet, however it is dependant on whether we film the vlog in school or not. A benefit of filming it in someone's house is that we can dress in any way we would like, while in school we'd need to stay in uniform. For the found footage Lewis, the victim, will bring a costume of his choice to school with him on Wednesday to get changed into so we can film in the Park after school. Seeing as I am the protagonist, I think I should choose clothes which I don't mind getting absolutely soaked in fake blood and scarring clay.
Sound
A big bonus with making our project in the style of a blog is the fact the sound can be as bad as it can be and we could use the fact it's supposed to be an amateur styled vlog as an excuse, however we will still try and make the sound quality as good as we can. For the found footage, We will be looking to incorporate distorted, creepy sounds as I have mentioned in previous posts. I don't think we will be using any sound from the original park filming at all, due to it's non-linear nature.
Lighting
In the test shots, we encountered a problem with the lighting. We took a test shot in the English storeroom as it was the most roomy place we could find available in the school (after multiple visits to the staffroom, English teachers and classrooms to get a key for it). As it was a test shot it was mainly insignificant, but we found the blatent natural lighting in the room from the massive window at the end ruined the atmosphere a bit. When we take final shots, we will try and make the room we film in void of natural light, but lit mildly with artificial light. I think my sister's room would be the best for this, as her light has a slider by the switch which lets you control how bright it is. I'll ask her if she doesn't mind fake blood all over her carpet.
Timeline: Then and Now
Timeline for previous project:
Initial Planning : 10th November/30th November
Script/Storyboard : 1st December/20th December
Filming : 1st January/25th February
Editing : 2nd January/27th February
Timeline for new project:
Initial Planning : 18th February/23rd February
Script/Storyboard : 27th February/2nd March
Filming : 25th February/4th March
Editing : 4th March/11th March
As you can see, our new project is far more condensed with a lot less time, however I believe this will be beneficial to us, as the pressure on us due to time with most likely refresh and maintain our work ethic and motivation with enough time to be able to complete the project without rushing it. As I have mentioned, this project will be easier to film, but a lot more effective. I am planning to take a camera out today to ensure we have a camera to film the duration of the film and avoid what happened before half term.
Initial Planning : 10th November/30th November
Script/Storyboard : 1st December/20th December
Filming : 1st January/25th February
Editing : 2nd January/27th February
Timeline for new project:
Initial Planning : 18th February/23rd February
Script/Storyboard : 27th February/2nd March
Filming : 25th February/4th March
Editing : 4th March/11th March
As you can see, our new project is far more condensed with a lot less time, however I believe this will be beneficial to us, as the pressure on us due to time with most likely refresh and maintain our work ethic and motivation with enough time to be able to complete the project without rushing it. As I have mentioned, this project will be easier to film, but a lot more effective. I am planning to take a camera out today to ensure we have a camera to film the duration of the film and avoid what happened before half term.
Thursday, 26 February 2015
New Plot and Updates
Update for 24th February:
During a lesson a couple of days ago we decided on a new plot, so before I make the storyboard etc. it'd be useful to post an overview of the plot on here first:
The protagonist begins the video by fixing his camera into a steady position and after achieving this, sits down. The format of the video is the standard "vlog" type setting, as is seen by the background and the way the protagonist addresses the camera ("hey guys" etc.). He talks about a video which has been circulating around the internet that allegedly depicts a man being murdered and then shows the footage. The footage will be a very grainy, light sensitive picture showing a man being followed through a park, with distorted sound and imagery. The footage will climax with the man being murdered and the killer (wearing a mask) looking at the camera. After the footage is over it cuts back to the protagonist, who has since been murdered as brutally as we are able to depict with the resources we have. After a few seconds the camera begins to shake, and is lifted upwards to show the same masked man holding a bloody knife, which then cuts to credits.
The most difficult part about making this a successful project will be making the "found footage" as eerie and creepy as possible, which can only be done with the right angles, editing and sound. We all agreed on this plot due to it's modern take on the traditional horror situation, with the beginning being a man vlogging about the video. A similar take isachieved attempted in a new horror film called "unfriended", but frankly, I'm sure if our group had time to make a 2 hour version of our project, it'd be better than that anyways. Another difficulty will be the death of our protagonist, as we want to make it as gory and as shocking as possible, which is possibly limited with the make-up and application skills we have, as there is a thin line between something looking realistic or looking ridiculous. I suggest the victim be shown with a cut throat, as it is probably the easiest thing we can do with the make-up that will result in anything shocking. I've suggested hanging before, but nobody's really thrilled with that idea.
We have already taken a test shot of the opening scene of the vlog and will hopefully be able to upload stills in the next few days, if not today. Unlike our previous plan, this will not take place in school, which is a lot more adventurous and open for our project.
During a lesson a couple of days ago we decided on a new plot, so before I make the storyboard etc. it'd be useful to post an overview of the plot on here first:
The protagonist begins the video by fixing his camera into a steady position and after achieving this, sits down. The format of the video is the standard "vlog" type setting, as is seen by the background and the way the protagonist addresses the camera ("hey guys" etc.). He talks about a video which has been circulating around the internet that allegedly depicts a man being murdered and then shows the footage. The footage will be a very grainy, light sensitive picture showing a man being followed through a park, with distorted sound and imagery. The footage will climax with the man being murdered and the killer (wearing a mask) looking at the camera. After the footage is over it cuts back to the protagonist, who has since been murdered as brutally as we are able to depict with the resources we have. After a few seconds the camera begins to shake, and is lifted upwards to show the same masked man holding a bloody knife, which then cuts to credits.
The most difficult part about making this a successful project will be making the "found footage" as eerie and creepy as possible, which can only be done with the right angles, editing and sound. We all agreed on this plot due to it's modern take on the traditional horror situation, with the beginning being a man vlogging about the video. A similar take is
We have already taken a test shot of the opening scene of the vlog and will hopefully be able to upload stills in the next few days, if not today. Unlike our previous plan, this will not take place in school, which is a lot more adventurous and open for our project.
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