Shooting - In a Nutshell; The Kichen and Interrogation Room

Sorry for this delayed post. We started filming at least a month before I posted this post. During the filming I realised that it is a harder job that you may first assume. I am now able to understand why there is the need of the enormity of the crew.

Whilst we were shooting The Interrogation Room I realised that the positions of each cast member needs to be maintained from shot to shot, unless a transition was shown during one of the shots before a cut was taken. As one of my jobs on set was to maintain continuity, it would be very bad continuity if the Doctor's right hand was in the process taking off his glasses at one camera angle, then suddenly it was his left that placed the glasses to rest on the table within the same few seconds. Even though this would be minor something disorientating to the viewer would be if one angle would show his hand on his forehead, the next not, and the third shot repeats the first with his hand on his forehead.

One method I thought of to maintain the body gestures and movements of the cast was to write them down on a spare script, what was said instead of the dialogue given at times, how they delivered those lines and more importantly what they did during the lines. for example, if that was when they lifted their hand, or held their gaze in a precise direction and position. It was good as it was written down so I would be able to refer to it later, another is that anything differing was taken in relation to the first shot. Allowing everything to be preserved. Unfortunately, it isn't very reliable, I found myself focusing on one person at a time, what they did, usually the person who was talking at current. Additionally, I tended to look at the person from outside what was seen on the camera, I got the 'whole look' instead of what would be seen individually. I realised that that was a waste of time to the extent where I was missing vital details such as Romina's (Ralivia's) hand being placed across her belly throughout. Her left hand. Of which she regularly switched with her right. Therefore I decided to just watch the takes though the camera.

Which, in turn, proved to be unreliable still as I kept on making the mistake of briefly taking my eyes off the camera, or I believed my pen hitting the paper to be too hard, where the sound would be picked up on the camera. It could be seen as good, amplifying what the Doctor was writing on the paper, or annoying to the viewer, hopefully furthering them to be disorientated. Either way I thought of another method to record movements and spoken words. Using my phone as shown below:

• One way was for me to take photos, as it is a still image it allows for me to see accurately how a person was standing, sitting or in this case laying on the floor, as the images are not smudged. This is useful especially when the person is in a stationary position, so unlike a video, I wouldn't need to pause the video to see how they were, I could take a quick glance. Another thing that was fortunate for me is that my kitchen floors are chequered. Enabling me to get a detailed description of the stance they showed  or way they lay.

• The second was to video the scene at the same time as it was being taken from Natalia's camera (the footage that we would actually be using). That way it was in sync with what was going to be used, it also provided the advantage of tracing their steps, the vital image on the screen, so it would be exact if the shot were to change angles. Along with the words that were said during 'the argument' even though that doesn't actually matter as it would be dubbed with other actors improvising an argument. However it was more helpful as it was evidential, I didn't miss out on what may have happened and no noise was made. I could also show the actors what they did and where they went wrong before completing another take.

Overall, I came to realise that character's movements and body gestures were more important compared to what I imagined. Yet, after our first couple of shootings I came to realise that editing could 'fix' any mistakes. Also, that we weren't going to use the same cut from the same camera angle at the same part. Only if it was further on during the take. Meaning as necessary as it may be for a big Hollywood production, it wasn't as vital for what we were putting on.

Mise en Scene - Hand Movements & Body Gestures, Clothing (Natalia's sister), Stains on the walls and billboards

Making a Masterpiece - Opening Credits Inspiration

There has been several ideas for the opening credits, the first idea Romina is able to illustrate magnificently through a video, of which I have attached below. Highlighting the key points, one idea that both me and Romina had was to cut magazine and newspaper clippings, stick them on top of the wall scene (made of newspaper articles and post-its), spelling the names of those in the film and their labeling within the film. We thought that, that would be a good idea as it really represents someone who is obsessed. First of all it takes time and effort to cut individual letters to make a word, nevertheless a sentence. It is also something that is a common feature in a psychological thriller. That's why it was the most suiting as it is the most used.

Romina's video:

Our other idea was to make the credits embedded in the newspaper clippings 'attached' to the wall. I thought that it would be good as it allows us to first of all show our editing skills and then it allocates the viewers to have a chance to read the newspaper articles to grasp what is to happen in the film. As it is harder to catch on at the beginning of the film, more obvious suggestions such as newspaper headlines needed to be cast to express what we wish to show, that being that she is placed in the mental institution because she believes she killed her mother.

Romina, and her wonderful editing skills would be needed to place the credits in the newspapers, whist I create 'The Wall' and what is to be on it; the pictures, newspapers and post-its. And Natalia photoshops several the newspapers that are to be properly seen, changing a couple of words. Also, the photographs that are seen are Natalia's from when she was younger so it seems more realistic as her mother and sister are used in the flashbacks. Plus, it helps with continuity.

Prior Films - The Film-Making Task and Preliminary Task

Before we started the Thriller Opening, my media teacher - Mr Munn - gave us access to the cameras and equipment that we would be using for our Thriller opening. Allowing us to experience the skills needed and gaining practice so that our final product would have the highest standard. After all, we want our films to be Hollywood not Holly-did-the-best-as-she-could.

The links to both my previous blogs are plastered below:

The first made was the Film-Making Demo

The second was the Preliminary Task

At the very beginning I didn't really understand the format of Blogger and of blogging in general. That is why the film-making demo and preliminary task are on another blog. Hopefully, the change in both the blogs' formats would show my development with the website and technology. Especially the videos themselves, the development is astounding across all the areas, sound, editing, mise en scene and camera. But the biggest change is how interesting they are - the change of storyline (happens with all films), yet the ability to engage the audience is outstanding. I believe that was die to the organisation, watch and you may understand.

Making a Masterpiece - Costs and Receipts

As a group we have had 3 receipts of which we have been able to keep a hold of. Yet there has been four things that we brought with our money contained. One of which Romina brought but forgot to keep the receipt, luckily she was able to go back and to take a picture of the Lucozade.

This was the first thing that was brought. The blood costing £1.99 from Party Superstores.

The second was the Nurse's blouse costing £6.25 from the British Heart Foundation.

The third was the red ring; £7.50 from Topman.

As we needed to use tinted pink water, we decided to buy pink lemonade Lucozade from Tesco £1.21.

The last thing that we brought was drawing pins from Ryman's for the wall. That way it looks more effect as it seems more realistic; like the newspaper clippings are actually pinned to the wall.

(SOON TO BE INSERTED)

The Mise en Scene that we gathered I placed it into a table that I labelled "The Filming Budget". It recorded what we collected from others or was able to buy. I didn't write what we provided ourselves as we would be taking those props back. As we wouldn't with the rest i wrote what would happen to them post-shooting. Below is "The Filming Budget".

Making a Masterpiece - Mise en Scene and Costs

Any extra utensils out of the school's provision, us as a group, would need to provide. Therefore as a group we have decided to spend a maximum of £15 each towards the costs. Making the total cost that we are willing to spend be £45 for the following articles of Mise en Scene:

The Nurse:

• Nurse's Tunic - I was able to find several websites that have them. Our planning was to find the addresses of the buildings where the tunics were, and then purchase them. One website and then abandoned warehouse was Oxypas. Another website was Scrubs Uk, we/ I was going to go to the location, but instead we differed from that option as Romina was able to find a smart white blouse at The British Heart Foundation as a replace. Luckily it was only £6.25 where we was going to spend a maximum of £29.90 on a tunic. As of this, the top costume has to change, the change being that she will now wear a blouse with hopefully a blue, if not white, vest underneath, because it is too time consuming to find and retrieve a nurse's blouse at this point in time.
• Do not become mistaken in thinking that they were the only methods we tried in getting the Nurse's uniform/tunic. We seeked after hospitals (which uniforms are limited as they are issued to the staff), fancy dress/party shops (where the clothing was too provocative for my liking) and other medical places (when they were unable to help, they provided us with email addresses, where they didn't reply, and street addresses, which didn't have the uniform).
• Black Trousers - We would have brought smart black trousers for the nurse, however the character that is playing her already has some. Therefore no cost shall be spend.
• Shoes - Similarly, comfortable canvas shoes such as plimsolls and espadrilles in either black or white. I was able to find some in Shoe Zone for the price of £4.99. Fortunately, yet again, the opportunity was drawn at a hit as the need to purchase new shoes wasn't required.
• ID Card - This was when my skills recruited from GSCE ICT (which wasn't much) was essential. I was able to forge a fake Medical ID placing a chip, logo, photo and barcode. All of which I seeked out by viewing other ID Cards. Both the Nurse's and Doctor's ID Cards are the same, as in set up. Yet there are minor alterations, the barcode for example. It is a picture, but the end number of the barcode I was able to change from a '6' to a '7'. Furthermore, Natalia had brought photo-paper for the photos that are to be cast upon the wall, and we decided that we could also use this for the ID as it would replicate my student ID Card. I think that Natalia is going to take the full cost for the photo-paper, however she did say that the cost for the photo-paper is £2.99. Which would be taken out of the total cost if she goes against it.

The Doctor:

• Laboratory Coat - This was free of charge as we were able to retrieve this from the school's science tech room. I informed them that we would borrow the item until early-mid December. I have to say that this was one of the easiest things to obtain.
• ID Card - The same as the Nurse's without the need to change the barcode. 
• Smart Black Trousers, Blue Shirt and Shoes - Our teacher (Mr Munn) who is to be playing the doctor has the appropriate clothing already to provide this in his own discretion. He is a teacher after all.
• The Ring - Natalia was able to buy the ring from Top Man which amounted to £7.50. The ring in itself was a mission to buy as well. I would think that the reason for this is because men's jewellery is a rarity, yet our ring required having a ruby in it and being gold, made the mission become a quest.
• Pens and Clipboard - The pen that would rest in the laboratory coat's pocket would need to be smart looking, therefore ideally metallic. Which would only be obtained through purchase, Natalia offered to buy the pen(s) from her own pocket - that I am in favour of. So no extra money would be spent. The clipboard we got from Geography at school, where the cost of it is also free. Also known as no money spent.

Ralivia:

• The Patient's Gown and Socks - After searching around a few places of medical care (such as Chelsea and Westminster Hospital and World's End Medical Centre), first of all for a tunic for the Nurse, and then Ralivia's gown, we were successful at getting this at The Royal Brompton and Harefield Hospital, with an extra treat of patient socks as well. Once again we just asked them whether we could borrow it, to which they said "yes" on the condition that we give it back early-mid December as promised. My guess is that it was harder to obtain the Nurse's tunic/uniform as it is issued to them personally. Whereas the patient's gown and socks are issued to everyone therefore there is many in stock and one-size fits all.

Others:

• Table Cloth - There is the option of using the Monster's Inc. table cloth that I already have or buying a new one - spending a maximum of £2 on it from somewhere like Poundland. On the contrary, if we were to use the Monster's Inc. cloth it could show the contrast of what childhood she could have had and should have had, instead of the unfortunate situation of what happened.
• Tray, Cups and Pills - Like much of the Mise en Scene, all of the following would be provided by the team itself. That way it is free. For example, I would provide a rounded blue tray, and brown pills. They're iron pills which shouldn't have a bad effect over Romina. Natalia would also cater pills (Paracetamol and vitamin tablets I think) along with the small plastic cups. A better choice to the paper McDonald's cups that I once observed.
• Blood - Before we were eventually able to find the location of the blood, it was practically a task that seemed impossible, even though Halloween was not long ago. When we were able to find the tube of blood at a costume shop during school the cost of this was £1.99 for something that was 50oz. Fortunately now we know where we would be able to find more blood.
• Pink Lemonade Lucozade - Romina was able to find the lucozade in Tesco which would be our "tinted pink water". However the cost of which was not noted, so this information is still to be announced. 

There seems to be a lot of blue displayed within the opening. I feel as though this would be able to set an element of calmness and stillness - after all, blue is seem in that way with water. It is something that is a natural substance, it's pure and true.