Final Evaluation

I decided on a Psychological Thriller for my film opening, as I have had experience in the genre before, and it is a subject that continues to interest me.

My feedback upon presenting my film opening was mostly positive; my use of specific effects and camera shots was praised by my audience, who consisted of both peers and members of the older generation, and many commented on the sense of mystery conveyed by the disjointed combination of the shots used.
Although most of my feedback was positive, I was told that the setting seemed a little too bright, and that my production would benefit from having the colours a little more distorted, to make the setting seem less bright.
One of my focus group commented on the deliberate off-centering of the title screens.
Although this was an artistic choice, and meant to represent the nature of the film, the audience member disliked it because it wasn't a commonly-done thing.
My soundtrack was commented on, as the audience claimed that it created suspense and had a slightly menacing undertone, as well as how the music lapsed into more diegetic sound before resuming, e.g; the actors running.
The audience said that the flare effects used in the title screen text worked well, and fit with the overall theme of the film.
A member of my feedback group also commented on how the quick transition between clear and blurred shots accomplished what the film intended, keeping the audience uncomfortable and on-edge.
The ending was also seen as being a little obvious, and could have been a little more vague, to keep the audience in suspense.

I attempted to mix action with a more psychological element, infusing shots from a chase scene with various shots of someone writing in a book, who's face is never seen by the audience.
In terms of the more technical aspects, time and care were taken with the positioning of the camera, and the angle of the shot, so that we could attempt to get the best result possible.
The location was expansive, allowing for a multitude of shots that could easily be made to look like the area was larger than it actually was.
The camerawork itself was expertly done, using a variety of shots, including tracking, panning and point-of-view shots.
These were muddled together to form a montage that would both confuse and entice the audience to continue watching.
The montage makes no sense in a chronological context, though this is purposefully done to convey a sense of mystery, with some of the shots being characteristic of films like Se7en.
Some shots were deliberately out of focus, and were spliced together in quick sequences with other shots to create an effect where the camera switched between a multitude of scenes.

Overlaid with the slower shots of a person writing are flame effects that discolour the overall appearance of the shot, meaning that it seems to shimmer or even flicker, perhaps creating a feeling of suspense amongst the audience.
This particular effect was well-received as a visual effect that helped bring the opening together.
The same effect was used with the text on the title screens, giving it a mottled, orange-red effect, as well as making the text flicker.
This effect was done in the final edit, as a way of adding to the sense of foreboding created by the musical score, which was compiled out of a number of harsh, metallic synthesized noises that fit the genre almost perfectly.

In terms of creativity, I stuck with my original concept of the main character being mentally deranged, but the premise of the actual filming had to be altered at several points, particularly when original footage (later used as a rough cut) wasn't sufficient to make an opening scene with.
Due to this, the premise of the opening scene was changed from that of a flashback to a more convincing one, that of the chase sequence actually happening at the same time that the notebook is being written in, with the shots switching between one and the other sporadically to create an overall sense of menace.

I got across the psychotic nature of the film mainly through the musical score, but also through the use of the words "Mentally unstable" which could be seen, written in the notebook, in several shots throughout the opening.
My feedback group commented on this simple use of words to confer across the nature of the film, whilst giving none of the plot away.
In this sense, the film opening can be compared, once again, to Se7en, in which various macabre can be seen being undertaken by a man who's identity is never revealed, due to the shots used being close-ups of the tasks themselves.
I used the same techniques as the film, focussing and un-focussing the camera, and splicing the shots together in the edit to create a sense of deliberate disjointment.

Though my end product took a lot of creative aspects from Se7en, we did not have the budget that would have been used in the original film, meaning that we weren't as professional, and the quality of certain shots didn't quite meet with the standards of the film our production was based off.

Overall, my team worked to the best of their abilities in the time we had, making good use of the environment and suggesting shots and techniques to improve the overall semblance of the film.
All dialogue used in the film was dropped, in favor of a more perspective-based opening reliant on audience interpretation.
Because of this, my final cut of the film differed greatly from the initial concept, though this was no great hinderance.

Personally, I feel that my own performance was adequate in producing the film, which I did with clear, understandable orders and through simple yet effective editing techniques.
I had a firm idea of what I wanted to get out of the film, and the team complied with precision.
As far as my skills as an editor went, once I had been shown the necessary techniques or had them explained to me, I was able to edit together a sequence that ran smoothly, was well-paced and kept the audience entertained and enticed, as my feedback group informed me.

Overall, I feel that despite some major obstacles and barriers that would have otherwise hindered the group, the task undertaken turned out an overall success, and created a thoroughly entertaining film opening that was enjoyed by the sample audience.

animatic

Film rough cut

Film opening

Recce photos

Storyboard

Hybrid Mind: Initial script

Meeting Minutes

Meeting 1: Pre-production

Date: 12/02/2013

Members in attendance: Phill, John, Tomas, Lewis

Agenda: Equipment hire, health & safety

Minutes

1.0: All members in attendance, no absences

1.2: The group has discussed possible revenues for equipment hire, and drafted a hire form to be handed in when the equipment is needed.

1.5: Members of the group have carried out a risk assessment in the specified shooting locations. Most immediate risks seem to be trivial, and easily countered. The group has agreed not to take any excessive action.

1.9: The group has decided on the equipment needed, including a Sony HDV camera, a dolly and tracks, and a tripod.

2.3: Additional equipment has been discussed, but the group has decided that nothing else is needed, and that the equipment that has already been acquired is adequate.

2.8: Meeting adjourned at 9.35 AM.


Meeting 2: Pre-production

Date: 15/02/2013

Members in attendance: Phill, John, Tomas, Lewis

Agenda: Call sheet, script alterations and scheduled filming dates

Minutes

1.0: All members in attendance, no absences

1.4: The crew have drawn up a call sheet, including the roles of individual cast members, suggested dates for shooting and the availability of the locations, as well as an emergency number and the location of the nearest hospital.

2.1: Several alterations have been made to the script to stamp out any flaws in the continuity. Despite this, certain alterations may yet need to be made in future.

2.6: Several filming dates have been listed, the first of which is scheduled for the 13th of March. Some dates are uncertain, as individual members of the cast and crew may be busy.

2.9: Meeting adjourned at 9.20 AM.


Meeting 3: Pre-production

Date: 25/02/2013

Members in attendance: Phill, John, Tomas, Lewis

Agenda: Alterations in scheduled events and last minute preparations

Minutes

1.0: All members in attendance, no absences

1.6: Some minor alterations have been made to the filming schedule, but these mostly include filming hours, and not major events or specific dates.

2.2: A copy of the booking sheet for required equipment has been sent off, and the crew are now waiting on a reply allowing them to use the equipment.

2.7: Meeting adjourned at 9.18 AM


Meeting 4: Pre-production

Date: 10/03/2013

Members in attendance: Phill, John, Tomas, Lewis

Agenda: Equipment check

Minutes

1.0: All members in attendance, no absences

1.5: All cast members have agreed that no additional equipment is needed, save for that which has already been obtained.

1.9: The camera, tripod, dolly and track have all been checked, and are all functioning properly.

2.5: The warranty covering the equipment has been double-checked, making sure all the equipment is covered.

2.6: Meeting adjourned at 9.20 AM.

Booking Sheet

Production Schedule

Call Sheet

Risk Assessment

Location 1
The location is situated on the bank of a small river, in a heavily forested area.
The location is sometimes used as a walking route, and few hazards are present, though those that are can be considered very dangerous.

The bank becomes incredibly muddy after recent rainfall, meaning that it is possible for anyone who isn't careful to slip on the pathway or the bank.
As they will be the only ones running, this hazard presents the most danger to the actors, and also the crew members carrying heavy or valuable equipment, as loosing your footing is made easy with heavy equipment.
This hazard is considered intermediate, and can be remedied easily if the cast wear appropriate footwear and care is taken with the equipment.

The bank might also be made hazardous in dry conditions, when the ground may be prone to fracturing and parts of the bank can easily drop away.
When this occurs, it presents a threat to the crew, the actors and the equipment, if any are standing too close to the edge.
This hazard can be considered uncommon, as there hasn't yet been a case of it happening, and can be easily avoided as long as the cast and crew keep a safe distance away from the edge of the bank.

Another risk is that of large stones and branches or roots hidden by the foliage.
These present a threat, as they usually aren't noticed until someone has already tripped over them.
This presents a hazard mostly to the actors, again because they will be the ones running.
This threat is the most hazardous, and can be considered common.
This hazard can be avoided as long as the cast and crew are careful, and know to watch for the hazard.

The river itself poses a threat to the equipment, as even though it is shallow, the current is quite fast-moving, and any equipment that is dropped can easily be carried away or broken by becoming waterlogged.
This threat can be considered uncommon, as long as the crew take care not to drop the equipment.

Location 2
The second location is a small room located in Wem Town Hall
The location is relatively safe, and is commonly used by members of the Town Hall and Thomas Adams 6th form Media department, however, some hazards are present.

The most obvious danger to the cast and crew are the various boxes stacked under the tables, which present a tripping hazard to anyone who isn't careful, both cast and crew.
This hazard can be considered uncommon, as the cast and crew will be able to see the boxes unless they aren't being careful.

Another hazard is that of items stacked on top of the tables, which could fall if disturbed.
This hazard can also be considered uncommon, as the objects are quite visible, and disturbing them can be easily avoided.

Yet another hazard is that of loose wires, which can be seen on the floor and along the walls.
Whilst these pose no immediate threat, a frayed wire could expose the current within, which can be dangerous if brought into contact with bare skin or, alternatively, the wires could be a trip hazard.
This hazard is also considered uncommon.

Film: Opening scene - treatment

The scene opens with several quick-cut shots of various people running through a wooded area.
The first shot is of a man glancing backwards as he stumbles through the woods, with the camera panning alongside him.
This is then followed by a black screen, with the director's name flickering across the screen in white, the font is sharp and menacing.

The next shot is of another man, Ben, running after the first, with the camera slightly closer, again panning alongside the man.
Following this, the screen goes black again, and the name of the script writer flickers across the screen in the same manner as with the first black screen.

The third shot is of two more people, a man in black clothing and a woman in lighter colours, both of whom are running after the Ben.
This shot is interspersed by another title screen, this time with the name of the production company flickering across the screen, throughout all the black-screen shots, the sound of static electricity can be heard.

The next shot is a rather short one of Ben tackling the first man to the ground.
This shot cuts to black, with the film's title fading in slowly, flickering slightly as it does.

The camera fades in again to the sound of heavy breathing.
The shot opens from the point of view of the first man, lying down with Ben sitting in front of him.
This then switches to a wide shot of Ben sitting in front of the unnamed man, with the other two standing behind him.
Both the man and the woman are absent from the shot.
The unnamed man asks Ben why he chased him, at which point the camera switches back to the man's point of view, when Ben states "He told me you would tell the others." and points into the air behind him, where the man in black would have been standing in the previous shot.

The shot switches from the point-of-view shot to a shot of Ben and the man in black, where the man tells Ben to kill the unnamed man, but the woman interjects, stating that the man hasn't done anything to them, and that it would be unfair.
Ben then says "I shouldn't.", but the man dressed in black tells Ben that the unnamed man will tell people that Ben is crazy, and that they'll take him away.
The camera then cuts back to a point-of-view shot from the first man's point of view, where he states "Who're you talking too?"
Ben then reaches out to strangle the man, with a voiceover stating "that's how it happened..."

The camera then switches to a dimly-lit room, with Ben sitting across the table from another man, who says "Alright, now i want you to tell me how it started, right back at the beginning."
The scene then cuts to black.

Thriller openings (unfin)

1) Se7en

Codes & Conventions

• Background is rather dark, foreboding, suggests a sinister setting
• The camerawork is done so that we never actually see the character's face, adds an element of intrigue
• Sharp metal tools are shown, character seems to be trimming skin from his own finger, adds to the film's sinister feeling
• Music is slow-paced, with a sinister feel to it, conveying one of the themes of the film.

Suspense & enigma
These are conveyed through the activities performed by the character throughout the opening titles.
The character's face is never actually seen, which builds curiosity amongst the audience as they struggle to understand the character's role in the plot.
The audience's intrigue is further aroused when the mysterious person is seen carrying out various strange, even macabre tasks.
These include looking over strange sketches of body parts and people, writing and cutting out pieces of film and pictures, stitching pages together with a needle doused in his own blood and other such activities.
The audience are kept in suspense by the gruesome and disturbing activities, and enigma is conveyed by the elusive nature of the man, surely an antagonist.

Titles
The opening credits detail the director, the company, the producer and the main cast.
The titles are mixed into the opening scene, and appear on black or darkly-coloured blanks in between shots.
The font for the titles seems hand-written, scratchy and uneven, almost threatening in the way it is presented.
The titles seem to flicker, almost like a badly-rendered film, this could be to add to the suspense.

Narrative construction and the plot
Not much about the plot is given away, save the sinister nature of the man in the opening shots.
The book that the man writes in adds some mystery to the shots, maybe it is a plot device that will appear later in the film.
Certainly, the book has some relevance, as the gruesome pictures within would not be portrayed unless they had some relevance to the film itself.

Music/Soundtrack
The soundtrack, like most of the shots in the first few minutes, has a decidedly sinister feeling to it.
the music is slow-paced, with a heavy rhythm and several high-pitched sound effects reminiscent of metal grinding against metal.

Camerawork
The opening scene is portrayed mostly through close-up shots of the book and various photographs and pieces of film, mixed with shots of metal tools and the mysterious man seemingly inflicting self-harm.
Snaps of photos and sketches are taken with overhead shots, whereas shots of the book are taken from various angles and the more gruesome shots taken at eye level with the used implements.

Editing techniques and Pace
A lot of fast cutting is used in the opening scene, with some shots taking less than half a second, appearing as brief flashes on the screen, most of these particular shots are sketches or photos.
Fading techniques are also used, with one shot fading into another; this technique is seen more rarely, though it still helps to keep the film's pace.
The film's pace is difficult to decide; the soundtrack has a slow, heavy beat that complements some of the longer shots and favors a more sinister feel, where as the flickering title screens and fast cuts suggest a slightly faster, more racy pace to the film.
Ultimately, though, the film's pace can be seen as slow, deliberate, and macabre.

Setting
The setting remains unidentified, though the background appears to be mottled dark and light, suggesting a dimly-lit/dark room with at least one window.
Some shots also suggest a red room, where photos from old cameras are left to develop.
Apart from these few clues as to the setting, it remains unidentified, adding to the already-established intrigue of the film.

Characters
Only one character is suggested throughout the opening scene, but his identity is never revealed, only his personality is hinted at through the disturbing tasks performed throughout the scene.

2) Memento

Codes & conventions

• Background is initially beige and uninteresting until later in the scene when the camera is panned out.
• The first shot portrays the development of a photo played backwards, starting with a fully developed photo and reverting back to an undeveloped photo, which then proceeds to slide back up into a camera. This adds an element of confusion to the scene.

Suspense & enigma
The opening shot of the photo developing backwards is initially the only curiosity of the film, as it contains a dead body, which adds initial suspense to the scene.
The fact that the scene is shown backwards also adds a sense of enigma, as the audience can't piece together what is happening in the scene until the very end.

Titles
The titles are shown throughout the initial sequence of the photo developing backwards, portraying the main cast and the director, as well as others such as the musical director and costume designer.
The titles are portrayed in a rather bland, ordinary font, blue in colour, which betrays the film as uninteresting and boring, whereas it is anything but.

Narrative construction and storyline/plot
The initial storyline is hard to grasp with the scene being shown backwards.
Not much is revealed to the audience, save that the man in the opening sequence has killed someone.
The fact that he photographs the killing suggests a somewhat disturbed nature.

Music/soundtrack


Camerawork
The scene opens in an initial close-up shot that lasts for the duration of the titles.
We are then presented with a close-up shot that tracks upwards over the main character as the photo fades and jumps upwards, back into the camera.
The shot tracks up to the man's face, before switching through a montage of various things happening in reverse, eg; blood flowing back into the body, the bullet shooting back into the gun.

Initial Ideas

• Psychological thriller
• Hallucination/ Manipulation of the mind
• possible drug theme
• unstable emotional state
• Main character could possibly already be a criminal?
• Main character could have a fragmented consciousness, e.g; Imagines his emotions as separate people telling him to do certain things
• Mental state could possibly be drug-induced
• Split personality/ Multiple personality disorder
• Anterograde amnesia
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