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.
Thursday, 31 January 2013
Wednesday, 23 January 2013
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.
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.
Wednesday, 16 January 2013
Thriller openings (unfin)
1) Se7en
Codes & Conventions
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
Monday, 14 January 2013
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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