Test shoot edited

Planning the test shoot

The reason we are doing our test shoot is so that we will be able to see whether or not our idea works. We would never want to get the main shooting and have it not work. Having a test shoot planned and done meant that we were prepared for what we need to do. For example preparing the rock piles and large stick shapes on the ground took time to set up, so next time on the actual day of the shoot we will go back before hand in preparation so that we can use the time that we have, to get on with the shooting 

The planning in which we did before hand included the idea of what our idea actually was, the multiple ideas got developed and then dropped, because my whole group had to decide a middle ground and come to an agreement. 

We used a few prop substitutions because for our test shoot we didn't have everything we needed, we didn't end up using any fake blood, and we had to prepare our own satanic symbols. Instead of multiple demonic symbols around the place we used a little rock structure to capture an unnatural rock pile. We ended up drawing a satanic symbol in the ground and using that as the main demonic symbol. For our shoot we also didn't have a dog, so we substituted that in making dog noises. 

In our shooting I played the role as a cameraman I worked with Lola and filmed the opening scene from different angles, we ended up taking around 100 videos. Our actors were Jemma and Tom, Tom played the role as an old man walking his dog through the woods coming across the dead girl, who was played by Jemma. We had one set location throughout the filming, which was the woods, this was pretty accessible to my group as there is woods surrounding Hurtwood. 

The shoot went very well, we had to take scenes over due to hands being in frame and also people, but overall we were not missing any props for the filming and we created some satanic symbols.

 

Overall the editing of the opening scene went pretty well, this is due to having all the different scenes done from different angles, I was able to put every shot in order and together it looked like all one film set.      

There were only a few mistakes that my group made with the first opening shoot, the hand in the way really ruined our end scene as we only took one shot of that. This made me need to edit one vital part out which makes the ending look rougher, and it fits in the rest of the opening scene due to the clean motion of everything else. 

Independent research 2

In my opening scene we are going to be using fake blood in order to convey the shier brutality of a creature that haunts the forest. 

In this post I am going to be researching how to make fake blood, and the texture that best fits the victims death. 

There are different types of blood in the human body, so I will be researching the different variations of opacities and consistencies of blood. 

It is important to have a bowl with a wet towel or cloth in there to wash off the stickiness of the ingredients. 

 

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  First order of this will be to poor some of the syrup into a cup of any sort, this then will be accompanied with red food colouring.

 

• Blood isn't just a straight red colour so therefor a little bit of blue food colouring will be added, just a drop will do as you don't want to overpower the red colouring, drops of yellow and green can also be added to lighten up the red colouring.

• Measuring is not very important to making the fake blood because it is always better to have more than too little.

 

• It is also good to have a white surface alongside this as it can help you see what the blood is turning out like throughout. 

 

• If the blood beads up on the skin then you add some dish soap to keep that runny texture. 

 

• This creates transparent blood, which also looks good, but it isn't realistic as normal blood is not totally transparent.

 

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  Adding corn starch gives the blood a deeper red effect which looks more realistic, this will be mixed in gradually to avoid any clumps of it ruining the batch. 

 

• With each of these different textures you add them after the previous version

 

• The next ingredient that will be used is cocoa powder this will make the red colouring darker, this can be used as older blood

 

• Next step is adding chocolate syrup which makes the blood again even darker, this can signify a really deep wound.

 

• For the final texture I will be looking at I will be adding non-dairy creamer, this really clouds up the blood, this is great for capturing that more stylised type of blood

The next type of blood I will be looking at is gel blood, this is really good for little details and 

makeup application

• In order for me to make this the first step is to grab the transparent blood, which was the first one I talked about, the next ingredient to add would be Gelatin. 
• For the other consistencies of this fake blood include the ingredients,

• Hair gel 
• Toothpaste
• Petroleum Jelly 
• Flour 

• To make the blood even grosser you can add other materials to it like toilet paper, this creates a gross clumpy blood variant, the other two materials that can be used to capture this disturbing clumpy blood look would be: 
• Cotton balls which make the blood more stringy
• Clear glue can also be added to clump up the fake blood more, although this method dries a lot faster

Independent research 1

The first part of my research is how to make a monster effect using sound, the video I found shows the process behind making these creatures and monster effects.  

• The process behind making these creature sounds starts with a simple noise made from a recording, this recording could be of tongue clicking or any of the above. 

• This photo here shows someone recording noises from themselves, these noises can be very simple and it doesn't matter if they are perfect because you can always take out certain unwanted sounds. An example of an unwanted sound would be breathing, although it could be one of the main noises you may want to represent a sound a creature would make as well. 

• The use of third party props like water can also be used to make noises that represent a creature of slimy nature.

•  The next step of the process of creating these realistic creature sounds is too edit up all the audio recordings and cut them to the sections of sound which will actually be used. 

• This is the final and most time consuming step of creating these creature noises, this process includes layering multiple recordings, and amplifying or decreasing the tone. All together these layered sounds create an unheard of noise with a mixture of clicking and growling at the same time creating an unsettling feeling when listening to it. 

How to create Fake saliva 

In our opening scene the use of saliva may be used, this is to capture the drooling nature and hunger of this creature that curses this forest the old man walks through. But for hygiene reasons we can't use real saliva so my next bit of research will be about how to creature fake saliva.

This video shows a step by step process in how to create this fake saliva, I picked this video because although it says saliva slime, I think that this will have a better effect, as this thicker texture would make the creature seem even more unnatural, and this is something I will be trying to achieve in creating a scary opening scene. 

The ingredients needed to create this includes:

• Clear glue
• Clear soap
• Baking soda
• Water
• Eye lotion
• A small cup (a shot glass)
• A small clear bowl
• A wooden spoon

The amount of this slime saliva that I would make will be the same amount as shown in the video. 

• The process of creating this slime starts with a small amount of clear glue which will be poured into a small clear bowl. 
• Then you add around the same amount to the bowl, and mix it around with the wooden spoon. 
• After this you put aside the bowl and poor a tiny amount of baking soda into the shot glass 

• After this you add a few drops of water to the shot glass after this mix it around a little bit. 
• next step is add the shot glass to the bowl and mix it around till its bubbly, next step is too added a few drops of eye lotion.
• Final step is to keep mixing until it becomes a slime.

Group plan -

 Our shoot plan 

Location: The in which we are going to film for our test shoot would be in the woods location around the school. As our school is surrounded by woods its quite easy to do and achieve. We will only then need 1 location to this makes shooting easier. 

Narrative: The scene will start with a low camera angle of the old man walking his dog through the woods, this man them comes across weird symbols that he hasn't seen before, he then is lead to a body of a young girl wearing a dress. This creature then comes after this man after the dog started barking at some rustling bushes, the old man then runs away with his dog. The man then trips over a log then the camera becomes the creatures POV with saliva landing on the mans face, he then screams and the camera cuts. 

Characters: There is going to be 2 characters but it can be argued that there is three, the main character will be the old man, with the other character being the dog. The third character can be argued to be the creature but we never see this being. 

Props: We will not need any prop as we are filming in the woods, apart from the costumes and a lead for the dog character. But we will need to make sure the filming is good because there wont be a lot of props to prompt or reinforce the narrative of the story of this scene 

Difficulties: Some of the difficulties will include trying to make this realistic and capturing the scene properly. The lighting in our location is also going to be limited so we need to make sure that we are able to capture the scene without it being too dark. As well as the fact that we don't have an actual dog to use within this so we are going to have some sort of rope of collar to communicate that there would be a dog in the real shooting.

Mood board

Horror opening scene 

This is one of the pictures I picked to include in my moon board because it is fake blood, in my opening scene a lot of fake blood is going to be used to capture the shier mutilation of this body, and the to show the ruthlessness of this monster ripping apart and consuming this kids body. 

This photo shows the horror my group will present in the opening scene, the forest will be haunted by a creature killing any who may find theirselves isolated and alone in the depths of the forest.

These symbols that are included in the moon board depicts the horror element of this opening scene, these symbols signify life after death, and it is believed that creatures can be brought back from the depths into the world using these symbols. These are all of demonic origin showing the creatures nature, I like these symbols as they are creepy but also will be easy to replicate when filming the opening scene. These symbols will be places around the woods and will be seen in the background by the audience, not the main character. The point the old man will discover the symbols is around the body of the little girl who has been torn apart by this supernatural being, these symbols will be marked over what once was the girls body. 

This photo shows the scary side to forests, this is why I picked it for my moon board, it shows creates an eerie atmosphere around the trees creating an uneasy emotion. This is the feeling my group will be trying to create and present in the opening scene.

The old man in this photo is shown to be having a nature walk the environment around him is all peaceful, I chose this image in my mood board because it represents a juxtaposition, the woods are calm but there is something evil lurking within. 

I also included this picture of a dog amongst all the other photos because it is also a juxtaposition of this opening scene, showing the peaceful side of the forest then not to long in the future a change in scenery completely, a change in music and in pace for the remaining of the scene. 

 

I like this image as it shows the forest in the eyes of this creature, the idea behind this is that the creature will have red and distorted vision, again incapsulating the supernatural element of this opening scene.

Group idea, redeveloped

Developing our group concept

Our new idea is focused on a old man walking his dog through some woods, this man them comes across weird symbols that he hasn't seen before, he then is lead to a mutilated body of a young girl wearing a dress, which is a juxtaposition as her body is mutilated. This creature then comes after this man after the dog started barking at some rustling bushes, the old man then runs away with his dog. The man then trips over a log then the camera becomes the creatures POV with saliva landing on the mans face, he then screams and the camera cuts. 

We decided to change our concept opening scene idea after getting some feedback, we realised that we had too much information and planning for just one opening scene. We simplified our idea into something more achievable and generic, something that feels more real in order to capture the horror element. 

Our fourth member of our group just returned from a week off due to corona, so we all came to a conclusion that we should pursue this idea. 

 

Opening scene presentation

 

Camera workshop 2

The one 180 rule is used so if you have two characters not only on a table but could be sitting anywhere or just having a normal convocation, one of the left will always be on the left one on the right will always be on the right, can also mess with continuity if you don't abide by this, its to make the scene less confusing and flow more natural.

We use a wide shot to establish what is going on in the scene, more shots to deal with, which adds like different ideas and elements to each scene

Rules of three is the grid shot which shows where stuff can be positioned in frame to capture peoples attention more and make a better overall scene. Continuity is very important when filming, this means keeping things the same in each shot, for example props and backgrounds, to make sure the scene flows naturally. 

Marks are used in filming to indicate where the actor should stand to say their dialogue, usually it'll be market with an 'X' on the floor, so they know where to stand.

In filming there are stage process that needs to be abided by, this includes stand by, which means get ready, roll camera tells the actor that the filming has started, camera rolling means that they are about to start their scene. Then it goes to action which tells the actor to start their scene, and then cut tells them the scene is over and the camera isn't rolling. 

You keep it rolling at the start and wait until you say action to check if the camera is working and that it's not faulty. At the end you carry on filming just incase there is anything else that can be added to the scene. 

When on a set, you shouldn't watch the footage back, this is because when shown to the actors, it makes them insecure and also it makes them move unnaturally, in order to make themselves look better. It also isn't needed because on set the only thing the actors should be focused on is acting, not watching the footage back. 

Camera workshop

From the workshop today, we were shown camera equipment that we will be using throughout the rest of the year for our opening scene. The equipment we were shown is the camera and the tripod which will be holding the camera throughout are filming. 

The full name of the cameras we were using in the workshop is Black magic 4K mini URSA

The 'yours', 'mine' rule must be used when handling camera equipment, this is to avoid dropping the expensive equipment, by simple telling a person 'yours' and whilst they receive the equipment say 'mine', you avoid miss-communication ensuring that you safely pass along equipment. 

On the tripod a spirit level is also used, this is an instrument that is designed to indicate whether a surface is horizontal or vertical. 

When setting up the tripod it has to be set on the floor, meaning that it is open on its three legs. When setting up the tripod you have to turn the nobs on the side loosening the height adjustment, meaning you can change the height. With tripods there are 3 on each level, 3 on the base which need to be turned anti-clockwise and once the height is adjusted you turn the nobs clockwise in order to lock the height in place, this process is repeated for the next level.

On camera focusing is changed on the lens, in order to focus and zoom, you have to zoom all the way in to your shot, then change the focus until it is clear. Once this is done you zoom out to the correct distance you want for the shot. The zoom lens is adjusted at the end of the lens and the focus is adjusted further back. 

You have to zoom all the way on a person first and then adjust the focus because if you focus first then zoom in the camera will go out of focus, this is due to the lens view being changed. The focus point of a person is their eyes, this is because a persons eyes contains the most amount of detail, and when focused on the eye you can easily infer whether the shot is clear or not. 

Lighting is also a great importance when coming to camera work, white balancing is used to make sure the lighting is right for the environment you are filming in, some these environments include being outside, in shade or inside. This is adjusted on the touch screen and it is important to change because if you have the white balancing on the wrong setting the camera shot will look wrong. 

Putting the equipment away is also known as striking the kit, this includes making sure everything is put away properly, and that the equipment is easy to get out for the next time it is used. 

My Feedback for concept idea

My opening scene was based about four kids around a campfire, these kids would be getting stalked by some supernatural creature. My opening scene was based around this idea because it was an interesting idea, this sort of thing we rarely see and I thought it was unique.

In this opening scene I said that these four kids would be minding their own business, playing games telling stories, until they hear something rustling in the bushes. This rustling would eventually grow louder and louder, until they then heard a groan, which made all the kids run away.

Overall, this opening scene is about four kids minding their business around a campfire, in which they then hear noises from the bushes around them and run away.

The symbols that would be focused on would be carved into the trees, this would be done by a knife of some sorts, to create a more realistic look. 

My opening scene was supposed to be altogether but my idea was seen to contain two ideas, so the idea I am sticking with is the idea around a campfire. 

Overall, with the discussion we did in class I can tell that it would be too hard to film my opening scene outdoors at night, this is due to the lack of lighting, and the hard element that is created to catch a real natural feel too lighting. 

The other questions asked were also outlining how hard it would be to include the lighting, if i were to carry on filming my opening scene outside, I would probably use night vision cameras and flood lights.

With the point of lighting at night being too hard to capture, I have decided I would film my opening scene in the day.