PRE PRODUCTION: example of video for prep for lab 27/02/15

Here is an example of one of the tutorials that Charli and I watched to get to grips with Premier Pro which is the program that we will be using the the Lab today.

PRE PRODUCTION- Preparation for Friday's Laboratory 26/02/15

As the laboratory is tomorrow and will consist of 10% of our final mark, I thought it was important to get to grips with the program. The program is called Premier Pro by Adobe and today Charli and I spent an hour watching Youtube clips as we have never used the program before.

PRE PRODUCTION- Copy of the ethics checklist that must be completed with the treatment 26/02/15

PRE PRODUCTION: FINAL TREATMENT 26/02/15

Treatment final from Millie Pay

PRE PRODUCTION: Target Audience 25/02/2015

Target Audience

The story being based on young adults aged 18-25 usually calls for an audience of teenagers aged 15 to adults in their late twenties. So this would be classed as ‘teens and young adults’.

We have identified our short film as that similar to a TV drama or documentary that would be shown on the popular channel BBC3. This channel is one for all ages, although most of their content has the same target audience that we do.

I am going to look at some shows with a similar target audience to ours, so that I can analyses both the storyline and the micro aspects of them in order to gain an understanding of how they target their moving image at their audience so accurately and gain the desired response.

PRE PRODUCTION: Meeting- 23rd February 2015 25/02/15

People Participating:
Charli Honnor
Amelia Pay

The two of us had a 4 hour session today to complete the final sections of our Treatment. We wrote our influences, target audience and more. We also added images of our location and film influences, headers and limitations of our filming that must be overcome. 

Then, we filled out the ethics checklist and handed in our complete Treatment.

PRE PRODUCTION: Meeting- 22nd February 2015 25/02/15

People Participating:

Amelia Pay

Charli Honnor

Today we were piecing together the treatment that we had so far- including the final paragraph about the 'subject' written by Yvienne. Then we proofread the entire document together in preparation for the next day when we had planned to meet together to write the final paragraphs together- including influences and timings etc. 

PRE PRODUCTION: Meeting- 20th February 2015 25/02/15

People participating:

Amelia Pay

Charli Honnor

Today, Kirsty submitted to us her paragraph on 'Filming', and Charli again expanded this and I proofread it in order to improve this. Shot types were included, and how the shots will be used to portray the story.

PRE PRODUCTION: Meeting- 19th February 2015 25/02/15

People participating:
Charli Honnor
Amelia Pay
Callum Williams

Today, after the three of us had completed our sections, we came together to proofread the paragraphs as a group of three. We looked very closely at spelling and grammar, sentence structure and subject matter. Charli added a paragraph onto Callum's character profile, and I proofread this.

PRE PRODUCTION: NARRATIVE- section of treatment 25/02/15

PRE PRODUCTION: LOGLINE- section of treatment 25/02/15

PRE PRODUCTION: TITLE- section of treatment 25/02/15

PRE PRODUCTION: LOCATION - section of treatment 25/02/15

PRE PRODUCTION: Writing the Treatment- 13/02/15

After being assigned the paragraphs of 'Title', 'Logline', 'Location' and 'Narrative Structure', I decided to tackle this in a structured way by beginning with the title as this would be the very first paragraph of the entire treatment. Therefore it is important that it is gripping and interesting to entice the reader into continuing. The Narrative Structure was based upon the synopsis, but including details of WHY we made the decisions alongside WHAT decisions were made. 

PRE PRODUCTION: Film Poster 18/02/15

Charli and I met up with the chosen actor, and took photographs of him on the Pavilion field. This is the desired pose I chose because it displays the subject of the film- rugby. The central piece of this image is the rugby ball, and then one is attracted to the arms and the bright colours on his shirt. The title is prominent, surrounded by the white background of the sky, and then followed by the logline by Babe Ruth. I chose white so that it shows up enough on the grass. This is work in progress- I will probably be changing this before submission.

PRE PRODUCTION: Location 18/02/15

Location
The location is paramount, and we will be shooting our film in three main locations:

1) Parkwood- on the University of Kent Campus. This is because it is in a house, so will be more authentic as a setting than the flats accommodation. Also, belongs to a member of the team, so permission will be easy to obtain.

2) The Pavilion- the sports field is where we will be filming the training. This is also where we will hire the rugby balls and take the shots of the rugby posts and the running.
Furthermore, this is where the team will be training together, so we will film the final scene here when the girlfriend is standing at the side of the pitch.

3) Finally, training will take place in the gym on campus. However, this is a slight setback because to film here we need a specific permission slip, and if anybody gets in the shot they will also need a permission slip. The gym permission takes approx a week to process, so when going to a lecture I picked it up so that we can film whenever we need to.

PRE PRODUCTION: Meeting 5- discussing the Treatment 18/02/15

So as to ensure that our treatment is as well written as possible, we had a meeting to discuss what the overall structure of the treatment will be. After this, and then further discussion on the content of each section, we devised up 'chapters' , or 'sections' to each team member to write in their own time. Then, we organised another group meeting for exactly a week later to proofread and correct the sections.

Millie (me)- location, title, logline, narrative structure.

Callum- Characters

Filming- Kirsty

Charli- Duration

Yvienne- Subject

PRE PRODUCTION: Changing sport- boxing to rugby 18/02/15

After discussing the plan to film with the boxing coach, it was apparent that in face the coach was not particularly happy with the idea. Therefore in order to keep the storyline as close as possible, we contacted a rugby player and with his consent, decided to change the sport to rugby so as to film him instead. 

PRE PRODUCTION: Storyboard inspiration- The Taxi Driver 09/02/15

Here is a clip which was shown to us by our Lecturer. I thought this was extremely inspirational because I have never done any storyboarding before. Not only does it give the planning and storyboard in action, but it also explains to me that in fact they don't need to be perfect works of art; as long as they can be understood with arrows for further information eg. camera shots.

PRE PRODUCTION: SYNOPSIS- written in meeting 09/02/15

PRE PRODUCTION: Inspiration- Steven Moffat interview 09/02/15

Here is an interview with Steven Moffat- the writer for Doctor Who and Sherlock. We were shown this in a lecture and I thought it was particularly interesting as it discusses his inspiration, and how he interpreted his ideas. He is an extremely knowledgable man, and it gave me comfort when he discusses his 'Writers Block' as our group has often come across struggles and lack of flowing in our meetings, but I know I'm not alone with this worry. 

PRE PRODUCTION: Plot Twist: 09/02/15

When writing our synopsis today as a group, we came to the question- should we include a plot twist when the two main characters are having an argument at the table?

This could include a flashback of his childhood which influences his emotions- such as lack of support from his parents, abuse or neglect from his parents?

Now, we need to decide the ending of our story. This could incorporate this plot twist and must be EITHER a negative ending OR a positive ending.

PRE PRODUCTION: Naming the Characters: 09/02/15

Main Male: Jake

Main Female: Naomi

Friend: Josh

Opponent: Bruce

PRE PRODUCTION: Meeting 4- Planning and Preparation 04/02/15

To do before filming:

• Synopsis
• Treatment
• Script
• Storyboard
• Still shots of location
• Ethics Checklist

PRE PRODUCTION: Meeting 3- Collaborating thoughts about film research 04/02/15

As a team, we came up with a list of possible movies to watch individually as inspiration for our own film. 

• If I stay- Because of the strains of the relationship and the struggles due to a ride in power of one person in the couple.
• Atonement- For the twist of plot at the end- could give us some inspiration for our own film as we have yet to think of an ending.
• Gone Girl- Similarly to Atonement, the huge plot twist at the end is said to shock my other team mates, and this is the impact that we would like to achieve.
• Rocky- As a film about boxing, it could help us become more familiar with the sport and culture around it.
• The Blind Side- Presenting the true pressures of sport and perseverance to succeed. 

PRE PRODUCTION: Meeting 3- Title 04/02/15

After much thought and collaborating ideas, we have decided that the working title of our movie is 'Relentless'.

Relentless: (Adj) unceasingly intense and persistance. Harsh or inflexible.

We thought that this was a perfect title because it describes the struggle of reaching your goal (in this case, both reaching higher on the boxing podium and fixing a relationship), but also portrays the determination and forward thinking required to achieve this. 

PRE PRODUCTION: Meeting 3- Roles Within the Group 04/02/15

Roles within the group:

• Amelia Pay (me) : Sound
• Kirsty Cleland-Orgle: Editor
• Charli Honnor: Director
• Yvienne Ribao: Producer
• Callum Williams: Camera man

But we will all work together to achieve greatness.

PRE PRODUCTION: Meeting 3- Answering previous questions 04/02/15

Before this meeting, I thought of a few questions that must be discussed as a group. 

• Target audience:
  Teenagers/ Young adults.

• Target showing time:After 9 o'clock (After watershed), so most likely to be age 15+ for language.

• Possibly in a similar style to BBC 3's short drama'Original Drama Shorts', such as Flea:
  http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p01ssqvw

PRE PRODUCTION: Meeting 3- Genre. Considering the details 04/02/15

Considering Who, What, Where, When, Where and Why:

Who: Character profiles have been discussed, so a casting date must still be set. Possible links and connections with actors have been made via Social Networking sites.

What: We will be filming an inspirational story about an athlete. It will be a sport themed film, with a dramatic Genre.

When: Set in Modern times- the 21st Century. It is based around the couple's anniversary, and the argument scene will be set around 6 o'clock as they are having dinner together,

Where: The Locations will include the Campus Sports hall, a boxing ring, the gym, a house in Parkwood and residential roads.

Why: This is the reason behind the filming this specific storyline. As one interested in sport and extremely motivated and determined, a film about determination is important. It is also to inspire others too.

PRE PRODUCTION: Meeting 3- Discussing Genre 04/02/15

Here I have designed a Word cloud on worditout.com to enable me to physically visualise the words that we have discussed in meeting 3. These words are orientating around the theme of 'GENRE'.

PRE PRODUCTION: Meeting 3- Discussing Characters 04/02/15

Characterisation:

Main Characters:
        1 Male
        1 Female

Secondary Characters:
        1 Male Opponent
        1 Male Friend



Male Main Character Requirements and personality traits

• Over 5ft8
• Dark Hair
• Sporty
• Humble
• Determined
• Honest
• Hardworking
• Reliable

Female Main Character Requirements and personality traits:   

• Serious
• Business-like
• Well Spoken
• High Achieving
• Superior
• Strong willed, but still supportive

Male Opponent Requirements and personality traits:

• Similar traits as main male character, but always high achieving AND high succeeding
• Sporty
• Tall
• Preferably well built

Male Friend Requirements and personality traits:

• Funny
• Quirky
• Likeable
• Honest
• Supportive    

PRE PRODUCTION: Meeting 3- Planning and Preparation 03/02/15

Preparation for Meeting 3 on Wednesday 4th Feb 2015

Tomorrow we will meeting as a group to collaborate our ideas.
The following things must be discussed:

• Casting and characterisation; what do we want our main characters and secondary characters to be like?
• Who will be the actors, and how many actors will there be?
• Genre of our film
• Target Audience
• Target airing time
• Roles within the group
• Beginning of script writing
• Availability of equipment
• When will filming commence?
• Confirmation of Tagline
• Film Title- 'Relentless'?

PRE PRODUCTION: Influences: The Impossible 03/02/15

"Nothing is more important than the Human Spirit"

As my first inspiration for films with an impact, I decided to watch The Impossible by Juan Antonio Bayona. This dramatic thriller was based upon the true horrifying event of the Boxing Day Tsunami in 2004. The basic plot includes a family of 5 on a winter holiday in Thailand, when the beautiful holiday dream quickly becomes a nightmare as the colossal wave travelling up to 800km per hour wiped out the resort and everything in it's path. Once separated, both parents quickly realise that it is now a race for survival, and in order to find each other and reunite the family they must act quickly and efficiently. 

The action and suspense begins right within the first few minutes of the film. As soon as the tsunami hits, one instantly becomes tense and eager. With brief scenes of gore and horror, combined with tension and apprehension, one is completely fixated and eager to continue. For me, the most important dramatic feature of the entire film was the deafening silences- with bellowing screams and underwater shots completely inaudible were extremely effective.

Although budget will be extremely limited in our own film, there are some distinct techniques that could be taken from The Impossible. These include the true relationship between the characters, because when watching the film one becomes involved in the characters and empathetic towards their emotions. This is particularly due to the fundamental issue of correct actor selection, but also down to the relationship with each other as one becomes relaxed and trusting because the relationship appears so real and true. Furthermore, the plot twists and turns are important too to ensure that the audience does not become bored. This includes the ending too- which in fact is a very predictable, positive ending within The Impossible which although positive 'cheesy' endings almost disregarded by our team worked very well and left me emotional and fulfilled.