Production Logo

After reviewing our opening, We decided that we should try and update and improve our production logo, as the background for it did not match the theme of the film opening. The change to our logo shows it with a grainy wooden background and shading, with our original logo over The top. The logo has been taken directly from our video, giving it the black and white effect from the opening.

Editing 4

For the final stage of editing, our production logo was placed at the beginning of our opening, we added our Foley sounds - the camera flash and folder hitting the desk - to the film, and shortened the length of our clips to fit the time limit set.

 Top & bottom left: Myself editing our production, adding and altering our production logo and adding in Foley sounds.

Editing 3

Next, we needed to record Foley sounds for our opening, as all audio that came with the film was deleted. This is because due to the narration and music being placed over the top, the audio was not needed, with the exception of a couple of sounds. This also included recording the sound of an antique camera flash that was not included in the filming, but were required for the opening. The camera flash was used to match the flash transitions between the crime scenes, and provide a more realistic feeling of a crime scene.

Editing 2

After placing all our scenes in order, we focused on the audio for the opening, including the narration and the music used. Firstly, there was the recording of the narration for the opening to help explain the narrative of the film and introduce the characters. The music used was found from http://freeplaymusic.com/ where we searched for audio that would best suit our genre (jazz music). In the end, the music throughout the opening was from three separate songs edited into one so as not to provide too much repetition in the audio.

After recording, we needed to upload and edit the narration, and the music to match the scenes.

Top and bottom left: Photos of looking through and uploading the narration, ready to be edited and placed with the film.








Right: Listening to audio clip of jazz music for the third crime scene of Samantha Scarlett.

Editing

For our first few sessions of editing, we mainly just uploaded our footage from the camera. We then looked at which clips were best appropriate from any safety shots and arranged all clips in order of the narrative. These were no yet shortened to fit the allotted time provided, but were merely just to organise the clips in order of how we decided in the storyboard.

The photos are the uploading of scenes filmed and arranging in order.

Production Logo

For each production, a production logo is required to show who the producers are, and to show we know how to create and include a logo in our film openings. For ours, we tried to create an old fashioned look, using old fashioned text and background. We kept the production company name as the group members initials (Lewis, Jamie, Lara) as it clearly showed to others it was our film.

Filming Day 5

Finally we filmed the scenes in Dawson's office and captured the titles for the film on the suspect. For the location, we needed to use one of the staff offices in order to create a realistic environment of a detective's office. Eventually, we settled on using Mrs Curtis' office, with Dawson sat at a round table.

This is a photo of our finished suspect board, including the titles of cast and crew, producers and the film title.

Filming Day 4

Here, we were in Willingham woods, filming the sequence where Dawson is searching for leads, from the murder weapon left behind at the crime scene.

Jamie and Lara preparing to film Dawson walking across the field, heading towards the building.

Shot of building used, as described in Dawson's narration. Used as Dawson walks around, searching for any clues or leads in the case.

Area used for when Dawson walks past wall and stands in archway. Camera was placed inside area, facing outwards as Dawson comes into view.

Filming Day 3

For our third session of filming, we were shooting the crime scene of Samantha Scarlett at the train station. Here are some shots of where we thought of filming the body laid on the ground:

Position of camera facing other side of station. Used for an establishing shot of Dawson and the body.

Initial scene we had planned for where to have the body. However, this had to be changed when we found the lighting was not sufficient for the scene.

Still shot of Ella as Samantha's body in costume, with fake blood to show signs of how she was killed.

Filming Day 2

On Sunday, we were filming the crime scenes of the previous victims in the killings, in Lincoln.

Left: Jamie, playing first victim, dampening shirt in fake blood to look like a stab wound.










Right: Lara filming close up/side view of first victim's face.















Establishing shot of position of first victim during scene.

We then moved onto outside the cathedral for the scene of the second victim, where we would have the body slumped in a corner.

Filming Day 1

For our first few days of filming, we were in the upstairs drama studio filming the interrogation scene between Dawson and the criminal.

Photo of us filming interrogation: (from left to right) Lara (camera), Ella (acting), Jake (acting) and Jamie (director and sound).

Before we filmed we created a list of shots we decided to use which are shown below:

Key Questions

Before filming, we were given 8 key questions to consider about our production:

1. Is it practical?

It is practical in terms of our chosen locations for filming, however, we have had difficulties in organizing the suitable times for preparation of filming. For example, making sure that all props are ready for when they are needed.

2. Is it an idea that works to the strengths of the group?

The idea does work, as each member of the group has a range of ideas that would make a good opening. We are also familiar with the genre and are aware of the conventions, meaning we have a better understanding of what conventions would best suit the film.

3. Will it show off the skills you have learnt so far on the course?

Our production will help to show off many of the camera shot, types and movements we have learnt over the course of the year, and also any skills in editing we have picked up (e.g. audio editing, adding music etc.). In addition, after researching our genre we have also become more familiar with it's conventions, and which would help to make a good opening.

4. Is it something you can reasonably shoot and edit in the time available?

Providing we can organize what will be require for filming dates (i.e. props, costumes etc.), we could film in the time available easily, leaving time to focus and experiment with editing.

5. Can you get access/permission to shoot in the chosen location at the chosen time?

For our chosen locations, there should be no need to acquire permission, as these are nearly all public places which are easily accessible for all members of the group. However, for the office and interrogation scenes we needed and office belonging to a member of staff, meaning we needed permission from whoever's office we find appropriate for the scenes, we also had to the the same for the upstairs drama studio that we used as an interrogation room, we then organized a time based on when the office and drama studio was free for us to use.

6. Can you organize lighting to use in that location?

Each chosen location for filming all included some form of lighting in case it is needed. This includes street lights and desk lamps for high key lighting, stage lighting in the drama studio for the interrogation scene along with natural lighting for the daytime scenes and partly in the interrogation scenes too.

7. Have you included dialogue? If so, will it work to shoot conversation in that location?

Dialogue is included within our opening, however, it is included in the form of an audio narration. This means that there will be no conversational audio used from any of the scenes filmed, as all the dialogue is from the character reflecting on the events of the film (flashback).

8. Do you have guaranteed high quality reliable actors to play the characters?

All actors in the film all had some, albeit minor, experience in performing. They are also well known to the crew to be reliable for filming and dependable when it comes to dates and times in helping film.

Filming so far

Yesterday we finished the filming of the interrogation scene filming Lewis opening the door to the interrogation room, we had an idea to add in the filming cuts like we were told to do in the preliminary task, someone walks up to the door, proceeds to open it then a close up of the hand opening the door ensues then the character entering the room.
We have also started the editing of our film opening last Thursday here is a screenshot of our progress:

BBFC Main Issues

The BBFC stands for the British Board of Film Classification, and this is a non-governmental organisation which is funded by the film industry to be responsible for the national classification and censorship of films within the UK.

We have come to a conclusion that our film should be rated 15 due to the showing of dead bodies, graphic scenes and criminal threat.

We have come to this conclusion because of the way the bodies are portrayed with graphic scenes such as slit open necks and stab wounds, in context this could affect young audiences because of the violent nature of the film.

Although the tone of this film is rather laid back and smooth through elements such as jazz music and slow sounding voices, this contrasts with graphic scenes which although gives a calm atmosphere can potentially hide the sense of criminal threat underneath it e.g. because younger audiences may think there is a killer on the loose, this can give a bad effect upon them.

Risk Asessment

Before filming began, we needed to fill out a sheet, taking into account any risks or hazards that could occur during filming. This works as preperation for what we need to think about as we set up our equipment when filming.

Shooting Schedule

Here is an updated version of the shooting schedule:

Mise-en-Scene

A Prezi to show the Mise-en-Scene of our film opening, Fall of Justice.

Our filming so far

So far we have managed to successfully film the 1st 2nd and 3rd dead victim scenes, along with the majority of the interrogation scenes with Dawson and the Criminal, all we need to do now is the starting scenes where Dawson is in his office and the suspect board with all the credits and character info, we are soon to start the editing process, although we still need narration and music to put on the film opening.

Our Blurb and Title

Blurb

Three locations, three methods, three victims. Dawson Dunn, a retired police officer and now a private detective struggles as he has a case that could make or break his profession, and possibly his mental health.

In this classic epic Dunn faces trial after trial as he chases after a psychotic serial murderer who is confident he can break Dunn and his life, follow Dunn through this case to make all cases as Dunn and the mysterious killer defy each other time and time again.

TITLE: Fall of Justice

Tag Line:

Down the alleyways of the city, there is no law.

Storyboard - Final Version

This is a Prezi on the Final version of our storyboard and what we will be filming with.

Our script so far

Script

INT. Dawson's office. DAY

Dawson is sat at his desk with his head in his hands. He is reviewing over recent events in his life and how frustrated he is with his current case. His narration describes his thoughts as he sits in silence, looking distressed.

NARRATOR: I've had enough. I can't do this anymore. Recently off the force leaving behind an entire record of complete cases, I started my own agency. Just couldn't stay away from the job. No wife, always married to my profession. No kids, nobody else left. The job was all I lived for back then, but now. I've got nothing to go on. And it's killing me.

EXT. Flashbacks of crime scenes. NIGHT

Narration goes on to describe the series of murders he is trying to handle. Audience is shown flashbacks of crime scenes of previous victims, all in different locations. Flashbacks then cut to the train station crime scene with the camera focusing on the dead victim, Samantha.

NARRATOR: Three victims, all found in completely unrelated areas, different weapon, different method, no pattern in the times of death, and no relation between the victims whatsoever. This is the third one now. Samantha Scarlett. found at midnight in the train station with a dent in the back of her head. She didn't always look like that. Whoever she was, she was a fighter, there were clear signs of a struggle all over the scene. She had guts. Too bad they're all over the tracks now.

INT. Dawson's office. DAY

Dawson still sat at his desk, he turns and looks up at the suspect board. When the credits and the title ends, he is stood up looking directly at the board.

EXT. Woods. DAY

Dawson is walking through the woods, following the clue on the murder weapon left by the killer. As he comes to an abandoned building, he stands looking at it as the scene ends.

NARRATOR: All I've got to go on is the murder weapon, found next to the body. Samantha Scarlett, in the train station, with the lead piping. He left it there deliberately, he wanted me to have it, he was playing games with me and I wasn't going to lose. It led me to some kind of abandoned office. I don't know what he was expecting me to find, but I wasn't going to miss the opportunity to find out.

INT. Interrogation room. DAY

Dawson is leaning against a wall outside the room, with an aggravated and serious expression on his face. Facial expressions reflect his frustration as he tries to think over the case. He enters the room, slams the door and throws the case file onto the table. Only the suspects silhouette is visible. They both look at each other in silence until Dawson becomes increasingly annoyed.

NARRATOR: In the end it was easy to catch him, like that was what he had planned, he wanted to be caught, positive that I couldn't figure it out, and yet, different weapon, different methods, no links to the victims and no motive. I was starting to think he was probably right.

Job Roles in Production

Producers: 
Jamie Kirman, Lara Tilbury, Lewis Hodson - We are responsible for putting the production together.

Actors:
Lewis Hodson, Ella Kirk, Jake Jackson, Jamie Kirman, Lara Tilbury - The cast of people that take part in being the characters of the film.

Camera & Lighting:
Lara Tilbury - A professional camera operator and editor of sound. We decided upon giving Lara these two positions because she has the most experience in these two areas.

Director & Sound:
Jamie Kirman - A person who supervises the creative aspects of a dramatic production or film and instructs the actors and crew. Our group decided on this because I came up with the majority of the layout of the sequences of events, I am also the one to hold up the boom of the microphone as to free up Lara to work with the camera.

Target Audience Member Profile

Target Audience:

For our Demographics of our target audience we interviewed one of our ICT teachers called Mr Healy, who matches our social class of A/B and is 35+ and Male.

Here is a picture of Mr Healy:

When we interviewed him we asked him of his interests, opinions and attitudes on different subjects related to media such as TV, music and movies other than the Film Noir genre in order to gather information for our general target audience's Psychographics, and what they may want and wouldn't want to include in our film opening production.

Music: 

Mr Healy is generally a fan of most music styles, he loves old style jazzy music, especially that included in old films related to our genre, but is more interested in a more modern techno style mixed with jazz to create an interesting blend of music, which adds effect, he gave a couple of examples which was Bladerunner and The Matrix, the latter one was especially included about techno music, and how the blend of the two create a very tense atmosphere.
However his dislikes are more mainstream pop music such as Britney Spears and Madonna.

Movies:

Apart from the Film Noir genre, Mr Healy particularly enjoys action films such as Indiana Jones and Bladerunner, or films directed by Ridley Scott e.g. Alien.
A genre that does not particularly interest him is horror, and the typ;e of film he hates within horror is the unrealistic movies such as supernatural type films like Paranormal Activity or Scream.

TV:

The main type of program that appeals most to Mr Healy are deduction or detective stories such as CSI or Sherlock Holmes, and in terms of shows that he doesn't like, he detests programs that show things with no relevance or unneeded romance in them.

Mr Healy also enjoys playing computer games as a pass time.

I will market this film towards this audience through advertisements on TV such as after action show advertisements or mystery dramas generally on later in the evening and the Internet on gaming websites which could interest niche audiences, as well as other certain variables such as magazines and newspapers, I will do this mainly because the Internet and TV is the mainstream option used for entertainment by people of the A/B social class and many people of the 35+ group read newspapers and magazines.

This movie would come out over one of the major holidays such as the summer holidays when most people, especially of the older age group are on time off work and I would target my main demographic through using iconography key to the genre Film Noir to interest the older generation as well as using more modern materials to try to advertise to some of the younger adults.

Student video Analysis - Film Noir Genre

Here is an analysis of the video NOIR LIGHTS:

Our Rough Storyboard

This is our rough storyboard for our film opening:

This is where most of our ideas are based and the basic concept of our film opening and a general layout of what we want to happen, this helps us organise our ideas instead of just having a jumbled up sense of how things may happen, the post-it notes meant that we could add or take things away if the idea is not used, yet again meaning our ideas are less jumbled up, although we did not add many picture onto this because we thought it would be better to add information and draw the pictures onto our final version later. We have now gone on to hopefully create our final storyboard version.

Our group decided on starting off the opening with Dawson sat in his office with his head in his hands as he reflects upon his memories, this gives enigma and adds mood to the environment Dawson is in, this scene would also clearly show the pained expression on his face, we are also debating as whether to add a pan shot around his figure to increase the mood of the office environment.
The next scene shows an extreme close up of Dawson's eyes as he closes them, as if in pain, as he remembers the dead victims, a series of flashbacks occur.

In this next scene it is a flashback which only lasts a few seconds to create more enigma as Dawson looks at the dead victim, an echo of the dead girl's scream ensues and Dawson finds a clue that leads him into some woods.
At this point the flashback ends and the scene returns to the office where Dawson is looking at a suspect board, a board full of pictures linked with bits of string attached to each of the photos, in this scene Dawson is focusing his eyesight on a photo of the victim.
The suspect board is then used for credits e.g. the cast, characters and actors, using a pan shot then a couple of sections looking at each characters info then moving on.

In the next scene Dawson is looking in the woods for clues, although it stops there to create more enigma as to why he was there in the first place, and also to not reveal too much of the actually film, this then signals the end of the flashbacks as the next scene is shown.
This scene starts with Dawson stood outside the interrogation room, as if he had been daydreaming and had snapped out of it.

 

This scene shows Dawson entering the interrogation room and slamming the door, then throwing a portfolio file with the word "CLASSIFIED" in big red letters on the table where an unknown criminal is sat, the criminal takes a look at the contents, which are not shown to the audience.

The title of the film is then shown, by fading in on a blank black background, the title font is going to be the same font as the word classified on the front of the portfolio file.

Ideas so far

Casting:
-Lewis Hodson: Main character, detective Dawson Dunn-
A seasoned, mid-30's private detective, after being the best at what he does Detective Dawson hits the serial murder case that brings his successful career to a halt as he struggles to find the suspect of these murders.
-Ella Kirk: Victim, Samantha Scarlet-
 The last victim in the three murders, found in an alleyway with severe trauma to the head, caused by a blunt weapon, the basic idea of this is that she was brutally killed with lead piping in the middle of the night, she is shown dead on the floor in one of Dawson's flashbacks.
-Jake Jackson: Suspected criminal, name unknown-
 A suspicious man caught by Dawson as the case continues, but Dawson has no real evidence to put away this suspected serial murderer, although he is confident he has caught the right man.
These are the three main characters for our intro along with other background actors.
Jamie Kirman and Lara Tilbury: two unnamed victims-
2 other people found dead in different places which makes this case Dawson is in charge of an almost certain serial murder.
Location:
-Murdered body found scene Market Rasen Train Station/ Lincoln Train Station area.
-Interrogation scene may take place in our upstairs drama studio as the lighting can be tweaked well.
-Office scene is still being considered.

Costume: Fedora/Trilby hats, suits, trouser braces and overcoats

Murder Weapon: Lead pipe (Debatable)

Ideas:

• Flashbacks that are shown may be in short bursts, fixed camera shot (already dead victim) and sound (victim screaming) shown for a couple of seconds, as if the detective is recalling the memory.
• Considering it being a silent opening in such a way as the characters do not actually say anything, only the narrator's voice is heard, but action and facial expressions symbolize the character's voice. 
• The train station scene is most likely to be filmed at night, to use the effect of raised atmosphere and mood of a possibly dangerous environment to the actors, this also help lessen the chance of disrupted filming by people walking past.
•  For the interrogation room scene there is likely to be very poor lighting as to hide the suspects face and create enigma, this also means that a lot of the story is not revealed in the opening of the film.

Pitch and Feedback

For our pitch our group came up with two ideas for what to make our film opening on, we explained the two ideas through two separate 30 second presentations of the basic concept of each, along with the target audience and USP (Unique Selling Point) of both intros and any suggested ideas for micro elements withing the intros.

Group Pitch:

Target Audience: 

Male aged 35+ Social Class A/B.

Intros Basic Concepts:

Idea 1 -  A detective murder mystery film opening, the genre is film Noir, so we have decided to try to keep some of the old style and create the opening in black and white although the film opening is set in modern day, the opening is told in flashbacks, it basically starts from the end. This starts off with an interrogation scene of the detective, who is the main character, questioning a suspect who's face you cannot see, this adds enigma to the opening, narration is also used to explain the most part of what has happened as it fades to black, then fades back into a scene in an alleyway where a person has been murdered, our group has decided we are not going to show a dead body, but instead an idea such as a white outline of where the body was, this then follows on to the detective investigating the area, we have also decided to include atmospheric music set in the 1940-50's to create a very old fashioned mood, this then raises tension as the detective finds clues to where the murder weapon may be concealed. The props for this opening would be a suspect board, a file full of photos of the dead victim, possibly a gun which is traditional to the film Noir genre.

Idea 2 - A detective robbery film opening, this genre is also film Noir, and is set in black and white, along with old jazzy music to set the same mood as the previous idea. The basic concept of this idea is a thief breaks into a house and steals a very precious jewel, and it is up to a detective to solve the case and find the diamond, this idea is partly based of the old fashioned Mission Impossible films.
The props for this opening would be a diamond, possibly a gun although not needed.

USP:

For the two pitches the USP would hopefully to be something similar camera-wise to the film Sin City, which is a modern up to date film of the genre Film Noir, we can achieve this by using things such as mobile phones, new cars, An iPad could possibly be used for Idea 1 to convey the photos of the dead victim etc. However, in order to keep the traditional mood of Film Noir, we cannot go too far off the genre which means other things such as clothing and hairstyles, etc would have to be 1940-50's style.

Feedback:

• The Film Noir genre has a very niche audience (small) which means we have to appeal to the more modern generation as much as the older, this means making the film more modern.
• It is essential the the opening is set in a city environment, because of the area we live in (Market Rasen) we can achieve that to some levels, but at others it is going to be harder to obtain.
• We still need to re-plan a lot of our openings before we think about progressing as there is too much to fit into a 2 minute opening.

Overall, the class voted the first idea as the more opportune option.

Target Audience Interview

After analysing the data on film audiences from the UK Film Council, it is clear that there is a potentially huge market for me to target.
10% of cinema goers that enjoy Film Noir although only 1% thought it was their favourite genre.
Out of the 10% of cinema goers overall that enjoy Film Noir, 9% were male <35, 13% were male 35+, 7% were female <35, and 9% were female 35+.
It is clear that the age and gender that enjoys Film Noir the most is Male 35+. 
Out of the 1% of cinema goers overall that thought Film Noir was their favourite, 1% were male <35, 2% were male 35+, 1% were female <35, and 1% were female 35+.
It is clear that the age and gender who think Film Noir is their most favourite is Male 35+.
Social Class:
AB - 2%  C1 - 1%  C2 - <1%  DE - 1%
It is clarified that the AB class enjoys Film Noir the most.
 Our Target Audience for this genre is mainly that of males aged 35 and over based on the figures above.

Demographics:
Age - 35+
Gender - Male.
Occupation - Doctors, Lawyers, Bankers, Teachers.
Social Class: AB.

Psychographics:
Interests - Detective action and romance, and murder mystery, based off the Film Noir genre
Opinions - Has to be a film that you can aspire to, e.g. you want to be like the character, which makes you enjoy the film more. Based off of the interview.
Attitudes -High expectancies for films such as Film Noirs, well acted etc. Based off of interview.

These statistics are from the website www.the-numbers.com which gives you information on many movies of different genres.

 This is the movie The Dark Knight which although it's overall genre isn't Film Noir, it has some instances and variables of the genre within it such as low key lighting and detective style investigation, this is a good example of a successful film as it has made $1,002,891,358.

Another example is the movie Shutter Island:

This yet again only has some instances of the genre Film Noir but uses very dark environments, low key lighting and investigative moods, it is also another very successful film, making $296,831,073 overall.

Conventions of my genre: Film Noir

Film Conventions Analysis