Original script - Blackout

The filming starts with the camera focused on bathroom door, the actor opens the door and turns the light off. – Medium shot.
Actors walks down the stairs and walks into the lounge - High angle shot
Actor has a laptop in front of him, the remote next to him; he turns the television off mute and listens to some music. – Long shot.
Camera is now focused primarily on the window, after 5 seconds something or someone runs past outside; the actor doesn’t notice anything though. – Wide angle shot.
Actor hears a knock at the door; he puts the music on pause, then puts the laptop down and walks out of the room towards the door. – Long + wide shot.
Actor walks across the hallway and opens the first door. – Panning shot.
Actor holds the camera himself turns the door handle and opens the door and steps outside, but no one is around. – Point Of View
Dialogue – “Hello, anyone there”.
Camera is focused on the kitchen door; then the actor is shown walks side to side across the camera going one way, then going back the other. Suddenly the kitchen door slams inside; when this happens the screen blacks out. – Mid shot.
Screen is back to normal again with the camera focusing purely on the actors face, showing emotions of fear. – Extreme close up.
Actor opens the kitchen door and looks both ways. – High angle shot.
Actor heads out of the kitchen, closing the door behind him, and walks into the living room. – Long shot.
The camera is now an over the shoulder shot; actor notices the changing channels, occurring by themselves. – Over the shoulder shot.
Dialogue – “What is happening?”
Now extremely frantic he races out of the room and heads for the door to get out the house. – Panning shot.
As the actor is about the head outside he hears the ladder sliding down from the upstairs loft. He stops, slowly pushes the door to then the screen blacks out again. – Medium shot.
Screen turns normal again, the camera is being handheld by actor, slowly and now extremely scared he creeps up the second flight of stairs, he walks closer to the ladder and looks up at it. – Point Of View.
Dialogue – “Oh my god, what the hell is going on?”
Actor slowly climbs up the ladder, as he gets closer to the top his legs get taken away from him, the actor screams, then the screen blacks out , heavy breathing occurs. – Low angle shot.

Final Task Group Introduction

Chat conversation end

Introduction to Main Task

For our main task I have to use our knowledge from our preliminary task and create a 2 minute film in groups of around three and four people. I will be taking a variety of different camera shots e.g close up, low angle shot, panning shot and once we have finished the filming we will be able to edit and include various sound effects to improve our film. Each person will be allocated a job e.g one actor, one camera man, one editor and one director. Whilst filming we must take into account mise en scene e.g CLAMPS - costumes, lighting, actors etc. Also we will be taking into account editing, sound and camera angles. An evaluation, storyboard as well as photos of the location, script and an analysis of sound,editing,camera angles and mise en scene will be completed. I must use previous knowledge of some of the best thriller films of all time and use them to create a tense and dramatic opening to a thriller. My role in this film is the actor so I must perfect facial expressions, costumes, actions to make the film dramatic etc. I will also be typing up the script. Our aim as a group is to create a tense opening to a thriller that would engage an audience if it were being shown in a cinema but not to make it climatic as it is only an opening to a thriller, not the final stages.

Preliminary task - Evaluation

What went well?

The photos we took in the lesson were good, we managed to get the mastershot to show the scenery, then two panning shots so the camera is moving with the person. Also the music fits in well with the filming. Finally I think the film as a whole was good, and we included some decent shots.

What could be improved?

To improve we could have used out time more effectively so we could spend more time editing the music and the images that we had taken. Also we could have a few seconds longer time period after each film to edit.

What we learnt from the experience ?

We learnt all about the 180 degree rule, we also learnt how to use the tripod when filming the panning shot. Also as an individual I learnt about the 180 degree rule and how to edit the music in with the rest of the film.

What my strengths were?

My strengths were helping out with the editing and being part of the creation of the dialogue. I gave ideas as to what shots to use and what music to give and tried to contribute as much as possible to the camera work.

What my weaknesses were?

My weaknesses were in the music editing where I was not 100% sure on what music to choose and what went well with our shots, also I feel i could have contributed a little more to the storyboard when it came down to the writing and drawing.

How the group worked as a whole?

Overall as a group we worked very well and each gave equal contributions towards the filming, storyboard and editing. We all gave ideas and worked responsibly as a group.

Preliminary Task Photos