FILMING: EXTRA CAMERA EQUPIMENT

This is a Fish Eye/Wide angle lens we used in some scenes. We attatched the lens to the end of the camera and it creates a convex image of what it's aimed at. This allows us to go in closer to certain things with the camera but fir more in the shot. Below is an example of how a Fish Eye can manipulate an image.

This is a Flycam/Steadycam. We used this to make a smooth shot whilst walking around a main character, it is used instead of filming a simple hand held shot where the camera would be shaky. It absorbs these shakes and gives the impression that a dolly cam is being used.

FILMING: SETTING UP THE SCENE/MISE ON SCENE

This is a time lapse video edited on Pinnacle Studio. It shows how Aaron has set up

 the Garage hostage scene and gives more of a depth into how the props come to life.

FILMING: SPECIAL EFFECTS: SPECIAL LIGHTING

We wanted to emphasise Callums prescence and avoid attention being drawn to the rest of the surroundings. To do this we used a lamp which we placed between Callums legs which lit him up from underneath. This underlighting is unusual; creating an eerie, threatening effect that emphasises his vulnerability . We used an energy saving bulb which isnt as bright as a normal lightbulb, this adds to the setting and makes it more effective. The colour however is quite ambient which contrasts to the scenario, this makes it seem more gripping and suggests the gangster is comfortable and Callum is not, creating a juxtaposition.

FILMING: SPECIAL EFFECTS: MAKE-UP

This is the make-up kit we used to make Callum look like he had gone through a rough beating by the Gangsters. We creaated bruises and cuts by using dark colours such as purple, dark blue and brown to blend it all in. We also used a black eyeliner pen and a red lip pencil to create more cut like features. To apply the make up to the face we used a cotton pad which absorbed the colours well and it made it relatively easy to apply the make-up to Callums face.


 
 
 
 


This is a sequence picture of Callum once the make-up had been applied. As you can see he looks slightly rougher and more beaten than he would in person outside of filming so we think the simple colours and application of make-up is effective for the scene. It also complies with the connotations of a character being held hostage and it makes him seem more vulnerable as a character.

FILMING: SPECIAL EFFECTS: SMOKE

These are images of the incense cones we used to create the smoke effect. We created the smoke to make the room look darker and more dingy and it also added to the texture of the mise en scene with added mystery. To make the smoke we had to set the cone alight and let it burn before it started to smoulder and create thicker smoke. We placed three across the table to try and make it fill as much of the screen as possible.

FILMING: SETTING UP ON LOCATION

Below are pictures of the whole settings we have filmed in and based our scenes around.

Aaron's Bedroom - Used as Callum's bedroom in the production.

Aaron's Garage - Used as the setting for the hostage scene



Aaron's Garage - A close up of the garage used for the hostage scene.
Here you can see the scenario more clearly



                           

PLANNING: RISK ASSESSMENT TABLE

Media A2 Risk Assessment Table: Higher

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PLANNING: ANAMATIC

This is the anamatic for our production Higher. We drew the shots out onto storyboard paper and then scanned them into the computer before putting them together in a video on Pinnacle Studio.

PLANNING: SHOTLIST

1)Bird's eye shot of teenager tied to chair
2)Medium close up of teenager's side profile
3)Overhead shot of teenager sat at desk
4)Close up of teenager writing
5)Long shot of teenager sat at desk with back turned to the camera
6)Side profile of teenager
7)Medium-long shot of teenager swivelling on chair to right
8)Close up of phone vibrating, teenager reaches for phone
9)Over the shoulder shot of teenager looking at the phone
10)Medium close up of teenager speaking on phone
11)Jump cuts of teenager putting coat on
12)Medium close up of teenager speaking on phone
13)Elliptical fade to long shot of teenager walking towards friends
14)Over the shoulder shot of teenager's friend pointing to market stall
15)Medium close up of teenager sat in chair
16)Medium shot of teenager being pushed towards the stall
17)Medium shot of teenager sat in chair
18)Shot of car driving towards camera
19)Medium long shot of teenager stealing clothing
20)Over the shoulder shot of two gangsters in car pointing
21)Shot of teenager looking at car
22)Shot of gangster leaving car
23)Shot of teenager beginning to run
24)Shot of Gangster running across street
25)Tracking shot of teenager and gangster in alleyway
26)ground level shot of second gangster coming and pinning teenager to ground
27)Ground level shot of car approaching gangster and teenager
28)over the shoulder shot of gangster waljing towards teenager putting glove on
29)ground level shot of teenager being dragged into car
30)Medium over the shoulder shot of teenager getting ready in mirror
31)Shot of teenager strapped to chair smoke billowing
32)Two shot of teenager and gangster sat at table
33)Shot of teenager looking at phone

PLANNING: POSTER ANALYSIS

Inception Film Poster Analysis

For A2 media studies I have been studying and analysing the film poster used to advertise Inception, the Hollywood produced wide-release film which was directed and created by Christopher Nolan.

The poster depicts a male character standing in the turmoil of an ever increasingly flooding city, surveying his surroundings as he remains stationary. This is illustrated by the ground being covered completely in deep knee high water and the presence of dark rain clouds, which dominate the skyline. The water that runs along the ground of the unnamed ground appears to be flowing erratically, something which creates a sense of impeding danger and peril for the inhabitants of city, and the character that is situated in the midst of apparent turmoil. The character in question is that of male, and appears to be well groomed, brandishing a formal suit. This creates an impression of authority and professionalism on behalf of the character for the audience and hints upon the characteristics he possesses. The fact he is wearing a suit in conjunction with a well groomed, slicked back hairstyle suggests that he is a wealthy receives a large economical income due to the fact it is stereotypically associated with young American Businessmen, or ‘Yuppies’. The man appears to holding a gun in his right hand. This image connotes a sense of power on behalf of the character to the audience, and potential danger that could be created due to the presence of this weapon. This weapon could also create an impression of unpredictability as to the nature of the character and the motives he has, this is further emphasised by the manner in which he is surveying his surroundings. The presence of this prop also brings to question the nature of the character, and the cause that he is fighting for, it is possible that this character could be a protagonist fighting for good causes or an anti-hero with a volatile personality, that is not necessarily fighting for the most possible cause. It is also notable that the face of the character is not shown in the image. This further enhances and supports the feeling of anonymity towards the character and the motives he possesses. The fact that he is facing away from the camera also suggests that he is possibly ashamed of an event or action that he takes during the film something which creates a sense of mystery.

It is also notable that the character is captured in a mid shot, on a wide camera lens, which enables the onlooker to see his surroundings and the grand scale of the events occurring around the character. The character is captured in a mid shot to create a feeling of intimacy between the onlooker and the character, and also a sense of empathy for the viewer, as it enables the audience to see the surroundings from the perspective of the main character. The shot is also takes from the perspective of a low angle shot, which creates the image from below the character, and the vast skyscrapers which surrounds the character. This also creates a sense of scale and danger for the audience, and also reinforces the authority of the character which is created.


In addition it is noticeable that the poster takes a dim lighting, using low key, low contrast lighting, which creates a possible sense of misery and depression, something which has been created by the flooding.

PLANNING TASKS UPDATE

You should have a full shot list and script + shooting itinerary by now you need to state who is providing the props and where/why/how they're being used including a risk assessment, you cannot be running around with replica guns and baseball bats in public. You should also have institutional information on who would produce your film & why and your own subsidiary studio logo design by now.
Read my comment on your Audience Research and amend.

PLANNING: AUDIENCE RESEARCH

Whilst deciding our target audience we took into account the storyline, character type and props used. I would instantly put our film under a 18+ certificate because of the content it will include down from the dialogue to the props in scenes. For example, props such as drugs and weapons will be present. These are more suited to an adult audience because they are the most suitable audience in terms of understanding the effects of them in film and are at an age (18+) where these are not likely to have an impact on them. For example, a young child say the age of 12 may feel frightened if he sees everyday stereotypical characters with weapons and he may be harmed by being exposed to drug and crime cultures.

An adult audience is also more suited in terms of understanding the plot and being able to link certain things in the plot together as they are more mature. Research also shows which demographic group of people are most likely to watch our films and we found middle-working class to be the most popular, although there is some interest from higher class regions. This helps use to decide how and where to promote our film in advertising stages.


Research into crime thrillers on the internet also shows that people more interested in watching these types of films are usually males around the age range of 18-30. This then inspired us to do our own research including classmates, school friends, work colleagues who are within that age bracket and the large majority agreed that they would watch our film.

In terms of advertising and further promoting our film, we can target places where people of this age range are more likely to be. For example, 18-30 year olds are likely to go out at night and take part in social activities such as going out for meals and visiting shopping centres. This means we could use such things as billboards, phone boxes and bus stops to advertise our film in the form of posters. Our trailer could also be shown in cinemas before films of suitable genres.

The columns on the graph represent the total number of responses and the two colours divide the age range. The split between the white and blue section allow us to target a more specific which age range by showing us the majority of people interested. As the majority is below 30 years of age, we can market our film in places such as universities and in clubs on posters. The results support general research into the crime thriller genre as the graph shows a distinctive difference in the numbers of people who would like to watch our production. Although this study was on a relatively small scale the results give us reassurance of our audience and who is likely to watch our production. This will then allow us to plan our marketing and
advertising more carefully and we can be more specific in the way we do so.