Update

So we've finished our editing. We've had a few problems on after effects, and I've had a few error messages where an hours work has been deleted. Fortunately, it didn't affect us too much and we now have a final product. There are still quite a few things that could be improved and done better, but overall I think we've done quite well for our first short film. My next post will probably be our thriller...so enjoy.

Analysing past thrillers

We analysed some previous films in class and what we thought there strengths and weaknesses were. Just to be a little different to the people in my class, I've analysed some different ones as well. Don't want to be seen as mainstream!

This thriller is well made especially with all the camera shots- I especially love the shot where they stand on the dandelion. I also love the way they've edited it to be a flash back - how they ended with the same thing they've started with. They've also used great editing at the beginning when the guy gets shot and the gunshots later on. The music matched with it creates great tension. The clothes and scenery give a clear incite to the characters. Included a mystery code that leaves the audience wondering what's next.

This gave me the idea that at that end of our thiller we could do a flashback of all the events..backwards and speed up that could then lead to before the event and a back story of Iyra?

There's not many negatives I can say about the clip really, except there's no titling even though it's an opening. 

Firstly the positives: there's a great range of camera shots and I like the quick cuts. They shows it's not just a normal household but something more disturbing is happening. Use of titles is good, simple and the same font.

The white writing at the beginning doesn't really stand out and is hard to see against the white on the house. The plot is not exciting and kind of boring. Dolls aren't that scary, I can see that it's meant to represent a person but it just doesn't intrigue me. The music in this clip also doesn't match what's happening.

Good use of music and discordant sounds - very conventional. I love how the quick cuts match the sound. Variety of shots used. Good use of editing through ghosting effect and quick flashes.

I feel like the colour in the first part, even though filmed in the dark, is too bright. Orange is more of a happy colour- could be darkened/contrast added to seem more sinister. First shot is a bit wonky..I don't know if this is on purpose.

So this is one of my favourite past thrillers. It has some beautiful shots and I like how they've made it blurry to show unsettlement. I'm hoping to use this in our thriller to show Iyra hallucinating. I would also like to try the delayed narrative like echo. I love how they've used focus pulls to direct the audiences attention.

To be honest I don't think I'd change anything about this opening, I'd maybe make the titling a bit bigger.

Use of the heartbeat when she wakes up is effective. Its mise en scene is very clear and sensitive to a delicate topic.  Hoping to takes some influences from this; however I imagined it a bit differently. Good use of editing when showing her 'inner self'. Also a nice range of camera shots.

I feel as though her manicured hands are a little out of place in the first shot where she's laid on the ground. The sound changes when she's walking down the stairs, sounds more muffled. A couple of shot could be a little bit steadier, however, I do like so unsteady shots.

Filming

Sorry for the late post. Over the week off me and the girls booked the camera to go out filming..well Thursday. We had booked it for the day before but it was raining so we didn't film.

Here's a pick of our location(Locko Plantation)..sorry I can't take a serious photo.

#Rae's pro contouring skills. We tried to make Hyleana(Iyra) look pale by using baby powder but it didn't work that well -would have been better with face paint.

While we were filming the camera just happily died on us, so we had to got back to charge it and back again. Soo lucky!

Fortunately, we did film it all in one day. Well I hope so because i don't want to go back to film more.

Poster

don't know how to embed a canva so here's a link to my poster for Deaden hikes

https://www.canva.com/design/DABqWHm2i_c/view

......nevermind i screenshot it

Screenplay

DEADEN HIKES SCREEN PLAY

Characters:

Iyra- Pale skin, looks homeless, run down make up, bags under her eyes, back comb bits of hair, quite timid, has rips in her clothes.

Runner- Hair up, wearing a hoodie, trainers, looks sporty, outgoing personality, helpful.

1.  Wide Establishing shot that is sped up. Put the camera on the tripod or bench, and leave it there whilst the sun comes up to show that time has progressed and it’s still morning. There will be the diegetic sound in the background of the shot.

2.   The shot turns into a pan, where the runner will run swiftly past, so she disturbs the scene and there is no longer peacefulness. The Go-Pro camera could be used so the audience will be able to see where the runner is going. The sound will be a quiet heartbeat of the runner.

3.  Low shot of the runner’s shoes when they’re running, so you can see them traveling across the grass. The sound will be the footsteps in the grass and the rustle of the leaves.

4.  Quick cuts of hands tied together in rope. Movement of hands slightly, showing she’s not 100% comfortable and she wants to escape. Iyra is already in the woods.

5.  Next is a shot with the Go-Pro, showing the runner’s movement and what they can see in front of them. You can hear heavy breathing to show that it’s actually from her point of view.

6.  A close up of the runners footprint will be shown. The camera will focus on the footprint after the runner has ran in the mud, and a title will appear in the mud after it’s been stepped in. You will be able to hear the squelch of the mud.

7.  The camera will be set up on a tripod from a distance, then it will pan across, looking at the runner go across the screen. The runner has a paranoid look on her face, then looks behind.

8.  There is a cross cut to Iyra sat down on her own at the tree, she is looking confused and keeps talking to herself. After the video has been shot, there will be voices added into the scene when editing, so you can hear the voices in her head.

9.  The camera will go to a close up of Iyra’s face, where you will see her facial expression as being slightly frightened, the viewer will be able to tell this because  she will be fidgeting around (trying to escape the ropes)

10. Place the camera on the grass/ground between the leaves and the long grass, so you can see the runner. The camera is from Iyra’s point of view as she’s got closer (the runner). The vision is slightly blurred.

11. There will be two camera shots, one of Iyra and the other one of the runner. The screen will be split into 2 and we will see the runner getting closer to Iyra. This will show their two perspectives.

12. Super imposed images put together, use the shot of the trees spinning. Distort the images by adding sharp white tones to the pictures. There will be high pitch sounds added to this scene.

13. Iyra has now got changed and is wearing the clothes of the runner. This suggests that she will get away with living a normal life, and not getting caught or told off for escaping the mental asylum.

14. The main title will then come on at the end, to make the end of the opening.

Barthes narrative codes

targeting the audience example

easel.ly