25/11/13 - Filming (Session seven)

What we did

In today's lesson we filmed for the final part of the montage in our film 'AWAY'. On our specification, we had to introduce the idea of technology in some way and as of yet we had not done so, so we decided that sending a text to Sarah fitted in will with the montage, and provided an opportunity to explore a variety of shot types and angles. As the most of our montage was set at a table, we decided to use a more casual location to fit in with the casual act of texting, by using the Media department sofas. So Adam sat down on the sofa and began texting, we used natural lighting to create the impression that it was a natural act, and we began filming. I stood with the camera behind Adam and took a variety of shots of the texting so we could either pick the shots we liked the most or piece some of them together.

Techniques we used

We began with an over the shoulder shot of Adam texting, where we could see the act, but not the screen. This was the first instance that we had not took a shot directly from Adam's perspective (POV shot) as we wanted to introduce a variety of angles into our piece. Then I took an extreme close up of Adam's fingers actually creating the text and then I also composed another extreme close up of Sarah's name on the phone so we were aware of who he was texting. We did not use a surname, simply 'Sarah' to convey the idea that she is his 'one and only'.

Risk assessment

23/11/13 - Filming (Session Six)

Here is a prezi displaying the filming trip I went on in my local town:

THE PREZI NAME IS JOSS BROWNE, THIS IS MY DAD'S SURNAME THAT I USED AS I HAD TO CREATE ANOTHER PREZI ACCOUNT BECAUSE MY OTHER ONE WAS FULL

21/11/13 - Filming (Session five)

Displayed below is a Prezi containing a video diary of the footage we had filmed that day and a short video clip recording some of the editing we carried out using 'Final Cut Pro':

19/11/13 - Filming (Session four)

In today's lesson we did not actually produce any camera footage for the production of our film, however we did record the voice-over for our letter. Me and the rest of the group had created a letter in the previous sessions to be read out over the montage section of our film. We decided that in order to get the greatest result we would go and see if there were any willing students in the Drama department of the college, where we found our speaker - Andrew Thompson. Andrew spoke through our letter to get a feel of it, and then we took two recordings of it and we were extremely pleased with how it came out:                                 

Me and the group used a piece of technological equipment we had not yet used in Media A-Level and we found it to be extremely effective. This device was known as a 'Zoom Box Audio Recorder', it was simple, quick and captured the speakers voice very clearly. When we had finished recording, we took down the speakers name so he could be included on the credits screen, and thanked him for helping us out. We then transferred the audio clip onto the Mac and opened up 'Garage Band'. As this was a 'love letter' or was at least supposed to appear this way, we decided to add some Echo and Reverb to the speech to create an almost glorified ambient feel. Strangely enough we found that the 'Gospel Choir' vocal effect worked particularly well for our letter, although we did alter the 'Master Echo' and 'Master Verb' to get the echo of the voice exactly how we wanted it. This was also one of our first experiences using the 'Garage Band' and I found it worked excellently for what we were hoping to achieve. Although the editing we carried out on the sound was arguably simple, it was enlightening nonetheless.

Risk Assessment

Although this was not technically a filming session, it did include working with various external members and using equipment so here is a short risk assessment assessing the various things we did:

Consent of actor

14/11/13 - Filming (Session three)

What we did

Me and the rest of 'Clueless Productions' dedicated today's lesson to filming our title sequence and editing the footage we got. Initially we had gave some thought to editing our title in, but after some speculation we decided that we would use our own writing for our film title, through taking the word 'AWAY' out of our letter. Last filming session we had not had time to give our letter a conclusion, so we decided to do that in today's lesson and include the word 'AWAY'. We set up our set as accurately as we could from the previous session to avoid continuity errors, and we began to film the letter writing again. Adam, the stalker of our piece, wrote the sentence 'It's just been so difficult being AWAY', we filmed this line being wrote and we then took the camera of the tripod, and filmed an extreme close up of the word 'AWAY' on the page. As our letter was going to be read over the montage scene we had decided on doing in planning of our film, we thought we could scrap the 'dissolve' idea we had considered in the previous session and merely begin with Adam writing the first line, which we would have in the film, then cut straight to the fast forwarded montage of the various gift sending, train riding etc. This would continue until the last line of the letter was read, in which we would revert back to the filming of the letter writing itself once more, revealing the film title 'AWAY'. Unintentionally we took the camera away from the lighted area after this was filmed, revealing a completely dark screen which we realised actually looked quite effective and was something we wanted to keep. This created a sense of realism as if the camera were the eyes of our narrator, looking away from the paper, but also provided a great opportunity to edited in our team name, 'By Clueless Productions' - following the shot of our film title. We then proceeded to the editing suite in which we selected the relevant parts of the footage for usage and cut the insignificant.

What techniques we used

We again set up the back lighting and aerial shots that we had used in the previous lesson, however this time we used two different shot types. When filming the film title, we used an extreme close up, hand holding the camera as opposed to securing it onto a tripod. There was not a great variety of technique used in today's filming session as we were merely concluding the previous session, the bulk of today was dedicated to editing - in which we were merely cutting.

Risk assessment

SAME RISK ASSESSMENT AS PREVIOUS SESSION AS IT WAS THE SAME LOCATION AND EQUIPMENT

12/11/13 - Filming (Session two)

We done basic editing to the scene we had filmed on the 7th in the previous lesson, not adding any effects or transitions at this stage, merely cutting the insignificant parts of the scene. In this scene, as Izzy was still on placement, we filmed the part of the montage that we could with her absence.

What we did

In this lesson we organised and began to film the stalker (who we have decided to cast as Adam, one of our team members) to write to letter to Sarah. This letter is significant for a number of reasons, it reveals the first big suggestion that they are a couple, and there will be a recorded voice over of the letter sounding over the entire montage. We plan to involve a little background music to this film, as non-diegetic sound tends to complement montages well, and we have to introduce TIME into our film in some way, as it is on the specification. We set up a table that looked homely, using a patterned Scarf from Evie (one of our team members) and a mug from the college staff room. These props created the idea of normality that is essential in conveying the idea this is a romantic letter, not a letter of pursuit or stalking. We devised a false address in the top corner and began 'My dearest Sarah'. Our camera was set up above the letter, on a tripod, with a light shining onto the letter. We plan to use dissolves to speed up the pace of the letter writing, revealing various parts of the letter as they are spoken on the voice over.

What techniques we used

We set up a lamp behind Adam so it was fairly dim, yet blatant, looking as if he truly did have a reading lamp above the letter. The use of back lighting creates both a sense of realism, but also an ambient glow on the letter, showing the intimate pretense. Our camera was on a tripod on the table in which Adam was writing, which is an Ariel angle, appearing almost as if it is Adam looking down at his work. In editing we plan to began a voice over of the letter the moment the pen touches the paper, we also plan to reveal our film title in the montage. For instance writing one page of the letter, tearing of the page and revealing the title 'AWAY' on the page underneath, moving the paper pad out the way to reveal 'By Clueless Productions' on the table. None of the editing ideas here are concrete but we certainly intend to include our production way and film title in a clever way into our film.

Risk assessment

7/11/13 - Filming (Session one)

What we did

In today's lesson we returned from our media trip and got straight onto filming the beginning of 'AWAY'. With staff permission we accessed the Media department office and began to film. Using hand held camera we filmed Sarah in the office typing away, with us (the stalker) opposite her, using a different computer. The main aim of this scene was to capture both a shot of the ring on Sarah's finger, and to show some form of connection between the two characters, to set up the facade of a love scene. We wanted to create the idea that the stalker was on a business trip so we had Sarah hand over the papers and wish him luck. However we know that he is not on a trip, it is merely suggested through Sarah's choice of language, setting up the idea of false perception from the offset. We ended the filming this session with Sarah vacating the office.

What techniques we used

We began this scene with an Eye-level shot between our two characters, creating the illusion of equality between the two, which is to be expected of a marriage or relationship. Half of Sarah's face was covered with the computer in front of her, used as a form of Blocking, representing the idea that they are attempting to maintain a professional relationship at work. We then used a jump cut to Sarah's hand, revealing an Extreme Close Up of Sarah's ring, trying to show that Sarah could be married to our narrator, all round creating the idea of love between the two. When Sarah leaves the office, we have a short pause of the stalker watching the door, in a kind of trance, revealing his fixation with Sarah, appearing merely as the love of a partner at this stage.

Risk assessment:

Production term plan

Over the next term me and my team will be beginning the production for our film and completing the ancillary tasks for the film. Along with the various lessons we have during the school week, some out of school time and free periods will also be dedicated to the production of our film 'AWAY'. Listed below is a plan of how it shall be carried out:

Week one

5/11/13 - 10/11/13: Research and Production of film poster (taking photograph of locket, assembling various titles and images together on Adobe PhotoShop) - Individual work

7/11/13: After returning from the media and film trip we will be dedicating 3 hours solely to filming to first scene of Sarah in the office, we are hoping to use one of the staff offices.

The majority of this term will be dedicated to filming and editing, however as 'AWAY' features many scenes at home, a lot of the filming will be done outside of college. Whereas all of the editing for the film will be done in lessons and free periods. In the week beginning 11th November, we will properly begin the filming and editing procedure.

Week two

11/11/13: As one of our team members are on placement this week, we are going to begin editing the piece of filming we did in the office.

12/11/13: We will begin filming the gift and text montages, as we do not need any particular venue for these, nor do we need the team member that is absent who plays Sarah. Any time that is left will be dedicated to editing these parts - we are going to follow a film and edit routine

14/11/13: Editing of the montage that is left to edit. As there are no other scenes we can film without the team member that is absent, we will proceed with our individual film posters for this lesson only.

Week three - seven

AS MUCH OF 'AWAY' REQUIRES FILMING IN HOUSES AND PARKS, WITH CHILD ACTORS IT WILL BE IMPOSSIBLE TO FILM THE VARIOUS SCENES IN THE SCHEDULED LESSONS. HOWEVER THE FOUR WEEKS FOLLOWING 18TH NOVEMBER WILL BE DEDICATED SOLELY TO EDITING AND PERFECTING OUR FILM. 

UPDATES WILL BE MADE ON OUR BLOG THROUGHOUT THIS TERM OF THE STAGES WE ARE AT IN THE PRODUCTION.