Evaluation Question 7

When looking back on my preliminary task I believe that I have progressed massively. Working on my own, it was obviously difficult as I had near to no help with making the film apart from the actors in the film. When I was doing my preliminary task I had the help of Rory who was originally in my group before leaving the media studies course. So already the main task was a lot more challenging than the preliminary task in the sense that I had less help from others.

Primarily, in the planning section I went into much more depth for the main task than the the preliminary task. I completed lots of research prior to producing the film opening sequence which helped me know what I needed to include. I began by researching general thriller codes and conventions while also analysing existing thriller films so I knew the standards of which I would need to follow for my own film. Later on in the research process I focused on choosing my  target audience which involved looking at different audience theories and researching what type of audience likes watching thriller films. After this, I created an audience profile based on three people who said they would be interested in watching my film post production. For my pre lim task on the other hand I didn't really do much research into audiences and targeted a more mainstream audience. After collaborating initial ideas with the two other members of the group (at the time) I had a rough plan of what I wanted my film to be based on; I had a vision of a bank robbery scene to start the sequence off and from there we came up with the idea of an interrogation style film which would be shown in the opening sequence. As soon as I knew what I wanted to do I began the next part of the research phase. I looked at different scenes from thriller films that would be similar to mine for example I analysed the police escape scene from 'A Kid Called Danger' and the interrogation scene from 'Night Crawler' as these scenes were similar to what I wanted to include in my own. I also looked at representation of different conventions within thrillers, such as lighting, location and costume.

After completing all the research that was necessary for when I come to make the film, I had to begin planning the production of it. This began with me creating a story board based on the plot of my film; I found that my story board for pre lim task was very different to my main task's. For the pre lim task I just briefly explained what shot type I would use for that clip but for my main task I went into more detail and explained how I would achieve this with the use of digital technologies such as the ken burns effect on final cut pro. Similarly, for the pre lim task, when stating the non-digetic sound I would be using for each shot I just described what kind of music I would be using, for example on one occasion I found myself writing "I will use a slow-tempo song that will gradually get faster to build tension," which wasn't really that helpful when I came to editing the footage because I didn't know what song to use. Whereas for my main task I had done research prior to the filming and editing so I already knew what songs to include at certain parts. Because of this I was able to be specific in my storyboard, "Jungle by X Ambassadors" which was helpful during the editing stage as I could simply just search for the song on iTunes. I also created a production schedule so I could stay on track and avoid running out of time. For the pre lim task I didn't have a production schedule and as a result I found myself being quite rushed throughout it and almost missing the deadline because editing took quite a while. For the main task the production schedule helped me a lot as I was able to stick to it most of the time and stay on track. However, I could not film on one of the allocated filming days because of bad weather which was unwanted in the shot. Because I missed that filming day it threw me off schedule and I fell quite behind because of an unfortunate run of bad weather.

The next thing on the agenda was filming the opening sequence. This was obviously a lot more complex than the pre lim yet I still think I managed to do it a lot better. Going right back to the preliminary task video I had a problem with filming location- the classroom we used for the first half of the scene was being used and thus meaning we couldn't film in the same place for the next part. Because of this we were forced to use a different room than before which made the sequence look unprofessional and probably confused the audience. In the main task I wasn't faced with this problem and we were able to film in the same location for both filming days. I think the quality of the footage was a lot better for the main task than the pre lim task, which I think is dominantly down to the technologies used during the filming process. Firstly, I used the iPad air 2 to film all of the footage which is known to have a better camera than the iPad mini used to film the preliminary task video. Furthermore, I used a tripod to film some of the scenes in the main task video which reduced the shaking of the camera which occurred in the pre lim video where we weren't able to use a tripod. The location of the scene for the main task was a really good place for the opening scene as it was an isolated place in the country side connoting vulnerability. I was able to use Bowdon Rugby Club as my location because I work there and so the owner allowed me to use it to film. The  preliminary task location, however, wasn't very ideal for the plot because I was trying to convey a dull, mysterious atmosphere but the bright colours and child-centred displays contradicted this.

After the filming stage was complete I needed to edit my footage into a presentable format. When I went into editing the preliminary task I had pretty much no experience with Final Cut Pro X meaning I didn't know how to use some of the features of the programme. However, for the main task I had had some practice with the technologies and had done some research on some of the transitions and effects that may come in handy when I come to edit the footage. The preliminary video was very basic as I used barely any effects and transitions which was because of a lack of preparation in the storyboard, unlike for the main task of which I included specific effects like the 'Ken Burns Effect' which would allow me to zoom in on a desired character or prop. Additionally, I was able to use a filter, and a timer at the bottom of the screen, in one part of the interrogation scene to make it look like a real interrogation. When I was doing the pre lim task I think I lacked the creativity that made the main task so impressive.

On the whole I believe that, my main task was much more succsessful than the preliminary task and the main reason for this, from my point of view was because of the amount and quality of my my planning and research. Doing all that reaserch at the start of the course of this project helped a lot as it sort of created a checklist of vital codes and conventions that I would need to include in order to have a successful film.

Evaluation Question 6

What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?

I think that prior to making this film opening scene I already had some good knowledge about media technologies from my work for the preliminary task. I used Final Cut Pro X to edit the footage so I already knew the basics of how to change and manipulate media texts, however, there was still a lot that I didn't know.

When filming I used a tripod to keep the camera in a fixed position and reduce the shaking to make the shot look better. Furthermore, the tripod also made moving the camera a lot easier and smoother because when I attempted to film with my hands, the shot was unclear because my hands were shaking and the movement was not consistent and straight. For the camera itself I used an iPad air camera which I found to be very good as none of the shots were pixilated and blurred. The sound quality was also substantial, however was quiet at times, especially in the interrogation room which was detrimental to the film. Overall, the iPad was decent for this media product however I think in the future I would try and use a digital camera to get better definition, but for this project the iPad was the best I could get my hands on.

When it came to editing the footage I used Final Cut Pro X which I was very use to by this point. After testing some of the effects at the start of the course and later using the apple programme again for the preliminary task I gained some basic knowledge of how to work it. As I worked through the editing stage of making the film I picked up some skills that I could use in the future. For example I used the Ken Burns effect to zoom in on the money in the bank robbery scene which I didn't know how to do prior this project. To access the Ken Burns effect, one must click the transform box, then select 'Ken Burns' from the pop up and crop the picture down to the size you wish to zoom in to. Another thing I learnt to do on Final Cut Pro X was to change the lighting of the shot and make it darker. This was very important as I wanted to include low-key lighting which wasn't possible when filming because of the natural light.

Evaluation Question 5

How did you attract and address your audience?

During the research stage of creating my film I looked into my target audience and who I was aiming my media product at. I said from the beginning that I would aim my product at males aged 18-25. From the questionnaire and focus group the main thing I found out about my target audience is that they like the feeling of the unknown and don't like predictability. They also said that they enjoyed violence and danger in thriller films which would be another thing I needed to focus on. Lastly, when asked about what conventions of a thriller they preferred, one of the main answers was the build up of tension to a significant or revealing moment.  While making my film I would need to address the audience by meeting their preferences and demands. Including the things that they have said they like will mean they will be attracted to my film and therefore watch it.

First of all, I focused on building tension within the film as this was quite a popular demand from the audience so I thought it would be best to make this my main goal. I built tension in several ways ranging from mise en scene to sound. The low-key lighting in the interrogation room enhanced an eerie mood which built tension up to the moment where Matt's character agreed to help attempt to track down the missing criminal. Along with this I used quiet music with a rising tempo to add to the build up of tension. I believe that this will excite the audience and make them keep watching as it almost indicates that a large, dramatic moment will occur soon. The location, Bowdon Rugby Club, is completely surrounded by fields which I think was  significant because it shows that the place is isolated essentially connoting vulnerability and foreshadowing criminal activity.  This will attract the audience because they will know, from the isolation of the 'bank' that something evil will take place.

Next I aimed to create the feeling of the unknown as this would link in to building tension. I did this using a cliff hanger at the end of the first scene. Matt's character agrees to help track down the missing man who threatens the country which leaves the audience wondering what will happen next. Will the criminal and police work together to find the wanted man? Or will they fail to do so and be under threat from him? The only way to find out is to keep watching which draws them in even further so they can't stop watching. I did this also when Jonny's character was running across the field into the distance. The audience don't see him till very late on in the film so in between they are left guessing where he has gone, what he is doing and will he be seen again.

Finally, I included violence early on in the film, when Matt got hit over the head with Jonny's gun, to immediately draw in the audience. They will see it and from then on out know that there is more to come because its so early on in the film. Aggressive language is also used to further prepare the audience for the aggression and violence later on in the film. In the interrogation room, in the second half of the scene,  the police man appears to be aggressive towards the criminal showing his desperation to find the missing man. I think I further attracted the audience by having a large event occur so early on in the film to set the barrier of what is yet to come.


I believe that within my opening sequence I used the uses and gratification model because it allowed the audience to escape reality and simply relax. The dominant theme of violence and crime in the opening bank robbery scene is perhaps unrealistic in modern society and so therefore the audience can use the text as a form of escapism.

Evaluation question 4

Evaluation Question 3

Evaluation question 2

How does media products represent particular social groups?

The social class system begins with the underclass who are those people who are unemployed or completing a very small amount of paid work. The working class people are also considered to be very low class as their jobs are very underpaid and can barely afford to live on just a single income. Working class jobs include, cleaners, taxi man, Middle class people tend to have higher paid professions such as teaching and shop keeping. Finally, the upper class are a minority group who have well paid jobs and can afford most luxuries such as a nice house, car and regular holidays abroad.

Evaluation question 1

Evaluation 1 from james thompson

Finished Product- THE INTERROGATION

Editing Session 7

In this final session of editing I would focus on adding the voice-over to the interrogation scene which I filmed previously in the most recent filming session.

The first thing I did when I opened Final Cut Pro on the iMac was import the recordings which I made on my iPhone. I then had to look though all the different recordings to see which ones were the most clear and the most effective for supporting the audience's knowledge of what is happening in the scene so they understand it in the best way possible.

After I had chosen the recordings that I wanted, I had to place them in time with the clip that I was talking about for example, when I said, "This man" (referring to CJ) I placed it perfectly in time with the picture of Jonny's character. I also did this when Matt's character's profile appeared on screen, which was effective as it gives background information to the readers and won't be too repetitive. In some cases I had to shorten the recordings so they would fit on the timeline with the clips they were paired with which was not a problem as I always made sure to record for an extra few seconds before and after I began to speak to assure nothing was cut off.

Editing Session 6

After some feedback from my peers and teachers I decided to add the split screen effect into my opening scene allowing me to create a sort of character profile.

The first thing I did was take a picture of the two criminal characters. I asked both Jonny and Matt to meet with me to do a mini photo shoot so I could obtain an image of them both a sort of mug shot-like format. After I had taken the picture I uploaded them to the iMacs and added them to my timeline sequence on Final Cut Pro X. I then used the transition button to move the images to the left hand side and also stretch them so they took up half of the screen.

I then added another slide on top of the image so it appeared along side it. Just like before I had to alter the size of the slide so it was on the screen half and half with the image of the criminal. I could then add text to the slide of which I just put basic information on such as their name and current location. I think doing this was very effective as it allowed the audience to understand what was happening, without the text they may have misunderstood the scene and not known that the character in the interrogation room was actually the criminal that was arrested earlier in the narrative.

Filming Session 3

One outstanding piece of feedback that I got as a result of my opening sequence sketch was that the dialogue in the interrogation scene was not very clear and so it may be a better idea to add a voice over of me narrating the scene instead.

The first thing I needed to do was write out a script for myself so I knew what I was saying when I came to record the voice over. I used my research on voice-overs to help me think of a good monologue type script that would suit the scene and go in time with the footage. I thought it would be best to start by talking about the need to find the missing character to give background information to the audience, leading on from that I wanted to talk about the criminals as their character profiles and picture show on screen. I included the line, "No clues, no leads, no hope," twice in the voice-over which was inspired by the voice-over in the first scene of trainspotting where the line, "choose life" is used twice. I think doing this is effective because it gets a message through to the reader which in my case is that the criminal being interrogated is their last hope at finding the missing character because without him they have nothing.

I recoded the voice-over using my iPhone 5s which gets fairly good sound quality and when recording I made sure there was complete silence in the room I was in so the sound was not muffled like in the sketch product. Furthermore I chose to record me saying each line as appose to just recording the whole thing as this meant I wouldn't need to keep re-doing the whole thing if I made one mistake

Editing Session 5

In this session I focused on the film titles that would need to be shown throughout the opening scene stating who produced, distributed, filmed, edited and starred in it. In my initial sketch product it was pointed out that my titles were not at a good level as the names of the actors were just simply listed at the end of the sequence which never happens in film. I also didn't add the motion logo for my own production company or my chosen distribution company- Sony Pictures Entertainment.

Primarily I needed to add then Sony Pictures introduction logo to the start of my scene as this will immediately show who has distributed my film and generally make it look more professional. To do so I firstly needed to find the motion logo on YouTube before then copying it into www.clipconverter.com where I was able to add it to my timeline on Final Cut Pro X. I also had to think about creating and adding a motion logo for my production company- JT Pictures. Prior to this editing session I had done some research on titles and logos to inspire my own, conclusively I found that the text needed to be large and bold as well as being unique so it stands out to the audience.  I began by clicking 'Titles' then scanned through the different options occasionally trialling the occasional one I saw to see if I liked it. The main contender in the end was the 'Atmosphere' title which I decided against because I thought it was too similar to the Universal logo/title. In the end I went with 'Trailer' which I mixed the soundtrack 'inner beauty' which I found on Final Cut Pro X songs. The soundtrack worked really well with the motion logo and was in time almost perfectly in time with it.

Next I needed to add the on screen film titles which included names of the actors starring in the film, the editor and filming crew. I tried to make the titles more effective with the use of transitions to make them go along with the action occurring on screen at that moment. For example, when the two characters get out of the car I thought it would be effective if I were to use a text that mimics the character's actions. The 'Tracking' text did this perfectly as it separates and spaces out which is similar to what the two criminals do when they start to walk towards the bank.

Similarly, when Jonny's character begins to run towards the field it now says, 'Starring Jonny Bennit' I felt this was the right place to use this title because it sums up the character in one scene. In the scene it shows CJ betraying his 'partner' and running off with the money which ultimately is what he is about- he doesn't trust anyone and is a lone wolf. I made his text move sideways to mimic him running away from the police. I showed the title for Matt when he is being arrested because it also sums his character up as vulnerable.

The last thing I needed to do was add  the film title for the name of my film. I knew from the start that I wanted my title to be large, bold and ideally 3D as it would stand out more. The font I used in the end was 'Old Steel' on 3D styles because I thought it worked well with the strong theme of prison and the interrogation room.

Split screen research

The titles in the initial draft of my film were listed at the end of the film which is not very proffesional. I know this because after looking at a variety of titles in existing films I found that in almost of them the titles appear on screen one after another throughout the opening sequence. It was pointed out, by my target audience, that it may be a good idea to use a split screen to introduce some of the characters using a split screen where I use a mug shot of the criminals in one half and a description of their criminal activity in the other.

In film production, split screen is an editing technique used to divide the screen, traditionally in half, however also in multiple simultaneous images. It can be done on final cut pro by adding two peices of media at the same point on the timeline and crop both images to halfway so they are equally on the screen . I will look at some examples of media products where this technique is used so I can see if they are useful.

In this mean girls clip the four girls have a group phone call and the split screen demonstrates this really well as it shows that all the girls' actions simultaneously to the others. The audience are very clear with what is happening in the scene because the split shows which characters are talking to which. The split sceen is a good technique to use to show events occuring at the same period of time.




In this clip, the split screen has a different purpose. It juxtaposes the male and female character because it shows them both giving completely different responses to the same questions, for example, when asked, "Do you know what this is about?" the female character responded with "Duh, I'm not an idiot," whereas the boy replied with a shake of a head. The split screen establishes that they are going through the same things because they are being told the same sort of things but their opposing responses connote their different personalities.

Overall I think that I am going to use a split screen as it allows the audience to consume the text in the most appealing way to them. The uses and graftification model will be a large part of my opening scene meaning the power lies in the hands of the audience, thus the split screen effect will allow them to take more controll when watching the film as it makes it easier to understand.

Voice-over narration

After releasing my initial sketch of my opening film sequence my teacher, Miss Hitchins, advised me to get rid of the dialogue in the interrogation part of the sequence because it was quiet and muffled. I have to say I agree with this comment because I know it was difficult to hear what was being said because the room we were filming in was quite echoey meaning the sound was muflled. I would like to replace the muffled ambient sound with a voice over narration of my own. In this post I will research existing texts containing voice-overs so I can apply the knowledge to my own work.

Voice-over is a production technique where a character is narrating over the clip. This technique is done in a lot of British dramas as it creates a different perspective and can make things more easy to understand. It makes viewers think about how the story has developed and what it is like to have this different view other than seeing it visually. The purpose is to understand the story and moods better and understand the thoughts or feelings of the narrator and how important the story is.

One example of a British film that contains a voice over narration is Trainspotting which was used really effectively as it helps the audience gain an insight into the characters mind so they know how he is feeling. One of the most famous voice-over sequences is the first scene of this film, Renton- the main character- begins and ends the monologue with' "Choose life," which appears as a sort of message or lesson to the audience. This is good because the audience imediately knows what the moral or lesson of this narrative will be and so therefore it will be a lot easier for them to understand the text.

 

 

Another British drama film that has a voiceover is, 'A Clockwork Orange' which is one of the most successful British Drama films ever to be made. All of Alex's Voice-overs have an expository function. A First-person Voice-over automatically focuses attention on the presence of the speaker. Even those Voice-overs that have other functions provide basic information about setting and action. Alex's voice is essential to his character. Through the voice over he reveals his mind- what he's thinking and feeling, his perceptions and judgments about what he experiences. His creative use of slang in this speach demonstrates his wit and imagination.  

When I come to recording my own voice-over I will now know what I must include in order for it to be effective. I will need to reveal the characters thoughts and opinions about the situation to assure that the audience know how he feels towards the criminals. I also found that when speaking over the action the tone of voice is very stern and consistant which is something I will try and use to connote the seriouse expression the character has for the situation.

British Drama research- Trainspotting

Trainspotting is a British crime drama, released in 1996 on the 23rd of February in the United Kingdome. Directed by Danny Boyle, the plot is based on Irvine Welsh's novel of the same name and was one of the most successful British independents of all time making £72 million worldwide at the box office from only a £1.5 million budget.. The film follows the lives of several drug addicts in a late 1980s economically suffering area of Edinburgh and their passage through life.




The scene begins with two characters sprinting away from two men in suits who we can assume are apart of the law as the two characters appear to have just stolen some items as we can see them dropping long the pavement as the run. The fact that the opening scene to this film begins right in the middle of an action scene implies that this is a flash-forward which is really effective in films, especially British Dramas and thrillers as it provides the audience with information prior to the plot actually beginning.

The audience predominantly learn that there is an unfair class system at this time through the use of mise en scene. The two characters being chased are wearing very basic clothing that may be labelled as scruffy or rag-like by the audience. Their clothing implies they are both very low class-either working class or underclass- more likely to be underclass on the basis that they are involved with crime and stealing to earn a living.  On the other hand the men chasing them are dressed very smartly in neat suits who are clearly middle or upper class. The fact that they are chasing the lower class men further highlight the dominance of the upper class showing that they are above them in society.
 Moreover, the stereotype of poor people being involved with crime is introduced early on with the use of props of stolen items which are dropped as they run away.

Shortly after the clip begins the main character starts to speak over the clip of them running from the smartly dressed men giving the audience an impression that he is recounting the situation as if it was a regret. "Choose life," is the first thing he says in this voice over which comes across as a sort of message to the audience not to go down the wrong path as he sound regretful. He goes on to list several aspects of life that he advises the audience to chose such as "An electric tin opener" and "A big television," which are mostly items for the bourgeoisie, thus his overall message was don't end up at the bottom of the social system.

The tracking shot used during the chase is beneficial for the audience as it allows them to know who the voiceover belongs to and whom they should be following. The close up of the character's feet heighten the sensation of thinking these men  are involved with crime as it shows the high speeds they are running at to escape the people in the background.

The characters are introduced to the audience one by one with a clever technique of freeing the clip when they are in the shot and including text of their names. This is useful for the audience as it helps us to understand who each character is and essential what role they play. In the football scene the majority of the characters are met and we begin to question whether the order the friends are introduced is representational to their importance to this narrative.

Alteration to my genre

After watching my initial opening sequence, Miss Hitchins made a good point that my film had a British Drama influence and this would make for an interesting hybrid given it would offer societal insight as well as the enjoyment of  thriller for my audience. As a result of this I have decided to alter the genre of my film opening sequence and base it around a Drama with certain elements of a thriller throughout it. In order for me to do this I will need to look at a few British dramas such as Trainspotting to understand how to use key codes and conventions to represent different social groups and themes in my product. Researching these films may also help with the aesthetics of my film with inspirations of titles, fonts and narrative style.

Initial media product- The Interrogation

This is the initial sketch of my film opening sequence which I thought would be useful to post so my peers and teachers could view it and give me feedback. The main feedback that was given by Miss Hitchins was that my film din't really suit the thriller genre and was more based around a British drama instead. It was stated that my film had certain comparisons to the film 'Trainspotters' and so as a result of this I am going to look at this film and attempt to alter the opening scene so it is a British drama with elements of a thriller. I will need to look at the codes and conventions that make a film dramatic and apply them to my own film, which should't be too dificult as the two genres are very similar in terms of conventions.

Another piece of feedback I was given by my audience was that the sound quality was quite poor and so some people struggled to hear what was being said. One person said it might be worth cutting out all the speach from this clip and replacing it with a voiceover from the police officer. I actually really liked the idea of this and so I acted on it almost straight away by recording my voice at home so that I could upload it to the film.

Editing Session 4

I had already done previous research on what songs and sound effects I wanted to use in my film opening sequence. When the car is being shown at the start of the film I used the start of The Hills by The Weekend  as I liked the loud, low-pitched tune and thought that it worked really well with the clips and set the mysterious and dramatic scene for the audience. To get this clip I went on iTunes and searched for the song and bought it for £0.99. I then dragged the song onto the timeline before trimming it down so just the start of the song was there. To assure the timing was perfect I duplicated the start bit as pose to letting it to play through.

Next up was the part where Jonny and Matt's characters get out of the car and head towards the building and for this I wanted a powerful, energetic soundtrack to match their actions. I used the site www.bensound.com to research different songs and when I found the one I wanted I downloaded it onto the Mac and placed it onto the timeline. After that I trimmed it down to fit the clips that it was suited to and faded it out when I wanted it to stop playing.

When they bust through the door to the 'bank' Matt's character fires two gun shots using the fake cap gun we had as warning but I wanted the shots to be loud and appear intimidating for the audience. Because of this I added a gun shot sound effect in at this part to make it seem more realistic and intense. I found this sound effect by clicking 'Music and Sound' and typed in gunshot to see what the results were. After testing the different options out over the clip I chose the one that I thought was the most realistic and added it to the sequence.

After the two criminals leave the bank, I used a police siren sound effect to connote that the criminals were rushed as the police were not far from them. To make it more realistic I faded this sound effect in giving the illusion that they were gradually getting closer to the criminals.

Editing Session 3

Now that the sequence looks fluent and professional  with the use of transitions I felt the next thing I should add to the sequence is special effects to add to

In my film I used the zoom effect when Jonny's was running across the field to escape from the police. I wanted to show the distance that he had ran to connote his freedom and success from the heist. To do this I selected 'crop' and used the Ken Burns effect to zoom on Jonny's character. This was effective as the audience will know that he has escaped because the effect heightens the fact that he has managed to get really far away from the police.

Another effect I used in this session was the '50s TV' filter with a time code at the bottom which I used at the start of the interrogation scene because the black and white colour made it look like a genuine interrogation room. I accessed this by selecting 'effects' and chose the one I wanted and dragged it to the chosen clip. Prior to the production I had researched interrogation scenes of which had a high angle shot of the character which was in black and white so I thought it would be a good idea to use this as well because the audience would immediately be aware of the situation.

Finally I used the slow motion effect when Matt and Jonny's characters are fleeing from the building. I did this by selecting the clip then clicking 'retime' from there I was able to control how fast or slow I wanted the clip to be. For this particular clip I wanted it to be 50% slower. This was effective as it allows the audience to process the situation and think about what is happening. Often when a scene is very action-packed it can become confusing from the audience's perspective, thus slowing the pace of the clip means they will have more time to think about it.

Editing session 2

Now that all the clips were in order and it looked fairly fluent went played through I needed to think about adding some transitions after the clips so they would look more fluent and thus professional.

The first thing I wanted to do in this session was add the blank black screens in at the start in between the three shots of the cars. From the start I had a vision of different shots of the criminal's car being the first thing the audience sees. Adding blank screens after each shot builds tension and creates mystery as it also allows the audience to digest the information as it comes as well as making them wait for the revealing moment of who is in the car. To do this I simply added a black screen text page (without actually using text) for 2 seconds in between the three shots of the cars. This would also fit in well with the chosen sound I will use for this scene which I will add in at a later stage of the editing section of production.

Next I added in a slow fade transition after the clip where Jonny is running across the field. My thinking behind this was that this transition would connote a passing of time because this is the end of the bank robbery scene and the next scene essentially takes place a few months in advance. I felt that the slow fade transition perfectly connoted the passing of time because I had seen it being done in other films similar to my own. At the next scene I also used a 'fade in' transition to show the link between the two scenes and how the current scene is a product of the events that occurred in the last.

I also added a quick 'swipe' transition where at the end of one scene the clip rapidly swipes to the left and the next clip takes place straight away. This transition was used in between the clip where the criminal gets arrested by the police officer and the clip where Jonny is running across the field to escape the police. The fast-paced transition heightens the sensation of a hectic, action-packed scene.

Editing Session 1

Now that I had all the footage I needed for the opening sequence I went to the iMac at the first opportunity I had to upload to clips and begin editing. The first editing session took place on the 19th of January- the first Monday after I finished filming.

The first thing I did when I got on the iMac was open up Final Cut Pro X, which I had some experience in using when completing my preliminary task earlier in the course, then I created a new project and event before importing the footage onto the system ready for me to edit. After placing all the clips on the timeline in the correct order I then began going through them all and evaluated whether or not they were needed in the opening sequence. I did actually delete one of the clips, where Matt and Jonny's character were in the car and they ask each other if they are ready for the heist. I chose not to use this clip because I thought the sequence would look a lot better if it went straight to the part where they exit the car and make their way towards the bank.

After that I then began to crop some of the clips down by highlighting the chosen clip, playing it through up till the part where I wanted it to end and dragging it inwards from the side to make it shorter. The purpose for this was to cut out the unwanted video that was at the end of the clip which was there because I always filmed 3 seconds before and after the action started to make sure I never missed the start. After going through the entire footage and cutting down parts of the clips so they would all link on to the ones before and after, the scene looked quite good however the clips were not completely smooth running on to each other so in the next session I would need to think about adding some transitions.

Filming Day 2

We had to wait two weeks to film the next part of the scene because of continuous bad weather hindering us from filming outside of the Rugby Club. We managed to film on the 17th of January 2016 which wasn't really ideal as it delayed the other work that I needed to do as part of the film however this was the only time that we could do it. In this filming session we would need to film the first half of the opening scene where the two robbers go into the 'bank' and steal the money before making their exit.

I began by having Matt and Jonny sat in the car while I took several shots from different angles to show the isolation of this location and how there was no one really about the area indicating the place they were about to rob was an easy target. By doing this I thought it would set the scene for the audience and make them realise what is about to happen. After those several shots I thought it would be a good idea to use a long range shot of the two characters getting out of the car and heading towards the bank.

The next part of the scene involves the two characters opening the doors to the bank and entering in a quick, powerful motion. For this, I used a match on action shot showing Jonny opening the door from one side then switching to a shot from the other side of the door where they walk in and Matt shouts, "Get on the ground!" at the civilians in the bank. I chose Matt to show this line because I Jonny's character to be completely unrevealing in the sense that his appearance, voice or actions were not easily identifiable. At this point, George is introduced into the scene as the cashier staff to the bank and has the role of filling the bag with the money. When filming this part I did a close-up shot of George's hands placing the cash into the duffel bag to show the large amount of money that was being taken as part of this hiest.

When Matt's character got arrested by mine I used a megaphone to say, "This is the police, we have you surrounded..." to give the effect that it is a legitimate police microphone. After the arrest I wanted to show the audience that Jonny's character had successfully escaped the police and ran away so I used a wide angle, long range shot to show the distance he had run away from the crime scene.

I think that generally, the second filming day was successful because we managed to record all the clips we needed for the opening sequence and we also got a few good clips that could be used as bloopers which was very entertaining. I really enjoyed filming these clips as we were able to have a good laugh while doing them.

Filming Day 1

Our first filming day took place on the 9th of January 2016 where Matt, Jonny, George and myself met up at our primary location- Bowdon Rugby Club. Our plan for this day was to get the majority of the opening scene filmed so the main chunk of the project was out of the way. However, my plans were not to be as the weather hindered us from any outdoor filming. In the opening scene of my film I wanted the setting to be tranquil, silent and at peace while the two criminals awaited their positions in the car. With the heavy rainfall and strong winds the mood was much different than what I would have liked it to be. After waiting an hour to see if the bad weather would pass by we decided to submit to filming that part of the scene. I recommended that we shoot the other half of the opening sequence in this time so the trip to the Rugby Club wouldn't be a complete waste of time.

The second half of the opening sequence is the interrogation part where the police officer begins to question the criminal about the location and actions of the other criminal who is a threat to the country. For the setting for this part of the scene we used the first team changing rooms as it is a low lit, small, boxed off room with nothing in except a table of which I can place a chair on either side for the two characters to face each other and talk. Only myself and Matt were required for this part of the film so George just helped out with some camera movements.

Having researched interrogation scenes from thriller films I had a good idea about how I wanted the scene to be set out. For example I had the vision that I wanted to start the scene off with a high angle shot looking down on Matt in the interrogation room to show his sudden lack of power and authority in this situation. I used a tri-pod to hold the camera in a fixed position to minimise shaking which would make the filming look unprofessional. Next in the scene is the entrance of the police man into the interrogation room of which I wanted it to be powerful and swift to show domination over the criminal. I used Mise en Scene in this scene in the form of props, for example when I entered the room I had a cup of coffee, representing the privileges that a police officer has over a criminal who essentially gets nothing. This informs the reader of what a bad situation the criminal is in and how he ideally needs a way out.

When me and Matt have to speak to each other I thought it would be best to use the 180 degree rule so the audience don't become confused with the way that characters are positioned. I also used shot reverse shot over the shoulder of the characters to create the idea that the audience are amongst the tense action making it more thrilling for them. Both mine and Matt's body language was a key part in filming this scene. Firstly, my use of hand gestures connotes my character's determination to get the information from the criminal showing the shear importance that it holds. Next, there were several situations in the scene where Matt's body language, such as when he is significant to the plot in the way that it shows he doesn't want give the information.

Overall I think the first acting day went really well as we managed to record half of the footage I needed for my opening scene.

Production schedual- Editing

Date and Time	Editing equipment	Effects and tools	Session description	songs
19th of January 3:05-4:30pm	iMac Final cut pro Storyboard	-Ken Burns effect -Trim tool -Text	In this session I will look to organize all of the clips into one whole sequence by trimming the footage down to the correct size and deleting the unwanted parts. I will also add in blank screens between each shot of the car at the start.	The Hills by The Weekend
21th of January 3:05-5:00pm	iMac Final Cut Pro X Storyboard	-Ken Burns -Text -Filters -Dissolve and fade transitions	In this part of the editing process I will aim to add in all the transitions, effects and non-digetic sound. I want to add the song ‘Jungle to the part where the two criminals get out of the car and head toward the bank as it works well with their powerful movements.	-Jungle by X Ambassadors -Sandstorm by Darude -The One by Elena Seigman

Production schedual- Filming

Date and Time	Filming equipment	Props	Scene description	Characters and actors	Costume
9th of January 10am- 12am	IPad air 2 Tripod Storyboard	-Cup of coffee (for police officer) -Toy gun -Evidence bag	I will enter the interrogation room and begin to question Matt’s character about the missing criminal. At first he will refuse to give any information but is then persuaded by the prospect of being a free man as a result of helping the investigation.	-Matthew- Criminal 2 -James (me)- Police investigator	Matthew- Plain, bland clothing: white t-shirt and black trousers. James- Black trousers with a jacket on to appeal to the criminal by showing he is the same as him in the sense that he is wearing the same sort of clothing.
17th of January 11am-1:30am	IPad air 2 Tripod Storyboard Megaphone (to mirror the sound of a police microphone)	-Jonny’s car -Duffle bag for the money -Fake guns (spray painted black) -Fake money	The two criminals will exit the car and head toward the bank. After firing warning shots, they demand that the banker fills the bag full of money. They then flee the bank in attempt to make a quick get away from the police only Jonny then hits Matt and takes all the money for himself as he runs across the field to freedom. Matt’s character is then arrested by James.	-Jonny- Criminal 1 -Matthew- Criminal 2 -James(me)- Police officer -George- Banker	Jonny- Predominantly wearing dark, black clothing with a black mask to hide identity. Matthew- Some dark clothing is worn however some elements of his costume are brighter for example the mask which should be like a peachy colour. James- Ideally I would like the police officer to have uniform but this may be difficult as I have no access to it. Failing the uniform the officer should just wear jogging bottoms with a sporty-looking jacket. George- The banker will just be in normal clothing in this scene.