An Improved Storyboard

This is an alternative storyboard for my final project, it features all the titles and idents as well as annotated pictures of the shots which form the spine of my final piece.

Editing Update

Right hello, editing is going very well. My Poor Storyboarding is gradually becoming a visual reality. The first edited 30 seconds are complete.. 

Rain is proving to be an issue in the edit, as unfortunately despite my best efforts- rain smeared the camera lenses slightly during the shooting, therefore many of these images will need to touched up/slightly blurred- thus it is not a disaster, but just an irritant to which extra time will need to be spend in order to amend it.

Update

-Storyboard uploads coming very shortly, they are detailed and complete.

Sunday- Shooting Day

Yesterday was a success, in the fact that everything went according to plan and i gained every shot and more than i wished for. Therefore i can now go into the preliminary editing phase- very well prepared. The weather did not hinder my progress, and having watched them back nor hinder the quality of my shots. This therefore perhaps means that the footage at my disposal has the potential to become tension building cinema. I learned how hard it is to get golden cinematography in Britain on a budget, due to the fact that the predictability grim weather, and the limited equipment didn't make my task easy, though the beautiful location provided means to which the footage I have could look professional, and be enjoyed by a wide audience,

Screenplay

• Scene begins with black still with the sound of a female scream- this scream progress' as establishing shots of the location (Bamburgh beach) begin.

• The soundtrack will fade in as the surrounding shots progress- and begin to become specific to the beach and sand dunes (landscape+ shoreline shots)

• A montage of a pov shots/man walking down the beach, compiled with a hole being dug with a spade. The title's to the film will be shown in the pacey pov shots along the beach. The male character who is performing these acts will not be identified (no shots of the face) and the blur effect may be edited in- in order to add mystery to his identity.
  

• The shots then become more beach/sand specific, with the scene ending with a hand sticking out of the sand.

Location pre-filming (preliminary photography)

Location Choice

Bamburgh beach was an obvious choice once i decided that i wanted to film the opening scene in a coastal area. This is because firstly i know the location well, and enjoy being there (the same with my family, making it easier for me to get taken there, thus spending a neccessary amount of time there).

Secondly because in my opinion it is the most beautiful beach in the North-East, therefore in order to capture the beauty of a beach for dramatic effect- Bamburgh beach is the most ideal and achieveable location. The importance of location and its beauty is crucial to making my scene working to full effect, (as is the quality of the equipment at my disposal), therefore using a location which I know is visually pleasing, as well as knowing it well enough to know when it will be quiet/empty; i have myself a good scenario in which to film my beach thriller. 

Why I Chose Film4

My decision to use Film4 as the production company for the film- is because of its history of masterminding great, unique alternative films. Kill List being my analysed example of a Film4 production shows a low budget idea being carried out intelligently in order to have a profound effect on the viewer. I wish to replicate this effect within my film sequence, in order to achieve a fresh, interesting perspective. Hopefully I can still project my film at wider audience; due to the recent successes of films with Film4 involvement, such as 12 Years a Slave and The Kings Speech- (12 years a slave having thriller qualities). 

Film 4 Productions Bio

 Film4 Productions

Film4 Productions is a British film production company owned by Channel Four Television Corporation. The company has been responsible for backing a large number of films made in the United Kingdom. The company's first production was Walter, directed by Stephen Frears, which was released in 1982.

History:

• Prior to 1998, the company was identified as Channel Four Films or FilmFour International. Later, the outfit was re-branded as FilmFour, to coincide with the launch of a new Digital TV channel of the same name. The company cut its budget and staff significantly in 2002, due to mounting losses, and was re-integrated into the drama department of Channel 4.
• In 2004, Tessa Ross became head of both Film4 and Channel 4 drama. The name "Film4 Productions" was introduced in 2006 to tie in with the relaunch of the FilmFour broadcast channel as Film4.

Selected list of productions:

• 12 Years A Slave (UK and co-production distribution only with eOne UK and Channel 4, co-production with Fox Searchlight Pictures, Regency Enterprises, River Road Entertainment and Plan B Entertainment)
• 127 Hours (co-production with Pathé, Fox Searchlight Pictures, Everest Entertainment, Cloud Eight Films, Darlow Smithson Productions and Warner Bros. Pictures)
• 24 Hour Party People (co-production with United Artists, UK Film Council, Revolution Films and Baby Cow Productions)
• Attack the Block (co-production with Big Talk Pictures, StudioCanal and UK Film Council)
• Fever Pitch
• Four Lions (co-production with Warp Films, Wild Bunch and Optimum Releasing)
• Four Weddings and a Funeral (co-production with PolyGram Filmed Entertainment and Working Title Films)
• How to Lose Friends & Alienate People
• Kill List (co-production with UK Film Council, Warp X, Screen Yorkshire and Rook Films)
• Never Let Me Go (co-production with DNA Films and Fox Searchlight Pictures)
• Nowhere Boy (co-production with UK Film Council, Ecosse Films and The Weinstein Company)

Kill list + No Country for old men analysis

As a fan of director Ben Wheatley, and an even bigger fan of the Coen Brothers; both of their recent successful thrillers were quickly something I wanted to analyse. The long tense surrounding shots used in No Country For Old Men, and the unique ideas which the low budget scenario produced for Kill List with tense results, are aspects which fascinate me, and inspire ideas for my film.

No Country For Old Men Opening

Kill List Trailer

No Country For Old Men

A prestigious ident gives the opening the ability to appeal to wide audience; whilst still being very adventurous; this is a technique which i may look to replicate.

A simple white font contrast with the black background, simply does not grab the viewers attention as the film makers would rather they remained patiently tense.

Dawn in Texas is a very beautiful but yet meaningful shot(s) as it signals the start of another day for the Sheriff of a state of outlaws. This double meaning meaning in stunning cinematography is something i could only hope to replicate- as it demonstrates high level work to the examiners, and also adds a fresh dimension to my work.

This incredible landscape shot confirms the films western thriller genre, due to the undeniable combination of beauty and the large chilling shadows. The use of light in this is very important and building tension, therefore the murderer lurking around in my film opening could become a dark figure in a shadowy background in order to chill the viewer in the same way as this film is doing- showing the inspiration the use of light in this film has given me.

The two shots of this structure demonstrates it's lone standing in the mountainous desert; this serenity is darkened by the grim monologue of the sheriff- who is discussing the savagery of criminals. The singular sound of the dialogue therefore creates tension as it infers to the viewer that this location cannot be trusted. Once again the advantages of lone dialogue is shown- as it receives the viewers full tension,molding their viewpoint, this is something which i will look to do in my opening.

The use of light for perception is used to full effect here as the figure all in black is in handcuffs, and could well be one of the savage criminals which the Sheriff was discussing- thus the antagonist

The prop of the gas canister is used well to create confusion for the viewer who naturally becomes undecided to whether it is a weapon, or simply miscellaneous. The use of an unusual prop could be something which I incorporate into my work as it provides the confusion and tension towards the viewer to which I am looking to achieve.

The final beautiful shots shows the singular road out of the rural area, inferring the danger of isolation when murderous criminals are about. I could certainly achieve this chilling inference in my work, by using an empty beach.

Kill List

Kill List being my analysed example of a Film4 production shows a low budget idea being carried out intelligently in order to have a profound effect on the viewer, this is something which Film4 has achieved achieved time and time gain with low budget films. I wish to replicate this effect within my film sequence, in order to achieve a fresh, interesting perspective.

The animation of the wicca/witch symbol is an usual and original aspect to place in the opening sequence of a film. It demonstrates the eerie horror/thriller genre, whilst showing how despite a low budget- the film makers can produce something positively unlike anything else out there on the film market, demonstrating what i can still achieve with my low budget.

Audience and Representation in a 'Beach Thriller'

Audience

• As the genre of my film is Murder Mystery/thriller, my film is aimed at quite a wide variety of people. However I would say that my film is aimed at people over the age of 15, as patience and concentration will be required in order to appreciate the tension in which i will try to portray.
• The film opening should equally connect will both genders as there is no representation of gender obvious within the entire scene. This is roughly the same for social classes, religion, ethnicity etc.

Example:

• Inception is a perfect example of the wide audience in which my film's opening is to be aimed to. The 1st minute of the scene shows no indication of representation and merely focuses on the incredible location, and the viewers confusion surrounding the scenario. This hopefully will be the same for my 3 minute scene.

The use of representation in my final project

• The majority of the opening scene will based upon the beauty and tension created by the vast beach, sand dunes, and castle. I want to portray it all as intimidating and potentially creepy in order to show how even innocuous locations can have deadly secrets, it therefore shows a fresh approach to the connotations of a beach.

Ideas for a 'Beach Thriller'

• Genre: Murder-Mystery/Thriller
• Location: Bamburgh Beach, Northumberland

Scenario/Rough Plot:

Vast and drawn out surrounding shots showing the beautiful coastal scenery. Hopefully the camera will pick up the sounds of waves crashing, if not sound effects can be added.
I'm debating whether to have a monologue running through the majority of the scene- it can be atmospheric, though an imposing soundtrack may be more suited as it builds tension and atmosphere, whilst fulfilling other tasks such as giving inference about the plot. The final shot will be an outstretched hand sticking out of the sand, confirming the murder. I haven't decided the prelude to this as of yet, perhaps something being dragged across the beach, or footprints being mysteriously followed, or even a grave being dug in the sand. 

Update

Hello. the next few days I will upload the opening sequence analysis to the films Kill List and No Country for Old Men; which will complete my research for my final project. After this I will begin to fill the blog with all the preparation and the pre-production which i have been roughly developing over the holidays. This includes:

• Research into the film institution i will be using as the pre film production advert (Film 4)
• The audience in which i will be aiming my final project at.
• The use of representation in my final project (reasons)
• The scenario for my film
• The script
• Sketches
• Storyboards
• Location scouting/choice

The Departed Opening Sequence Analysis

The Departed (2006) is a big budget, big line-up film which was quickly tipped for greatness. 4 academy awards and greatly positive reviews confirm is place as one of the elite films of the 2000s. A whopping 18.36 minute introduction makes thorough analysis rather time consuming- therefore I will pick out many of the key shots of the sequence- and analyse them in chronological order.

The reason i have chosen to analyse The Departed is because of effective background music used, and the classy camerawork. I am looking for insight into how this was achieved, and how i can replicate it in my opening.

The first shot is the introductory Warner Bros logo animation/C.G.I. This prestigious institution has produced many iconic films over the decades (such as: all of the Harry Potter series), therefore this demonstrates to the viewer- the high quality production and pedigree of the film which they are about to watch. This links to what I have discussed in previous posts about the importance of a prestigious ident enabling the film opening to be more adventurous when aiming at a wider audience.

A basic still title is the last before the film starts. The basic bold font combined with the dull but clinical black and white colour scheme connotes the serious nature of the film- almost documentary style. Very simple vintage effect to achieve- if i wished to do so.






Silence as still simplistic still (same font+ colour scheme arrangement) appears stating coldly and factually the location of the film or merely the films opening. 

Complete silence as Jack Nicholson's character Frank Costello gives his first monologue of the film. "I don't wanna be a product of my environment. I want my environment to be a product of me..."
This stylish quote combined with a sequence of shots showing old footage of commotion in Boston, shows that firstly the film could in some stages in set in an old stylised period, furthermore it makes the viewer concentrate knowing that this key contextual information could be crucial to the structure of the film (this technique is something which i might consider including in my final piece, as it builds context as well as atmosphere, although very hard to achieve without a very distinct story) .The main shot during Costellos monologue is a shadowy silhouette of Costello walking down an open warehouse. The concealing of his face connotes his dark importance within the film, thus keeping his face hidden early on in the film will help the viewer grow suspicious of the characters' motives. A similar effect to what is used in The Usual Suspects, with the antagonist's identity being concealed, this is something which i would consider applying to my antagonist, as it creates the obvious mystery needed within successful thrillers. Gimme Shelter by the Rolling Stones begins playing- enhancing the stylized opening further; whilst building atmosphere. As discussed in previous posts, finding a soundtrack which not only builds atmosphere, but helps to give the piece another layer, is something which i hope to achieve, as the music would subtly effecting the viewer whilst they enjoy it or are entertained by it.



The last part of the opening scene shows the first meeting and the chronological progression of Colin Sullivan under the guidance of Frank Costello. This zoom long shot shows an aged setting of a cafe at its prime time of the day. Gimme Shelter reaches its powerful first verse just after Franks monologue ends. The song very much encapsulates American city life, connecting the viewer with the period being portrayed (linking again to the importance of music with an extra dimension).

As the zoom shot developed into a p.o.v shot, this action match between Frank and the Cafe Owner clarifies his role as a criminal and likely mafia member. This stylish shot indicates the motives and drive behind the operation, and on a more macro level shows how money is a motivation to make bad choices. This wonderful cinematography can hopefully be replicated in my piece as it interested a wider audience through its style and meaning- such shots are rare, and can only hope to achieve a close up as visually pleasing.

The music disappears as Frank Costellos identity becomes visible, demonstrating the imprtance of this. His repeated words of wisdom to young Colin Sullivan appear to mould him. 

This ideal is clarified by the two physical progression shots (shown to the right). Showing a focus and cold drive in the eyes remaining- despite the empathic age increase. Though it being hard to achieve in this case, a specific emotional trait running through each character may be a technique to consider for my final project, as it is powerful- and presents high level attention-to -detail, to the examiner.

A James bond style focus circle is used to highlight Sullivan on his day at the police office. This specialised effect creates the impression (like bond) of mistrust and infiltration, if this kind of effect could be considered effective for my style of opening sequence- I may consider using it.

 This shot reverse shot introduces Staff Sgt. Sean Dignam (Mark Wahlberg), and Capt. Oliver Charles Queenan (Martin Sheen). In this interviewing scene Sullivan stands and Costigan sits- possibly suggesting the scale of authority which Dignam and Queenan feel they have over the two new recruits. This simple shot can easily be replicated in my work, if that is the type of film which i hope to create.

This shot introduces Alec Baldwin character cynically showing the mafia leader Costello behind him, as he briefs the new recruits. The dirtyness of Costello in contrast to the room of designer suits demonstrates the traditional differences between the law and criminals.This representation is clear, and the cinematography which enables this is powerful; specific details like this help create beautifully crafted films, and therefore this attention to detail must occur within my work.





The last two images of the opening whilst 'shipping out to boston' belts out show the contrast of lives between Costigan (an honest man) and Sullivan (crooked from his early years). This injustice plays on the viewers minds throughout the film, adjusting viewpoints on situations. This direct life comparison would difficult to achieve in a 3 minute opening, however it has a unique effect on the viewer through the clever but powerful injustice. A unique take on the life and the past like that would be an interesting idea for something to include within my opening.

The title 'The Departed' finishes the opening off, the plain font once again creates a documentary style impression.