Monday, 10 October 2011

10/10/11 - Second set of shots

We decided to try and film various other clips that could be added to our trailer, but we encountered many problems. Upon arriving at our destination, we discovered that one group member had forgotten to charge the camera's battery. This meant that we could not film any video clips with a professional camera, and so because we felt like we should still try and film something, we used my phone, (HTC Wildfire) which has a resolution of 5M (2592 x 1952). We used my phone to film video clips that we could use for testing certain parts of the trailer. The first clip was the only one filmed on the video camera. Shannon, the girl wearing the scarf is another actress that will feature in our trailer. Kate had to stand in for our other actress, as at this particular stage of filming we have not chosen who will play her role.

We tried to film our actors walking down the length of the field for a few seconds, to allow the audience to establish where they are. When filming our final clips for the trailer, we would probably only film them walking for 20-25 seconds. This clip would develop the trailer, as it shows the moment when the two friends of Lily find her abandoned phone in the field, leading them to question her whereabouts. It will probably contain no dialogue that the audience can hear.

We decided that a clip of the phone just before the kidnapper rang the two friends would add to the feeling of suspense. We thought that the number appearing as 'unknown' would also add to the tension we hope to create, as it becomes clear the caller is not an aquaintance. When we actually film this clip, we will use the camera's ability to zoom into a steady shot, allowing us to get a clear image of the phone's screen.

Filming them finding the phone was also another idea we had, as we felt that it would explain the situation, and why they have found the phone. When filming the final shot of this, we will most likely keep the same length, but use the camera's features like zoom, and the tripod, to create a clear image. We may also film it in a way that allows the audience to see their faces and reactions, as well as giving them more instructions during filming. For example, we could ask them to stand in such a way that one of them is not hidden by the other.

A five second clip of one of the friends picking up the phone, is another idea that we could. Instead of the previous clip, this could be used as a replacement. It also allows the audience to understand how the friends came to find the phone. Furthermore, we could film it using a close up of the phone, and then her reaction, to allow a clearer image.

A close up of one of the friends on the phone is also a shot that we thought would be useful, as it would allow the audience to see their reaction to finding the phone. When filming it, the clip would obviously not be rotated the wrong way, as the tripod would ensure it would be steady and standing upright.

Despite trying to film anything that would help with our research, we did encounter many problems. For example:
  • The camera not being fully charged meant that we could not film clips with professional equipment. Furthermore, it meant actually filming caused many problems, as the phone's camera did not produce the best clips.
  • A dog that was owned by one of my partners kept finding its way into the shot, which is something that we will have to prevent in the future.
  • One of our actresses was not decided upon, which meant that we could not film too many shots.
  • Due to the windy weather, the actresses in the clips had trouble acting without it interfering. For example, it caused problems with their hair, as their faces could rarely be seen.
The next time we film, we will take into account the issues we had with filming, and address them so that we may overcome them.

This is the beginning of our trailer, which we have edited so that it looks like the filming takes place at night:



The clips have had a dark tint applied to them so that it appears to be night, but when we re-shoot, we will try and film when it is a little darker, as you can still clearly see the shadows made by the sunlight hitting the trees. As a result of adding the blue/grey tint, the shots began to look blurry, which is an issue we will need to address. Another issue we will need to address is that the person walking behind 'Lily' is clearly a woman, and so we will need to use someone else that looks more manly (e.g. a parent), or bulk up the clothing. We will need to also discuss the clothing of both 'Chelsea' and 'Shannon', who are the two girls we see walking in the clip. Different coloured clothing will help us understand the difference in their personalities. For example, the girl who becomes obsessed with finding Lily could be wearing white or bright colours, while the other girl who is not affected by Lily's disappearance as much could be seen wearing plain colours, like dark green with blue jeans.

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