Film feedback

Final Film

Here is the final film:

The finished soundtrack.

I have just finished making the soundtrack for the film. I have used a mixture of MIDI instruments and real instruments, I have also used samples of the wind  and a lion roaring. As seen in the screenshot there are 3 parts to the soundtrack: the opening credits, the chase and the aftermath. The purple is a real instrument track, guitars in this case. The green is a software instrument and the orange is a sample. I also changed some of the original films sound as there were people talking or cars passing and it was very destructive of the atmosphere.

Finished editing.

Yesterday I made the final edit of the film. The titles need to have the font changed but aside from that, the film is in a position that I am happy with. We have cut most of the bathroom scene from the end, ending with the protagonist discovering his wound. We were going to have more reaction and more panicking but the shots didn't seem to flow together and we decided it would be better not to have it then to feel uncertain about it. Another thing that differs from the original idea is the leaping over the barrier in the chase, we were going to have this but on the first attempt I caught my foot on the barrier as I leapt over, hurting myself quite a bit. Instead we have me simply run around the barrier, I don't think too much is lost without the "stunt", apart from the feeling that vampires are more quick and agile.

Opening credits music.

Today I have been working on the music for the opening credits, I have been using a midi keyboard and garageband. I want to have it quite calm at the first then have it turn distorted and aggressive as the credits continue. I have tried to make it sound quite creepy. All I have so far is the piano but I hope to progress and finish it next week so I can start on the soundtrack for the whole film.

Survey for the logo

I have made three logos for the film company, which we are going to call Lunar Films. Each one has its good points but we feel that number one is the least good. We are stuck on our choice of two or three so we are going to make a survey. We will post the survey which Lewis has made soon.

Possible logo design 3

Possible logo design 2

Possible logo design 1

Evolution of the Lionsgate production logo - Jake

Here is the original Lionsgate films logo. Lionsgate used this logo in the late 90's, it is reasonably simple with a constellation lion, which links to the star sign of leo, which is well known as being a symbol of masculinity. 

This was the updated version of the late 90's logo. I happen to not like these logos as they seem too cluttered and there is too much going on for the short amount of time it has been on.

This is the newer logo that came into use in 2004 up until 2005. I think this logo is okay, it reminds me of a science fiction type film, due to the slight blue/green glow and the size of the metallic initials.

This and the logo below are my favorite of the  logos that lionsgate have created. It's used in the horror films they make, as it is red much like blood. The font is bold and simple, which is a welcomed change from the cluttered layout of the late 90's design. The framing of the logo having Lionsgate in the centre, makes the viewer see it instantly, this is good because in the short time this information is on the screen, the audience has instant recognition of the logo.

This logo is almost identical to the last logo, only this is used for films that aren't horrors. Due to the white showing purity instead of the red showing violence and horror.

Opinions on the first shooting video - Jake

I think it's edited well to say we did it roughly in an hour. Of course, I think we are going to reshoot most, if not all, of the shots because of the massive contrast in the snow from the start to finish of the small clip. The video is just a template of what it could look like so the sound isn't that important. I think we broke the 30 degree rule a few times. We had a few jump cuts as well, which we were sort of going for, but it looks a bit rough so we might have to think of something else. We are thinking about changing the street to another on the other side of the alleyway which is quieter, so easier and quicker to shoot on. The light changed throughout, we're not sure if it's the exposure or the light was dimmed as it was cloudy that day. We also need to get new, better teeth as the teeth we used were incredibly annoying and were insistent on falling out all the time. The timing of the shots is pretty bad, and the sound will be edited with foley etc. at a later date.

First shoot

 

This is the product of Saturdays shoot. We will both make individual posts on our opinions.

Saturday Shooting - Jake

We decided that a weekend shoot would be best as we could have ample time to record all the shots we needed. Unfortunately we didn't factor in the weather aspect of the day. It turned out, as the day progressed, the snow increased until it was paramount to the film. I like the aspects the snow brought, but it was too erratic and so it meant, through a forty second section, the set went from a boring alleyway to a snowy wonderland. We may edit and upload the clips we recorded, but it is highly likely that we will reshoot on a different occasion.

Planning for filming - Jake

We hope to film the initial filming over the weekend of the 4th and 5th of February. We chose this so we can have two days to get the necessary shots and so we can get the shots early so if any mistakes occur, we can reshoot in time. I have gotten a white shirt for the lead actor, who can do the dates, and will make more fake blood closer to the day. I will also have to remember how to replicate the bite, we have decided to take away the hoodie from the costume of the victim, to make the wound/shirt more visible.

Reccee for the alleyway - Jake

Here are some photos I took for the area we will use for the night time shots, it's got quite good lighting but we hope to record in early evening, so hopefully we won't be relying on the light too much, as we don't want it to be too dark to see.

Script - Jake

INT - Alleyway

The camera focuses on the bed, Matt is tossing and turning. Cut to a close up of Matt.

Cut to Matt walking away from camera down alleyway, he looks around, close up of scared face, continues to walk. Continue to walk

Cut back to bed, Matt starting to mutter to self.

Cut to feet moving fast. Turn around again, eyes wide with fear, POV down the alleyway, turn and walk towards the camera. Shot down alleyway again, a shrouded man walks around the corner.

Cut back to bed, Matt begins mumbling loudly to self

Cut to Matt walking towards camera, with vampire behind him. POV of vampire, Matt runs. Close up of Matts feet running past the camera and then the vampires. Medium shot of Matt weaving through barriers. Vampire jumps over barriers behind Matt.

Back to the bed, and Matt is now talking to himself

          Matt: Stop! Get away!

Cut back to see vampire grabbing Matt. Vampire holds Matt, ready to bite. Focus on Vampire teeth.

Scene 1 - Awakening.

Matt wakes up with a scream. He sits their for a few seconds, thinking to self. He then clutches at his arm in pain. He looks at the window, feeling as if the sun is hurting him. He stands and walks over to the curtains. He pulls them open, inquiring as to whats happening and screams in pain. He manages to get them closed in spasms of pain. 

         Matt: What the hell...

Matt catches a glimpse of himself in the mirror and runs over. Feels dried blood and hurries to bathroom to wash it off. He closes the door behind him to reveal blood on the handle. Matt turns off the tap and blood gushes down the drain, He gets his toothbrush and adds toothpaste. He notices in the mirror his teeth and drops his toothbrush. He touches his teeth cautiously and confused. He turns and leaves the bathroom quickly exclaiming

             Matt: I'm so hungry.

Opinions on the Pitch - Jake

I think the pitch went quite well. We got across most, if not all, of our ideas for the story and our research and hopeful certificate. We should've planned out who speaks when and added some images onto the presentation to make it a bit more interesting, but overall, it went okay.

Make up testing - Jake

Here, on the left, is Matt, the actor, in his normal clothes. On the right is him in a costume with the blood and paled face.


Making the fake blood using syrup, flour, red food dye and water. It was a good consistency but could have used more red food dye. However, it came out a lot redder than it looks in the bo



                        Below is the bitten neck. I achieved this look by, essentially making another  
                        layer of skin with dough. I then put the fake blood in the wound and let it drip
                        down, I also added some fake blood over the shirt around the collar of the                                     shirt. However the blood in the wound looked too thin so I dripped in some red food dye
and it really enforced the wound.
                                

Film outline - Both

Storyboard - Jake