Final Film Product

Final Piece Preperation 2

Filming schedule

Script

At the time of our filming, we did not have a set script so we had improvised through the scene fitting with what was happening in which should compromise with what the characters are going through at the time.

(Voice over)

James: Oh, oh god Anya. Born 29^thFebruary 2001, death 28^th February 2019.

 (Erin and Monroe in a room)

Erin: First Spence and James and now Anya, I might as well be next.

 (James enters the room)

James: Where’s Anya?

Monroe: I don’t know

Erin: James, what happened to your face?

James: It’s not important; we have to get out of here now. 

(Voice over)

James: Here they come. I can’t keep them for much longer. Get out, Get out. Go go go.

Title of our film

After debating in our group of suggesting and choosing which title we had thought fitted the film, we had come up with:

‘Run’

‘They’re Coming’

‘Death waits’

‘Death is Coming’

‘The Un-Dead Rush’

‘The Living Run’

These were the titles that we had liked but the three main titles that we thought was going to fit our film more was ‘Run’, ‘The Un-Dead Rush’ and ‘Dead is Coming’. However we have not made a precise decision with what symbolised the film itself after the recording and editing but we will still keep these ideas in mind.

Final Piece Preparation

Props

Due to the fact that we are creating a Zombie film, we had decided as a group that some sort of fake weapon should be used due to the fact that this would be one of the common conventions of this genre. So with this, we had picked a fake gun and a frying pan despite it may not be shown in the film.
We had picked that it would be necessary that one of the characters will be carrying around big back pack due to containing essentials for the survival of the other characters which would also fit a common convention.
We will also need tables and chairs in a scene of your film due to mapping out what a college room would look like.

Equipment

We will need lighting, depending on the scene, to either be dark or bright to contrast the certain area.
We will be using a video camera which will be provided by the college which also contains a microphone so it would be easier and clearer to pick up the characters voices but also as tripod in which will be used so the video camera does not shake when using it for our classroom scene.
We will also be using the editing equipment of the IMovie on the Apple Mac's which have been provided by the college to annotate the clips together that we prefer and to be able to add in sounds clips as well as background music to add the affects.

Location

The location we had picked was on a college grounds due to the fact that they are populated with students which contrasts with the theme of a populated area being isolated.
We had also picked a college classroom just due to the fact that it will be used as a safe place to stay away from what is after them which consists to the theme of a safety area.

Costume

We had decided as a group that it was better if we all wore dark clothing so that it would fit into the theme of an Apocalyptic world so that we are trying to keep a low profile in which we can stay away from the Zombie by blending into the dark backgrounds but also warm due to the fact that this will be the only clothing we had when were on a run.

Cast

Anya will be playing herself as a strong minded and leader like character.
Kisha will be playing as Erin who is in despair of the loss she’s had but also on the verge of giving up surviving.
Myron will be playing Monroe who's a bystander that had come across the group, trying to comfort Erin most of the time
George will be playing as James who is like the protector of the group were he will put himself forward for the others safety.
Michael and Tawanda will both be playing the Zombies.

Target Audience Research & BBFC Certification

Through studying the typical audiences for a Horror/Zombie genre, I had found out that this film was particularly aimed at those who are aged between 15 - 25. They are mostly aimed at males due to the fact that they interact with what is happening in the scene as well as stereotypically they have more of a preference like Science fiction, Action, Horror etc. Despite this, it can also be aimed at females even though they would have a different reaction to the scenario even though the stereotypical fact would be that they prefer Romance, Comedy and Family films. The second target audience can be couples that have been in a relationship for a while in which they can watch this genre together without any problems.

By looking on the BBFC website, in my opinion the 15 certificate would be the best for aiming at the age restriction. The reasons for picking this certificate were due to the strong image that can be shown in a Zombie/Horror film. One of the reasons would be the use of strong language despite that in our official film there might not be swearing to make it more appropriate. Another aspect would be the use of strong violence, despite our film not having as much violence participating we still however it still contains a fake weapon in a certain shot which may not be suitable for those younger. Lastly, the fact of the Horror works have a strong threat and menace, we would have to take this into consideration through some of the scenes in our official film.

Genre Example 1

British Film: 28 Days Later (2002)

From looking at the past conventions of a Horror/Thriller film, I had noticed that every particular convention was the same. Relation the Zombies, they go against the tradition of how Zombies are created. With this, an antigen plants a rage virus into the brain in which causes the person to have mindless, uncontrollable rage and aggression. A slightly tradition theme would be that if you were infected, it was through bodily fluids such as a bite, kiss or an infection. However an untraditional one would be that you can get infected by the host’s blood if it went into your eyes or mouth which in a matter of seconds would completely plant the virus into the brain. In this case, they are still humanly where they have a normal process system so that they can think for themselves but also their movements are normal from fast to slow due to still having a process system. The last tradition would be that to kill this Zombie is either by damaging the brain or in which they suffer from starvation where they end up dying.

From looking at this image, the Long Shot has shown where the scene/film has been set. By this, you can see Big Ben in the background which in fact indicates that the film had been set in London which in addition might be the opening of the film due to the fact that nothing has happened significantly. The character itself indicates who he is or where he has been by. You can see that he is wearing a till coloured overall shirt and trousers with white pumps. This shows that he might have come from the hospital due to either working there or was admitted there because with this type of clothing, nurses mainly wear them. By looking at his body language, you can see that he has a slight hunched back, hung arms and slight drag of his feet which could mean that he is a city person, indication the symbolism of London in the background but also a working class person. The natural lighting of the sky bring a dull, darkened light affect to the image which could interpret the sense that something had happened to the area.

By applying the conventions of ‘Stereotypes’ to this image, I think that this character would more likely be the hero throughout. The main reason for this would be that most of the time at the beginning, the camera work focuses on one particular person in which it portrays them to be the hero. Maybe not at the beginning but some when during the film, you do see aspect of the hero within that person. Also applying the convention of ‘Secluded Areas’, this fits due to the fact that most Horror/Zombie films are based in a well known areas like a city/town, however being inhabited.

By looking at this mage, an Extreme Long Shot has shown the setting is the primary focus as the character is the secondary focus. The reason for this is mainly because the director has wants the audience to understand and notice what has happened in this particular area. Being this, you can see that there are papers scattered all on the road, an inhabited motorbike against the wall and a deserted open car looking like it’s near some sort of construction. This indicates that because of these, this area had once been habited due to the vehicles, however there had most of been some sort of panic that had happened for the paper. This gives a sense that there is loneliness being messaged a cross due to just seeing the character walking around on his own feeling isolated which links with a secluded area due to roads are mainly inhabited with cars and people. Despite this image also looking irrelevant for a horror film, this could be a shot where it is opening up to the audience of what had happened before the apocalypse.

By applying the conventions of ‘Groups’ to this image, we know that there is always one person on their own or near enough at the beginning who are either understanding their surroundings due to having no relocation of what has happened for a particular reason in which they fight for survival in which in the end find a small group or a bigger group for protection or searching for the necessary requirements.

By looking at this image, you can see that the Medium long Shot has shown the character as well as a part of the scene. By this you can see that the character is in some sort of run down house. The lightening reinforces this by being a low key lighting which had gloomed the image which can relate to a Horror/Thriller Film. By also looking at the character itself, you can see that he is wearing Black clothing but also appears to be damp which I interpret that it had been raining outside. From looking at the facial expression of this person, his mouth is wide open with his head slightly tilted which might show that he is either inhaling or is shouting because he cannot find something. It also appears that he has slight mud marks on him which indicates that he has been outside but also appears that his eyes are slightly dilated which indicates the convention of being a Zombie in which contrasts with his clothing facial expression and open but hunched body language.

By applying the ‘Time of day’ to this image, despite the lighting being indoors, this could still fit for the time of day being the sun set or midnight which relates the conventions of a typical Horror/Thriller film. Adding the ‘Stereotypes’ to this image, the character which presumed to be playing a Zombie would fit into being a villain on this films circumstance to this image,  due to that he seems to be looking for people. Lastly, applying the ‘Zombie Appearance’  to this image, he slightly fits to the convention due that the man is dirty/wet, blood shot eyes with a different type of body language however making him look more dangerous than what the typical Zombies are.

Film Project Pre-Production

For our official film we are creating, it will be a Horror/Thriller. This is because we want to experiment with the typical codes and conventions that make up this genre as well as interoperating it into our own way of how we see Horror/Thriller. But during this time we must firstly think about them.

Codes & Conventions:

Lighting 

Mostly Low Key/Back/Side lighting is used to create shadows, distort either characters/scene or create an eary, suspense feeling towards the audience.

Sound

 Synchronous to exaggerate a sound (Breathing). Orchestral sound to create the atmosphere. Ambient sound to create background noise. Dialogue for the character and speech to manipulate the characters voice to interpret who that character is.

Camera work

High or low angle to create a nightmare effect. Close Up to show a characters feeling. Long Shot to set the scene of what is happening. Point of View to create a more lifelike feeling and gets the audience to question what will happen next. Tracking shot can be used to follow a particular subject.

Editing

Cuts can be used to show the different viewpoints. Cross Cut to link something in particular to another. Jump Cut to create dramatic tension.  Fast pace following the characters running.

Beginning

Before a Zombie apocalypse can happen there must be first an outbreak which consists of a Brain Parasites, Neurotoxins, Rage Virus, Nitrogenises or Nanobots.

Ending

After a Zombie apocalypse there is either a Vaccine to cure the infection, the zombie’s eat/kill each other or they die into extinction.

Time of day

Within a Horror/Thriller film, the time of day is mainly were the sun is setting or during the night.

Secluded area

A place which is well know however the location are empty with no one to help the characters (Woods, City/Town, Campsite, House in the middle of nowhere)

Stereotypes

The main stereotypes are the Hero, Victim, Villain (Depending on the film), Teenagers/Adults (Most get killed), Police Officer (Good or Bad), Threat (Zombies) etc.

Group

At the beginning of the film there is often one person fighting for survival. Then when travelling, they find a small group and stay with them (Sometimes they find a bigger group and stay with them. However not common)

Weapon

An item that can be used if there is danger (Gun, Crowbar, Bat, Knife, etc)

Transport

There is not always a means of transport but when there is it’s a Car, Coach, Motorbike, rarely a Boat, Train or something airborne.

Communication

There is mostly no way of contacting others due there is mostle power cut (Phone battery has died, Phones broken or there is no service) however there might be a way through using the radio through broadcasting if there are electricity to send the transmition.

Zombie appearance

Distorted body, Dirty Ripped/Torn clothing, Blood on them (Little/A lot), Blood shot eyes and Decaying/ Rotten clothing.

Final Preliminary and Evaluation

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WtcTY1C6Ftg

When we had finished our Preliminary task, we had given another group a sheet so they could evaluate our task. From receiving the results, we found out that they were fairly positive towards our task and how we produced it. Within this, we had found out that we had used a good example of match on action when both the characters walked through the door, shot reverse shot when one of the male character was talking to the female to then the female looking up at the male character and 180 rule when changing the camera angle parallel to each other when the shot reverse shot was being used. We had also found out that we used a variety of shot types being Track shot, Over the should shot, Medium long shot, High angle shot and a Tilt. In addition to this, we had found out that the group had understood our narrative but also the sound fits if the action. For example, the door closing shut.

From further positive notes, we had received that at the beginning when the male and female character are running down the corridor, we had used a good sense of camera work and once both the characters went into the deserted room, the dim lighting gave the scene a eary atmosphere. In addition to this, we also had some negative feedback but with this we can elaborate them into our official film piece. One of them was that the sound track was too loud and they could only just hear the audio speech so with this, we will quieten the soundtrack but also have a voice over. Another feedback was that we could have used a flashback instead of the male and female character in the room which would give the audience a better understanding of our film and what was happening for this to happen. To apply this into our official film, we will firstly think about having a flashback before we have a room scene with the male and female character in it. Overall, the camera was shaking a little to notice so next time, we will us more of the tripod to create a crisp and edgy scene.