Final Draft of The Movie Opening Sequence

This is the final opening sequence for our coursework. It is a thriller film called Missing. We had to make a few changes after we got more people to watch it for us. They gave us feedback and we edited it before exporting it again.

First Draft Movie

This is the first draft of the final product for our coursework. We changed the volume of the title because it was too overpowering. We also changed the order of the title sequence because it wasn't in the right order.

Similarities and Differences in Studio Logos

These are a few of the similarities and differences we came up with when working on studio logos. There were many more sheets, however we didn't get round to looking at them because other people had them.

Written Evaluation

1.       In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?

When we started planning for this project, we had already decided we were going to stick to the conventions of a horror film. We included an antagonist but it challenges the conventions because the antagonist isn’t who he audience think he is. We didn’t incorporate a hero or heroine because we felt like it didn’t fit the plot but if we had to say then the detective in our film would be the hero because he finds out what happened. We used some of the typical horror movie stereotypes with the girl going out to meet someone she hadn’t met before. This didn’t challenge any of the conventions of a horror film.

As well as this, we challenged the conventions of a horror movie because we didn’t use a white Caucasian male for the Detective, instead we used an Asian male as the Detective.

2. How does your media product represent particular social groups?

Our media product represents particular social groups in the style of ethnic groups. We included an Asian Detective who is older than all of the other actors/actresses in the product. We also included a teenage antagonist who is (insert ethnicity here).

This is unconventional in horror movies because typically there isn’t an Asian detective in horror movies or any thrillers/crime films. The class of each of the characters is unknown to us but we can assume that they are all of a similar class which again is unconventional in horror movies because the main character, in our case the victim, is usually of a high social class.

Another aspect of typical horror films that we avoided was the location. The teenagers were in school and usually in a horror film they are on a break from school or the characters don’t actually go to any type of school.

3.  What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why?

We believe that a studio like Hammer Films might distribute our product because it distributes many horror movies that have audiences similar to ours. After editing all of the footage, we think that this film would be a big budget venture because the plot is that of a typical horror movie which is what audiences these days stick to. It’s likely that if it wasn’t a typical horror movie plot then it wouldn’t generate as much profit as many people would be rather sceptical about going to see a film with a different plot. Most audiences like to predict what is going to happen in the film which is what we tried to aim for in some ways. However, we did try to venture from that aspect of horror films so that it wasn’t as predictable as most horror movies now-a-days.

4.  Who would be the audience for your media product?

This film doesn’t have any explicit scenes or language in it so it wouldn’t be categorised as an 18. We are certain that is isn’t a U, PG, 12 or 12A because we feel that children of that age wouldn’t watch horror films and wouldn’t like to watch our movie because it is a horror film. Most horror films are based around teenagers so the suitable certificate rating for this would be a 15. We think this because we used teenagers as the main actors/actresses and many teenagers today watch horror films that are like this or films of an 18 certificate rating.

5.  How did you attract/address your audience?

We would attract our audience to our film because of the story line and the characters that we included in it. The title would attract our audience because it holds a mystery that the audience will want to solve. We believe that most teenagers are the same when it comes to horror films because they all like to predict what is going to happen in the end of the film. By leaving a cliff-hanger on the end of our film and having the title as ‘MISSING’ this allows the audience to use their imaginations to find out what will happen next.

The best option for attracting our target audience in terms of marketing is by social media. If we promote our product on social media then we are more likely to get a bigger audience than if we reached out to them using billboards or adverts on the TV. Another way we believe would be a great way to attract our audiences attention is by having a premier of the film in a big city like London. Most teenagers these days are interested in going to premiers especially if their friends are interested in going or their favourite actor/actress will be there or stars in the film.

6.  What have you learnt about technologies from the process of contrasting this product?

One half of our group learnt how to use the camera for close-ups and long shots. They we aware of how to use the camera before hand but working on this project has taught them more about how to use the Sony HD Cameras. They also figured out how to import footage from the SD card of the camera onto the Mac computers. Each of us has learnt more about how to use Adobe Premiere including all of the transitions and effects and music put into the film. Previously we were somewhat aware of how to use Premiere but this product taught us in detail about how to use the software. Before this product, we didn’t know how to use the BlogSpot for blogging however, after all the research we had to do and planning for this, we learnt lots about how to use the site for what we needed to do.

7. Looking back at your Preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to the full product?

Even with the preliminary task, we struggled to work as a group. This time we struggled even more because one member of our group left us halfway through leaving us to struggle to get the work completed in time. By the time that person left, we hadn’t filmed any footage yet, although we had all of our research completed. After they left, we changed much of the product up; we used the storyboard as a basis for our film and we changed the script still incorporating some of the original script from before. We still struggled a bit with just the two of us in the group because we had times where one of us were off so we couldn’t film or we didn’t know what we were doing. However, by the end we had worked everything out and managed to get the product done and finished on time.

In terms of operating the camera, only one of us needed to learn how to use it for this project. We both still learnt how to operate the camera to incorporate different angles and shots. However, one of us learnt more from the preliminary task to this product. With the filming sequences and the different rules, we didn’t break any of the rules when it came to filming and the filming sequence was fairly good by the end of all the filming we had to do.

We applied all of this knowledge to this final product by filming and re-filming different scenes to make sure we had all of the shots we needed and to make sure we didn’t break the 180-degree rule. As for the camera, we both made sure that we each got a chance to film and direct the cast so that we could apply whatever knowledge we had to the film. We both helped each other in terms of what angles and shots we had to use.

We believe that we have learnt lots from the preliminary task to this major production, be that how to work in a team and how to operate the camera.

Storyboard

This is our original storyboard. We used this as a basis for our final production. however, we didn't refer to it as much because we changed parts of the plot. 

Final Script

( We didn't think the first script was good enough so we decided that it would be best to re-do the script and this is what we cane up with).

New script.

Starts in the forest on a Friday night and it’s dark and creepy

Girl is screaming and running away from something. She is panting heavily and running as fast as she can. Someone is running after her. *Use of shaky chase cam and long shots * whilst she is running she suddenly has Flash back cut to school scene. *Use editing technique to convey it’s a flash back such as cloudy filter to indicate the past

Flash back takes place in one of the school wings talking to her best friend lily about how she is meeting up with this guy tonight for a date but lily comes across as sceptical.

*Camera is angled so you can see lily, Emily and ex in the same scene   

Emily: I can’t wait to meet him tonight

Lily: Emily don’t you think you’re moving on a little fast after your last breakup with Ryan? I mean I guess that doesn’t matter but have you actually met this guy before?  

Emily: No lily, but he seems really nice and I’ve been talking to him for a while now. You can’t stop me, anyways I promised him I’ll meet so I’m going either way.

Lily: At least tell me where you are meeting him, call me if you need to tonight ok?

Emily: Ok, and near the bit of woods where me and you used to hang out.

Behind them is the girl’s obsessive ex. He overhears the conversation and scrunches his face in anger.  (Close up of his eyes and then cut to a close up of his fist clenching. He is wearing a distinct ring)

END OF FLASHBACK

Still outside we see her stop and hide behind a tree, she is panting heavily and then everything goes quiet. Just as she is about to turn around we see a hand cover her mouth and she screams. Her phone drops on the floor and the camera slowly pans down to the phone on the ground as screaming and struggling is heard off cam. Camera zooms in to her phone to see the time and date (when editing: add in title sequence with some creepy background music). Time stamp: Friday 5th Jan 9:36pm

The next scene is then a flash forward to the next school day (MONDAY) at the school. There are a group of teenagers quietly discussing something in the corner of the canteen.

Lily: I haven’t seen her since Friday afternoon when I dropped her off at home I told her not to go out and meet this random guy, god I hope she's fine.

Josh: Has anyone heard from her since then?

Ryan: No. She should learn to turn on her phone. (Creepily) I’m sure she’s fine. She's ran away from home before so it’s probably nothing to worry about.

Josh: I don't know Ryan I got a bad feeling about this... Why else would the principle ask us to wait in the canteen?

They all look at each other, confused and concerned.

(Detective Atkinson walks through the canteen up towards the teenagers in the corner)

Atkinson: Hello, I’m Detective Atkinson, I’m working on a new case. I've been informed by the principle that you all knew Emily quite well. I need to speak to you all in private so please can you follow me.

(They all follow the detective to the room together)

Atkinson: Ok its important you tell me where Emily could have been last located, her mental state and anything else that you may think is important

*Over shoulder shot of detective whilst with other 3 in view

*Extreme close up on Ryan’s eyes as they look down (shot lasting around 2 seconds)

Josh: No clue, last time I saw her was at school.

Ryan: Last time I spoke to her she seemed relatively okay, although this is probably just one of her stupid running away phases again. She has a habit of running away from her problems...

Lily: She was meeting some guy from what she told me, I told her it was a stupid idea considering it was her first time meeting him.

Atkinson: Where was she meeting him? We need to go back there.

Lily: She said she was meeting him near a small patch of woods. We used to hang out there a lot so I know where it is.

Atkinson: It’s imperative we go to her last known location as soon as possible.

I'll have my two best personal detectives go with you as soon as possible. I need to stay here and fill in the paperwork and I'll talk to the principle about allowing you a day off...

Screen goes black.

Production Schedule

Production Schedule.

Script writing:  Written. Evidence on blog. Completed: 02.02.16

Storyboard: Completed on 15.12.15. Evidence on blog.

Location planning: Location found 22.01.16. Alex went scouting for locations.
Filming: started 2.02.16. Filming completed: 16.02.16. Editing started: 5.02.16.
Editing finished: 19.02.16.

Finding of actors/actresses:

Lily: Lorna

Josh: Jamie

Ryan: Alex

Detective Devonshire: Mr Judge
Emily: Paige

Draft Script.

Script – screenplay

Starts in the forest on a Friday night and it’s dark and creepy

Girl is screaming and running away from something. She is panting heavily and running as fast as she can. Someone is running after her.

Still outside we see her stop and she is panting heavily and then everything goes quiet. Just as she is about to turn around we see a hand cover her mouth and she screams.  (when editing: add in title sequence with some creepy background music).

The next scene is then at the school. There are a group of teenagers quietly discussing something in the corner of the canteen.

Lily: I haven’t seen her since Friday afternoon when I dropped her off at home. She mentioned something about going on a date with some guy.

 Josh: Has anyone heard from her since then?

Ryan: No, she seemed a bit conflicted when I last saw her; like something was definitely wrong, she just didn’t want to tell me.

Josh: When was this?

Ryan: Friday afternoon.

They all look at each other, confused about what is happening and their thoughts.

(Detective Atkinson and some officers walk through the canteen up towards the teenagers in the corner)

Atkinson: Hello, I’m Detective Atkinson, I’m working on a new case. I need to speak to you all separately so please can you follow me.

(They follow the detective to the room and they each wait outside for their turn to be questioned)

Josh: I haven’t seen her since Friday morning.

Ryan:  She seemed conflicted.

Lily: She was meeting some guy.

Atkinson: hmmm (in deep thought)

Skips back to the beginning scene.