Where have I been all your life + Spider

 

Stimulus based ideas process

 

(Post 5) Production diary 1

 Brainstormed ideas....

Creates the question of why is the character in the forest in the first place.

•Insects in the mouth and eyes

•Branches in the face and tearing at clothes

•Tripping over roots and rocks

•Feet crunching on dirt, snapping twigs

•His/her own gasping breath in the silence

•Sounds of creatures pursuing Howling of wolves in the distance

•Owls hooting in the night

Title: Through the trees

Opening scene:

Drone shot of long walk way path with my main character walking to the woods/forest.

The title of the film will come across the screen with credits while my character is walking along this path. 

Camera then flows down to be in front of the character while they stop to then walk into the woods, Through a hole in the bush line. Match on action on the other side of the trees of walking through from the other side. Cinematic of the walking through the trees, different cuts to show pass of time and moving to new locations within the trees.(20secs)

 Then stop to show what's behind my character...(5-10secs) a figure standing there in all black or in a tree like costume (person). character is there and turns doesn't see anything but the audience does and adds to the fear.  

The main character carries on walking then stops by at the stream to see what's going on stop for a moment and has a moment of silence and use sound of nature to show the vast loneliness being experienced. 

Next shot will then be from within the stream or other side of stream and we will see the figure walk across the back of the screen. (very quick be like a shadow 5-7 secs)

Close up of the side of my main characters face slowly moves in from a distance and then start to hear twigs etc being broken as if someone is walking but no one can be seen.  

Gasping of air in the new silence.

The having to move branches out of the way to be able to walk. Cutting with the hand to snap new twigs to then later be replicated by the person who is following. See the person following the person completing the same action.

Something then falls from the tree (jump scare) don't want the typical face or person.rotten wood find something that has enough weight to it for it to fall and make a sound at impact.

Roots grab the leg get wrapped up then fulls to the floor we see the feet of character moving up behind (person on floor on hands and knees) doesn't see it coming and screen then goes blank and main character now lays with bugs blood etc coming from the eyes. 

Starts to feel the face feels blood scared fast pace poverties show running out with heavy breathing, to the point of leaving the forest in a scare. 

(Post 4) What I want to do and why

 In my film I would like to explore the idea of making something captivating for the audience to watch. Pushing peoples creativity with suspense before they can work out where the storyline may go, hitting them with a stunningly well executed short horror film. The idea of horror may be hard to convey across to the audience I am not necessarily there to scare the audience but its to captivate them with moments of suspense and short moment of shock and freight. 

I am looking to follow a circular narrative using Tzvetan Todorovs narrative theory of the following of three part structure equilibrium. Where we have a balance, progress then a disruption of the norm of a equilibrium then meets a resolution when the equilibrium is restored.

Setting: Forest

The reason I like idea of using a forest is because it can be described as thick, humid, or dense. It could also be described as barren or desolate during the winter, or eerie and terrifying at night time. A forest that has been in a fire could be described as austere or sad, while a healthy forest could be described as alive, and astir with life. There is multiple readings and this can then mean a lead into one another from idea of escapism to then idea of horror.

A forest also gives a playground of sounds, meaning you can create easy diegetic and non diegetic sounds. Birds could be up with canopy's of trees making noise to the Russel and bustle of leaf's as someone walks or animals run. This can create sense of airiness or the sound of silent in a vast area leading to a sense of loneliness. 

                                                              Lighting:

Lighting – an aspect of cinematography lighting is to be low key as it is a horror and I will be looking for dark tones and shadows. I will be relying on the little amount of light that gets through the trees and near by surrounding to have to suspense and horror tones. This technique in horrors is called "the chairscuro" (bright-dark) Brightness will represent safeness for my characters but darkness is the idea of the dragged out of loneliness and suspense of something of a horror nature is occurring.  

                                                                            Props:

My film is going to be very minimalistic with the use of props, I don't believe they will be too necessary. There will be scenes where I will need a couple for example at the opening possibly a phone and headphones. Then later on some props to use for the creative side bugs etc for when my horror ideas come across. Otherwise I am relying on the acting and the shots I decide to take to add most to the film. Part of the reason I'm not using too many props is because I don't want it too look too overdone. I would like it to represent most of real life only up until the horror elements of my film are ready to begin. 

                                     Costume:

The element of real life, this is going to be conveyed with the costume use. I am having the film set in the present day therefore clothes can be the modern day jeans and tops although I need to have the character to be wearing suitable clothes for the idea of going out for a walk in this area. Then my villain of the character (tree monster) the idea of this character I think from a distance can be in dark clothes all black etc but when we have closer shots have idea of there being twigs and branches attached to this costume. (this is only a possibility)

Sound- My film is going to consist of no speech the reason for this is I am focusing on the other elements of sound to add suspense to the film. I feel like the music for the title will give great hint of to come. Then when we have an opening scene of music from headphones this non diegetic over played music will be upbeat to show the idea the main character isn't worried about anything at the moment. Then I can overlay wind, animals and birds to represent sound you may hear with in this setting. Adding element of be scared and later on the sense of being followed.

 CHARACTER EXPRESSION my film isn't going to experience dialogue so I will rely on my close up shots of my characters expressions. This could be shown with the beginning of happiness and while we explore the rest of the film we see the fear shock.This could also be shown with my character movement (when scared be frozen still move slower) or when flight or fright kicks in running with the expression close ups. 

Cinematography: 

In my film I am looking to use as many learned techniques of editing and the use of my cuts and transitions. You can see some of my practiced work from some previous posts. Going into this film I have looked to explore new techniques and perform the ones I know best to the way I know I can excuse them. I will use a wide range of shots from long, medium, short. With different timed cuts. 

I will add in some match on action (when my character enters the woods) invisible cuts will be good possibly when my character walks towards the camera then camera end up flipping and we see the character from behind. When my character is walking I will use a montage of new locations to show the passing of time in quickest way possible. this also could use a jump cut during this montage so to say if its a long path and is a majority I would like to show.I am looking to explore the use of j/l cuts so you can anticipate what is next but also adds to the mood and realism of possibly seeing or hearing before anything happens. 

(Post 3) Why are there short films?

  A short film is a cheap way for a up and coming film maker to determine if they should move on to feature films or this short production to see what aspects of being a film maker need to be improved on. 

Film can be learnt and produced so easily these days with the chance of picking up you mobile phone and producing something using what is just in front of you. This is why its so inexpensive its a learning technique with low risk as it can be filmed within the streets of towns and cities with little or no budget, with the help of friends family or drama students who want to be in a great film for a chance to be recognised. Producing short films to be posted online to see if you are to be a next upcoming film maker. Youtube is at our finger tips and for short film makers this is a chance to become popular and known by producing something that can get you recognised without having the money and resources like this big named companies. Short films are a necessity to keeping the entire film industry healthy. They fulfill two undeniable roles. Firstly, they allow up and coming talent the chance to get noticed and refine their style. Secondly, they also help to encourage creativity and innovation that includes new ways of telling stories.

The type of people to watch these films are young minded film makers who want to seek creativity and have a chance to while watching others produce some great work on budgets like theirs. It is easy assess on youtube but there is also film lovers who like to support these small films by joining pay per view sites. This is where film makers get paid to show their films it helps these film makers make some money and also a large chance for them to get more noticed as if they are to post on youtube it can get lost within the thousands of posts a day. However when film is compacted down to a place that only shows these style of films there's a chance to be spotted and compared to show how good they are. 

(Post 2) Research into existing student made short films

 

The pill is an A level student peice of work, which follows the life of. British citizen who has to take a pill everyday to wipe the memory. The film opens with the shot out of the window, the camera the slowly moves back creating a medium shot so we can see more of the surrounding as we begin to see within the room. We are soon introduced to the main character with a seamless transition of a pan to the end of the bed then tracks along to see the female character wake up in the morning. We see that she is wearing her pjs this then helps later as we see her change into her red top assuming its ready to go to college. 

This shot uses the natural light coming from these open curtains it also allows us to realise the time of the morning by the type of light we can see. Therefore it helps us experience the morning routine with the character. We then see the morning routine with short snippets of each action this is to show the passing of time and as well as the fact we don't need to experience each part as we understand what happens when you brush your teeth and do make up in the morning. This then makes an easy way for time to pass but in film sense speeds it up so we don't have they unnecessary aspects. 

When the girl goes downstairs and walks into the kitchen we have now got some non diegetic sound as the girl now begins to voice over the narrative of the film, talking about living life on repeat. It makes us as an audience relate as it talks about the daily routine we all endure of getting up, eating, going off to work or school, home, dinner then sleep and do it all again the next day. 

The camera sticks to the girls height we are always seeing above her shoulders, I believe this is so we are going through this scenario with her on the day she decides to not take this "pill" it is a great prop as we see the pill and its simple but effective having her be passed the pill by a male character who we can not see the face of as we are following the girls height even while she sits in this scene. However when she leaves the house we start to see peoples faces but these faces we see are of young females of her age of have decided not to take the pill and who are starting to struggle and sadly looks like they are dying, this creates a rush for her and Time speeds up she moves faster as the fear sets in as she realises what is happening. The great way of the time and movement passing is multiple different locations she finds these girls and multiple different shots in different locations how's she is moving around and isn't all filmed in one spot. The use of the fake blood running down the face coming out of the nose and down the face. This makes us as the audience think are they being killed by someone because they didn't take the pill or is there the side affects of not taking it which leads to death.  Then we do experiences what we thought would happen as the only bit of dialogue came from one girl who was struggling and said to a main character "they are coming for you" we then experience this when she gets home as the door viscously gets knocked on. Great use of the non diegetic sound as we can't see the action but we can hear and experience it. 

The opening 30 seconds of this short film is portraying a mother who doesn't care about her daughter as she is too caught up on the phone and laptop with her glass of wine. The wine could be in place to show the idea of drinking to relax and relive stress as it seems to be what she is doing. This elements then also take away the fact partly this may be why she doesn't want to do anything with her daughter as this will stop her from having her drink. This is a sad realism experienced with children being neglected as parents are too busy of feel like there worth is more then the time spent with there children. This story allows us to experience a Childs perspective while running away from home. Something many children have thought of doing while living away in the woods in a den taking the rucksack with your most valuable. This is what we see in the film and we see the little toys and things that bring her the happiness. 

Tegwen writes a not and sticks on the door for her mother to read.The only way the mother knows something has happened is because she heard the door slam when Tegwan left. when the mother walks towards the door we see an outstanding hidden transition as the mother walks to the camera then camera flips and sees her from behind as she walks down the hallway. When the mother looks at the letter we have non diegetic sound of the little girl talking what she has left on the letter for her mother. For us this may seem a little upsetting as a little girl talking about why she ran away makes us real think does the mother not care. 

Tegwan then is gone and we come and see her walking with her bike and the bike could be a key prop. This shows there is a higher chance she has travelled much further then if sh would have walked and done in a much faster time meaning it could be even harder to find her as she is out of the area much faster than anticipated. It also show to us as audience she really wanted to leave and it couldn't be done quick enough but she finally has happened for her. 

We then have this close up of her face which shows the relief she has as she now feels like she has freedom but you could also read into this show as a possibility that she is now scared and has to take this deep breathe to relax herself and stop the worrying to then push herself to move forward and keep doing what she is.  We then get multiple shots of her running through the forest all from different angles. We see her run into the distance see her run towards us through the thick leaves and through the woods she goes. 

She then runs up to her haven in the forest a little stick den with blankets and cushions with fairy lights wrapped through the den. Conveying the idea of home and comfort and peace of mind for relaxation going forward she begins to get her teddies out so she doesn't feel alone and this is her friend and it gives her someone to experience this whole event could also be for the audience sense if you read into as you are never alone there is always someone you can talk to you just have to be brave enough.  Each item she gets out of her bag she then talks to herself saying what it is and it makes her think if she has everything she wants and just shows each item has had thought put into it.

At the end we are left to wonder if this film was to do with Tegwan play time or if she genuinely wanted to run away as we end with to flash lights in the dark coming towards the character. I this people coming looking for her or is it just her mother getting ready to say time to go or is all this a mystery dream that children have on the daily. 

Mr Frost opens with an establishing shot showing a homeless gentleman sitting in the park in the Morning frost. With the radio non diegetic over top talking about more and more people sleeping ruff each night. we experience multiple little shots of the park of how still and how it feels like time is going nowhere with zero moment and just showing to us the loneliness the homeless may experience as they sit in such a vast area with no one to be seen. It makes the feeling even worse as the camera moves to the news paper to show Santa on is and this story seems to be conveying that this gentleman will be spending Christmas alone with no family.

We then have a man pass round the back of the bench this man sits upon and he looks at Mr frost we are assuming but as this gentleman was on the phone he didn't stop to talk as he was too busy. We can tell its cold with the blanket and hat he wears a great use of costume to show he is homeless and to show the morning is of a freezing state and he just sits enduring it while reading the news paper. This is an aspect of normal life people do this on the daily and just because he sits on the bench on a cold airy morning doesn't mean he'd onset have the time to do so.  We see up close of Mr Frost face where his eyes are bruised and red this could be as he struggles to sleep at night with this freezing weather with the fear of what it may do to him or even some people have been harsh as he is in a public park. 

The story then starts to show a young boy wearing a blue coat, we follow him on the bike with a tracking shot we then jump back to the man on the bench then back to the boy at the park. This is begin to show us possibly a connection is going to be made between these two characters.

We then have two separate shots of seeing the boy smiling and waving at this man the the boy moves closer and we see him wave but we then go to the young boys perspective as the gentleman waves back to the boy. We can see the happiness from the gentleman face when he is getting a wave and a smile off the younger generation and showing the kindness and happiness of these youngsters. Sadly we see a close up of when the boy gets told to go and the gentleman smile disappears as sadness hits of that this experiences was only a really short one. The overlay of the music adds a sense of sadness but also the sense of something may be to come as it feels as if it building up to something. 

We then see the happiness of the boy on Christmas Day of when he gets his gifts but the great thing is him and his mother go back to the park to spend time with this gentleman and give him some biscuits and some hot drink and this really has made this gentleman day and the boy is just as happy to be taking and sitting with this man with his mother than running and playing with his toys. A heartwarming film this is show the kindness of some people and never to jump to the gun too early as people can always come back with kindness. It ends with a wide shot of the mother son and mr frost at the bench as it slowly fades out to a black screen.