Evaluation: Question 7

Evaluation: Question 6

Evaluation: Question 4

Evaluation: Question 3

Evaluation: Question 2

Evaluation: Question 1

Final Edit of Opening Sequence

Feedback on First Edit

The feedback I got back on my first edit was what I predicted it would be and they commented on all the points I commented on in the previous post entitled 'Thoughts Before Feedback on First Edit'

The comments on the jumpiness of the first edit of the filming was commented on and told to make less jumpy. I will do this by adding in sections of film that I think are relevant to the film such as the running that I previously filmed.

The comment on the audio is that the film relied heavily on the music but the music complements the film very well.

Another negative comment that I got was that it is all in one shot and from one shot angle and this limits the film, but I will have to disagree with this point made as I wanted this effect from the film. Another comment was that people didn't know where the film was intending to go but again this is exactly the feeling I want the audience to feel, when watching the film.

Editing: Day 5

On day 5 of editing I was adding the music to the opening sequence. I have chosen a very specific style of music using mainly cellos and contrabasses along with violins and a horn section to add to my horror opening sequence.

When showing my teacher the film I decided to use another piece of music to get his opinion on how the music could affect what sort of film you could be watching. The other piece of music, was lighter strings and had more of a fantasy feel to it. It was strange to feel that music could then change the genre of film that I have filmed from what I wanted to be a horror to a fantasy film.

Thoughts before Feedback on First Edit

After having completed my first edit I have reflected back on any points that I want to improve and and problems that I think people might comment on in the feedback on 25th January. I watched my film back and decided that I would need to improve on these few things before my final edit is due:

1. The film itself is quite jumpy in places and would need to be re-filmed or cut to make it more synchronized and flow more for the film to work.
2. I need to add in my second production card, "The Hanging Judge Productions" into the beginning of the film.
3. I wanted to include some shots of fast paced action in the opening sequence but don't have the material at hand, this will need to be completed after the feedback.

I am all ready think that these will be the main problems that my peers will pick up on tomorrow, so any other feedback will be also helpful in making my film better.

Editing: Day 4

Upon feedback from my teacher Mr Gower, I have decided that when looking at the mark scheme of the media course, and with the one continuous shot of my opening sequence, I have decided to intersperse the action of the camera filming along the table and objects with something fast paced.

This is where I decided to add the shots of the running that I did when filming, this action is fast paced and in short bursts. The opening sequence I have at the moment without the music and just the video it seems to be a slow paced historical opening sequence because of the maps and old photos. Interspersing the original video with the running will add more to the horror aspect of my film and make the audience more nervous as to what is happening in the opening sequence, creating further enigma codes.
Mr Gower also said that the film is going to be very dependent on the music choices as it will set the scene better and create more sense of dread and horror.

Editing: Day 3

After having trouble on Day 2 with my titles and switching them from LiveType onto Final Cut Express, instead I decided to use the software already on Final Cut Express to insert text over the video.  With the soft light of my video I decided to use a simple white font colour to seem natural and for the titles to not dominate the opening sequence and detract from both the action happening on the screen and the soundtrack which will be adding to the complexity and mysteriousness of the film. considering this I did not just use Times New Roman as my font type but instead a font type that adds to the oldness of the opening sequence which is apparent from all the objects on the table such as the old coins, black and white photos and other such assortments scatted around.

I have managed now to get all the titles into the film, and with all the titles now on the opening sequence I could now watch it all back. However watching it back again threw up a few problems that I now need to address such as the clips jumping. This is problem because I want the action to be one smooth flowing video and because of the closeness of all the clips I need the action to have no flaws in it.

Editing: Day 2

Day 2 of editing, with my video uploaded on to the Final Cut Express, I moved onto sorting out my titles for the opening sequence and how I wanted them to look on screen as a final product. I decided that using LiveType would give me some effects that I was looking for.

On LiveType the software was difficult again to get used too and achieve the right sort of effect that I would like to have and appear in my opening sequence. I also found the trouble with transferring the link over into Final Cut Express and having it appear in the video and not as a black screen in-between shots.

Rest of Filming

Following with my new idea and scrapping the old one of the women in the bedroom, I managed to go round my house and collect together assortments of objects that were old fashioned and would create a sense of an old feeling such as black and white photos, old wooden rulers, scotch tape, etc... and then placed them carefully in random positions on the table above an old map.

With the table all laid out with old scraps of newspaper around and all the different objects in place including a music box, I could now begin filming the rest of my opening sequence.
I was taking inspiration from the opening sequence of 'The Walking Dead' and 'Se7en'. In which it follows a pathway or is jumping but doesn't show much of the actors, setting or explain what could be happening in the film later on. Another reason I decided to do this, was because on looking back on my audience research I saw that people didn't want to be told the whole story in the opening sequence and that a mysterious opening sequence that engaged an audience and created a lot of enigma codes would make the audience want to continue watch the film to see what happens. The way I was filming would hopefully make the audience to ask questions about what would be happening with this story.

I began filming and the lighting from the one lamp that I placed at the back of the table threw enough light of the whole table to light everything up but not create such a harsh light that would ruin the effect of working at night in secret that I was going for. The light from the lamp also created a nice warmth to the screen almost making it relaxing to watch. This was another effect that I was looking for as I wanted to draw the audience, make them relaxed and then have scary moments later on in the film.

Whilst filming I encountered another few problems including background noise, however later on whilst editing I decided that I could scrap the background noise and create my own music score to go over the top of my opening sequence. The filming of the opening sequence was too difficult as I would follow one line through the objects from a view from above, sometimes zooming in on certain words such as 'pandemic' and 'My Nightmare Death' on an old newspaper clipping that I had placed amongst the objects.

I did another video of it starting from a different point but this time having the music box playing over the top which was a very surreal tune and added to the atmosphere of the opening sequence. However I  filmed it but then forgot to end the music so had to re-film the end and shutting of the music box which would mean I would have to edit it.

Overall, I was pleased with the outcome that I got. It was just the effect I was looking for and created the atmosphere that I was looking for even before the editing. In the editing I was going to be adding the titles for the film to appear within in the video in strategic positions so that the audience would be able to see it clearly.

Filming of Running.

This filming was completed on a very misty day. The cloud cover was low and added to a mysterious atmosphere as the filming went on. However on this day of filming I did encounter problems, firstly:

1. The misty day would mean that if I wanted to re-film parts of the opening sequence I would need to wait for another low cloudy day and then film. This doesn't often happen in Suffolk and so continuity editing if re-filming would be difficult. This meant that I would have to capture as much video material  as possible whilst on this day.
2. The section of wooded land that I chose was near to a road which meant that I would have to be careful of cars passing and getting into shots or the sound of the cars in the distance.

I decided to do the filming at about 3pm in the afternoon so that I as I was out filming it would be getting darker and meant that I could have a sense of this person running for a long time.

The filming of the running was captured as I myself went on a run, this allowed me to capture POV shots of an actually run and how the eye captures the land around as some runs adding to the realism of the filming.

Editing: Day 1

On the first day of editing I decided that the sound to the video clips I had, had too much background noise so on importing it into Final Cut Express I decided to mute the sound to the clip and then I would be able to insert my own music score over the top of the opening sequence. The clips all seemed to flow into one, however there are moments of a 'jumpy' camera shot from one scene to another and I think that the easiest way to get round that problem would be too re-film sections of the opening sequence so that the cut can be easy and flow with continuity more than before.

Music Score

I have always felt from the moment of deciding on doing a horror opening sequence that the music score would be essential to create the right mood at the beginning of the film. After listening to a few scores from movies such as 'Hannibal' I liked the subtle strings that Hans Zimmer uses to create a spooky atmosphere. Also the score to 'The Dark Knight' again written by Hans Zimmer with James Newton Howard, it's first piece has a great use of timpani's at the beginning which then grows as the film develops. Although 'The Dark Knight' is not a horror film I have taken inspiration from this movie to create the music for my opening sequence and combine both ideas to have one final piece with both timpani's and string's. All this will be done on Sibelius and then imported on to final cut and synced with the film to get it just right.