Filming Update/Problems

This post is an update on the current filming situation and problems we have encountered before and during filming.
We encountered multiple problems before and during filming, but we did our best to overcome these at the time.
I will have mentioned some of these problems in my filming post but this will explain them in a bit more detail.

Firstly i will detail the problems we encountered before filming.

The main big problem we faced before filming was the weather.Our original plan was to film just before the Christmas break , but during this time the UK suffered severe adverse weather conditions. Our area had quite a bit of snow, and this snow did not melt for quite a while as the temperatures stayed at and below freezing. This period of weather went on for bout a month and cost us weeks of filming as a lot of our scenes were outdoors and this would have caused us numerous problems had we attempted to film. The main problem being continuity as we wouldnt be able to easily re-film peices if the snow had melted, plus anyway we didnt really feel that  the snow would fit in most of our scenes. The other major problem was that a lot of our scenes had the main characters running at fast paces and we had to put filming on hold as this was in our opinion a major safety issue. Most of our locations had ice on the ground  for long spells and e just simply couldnt risk injury. So we decided to perfect our plan for filming so that we would be ready to film as soon as the weather had cleared up.

Before filming we took into account that we would have to carefully choose filming locations and be very careful not to include anything post 80's in our trailer(i.e modern cars). We did find this extremly difficult as cars would pass by during shots. We also had to make sure that modernish buildings wernt included in shot, and that all locations looked like they could be from the 80's time period. To double check we visisted the locationmultiple times before filming and then watched the video we had recorded to check that anything modern hadnt been included.

The next problem was another 'in-film' problem. Due to the nature of our film and the props we would be using(mainly guns) we were wairy that this may alarm members of the public during filming so when organising the props we tried to find guns that looked like toys(eg. couloured blue) to make it as obvious as possible that these were not real. However during filming we had a police patrol car come along and ask us a few questions about what we were doing. They explained that they had received a phonecall from a concerned driver who had driven past whilst we were filming. They asked us a few simple questions about why we were filming and examined our guns to check they were real(they did have a bit of a giggle at the fact one had the text 'this is a toy gun' written on the side), and after explaining that we were filming an action trailer for our media studies they were happy for us to continue. They also advised us that they understood we could not inform every resisdent and driver passing bye of what we were doing, so they told us if we encounter any problems with a concerned member of the public to just kindly tell them that we have been visited by the police and if they are still concerned to tell them to phone the Whittlesey Police Station.

As we filmed we also encountered problems with the camera as we would find either the memory filling up, or the battery and back-up battery running out of power before we could complete the scene.This caused us ocasionally to have to rush which became anooying and frustrating at times. When the memory was full we had no choice but to end filming early and continue another day.

The last problem we encountered during filming was that due to other commitments we did find it difficult to find a time that we were all free to film. Due to us all doing different A-Levels we all had free periods at different times.We solved thsi problem by making a simple 3 week time plan which can be seen below.



Filming Session 1 21/1/2011

First Day
Jimmy
Police
Ivy Leaf Corridor
News Report
Richardson Way
White Powder

Our first filming session took place on 21/1/2011.
This Post is a detailed account of how the day went and problems we encountered.
In this filming session we planned to film the following scenes

• Informant Scene
• Chase down alleyway scene
• First chase scene
• Drug Deal Scene
• Strutting down the street scene
• News Reporter Scene

We decided on certain scenes we could do on certain days because of availability of people we needed in individual scenes and the locations we knew were free. Firstly, we decided to film at an old warehouse entrance lay by down Station Road. We felt that the area was secluded and old enough to tone in well with our 1980's style for this scene as it was when the police officer met the informant. This was an effective location for us because it was away from the centre of Whittlesey and we filmed it to make it looked like an abandoned area. Firstly we set up the car on the end of the lay by so we could set the camera up on the tripod in the boot so it was in a safe, stable position. We then got all of the props together and made sure that everyone had the props that they needed for the scene. We then issued ourselves into our starting positions and waited for the go-ahead from Michael who was directing this part of the scene as he wasn't in it. It was difficult at the start as we had a road next to the lay-by and cars kept on passing by when i made my entrance which meant that we had to start again. When we managed to get past this point to when DC Summers met Toby, we had to start again and decide certain lines as there were big pauses when one of the actors thought about the next line as we did not script any of the lines throughout the trailer. Once we decided these, we managed to film that scene after 3 or 4 takes. We stopped after the handover of the document and moved on to the next scene where DC Summers left just before an armed criminal called Billy sprung out suprisingly and fired two shots at the informant. This was done successfuly on second take after the informant failed to react fast enough to the fired shots on the first take. The third part of the scene then started with DC Summers attending to a wounded Toby. We added make-up and blood to Toby to show the wound that he had suffered. The audience will now want to know if he survives or not and with DC Summers trying to close the wound, will he save him?

Our next scene we did was opposite the Ivy Leaf Club down Gracious Street. We used this scene to film the start of the trailer which was DC Summers chasing a suspect down the road and with him eventually caught by his colleague round the corner, DC Curtis. We wanted to start a low shot of feet running to open the trailer as it immediately grabs the audiences attention as it is quick and direct. This took about 3 takes to complete as both DC Summers and the criminal had to make sure that they ran at a distance so that the criminal could be caught before DC Summers caught up. This scene was filmed by Robin and directed by Michael. A long shot was used to show the running until the criminal turned the corner which is traditional of a chase scene as they are running directly towards the camera and the audience feel involved in the chase as they are closing in on them. We then changed angle to a medium shot of the action but behind the action and behind DC Curtis so the audience can expect what is to happen next, which is that he gets caught. This final scene was filmed in three takes as the criminal did not react to getting caught and the camera angle had to be changed because it was in the way of the action and didn't get the best view of DC Summers and the criminal entering.

Also down Gracious Street, we did a news reporter scene where the reporter was interviewing DC Summers on capturing the robber. This was a scene we found challenging as we had to find a backdrop which suited the environment of the piece and we had to space the characters quite far apart so that the news reporter could introduce himself and then bring DC Summers into shot. The news reporter found it difficult to work with the noise of the traffic and he did not remember some of his lines so it took a considerable amount of time for him to introduce himself and ask the correct questions to DC Summers. Once we managed to get past the reporter's part of the interview, we completed it pretty rapidly.

The next scene we decided to do was down the alleyway that we entered the start of from the last scene as it seemed logical to do it when we were already there. It was from the opposite end of the alleyway and was another chase scene with DC Summers chasing Billy down the alley to try and arrest him. This was a difficult scene as it was tough to interpret how fast to move and the actors had to rely a lot on the director in this scene. Also this scene was filmed near a public area so it was difficult for us to film and create a tense atmosphere which was especially needed for this scene. Also during this scene without being pre-planned, a police siren was used in the background during the scene which we tried to incorporate live within this scene, but we didn't like how the scene went so we had to re-film it. We decided to film on the two corners and show both characters trying to look for each other in order to build suspense.

We filmed the next scene down Richardson Way where an under-cover DC Summers met Billy to buy drugs. This was a difficult scene as the powder we used as drugs could only be used once as when it is given to DC Summers, he throws it back at Billy and arrests him. If we did not get this scene correct the first time, the bag would have split and gone everywhere and there would have been a big white mark on the wall behind Billy. We did this particular scene in a small space inbetween the garages because it was compromised and Billy would not be able to escape DC Summers. It is also away from the public eye and traditional of where a drug deal would take place. We managed to complete this in one take as we carefully pre-planned our camera angles and what we would do in the scene. This was very successfully done and we were happy with the outcome.

Also down Richardson Way, we had the two policeman walking towards the camera. This took a few takes as we improvised with our character's and stuck on a walk that showed their personalites best. This was quite simple to film as we were doing a scene where there would be no distractions and once we decided on a bodily stance for our character, we could complete it quickly.

Framing shots: Camera Angles and lenghts

As we have now structured which scenes and trailer we are going to produce, we have come up with certain framing and shot lengths that we will use in particular scenes in order to create the right emotions and effectiveness.

Close-up shot: To be used when DC Summers is handed the document by Toby.
To be used when DC Summers is talking to Billy.
To be used when DC Summers and DC Curtis are talking in the car.

Medium Shot: To be used when DC Summers talks to Toby and treats his injuries.
To be used when Toby is given a gun by the Drug Lord.
To be used when DC Summers and DC Curtis kick down the door.
To be used when DC Summers attempts to catch Toby.

Low Angle Shot: To be used when DC Summers is chasing Tommas.

Two Shot: To be used when DC Summers is chasing Tommas.
To be used when DC Summers and DC Curtis are walking towards the camera.
To be used when DC Summers is talking to Toby and treating his injuries.
To be used when Billy shoots Toby.
To be used when Toby meets the Drug Lord.
To be used when DC Summers and DC Curtis kick down the door.
To be used when DC Summers attempts to catch Toby.
To be used when the car explodes.
































































Dutch Angle:
This rare angle will be used when officer curtis chases the criminal around the corner

We are going to use a lot of two-shots throughout to show the relationships between characters. For a lot of these, it is either DC Summers and DC Curtis or DC Summers and Billy. This shows the main essence of the
story and that these characters relationships are important for the audience to follow.




The other shots were decided by how we felt we wanted the scenes to come across, for example a close-up of the exchange between Toby and DC Summers showing the importance of the letter.

Contact

As we had other subjects and needed to know when we were all available, we needed to have a certain point of contact in order to confirm certain things, re-arrange things or to ask questions to each other in a easy and simple way. We decided that the easiest source of contact was Facebook, as we could create a group conversation so that we could easily post to the people in the group. This meant that when we werent in direct contact, we could communicate about when we were filming for example, with an example shown here:

This was done at the last minute by Michael to confirm where we were meeting and what we should bring. If we didnt have this contact, we would have found the filming a lot more difficult to complete.

Planned Effects/ Music.

Planned effects.
As i was to be editing the mainbulk of the trailer i was given the task of planning the effects that we would use.
Part of this was done before the stroyboard/scenes list was produced as when i researched effects you could make in Sony Vegas.
After completing this reserch i gave my feedback to the Group and mainly the director stating whta effect we could use and where i belive we could use them.
I told the director that i could make Explosions, blood splatter, nozzle flashes, ghosting, and of course the various sound effects that go with them.
We then worked some of these Effects into our scenes.

• Explsion Car scene
• Informant shooting- gun flashes, noises, and blood splatter
• Druggy chase- Ghosting, Police sirens sound effect

These were the main effects we planned to use pre-filming.

We also completed a bit of research into potential music that we could use in the film.
We did this by using tools such as the internet and iTunes.
We decided to look into artists that may fit in with our genre.
The results were as follows.

• David Bowie

• Michael Jackson
• Duran Duran

• Frankie Knuckles
• The Beastie Boys
• Echo and the Bunnymen

We then after narrowing potential music for our trailer, decided to listen to some of the artists songs on youtube, and spotify.

Scene List

This is the list of scenes we plan on filming for our trailer.

Costume/Props

This is my costume. Harry was given the task of planning the costumes out and he came to me with his idea of what he wanted me(Officer Curtis) to look like and we discussed whta clothing i already had that was suitalble and if i would need to source anything. As it turned out i had most of the clothing he wanted me to wear, these items being a shirt, black trousers, and a dark pair of trainers. The only item i didnt have was the Authentic leather jacket so i set about finding one, and was able to find one i could borrow from a family member.

This is the blood we plan on using.

I researched on the internet how to make up authentic fake blood and found a good recipe using.

• Cornflower
• Water
• Oil
• Red food Colouring

The recipe stated that to start you should first add the cornflower to the oil and water and try to make a gravy like substance, one content with the texture you then add in the red food dye. You can then add in more or less water/cornflower to get the right ballance for your needs.

We felt that it was important to try and get props that fitted in with the 80's era we were trying to go for, so we tried to get old camera's ect so that thye wouldnt look out of place in the film. We feel that the use of certain props is hugely important to our peice as we have noticed in the films/tv-dramas we have studied that props were heavily used. Certain props will need to be included in certain parts of the our trailer to really put the emphasis into the scenes.

 These are the props that michael michael brought for the production stage.

• Gun
• Camera
• Binoculous
• Brown Envelope
• Flour(Drugs)

Below are the props that i brought along

• Interview equipment
• Glasses
• Wig
• Gun
• Handcuffs

I had to go out to a costume shop to get the gun and wig ect....
The main difficult thing was getting the interview equipment as it had to look quite old, however after digging i was able to find this wonderful tv/tape/radio machine that fitted our needs perfectly.