Post Production - Editing 2

 Post Production - Editing

Once we had decided on our order of shots and set them in order on the editing platform, the next thing we needed to add was the titles. We adopted the traditional method and order of titles that are shown in opening scenes. Luckily, before the moment had arrived for us to embed the titles in the scene, each member of the group had researched what order they should come in and what the titles should include. For example, the initial title is usually the company or group that has invested in the project and provided the production team with finances. As we did not have a budget for our film and there was very few people involved, we invented names for companies and actors. In addition, the character in our opening scene is not the starring role so he was not the first name mentioned in the credits. We decided to place the titles in different areas of the frame using a rectangle outline on the screen when embedding them. The dynamic placement of the titles creates a more interesting visual for the audience. 

The next area of editing we embarked on was sound, the sound process was probably one of the longest areas of editing to complete. We had to adjust the volume on almost every shot and created a soundscape with sound effects and eventually a soundtrack came into play also. First of all, as a group we decided on a soundtrack to use for our opening title sequence. We decided to use a soundtrack as we agreed it would create tension and suspense in the scene - two elements that are integral to the horror genre. The soundtrack was an instrumental piece which presented a horror theme. It is in a minor key and the harrowing theme is shown through the use of string instruments. After embedding the soundtrack, we went through each individual shot and doubled the sound, layering the overall sound created depth. The sound effect we used was the yelp of a dog to represent the murder of the character "Ziggy", we spent some time deciding where we should include this but combined it well within the scene whilst not distracting but enhancing the narrative. 

Finally, we spent some time changing the gradient of our scene to match each shot to the next, before thinking of a title. When changing the gradient, you have to take into account wether a shot is warm or cold, the exposure, brightness, brilliance, shadows, contrast, saturation, tint and highlights. All these elements come together to create the visual spectacle you are looking for. 

To conclude, myself and the group felt proud of what we had made. Combining the props with the editing, created what we wanted to achieve - a gruesome horror. I was happy with the editing and the speed in which we completed it, taking into account the illnesses we had to face during our editing week. In particular, I believe that the titles capture the atmosphere and overtone of our scene. The only aspect of our opening scene I would change would be the weather on the day of our shoot as the rain added extra complications to our sound editing. Most importantly, I think that our target audience would continue watching our film because of the fast past editing and visuals which was our main goal. 

 Post Production - Editing

After we finished shooting, the next step for us to complete our opening scene was initiating the editing process. So, begun the editing process by going through our 'rushes' and watching every shot, enabling us to become familiar with the footage. As a majority,  we were happy with our footage but knew that the gradient on some of the shots did not match how we would like them too. The issues we had with the gradient derive from the changing weather on our shooting day. Next, we named each video and discussed which shots were successful and named those that were not. Before, placing videos on our timeline, we briefly discussed a brief order. Once we agreed, we begun cutting and joining shots together helping us to see how the scene began to work. 

Working with Ziggy was fun, enjoyable and appropriately fit our scene but was sometimes difficult to capture in the frames. So, there was a lot of takes from some of our shots that we needed to go through. The first hour we spent on editing involved watching and naming the footage and not much more. The editing process takes time if you want a successful product once you finish. As this was our first shoot, we did make some mistakes and this included talking throughout the shot when we were directing the actors which picked up on the microphone, meaning we could not use these shots. 

During the editing process, we made different choices in order to layer the detail in the opening scene. One of which was the font we used for the titles, we used a font called Herculanum. We chose this font because we believed it portrayed the satanic and horrific essence of our title sequence. The blend between the natural landscape and the text foreshadowed what was about to take place which I think is a really nice detail that enhanced our original concept. A second choice we made during the editing process was the varying shot duration in our editing. To begin with, the shots were quite long and gradually they get quicker and snappier creating pace and tension in the scene. 

 A1 Media Opening Scene - Mise-En-Scene

To show the use of mise-en-scene in our opening scene, I created a Buzzfeed 'Most Commonly Asked Questions' and here it is. 

Our Test Shoot BTS

 Our Shoot: Behind The Scenes

Costume

 

Costume

Before shooting our opening scene we discussed the costume our cast member, Mike Niland, would be wearing. The group decided that Mike should be dressed in an ordinary costume so we would not be drawing attention from the narrative during the scene. The character is walking his dog, so we focused on what normal dog walkers wear and concluded that a jumper, trackies and trainers would fit the aesthetic we were looking for. Here is Mike's costume: 

 The Group Shot List

The Group Shot List 

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1Iy2mXQTVCPgwmG2ICoXOlIs5RvctW064AmU17ZwwSuo/edit?usp=sharing

My Shoot Day Reflection

 

My Shoot Day Reflection

After we shot our opening scene and began editing the scene, I reflected on our shoot day. 

The day before was key in creating our opening scene. Ollie and I created many of the props that were going to be included in the scene on this day ensuring they were ready to be transported to the set the following day. First, we revised how pentagrams were meant to look, then placed the sticks and branches to form the correct shape before tying them together with elastic bands. After the pentagrams had been created, we spray painted the various props both silver and red. We chose these colours as they would look alien to the landscape we would be shooting in the next day. Along with the pentagrams, we made crosses that we intended to turn upside down the next day on set which linked back to our personal research on satanic rituals. 

Later that evening, I used powder we had ordered and mixed it with water to create the fake blood we needed in our scene.  I then took the fake blood and poured it into numerous bottles so I could easily transport it to the set the next day. 

Once I arrived at school the next morning, we met as a group by the classroom where we were storing our props. We went inside and took all the crosses and pentagrams we had made down to the buses which we were going to be travelling in to the set a mile away along with the camera equipment. Finally, once all the props had been placed in the bus, we went to the kitchens to collect the 20kg worth of meat and guts we had ordered from the butchers. We placed the meat in bags to make it easier for us to carry, met with the cast and began travelling to the set. We parked and collectively brought the blood, camera, tripod and props to the set about 100 metres away. Then we began shooting. It took us a little while to get the first few shots, but once we had completed them we gathered a rhythm and quickly completed each section of our shot list. One issue we encountered was the weather. It rained heavily all day and was a far lower temperature than we had been expecting. It was highly important the equipment stayed dry, so we covered the camera and microphone with an umbrella. Along with shooting our opening scene, we decided it would be a good idea to document the day and film a behind the scenes video.  So, when any member of the group had a spare moment they were capturing footage for the video. We had learned in our workshops that we should not review our footage whilst filming as it wasted time and this made the day very productive. I learned a new skill during the filming process which I was pleased about. There was no electricity so we used other methods for our lighting on the close up shots. I learned how to use a light reflector and this helped us get the shots we required. Before our shoot day, we had created a schedule we intended to follow to give us structure on the day. However, we were working at a fast pace and finished our shoot at 1pm with 3 hours to spare. Our success, was entirely down to our preparation and communication before and on the day of filming.

 Research Into Saul And Elaine Bass

Target Audience

 

 Research Into Similar Products and Genre Conventions

            

 Shooting And Editing A Dialogue Sequence

 The BBFC and Film Certificates

The 'BBFC' stands for the British Board of Film Certification. The company states it's main aim is to 'helping children and families choose well when providing them with the guidance they need to help them choose what's right for them and what's not.' so the BBFC is a regulatory board that creates rules to categorise film's ensuring audiences are provided with information before a child watches a film. Society is conscious of the exposure children have to adult themes so the board help ensure parents are aware of what their children are watching. 

All films require a film certification to be released in the cinema. The process of getting a film certified includes a production team sending their edited film to the BBFC and then waiting to see their response. Sometimes, a film studio will want the age rating to be lowered so they will edit the film again and exclude some of the aspects that will make the rating higher. The BBFC make the rules as to what is seen as acceptable and unacceptable for certain age groups. The certificates include: Universal, Parental Guidance, 12A, 12, 15, 18 and R18.

Before arriving at a certificate, the BBFC will consider: 

- Scenes that include violence

- Scenes that include sex and/or nudity

- Scenes that include expletives

- Scenes that include discriminatory slurs 

- Scenes with self harm

- Scenes with criminal activity

- Scenes with behaviour that is considered to be dangerous 

- Scenes with drug use, alcohol and cigarettes

- Scenes with child characters and actors 

- Scenes with strobe lighting

For example the 'Wolf Of Wall Street' (2013) starring Leonardo Di Caprio, Jonah Hill and Margot Robbie featured the most expletives ever in a film, a record number of 715 expletives. As a result of the obscene language the film was certified an 18. 

In addition, the way an issue is handled will come into how a film is certified. If drug use is glamourised or encouraged it will receive a higher rating but if it is discouraged and seen as negative the certification may be lowered. 

Despite the strict regulations set by the BBFC, audiences can often complain to the board with concerns that the certification is wrong and should be changed. Films that fall into this category include: The Woman In Black, The Joker, Logan and Peter Rabbit. 

For our film, we discussed what the age rating would be taking into consideration the aspects that would raise a film's certification. Our film opening, is not designed for for children as it is horror film and our aim is for the film to be harrowing. Our film does not include any expletives or dangerous behaviour but the character does come across a scene where violence has taken place with blood and guts everywhere. The scene features a pig heads on a stake and this notion of violence would raise the certification. So, taking all of this into account, we believe the film would be given a 15 rating. Due to the opening scene not visually featuring a killing on camera, it would perhaps be given a lower rating than the film in it's entirety.