29 June 2020
Media Studies
Foundation Portfolio - Who's Doing What and Planning
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Who's Doing What:
Grace Watson
- Treatment
- Call sheet
- Shot list
- Camera
- Sound whilst filming (it’s actually Hunter Look’s turn to be on sound, however we feel that it’s so much more practical for the cameraman to have the earphones in whilst filming).
Chene Harris
- Concept
- Storyboard
- Costumes/props
- Lighting plan
- Shooting schedule
Hunter Look
- Vision and mood board
- Script
- Location
- Logo
Meet GCH Productions:
Grace Watson (far left)
Hi, I'm Grace Charlotte Watson. I am seventeen years old and very passionate about Media Studies, my dream job being to become a TV presenter and/or have some sort of role in the media industry. I love using my creativity in learning to film, edit and work with a team to produce products of excellence.
Chene Harris (far right)
Hi my name is Chene Harris, i am 18 years old, i am an AS student that goes to city impact church school and i chose to take media studies this year to get to know more of the technical side of things towards a camera and how they work and understand the process behind everything that goes into making a film.
Hunter Look (middle)
Hi my name is Hunter Look i am 16 years old, i belong to city impact church school, i am an AS student in year 12 and i chose media to understand the art of media and how it gets produced.
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Together, we are GCH Productions, with a zeal and excitement for creating excellent productions.
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Together, we are GCH Productions, with a zeal and excitement for creating excellent productions.
Planning:
Grace Watson
Shot list:
1. Establishing shot of the parking lot.
2. Establishing shot of the building.
3. Establishing shot of office (reveals Zach on computer).
4. Mid-over-the-shoulder shot from behind Zach as he works on his
computer – hold this shot for 4 seconds + then Mini walks in.
computer – hold this shot for 4 seconds + then Mini walks in.
5. Mid shot of Mini talking to Zach.
6. Mid-over-the-shoulder shot from behind Mini of Zach nodding, picking up
the briefcase and beginning to close his laptop.
[As the laptop closes, the screen cuts to black for titles].
the briefcase and beginning to close his laptop.
[As the laptop closes, the screen cuts to black for titles].
7. Mid shot from behind Mini, Zach and Aldrich in the elevator. [Aldrich and Mini
are standing a few centimetres behind Zach – he’s the ‘leader’.]
are standing a few centimetres behind Zach – he’s the ‘leader’.]
8. Close up of the briefcase (while they’re standing in the elevator).
9. Close-up shot of the lift doors opening.
10. Mid shot of the three walking towards the men waiting outside.
11. Wide/long shot from the side of the two groups coming together.
12. Close-up of Zach asking Xavier if he has Toby.
13. Point-of-view shot of Xavier.
14. Close up shot of Xavier nodding.
15. Mid shot of Xavier signalling for Chene and Malia to fetch Toby.
16. Point-of-view shot from Zach’s perspective, watching as
Malia and Chene walk to the boot to fetch Toby.
Malia and Chene walk to the boot to fetch Toby.
17. Extreme close up shot of Chene pressing the button of the door.
18. Wide shot from behind Chene and Malia as they watch the door open.
19. Mid shot of what’s inside the boot + ZOOM IN to the zip.
20. Extreme close up of Malia’s hands opening the bag.
21.Mid shot of the two girls pulling Toby out of the bag.
22. Wide shot of them ripping him onto the floor.
23. Point-of-view shot from Zach’s perspective, watching as Malia and Chene walk
Toby back towards the group, with Chene holding a knife to his throat.
Toby back towards the group, with Chene holding a knife to his throat.
24. Mid shot of Chene giving Toby to Xavier and then of Xavier
holding a gun towards Toby’s head.
holding a gun towards Toby’s head.
25. Low angle, point-of-view- shot of Toby looking up at Zach.
[Zach says “this is not what I wanted…”].
[Zach says “this is not what I wanted…”].
26. Wide shot under the car of Toby been thrown across to Zach.
27. Mid shot from the side of Zach signalling for his guards to take Toby to
the elevator (you can see the guards moving Toby towards elevator at this point).
the elevator (you can see the guards moving Toby towards elevator at this point).
28. Close up shot of Zach handing the briefcase over to Xavier. (Side-view).
29. Side long shot of Zach walking into elevator, almost walking backwards
and turning around to face Xavier.
and turning around to face Xavier.
30. Mid shot of him saying his line of "I expect the right child tomorrow."
31. DOORS CLOSE AND BLACKOUT. [blacks out as the doors close].
Call sheet:
Treatment:
Camera, camera angles and camera movement:
Chene Harris
Hunter Look
Pesalili - nods his head
Folau walks out and waits in the elevator with Tim.
Pesalili walks into the elevator with Folau and Tim behind him.
The elevator opens and Pesalili walks out into the underground car park with Folau and Tim following close-ish behind him.
They reach the other man Aminiasi and send directly in front of each other staring straight at each other.
Pesalili - "do you have the goods I ordered ?"
Aminiasi just nods his head and signals to follow him. Aminiasi is followed closely by Pesalilis 2 henchmen/bodyguards,Folau and Tim.
Aminiasi opens the boot of the car and we see a big bag with what looks like a kid/ person inside and they open it up and you see Toby with duck tape and a bandanna on his mouth and ropes around his body.
Folau and Tim grab Toby out of the boot of the car and hand him to Aminiasi who holds a gun to the back of his head as he hands him over to Pesalili.
Pesalili - "this isn't what I wanted !!" "but I'll take him anyway"
Pesalili will then hand over the briefcase of money and it will cut to black.
It will then cut to black
Characters:
Call sheet:
Treatment:
Camera, camera angles and camera movement:
some inspiration regarding the best shots to use for best effect:
As seen above on the shot list, we plan on using many mid-shots to capture our shots. Additionally, close-ups (typical of thrillers) will highlight and intensify important objects and moments, such as when filming the briefcase and again when the bag holding the young 'slave' is unzipped. Fades between three establishing shots will begin the film off slowly, calmly, relating to it beginning in a very normal, every day location - an office. As the film progresses, shots will become more varied.
I plan on filming a shot of the briefcase similar to this one whilst the three characters are standing in the elevator.
Example of a mid-shot
Below is an additional idea for a camera angle - relatively canted. A canted angle is an excellent idea for a thriller shot, relating to the fear evoked and strangeness caused by a thriller.
As a team, we have decided to attempt holding out our shots for a longer period of time, as opposed to quick, speedy shots which can actually distract the audience to a certain extent. Longer, more dragged out shots create a senses of discomfort within the viewers.
Some shot angles to think about on filming day
We will be using many of the closeups, medium closeups and mid shots to capture our film.
These types of shots are quite upfront and in the face of the characters - revealing their contrasting emotions and feelings. For example the child may be distressed and exhausted, whilst the child traffickers may seem more careless and focussed on the task.
Sound/Audio:
Below is a video tutorial on how to improve the sound quality of the product in post-production using Adobe Premier Pro.
The soundtrack of the Jaws opening sequence will be used as one of the inspirations for our product. I like how the sound starts off very soft, and then slowly becomes louder as the scene progresses, the voices are then heard and finally, as the two characters begin running away, the music becomes very soft and still, once again. The transitioning in the different volumes and intensity of the music is an effective way to increase suspense and angst within the viewers. Now although I love this idea, I still personally feel that I’ll stick to mine above.
Lighting:
Although Chene Harris is in charge of lighting, I have mentioned to her that I, personally, feel that the 'cool white' lighting look will fit our production best. The drained and cold hue to this lighting, paired with the dark and empty car-park surrounding will certainly increase both fear and suspense within the viewers.
A reminder on three-point lighting below
I personally love the 'rim' and 'hey' lighting hues for our production.
As discussed in the Treatment above, our location will be an empty under-ground car park. Using lighting such as the ‘key’ option may assist in generating that fear, typical of a thriller.
For this product, my plan and goal is to have the background music (which I'll add in post-production) very quiet and subtle, perhaps even non-existent. I plan to pair this music with sound effects of water dripping from a drain in the background. Basically, I’d like the sound to be relatively silent in effort of building up suspense and worry within the viewers. An absence of music and the sound of water dripping in the background may do just that.
the Jaws opening sequence:
The soundtrack of the Jaws opening sequence will be used as one of the inspirations for our product. I like how the sound starts off very soft, and then slowly becomes louder as the scene progresses, the voices are then heard and finally, as the two characters begin running away, the music becomes very soft and still, once again. The transitioning in the different volumes and intensity of the music is an effective way to increase suspense and angst within the viewers. Now although I love this idea, I still personally feel that I’ll stick to mine above.
Although Chene Harris is in charge of lighting, I have mentioned to her that I, personally, feel that the 'cool white' lighting look will fit our production best. The drained and cold hue to this lighting, paired with the dark and empty car-park surrounding will certainly increase both fear and suspense within the viewers.
A reminder on three-point lighting below
I personally love the 'rim' and 'hey' lighting hues for our production.
As discussed in the Treatment above, our location will be an empty under-ground car park. Using lighting such as the ‘key’ option may assist in generating that fear, typical of a thriller.
Chene Harris
Concept:
Title:
Gone
(A Human-Trafficking Thriller)
The main reason why we as a group had decided to to make this title of our film 'The Deal' is because throughout the film the audience will see and understand that the film is about making a deal and then handing over the child (Toby Look) and the briefcase with something inside. There is also symbolism in the title (The Deal) because the characters have made a deal with one another, {swapping the child out for the briefcase}.
The audience at the beginning of the film doesn't really know what is going on yet so by reading our title they would most likely be thinking that its either a drug deal/or a non serious related deal.
Target Audience:
We have decided to make our target audience from the age of sixteen years and older, this is because we feel that children from the age of fifteen years and younger won't be able to handle the content that has been shown on screen. Also mainly because this film is a Thriller and normally Thrillers aren't rated for kids under the age of fifteen.
Institutional/Genre Conventions To Be Included:
~ symbolism/iconography: The films title is 'The Deal' which makes the audience think that there is some form of deal which makes them think of business men and automatically they would think they are wearing black suits and all the characters are men.
~ Irony: filming in an underground parking (setting) where it should be quite quiet and mysterious. This specific setting fits our short film really well! Because the natural light coming through works really well and it gives off that cold look and feel.
~ Irony: filming in an underground parking (setting) where it should be quite quiet and mysterious. This specific setting fits our short film really well! Because the natural light coming through works really well and it gives off that cold look and feel.
~ sound: the first scene will start off with chill airy music just because the business man is just sitting at his desk typing an email up/ or doing work on his laptop. As the scenes progress the music will slowly get louder and faster and it will add onto the suspense that gets portrayed throughout the film.
~ lighting: very cold, dark-ish and drained; this will fit the scene because the deal that happens is in an underground parking and usually those are quite cold and mysterious looking so it could also be symbolic to the mysterious hand over that happens at the end of the film.
~narrative: the narrative itself builds suspense as the viewer of our film follows the the business man and his ‘bodyguards’ through the film. The cameras perspective will jump between each characters perspective as well just show more of the film and make it make sense.
Plot synopses:
the first scene will mos probably be an Establishing shot of the parking lot.
And then it will go into another Establishing shot of office (reveals Selele the businessman on computer).
Mid-over-the-shoulder shot from behind Selele as he works on his
computer – hold this shot for 4 seconds + then Mini walks in.
as the camera is at the angle of the mid over the shoulder you will then see a almost wide shot of Flou talking.
the this will go straight into a scene of a Mid shot of Selele nodding and beginning
to close his laptop and picks up his phone and begins to walk to the door. [As the laptop closes, the screen
cuts to black for titles]. After the black out the scene will carry on from where Selele was standing and then the camera will follow Selele towards the door coming from a side angle.
the scene then cuts to Selele coming out of the door and slowly making his way down to the elevator where his 'bodyguards' will be standing and waiting for him.
Close-up shot of Selele pressing the button for the doors to open, this then will cut to them all standing in the
elevator waiting to go down to the underground parking where the handover will take place.
after walking out of the elevator there will be a
elevator waiting to go down to the underground parking where the handover will take place.
after walking out of the elevator there will be a
Mid shot of the three walking towards the men waiting outside.
then quickly cuts to a Wide/long shot of the two groups coming together. then will cut back to a
then quickly cuts to a Wide/long shot of the two groups coming together. then will cut back to a
Close-up of Selele asking Mini if he has Toby ("what he has ordered") the goes into
Point-of-view shot of Mini nodding his head as if to say yes the deal is all ready and in the boot.
After this scene it will cut back to Selele clicking his fingers and pointing towards the boot so that his
'bodyguards' can go and follow mini and pick the 'order' up out of the boot this scene has all been
done in a Mid shot
After this scene it will cut back to Selele clicking his fingers and pointing towards the boot so that his
'bodyguards' can go and follow mini and pick the 'order' up out of the boot this scene has all been
done in a Mid shot
Point-of-view shot from the viewers (the camera) perspective, watching as
Flou and Tim walk to the boot to fetch Toby. then this scene will be cut to a
Extreme close up shot of Mini pressing the button of the door. then slowly becomes a
Wide shot from behind Mini as he watches the door open.
This then will slowly zoom out from the extreme close up and end up becoming a
This then will slowly zoom out from the extreme close up and end up becoming a
Mid shot of what’s inside the boot.
there will then be a Mid shot of Flou and Tim taking Toby out of the boot and almost throwing him onto the floor
then a Wide shot of them roughly handling him (while trying to pick him up off of the floor)
then a Wide shot of them roughly handling him (while trying to pick him up off of the floor)
Point-of-view shot from the viewers (the camera) respective, watching as mini
walks Toby back towards the group and mini still holding the gun to Toby's head this will then lead to a
Low angle, point-of-view- shot of Toby looking up at Selele.
this then quickly cuts to a
Mid shot from the side of Selele signalling the guards to take Toby to the elevator
you can see the guards moving Toby towards elevator at this point. to nearly end off the film there is a side shot of Mini and Selele closing the deal and shaking hands.This then gets followed by a kind of close up/or mid shot of the doors closing with Toby, Tim, Flou and Selele inside then as the doors close it becomes a BLACKOUT.
you can see the guards moving Toby towards elevator at this point. to nearly end off the film there is a side shot of Mini and Selele closing the deal and shaking hands.This then gets followed by a kind of close up/or mid shot of the doors closing with Toby, Tim, Flou and Selele inside then as the doors close it becomes a BLACKOUT.
ACTION AND PACE:
Begins slow and mysterious builds up to making the film quite suspenseful as well.
Slowly ends up getting a little faster while the child (Toby Look) get handled quite roughly.
Although the film itself is quite slow anyways it just continues to build up that mysterious and suspenseful theme to it.
TECHNICAL CONSIDERATIONS OF HOW TO BALANCE THE CLIMAX AND RESOLUTION:
It is very obvious and quite drastic handheld camera movements while the rough handling is going on, camera movements during the handle of the child has been shown from both perspectives of the characters.
PRACTICALITIES OF FILMING/ CONTENT:
The idea is quite realistic it is a reality that we are continuing to hear about nowadays and it just seems to be getting more exposed to the world.
A safety issue may arise when the hand over is done and the child then disappears with the dangerous business man.
City impact church Mt Wellington campus needed permission, one of our group members got the green light for us to film there on a Sunday afternoon from his dad.
Filming took place from 1:30pm - 3:30pm to ensure that we had enough time to get everything done and get some fill in shots (if needed)
Equipment required was 2x cameras, memory card, tripod, the fleece, the audio equipment including the headphones and the XLR cables.
We wanted the underground parking very quiet and empty to give the film more of a mysterious look and feel as mentioned before with the aerie music, Lonely cold and empty atmosphere it bring out more of how Toby (the child victim) is vulnerable and confused as to why he is the one that had to be the one that they handed over as part of their (the businessman’s) deal.
Storyboard:
Costume//Props:
Handcuffs:
we will be using these handcuffs to go on to the briefcase's handle to give it more of that 'deal' vibe and to show that we are meaning 'business' and we aren't just doing a non serious deal.
Briefcase:
This briefcase will be used as an object that will be used during the handover of both the business men. This will also show the audience that they are meaning business and this is a serious handover.
Bandanna:
The use of this bandanna would be to give off that 'gangsta' vibe to portray that these are dangerous people and no body should be 'messing' around with them or they'll have to pay a price.
Duck Tape:
The use of this Duck Tape would be to cover the child's mouth (Toby Look) to stop him from yelling and screaming for help throughout the process of 'human Trafficking'.
Gun
The gun will be used as a convincing and 'scary' weapon to portray some suspenseful scenes in the film and to almost 'scare' the actor whom will have the gun to his head (Toby Look)
Knife:
this knife will be used exactly like the gun except it will only be to the side of the 'business man's waist to keep that suspense and curiosity going towards the end of the film.
Black face mask:
These black masks might be used as the hand over takes place or right before it all takes place. This will just give the audience more curiosity as to what is happening and who the characters actually are.
Lighting Plan:
We didn’t end up having to use a lighting plan only because as we were filming the colors/lighting coming through were exactly what we wanted to make our short film to look and feel cold and just more thriller like in general.
The photos down below will show what kind of look and feel we went for that the natural light gave us:
Hunter Look
Script:
Script:
Folau - "He's downstairs when your ready boss."
Pesalili - nods his head
Folau walks out and waits in the elevator with Tim.
Pesalili walks into the elevator with Folau and Tim behind him.
The elevator opens and Pesalili walks out into the underground car park with Folau and Tim following close-ish behind him.
They reach the other man Aminiasi and send directly in front of each other staring straight at each other.
Pesalili - "do you have the goods I ordered ?"
Aminiasi just nods his head and signals to follow him. Aminiasi is followed closely by Pesalilis 2 henchmen/bodyguards,Folau and Tim.
Aminiasi opens the boot of the car and we see a big bag with what looks like a kid/ person inside and they open it up and you see Toby with duck tape and a bandanna on his mouth and ropes around his body.
Folau and Tim grab Toby out of the boot of the car and hand him to Aminiasi who holds a gun to the back of his head as he hands him over to Pesalili.
As he hands him over Pesalili will then hold a gun to his head.
Pesalili - "this isn't what I wanted !!" "but I'll take him anyway"
Pesalili will then hand over the briefcase of money and it will cut to black.
It will then cut to black
Characters:
- Aminiasi = Boss #2
- Toby = Slave guy
- Chene & Deborah = Aminiasi's Henchmen/guards
-Pesalili = Boss #1
- Tim and Folau = Pesalilis Henchmen
Location:
- Mount wellington
- Offices
- Underground carpark
- elevator
Logo:
Part1:
For the first part of the logo for our foundation portfolio I decided to look into objects/animals that strike fear/are scary and that are powerful to give the meaning behind our logo, as our vision for our group because we are doing thrillers was to have a scary-ish logo which comes back to the thriller genre, and the power side of things we wanted to add as we wanted to have a powerful effect on the viewers that are watching. so we ended up choosing a dragon, also the meaning behind the circle is that our group is unified and not just scattered around in a way and and also just as a practical thing to make the logo look a bit more complete. so with all these factors in mind i set off to find a good logo base. From there i found the picture that you see selected on the screen.
With this base I went on to deselect and remove all the background so that when i put an after effect on for the end product it does not show with a black or white background behind. This ended up taking a lot of my time and was the most time consuming of the process.
My third step was quite simple, where I literally just changed the colors of the ring, and flames around the dragon to a nice darker red and changed the tint of black to a darker shade. these 2 changes added a little bit more of a darker feel to the dragon and the overall logo to again add to the thriller feel.
In the next step i will add a lightning inferno effect to it when i add it to the movie and add the name underneath it. Also with the lightning inferno effect it will make it look like the fire is from the dragon and that it appears behind the fire adding a cool effect.
Mood board:
