Foley test - Using garageband to create thunder sounds.

This is us practising using garage band to create foley sounds over our clips. We used the lighting to make a lightning effect and added in the rain and thunder noises. We think it looks good and are going to use it for our main project. This will create a more chilling, scary effect through the use of pathetic fallacy which is where the weather reflects the mood.

Lighting.

 For the first scene we are going to be using very dim lighting as we want to create the atmosphere of a very dim and unpleasant place.

This is the sort of lighting in the room that we want to recreate. We want it as dark as this but a dim light on the man and a spotlight on the board. We are also using low and side lighting to create lots of shadow in the opening scene to create mystery and to not reveal the villans face

For the outside we wont need to use much lighting as we are choosing to use limited lighting in the woods due to the fact that it is outside and we are filming during the day, therefore we do not need to use lighting apart from on the close up shots so the faces can be seen more clearly.

Photographs of possible locations to be used in our thriller opening.

 This is a path that the jogger can use to try and escape the strange man.

 This is the path that leads up to where the strange man will burry his black bag. A high angle can be used here to add a sense of control in the chase.

Another path which could be used by the jogger to escape from the strange man

 Here is a small river through a path. The jogger could trip over the river and this would be when the strange man catches the jogger and concluded our thriller opening.

 This is a well-hidden ditch which can be where the strange man buries his black bag.

This small hole is next the the ditch and is a perfect fit for the strange man's black bag. This saves us the effort of digging a hole ourselves.

This room will be used for the strange man's first location where he is seen cutting out newspaper articles of missing children and seen crossing their faces with a black or red (to be decided) pen, and pinning them up on a wall. It will be a dark room and we'll use different furniture more suited to the mood of the scene.

Jogger Costume and Props

This is the costume that I will wear as the jogger. The costume is obviously quite a vital part, because if the character was jogging in a dress a different view would be perceived. A running top, long shorts and trainers fit the characters role of a stereotypical jogger. Mise en scene is very important for allowing the audience to gain understanding of what is happening, and for it all to be set out right, because otherwise the audience may not feel secure in knowing what is taking place. The colour of the running top is pink, and this is stereo-typically shown as a girls colour. The fact that she is innocent and has just stumbled upon this suspicious looking man, the colour pink could show her as very vulnerable and girly such as the 'damsel in distress'.

As for makeup, the jogger wouldn't be wearing very much as it wouldn't be appropriate during exercise. It will be minimalistic, such as a bit of mascara and foundation just to again reinforce the believe-ability in the character. By just wearing this small amount of makeup, it again suggests her girly character, which could be seen as very vulnerable and innocent, yet without being over the top.

 The prop my character will be using as she is jogging is an iPod, this is because a lot of people like to run with music. It helps to create a more believable character and shows that every little thought towards props has been put in.

This is the mobile phone that will be used for when her phone goes off. She would of had it with her whilst running because she is jogging through a deserted woods on her own.

One prop and Harrison's costume (the antagonist)

This is the suitcase that is going to be carrying the body that the antagonist is carrying.

The costume that I am wearing consists of heavy duty trousers and jacket, some heavy duty boots and a hat. This is the stereotypical look that the antagonists wear in thriller films.

This is a video of our story board with voice over.

Basic Story-Board

Our first storyboard of 'Missing' without any voice-over explanation. 

Health and Safety

We are making the antagonist use several dangerous objects to strongly highlight the element of danger and to intimidate the audience. These items are:

A shovel, a penknife and a pair of scissors - similar items all shown above.

The scissors will be used in the opening shots to show the antagonist cutting up news paper articles and pictures of teenage girls. We will make sure that we use the scissors properly as to not cut ourselves and after filming we will not carry them round with us as we are filming at home.

The shovel will be used to show the villain digging a hole to bury the suitcase, it will be carried in the chase scene to highlight that he is out to get Carla, therefore building tension and it will be used one more time to give the effect that the runner has been hit by it. We will make sure in the chase scene that the shovel will be held properly so that it doesn't cause Harrison to trip on it, hit anyone or get it caught on anything. Obviously for the ending shot Carla will not actually but hit by the shovel. This is because we are going to do it from a blurred point of view shot. This shovel will be lowered near to the camera lens as to give the impression that she has been hit by it, therefore Carla will not be in any actual danger. 

The penknife will be used to engrave a tally into a tree to show how many girls that the antagonist has killed. We will make sure to not have our fingers anywhere near the blade and will make sure that everyone is aware that we are using the knife so that no one pushes or has a joke whilst it is in use. We are also using a penknife instead of a real knife. This is so that we can fold it up safety and put it in a pocket so that it cannot cause us any harm.

Even though there is no apparent danger we will still take general care around the filming sites. This will include checking the area to make sure that there are no dangerous objects, making sure that we don't film from dangerous places and also not leave one person in the woods with all of the filming equipment and props. We will be sure to take a small medical kit with us just in case there are any unlikely accidents whilst using the props.

Before we film Carla running and also the chase and fall scene with Harrison and Carla we will check the paths to make sure they are clear to run on. We will clear them to make sure that there are no big rocks or pieces of wood which may be dangerous as they could trip on them. The fall scene will be shot at a place where there is soft earth so that it doesn't hurt Carla when she hits the ground. We will also be sure to clear this area of any sharp or hard objects.

With the cold weather we will also be sure to bring extra clothing (especially Carla, who will be wearing shorts and a t-shirt). This will prevent anyone becoming too cold and getting ill.

Script

Script

For our opening we want to try and create the most chilling opening we can and so therefore, we want to have barely any dialogue. We thought this would create the best atmosphere and keep the audience in suspense, wanting to know what is going on.
Instead of dialogue we will use tension filled music that keeps the audience on the edge of their seat and lots of foley sounds.
The music will be non-diegetic but the foley sound effects will be diegetic, as the characters would hear these noises. For example during the first shot when 'Missing' articles are being cut out, the diegetic noise of the scissors can be recorded seperately to make it clearer, and also for example when the jogger is running through the woods, the diegetic noise of the footsteps on the woodland ground, can be re-recorded on top of the onscreen action or taken from garageband, to make it more realistic. Also we are going to have the runner listening to music through headphones which will isolate her and build up tension, therefore we will add the music at a later stage.
However there will be one word both characters say simultaneously when they see each other which will be when the mobile is ringing. This will be the only dialogue as such to be used, but panting and screaming will also be heard.


"Shit" said by both characters together.

Roles

Roles

 

We have decided to use our own members in our group to act so there will be less people we need to organise to meet up to film etc. We thought this would cut down on confusion and make it easier to all organise filming together.

Antagonist - Harrison Blake

Girl Jogger - Carlotta C-Purchas

James Ely and Izzy Souter will filming with the cameras for the opening.

However when Harrison and Carlotta are not in scenes together they will also film so everyone gets a chance to film to make it fair.

Pre-Production Planning - Synopsis for 'Missing'

'Missing' Synopsis

This thriller opening is about an unidentified man that seems to have something to hide. He is shown cutting out missing girl articles, and then next seen in a woods disposing of an unknown object by an unsuspecting, harmless jogger.  She notices him and is curious to what the man is doing and stops jogging, and watches him without her presence being known to this mysterious man. Unfortunately she is in the wrong place at the wrong time, and her mobile rings. This alerts this suspicious looking man and he sees her. He knows she has seen too much and she must be dealt with…