Planning: Storyboard

This is our storyboard we created. This allowed us to discuss ideas and different shots to use as well as how we would set certain shots up. We draw the shots as well as writing in the box below what type of shot they were. We also wrote in the bottom corner the length of time the shot would be on screen for as well as what type of sound, editing and camera movement there would be. This will help us when it comes to filming as we will know how much timing of a shot we need. It also will help us in the editing process placing our shots in the correct order. We used a wide range of shots, we focused a lot of our plot into the tracking shot of the girls on the bench. However we did also incorporate lots of close up and medium shots as well. Overall this gave us a clear structure of our film opening.

Pre-Production: Initial Sound Ideas/Inspiration

Up (2009) 

Our opening will have a clear shift of tone and mood around half way through as flashbacks become darker. The beginning, during happier flashbacks will have peaceful and calm instrumental music, along the lines of the music from a jewellery box. We decided not to include lyrics to the music as we wanted the opening to have no dialogue as we use visuals to tell the story. We thought a lullaby would be perfect for our opening because it adds an eery tone due to its connotations of corrupted innocence. At the same time the tone of the opening changes, so will the music. We took inspiration from the montage from the disney film UP as the music really carried the clip and dramatically changes the mood and tone of the clip.

The Woman In Black (2012)

             

The music in this scene really holds the whole clip together. The music, with the lack of dialogue creates a really eery tone. I hope to add music like this during the darker memories of my opening.

We will also be adding diegetic sounds like bird song and laughter into the happier memories and beginning shots of the bench. This will add a sense of calmness, almost like the calm before the storm. In darker memories, we will static sounds and a high pitch sound of a kettle boiling. This adds tension and creates an uncomfortable atmosphere.

Pre-Production: Risk and Hazard Assessment

Pre-Production: Location Permission

Fortunately, this step was not necessary in the pre-production stage of our film opening as the majority of the scenes will be filmed on Georgie's property in her home or garden. We will be filming other scenes such as those on the streets will be filmed in public areas that we won't need permission to use.

Initial Planning - Communication

To communicate with the other member of my group, Georgie Whitehouse, we set up an online Facebook chat as way to contact each other any time of the day when we thought of an idea. On this chat we spoke about camera shots and angles we could use as well the score for the opening. As it got closer to filming we discussed makeup, props and locations. This was a useful medium of communication as we could exchange screenshots which inspired us and useful photos that we needed. 

To communicate with our actors as had a separate Facebook chat including both actors, me and Georgie. On this chat we explained to them the outline of their roles and we sent them links to clips similar to what we hoped to achieve. We also arranged filming times, and told them locations and what they would need to bring with them to set on the day of filming. This was effective as it was an instant form of communication and we could reach them very quickly if it was needed. It also allowed the actors a way to ask us questions and contribute their own ideas towards the scenes. This was helpful and they are in our target audience. 

Initial Planning - Classification

As our film is a psychological thriller we knew we would have a high classification due to the typical conventions and themes such as mental health that will appear in our opening. Our film will demonstrate many psychological issues as well as an implies murder so therefore it will not be suitable for a young audience. When researching classifications on the BBFC website we realised the age rating 15 would be most suitable for our film.

The following elements are typically seen in a 15 rated film:

• Strong violence
• Frequent strong language (e.g f**k)
• portrayals to sexual activity
• Strong verbal references to sex
• sexual nudity
• brief scenes of sexual violence and verbal references to sexual violence
• discriminatory language or behaviour 
• drug taking

Although many of these different elements do not appear within our film, we will be including some such as strong acts of violence and explicit language. We have chosen against classifying our film as an 18 as we won't present elements such as sexual violence or strong portrayals of sexual activity within our film. This would also limit the range of our target audience. Its also very common for psychological thrillers to be rated a 15 an example being Limitless.

Initial Planning - Makeup

Our opening will include happy flashbacks and sadder, more intense flashbacks. To express the difference in the main characters mental state in different memories, we will use two different makeups looks to reflect her feelings.

Character One during happy flashbacks and character Two's makeup throughout the opening:

For the happy flashbacks we will use simplistic makeup to make them look young and fresh faced. We want them to look innocent therefore we will use products with a light coverage such as BB in instead of foundation as heavy makeup won't be necessary. I will use products such as mascara, blush, eyeliner and natural eyeshadow to enhance their natural features. This will make them look healthy and happy. I will also use highlighter on them both as it will create a dewey and luminous fresh look. This look will contrast to the bleak, demented look character one will have during the darker flashbacks.

Character One during darker flashbacks:

For the darker flashbacks the character will be very vacant and tired. Therefore I will use red and purple toned eyeshadow under the eye to create bags, implying a lack of sleep. We won't be using makeup products such as bronzer, highlighter or blush as these will add colour to the face. I want to create a very bleak pale complexion therefore these products won't be helpful. I will add grey toned contour to the hollows of her cheeks as this will create the illusion that she hasn't eaten regularly. This will show the audience that the character hasn't been looking after herself due to the emotional trauma she has been through.