Film opening- Editing

Throughout the process of editing our film opening, I have learnt a lot of skills and how to edit certain aspects of a film and how it is closely edited in the real film industry. We used 'Final Cut Pro' to edit our film opening. As a group we initially thought that we did not have to edit so much, we originally thought that we only had to add transitions and titles. However, this was not the case. I learnt how to re-arrange each clip, add transitions, add titles where appropriate and edit the colour on certain scenes putting the music to the film.

Firstly, we put all the scenes in the order which we thought we wanted, and we added the title of our film 'The Forgotten One' on the first scene as we thought it was an appropriate place to put it and it fitted in with the camera movement as it faded away whilst the camera position moved up to the sun. We used a simple, yet formal and effective font as we wanted it to stand out but look professional at the same time, we also used white text as most films which we researched used white text and it stands out to the audience as well as being readable. However, we changed it to a different position as we thought having the title of the film right at the beginning was quite 'abrupt' and the film had not properly started or introduced any aspect of the film yet. Therefore, we moved the title later into the film opening (23seconds in).

As a group we went through some fonts and then came to an agreement of using the font 'Calisto MT' which was clear and easy to ready, and also professional. We chose to have the size as not too big, yet not too small as we wanted it to be clearly seen and readable for the audience, and therefore we also chose to place the title in the centre of the screen and it is easy to read and identify as the title of the film. We also learnt how to put letterbox format on each scene which makes it look more professional.

As a group we took on board of our teacher's feedback throughout the process of editing, one comment which was made was to edit the colour/shade of some scenes, as we filmed when it was sunny because we did not want it to be too gloomy as we wanted it to fit with the mood of 'dazed' and 'lost'. However, the contrast of the sky from the first scene to the next was completely different. Therefore, we edited the colour of the sky in the second scene by using 'colour corrector' which enabled us to change the contrast, whiteness and the blackness of the sky in order to match it with the first scene. 

Also, our teacher suggested to re-arrange the flashback scenes, originally we put the flashback scenes in an order which came one after the other. However, we edited it in a way that we positioned them differently and we cut each bit shorter to show that it was a flashback and it would build suspense as it the pace of it was quicker. We also edited the colour to black and white by using 'colour corrector' which enabled it to look more like a flashback to the audience and enhancing the importance and significance of it.

The first scene we decided to have our production company name within a black frame, as most of the films we researched used this technique of a black frame first and it looks professional with the white, bold, clear and professional/formal font. We also decided to five seconds of the black screen and then fade in the production name as it would not be too abrupt to the audience and it looked more effective. 

We also added cross dissolve transitions to certain scenes which made it all link well and look more continuous as it flowed well, it also was effective on the mood of the film opening as it was slow and it created the enigma within each scene and fitted with the character. We also added the cross dissolve effect to the titles which we added in certain scenes. 

As a group, we originally put the text of the titles on the bottom of the screen, however we looked back at 'Man of Steel' and found that the titles were in different positions. We then experimented with the different positions we could put the titles. For example, the picture shown above, we decided to position the title on the top left corner as it was a creative way to put it there and at the same time, it was also readable and clear. 

We also learnt to import the music, we originally decided to have a straight cut at the end, however from our discussions and feedback from our teacher, we decided to have a fade on the film and a cross dissolve on the music as it would not be too abrupt and shows that it would then go into the next scene of the film so that it flows well. 

When we cross dissolved the music, it worked but it happened too fast, so as a group we learnt to change the speed levels of the cross dissolve on the music which went into detail on each bit of the music, this made it more effective. 

Research and Planning- Production Company Name

We first researched the production company names which already exist such as:

However, we wanted to have a production name similar to this production company- MIRAMAX:

It is simple with a black background and white, big, bold text which is effective and memorable/recognisable.

Therefore, as a group we tried to think and discuss our ideas of names which would be unique and effective as a production name which was also professional. We firstly thought of 'Alumination Productions', however this was quite random and it did not sound as professional as we'd hoped it to be. So, we then changed it to 'Blurred Path Productions' which was more professional and unique as a production name. We also had other ideas such as 'skyline productions', we checked if it was already an existing name and we found out that it was unfortunately already existing. Fortunately 'Blurred Path Productions' was non-existent and we chose the font to be simple yet effective and professional. 

Research and Planning- Changing the title of our film

As a group we originally agreed to have the title of our film as 'Amnesia', however with the teacher's feedback and our discussion, we thought that the title was revealing too much and telling what the film is about straight away. So we then decided to change it to 'The Forgotten One' as it does not reveal too much about the story of the film and it creates suspense to find out more through out the film.

Research and Planning- Analysis of 'Inception'

As a group we all tried to think of films with similar genre to ours, therefore we decided to analyse 'Inception' as it shares the similar genre to our film which is a psychological thriller, which includes certain elements of the film opening to create enigma which we wanted to do in our film opening.

The first scene in 'Inception' shows a close up shot of the waves in the sea which sets the scene as it showing the setting, clearly showing also that it is set on a beach. By shooting scenery, it creates enigma and that it what inspired us to do in our film.

The next scene shows a character lying on the shallow end of the beach, however it does not reveal the appearance of the whole character which creates enigma as it immediately creates questions, such as who is the character? Why is the character laying on a beach? So it already begins to create suspense for the audience in order to want to watch the rest of the film.

It then shows another character who is a little boy, yet it does not show the front of him, only the back of him which adds to the suspense and enigma.

After, it goes back to the firs character and shows a bit more of his face, this builds up the enigma as it shows a bit more of the character on each scene.

 

This shot shows more of the character's face but gradually

It then introduces another character who is a little girl, yet again, only showing the back of her

This shot shows it from the point of view from another character who is holding the gun, but not showing the character which creates the tension and suspense of to who that character is

This is a low angle shot which reveals the character who was holding the gun and showing him from the angle where the character was laying down, it also could suggest by the angle taken from the shot could show the power and authority from the character holding the gun

Point of view shot from the character holding the gun reveals that the character laying down has a gun which reveals even further information about the character laying down, but also still creates enigma as to why that character has a gun

This long shot reveals more about the setting and location 

This shot is in a way a point of view shot looking inside as the doors on the left and right are open, which adds to the suspense

This shot only shows the back of a new character so it still creates the enigma in the beginning of the film

This close up shot reveals a little bit more of the character who was laying on the beach, but not fully which adds to the mystery

Over the shoulder shot is used to still not show the character fully and it also shows the other character in the background, but he is blurred so it also does not show him fully either

The other character is then shown after

This close up shot is used to show the object, this suggests that this particular object is important in the film, but does not reveal too much about it in the opening

Research and Planning- Risk Assessment

As a group, we then completed the risk assessment which helps and makes you aware and consider the risks that could perhaps take place during filming. Therefore, by doing the risk assessment it makes us aware and try to keep the number of risks to a minimum.

Research and Planning- Titles/Credits

As a group we researched the titles/credits for film openings, we watched different types of film openings, however they were a bit over the top so we personally did not like the style of particular ways of showing the titles/credits. Eventually we came to a film opening which contained the elements of a film opening of titles/credits which we wanted which was 'Man of Steel'. The titles/credits had simple font, clear to read, positioned well, white text to see which stood out from the darker background and it flowed well, it also used fade in and fade out transition which was effective to flow. Therefore we wanted to follow this example of titles/credits.

Research and Planning- New Storyboard and Shot list

I personally drew our storyboard but had help from the members of I group to ensure me on what type of shot it was and we all worked on the order of each scene. This new storyboard followed on from the feedback we received from our first shooting, which includes the flashback scenes of the sister about to commit suicide and her giving the bracelet to 'Crystal'.

We also created the new shot list for our film opening which connected to the each scene of the storyboard.

Research and Planning- Feedback on our first shooting of our film opening

We showed our teacher the first shooting of our film opening produced on imovie, we recieved feedback from both the class and our teacher, it was mostly positive and then some improvements to be made. For example, in our initial ideas we said that the character 'Crystal' would have visions of her sister committing suicide at a bridge and 'Crystal' wears a bracelet, it has some importance but she does not know why as she can not fully remember but it was inn fact from her sister. Therefore the feedback which we received questioned "is this shown in the opening" so our teacher suggested to film a flashback scene of the sister committing suicide and the sister giving the bracelet to 'Crystal'. We took this feedback on board and agreed with it as it would be effective if we showed a flashback scene of the sister about to commit suicide and giving the bracelet as it would create more enigma because it would create more questions for the audience.

Research and Planning- Filming (test shots)

After we had researched and planned we were ready to film. However, we used this as our test shots but we filmed it as if it were our real film so that if we needed or wanted to we could use some of those shots in our film opening. Overall we followed the basic shots of the storyboard, however as it was considered as our test shots, we also experimented with different types of shots to use for our film opening, this enabled us to have a variety of shots which we could choose from. We then put the film together on imovie to roughly see what it would look like. We were very pleased with how it looked within the shots used and the continuity. As a group we debated whether we should film when it is quite bright or gloomy, we decided to film it early in the morning when it was sunny as the music would go with it and it would also connote the mood of the film opening, when it is quite 'dazed' and 'lost' at the same time, it made the character stand out also as she was wearing quite dark clothes.

Research and Planning- Music

As a group we researched the type of music used in films with the similar style and genre to ours, mainly thriller which could go well to our film. We decided that it would be best to have a soundtrack which was just instrumental without any vocals as we wanted to create the enigma and suspense in the opening of our film, also in order to create the right mood which relates to the character 'Crystal'. One member of the group suggested a soundtrack from 'The Dark Knight Rises' which was 'On thin Ice' as it did not have vocals and we thought it would go very well with our film opening as it sounded mysterious and gave a 'lost' feeling to the audience as the character is 'lost' in some way.

However, we could not get permission for using this certain soundtrack. Instead, our teacher notified that there is a website which has all sorts of soundtracks from Moby Gratis: http://www.mobygratis.com/

We did not have to pay for these soundtracks, we only had to explain what we needed the music for in order for us to be allowed to have the certain soundtrack which we wanted. Throughout hearing the many different soundtracks, we noted down the ones which we thought would go well in out film opening. Eventually we shortened down our list of favourites and we all agreed on one certain track which is called 'Live Forever', this track was quite slow and did not have any vocals and gave a sense of mystery which we wanted for our film opening.

http://www.mobygratis.com/catalog?title=live+forever&field_album_tid=All&field_instrument_tid=All&field_tempo_tid=All&field_type_tid=All&field_mood_tid=All&field_genre_tid=All

Research and Planning- Example of screenplay

Whilst trying to create our screenplay, as a group we looked at an example of a screenplay for a film, the example we used was from 'Twilight', this enabled us to write our screenplay by following the example and ensuring it is the close it can be to a real screenplay.
http://www.imsdb.com/scripts/Twilight.html

Research and Planning- Storyboard

 

Our first story board, I personally drew it, but got help from the rest of my group to guide me with what type of shots to use and what we all decided together what should be on the storyboard. It told the narrative of the story and also included a variety of shots such as extreme close up, close up, long shot and pan shot. We also tried to estimate the time of each scene.  

Research and Planning- Actors, locations, costumes and props

A member of our group wanted to be in the film opening, so we decided that she would be the main character called "Crystal" and we were going to have a boy play the brother in the film, however we decided to change it to sister instead and we chose to have another member of the group to play her which was easier as we would be together filming anyway so we would not have to be worried if someone else playing the sister could not make it.

The location we wanted to use was the same location as our old idea, as the location had a lot of scenery and the bridge which was the main part of our film. We chose this location as it was a quiet place where no one really goes to, and it creates more of a mystery in the film as to why the character 'Crystal' is there.

We chose the costume for 'Crystal' to be quite casual as she is a teenager who would wear casual clothes, such as jeans or leggings, top, jacket and possibly a scarf as the time of filming was in the morning and in January. We also chose the same for the sister, as she was also a teenager, however we chose darker coloured clothes for her as she was about to commit suicide therefore connoting death, darkness, negative and mystery.

The prop we had to have for our film opening was a bracelet which was also an important element in the film as it was a bracelet given to 'Crystal' by her sister, however 'Crystal' can not remember that but knows that it is important/significant to her and in the rest of the film she starts to remember the meaning of the bracelet.

Research and Planning- Initial Ideas

As a group we developed a new idea for our film opening, as our other film opening contained too much for an opening for two minutes and it was unrealistic. We then received feedback from our teacher on how to develop the idea, however, as a group we came up with a complete new idea which received positive feedback. After putting all the ideas together to create the story of the film, we decided to have the title of our film as 'Amnesia' as it is what the character suffers from and it creates more mystery/enigma.

Research and Planning- Animatic storyboard