My group and I started the editing process. After filming sessions we made sure to go back to the Media Studios and upload the footage from the camera we have used onto a Mac; this will allow us to stay organised and efficient keeping all of the footage in one space at school. We can all view this footage as well so when we have free time we can join together as a group and edit footage together saving time.
We started initial editing stages by looking through all of the footage we have filmed, looking out for out of focus footage and wobbly footage when the tripod could have been placed unevenly. Looking out for errors such as these will allow us to stay efficient as we will know if we need to re-film footage and plan ahead.
My group and I travelled to St George's Church Cemetery in Esher, Surrey to film the grave yard scene for our film trailer. The shots we had to film included an establishing shot of the grave yard visibly showing the church in the background and head stone creating a sinister, dark and negative feel to the trailer as well as an extreme close up shot of Marcus (who plays Aaron, Sydney's brother). The extreme close up shot of Aaron (looking at Sydney's grave stone) would convey a strong sense of sadness, vulnerability and bereavement creating an emotional yet questionable atmosphere. This questionable atmosphere being created would attract and address audiences to come and view them film as they would be wondering why Aarons sister died and whether he played a role in her death. We decided that it would be appropriate to film the same shots as before when Marcus and I filmed. We experiment with different camera angles and shots, going against the shot list, however we both thought it would be useful to have a variety of different camera angles and shots when we come to edit the footage just in case some shots were out of focus and we could use some of the new shots instead. Camera angles and shots we also filmed included:
1. A planning, close up shot of Marcus sitting on a bench in the cemetery highlighting his vulnerability, isolation and loneliness in the empty cemetery. 2. A one person, tracking shot of Marcus opening the cemetery gate and walking towards his sister, Sydney's grave, taking off his leather jacket and placing it on the grave. 3. A point of view shot of Marcus opening the gate of the cemetery, walking through the grave yard (with his trainers visible in the camera shot) showing the head stone of grave as well as him placing his leather jacket onto the grave stone. 4. A panoramic, panning shot of the grave yard showing the church and grave stone visibly in the background. Below I made a collage of the photos I took whilst filming using Fotor. Fotor is an extremely useful tool, like PicMonkey, that allows me to make a variety of different eye-catching and colourful collages of photographs I have taken attracting and addressing audiences to my blog.
Below are a selection of videos I took using my iPhone of shooting at the grave yard.
My group and I decided that we would re-film the grave yard scenes I had originally filmed with Marcus in October. We decided this would be appropriate as the footage we had filmed was too out of focus to be used. I noticed this when we had uploaded the footage onto the Mac as the screen was larger and had a high resolution compared to the compact screen on the SLR camera. Although this costed us some valuable time when we could have been editing footage, we thought it would be necessary to film as it was the establishing scenes.
Previous to filming the grave yard scene at St George's Church Cemetery, Esher, Surrey we visited the church to check whether it would be suitable for filming. We wanted to create an eerie, vacant and 'abandoned' feel to the scene. We agreed that from visiting the location prior to filming we would have an organised, realistic feel of the scene before starting filming; we had an idea about what the grave yard scene would visually look like. We also thought that it would be appropriate for us to go back to the grave yard and view the location prior to filming in case of any changes to the church or building work contracted around the church making disruptive, wild sound to our scenes.
HERE is a post on filming the grave yard scene originally in October. I have updated the film trailers Instagram account with photographs taken recently of filming and the editing stages of the trailer project, in turn attracting and addressing our audience. The Instagram page can be found HERE or on the right hand side of my blog roll.
Below are a selection of videos I have recorded of the grave yard on my iPhone.
In class we viewed the film trailer for a new, upcoming film due to be released in December 2015 called Bridge of Spies (Steven Spielberg, 2015), starring Tom Hanks. We noticed how complex a film trailer (or professional trailer) is to make and how many shots were used throughout the film. We counted a total of 110 shots used including a variety of establishing shots, close up shots, mid shots and tracking shots - used to convey the storyline and codes and conventions.
By viewing professional film trailers, such as the one above, I have a clearer understanding of how professional film trailers look like and how much effort goes into making a professional trailer attracting and addressing audiences. It allows me to have a better understanding of how I make my film trailer look professional, like Bridge of Spies.
Whilst I was reading The Guardian Newspaper I came across a film poster for Bridge of Spies. This is part of the P&A campaign for the film attracting and addressing audiences. After researching the Visual Hierarchy of Poster Design - click HERE to find my blog post - and completing 3 poster analysis' ( I am working on 3 more) for Black SwanHERE, One DayHERE, StokerHERE, I have a clear understanding of how I will layout my film poster and what visual reading design I will use such as the Z shape (viewing the poster from left to right in a Z shape) or a F pattern ( viewing the poster in a shape of an F going back to the starting point on the left hand side).
Bridge of Spies P&A I found in The Guardian newspaper
I asked on social media platforms for feedback on my production company ident. Asking for feedback will allow us to have a better understanding on what our audience likes and dislikes (to improve our shots); allowing us to have a high chance of producing a successful film trailer attracting audiences to come and watch the film at the exhibition stages.
As of yet, I haven't had any feedback given on social media platforms, however Diana Bradford, 53, Surrey who doesn't have Instagram or Twitter commented saying "I like the quick speed of the ident, it is eye-catching and definitely attracts my attention. Also I looked at the research and planning stages of the production ident, and I thought that it was really interesting how the group transformed their ideas into a unique, dramatic and impressive moving picture. Well done!".
I also asked:
Peter Surma, 55, Cardiff, "I love how quick and unique this ident is! I love how you have incorporated an earth in the motion picture!"
Freya Surma-Litchfield, 20, Cardiff, "I would never able to produce an ident like that! I love how the title 'Blacklight Productions' - its really unique and grabs my attention".
Gabriella Evans, 16, London, "I love the spinning earth!".
Lillian Evans, 16, London, "I love the spinning earth too - it looks really professional! It reminds me of the Pixar ident with the turning lamp. The Pixar ident is memorable; I think yours would be too with audiences!".
I posted this on Instagram and interconnected with Twitter allowing me to have a variety of feedback from people of different ages, genders and locations in the world
I
was set the task to organise the call sheets throughout our filming and
construction process. I have typed up the Call Sheets including the
date of the shoot, location (with a map to help people know the route to
travel to the location), crew to be attending the shoot with contact
details, equipment used further promoting people to remember to bring
the camera, tripod and lights home from the Media Studies studios as
well as props and costume to wear. By completing a call sheet this will
make myself and my group organised for future shoots so we don't miss
deadlines.
I firstly asked 2 members of my Media Studies class (female aged between 17-18 years old) to watch my film trailer and comment on the time lapse taken in London.
Below is the example I asked them to comment on - taken on my iPhone.
Ellen Scott(18 years old): "That's cool".
Eliza Tracey (18 years old): "I love the fact you have filmed it in both daylight and night - it's really eye-catching".
I also showed members of my family the time-lapse clip and asked for feedback. The people I asked in my family don't use social media platforms so noted their responses.
Olivia Jenkins (45 years old): "I love the fast paced energy of the clip! It is eye-catching, professional looking and atmospheric - it makes me want to come to London more often!"
Pheona Thomas (43 years old): "Since you have told me about the storyline of your film(trailer), I know that London is a key focus....and even character - I think this is a unique idea! I love it when the clip transitions into the night making the river Thames light up from the boats and buildings lights - this grabs my attention!"
Vanessa Gadsby (47 years old): "I love watching Scandi-Noir crime programmes including The Bridge and Wallander. This clip reminded me of the opening of The Bridge - I can see that you have researched effective atmospheric features of trailers and film/television opening credits".
HERE is a link a blog post on the research I independently completed on the Scandi-Noir genre.
Angela Surma (50 years old): "I love the time lapse effect! It's really effective as it creates a fast paced, quick and energetic feel; suitable to the London scene! Well done Kate and your group!".
From receiving feedback from a diverse range of people of different ages (18 years old to 50 years old), I have a clearer understanding of what only my target audience and other audiences enjoy about shots of my film trailer. I also have a clearer idea of what I have to continue to produce, further attracting and addressing my target audience effectively creating a buzz pre-release.
