Progress Report 4 ....Amal

This week my group started uploading the shots from our camera so we can start editing, as I was ill I missed out on in, but they tell that they are still uploading the shots and it's taking long because we have so many shots that we need to sit down and go through them. Although we have already discussed what shots are needed or not, there is still some that we can't decide.

Hopefull next week when I come back to school, we will be able to decide what we need and start editing our film properly. But if we continue to work the way we are working now, then I believe we will receive a good final production.

.. Test screening feedback Report ..

We showed our first few shots that we had took from our filming. We showed the class some practice shots of us trying to see what angles the shot we want would look better in along with some practice lighting shots. We also showed them our love interest scenes and the different angles we used those shots in.

Their feedback for us was that :-

• In Media Language we had grades A + B only. which means what we are doing for our media language part of our film is good and we should carry on because we have been given high marks for it.
• In Conventions, we were given grades A, B + C (the mojority being a and b). this shows us that the class enjoyed the horror conventions we had, but perhaps they werent shot at the best of our ability or we need more than just the standard conventions to improve.
• In Creativity, we were given the highest marks of A+, A and B. This shows that our creative shots and ideas have made a big impact on the audience in which they would obviously like to see more of.
• In our attention to detail we got high marks of A's + B's.
• In our techinical profiency we got A, B and C. this was because in the shots we showed the class, some were pratice shots in which we did not use the tripod and had the camera in free hand and the other shots were proper shots of were the tripod was in use and the camera was steady.
  

The good comments we received were that:-

• We had good framework wich gave us effective shots to use for our trailer. they way we positioned our shots and the angles in which we had our camera held in, would be very useful to us to help fit the genre of the film and add to its typical horror conventions.
• We had good edits. the way in which we cut our film into the next shot looked real and scary to fit our genre and keep the audience in suspense or a tense mood so we should carry on creating the rest of our shots this way, with fast edits.
• We used our horror concepts really well that it would match our target audience and appeal to them along with make obvious to them our genre movie by using typical concepts such as dark lighting, blurring figures, shadows, etc.
• The way in which we used high key lighting and background lighting was very effective in giving off the horror effect and giving us a very good shot. The class said it was the best thing we have done from what they have seen so far and very creative from their perspective. They also encouraged us to carry on experimenting with our lighting to give off very effective shots just like the one we showed them.
• We had a love interest which was good because it would appeal to both genders of male and female so we can have a wider range of audience and we are not limited to whom our trailer attracts.
• We have a variety of shots all taken from different angles but of the same scenes so we have many options and many choices to make when we start to edit our shots. This will alow us to make our trailer seem more real and allow us to see all our opportunities on what looks good and what doesnt.
• We used a natural background which was good becuase it would allow our audience to identify with familiar settings (a school) and looked realistic since the age of our actors are of those who would be in a school and the target audience we are trying to attract are of similair age so it would again allow the audience to identifiy with the actors more.
• We showed all of our charactres in the trailer and we made it very clear who was who and who played what role in the movie. we made clear who was the love interest, who was the victum and the we left an enigma of who the killer is since he is never shown which also added to the typical horrow convention.
• We had the actors in typical clothing of a west london teenage going to school so not only does it relate to our target audeince for them to identify with the actors more, but it helps make the trailer seem more real since everything has been made to look so realistic.
  

The criticisms we received were that:-

• We should use the tripod more to make our shots more steady to allow them to look better and more proffesional, along with allowing us to get a wider range of shots since alot can be done with a tripod.
• We should take some more shots outside of the school premisis to just make the trailer become a little more expanded and ranged becuase having only one setting can make the film seem boring or expected of future 'horror' events.
• We should use more props to fulfill the expectations of the horror conventions of a horror film to its full extent rather then keep it limited or even basic.
• We should try to use more grim ligting to add to make the genre of the film being a horror realy come across and stand out so its more significant and notified by the target audience. also it would help add to the horror conventions adding to help create the horror genre.
• We should try to have some sound in the trailer such as dialogue to make the films narrative come through so the audience can have a sense of whats going on or what the movie could possibly be about to attract them even more towards the film.
• We should make sure that whilst shooting there are no disruptions because in one of our shots they are outside interferance of people walking past the camera and just ruins the realness of the shot so we should pay a little more attention to detail of the scene and make sure everything is precisely choreographed to fulfil the expectations of making our trailer seem real.
• We should also follow more horror conventions such as darker shots or 'scary' backgrounds such as dark places or alleys, becuase it would allow the audience to automatically see that our movie is a horror genre and it will make the movie have more of a 'scary' vibe.
  

The suggestions we received from our audience and what they would like to see in our next test screening was that:-

• They would prefer to see shorter scenes because longer scenes dont fit the hole horror genre and long scenes would loose the interests of the audience

• We should consider a voice-over or a sound tack of a low beat to fit the genre of the film and help biuld up the horror conventions or to keep the trailer in suspense for the audience to lure them in to see the film.

Progress Report 3 ツ - Jaleesa

(16/02/09 - 22/02/09)

We have finally finished filming =D... even though it took ages. Myself and Amal met up over half-term and continued filming some more horror shots such as the stalker and some blood scenes, which in itself was a long process >:[ anyways, we went up some hills which was sooooo long and scary (no details are needed) and got followed by a little boy who wanted Amal's phone (LOL!!!). We're gonna start editing soon which is gonna take ages as we're not quite sure on where to place the shots so far but we are sure on what sound we want to use and whether there is going to be any dialogue. We also started logging our shots which took pretty long (once again!) as we had to keep rewinding the tape to see where stuff started and stopped and having to see whether things would need to be re-shot or not, but we managed to do it. I'm just glad I don't have to attach the camera to the tripod anymore, it was too hard, well for me anyways :x

All in all, I am very proud of the progress my group has made so far and can't wait to start editing =) 

Progress Report 3....Amal

(13/02/09-22/02/09)

During the half term we completed our film, although other members of our group were away we still managed to complete our film to the standard we wanted. We filmed our last scene in many different and strange places like some loonngg hill which took forever to climb (lol), and in my sisters house as we needed a pretty creepy place, although we did most of the shots at night and in some alleyways which in fact was scary but helped because it will give our film a bit more edge to it. So now we have completed our film, after days and nights of continuous bickering we started to log our film on a log-sheet which will help us when it comes to editing (which I can't wait for, because thats the best part), and even though it took us ages to write them down we finally managed to complete it.

All in all I had fun even though it took long and hard work to make it happen, but now we have to concentrate on editing and giving our film that last bit touch to make it some what perfect (i hope).

Progress Report 2 ツ - Jaleesa

(09/02/09 - 15/02/09)

We have made good progress this week, both as a group and as individuals. We decided to sit down as a group and discuss what we should film during the course of this week and when we should film. Our main filming day was Tuesday, where we stayed after school to do more of our filming and where we also went out of school to carry on with our filming. We mainly focused on the girl being tied up to the chair and her also running, which was good as these are our main horror shots, we decided to film her from different angles so we would have a variety of shots to decide on which ones look better when it comes to the stage where we have to edit our production. We were also able to film more shots of the girl on Wednesday where we took the opportunity of filming her at the Youth's Against Bullying event, as we wanted to get shots of her being at a type of party where she would be dancing and looking as though she was having a good time.

As individuals, we each decided to take the camera home and film our own shots that would help to contribute to our final production. We have also established what each shot is going to be about so that when it comes to our final week of filming we know when, where and what to shoot which as result gives us a wide range of footage to edit.

Progress Report 2...Amal

(09/02/09 - 15/02/09)

So we have shot all the footage we needed in school which helped us also because we only had a week left in school so we needed to work quickly. We all managed to work together as a group despite the fact we only had a week left in school, but we pulled it off. We are now at the stage when we feel we can re-shoot some scenes as we have enough footage to create our trailer, although there are some aspects of what we have filmed that need to be changed or deleted. We will be preparing ourselves for 1 week of continuous filming and trying to explore different methods to have the aspects of mise-en-scene in our trailer. I feel as though we are working well as group even though we have had our ups and downs we have managed to complete what we intended to do initially. For the next week we plan to continue following our schedule and completing the film during the half term.

Overall I am very proud of my group and I am proud of what i have achieved within this task, as I have developed skills like being able to direct and using the camera, also my listening skills have improved in this task as I was able to listen to my group which helped us get on very well. What we intend to do during the half term is complete the finishing touches to our film and start our log sheet.

.. Progress Report .. Meena

So far, my groups ideas are really good but this past week the weather and my throat infection have caused some delayments to our filming schedule, but besides all that we have kept in contact and have re-organised all our plans to make sure we catch up on what we missed out so we do not fall behind and use every opportunity wisely and accordingly before school is closed and we dont have the school environment to shoot in anymore. We have come across some stresses and problems but have come up with a solution for it all so we are back on schedule and ready to start shooting properly to schedule on Monday. So far we have achieved some practice shots to figure out how we can get the shot we want and what angles they look best in and a number of shots that we need in the school environment. Althought they aren't definite shots, we still have those as a range for ideas of just in case (they could be of use). The next step is to carry out filming according to the schedule and get alot more shots completed before the end of this week.

Overall I think we haven't achieved everything but that is due to reasonable set backs, but we are ready and prepared and have made solutions to make sure we do not fall behind and achieve everything that should be achieved by this point of time into our production such as shooting more scenes and completely shooting at least two of scenes for our film.

Progress Report... ツ- Amal

We initially planned on filming for the week as we had planned what and when we were filming, however due to bad weather and school closure we decided on planning more of our shots. When we came back to school we knew what we were filming and when as we had thoroughly planned it out. So we started on filming all the school shots as we only had a week to film the school shots, which went very well because we got what we wanted, although it did take 6 or 7 times to shoot one scene but we enjoyed it. The hardest shots we probably encountered so far were when we were shooting a scene when some boys were playing football as we kept asking them to move out the way. We hope to finish all the school shots this week and start filming outside school and cover everything we need so we don't have to come back and film again.

Overall I think we achieved what we wanted so far although we do need to continue with the schedule and keeping on working at this level to achieve a good production and for it to be easier when we come to edit.

Progress Report ツ - Jaleesa

(02/02/09 - 08/02/09)

We weren't able to start filming when we originally planned due to the school being closed as a result of the weather but we were able to discuss what types of shots we want. So far we have done some shots of Meena (who is our main character) with her boyfriend and friends, we filmed various shots from different angles of her with her friends in the LRA and her boyfriend to show the audience that she is the protagonist within the film and the central character so that the events which will take place within our trailer will be mainly based around her. We haven't been able to do much filming due to some members of our group being absent but we managed to discuss what sort of lighting we want in our trailer and what parts of the trailer we want that specific lighting in.

As a whole, I think that our filming has been good due to us being able to develop our skills and being able to contribute a bunch of ideas of what props should be used, what sound should be used and what costumes should be worn which will allow the audience to get a look in on the mise-en-scène.

Shooting Schedule - Week 2

Monday = Filming During P3, P4 and After School

Tuesday = Filming After School

Wednesday = Filming During P3 and Lunch

Thursday = Filming During P3, P4 and Lunch

Friday = No Filming

Saturday = Filming During 1 pm - 5 pm

Sunday = Filming During 1 pm - 5 pm

.. Shooting Schedule .. - Week 1

Monday = p3 + p4
Tuesday = not available
Wednesday = not p3
Thursday = p3 + p4
Friday = not available
Saturday = 2pm - 8pm
Sunday = 2pm - 8pm

After school Monday - Thursday = 4pm - 6pm
After school Friday = 4pm - 7pm