Our Thoughts on the Thriller

Mitchel, Cory, and myself all got together and shared our thoughts on the thriller opening as we watched through it, deciding it'd be useful information for our blogs, we then decided to record our opinions and make the following video:

We hope you find this interesting, we found it useful to look back and see where we could improve or alternate our methods of making the film.

Final Piece

Here it is, the final edit for the opening of "Through the Glass", from Absolutely Productions, in association with Redstar Productions.

We've worked hard on this and, from everyone involved, we hope that you enjoy it!

First Draft Audience Response

We showed our first draft to some other members of the sixth form, and filmed their responses to what we've made. This is the video compilation of their responses that we'll use to improve for our final piece.

First Draft

The following is the first draft of our Opening to"Through the Glass", we already noticed some issues with continuity, and intend to sort these using editing for the final piece. we will try to avoid re-filming anything as much as possible in order to save time.

This would also be how problems like this would be solved in real film industry, due to the cost of re-shooting a scene being so high (this can be because of the cost of props or camera uses as well as paying actors)

Filming day

The following photos were taken on the day that we went into Chesterfield town centre to film our thriller opening, I have given some context to each photo or set of photos.

These first two were taken at the information centre, the first looking down the street opposite toward the market hall, and the second looking down the opposite road and past the shop, the second photo was actually where we lined the camera up for one of our shots to be taken.

Once we had finished filming by the Information Centre, we then moved on to the other side of town (near to the salvation army shop), where we set up the camera for the next scene, pictured is executive producer Cory setting up the tripod for the shot. All three of us are in this scene so we had to start recording then move to make it.

Here we have Imogen getting ready to play her role in the scene as our ghost.

We then went down the road to the Antique Centre, where we filmed our last Scene. Here is Cory checking out some of the things on sale before filming.

We decided after filming to take a quick look around at some of the things on offer in the shop, there were some really interesting things there.

All in all, it was a good day, we got all the filming done and had a good time. Imogen and I decided to look like "media farmers" for a photo. And we had a group photo too.

Storyboard and Screenplay

Hello!
This is the video of our group's original storyboard, this was made before Isaac left the group so, naturally, features him and details shots that we intended to take with him in them. this meant that we had to rewrite the storyboard to fit around cast changes as well as screenplay and scripting changes.



The revised storyboard will be featured in a future post, hopefully it will be better presented and show our opening in a more clear way.

The following is the original Screenplay for the opening of our thriller (Through the Glass). this includes Isaac and Liam's parts, meaning that this also had to be rewritten as well as the storyboard:

Screenplay – Through the Glass –

“One month earlier” – MAYBE.

Ambient sounds of birds whistling to traffic. Potential of discordant music – foreshadow – black screen.

Fades in on Mitchel, Isaac, Cory and Jaden in separate scenes walking around Chesterfield, cross-cutting on and off of each character. Elucidated below:

Selected music plays.

Cory walks out of McDonalds.

Jaden walks out of Game.

Isaac walks out of Tallbirds.

Mitchel walks out of River Island. (All locations are subliminally relevant to each character).

(Progressive music should employ mysterious persona as they are travelling to the destination delineated).

Long shots of Cory walking. POV shots of Isaac. Progressive pan of Jaden. Aerial shot of Mitchel (gorilla grip on a lamppost for instance from the right – looking left).

Finally, a shot of the foursome walking towards the camera until they cover the screen. However, the screen should be split in four (2x2 grid) and each character still in their general respective locations.

Ultimately on their way to back of The Portland Hotel – which is virtually next to antique centre.

Cuts to friendly meet up – long shots and patting backs.  Diegetic sounds.

Jaden: “Does anyone even go in that place?”

Cuts to us walking towards the camera which is across the road – the foursome walks towards the camera.

Insert of opening door handle – match on action process in entering the store.

Fades into cross cuts of different items around the shop (three or four. Old fashioned filter, slow motion of price tag swinging to look more ominous) montage of the different items.

Slow motion effect needs to be prominent – sudden shift in the persona. Perhaps some blurred shifting slow motion like hallucination.

Mid shots of Jaden, Isaac and Mitchel looking at/ picking up different items.

Cuts to us Cory finding and picking up ‘the glasses’.

Unnerving music as Cory puts the glasses on curiously, but slowly. Not really slowly but takes him about 3 seconds. Cory needs to be looking down whilst putting them.

POV shot of Cory – looks up to Mitchel and Isaac and sees Liam (ghost) behind Mitchel and Isaac, in between our shoulders – looking demonic, possessed.

Instantaneously drops camera down in a fast motion (because the vision of Liam) and heartbeats begin.

Cuts  

Darkness with slight little white flickers maybe. With text – “Based on a true story”.

Discordant sounds when the text is present.

(This should be the first title to appear because it adds impact if the first title to appear is “Based on a true story”. It also gives opportunity for the titles to roll in the following scenes in a shot/reverse shot which would apply authenticity).

Cuts to walking into Jaden’s front door – mid shot of the foursome (camera behind them). Cory would be the last one in the house and might hear unfamiliar sounds, or as if he heard his name shouted. So a close up of Cory’s face which has turned around – he appears confused and agitated about what he heard – Cory’s facial expression needs to be clear to audience.

POV shot of walking up to Jaden’s bedroom. Low key lighting – or no lights on – dark; maybe a few dim lamps on but that’s Music should endue tension, and music should reach a climax until Isaac slams the bedroom door shut and says “right”. Music instantaneously stops when the door closes.

Cuts to Jaden’s bedroom – Spacious, old, wooden furniture. Double bed in centre and dimly lit.

Table or something in centre as we ring around it – discussing the glasses.

High angle shot of the foursome discussing the glasses – perhaps a gorilla grip suspended on a curtain rod which is high up.  

Text present – “A WMN Production, in association with Redstar”. In the bottom left corner of the screen – same font used as the heartbeat interlude. 4 seconds - or until the next scene begins, or fades away as next scene begins.

Shot/reverse shot of the foursome – exchanging regular and irregular utterances. Because Cory is still in the state of shock and is agitated from the ghost sighting. The titles will still be rolling in this section, perhaps cast and director of photography, make up etc.

The others saw the ghost too in the section the audience can’t see (the part in the antique centre) – and it’s not a matter of that they don’t believe him. This is why they’re discussing the origins of the glasses – and thinking about what they should do with them.

~30 seconds of discussion, for example:

“Why did we decide to bring this with us?”

“Because we can see spirits through them! Think about what we could do with these!”

“That’s ridiculous, we should dispose of it really, but how?”

For instance.  

Cory wouldn’t say much in this section because he’s still in distress. He may be looking down appearing sorrowful, or want to contribute to the ‘disposal’ of the glasses.

The characters need to be frightened and cautious of touching the glasses – because they understand the power they have with them.

Sudden bang as Mitchel is talking – interrupted.

They instantly assume it’s nothing and Mitchel carries on talking. This is soon to change when they hear a much louder bang – above their heads.

The foursome look around cautiously and in distress, speculating what the noise was, starting to wonder what the noise was.

Close up/mid shot of the foursome in separate shots. In the order of Cory, Mitchel, Isaac and Jaden. 3 seconds each.

When it’s on Jaden, there’s an extra second and then Liam needs to appear – cuts off – end of the opening.

“Through the Glass” may appear. (Same font).

Group Responsibilities

As part of planning for our production, we have all decided what our different responsibilities are. This is important as it makes it easier to then get things done and get them done quickly as and when they are needed.


Mitchel:
Mitchel wrote up the Screenplay and the Storyboard for us to follow. He is also the Director of Photography (D.O.P.)


Cory:
Cory is the Camera Operator, He filmed a lot of the scenes in our production.


Jaden:
I produced and designed the titling to be used in the production opening, as well as assisting with editing.

We are all partially involved in acting and editing, and it is important to note that we lost a member of the group. Isaac, previously a member of the group, has left school and has cut ties with anything to do with the production, meaning that he can't participate any more in the production.