Short Film 'House 42': Final Draft

Short Film 'House 42': Third Draft

Weekly Update

Last week the editing was completed on our film and we were able to transfer it onto the DVD. We had also uploaded our final draft onto YouTube so that we were able to gather back feedback for our Post-Questionnaire. We will now individually be starting our Evaluations.

Directors Journal

On the 18th october 2011, we began filming our production ‘House Forty Two’ a short horror film, which is the genre that we had all agreed on. Camera Woman Katy Kennedy, Director Hannah Molloy-Herat and editor Sereena Lewis had met at the location, 42 Aldborough road South at approximately 4pm with our cast, protagonist Helena Morais and Natalya Martin.

After Katy Kennedy had set up and prepared the camera, we then went into the bathroom so that we could apply Helena’s makeup. Her makeup consisted of talcum powder in order to give her an eerie ghostly effect. We also used black eye liner on her lips and around her eyes as well as dripping blood (food colouring) from her eyes so this would emphasise the chilling, creepy effect that we wanted her to give off. She had also put her costume on which was a long white nightdress which had been designed too look as if there was blood on it, fitting in with the conventions of protagonists within many horror films.

Due to the camera being set up already, this meant that we could begin filming straight away. We entered the first bedroom, which would be the first scene of our film, and Camera Woman Katy Kennedy had got into position to start filming. Hannah Molloy-Herat had got into position as she was also in the film as well as being the director. This is due to her taking place of another individual who was not able to film that day. Although the storyboard was available, as the director, I had to make sure the Camerawomen could vision the production that I wanted, and the angles and shots that I wanted this short horror film to be consisted of. So myself, in collaboration with Katy Kennedy were able to figure out what the most effective way to film this production was. I was in charge of the rest of the crew and had to make sure that they knew what they were doing, knowing their lines as well as following my directions of when to start and stop acting.

Within the opening scene, I had decided to use various Close-up shots such as ones of their hands gripping together as well as a close-up of both of the characters eyes. I believe these close-ups were effective within the beginning of the film as it meant that the audience would be able to establish the fear that these two individual characters were encountering. Another shot, which I believe was used effectively within our piece was the point of view shot. At the time, you are able to see the ‘presence’ behind the protagonist, which then turns into a point of view shot when she briskly turns around to see what is behind her. It allows the audience to feel scared for the character as they know what is in the house but can see that the character is unable to see it, building up suspense and tension. The main shots that we used were close-ups of the antagonist faces, fitting in with the conventions a typical horror, showing the fear that these characters felt and allowing the audience to also feel this. We also used various other shots, regularly moving and re positioning the tri-pod in order to test numerous shots and angles in order to see which ones were best.

Throughout my role as director, I was constantly giving directions in which I believed would benefit our film and engage the target audience that we wanted to engage. I believe that all of the crew and cast worked very well together, taking and following directions that I had given, effectively. I feel that throughout the filming process I was able to take on the dominant speaking role highlighting what I wanted and expected from this film as well as allowing other individuals to express their ideas. I was very confident in conveying what I wanted, as without this confidence I wouldn’t have been able to fulfill the role as director effectively. Although everyone began getting tired of filming, and we had to keep moving and reapplying makeup, everyone worked very well together, supporting each other in order to get the best out of one another. We all individually developed our skills in time management as well as being able to work well within a team.

Fonts Used

Fonts Used

Short Film 'House 42': Second Draft

Weekly Updates - Week

This week we made a budget so we could keep track of all the money we needed to spend. We then got a letter of permission for the persons house we wanted to use. Also we got an actor release forms written and sent to the actors we wanted to use.
When all of the above was completed we produced the shooting schedule to let us and the actors know when and where were filming.

weekly Update - week 4

This week we took pictures for our ancillary tasks (Poster and Film Review.) We also did some research on the 180 Degree rule, this would help us whilst filming. We came up with a name for our production team and created a logo that would accompany our film and be present on any Facebook group or Twitter page. This would help people identify which group we are in as there are 2 other media groups that also made a film. We came up with a list of Software that we used to create and edit our film and posted it to the group blog.

Short Film 'House 42': First Draft

Weekly Updates - Week 3

This week we created some ideas for the film and then created a script. We changed a few things to make sure the story line flowed and was in order. This created a second draft of the script. We then looked for possible cast members. We chose drama students because they were reliable and we had seen them act before. we then decided who was director, camera person and editor. After choosing our actors we realized one of the actors needed changing so we changed her to our director as she did drama as well and was always available the same time as us.

Swot Analysis

SWOT

Actor Release Form 3

Acor Release Form - Helena Morias

Actor Release Form 2

Actor Release Form - Natalya Martin

Actor Release Form 1

Actor Release Form - Hannah Molloy-Herat

Prop Notes

Within our production we will not need to use many major props but we still need a couple to enhance the narrative.

Walking Stick:
This is a walking stick made out of ash tree.
One of the girls will be using this prop, picking it up as a weapon to defend herself on hearing a noise within the corridor.

Remote contol:
This is one of the main props that will help bring the story together. One of the girls will find this laying on the floor in the corridor, and is startled as she doesnt know how it had got there.

Mobile Phone:
It does not have to be this specific phone, but one will be used when the other gilr goes upstairs to retrieve it, leaving her friend on her own.

Call Sheet

Call Sheet

Target Audience Research

Who is our Target Audience? on Prezi

Narative Theory: Todorov and Propp

Todorov and Propp

This sort of structure can be related to manycontemporary popular films and to an extent can also be related to our own.

In relation to our own film, the state of equilibrium will be the two girls who are asleep within the bed. When Natalya hears the banging noise and then Hannah begins to hear it this would be considered as the second stage of equilibrium, a disruption within the film by the action. When they both decide to go and search for what this noise may be this represents the two characters recognising that there has been a disruption in equilibrium. By the two girls going on search for what the noise may be and Natalya going upstairs to retrieve her phone this highlights the two girls trying to solve the disruption that has occured. The last stage would be a reinstatement of the equilibrium but this is not shown within teh film as it end on a cliff hanger and only shows the two girls being taken.

Narrative Theory: Barthes and Strauss

Narrative Theory on Prezi

We had followed Barthes theory of binary opposites by conveying the contrast between good and evil, the girls and the presence. This theory is a common convention that is displayed throughout many horror films so we believed in order for the audience to establish genre, we believe that we needed this.

StoryBoard

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