Test Shots: Group Scene

Weekly Update

Monday 18th October As this is the last week before we break up for half-term, our aim is to try and get as much filming done as possible, so that we can spend the half-term working on blogger and the editing after the break, to ensure we finish our coursework on time. Today we filmed the corridor shot where Stacey talks with her friends and hears voices in her head and appears puzzled and lost around her friends. For this shot we used a medium close up and over the shoulder shot, to bring us closer to the actors. We used two members of a different group in media to be Stacey's friends for the reason that it is highly convenient for us, as using people who are non-media students is highly unreliable as it is unlikely for them to always be available every time we need them to film, or for that re-doing shots. We also used random students to be in the background of the shot, as we hoped we would get the shots we needed all in one take. Filming these shots took a very long time to try to film, as the lighting in the corridor is very unbalanced and we had to be very careful about the placement of the lighting so as to prevent it being seen on camera. We used two big lights and one small light to light the corridor, which still showed up on the camera as not enough and so this meant changing the camera shot from a long shot which was our first intention to a medium close-up. As we didn't achieve the shots we wanted and we have decided to continue filming into the next lesson.

Test Shots: Door Scene

The video above contains the test shots of one of the scenes for production of our trailer. We shot the scene a various number of times so that we could have a variety of shots to pick from some shots of high-quality and some shots were not up to standard. The video shows a few of these shots, and the shot which we chose to use.
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These two shots (Shot 1 MS, Shot 2 MCU), were shot in two different shots this allowed us to pick the best shot which best suited the narrative.
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Shot 4 (MCU) was not a good shot to a great extent because the shot was not in focus which did not create the narrative we wished to create. We wanted the audience to notice the door handle in immense detail.
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Shot 5 (MS) was shot at a low angle, so we could experiment with the type of narrative it would create. The only disadvantage of this shot was the shadow that was created by the lights.

Test Shots: Janitors Closet

The video above contains the test shots of one of the first scenes which shot in the production of our trailer. We shot the scene a various number of times so that we could have a variety of shots to pick from some shots of high-quality and some shots were not up to standard. The video shows a few of these shots, and the shot which we chose to use.
After trying various locations for the scene, we believed this location best helped create the gritty, tense, mysterious atmosphere we were trying to create, mainly because of the dirty sink, the different props around the sink such as the mops, cleaning liquids and much more that were used.

Most of the shots were of high quality but the disadvantage to a majority of the shots is the character moved in the shots when she was meant to be still, but I believe this can be fixed during the post-production period, because I believe I will be able to edit the shot to allow it cut before the actress moves.

This went well because as a group we were able to choose from various types of shots and come to a conclusion on which shot best described the narrative.

Make-Up in the Teaser Trailer

Make-up was briefly discussed in the previous ‘behind the scenes’ post. This post focuses on a more in depth look at the make-up used in our teaser trailer. The previous post can be viewed here: http://motionlesspictures010.blogspot.com/2010/10/behind-scenes-filming-progress.html Make-up is often used to improve or alter the appearance of a person’s body. This is a common practice in film, in which the make-up process can last hours depending on the look that needs to be achieved. Due to problems with time during the filming process, there was often not enough time to spend doing make-up in such a professional way. In many of the scenes we filmed, I (as the actress) wore none. This is uncommon in a film production, though it may have some advantages. The lack of make-up makes the protagonist appears more natural, which may make her more relatable among ‘ordinary’ teenage girls, and may give the film a more realistic sense. The main scene in which we did use make up was the scene in the janitor’s closet, in which we attempted to make the protagonist appear dead. Make-up used in scene: • Foundation no. 1 ‘Light’ • Talcum Powder • Black pencil eyeliner • Blue liquid eyeliner • Black eye shadow • Purple eye shadow • Blue eye shadow • Blue lip gloss • Ben Nye Stage Blood Steps in Make-up application 1. The first thing I did was brush my hair back from around my face and remove my piercings. This ensures that the make-up will not get into the hair and will be even around the area where my piercings are. 2. The first step in the actual application of the make-up was to add a thin layer of foundation to my face. I had to use the lightest shade because my skin is very pale; foundation works best if it looks natural and to do this it is important to have a shade as similar to the skin as possible. Normally foundation would be used to hide skin imperfections but in this case its purpose was to make the powder and the rest of the make-up stick to my face better. 3. Next, I applied a layer of talcum powder to face. The foundation helped here as the powder does not stick to the face naturally. Using white powder gives the pale look commonly associated with horror movies and death. 4. I then applied a thin layer of the black eyeliner. This was more for the characterisation than to accomplish the look of death, as we were trying to develop a specific look for the character. I also smudged the eyeliner, as crying, heat, being left in a sink, and the body beginning to deteriorate all would have played a part of making it run. 5. I applied blue, purple and black eye shadow to eyes. This gives the appearance of bruised eyes. Darker eyes are common when imitating death but this also furthers the implication that the character has been tortured. 6. Next, I applied a thin layer of blue eye shadow to my face and a mix of the blue eye shadow and blue lip gloss on my lips. This is because bodies typically take a bluish tone after death due to lack of oxygen, particularly around the lips, eyes and nails. 7. With most of the make-up done, I then brushed my hair forward again and dampened it to give it a messy and stiffened look. 8. Finally, I applied the stage blood to my face and any other necessary areas, including the clothes and even some of my hair. This was to show how badly the protagonist had been tortured before her ‘death’. The blood was used again in the stairwell scene when the girl is being tortured. The bruising effect made by the mix of black, blue and purple eye shadow was also used on my wrists in the closet scene. This is because the scene when the girl’s hands were bound originally used rope, which would create a bruising effect.

Costume in the Teaser Trailer

Costume was briefly discussed in the previous ‘behind the scenes’ post. This post focuses on a more in depth look at the articles of clothing used and the possible meanings behind them.
The previous post can be viewed here:
http://motionlesspictures010.blogspot.com/2010/10/behind-scenes-filming-progress.html

Costume is an essential part of film and entertainment and is one of the five components of mise en scene. It includes the clothing, accessories and hairstyle of the character and establishes the time, location and setting of the scene. We wanted the costume of the protagonist in our production to make her stand out from other students, though the scenes featuring other characters have been cut out of the final production. Since I was heavily involved in the costume and make up as well as being the actress in the trailer, many of the ideas were inspired by my own style, which possibly helped to make the costume look more natural.

The protagonist’s hair is shoulder length, messy and is dyed a bright pink colour. The unnatural colour may suggest that there is something unusual about her. However, being a stereotypically feminine colour, it may also connote an image of childlikeness and innocence.
The dyed hair together with the snakebite piercings (one piercing on each side of the lower lip) could be considered the image of a young girl trying to appear older, as is typical in many teenagers. Dyed hair and piercings are also common of those in ‘alternative’ subcultures, which is the look we were going for.

The protagonist is seen wearing two different sets of clothing in the production. One article of clothing that is the same in both are the boots she wears. They are brown leather boots decorated with silver studs. This too is common with teenagers and typical in specific subcultures.
The girl also wears a padlock on a chain around her neck. This is important because a padlock has connotes an important secret.
The effect of the padlock is supported by the hoodie jacket the protagonist often wears. Hoodies are common articles of teenage clothing; however, the girl wears a male jacket that is too large for her. This may be interpreted as the jacket possibly coming from a brother, friend or boyfriend, or the girl simply choosing to wear a man’s jacket. No matter the interpretation, the hoodie may imply different possibilities about the protagonist; it could be a sign that she has something to hide, or possibly that she has something to hide from. It is likely that the audience will not actively pay attention to this fact, though the information may sink in subconsciously as they watch.
The most often seen outfit the protagonist wears, aside from these three garments, is a pair of jeans and a stripy long sleeve jumper. Both are considered normal clothing for teenagers and actually make her appear more ‘normal’.

We see another outfit in the scene where the protagonist finds her own body in the janitor’s closet. The camouflage style trousers fit in with the previous idea that she has something to hide or hide from. The style is also typical in the punk subculture and is common in teenagers trying to look different. She also wears a long sleeve grey shirt and a dark blue t-shirt over it, another common style in punk and alternative subcultures.. These colours are dull and as such may fit in with the idea that the girl is dead.
The rips and blood stains in her clothes tell the audience that she has been violently attacked.