Why we are not releasing our production on father's day (feedback)

Initially we came up with the idea of having our product released on Father's day (15th June). This is because we thought we could relate it to our narrative, where we were planning to reinforce the relationship between Flora and James (father of Flora). We also wanted it to reflect our narrative in a sense that we thought it may be interesting for our audience, due to the fact that none other films-real life media product (which we are aware of) has been released on Father's Day, especially with the phenomena of the father dying being the main plot. However after we pitched it to our teacher she stated that it would not be ideal due to the dark element which our narrative explores contrasting the happiness such day is suppose to symbolize, hence why this particular date will not be suitable for us to release our production on that date.

Taking the feedback on board, me and Chloe done further research into dates which were either viewed to be important or celebrated. From our research we came across the '20th November' which is a 'Universal Children's Day', we were straight away intrigued by this due to the fact that it reflected the character of Flora. A prime example of this can be seen with the idea of the way in which Flora is portrayed e.g. her being likable upon first glance to the audience and thus they are most likely to engage with her until they find the truth about her character. Overall by releasing our product on this particular day in beneficial as this a globally celebrate day and thus we will be able to raise more awareness of sensitive issue which is explored in our narrative e.g. the ways in which children are affected by domestic violence- why Flora became sinister after witnessing such level of violence.

These were some of the research I came across whilst conducting an in depth research on 'Universal Children's Day':

• It's celebrated in different countries globally e.g. in Canada, India, New Zealand and the UK. This is a day is symbolic of the rights children have within society (awareness of their rights). 
• It was first established on 14th December 1954 (to celebrate children) in promoting the welfare of children.
• Universal Children's Day is part of the work carried out by UNICEF, the United Nations Children's Fund. 
• Their logo consist of an an image of a mother and child, a globe, olive branches and the word “UNICEF”. Showing the connection to the United Nation the use the same colour scheme of blue and white, which are also the colours of the United Nation logo. 

Audio of Flora singing (why it's not featured on our trailer)

This is a recording we were initially going to use as a group for our horror trailer. Using 'Audacity' we recorded the signing of our first cast Jalisa (who we were going to use previously for our production). We wanted to include religion, due to the fact that it's conventional for the horror genre. Following the convention, we decided to subvert religion (where we twisted it) where we made it more distorted and creepy to suite the the horror theme. However after we recorded the audio we noticed that she was far too pitchy and thus did not sound the way we wanted it to be, as in some areas where we needed to be louder she actually done the opposite (quieter). We then played around with the sound by adding a background track (from 'Youtube'), in hope to enhance the horror atmosphere, in doing so we hoped to create an uncomfortable experience for our audience as a way of them distancing from the character of Flora, and thus not view her as innocent as she appears. This also helped to reinforce the horror genre we were going for, although we decided not to use the the recording we created- we however used the actual  'creepy music box' in our trailer. This worked well within our trailer, as we were about to slightly manipulate it, making it sound much more sinister and uncomfortable for our audience as a way of evoking our audience. (We done research were we chose an audience and blind folded her whilst she listened to such track, she then gave us feedback as to what she felt  was far too distorted or made her uncomfortable due to the darker element. From her feedback we changed the sound slightly as she stated 'it's slightly distorted and thus harder to actually hear the words being said'. This meant that we had to change it, in order for it to be 'just right'. I personally felt this feedback was good, as it enabled us to improve both our editing and promotion of our production from potential audience).  

Feedback

This was filmed on Friday 24th January.
This is the feedback we received from our teacher, which I have noted:

Re-recording over voice over (post production) using 'Movie Plus X3'

Adding background and text in 'Adobe After Effects' (post production-editing)

Slogans & Taglines for our production

Key

• Red = the slogans that we will be using for sure. We decided to make the ones we were going to use stand out, hence why we used red to highlight it. When it came to editing we sometimes found it hard to fit the particular slogan with the right scene, this comes down to the fact that it was either too wordy or just didn't look right with text as well as the action that was going on. This meant that we had to play around with the length of the text, as well as the actions in order for it to fit in well with the scene. In the end, however we were able to make the all the elements e.g. text and action fit well and thus was more effective in evoking audience reaction. Me and my group then tested this out by filming our audience reaction to our rough cut (I will be uploading this soon). From our audience feedback we were told in some places there were too much text, I thought this was a good feedback it will enables us (as a group) to improve our trailer. Additionally I strongly agree with this feedback and thus me and my group will be playing around with our rough cut in terms of there being too much text. Thus we  should either be word it differently or make the cuts fast past, as a way of playing more with the audience's emotions. I believe by doing this, will make our trailer more successful both in evoking a reaction and marketing wise (as our audience are more likely to go and watch our trailer in the cinema- if we were to make it into a film).  

More backstage photos from our production

These are the photos I took, whilst my fellow team mate (Chloe) filmed. We then took turns in terms of filming and taking photographs (me and Chloe), as we wanted to improve our strength with each technique. Chloe wanted to improve her photography skills, whilst I wanted to improve my filming skills (especially when it's handheld, as I have shaky hands and thus tends to be far too shaky. Adding on from this, I decided to take such photos, as I wanted it evidence the work me and my group having been doing on the course of this project. (In another post I will be posting the reason behind why we chose to include such locations, props, characters ect...).

These are the dates we filmed/ time
9th of January 4:00pm - 6:15pm (filmed at Francess's house)
Monday 13th January - P3 & 4 - Streatham Park
Filming from 3:15pm - 5:45pm (filmed at Afreen's house)

Reasons behind backstage photos (part 1)

Here I have done a quick summary of the reasons why we have chosen to film at that particular location, mise-en scene and iconography which our production explores.

Draft magazine/ poster ideas

 

 In the same way, me and my fellow team mate (Chloe) were thinking of making the doll drip with blood, as a way of reinforcing the nature of Flora (sinister), whilst reflecting the theme of horror.   

Creating poster for 'Insainty'

planning the shots for our trailer

We started to look at different footage we filmed, here we began to list the best footages we will be using  for final production. We went through each scene and manually selected the ones we need, we however found that this was time consuming due to the fact that we also included descriptions on what's happening withing the different scene. This was helpful in a sense that by labeling the different scenes, we were able to have a sense of the camera angles we needed, as we as a group used different camera angles for the same scene as a way of ensure we got across the emotion of the character much more clearly as well as the narrative without revealing too much. Due such method taking far too long, we then chose to take a different approach in terms of recording the different scenes we need. This led us to print-screen our different scenes where we will be putting a cross or a tick next to the scenes we need, we found that by doing this was such more effective as we were able to see straight away if the camera angles were good, as well as the mise-en scene. (I will posting this shortly). 

Psychiatrist script

We as a group divided the work load between us. One of our fellow team mate (Chloe) was in charge of writing this script (draft), in order to make us as a group more organised when filming that particular scene. Chloe then wrote the script and showed me, I then made some changes to the script, as I was playing that particular role and thus, I could see that the way  which some of the words are phrased sounded  far too staged and thus did not come across realistic.

A prime example of this can be seen with the psychiatrist stating 'Your father's body was seen stabbed 9 times'. I however changed it slightly to 'Flora describe your relationship with your father. I understand you were close to him right? Do you miss him? You understand what happened to your father right Flora?' (These were not said in one line-rather in different line when it came to filming. This was to ensure that when it came to editing, we aim as a group will be inter-cutting these lines. By using these  lines, we aimed to give a clear sense of the narrative to the audience without revealing too much of the narrative. I also wanted the psychiatrist to sound more friendly enabling Flora to be open to her, in revealing some of her secretes and deviant behavior hence why such language such as 'right' is used in this context. I aimed to make this child-like language relating and reinforcing Flora's age in our narrative).

FLORA: 'you wouldn't want to know' (then snaps her crayon)- I added this in the script due to the fact that I thought it added more to the atmospheric tension, which was our feedback from our teacher as a way of us improving our horror trailer. I then showed this to Chloe, where  we could discuss how to ensure we build a great sense of tension for our audience, making them uncomfortable whilst evoking a reaction. We then discussed the different camera angles e.g.low angles, worm's eye view, high angle and close up ect... (although Chloe had some camera angles there already, I thought by having a variation would enables us to get the narrative across much more clearly without much being revealed.We then showed it to Afreen, where she also agreed more camera angles were needed. After making some of the changed, I then showed it to Chloe, were me and her made further changes in regards to the line of  Flora, in order to make her more deviant, whilst the still portraying her as innocent as we wanted her to be a likable character such as 'Norman Bates' in 'Psycho' (1960).

These were a few videos I looked at before playing the role of the psychiatrist (in getting some facts e.g. children disorders and language used / mise-en scene):

Call sheets

These are our call sheets that we have used/ will be using. We aim to make use these in order to make our filming of our production easier- we will be giving these for each of our characters. I came up with the template, where I showed my follow team member (Afreen), where she filled in the information needed, I however had to go and edit this further by putting in the phone numbers of our actors and each job roles. This made it easier for us to see when and where we will be shooting, and who needs to be doing what (e.g. who will be directing). 

Another character changed for James (father)

We had change our initial character (on previous post for the actor for the character of James). This comes down to the fact that the, actor we were going to use unfortunately was unable to meet the dates we needed him due to coursework deadlines. This meant that we had to find another actor who will play his role. For future reference we as a group will ensure that we pick actors who will be available the times we need them, to save us from trouble and stress over finding a new actor to replace them. 

Quick update (improving our team working skills) / feed back

Team work:

Today, I have been filing in Afreen (fellow team member) in due to the fact that she has been ill and thus unaware of what our group has been up to (in terms of the stage we are with our filming process). We also told her detail of our shooting plan, e.g. where we will be filming and the scenes we will be shooting. We then told her to come up with more scary scenes so we can incorporate more of her ideas into our production. By communicating well has meant that we as a group are able to work far quicker and more effectively as a group, limiting our stress levels.

Feedback from teacher:

On Friday we were given feedback from our teacher as a way of us improving our grade. From the feedback, we were told to ensure to film more scary and tension moments (at first we were a bit down, as we felt our hard work had not gone unnoticed. However the more I thought about the feedback, the more I was happy we were given this feedback due to the fact that, we need a reality check if we wanted to get the grade we wanted. It was also helpful because I believe by having such feedback has made us more determined and focused to do well both as a group and individually, in order to make sure we produce the best horror production to the best of our ability). So with this in mind, I have been looking and researching into horror films and what makes it scary (deconstructing), and how we could apply it to our production. I have been looking at past students who have achieved grade A. 

Influence for our production (real media products)

Casting of Flora script

My name’s Flora I’m thirteen years old.

I live with my mum, my dad and my older sister Megan

She is always dying her hair crazy colours

(Sarcastic tone)

By the time she is 20 she will definitely be bald.

(Sinister laugh)

PAUSE

People look at me and assume I am innocent

 I know I’m not perfect I have my fair share of secrets...

But everybody goes a little mad sometimes right?

That is what father always used to say

 I miss him..

 Every waking hour I think about his kindness

 But every night I can’t get to sleep

PAUSE

 Megan cries for hours at night.

It has gotten worse since mum and dad’s anniversary

 Why is she such a baby?

 Does she not realise there are still elements of mum and dad in us?

Besides mum is completely fine...she is not the one in a grave with nothing but decapitating corpses as company

 She should be thankful...infact it could have been her in a grave if it wasn’t for me.

 Mummy would be proud of me I finally began to pray just like she wanted.

As I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep. And if I die before I wake, I pray the Lord my soul to take.Or will I end up somewhere amongst the unknown?

Early photos from our production

 These are a few of the photos I took took during our early scenes from our production (along with one of my fellow team mate Chloe). Using 'Flicker', I have uploaded these, making it easier to look through our images. We however will not be using any of such photographs for our poster nor magazine front cover.

Inspirations for magazine and poster for our production

Magazine and poster ideas by Slidely Slideshow


           Look below to read what each slide states: (I have annotated the reasons behind each poster and why we are planning on using them. I then sent a copy of this to my fellow team mate (Chloe), after I had finished analyzing each element (look below) and how we will be using these.)

Quick update (what I was up to today- preparation for production)

Today me and my fellow team mate (Afreen), went to look at the props and mise-en scene we need for our production. Here we aimed to purchase fake blood, candels, doll and mirror. However in regards to the fake blood, due to the time of year it was, it was extremely hard to get hold on such item. This meant that we had to go different shopping centers ( from Streatham, Croydon and Norbury), it was only at the last minute when we were able to get our hands on such significant element of our horror production (fake blood). Another prop we found difficult to purchase was getting specific doll, we needed in our scene (scary doll). However the dolls we found were either far too small or too pretty, which wouldn't work, it wasn't until finally we were able to get one from a charity shop. (I will be posting the items we purchased).