24.3.11
Music
Instead of going immediately to creating my own piece of music, I had a look on the website called "Soundcloud" which allows you to use music that hasn't been copyrighted. On here, I found a song that fits perfectly with my opening, and so I've requested permission from the creators as a back-up, even though I know it is a copyright free song by an unsigned band.
11.3.11
Change of cast
Due to complications (of my sister being in France and there being not enough appropriate material to film to use over there), I have decided to use my friend Megan as my main character instead, as she looks older than she is, and she also has the right sort of look. I can also film with her much more easily and at shorter notice than I would have been able to had I used someone out of school.
10.3.11
Soundtrack
For the music for my film, I don't particularly want anything with too many lyrics, or possibly lyrics at all. So, I have the choice of either finding the backing of a song that fits in, whose artist I can contact easily for permission to use their music, or to create my own music, possibly using the software of Garageband; basically for this, I could use different loops to create a fairly simple soundtrack that would actually fit with my opening as it's something that I would have created specifically for my opening. This may be the most sensible idea as it's something that I can do without a problem, and then I won't have too many complications with permissions etc.
The Fourth Wall
The idea of breaking the fourth wall doesn't particularly appeal to me for use in my film, as when it's used it is usually used in a comedic manner. In these situations it is really effective; it's used in films such as "Ferris Beuller's Day Off", where it's particularly effective. It helps with the narrative as well, as we see things more often from the opinion of the characters, giving us greater insight into their minds, letting the audience connect with what's going on in the film more.
8.3.11
More changes...
To avoid the confusion that would be really likely to happen had I shown two changing scenes mixd together, I have decided to have my main character standing at the train station in different clothes between each shot of something interesting happening. This will hopefully imply the idea that she is doing the same thing over and over again.
To make the scenes of her waiting at the station more interesting, I'm going to film for a few minutes in each outfit, and speed the scene up to emphasise the passing of time. On the final scene I'm going to film the train arriving, with the character still on the platform, and then leaving again but with the character on the train. This should make a good final scene of the opening.
I'll also use music that I'm planning to make using GarageBand to go over the top of the visuals, to make sure it fits with the opening.
To make the scenes of her waiting at the station more interesting, I'm going to film for a few minutes in each outfit, and speed the scene up to emphasise the passing of time. On the final scene I'm going to film the train arriving, with the character still on the platform, and then leaving again but with the character on the train. This should make a good final scene of the opening.
I'll also use music that I'm planning to make using GarageBand to go over the top of the visuals, to make sure it fits with the opening.
Filming:
I will be filming throughout the next week, until thursday the 17th. On each day, I'm hoping to get several shots and be done with the shots that I need from England by Saturday evening. From the sunday, I will be in France, and I'm going to try to film a shot out of the airplane window, or at least of a plane in the sky/. I'd also like to get film of people skiing, in a bar, and generally having a bit of fun, to contrast the boredom that my main character is feeling.
I hope the introduction doesn't get too confusing; I'll have a shot of her going about her daily life, then a shot of something she'd rather be doing, filmed using unrelated people, back to another shot of her. Each shot of her will show her in different clothes to emphasise the fact that she's got the same routine for every day.
I also have had to change the scene at the beach to a scene at the river, because of complications with the camera and also the cast.
Some of the places I am considering using for this include:
Wymondham Train Station
Tignes in France
The river Tiffy in Wymondham
I hope the introduction doesn't get too confusing; I'll have a shot of her going about her daily life, then a shot of something she'd rather be doing, filmed using unrelated people, back to another shot of her. Each shot of her will show her in different clothes to emphasise the fact that she's got the same routine for every day.
I also have had to change the scene at the beach to a scene at the river, because of complications with the camera and also the cast.
Some of the places I am considering using for this include:
Wymondham Train Station
2.3.11
Another change of plans
Right.
Having thought some more about how my opening is actually going to look on screen, and how the audience are going to react, I have decided to change it yet again. I am going to have the same basic idea, but slightly changed.
After two screens of opening credits, I'm going to have my main character waking up, responding to an alarm, The second shot will now be someone who is NOT the main character opening curtains to an amazing view, followed by a shot of my main character opening her own curtains- or possibly blinds- on somewhere dull. Then I'll have a shot of an aeroplane or something similar in the sky, followed by my character leaving her house. It'll go on like this, contrasting between her boring and dreary life, and all of the other things she might rather be doing. Each shot with her in will show her in different clothes, to keep the idea of her living her life day to day.
This interspersion of interesting and dull activities should make the introduction less boring, and it should also fit in with the story and continue the idea that she is dissatisfied with her life.
I'll make a storyboard next to explain all of these confusing ideas better!
Having thought some more about how my opening is actually going to look on screen, and how the audience are going to react, I have decided to change it yet again. I am going to have the same basic idea, but slightly changed.
After two screens of opening credits, I'm going to have my main character waking up, responding to an alarm, The second shot will now be someone who is NOT the main character opening curtains to an amazing view, followed by a shot of my main character opening her own curtains- or possibly blinds- on somewhere dull. Then I'll have a shot of an aeroplane or something similar in the sky, followed by my character leaving her house. It'll go on like this, contrasting between her boring and dreary life, and all of the other things she might rather be doing. Each shot with her in will show her in different clothes, to keep the idea of her living her life day to day.
This interspersion of interesting and dull activities should make the introduction less boring, and it should also fit in with the story and continue the idea that she is dissatisfied with her life.
I'll make a storyboard next to explain all of these confusing ideas better!
1.3.11
Cast
I only need one person for my opening, and this person is going to be my 19 year old sister, as she is a better age for the role, even if not the perfect age. Most other people I have access to are either too old or too young, so given the circumstances, she's probably the closest person I have to match the character. She also can ply the part as she's been in previous media productions, and also did drama at gcse.
Thinky things
Considering different ways to edit the opening, I think that maybe the titles should all appear at once to stop the whole things looking disjointed; they'll appear one after the other now, instead of between shots, except the last title, which will still appear at the end.
I've also thought about starting off each shot slowly, with quite a lot of time on each shot, perhaps 4 seconds, and speeding the shots up after each sequence; i.e the next shots will become 3.5 seconds, then 3, then 2.5, and finally 2, to make it seem as if her life is rushing past; even if this change of shot doesn't directly click with the audience, it would be more interesting and effective than simply repeating exactly the same sequence over and over again. Similarly, the music will also start off fairly slowly and then speed up to match the pace of the editing, to perhaps create a little more interest for the viewer. The shots listed in the previous post are most likely going to be the shots I will use, but I may see something that I particularly want to, or don't want to include when I get to the location in person; I've looked at it over the internet, but not in person yet.
I've also thought about starting off each shot slowly, with quite a lot of time on each shot, perhaps 4 seconds, and speeding the shots up after each sequence; i.e the next shots will become 3.5 seconds, then 3, then 2.5, and finally 2, to make it seem as if her life is rushing past; even if this change of shot doesn't directly click with the audience, it would be more interesting and effective than simply repeating exactly the same sequence over and over again. Similarly, the music will also start off fairly slowly and then speed up to match the pace of the editing, to perhaps create a little more interest for the viewer. The shots listed in the previous post are most likely going to be the shots I will use, but I may see something that I particularly want to, or don't want to include when I get to the location in person; I've looked at it over the internet, but not in person yet.
Change of plan...
Due to certain circumstances, I am going to France for a few days before the deadline of the 25th of March, where my sister works. She's a better age for the character I'm looking to cast, and the shots themselves, and the opening sequence would be very simple and easy to film. However, I may have trouble with trains in France, so some of the shots I'm going to use have changed.
Now, I'm going to have:
A shot of the character opening her eyes (a close-up on the eyes)
A shot of her opening the curtains
Putting the kettle on
An over-the-shoulder shot of her making cake/ other food
Laying the table or lighting candles
Cleaning up- probably putting dishes in the sink or running the bowl of water
Closing the curtains again
Then closing her eyes.
The shots will now be in this order, rather than seven of the same shot one after the other, as I think that may get a bit boring and confusing. The new format of the opening will show her day to day life better as well.
To include the titles, I will start with a black screen, with the first title appearing on it, brightening from black to white, an then fading out again. Then the shot of the eyes opening will appear for roughly three seconds. The next title will appear after this, followed by the next shot of the curtains opening. I won't do this throughout the opening as it would seem disjointed, but only on the last shot of her closing her eyes, the final time around, the screen will fade to black and the title of the film will appear. Other titles may appear in a corner of the screen (the less important ones) so as to not take up too much time.
The opening should be around two minutes, and if I show the sequence of her day five times, which I plan to, that will give me 24 seconds per sequence and 3 seconds per shot, not including titles. So, each shot should be around 2 and a half seconds to allow time for the titles, and this should leave me with just about two minutes.
Now, I'm going to have:
A shot of the character opening her eyes (a close-up on the eyes)
A shot of her opening the curtains
Putting the kettle on
An over-the-shoulder shot of her making cake/ other food
Laying the table or lighting candles
Cleaning up- probably putting dishes in the sink or running the bowl of water
Closing the curtains again
Then closing her eyes.
The shots will now be in this order, rather than seven of the same shot one after the other, as I think that may get a bit boring and confusing. The new format of the opening will show her day to day life better as well.
To include the titles, I will start with a black screen, with the first title appearing on it, brightening from black to white, an then fading out again. Then the shot of the eyes opening will appear for roughly three seconds. The next title will appear after this, followed by the next shot of the curtains opening. I won't do this throughout the opening as it would seem disjointed, but only on the last shot of her closing her eyes, the final time around, the screen will fade to black and the title of the film will appear. Other titles may appear in a corner of the screen (the less important ones) so as to not take up too much time.
The opening should be around two minutes, and if I show the sequence of her day five times, which I plan to, that will give me 24 seconds per sequence and 3 seconds per shot, not including titles. So, each shot should be around 2 and a half seconds to allow time for the titles, and this should leave me with just about two minutes.
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