GG - The Boom Microphone

We have decided to use the Boom Microphone in our production, there are many advantages to use using it.Firstly we film outside for a part of our production, we realised that when we just used the microphone already on the camera we got noise from the wind. This made the quality of the sound very poor. Also when we filmed our 'scream queen' screaming, because the camera was so close this also came out poorly. In our new opening scene we are going to include more dialect between the two characters as they walk down the stairs. By using the Boom Microphone the audience will be able to easily hear what they are saying.

The advantages of using the Boom Microphone are;

• Better sound quality.
• It doesn't matter how far away the camera is to the sound, the microphone will pick up all the sound because you can hold it close to it. 

The disadvantages to using the Boom Microphone are;

• It is time consuming using it on set. Plus because we film at night we have limited hours for filming. 
• The equipment is very expensive, we have to be very careful when using it. 

Me and Roam have both been shown how to use. This will help us on set when we come to using it because we can set it up quickly and efficiently. 

 A link to how to use a boom microphone

The dead cat. For blocking out noise of the wind when filming outside

RH - Century of posts!

Congratulations to me for reaching 100 blog posts! (this post ironically makes it 101)

RH - Denotation of Kangeroo Jack opening (David McNally, 2003)

I'm looking at this opening so I can gather key conventions used in film openings, it is important to broaden my knowledge past the genre I'm working in which is why I've chosen to look at a comedy.

Warner Brothers and Castle Rock Entertainment idents were shown on screen. There was non-diagetic sound playing over these idnets. The Jerry Bruckheimer Films ident was shown, this was on screen without the non-diagetic sound and had the sound effects of the ident itself. The first few shots are establising shots over differant areas of the Australian outback. Whilst these shots are on screen the titles such as; disribution and production company, followed by the director. A voice over is used over all these shots, this continues throughout the opening. The camera then zooms in to a close-up of a Kangeroo. The voice over is still in progress when the location changes to America, we know this because the voice over tells us aswell as seeing an American flag. We are provided with expisition when it says at the bottom of the screen 'Memorial Day 1982'.

GG - 2nd Rough Cut feedback

After gathering feedback from our second rough cut we were told that we needed to improve:

• Speed up the car footage, because it looks as if the car is driving to 'leisurely' and not quick enough. 
• Change the order of the shots when the villain is walking up to the car. With a point of view shot of the villain 'stabbing' the 'scream queen.' 
• The use of a 'Boom Microphone' so the sounds of the car unlocking and the 'scream queens' scream so they sound a lot better. 
• Add a few more shots to make it longer. For example shots of Megan turning on the radio and of a road sign. 

We still have to add the idents and the soundtrack to our production. 

We still have to re-shoot our opening shots which we are doing tonight (Tues 1st March.) We are also going to get a few more shots of the final 'stabbing' as well tonight. 

RH & GG Re-shoot rough cut

This is a rough cut of our car scenes after a re-shoot.

RH - Editing

Today I looked at editing our footage that we took at our first re-shoot. The shots we took were our driving shots that involved a car crash. We have not yet re-shot the scenes of our couple Casey and Sam at the house. What stood out whilst structuring our footage today was that we had so much more shot variation than last time. We also have kept the identity of the killer incognito whereas last time they were on screen for much too long. Overall I was extremely pleased with our footage and believe with the right soundtrack it will be terrifying. Our killer stalks and is very violent with his actions which makes him look extremely threatening. We use a lot of short takes which works very well. There are a few things we have to do to make our car crash look better such as; speed up the footage of the car swerving, also add the sound effect of tyres screeching.

Here is a link to the rough cut produced from this editing process!

GG - Possible change of setting

We are having problems finding times when we can all meet. All the cast and producers can meet Wednesday. Our only problem though being the peoples house where we filmed our opening our out. This means that we might have to change the setting for our opening few shots. I have found another house in ilkley that is detached. It will be a perfect back up if we fail to film on the original setting. The owner has also confirmed that we can film on Wednesday 16th feb which helps us out a lot.

GG - Re shooting schedule

We have had all sorts of problems when it has come tore shooting our opening footage. Finding a suitable time for all the actors, if the settings is available etc... We have now found a spot when both me and Roam can go up with our actors and re film. This will be on Wednesday 16th feb. Although i am working till 5pm Roam is going up early and getting all the shots from outside the house when it is still light. I will then join them straight after work to finish off filming inside the house.

RH - Our Target Audience

Our core target audience ranges from the ages 15-24. The reason for this is that the BBFC rating we have aimed for our film is 15. The reason this ranges up to 24 is the rough guidelines for a TA, this applies also with 12 and 18 rated films. This is a link to the BBFC film classification website

We are aiming our films at males rather than females because males tend to be more attracted to the Slasher genre whilst females conventionally tend to prefer the Rom-Com genre. In our opening we include a 'Screem Queen' this should appeal to the males audience because she is a blonde busty, sexually active girl.

Teenagers who are sexually active should be able to relate to particular scenes because of the inclusion of subtle hints, and certain dialog that a younger audience wouldn't be able to relate to.

The actors in our production our from Yorkshire, the key stereotype of people from Yorkshire is that we all have really broad accents. We are associated with a flat cap and a whippet, this alludes to a rural life. Within our production one of the locations is in the countryside. This will reaffirm peoples stereotypes of the region. This productions core audience however will be Yorkshire men.

Class and status, the teenagers are shown in a large house which signifies they are well off, however then 'Casey' gets into the purple VW Polo, we can denote from this that she is working class and a new teenage driver. If we apply the commutation test and change the car to a £50,000 Mercedes then suddenly the text means something completely different. If this was the car we would denote that she is extremely rich and probably a posh Yorkshire 'snob'.

Finally our secondary target audience is from the age range of 13-34, we have chosen this as our secondary target audinece purely because BBFC ratings doens't stop kids under the age of 15 from viewing these film weather it is at the cinema or on DVD. Also we have increased the age from 24 to 34 because by doing this the slightly older genreation will be able to relate to intertextuality for example our 'Screem Queen' is called 'Casey'  refering to Drew Barrymoore's character in 'Scream' A link to Casey's character in Scream. Also our male character is named 'Sam' refering to 'Dr. Sam Loomis'  played by 'Donald Pleasence' in 'Halloween'. A link to Dr. Sam Loomis' character in Halloween

GG - BBFC Ratings

Suitable only for 15 years and over

No one younger than 15 may see a ‘15’ film in a cinema. No one younger than 15 may rent or buy a ‘15’ rated video work.

Discrimination

The work as a whole must not endorse discriminatory language or behaviour.

Drugs

Drug taking may be shown but the film as a whole must not promote or encourage drug misuse. The misuse of easily accessible and highly dangerous substances (for example, aerosols or solvents) is unlikely to be acceptable.

Horror

Strong threat and menace are permitted unless sadistic or sexualised.

Imitable behaviour

Dangerous behaviour (for example, hanging, suicide and self-harming) should not dwell on detail which could be copied. Easily accessible weapons should not be glamorised.

Language

There may be frequent use of strong language (for example, ‘fuck’). The strongest  terms (for example, ‘cunt’) may be acceptable if justified by the context. Aggressive or repeated use of the strongest language is unlikely to be acceptable.

Nudity

Nudity may be allowed in a sexual context but without strong detail. There are no constraints on nudity in a non-sexual or educational context.

Sex

Sexual activity may be portrayed without strong detail. There may be strong verbal references to sexual behaviour, but the strongest references are unlikely  to be acceptable unless justified by context. Works whose primary purpose is sexual arousal or stimulation are unlikely to be acceptable.

Theme

No theme is prohibited, provided the treatment is appropriate for 15 year olds.

Violence

Violence may be strong but should not dwell on the infliction of pain or injury. The strongest gory images are unlikely to be acceptable. Strong sadistic or sexualised violence is also unlikely to be acceptable. There may be detailed verbal references to sexual violence but any portrayal of sexual violence must be discreet and have a strong contextual justification.

BBFC Source