Defining moment

When it came to filiming the opening titles of my film Drake Napalm, there was one main problem making one of my shots look very bad. this problem was trying to do an eye level tracking shot. i fixed the problem by using a friends bike and siting on it while some one else pushed the bike. After looking at all the footage, this shot went from being ong of the worst to being the best and i am quite proud of it.

Cast

Whilst i will be filming i shall be needing 3 actors.

I will need

•  Drake Napalm, should be out standing and look intellectual and yet menacing at the same time.
  
• Gun Man, should be able to look shady and kind of creepy.
• Pedestrian, should look innocent and helpless.

I've chosen Ash to play Drake my lead role, i think he's my best option, his orange spiky hair resembles fire, this is a good direct link to Drakes powers.

For the gun man i decided to use Kirk, his beard and the way his hair shadows his eyes gives a some what menacing look.

And the pedestrian role i thought Alex would play the part well, he's just got the right look about him and fits my idea of the character.

First day of shooting

Although i did assess all the possible troubles that i could have come across, so troubles are unforeseeable. Today i set out to film and although i am fairly confident with with the Sony HD cameras we are using, i don't know every inch of them. The camera was set slightly differently and i wasn't aware of that particular setting, as a result the footage we took was not recorded. On top of this, i was unable to shoot the first scene to the standard i was after due to lack of equipment. The shot was an eye level tracking shot but i was unable to walk with the camera and keep it stable.

After Barney had a look at the camera settings and showed us how to rectify the problem i am fully confident i can film and successfully capture all the footage i need.

As for the tracking shot i think the best solution is to use a bike, i sit on it holding the camera while two others hold the bike on either side and push it slowly.

Continuity Task

Yesterday in the lesson we were given Sony HD cameras and were told to use the and film a new continuity test task. i was in a pair with Tim. Tim and i filmed Matt and Mike acting out a basic scene. We then swapped and Tim and i acted for Matt and Mike as they filmed. We couldn't use the same location in both clips because we got kicked out of the hall after the first clip.

This is the clip Tim and i shot.

And this is Mike and Matt's version with myself and tim acting. this version is filmed in HD where as mine and Tim's isn't, we did this to show the difference in quality.

Project so far update

I've set forward in crossing things off my list of stuff still to do, some i have done fine however others i have had trouble with:

1. Finnishing my mood board i tryed taking the files home to finnish it but i don't have the same version of final cut apparently so the folder wouldn't open.
2. The same goes for my annimatic.
3. I'm currently working out my shot list.
4. i have a few suggestions from my teacher and i changed the set from a street to a toe path or somthing.
5. Ash is going to be playing the lead role of drake.
6. Ash also suggested to me that i buy a pair of reading glasses from boots for about £5, and i'll ask one of the chemistry labs if we can borrow a lab coat. I also realized i need a gun as a prop, this isn't a problem as i have a suitable plastic one.
7. I still need to do font tests.

voice over

Whilst lying in bed with tonsillitus thinking about how i could make my opeing sequence better, and what i needed to do with it i came up with this voice over that i'm pretty sure i'll use.

"I've never really had a stedy job, it's always been switching from one to the next. i'd never have one job for more than a couple of weeks, a month at max. even back when i was a kid. I was a paper boy, but it was awful pay. A shelf stacker, dead boring. check out attendant, every one was so RUDE. tryed telemarketing but i just got abuse shouted back. got into accounting, but i was awfull. got my degree and became a chemist, it was alright, but to controled, they didnt like it when i fooled about, said id get hurt. now i enjoy what i do, its far more interesting..."

at this point the shot of drakes hand with a ball of fire in it starts.

Project so far, what i need to do

Although im not the furthest behind, im still lagging a fair bit from where i should be, this is a rough check list of what else i need to do at this point.

1. Finnish mood board.
2. Finnish animatic.
3. Shot list.
4. Find right location.
5. Find the right person to play Drake, my leed role.
6. Find props, (glasses that can be broken, a lab coat maybe)
7. Do title font tests.

Major issue expansion

1) My first major issue is finding a good location.

With out a good location my entire opening sequence will look amature and poorly thought out.

The solution to this is to spend a good amount of time, a day or two, scouting for the right location.


2) The second of my three main issues is the adverse weather conditions

Recently college has been closed due to heavy snow and is likly to do so again later in the week. Every time college is shut, we loose time off the project and as the dead line is fixed, time is precious.

There is no real solution for this, as i can't change the weather! how ever i can help myself by doing as much work from home as possible, research, practice shots etc.

3) The 3rd and final major issue im goin to experiance is being on holiday in half term.

Once again, there is little i can do to rectify this problem, although i do plan on taking my macbook with me so i will make sure i've shot all my footage before i go so i am able to edit it on the plane etc.

Problematic assesments

Nuisances: For my filming the only real nuisance would be pedestrians getting in the shot.

Minor Concerns: Possible minor concerns could be making the special effects look belivable, an unorganised crew/cast, a weak story board/shot list and the lack of availability of the good cameras.

Major Issues: Major issues would be finding decent location, adverse weather causing college to close and to lose time and being away over half term.

Blog feedback

Bellow is the feedback Phillipa gave me, i think she was very honest and helpfull with her comments, i plan to try and do more of my own research and not just the work im set, i also think i could do with putting more content into my work.

Over all, I think your blog is very detailed, interesting and you have, so far, done a lot of research towards your Film Project.One aspect which I really like, is that even though your blog posts are quite detailed, you have posted a lot of visual examples of research. This, in my opinion is much more interesting to read, also shows that you have researched in more than one place and shows exactly what you have researched. Of course, all of your visuals are relevant and they show the thought in which you put into looking for something which will help you with your project.Your logos, in particular, are quite good and show off your talents with effects and your creativity.The text which you post along with each visual is just as good as the research itself, very detailed and you seem to know what you are going to do or at least have a lot of inspiration.I don't have many bad points about your blog but I think that you could research some more visual or info on films and programs etc, relevant to your chosen opening - rather than relying on the blog homework.