Construction

Filming

The filming process consisted of firstly figuring out what type of shots should be used for different scenes. This required some level of understanding of media language and the application of media language to trailers. For example, we used quite a few abstract shots of knifes, shoes, etc. to add tension whilst keeping other features about that scene a mystery.

After figuring out the basic outline of the storyboard we were required to consider the mise-en scene and possible props that we would use to create a believable verisimilitude. An example of this is when we tried to make one of the female character’s room look more like a teenagers room rather than just having a bleak room. We achieved this by adding a few teddy bears, pink pillows and also having make up on the table. We also asked the girl to wear something pink, young and funky to create an image of a teenage girly girl relaxing in her bedroom.

Next we had to plan the order in which the shots would be taken in. We created a shot list for each on the scenes which told us which shot we are shooting, in the order that we will be shooting them in, the description of the shot, the props needed for that shot and the characters that are involved in that shot. This prepared us for the filming of a scene and made sure that we know what we are doing at all times, therefore taking the least amount of time between different shots.

After producing the shot list we then arranged the times and dates that would be appropriate of the scene and convenient for the cast and crew.

Then me and the other members of the group would arrived at the location early then the set time to set up the scene and add the props ready for when the cast arrive.

After this it was a matter of shooting the planned scene, however with most of the shots we adapted and improvised on what was written.

The planning and shot list were more like a starting point rather than a firm document, I believe this is due to the experience of actually shooting which is greater than just having firm ideas of paper in terms of knowing what works well and what doesn’t, and therefore leaving room to improvise on ideas.

There are many things that went well and there a few things that didn’t really work.

The first thing that didn’t work well was the first shoot of the bedroom scene. The first time that we shot this scene we didn’t think on the maximum that we could do with mise-en scene so the footage that we captured lacked quality and potential in terms of representing the character and their personality and also representing the location, which is a teenage girls room. Instead the location looked rather dull, boring and colourless.

To correct this we did a reshoot of the scene with more props, such as teddy bears, pink pillows and make up. The location looked better than in the first shoot in terms of representation. Even though the lighting is dim the room doesn’t look colourless anymore. Overall the room is represented as a teenage girl’s room and the character’s personality is also shown.

There are many shoots that worked well due to adaptation and improvisation.

The first shoot that worked well was the woods shoot. In the storyboard there are only a few shots that need to be taken in the woods. However when we got there we decided that there was much more filming that we could do, which would look good in the trailer.

We ended up with much better shots and then we decided that this footage would be the base of our trailer.

Another shoot that went well was the cupboard sequence, everything went to plan and the footage turned out useful.

Editing

The editing process consists of uploading the clips that have been captured and then dragging them on to the project. Then cutting them, moving them and adding transitions between them.

A few constraints are that the editing software that we have is pretty limited in terms of the features that it has. The software that we used was windows movie maker, however we made up for it in terms of the sound, as we edited the sound in a recording studio, which allowed us to create sounds that wasn’t originally there, such as the crow sound, it also allowed us to create a sense of pace when the trailer is suppose to be speedy.

We added in beats to make the trailer seem up beat in places, such as in the montage. In some parts of our trailer we didn’t want to put in any music that would be viewed as non diegetic, such as when Carly is walking through the woods, the only sound that we add there is the sound or the crows, we added this sound because crows have connotations of evil and death.

Other diegetic sounds that we added that weren’t there are the sound of the phone vibrating at the beginning and when the final girl, Carly screams, her scream is extended.

Near the beginning we added a non- diegetic sound of the piano also seen in the Halloween trailer. Be added this because the sound is chilling and the notes are quite sharp, which create tension.

We also added in a beat when the title comes up in the screen to amplify the effect catch the attention of the audience to that particular slide.

We even added specific music for the teacher, so when ever he comes on the screen the track is played. We did this to show the audience that this character is important.

From this project I gained a variety of skills and learnt how to capture, edit and construct a trailer.